Each week at Cycling Weekly we scour the depths of social media to bring you some highlights from the world of professional cycling.
Riders are let loose on the unsuspecting public, dishing out insights into the weird and wonderful side of the sport.
As 2018 comes to a close, we have bundled together the best tweets from the last 12 months.
Alberto Contador’s football skills, Tony Gallopin being a sore winner after the World Cup, Tom Dumoulin’s bathroom incident, and a case of mistaken identity involving Chris Hoy all make an appearance.
1. How many attempts Alberto?
Tiempo de mundial! ⚽️ 🐶 😉
It's time of World Cup!! ⚽️ 🐶 😉 pic.twitter.com/jldKAIMZG4— Alberto Contador (@albertocontador) June 24, 2018
2. Gallopin’s a sore winner
"ALLEZ LES BLEUS 🇫🇷 ALLEZ LES BLEUS 🇫🇷"
When @tonygallopin visits @Lotto_Soudal ! 👋🇧🇪
When @tonygallopin rend visite à @Lotto_Soudal ! 👋🇧🇪#TDF2018 #FRABEL pic.twitter.com/sjPqD0hpvo— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 10, 2018
3. Beard prejudice is real
Gotta admit, hearing a spectator cheering for me by yelling "Vamos bin Laden!" was a first for me. #beardproblems
— Simon Geschke (@simongeschke) September 9, 2018
4. The memory of the Du-poo-lin incident lives on
5. Elinor Barker and Katie Archibald – true friendship
Vote for my friend @_katiearchibald for #NLAwards because not only does she currently hold every title possible (Olympic, World, European, commonwealth, national) she’s done so with grace and style. https://t.co/gs5tvF1TRt pic.twitter.com/LOrmnUWigl
— Elinor Barker (@elinorbarker) September 11, 2018
6. Legs – outstanding. Arms – need work
Great at winning bikes races – not so good at throwing bidons 🤦♂️🤣 @GeraintThomas86 #OVOToB pic.twitter.com/c4HzGpy8rl
— Team Sky (@TeamSky) September 4, 2018
7. We have no words
Delighted with this birthday card 😂
A homage to my favourite presidential candidate Dr Ben Carson ☺️
Yes, he commissioned a portrait of himself and Jesus and hung it on his wall. #Humble #jealous pic.twitter.com/k6lWgvb8iN
— Callum Skinner (@CallumSkinner) August 20, 2018
8. All Chris’ were not born equal
Woman in the street: “Is it?… Are…you…Chris?”
Me: “Yes!”
Woman: “Chris Froome?”
Me: “No”
Woman: “Oh.” *walks off* 😂— Chris Hoy (@chrishoy) July 21, 2018
9. Lawless fulfils his destiny
Not an ideal start at TDY with the break staying away but nice to be back racing. Thanks for all the wagon wheels. @ChrisLawless95 has eaten so many he’s actually turned into one pic.twitter.com/cCfl6KubzG
— Owain Doull (@owaindoull) May 3, 2018
10. When you crash, your mates will always have your back – or they’ll crack jokes on Twitter
. @lawsoncraddock put on a clinic yesterday @ehitzulia. Here he demonstrates nearly perfect form for hitting/getting hit by a car. He got a 9.6 from the judges. 10/10 if he'd stuck the landing. Don't worry, he's as fine as fine can be. The car… not so much. #TheTexasTwoStep pic.twitter.com/cGp7XMElqU
— Alex Howes (@alex_howes) April 8, 2018
11. The Tour Down Under was a little toastie this year
Rookie mistake . . ☀️🔥😓 pic.twitter.com/sTTfRxVipv
— Louis (@LouisMeintjes) January 13, 2018
12. The ultimate betrayal
Can you guys out there help a "Good" friend of mine please. He needs some love(some followers). His name is @RohanDennis , you don't have to read the stuff he tweets. Just follow him and it would make a world of difference to him. #HelpRohan pic.twitter.com/suAQHn6wA0
— Adam Hansen (@HansenAdam) December 6, 2018
13. Bit awkward
Chris Froome or Bradley Wiggins? 🤔
90 seconds with Tour de France winner @GeraintThomas86 pic.twitter.com/cizn4Dyayl
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) November 19, 2018
14. De Gendt goes Attenborough
Here is a rare picture of @AndreGreipel without race clothes and helmet. pic.twitter.com/Tsdf3YNYN2
— Thomas De Gendt (@DeGendtThomas) October 8, 2018
15. That time Thomas fell victim to bike show thieves
When you get the call from @franmillar saying some knob’s nicked my trophy https://t.co/MEHzoAJUnF pic.twitter.com/B1L8uSuhbf
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) October 10, 2018
