We take a look back at some snowy bike racing scenes. Photos by Graham Watson
With large chunks of the northern hemisphere currently experiencing heavy snowfall, we thought we’d take a pictorial look back at some of the snowy moments endured by the peloton.
Early-season races are often blighted by bad weather, particularly when they hit higher altitudes. Snow and ice can linger on in the mountains right into the start of summer – and can sometimes shape a race.
Occasionally, snowfall will lead to a race being cancelled or re-routed, but sometimes the riders just have to dress up against the elements and get on with it. A rider than can endure freezing conditions and stay upright can prevail.
And there’s no denying that snowy scenery can make for a stunning backdrop for photos.
Bad weather hinders a stage of the 1992 Paris-Nice, the so-called ‘race to the sun’
Of course, snow needn’t be a hindrance: for some cyclo-cross races it’s par for the course, like this night-time event in Diegem
Snow led to the opening stage of the 2011 Tour of California being cancelled
Cyclists in the 1995 Dauphine-Libere
Most of us wouldn’t have stepped out of the door on a morning like this. A Euskaltel riders mingles with the team cars during 2013 Milan-San Remo
Snow didn’t stop them in 1963!
We delve into the Cycling Weekly archives to look at the 1963 cyclo-cross championships
The peloton races through a snowstorm in the 2013 Milan San Remo
Inevitably, icy conditions and cold hands struggling to grab brakes end up in a crash – as it did during Milan San Remo in 2013
The peloton on stage fifteen at the 2013 Giro d’Italia
It’s not just riders that have to get out in the cold: Sky photographer Scott Mitchell on stage 15 of the 2013 Giro d’Italia
Vincenzo Nibali gets a helping hand from some lads who obviously don’t feel the cold on stage 20 of the 2013 Giro d’Italia
A snowman supporter on stage 20 at the 2013 Giro d’Italia
The peloton climbs the Passo Stelvio on stage 16 of the 2014 Giro d’Italia
Svein Tuft stops to put on warm clothing on stage 16 of the 2014 Giro d’Italia
A Lampre-Merida rider stops to get warm on stage 16 of the 2014 Giro d’Italia
Dario Frigo leads Andrea Noe during a snowy stage of the 2002 Tour de Romandie