![A 'LILLE' TOUCH OF CLASS A 'LILLE' TOUCH OF CLASS](https://cdn.magzter.com/Men's Fitness/1737708369/articles/aq4Yvfi551737719816987/A-LILLE-TOUCH-OF-CLASS.jpg)
Van Rysel means 'from Lille' V and it's in this famous French city that the new bike brand on the block manufactures a range of affordable high performance road bikes. Ridden in the Tour de France by the AG2R Decathlon team, its top-end team-edition machines are also available to buy off the peg unsurprisingly from the team's principal sponsor, ubiquitous outdoor brand Decathlon - at a fraction of the cost of similar high-end bikes. Its lower-end models are also ultra-competitive, in terms of cost and performance.
I was lucky enough to test-ride both the Van Rysel speed-focused RCR on the company's local roads of Roubaix and the endurance-oriented NCR on my own rolling local roads of Somerset to see if they could match the performance of their big-name (and big price-tag) rivals.
Van Rysel RCR
While the Van Rysel RCR Pro Replica Dura Ace Di2 AG2R Decathlon Team model may still be out of the price range of most mere mortals, the RCR Rival AXS Power Sensor model I had the pleasure of testing on the streets of Roubaix as well as the famous velodrome there is much more reasonable. OK, it may not seem that way at £4,000. But for a full-carbon chassis, electronic groupset and integrated power meter I'd be expecting to pay at least a grand more.
This story is from the February 2025 edition of Men's Fitness UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2025 edition of Men's Fitness UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![SCIENCE SAYS...EXERCISE CAN HELP IMPROVE MEMORY SCIENCE SAYS...EXERCISE CAN HELP IMPROVE MEMORY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/498/1972365/NwME79pAj1737724142288/SCIENCE-SAYSEXERCISE-CAN-HELP-IMPROVE-MEMORY.jpg)
SCIENCE SAYS...EXERCISE CAN HELP IMPROVE MEMORY
We all know that exercise W delivers proven physical benefits. Most smart watches can tell us whether our endurance levels are improving. But what about the mental health benefits? These metrics have always been more anecdotal - and therefore harder to measure.
![DON'T DROP THE BOMB DON'T DROP THE BOMB](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/498/1972365/d5xC5a9YF1737721992268/DONT-DROP-THE-BOMB.jpg)
DON'T DROP THE BOMB
Could a 100g post-workout protein-bomb actually work?New science has just overturned the standard advice on protein with some surprising results for post-workout nutrition
![ROLL WITH IT ROLL WITH IT](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/498/1972365/VUyukvQb91737718674298/ROLL-WITH-IT.jpg)
ROLL WITH IT
It won't have escaped your notice that the equipment inventory for most gyms now includes recovery items such as foam rollers, massage guns and spikey balls, all of which can be used in self-myofascial release, which growing evidence suggests is essential for maintaining your muscles in peak condition.
![DUMBBELLS & GYM BALL INTRODUCTION DUMBBELLS & GYM BALL INTRODUCTION](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/498/1972365/VMLbRIZWf1737723624838/DUMBBELLS-GYM-BALL-INTRODUCTION.jpg)
DUMBBELLS & GYM BALL INTRODUCTION
A set of dumbbells and a gym ball can give you serious muscle gains
![EVERYTHING'S GONE GREEN EVERYTHING'S GONE GREEN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/498/1972365/1SMJzmrfe1737719582191/EVERYTHINGS-GONE-GREEN.jpg)
EVERYTHING'S GONE GREEN
A new breed of eco-friendly running shoe is hitting the streets. We take a look at the main contenders
![THE HIGHS & LOWS THE HIGHS & LOWS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/498/1972365/ogEtbK8LD1737722186791/THE-HIGHS-LOWS.jpg)
THE HIGHS & LOWS
Following on from the success of his Sunday Times bestselling The Good Bite's High-Protein Meal-Prep Manual, Niall Kirkland is back with a new collection of delicious and indulgent high-protein recipes - all under 500 calories.
![CUT TO THE QUICK CUT TO THE QUICK](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/498/1972365/h2dEkwLAp1737722789905/CUT-TO-THE-QUICK.jpg)
CUT TO THE QUICK
Speed, balance and co-ordination are all benefits of agility training. So isn't it about time you added it in to your programme?
![Confessions of a HYROX VIRGIN Confessions of a HYROX VIRGIN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/498/1972365/yE99T4eFf1737721184491/CONFESSIONS-OF-A-HYROX-VIRGIN.jpg)
Confessions of a HYROX VIRGIN
Turning a cyclist into a runner is one thing, but can you target a Hyrox in four months in your fifties? Frank Bauer finds out
![THE GYM COMMANDMENTS THE GYM COMMANDMENTS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/498/1972365/kHKvmlQk71737723192045/THE-GYM-COMMANDMENTS.jpg)
THE GYM COMMANDMENTS
To get bigger, stronger or leaner, you must master the basics of training. Adhere to these ten rules from the best in the business and build a better body
![RETREAT INTO YOURSELF RETREAT INTO YOURSELF](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/498/1972365/ThjSErrI71737720799508/RETREAT-INTO-YOURSELF.jpg)
RETREAT INTO YOURSELF
Allowing yourself time to retreat from the everyday can have a powerful impact on your mental wellbeing. Joe Minihane investigates