CW LIVE: B & B Hotels, team expected to sign Mark Cavendish, collapses; Bahrain Victorious teases new kit; Chris Froome warns of the dangers of Covid-19; L39ion of Los Angeles announce 2023 roster and Tom Pidcock's cyclo-cross calendar confirmed

 PRIMOŽ ROGLIČ SHARES SHOULDER SURGERY DETAILS

Primož Roglič has shared further details of his recent shoulder operation in order to correct the repeat dislocations that he's suffered.

Eight weeks on from the operation, the Slovenian rider is gradually getting back on his bike and returning to fitness. 

In an interview with WielerFlits, the Jumbo-Visma rider explained that if he was a swimmer, the surgery would have had a "much greater impact" and kept him out of action for longer. 

“I hope to gradually pick up my training again. It is now eight weeks after my shoulder surgery. It gets better every week, but such a recovery takes time," Roglič said. "They took part of my bone and added it to the shoulder area. The first period after the operation I could hardly move my arm. Now, I still can't fully straighten my arm.”

“Luckily I'm not a swimmer, because then such an intervention would have a much greater impact."

The Slovenian rider is aiming to be fit enough to travel to the Jumbo-Visma training camp in Denia, Spain on 11 December.

Yesterday, Roglič shared a selfie of him back on his bike with the caption "It will take some time to get my selfie game back. But hey-I'm riding a bike outside and there is snow. Good start, no?"

UNO-X CRITICISED FOR STANCE OVER B&B HOTELS-KTM SITUATION

Former Lotto-Soudal rider Reinardt Janse van Rensburg has slammed Team Uno-X Pro Cycling for their stance towards the ongoing situation with their French counterparts, B & B Hotels-KTM.

In a short post on Twitter in response to a report from Cyclingnews, Janse van Rensburg said: "One team wishing the demise of another, so they can enjoy their time in the sun, sums up pretty much everything that's wrong with the system at the moment."

French Proteam B & B Hotels are on the sad verge of collapse, meaning that it's unlikely they will be included in the 2023 edition of the Tour de France.

If the team were to indeed collapse, there is a chance that Uno-X would arguably stand a good chance of receiving a wildcard invite to the French Grand Tour next year. 

Uno-X management told Norwegian media outlet TV2, that their hopes of securing a place may well depend on the French team's situation.

"If there is not a French Proteam that is in a position to be invited then our chances of being invited go from 'less likely' to 'mostly likely'," team manager Jens Haugland said.

"It is important to clarity that the trouble for B&B Hotels-KTM is not something we are happy about. But I believe we are qualified to take part in the Tour de France,” he added.

BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS TEASE NEW KIT

Bahrain Victorious have shared a teaser of their new team kit for the 2023 season on their Twitter account.

We'll share full details as and when it drops!

Check back for more!

FROOME HIGHLIGHTS THE DANGERS OF COVID-19

Chris Froome has discussed his experiences of Covid-19 and the long-term effects it can have.

He has argued that many top level riders are struggling for months post-infection, and also highlighted the potential risks of contracting the illness to the heart.

Froome picked up the illness for the first time at this year's Tour de France, and it eventually forced him out of the race. He returned to the peloton at the Vuelta a España but largely struggled for form. 

In a video shared on his YouTube account, Froome explained that he after effects of Covid lingered with him for some time.

"I came out of the season not feeling good. I feel I really needed a break, Covid really knocked me for six," he said. "I just wasn't able to come back from that. I never felt like I had lots of energy on the bike. I went to the Vuelta to build through the race but all the way through I felt flat, flat, flat."

According to a report from Cyclingnews, Froome also argued that his VO2max was "definitely affected by Covid." 

Froome has also drawn attention to what he saw as a cardiovascular hit from being infected with Covid, which he said also extended to other "strange heart problems."

Pericarditis has been identified as a potential post Covid issue, with several riders having to take time away from racing for that reason. 

LAYOFFS HIT 15% OF STAFF AT STRAVA

According to Bicycle Retailer and Industry News [BRAIN], recent layoffs at cycling app Strava has affected about 15% of the company's workforce.

The layoffs come at the same time as several other companies in the cycling and tech industries announcing cuts to their staffing levels 

BRAIN has discovered that at least 40 Strava employees including product designers and product managers have been let go which amounts to approximately 15% of the Strava workforce. 

PIERRE ROLLAND ON THE WAY OUT OF B & B HOTELS-KTM?

Pierre Rolland will be joining Peter Sagan in the colours of team TotalEnergies in 2023.

According to WielerFlits, the 36-year-old climber will be imminently moving to pastures new following on from the slow demise of his current team, B & B Hotels-KTM. 

The struggles of the French Proteam have been well documented, and it's understood that B & B team manager Jérôme Pineau will aim for a restart with the team at Continental level.

Pineau recently told his riders that they were free to try to find new teams.

If Rolland does move to the TotalEnergies team, it will mark a return to the squad in which he spent six years of his career. 

In 2015, Rolland won a stage of the Tour de France at Alpe d'Huez in the colours of Europcar, a former guise of the TotalEnergies squad. 

UPDATE

Rolland has now taken to Twitter to clarify his current situation, posting a tweet in response to the reports both on WielerFlits and L'Equipe which suggest he is due to sign for TotalEnergies.

"Surprised to discover where my future will be written in the press, Rolland said. "I will keep you informed in due time on my social networks of what my future will be. In the meantime, take care of yourself."

TEAM PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED TO SIGN MARK CAVENDISH, B & B HOTELS-KTM FINALLY COLLAPSE

B & B Hotels, the team previously heavily linked with signing Mark Cavendish, are no more after their collapse has been confirmed. 

Riders including Cavendish as well as other rumoured new signings will now have a frantic scramble to find new teams, or potentially even face retirement. 

According to French newspaper Le Telegramme, team manager Jerome Pineau finally admitted that the team will cease to exist due to a lack of sponsorship.

“We did our best to save our club but unfortunately we didn't succeed,” he wrote in a message sent to the team’s Whatsapp group late on Tuesday night.

Pineau had planned to at least continue at Continental level, although as that would rule out a wildcard invitation to the Tour de France, sponsors were reportedly no longer interested.

Cycling Weekly will update the live blog with more news on the French team later today

B & B RIDERS SEARCH FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Multiple high profile riders who were due to sign with B & B Hotels-KTM, the team reported to be signing Mark Cavendish, have now dramatically been left searching for new rides in 2023.

Australian rider Chloe Hosking shared an update on her situation on twitter which confirmed she had been caught up in the saga.

"I am one of the riders impacted by the saga that is the collapse of the B&B Hotels team. To say I am caught up the creek without a paddle is an understatement," she said.

"Looking for opportunities for 2023"

L39GION OF LOS ANGELES ANNOUNCE ROSTER FOR 2023

L39ion of Los Angeles has announced its roster for the 2023 season, with US National Road champion Kyle Murphy set to join the Justin Williams led squad.

As the team enters its fifth season, Justin Williams and crew are welcoming Mexican national champion Yarely Salazar, U.S. national road champion Kyle Murphy and Human Power Health’s Robin Carpenter to the team. 

“With this group, 2023 will be our best year yet. Every member brings something unique," said founder Justin Williams in a press release.

"By adding Yarely, Kyle and Robin into the mix we’ll continue to disrupt what the traditional cycling team looks like."

TRO BRO LEON 2023 RACE POSTER RELEASED

The organiser of the Tro Bro Leon race has released a poster advertising the 2023 edition of the race.

Taking place on the farm tracks of Brittany, the best placed local rider wins a pig.

It features Laurent Pichon, a rider with Arkéa-Samsic, wearing a cowboy hat while clutching a pig and wearing yellow sunglasses.

Has there ever been a cooler looking race poster?! We don't think so... 

ULTRA CYCLIST VOWS TO RETURN TO ANTARCTICA AFTER EXPEDITION CUT SHORT

Omar Di Felice, an Italian former professional bike rider, turned ultra cyclist has vowed to return to Antarctica after his initial expedition was cut short.

In a short message shared on Twitter, Di Felice said he was "sad" and "shocked" at having to cut his planned mission short and he vowed to return to Antarctica to finish the job in the future.

The Italian was aiming to take on 60 days alone in Antarctica as he aimed to cycle across the region, becoming the first person to do so in the process.

Speaking to Cycling Weekly before setting out on his mission, Di Felice explained that mental strength would hopefully get him through.

“It’s for sure a mental challenge, and will be the biggest achievement of my life if I manage to reach the South Pole and then the other coast,” he said. “You have to be strong with your mind and try to keep focused every day,” he added. 

BROMPTON BUILDS MILLIONTH FOLDING BIKE

Brompton has built its millionth folding bike at its factory in Greenford, London, 47 years after the iconic folder was invented in 1975.

To celebrate the landmark moment in the British brand’s history, the millionth Brompton has been given a special design treatment inspired by one of its original models, the ‘Mark One’, with a red main frame, silver parts, and a unique ‘million’ decal, ID plate, and aluminium touchpoints. 

The bike has also been signed by founder and inventor Andrew Ritchie and current CEO Will Butler-Adams.

Becky Storrie signs for DSM

Becky Storrie will ride for DSM in 2023, stepping up from CAMS - Basso to the Women's WorldTour. The 24-year-old won the Rapha Lincoln GP back in May, and has been rewarded with her exploits on the domestic scene with her first professional contract.

In a press release, the rider from the Isle of Man said: "They are a team that I have admired since I started cycling and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been offered this opportunity. The team has a real emphasis on development and I am confident that this environment will allow me to maximise my potential as a rider. 

"I am looking forward to working with the team and gaining experience at this level. I believe that together we can achieve great things.”

The announcement was part of DSM confirming all of its lineups across its men's, women's, and U23 teams for next year. Mauro Brenner and Dylan Hicks are recruited to the development program, while Enzo Leijnse will continue with the devo team too.

Hicks, an 18 year old Briton, is currently part of the GB Junior Academy while also riding for Bäckstedt Bike Performance JRT on the road. He won the Junior CiCLE classic in 2022.

INEOS GRENADIERS CONFIRM TOM PIDCOCK'S WINTER CYCLO-CROSS TOUR DATES

Tom Pidcock will ride the Irish round of the cyclo-cross world cup in Dublin on Sunday, his team Ineos Grenadiers have confirmed.

As well as racing in Dublin this weekend, Pidcock will also compete in Mol and Gavere in Belgium in the coming weeks as his programme picks up over the course of the Christmas period. 

Ineos confirmed Pidcock's schedule for December and January on Twitter, but there was no mention of the cyclo-cross world championships in Hoogerheide, the Netherlands on 4 February 2023. 

Pidcock has previously said that he's unsure as to whether he will look to defend his title as world champion next year, with his aim being a good run at the Spring Classics in 2023 on the road.

Pidcock took the cyclo-cross world title earlier this year with a barnstorming performance in Fayetteville, USA.

Last weekend, Pidcock took another resounding victory in his rainbow jersey at the Superprestige Boom race in Belgium. 

NEW STRAVA DATA REVEALS MORE UK CYCLISTS DID 100-MILE RIDES IN 2022 THAN IN 2021

Data published today by exercise tracking application Strava has shown that more UK cyclists took on longer rides in 2022 than last year. 

Compared to 2021 figures, the company saw a 46% increase in the number of British cyclists uploading rides of more than 100 miles (161km) to the platform. 

The data, revealed as part of Strava’s 2022 Year in Sport report, coincides with a general rise in group activities across the platform following Covid lockdowns. 

TEAM PLANTUR-PURA TO BECOME FENIX-DECEUNINCK

Fenix and Deceuninck are to step up to naming partners of the Alpecin-Deceuninck women's team for 2023. 

The team formally known as Plantur-Pura will become Fenix-Deceuninck as of 1 January 2023. 

Team manager Phillip Roodhooft said that the move is in order to give both men and women equal opportunities within cycling. 

"FENIX will remain a partner of the men's team, but will focus on the women from January 1," he said.

"Deceuninck will extend its partnership with the men - as name sponsor-linearly to the women's team. This allows both companies to make a difference as a brand, but they are also important for us in the further expansion of our complete structure, not only the women's team," he added. 

"Also Alpecin, Canyon and Zwift keep engaging in all our ranks. All this allows us to follow the most ideal path, which is to offer women and men the same opportunities at the highest level."

PREVIEW OF THE DUBLIN CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CUP COURSE

The Dublin round of the UCI Cyclo-cross world cup takes place this Sunday 11 December. 

Both Tom Pidcock and Wout van Aert are set to race the event, and are expected to go head to head for the win.

Verge Sport Ireland have shared via YouTube a sneak preview of Sunday's course.

Check out what's in store for the likes of Pidcock this weekend below.

Right.

Time to wrap up the live blog for today. Check back tomorrow for further updates on the B & B Hotels situation when we have it.