Tweets of the week: Brutal weather at Flèche, an idiot sandwich and is there a new POC helmet?
There's a lot of love for Kasia Niewiadoma, and it turns out Norwegians are good in bad weather
Riders being human billboards is nothing new. Ever since the 1960s, professional cyclists have raced emblazoned with their sponsors, from coffee machine makers to nation states, via Belgian home improvement companies.
Of course, as well as advertising the title sponsor, riders are advertising their kit as well, their bike, shoes, kit, sunglasses and helmets. Usually, this is done reasonably subtly; by wearing them and riding well in them, they're getting much of the attention they need.
Canyon must be delighted by Mathieu van der Poel's performances this spring, as will Specialized with Lotte Kopecky. A point to the bike during the race is normally enough.
However, not for EF Education-EasyPost, EF Education-Cannondale, and their helmet and sunglass sponsors POC.
The Swedish brand brought their new helmet, the Procen Air, out this week after not particularly hiding it very well for months. The aero helmet comes with a visor and certainly stands out, but with its official launch, many of the riders of EF's men's and women's teams took to social media to sing their praises.
I saw Kimberly Cazdow, the New Zealander, do it first, but then couldn't stop seeing it, from Alberto Bettiol to Alison Jackson. I suppose that's one way of hard launching a helmet, and it certainly stuck out to me - although I won't be rushing to buy one, yet.
That was my favourite thing on social media this week, but elsewhere, we had Lorena Wiebes referencing a Gordon Ramsay meme, Juanpe López kicking a football, and some very, very cold riders at La Flèche Wallonne.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
1. Gary Barlow was delighted with GB's showing at the Track Nations Cup in Milton, which is nice
A post shared by British Cycling (@britishcycling)
A photo posted by on
2. Pierre Rolland, retired as a professional cyclist, is trying to become the world's first wind-biker. Please support his efforts
A post shared by Pierre Rolland (@pierre_rolland_cyclisme)
A photo posted by on
3. Lorena Wiebes isn't the first rider to lose a race by celebrating early, but she might have the best nails, and be the first to reference Gordon Ramsay
A post shared by Lorena Wiebes (@lorenawiebes)
A photo posted by on
4. Tom Pidcock: "WTF"
A post shared by INEOS Grenadiers (@ineosgrenadiers)
A photo posted by on
5. Uno-X seemed like the only team properly prepared for the weather at La Flèche Wallonne. Classic Norwegians
Whatever the Uno-X guys had for breakfast, i’m having it for my next race.April 17, 2024
6. Michał Kwiatkowski felt drunk, he was so cold in Belgium
If you want to understand the shock my body went through with today’s storm at Fleche, just imagine downing three shots of vodka on an empty stomach. The effect hits you in milliseconds. Yet, some of riders did survive. Huge respect for the winners: @KNiewiadoma & @stevierhys_96… pic.twitter.com/mDwhEXcGpfApril 17, 2024
7. Valentin Madouas aged 40 years, such was the weather
A post shared by Valentin Madouas (@valentinmadouas)
A photo posted by on
9. His compatriot Dorian Godon went from feeling great to terrible on the Mur de Huy. It's happened to the best, don't worry.
A post shared by Dorian Godon (@godondorian)
A photo posted by on
10. Reprising their double act from the Tour Down Under, Sam Bewley and Daryl Impey are Stevie Williams' biggest hype men
“I’m going to f****** phone everyone” 😅Stevie Williams + Sam Bewley + Daryl Impey. Name a better trio 🤝🇧🇪 #FlecheWallonne #YallaIPT pic.twitter.com/DDJQTmC7STApril 17, 2024
11. Stevie Williams is Welsh, in case you hadn't realised
Arwr newydd! https://t.co/Tvbisb3kOSApril 18, 2024
12. Meanwhile, there wasn't a dry eye in the house when Kasia Niewiadoma took her victory in La Flèche Wallonne. There almost couldn't be a more deserving winner
31st attempt was my lucky one😅😃 https://t.co/zWzUs6Z06yApril 18, 2024
13. Maybe some training on high fives needs to happen at the next Coop-Repsol training camp
Was told it is National High Five Day, today! 🫸🫷 Sigrid and Karsten tried their best celebrating with a high five... so close😇#teamcooprepsol #coopnorge #repsolnorge📸 Kjetil Birkedal Pedersen pic.twitter.com/K5agLMT1X1April 18, 2024
14. There aren't many cyclists who are good at football, but Juan Pedro López bucks that trend. Vamos Betis!
💚 JUANPE 🖤pic.twitter.com/DFhQS7ntgHApril 18, 2024
15. And finally, here's a taste of the not-so-subtle advertising from POC this week
A post shared by Alberto Bettiol (@albertobettio)
A photo posted by on
A post shared by Alison Jackson (@aliactionjackson)
A photo posted by on
A post shared by Kimberly Cadzow🌟 (@kimberly_cadzow)
A photo posted by on
A post shared by Kristen Faulkner (@arcticfaulks)
A photo posted by on
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.
-
Calling all women sports photographers - a $50K scholarship is up for grabs from Peak Design and The Roam Collective
Peak Design and The Roam Collective have partnered to offer the Roam Media Core Scholarship, which provides up-and-coming U.S.-based femme sports creatives with funding and industry connections.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
I don't care if you're doing efforts – all cyclists should wave to each other on their rides
Solidarity between cyclists is one of the nicest things about being on two wheels. Why do some people eschew it?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tweets of the week: What is crostata and why is it making Elisa Longo Borghini win?
Lidl-Trek have got the perfect recipe for beating SD Worx-Protime
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Forget the cobbles, Paris-Roubaix is now all about goats and chicanes
It's a Hell of the North special in this week's social media round-up
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Marianne Vos is still boss, Lorena Wiebes raves, and Geraint Thomas issues a warning
While some riders hope to manage one win in their career, Marianne Vos has 250
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: A prize pork pie, 'GroundPog Day', and a mullet-less Mathieu van der Poel
Chris Froome exhausts himself, Dylan Groenewegen has a tiny fan, and more
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tweets of the week: Visma-Lease a Bike are fed up, Mathieu van der Poel's mullet, and a Mark Cavendish costume
It's 2024, time to stop calling them Jumbo
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Helmet-gate, Strade Bianche's 'photo finish' and a wet Paris-Roubaix?
Alison Jackson has fun in Pisa, while spare a thought for poor social media managers on boring days
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tweets of the week: Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig's new tool and Tadej Pogačar's new hair
The FDJ-Suez rider broke her sacrum and already sees the funny side
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Mark Cavendish has a run-in with police dogs
The Brit was sniffed out at the UAE Tour, and reacted as all of us would
By Tom Davidson Published