It wasn’t long ago that James Shaw was sitting at home, spending nights on Linkedin sending CVs to a variety of professional cycling teams as he looked to keep his career in the sport alive. At just 23, the British rider had been dropped by Lotto-Dstny and was unsure as to what lay in store for him.
Fast forward five years, and the Nottinghamshire born rider has made his Tour de France debut and was at the sharp end of the action on stage six, the second of two huge mountain stages in the Pyrenees.
Shaw was part of a large breakaway that included the likes of Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step) and Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and hung with them as they as they climbed the infamous Col d'Aspin and Col du Tourmalet.
Speaking to Cycling Weekly in Mont de Marsan, Shaw said that his performance in the Pyrenees made him feel like he belonged at the Tour.
"It was a big day out," he said. "I think it was big in terms of physically demanding, but also big in terms of a stepping stone day in the Tour. I feel like now I know and understand where I'm at with my form and my condition. I'm going to look forward to a few more days like that to come in the second and third week." Shaw was right in the thick of the action when Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) attacked out of the group of favourites, swiftly joining him and his breakaway m ducation Can companions up the road.
"I mean as far as seeing it live goes, it was a front row seat," Shaw joked.
"Sitting behind potentially the two greatest Grand Tour
Dauphiné breakthrough
Denne historien er fra July 13, 2023-utgaven av Cycling Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 13, 2023-utgaven av Cycling Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
CLASSIC BIKE - JOHNNY BERRY
Johnny be good at making beautiful lightweight bikes
UK SCENE - WUNDERKIND HUDSON WINS YORKSHIRE CX
Newly crowned junior hill-climb champ shows his versatility by winning round seven on the mud
WATT WORKS FOR ME TADEJ POGAČAR
The man himself - subject of this special issue - explains the key performance changes behind his record-breaking year
11 WAYS TO POG-UP YOUR PLAN
Tadej Pocačar's performance is out of reach but you can adapt his training to raise your game. Chris Marshall-Bell consults the experts to find out how
Why do modern aero bikes look less aero?
Are today's aero bikes really faster, or is marketing just getting better? Joe Baker investigates...
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
An Olympic year is always special and the cycling season once again delivered a year of highs and lows, from Pogi's triple to Katie Archibald's pre-Olympic trip
MEET THE PARENTS
What made Tadej Pogačar the phenomenon he is today? Chris Marshall-Bell went to Slovenia to meet his mum and dad, Mirko and Marjeta
HALF MAN HALF GOAT
Tadej Pogačar may have had a phenomenal season, but has he done enough to cement his status as the greatest of all time? Chris Marshall-Bell weighs the arguments for and against
Lefevere cashes in his chips and leaves cycling management
The news that Patrick Lefevere will step down as Quick Step boss marks the end of an era, after 22 years in charge
Mathieu van der Poel weighs up skipping Tour de France
Dutchman hints at missing Tour in favour of mtb Worlds bid, reports Tom Thewlis from Dénia, Spain