Remco Evenepoel’s transfer from Soudal-QuickStep to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe was one of the biggest talking points of late last season, but it wasn’t surprising given the ongoing tension and public disagreements with team owner Patrick Lefevere. Evenepoel left his former team one year ahead of schedule at the end of 2025 but was only recently able to show off his new team colours and bike due to contract obligations that terminated at the end of December.

For Evenepoel, 2025 was a season to forget, marked by a series of injury setbacks that culminated in a premature exit from the Tour de France. While there were some glimmers of form, including his time-trial win on stage 5 around Caen, he struggled in the high mountains and subsequently abandoned the race.

Of all the riders in the peloton, Evenpoel's bike has always stood out as a veritable head-turner, a celebration of winning both the road race and time trial at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. As tradition dictates, and as Richard Carapaz and Greg van Avermaet before him, the Olympic champion’s bike will always feature a golden theme running throughout the design. While Evenpoel’s Soudal-QuickStep bike was a pure gold number, his new whip is a far more refined one and represents more of a subtle homage to his achievements.

As has become the theme for Specialized-sponsored teams, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe turned to Lumarcolors to customise Remco’s bike, and they’ve done an exquisite job. It still adheres to the team’s design DNA but uses gold more subtly than before. As a result, there’s some beautiful gold leaf applied to the main Red Bull logo on the headtube with smaller accents around the seatpost, saddle shell, and lower fork, not to mention the SRAM decals, chain, and cassette.

Closer inspection also reveals some golden keyline wordmarks on the frame, applied as a water transfer. It looks superb, very classy. The tyre tanwalls also align with the gold theme and complement the overall aesthetics.

The big change for Remco this season comes from the groupset, which is supplied by SRAM, rather than Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, as with Soudal-QuickStep. As a result, his S-Works Tarmac SL8 is built around a SRAM Red AXS groupset, complete with 165mm cranks and 52/39T, 10-33T gearset. The balance of the build features the usual Specialized and Roval bits, including a set of Roval Rapide CLX III wheels wrapped in 28mm Specialized Turbo Cotton TLR, a Specialized S-Works Power Evo with Mirror saddle, and a K-Edge computer mount.

• Frameset: S-Works Tarmac SL8 Fact 12r Carbon
• Fork: S-Works Fact 12r Carbon
• Cockpit: Roval Rapide
• Seatpost: S-Works Tarmac SL8 Carbon
• Groupset: SRAM Red AXS 52/39T, 10-33T
• Wheelset: Roval Rapide CLX III
• Tyres: Specialized Turbo Cotton TLR 28mm
• Saddle: Specialzied S-Works Power Evo with Mirror

Mid South, formerly known as Land Run, held its 10th edition over the weekend. By many to be the gravel season opener, thousands of racers made the trek to the remote location of Stillwater, Oklahoma, to contest the infamous red clay roads in either the 50-mile or 100-mile race.

All the Whos-Whos of gravel and even some WorldTour roadies and track champions were present on the start line, which took place in sub-freezing temperatures. Riders of note included two-time defending champion, Payson McElveen (Allied), Ted King (Cannondale), Kiel Reijnen (Trek), Colin Strickland (Meteor-Allied), Peter Stetina (Canyon), Ashton Lambie (Gravelnauts-Lauf), John Borstelmann (Abus), Amity Rockwell (Trek/Easton), Ruth Winder (Trek), Emily Newson (EF Education-Tibco-SVB), and Lauren De Crescenzo (Cinch).

While the racing within the peloton is fierce, perhaps the biggest competition, however, comes from the weather and the consequent road conditions. Every year, the race is defined by the state of Oklahoma’s red dirt. If dry, the red roads are hard packed and fast. If wet, the clay turns to thick, soul-sucking mud that’s barely rideable and is known to destroy many a drivetrain.

Racing Mid South is as much a gauge of your fitness as it is your grit and mental toughness.

On Friday, a day before the 10th edition was to kick off, Mid South runners and early arrivers awoke to a blanket of snow. While the snow wasn’t predicted to linger, the forecast of freezing temperatures led organizer, Bobby Wintle, to delay the start time to 9 a.m., in the hopes of slightly warmer, more bearable beginnings.

While the start was still frigid, a warm and windy afternoon the day prior had allowed the course to dry out, keeping the mud at bay and the racing fast.

Like most gravel races, the men’s and women’s fields and age categories all race together, but are scored separately.

The men’s race was won by 23-year-old Cole Paton (Orange Seal Off-Road) in 4 hours and 52 minutes. Paton broke away from a strong lead group with approximately six miles to go and managed to hold on to his one-minute lead. Behind him, his teammate Dennis van Winden won the reduced bunch sprint for second. Canadian Adam Roberge (Elevate - Webiplex) rounded out the podium.

Red Bull rider and defending champion, Payson McElveen, crashed out of the race 90 miles in and sustained a broken collarbone and injured hand.

Jon Mould (JLT Condor) won the 2018 edition of the annual Eddie Soens Memorial Cycle Race on the Aintree racecourse in Liverpool on Saturday.

Matt Bottrill very early rolled back the clock to 1998 – when he last won the race – as he went on the attack on the final two laps of the 50-mile race, which comprises 30 laps of the cicruit.

However, Bottrill was joined in his late move by last year's Soens runner-up Mould in cold and grimy conditions.

The two distanced the rest of the peloton, with Mould just getting the better of former time trial champion Bottrill in the final sprint.

>>> ‘You’re not going to gain 50 watts from it’: Adam Yates not spurred on by brother’s Paris-Nice loss

Mould's JLT Condor team-mate and defending champion Ed Clancy brought the rest of the field home in third place. Clancy has won the race on three previous occasions: 2009, 2013 and 2017.

Elizabeth-Jane Harris (Storey Racing) took the women's category win ahead of team-mates Anna Kay and Ffion James.

Former Eddie Soens winners include Steve Cummings, Russell Downing, Ian Stannard, Rob Hayles, Chris Newton and Tony Gibb.

Mould went on to contest Sunday's Jock Wadley Memorial road race in Colchester, Essex, where he played an active role in the action although he missed out on a podium spot.

Mikey Mottram (Morvelo-Basso) took the Jock Wadley victory with Joey Walker (Team Wiggins) in second and local rider George Wood (Richardsons Trek RT) in third.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lcAJlWsvZQ

Wouter Roosenboom is a Dutch photographer who seeks to capture the beauty and artistry of cycling from his own unique perspective. Wouter works with many high profile clients in cycling, such as Shimano, Sunweb, Ridley and Bioracer. Here we present a gallery showcasing a selection of what he regards to be his best photos of the last 12 months. For more information you can check out his website here

Cannondale-Drapac

Wouter's winning picture in the world wide cyclingphoto-contest Mark Gunter photographer of the year 2016. The photo is of the Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team during the 5th stage 20.9km team time trial in the Eneco Tour. Wouter explains "it was really difficult to shoot from the motorbike. The riders entered a forest so it became dark. I had to be very close behind them to shoot this one."

Six appeal

Always looking for the artistic angle, Wouter was inspired by the work of painter Piet Mondrian for this picture of Christian Grasmann at the Six Days Rotterdam 2016. The picture was taken from the roof of Ahoy.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2016

Wouter, who often rides on the back of a moto explains, "I often go in front of the peloton to find interesting spots."

Cavendish

I don't like shooting the finish between all the other photographers. If possible I try to do something diffferent. I shot this picture of Mark Cavendish from a small tree stump and tried to balance on one leg to get a view over the crowds.

Sagan

Wouter describes "I captured this portrait of Peter Sagan just after the opening presentation for the Tour de France."

Warming up

The warming-up of a time trial is always nice to shoot. I pictured Tom Stamsnijder during his warming-up for the Giro d'Italia prologue in Apeldoorn.

Van Avermaet

This rather unique panning shot, is Greg Van Avermaet photgraphed from a bridge during the Eneco Tour time trial in Brad.

Roubaix

This photo is of Koen de Kort showering in the famous showers of Roubaix velodrome at the end of Paris -Roubaix. Wouter explains: "As team photographer of team Giant-Alpecin (now Sunweb), I shoot a lot behind the scenes."

Final time

Image: Wouter Roosenboom

Tour of Flanders 2016

In Wouter's words "An empty street in Brugge during the start of Tour of Flanders. I took this photo with a smile on my face."

Tour de Yorkshire 2016

Wouter explains, "for the first time I visited Le Tour de Yorkshire. It was amazing. Despite its young age, the three-day race has already established itself as Britain’s second biggest stage race behind only the Tour of Britain" adding, "I fell in love with the Tour de Yorkshire. Crossing the beautiful roads I saw this distinguished British gentleman."

Different angle

Another image from the 2016 Tour of Flanders as riders traverse the fields. Another example of an angle that other photographers may not think of. "Sometimes you find really nice views from a distance."

UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships at Zolder

Wouter describes "I'm always looking for something different. When the sun emerges after the rain there are always new opportunities."

Jacob Hennessy (Spirit Bikes Racing Team) claimed the victory in the 34th Jock Wadley Memorial Road Race in Colchester, Essex, on Sunday.

Hennessy out-sprinted Lloyd Chapman (Pedal Heaven) to take the win, with George Wood (Richardsons-Trek RT) rounding out the podium in third place.

The race was also notable for the presence of former individual pursuit world champion Colin Sturgess. The 1989 world champ, now 47, made his return to racing in 2014 after a 14-year break. He finished in 48th place.

Last year's winner, Steele Von Hoff, was absent - the Australian now rides fro One Pro Cycling, who did not take part.

>>> Third category rider Bertie Newey wins Eddie Soens road race

Result

34th Jock Wadley Memorial Road Race

1. Jacob Hennessy (Spirit Bikes Racing Team)

2. Lloyd Chapman (Pedal Heaven)

3. George Wood (Richardsons-Trek RT)

4. Michael Mottram (HR Owen Maserati RT)

5. Alex Paton (Pedal Heaven)

6. Oliver Maxwell (Neon-Velo Cycling Team)

7. Jez McCann (Richardsons-Trek RT)

8. Ashley Cox (CC Luton)

9. Mitchell Webber (Pedal Heaven)

10. Barnabas Purbrook (London Dynamo)

In terms of variety, it was hard to beat the past weekend for cycle races. We had the UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Belgium, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in Australia, the Challenge Mallorca in the Mediterranean and Grand Prix Cycliste la Marseillaise in France.

We've collected together a dozen of the best photos from a memorable weekend.

Mechanical doping

UCI president Brian Cookson answers questions at a press conference in Zolder, Belgium, on Sunday morning after a bike was found to have a concealed electric motor at the Cyclocross World Championships.

Evie Richards

British rider Evie Richards puts on the rainbow jersey for the first time after she became the inaugural women's under-23 cyclocross world champion.

Fabian Cancellara

Fabian Cancellara at Challenge Mallorca (Watson)

Fabian Cancellara

Fabian Cancellara at Challenge Mallorca (Watson)

Cyclocross World Championships 2016

Belgian fans pulled out all the stops to support their riders in the 2016 Cyclocross World Championships.

Team Sky's new recruits

Beñat Intxausti and Michal Kwiatkowski look like they have already formed a friendship as they take part in their first race together for Team Sky at the Challenge Mallorca.

Sir Dave Brailsford

Team Sky top man Sir Dave Brailsford looked relaxed at the Challenge Mallorca during the weekend's racing. What's really going on in this photo? We're not quite sure.

Peter Kennaugh

Peter Kennaugh looked serious before the start of the 2016 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race... and it turned out he was. The British champion took a memorable solo victory.

UCI press conference

Racing at the Cyclocross World Championships was virtually overshadowed by the 'mechanical doping' scandal, where Belgian rider Femke Van den Driessche's bike was found to have a concealed electric motor. The world's press wanted to know how and why it happened.

G.P. Marsellaise

Dries Devenyns lunges to the line just ahead of Thibaut Pinot to win the 2016 Grand Prix Marsellaise in France on Sunday.

Kevin Pauwels

Belgian Pauwels fights through the mud at the Cyclocross World Championships in Belgium. Home fans were later accused of throwing urine on riders from the Netherlands during the elite men's race.

Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

As its name suggests, the Great Ocean Road Race passes along the famous Australian coastal highway, next to beaches favoured by surfers. It provides a stunning backdrop.

Thalita De Jong

Dutchwoman Thalita De Jong won the elite women's cyclocross title at the rain-swept World Championships in Belgium on Saturday.

The national 10-mile time trial championship has a unique place in British cycling history: the 'race of truth' is the ultimate decider for who is the fastest Brit over the distance.

The set distance of 10 miles is one that hundred, if not thousands, of riders race every week, so the National '10' provides club cyclists up and down the country a benchmark to aspire to.

This year's championships, held on the Warwickshire and Leicestershire border, had a surprise winner in Richard Bussell riding for RST Sport/Aero-Coach, who beat top-seeded contenders Matt Clinton (Mike Vaughan Cycles) and defending champion Matt Bottrill (drag2zero.com).

>>> Richard Bussell beats pre-race favourites to win national 10-mile time trial

Remarkably, it was only postman Bussell's fifth time trial of the year, but the lack of racing obviously did him no harm in the rain-swept race.

The event also benefited from the star presence of England rugby legend and cycling fan Martin Johnson, who was on stage to present the prizes to the winners.

Here we present a selection of exclusive photos taken by Cycling Weekly photographer Andy Jones.

Result
National 10-mile time trial championship 2015

1. Richard Bussell (RST Sport/Aero-Coach) 19.36

2. Matt Clinton (Mike Vaughan Cycles) 19.41

3. Matthew Bottrill (Drag2zero.com) 19.45

4. Edmund Bradbury (NFTO Pro Cycling) 19.50

5. James Boyman (Farnham RC) 20.01

6. Brett Harwood (Terry Wright Cycles RC) 20.04

7. Andy Jackson (Team Swift) 20.05

8. Joshua Williams (Revolutions Racing) 20.08

9. Dan Evans (Team Elite/Paul Bethall Electrical) 20.10

10. Rob Sharland (Paceline RT) 20.11

The 2015 Tour de France will be remembered as a hard-fought edition of the race that felt like an entire season of racing packed into three weeks.

Baking hot sun, torrential rain, time trials, cobbles, hills and mountains all left their mark on the 2015 Tour - as did the opening week's crashes, which saw two leaders prematurely forced out of the race while in the yellow jersey.

As ever, the varied French scenery - this year augmented with a Grand Depart in the Netherlands and a stage in Belgium - meant that the race has a backdrop like no other sporting event. A constantly changing arena in which the toughest and most prestigious cycling event is played out.

Here we present a selection of images from Yuzuru Sunada, a renowned cycling photographer with over two decades of experience capturing the sport.

Video: best of the 2015 Tour de France

Gabriel Cullaigh (100% Me) won the Stafford Kermesse on Saturday, the fourth round of the 2015 British Cycling Elite Road Series.

Cullaigh attacked to take the win just ahead of the chasing pack in the finale of the 65-mile race around the picturesque Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire.

The 19-year-old British Cycling Olympic Academy rider placed one second ahead of Morgan Kneisky (Raleigh GAC)  in second and Jon Mould (One Pro Cycling) in third.

Series leader Steve Lampier (Raleigh GAC) came home for fourth to retain his position at the top of the overall table after four rounds.

Mould had won Friday's Stafford Grand Prix, which along with the Kermesse and women's Stafford Grand Prix, were part of the weekend's Staffordshire Cycling Festival.

Nicola Juniper (Giordana-Triton) continued a strong season with a successful defence of her Women's Grand Prix title on Saturday evening.

Having been in an escape with Charline Joiner (WNT) for the duration of the race, Juniper sprinted clear of Joiner to take her first win of the British Cycling Women’s Road Series - and with it the overall series title.

The final round of the women's series is the Ryedale Grand Prix on Sunday, July 19.

Results

Stafford Kermesse 2015 (British Cycling Elite Road Series)

1. Gabriel Cullaigh (100% Me) in 1-42-51

2. Morgan Kneisky (Raleigh GAC) at 1 sec

3. Jon Mould (One Pro Cycling)

4. Steve Lampier (Raleigh GAC)

5. Sam Lowe (Raleigh GAC)

6. David McGowan (Pedal Heaven)

7. Matt Cronshaw (Madison Genesis)

8. Dale Appleby (NFTO)

9. Liam Stones (Raleigh GAC)

10. Evan Oliphant (Raleigh GAC) all same time

Women's Stafford Grand Prix (British Cycling Women’s Road Series)

1. Nicola Juniper (Giordana-Triton) in 56-32

2. Charline Joiner (WNT) at 8 secs

3. Brit Tate (WNT) at 2-05

4. Annasley Park (Giordana-Triton) at 2-08

5. Henrietta Colborne (Jadan)

6. Abby-Mae Parkinson (Giordana-Triton) at same time

7. Lucy Shaw (Matrix Fitness) at one lap

8. Rose Osborne (WNT) at one lap

9. Steph Clayton (Stafford Road Club) at one lap

10. Hannah Walker (WNT) at one lap

Classic bikes of all ages descended upon Bakewell in Derbyshire for a weekend of retro cycling, food and music as part of the second Eroica Britannia festival.

The three-day event attracted riders from all over Britain and beyond to take part in the UK version of the Italian Eroica event. Everyone taking part - and they were there in their thousands - was encouraged to ride a retro bike and be suitably attired.

Many take retro-themed riding very seriously, with several clubs springing up to celebrate cycling heritage. Even though it is only in its second year, L'Eroica Britannia has become something of a pilgrimage for those with an appreciation of cycling from a bygone era.

>>> Eroica Britannia announces extra ride places for sold-out event

On Sunday, L'Eroica Britannia ride took the 3,000 participants out onto the roads and gravel tracks of the Peak District. Some were dressed as racers from the past decade, others as servicemen complete with full uniforms and regulation army-issue bikes. Others were just there to soak up the atmosphere and have some fun.

Among them were former professionals Malcolm Elliott and British Tour de France legend Brian Robinson, both of whom looked as though they'd carefully kept their bikes and clothing from their racing heydays.

Cool, calm and collected. Sir Bradley Wiggins may have been nervous ahead of his successful UCI Hour Record attempt on Sunday at the Lee Valley Velodrome in London, but he barely showed it.

A clean-shaven Wiggins appeared in front of the packed, sell-out crown in the former London 2012 venue to try and beat Alex Dowsett's mark of 52.937km. He put in a typically measured ride to claim a new record of 54.526km, over one and a half kilometres greater than Dowsett.

Rather than collapsing after his ride, Wiggins did several laps of the velodrome, walked around and spoke to the press and well wishers. His team had even managed to rustle up a jersey within minutes emblazoned with his record in gold.

Despite looking like he'd barely made an effort after the event, Wiggins said that it is unlikely he will make a second attempt at the record.

It's tough out there in the world of pro cycling. Sure, you've got to be a bit of a glutton for punishment to get into the sport in the first place, but there's pain and there is pain.

Here at Cycling Weekly, after seeing Fabio Aru's emotional response to being passed by Alberto Contador on the Mortirolo, we've been racking our brains (and our photo libraries) for some of the moments when it all got too much.

1. David Millar, Stage six, Tour de France 2009

For so much of the day, it looked as if David Millar might be able to hang on for his first stage win at the Tour de France since his return from suspension.

After escaping from the peloton with what ended up as a four-man group, he attacked again in the last 30km, but the bunch would not be shaken off, and caught him as the final kilometre approached. He trailed in more than a minute back from winner Thor Hushovd.

2. Jack Bobridge, Hour Record attempt, Melbourne 2015

Here's the thing about road racing - times don't really matter. If you can get round France on two wheels quicker than anyone else, nobody is really going to care whether you did it at an average speed of 24kmph, as Firmin Lambot did in 1919, or closer to 40kmph, as is the norm these days.

If you're only going to be riding for an hour, though, you need to give it some. And if you do that, and you top 51kph, and after all that you fall 500m short of a world record - well, you're entitled to show it.

3. Nicolas Roche, Stage 17, Tour of Spain 2011

Nicolas Roche isn't shy of showing what's going on inside. This one, though, was seriously tough. On a day where Chris Froome powered his way into the overall lead at the 2011 Vuelta - raising serious questions over Bradley Wiggins's status as team leader along the way - Roche clung on gamely to finish 17th, just over a minute behind Froome. Not - as this picture shows - without a hell of a lot of effort.

4. Xavier Florencio, Stage 14, Tour de France 2007

Eight years before he broke Fabio Aru's spirit, Alberto Contador did much the same to most of the field as the Tour de France hit the Pyrenees. Michael Rasmussen, the only man who could stay with the then 24-year-old on the road to Plateau-de-Beille, would complete only two more stages before being abruptly withdrawn from the race. Xavier Florencio finished the stage 47th, nearly 13 minutes behind them. For many, the damage was a lot worse.

5. Gianluca Bortolami, Stage 15, Tour de France 1994

Ah, Mont Ventoux. You didn't think we'd miss out perhaps one of the definitive mountain of the definitive Grand Tour, did you?

But perhaps our favourite part of this picture is that, while Gianluca Bortolami grimaces his way to a highly creditable 16th place, the chillaxed fellas behind him are rocking some serious 90s style.

6. Guillaume Auger, Stage 16, Tour de France 2004

From Ventoux to the Alpe d'Huez, which in 2004 hosted the finish of a 15.5km individual time trial.

Stage winner Lance Armstrong caught two-minute man Ivan Basso with 2.8km to go; Guillaume Auger - a Frenchman riding his second and last Tour de France and already two and a quarter hours back on GC - lost more than 10 minutes.

7. Philippe Gilbert / Jelle Vanendert, Fleche-Wallonne, 2012

The Classics have caused their fair share of pain over the years, and the 2012 Fleche-Wallonne was no different. The race was won by Joaquim Rodriguez, who had finished second in 2010 and 2011. Defending champion Philippe Gilbert and fellow Belgian Jelle Vanendert, just four seconds back, came in third and fourth.

8. Andre Tchmil, Paris-Roubaix, 1994

Sometimes, though, the mud and the effort and the pain are all gloriously worth it.

A rider fond of a grimace or two, Andre Tchmil won Milan-San Remo in 1999 and the Tour of Flanders in 2000, but perhaps his first great triumph was at Paris-Roubaix in 1994, when the Hell of the North met with some of the worst weather conditions in decades.

Johan Museeuw put Tchmil under severe pressure only to suffer bike problems, before the Moldovan 'bunny hopped' a traffic island to close in on victory.

9. Fabio Aru, Stage 16, Giro d'Italia 2015

It's hard enough trying to get to the top of the Mortirolo without pressure from behind from a Spanish powerhouse angered by Astana's decision to attack after he stopped to change a wheel.

But once Alberto Contador had overtaken Fabio Aru - who had looked to be his closest GC challenger - the Italian broke down. "I could have lost 20 minutes," he said afterwards. In the end, at a little over two minutes back from Contador, he was happy to limit his losses.

Orica-GreenEdge repeated last year's win in the opening team time trial of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday, blitzing the 17.6-kilometre seaside course under sunny skies to put Simon Gerrans in the race lead.

It's some consolation for Gerrans after a season blighted by injury, and the elated Australian stood on the podium with his children whilst donning the coveted maglia rosa.

Orica-GreenEdge put in a typically well-drilled ride along the route from San Lorenzo al Mare to San Remo, the first stage of any Grand Tour to be run along a bike path. Though much was made pre-race of the narrow nature of the path, the stage was run off without incident, with all 197 starters finishing the stage without a crash.

>>> Richie Porte and Team Sky’s Giro d’Italia time loss a ‘disappointment’

Of the overall contenders, Alberto Contador fared best, with his Tinkoff-Saxo team putting in a fast ride to place second behind Orica-GreenEdge. Contador's team's performance means that he has already gained 20 seconds on overall rival Richie Porte, whose Sky team finished in a disappointing ninth place.

Astana was third team on the stage, a satisfactory performance for home Italian favourite Fabio Aru, taking over team leadership in the absence of Vincenzo Nibali.

The riders will now face the first open road stage of the race on Sunday, a 173km route from Albenga to Genoa.

The riders and teams taking part in the 2015 Giro d'Italia were officially presented to spectators on Friday afternoon in San Remo ahead of the race's opening stage on Saturday.

All 22 teams walked up the pink carpet and onto the stage in front of a sizeable audience of fans. It was a relatively informal affair, with the riders stopping off for photographs and to sign autographs for fans.

Pre-race favourites Richie Porte (Sky), Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo), Rigoberto Uran (Etixx-QuickStep) and home hero Fabio Aru (Astana) all received a lot of attention during the ceremony.

On Saturday, the teams will tackle a team time trial along the coast, starting in San Lorenzo al Mare and finishing 17.6km later in San Remo. Much of the route is run on a bike path, built on the route of an old railway. The narrow stretch of tarmac will present a unique challenge for the riders.

The race concludes in Milan on Sunday, May 31.

Erick Rowsell (Madison-Genesis) and Dani King (Wiggle-Honda) emerged victorious in the respective men's and women's opening stages of the Tour of the Reservoir in Northumberland on Saturday.

Strong winds played a part in shaping both races, with many riders struggling to maintain any sort of momentum and the peloton splintering into pieces.

Given the conditions on eight laps of the Derwent Reservoir, Rowsell's solo move at the end of the race was even more remarkable as he managed to keep a chase group at bay.

Steve Lampier (Raleigh GAC) came in for second, with Rowsell's team-mate Mark McNally in third in what is the second round of the British Cycling Elite Road Series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nblwIBGLPvw

Dani King back to best after horrific crash injury

Earlier in the day, Dani King (Wiggle-Honda) had out-paced fellow escapee Katie Archibald (Pearl Izumi-Sports Tours International) to take the win in the opening 60km stage of the women's Tour of the Reservoir.

It's King's first race back since suffering from a punctured lung as a result of a training incident. Her delight at the result was obvious, as King punched the air in celebration.

Charline Joiner (Team WNT) completed the top three on the opening stage of the women's race.

Both the men's and women's events conclude on Sunday.

The Tour of Britain has been around in one form or another since the end of the Second World War, when the Victory Cycling Marathon ran from Brighton to Glasgow. Later it became the iconic Milk Race, which spanned the majority of the tour’s history, before its current incarnation as the Tour of Britain, sponsored by Friend’s Life.

The Victory Cycling Marathon began in 1945, and only one year was missed from then until the last Kellogg’s Tour in 1994. In 1998 and 1999 the race ran as the PruTour, and then became the Tour of Britain in 2004.

Cycling in Britain is now more popular than ever, and the Tour of Britain has acted as catalyst and beneficiary, going from strength to strength. It has been awarded 2.HC status by  the UCI, only one category away from becoming part of the UCI WorldTour.

Now sit back and enjoy some classic Tour of Britain photos from the Cycling Weekly archive…

Norman proves wisdom of first Milk Race

1958 Milk Race: Comedian Norman Wisdom feeds milk to Syd Wilson before the start at the inaugural Milk Race, won by Austrian Richard Durlacher in his only Tour of Britain. Durlacher also won the Mountains Classification that year.

It was always about the struggle

1960 Milk Race: Bill Seggar gets going again after a wheel change on a steep climb. Seggar raced the Tour of Britain three times during his six-year career; his best performance came in the 1958 Daily Express Tour, when he managed second on a stage. Seggar finished 15th overall in 1960, with a podium on the Manchester stage.

Olympian Hinds shows why cyclists are the toughest

1961 Milk Race: Proving once again that cyclists are simply a breed apart, Olympian and four-times-stage-winner Jim Hinds tries to bandage himself up after what looks like a bad crash. Hinds came third overall in the following year’s race, picking up a stage win in Weston-Super-Mare. He rode for Britain at the 1960 Rome Olympics in the road race and individual time trial, but came away without a medal.

Fans get close to the action

1966 Milk Race: A spectator tries to get on one of the race bikes during the 1966 Tour, something that would probably be greeted with a trip to the police station in present-day cycling.

Time to cool off

1967 Milk Race: A couple of riders attempt to cool down during the race, splashing their faces with water supplied by a spectator. Britain basked in a two-week summer heatwave in 1967, which saw temperatures hit 27°C — admittedly not quite the 37°C riders suffered at the 2014 Vuelta a Espana.

Who needs champers?

1967 Milk Race: Carlisle mayor Gerard Joseph Coogan breaks out the semi-skimmed for stage 12 winner Zygmunt Hanusik. This was the Polish rider's second stage win at the 1967 Milk Race, coming 6th overall.

Massage tables not included

1973 Milk Race: The Netherlands team van lines up with the others before the race. These buses were used to carry around team equipment rather than house the team themselves, unlike vehicles from the likes of Team Sky, below. Dutch rider Piet van Katwijk won the Milk Race that year.

More from the archives

Blasts from the past: Top five British Pathé cycling videos

Five videos from the British Pathé archives dating from 1899 to 1946.

Kellogg's Tour winners are grrrrreat!

1987 Kellogg's Tour: Tour winner Joey McLoughlin poses with Kellogg's mascot Tony the Tiger after the 1987 race. McLoughlin won stage two of the Kellogg's Tour that year and was the GC winner in the Milk Race the year before. He attempted to defend his yellow jersey in 1988 but could only manage second, although he did manage to repeat his stage two success.

A fall on the Ford, rather than a rumble on the Tumble

1988 Kellogg's Tour: Fans look on as a racer takes a fall trying to cross the Westerdale Ford in North Yorkshire.

The Pocket Rocket can hardly contain himself

1989 Kellogg's Tour: The Isle of Man has a knack of creating top British sprinters. The predecessor to the Manx Missile, Mark Cavendish, was Steve Joughin, aka the Pocket Rocket — and here he doesn't hold back in celebrating his Birmingham stage win.

Welcome aboard the 'Death Star'

2013 Tour of Britain: A step up from the team vans from 1973, above, the fully kitted out Team Sky bus, nicknamed 'The Death Star', is surrounded by a crowd of fans. The bus is fitted with a personal area for each rider, a kitchen, a shower and two washing machines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4YtJgrNRWA

Haytor worthy of a Grand Tour

2013 Tour of Britain: The British cycling revolution has turned cycling into a mainstream sport with huge public interest. Never was this more clear than at the Devon stage up Haytor, where 250,000 fans lined the route.

Brit pack take control

2013 Tour of Britain: British cycling icon Sir Bradley Wiggins celebrates becoming the 2013 Tour of Britain champion with a shower of champagne, flanked by third placed finisher and fellow Brit Simon Yates.

Dowsett leads a ToB to remember

2014 Tour of Britain: Britain's Alex Dowsett punishes himself in the stage 6 breakaway, which landed him the yellow jersey for a stage. Dowsett instigated the breakaway, which managed to stay ahead, in, what he described as possibly the hardest race in his career. He paid the price for punishing himself on the next day, where he lost the jersey.

Wiggins shows off the latest tech

2014 Tour of Britain: Showing how far cycling technology has come since the days of the Milk Race, defending champion Wiggins gets ready for his time trial on the custom Pinarello Bolide. The Team Sky time trial bike has been designed to make even the smallest of gains through aerodynamic features that would never have been conceived of in the decades before.

Words by Michael Seymour and Ray Pascoe

After a lengthy period of speculation, Andy Schleck announced his retirement from professional cycling on Thursday morning. The Trek Factory Racing rider from Luxembourg drew his a nine-year career to a close.

After turning professional with the CSC team in 2005, Schleck very soon established himself as one of the peloton's most promising riders. In 2006, he was part of CSC's Tour of Britain team and won the mountains classification.

Schleck soon made his mark in Grand Tours by placing second in the 2007 Giro d'Italia behind Danilo Di Luca and winning the best young rider award. He went on to win the best young rider classification of the 2008 Tour de France, the first of three consecutive years he would do so. In 2009, Schleck showed he could take a significant one-day win by attacking solo in Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

In 2010, Schleck finished the Tour in second place behind Alberto Contador, but received the 'win' after Contador tested positive for clenbuterol during the race. Schleck would then place second behind Cadel Evans the following year, taking stage 18 along the way. But that would be the last of his success.

A string of injuries, poor form and crashes meant that 2011 would be the last season to include a victory. A crash during stage three of the 2014 Tour de France to London caused a knee injury that he could not recover from, despite surgery.

His older brother, Frank Schleck will continue with Trek Factory Racing.

Schleck won the mountains classification at the 2006 Tour of Britain

A fresh-faced Schleck with dad and former pro Johny Schleck on stage 13 of the 2007 Giro d'Italia

Schleck climbs on stage 15 of the 2007 Giro d'Italia, where he would finish as runner-up and take the best young rider title

Schleck signs autographs at the 2007 Giro d'Italia

Schleck on Healy Pass, 2007 Tour of Ireland

Schleck (right) poses with Linus Gerdemann, Tom Boonen, Alberto Contador and Thomas Dekker at the Amstel Curacao Race in 2008

Schleck and friend in Curacao, 2008

Descending in the 2009 Tour of California

Schleck (right) and Davide Rebellin in the 2009 edition of Fleche Wallonne. Rebellin would take the victory, with Schleck second

One of Schleck's stand-out victories - a solo attack netted him the win in 2009 Liege-Bastogne-Liege

Andy with brother Frank (right) after stage 17 of the 2009 Tour de France

On stage 20 of the 2009 Tour de France with sparring partner Alberto Contador (left). Lance Armstrong is just behind him

Perhaps Schleck's most convincing performance in any Grand Tour was during the 2010 Tour de France: here he wins stage eight

Schleck and Contador on Ax 3 Domaines during the 2010 Tour de France

Schleck's dropped chain during stage 15 of the 2010 Tour de France initially cost him the race. Rival Contador attacked him on the climb to Port de Balès. However, a positive test for clenbuterol would see Contador banned and Schleck inherited the 2010 Tour win

A bit of revenge: Schleck wins stage 17 of the 2010 Tour de France as Contador looks on...

... or perhaps Contador and Schleck came to an agreement during the stage

Attacking during the 2011 Amstel Gold Race

Time trialling - never Andy Schleck's forte - during the 2011 Tour de Suisse, where he would win the mountains classification

Winning stage 18 of the 2011 Tour de France - perhaps Schleck's last career highpoint

Posing with a snake at the 2012 Tour Down Under. His season would later come to an abrupt end in the Criterium du Dauphine, where he crashed out with a fractured pelvis, missing the 2012 Tour de France

A decidedly unhappy-looking Schleck on stage four of 2013 Tirreno-Adriatico

Riding up Mont Ventoux during the 2013 Tour de France. In March, a French politician alleged to have spotted Schleck drunk in a hotel lift. Schleck dismissed the story, but rumours persisted that perhaps his problems ran deeper than simply physical injury. He finished the race in 20th place

Schleck leads an escape on stage nine of the 2014 Tour de Suisse

On stage two of the 2014 Tour de France in Yorkshire, just a day before crashing out and sustaining the knee injury that would ultimately cause him to retire from the sport

Andy Schleck retires from professional cycling

Andy Schleck announces that he will retire from cycling, citing a persistent knee injury

Andy and Frank Schleck's future uncertain at Trek

Trek Factory Racing rumoured to be looking for new general classification contender