Pogačar conquers one of the most famous climbs of all," Ned Boulting roars. "Tadej Pogačar takes a bow in front of the Italian fans. What a victory, he will be in the maglia rosa tomorrow." The crowd outside below Santuario di Oropa is at fever pitch, the commentary box windows muffling the roar. Next to Ned, Matt Stephens is on his feet, watching the Slovenian ride over the finish line, physically about 30m away, several seconds ahead of the monitors in front of them. Very meta. "What a win, a difficult situation he turned around. This man is on a different level," Matt says into his headphone mic.
This is the briefest snippet that the listeners heard during the finale of stage 2 of the 2024 Giro d'Italia from two of the finest commentators in the game, but there's an awful lot that you don't see. The headphones on their ears, carrying occasional countdowns from a producer into pre-recorded route spots and segues. The laptop screens with Pro Cycling Stats open, a reference book and the array of color-coordinated, highlighted notes in front of them.
The yoghurt pot, empty espresso cup and bottle of water, sipped sparingly: Boulting has not been to the toilet for the last five hours.
This story is from the October 2024 edition of Cycling Plus 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 October 2024 edition of Cycling Plus 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
Air Apparent - Pollution hasn't gone away. It's still there in every lungful, even if we can't see it in the air or on the news. But there are reasons to breathe easier, thanks to pioneering projects using cycling 'citizen scientists'. Rob Ainsley took part in one...
The toxic effects of pollution have been known about for years. 'Just two things of which you must beware: Don't drink the water and don't breathe the air!' sang 1960s satirist Tom Lehrer.Over recent decades, though, pollution has dropped down our list of things to worry about, thanks to ominously capitalised concerns such as Climate Change, AI, Global Conflict, Species Collapse, etc. That doesn't, unfortunately, mean the problem has expired. Air quality often exceeds safe limits, with far-reaching and crippling effects on our health.
No limits
Not every adventure needs to be that epic, says bikepacking Scotland founder Markus Stitz
UNBOUND UNLEASHED
Josh Patterson was one of 34 starters for the inaugural edition of Unbound in 2006. Now, with more than 5,000 riders taking part in today's event, he charts the rise of the most important race in gravel
FOREST COMMISSION
Looking for a goal race in 2025 that'll stimulate the synapses and live long in the memory? You'd struggle to do better than ENID CRV in Finland
15 OF THE BEST ADVENTURES
Featuring Yorkshire, the USA, Sri Lanka and more, here are our picks of the world's greatest gravel races and routes
The stuff of dreams
Ned sings the praises of the Paris Olympics road-race course
"I rode 3,000 miles around Britain on a bamboo bike to highlight our climate crisis"
Recordbreaking cyclist and triathlete Kate Strong, 45, took to the road to raise awareness of environmental issues
FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE
We venture into the hidden gem of the glorious Creuse, one of France's least populated regions
STAR TREK
New tube shapes and carbon lay-up makes the eighth generation of Trek's legendary Madone an aero and climbing bike all rolled into one
GOLD RUSH
With conflict around the world, Paris 2024 was a ray of light. Here are our highs of a mighty Olympics
