Go to theroadbook.co.uk/products/the... to purchase a copy signed and numbered by @nedboulting.bsky.social

I’ll miss Meintjes in particular, loved always spotting him at the back of every peloton, inherited the Steve Cummings spot!

Reminder: Rozman was Ineos’ long term soigneur who named his son after Chris Froome. He was also suspended by Ineos at this year’s Tour de France for his contact with the convicted doping doctor Mark Schmidt. An investigation is still ongoing…

My mum got the best photo…

Thanks Katy!

@nedboulting.bsky.social @writebikerepeat.bsky.social @jonnylong.bsky.social

This essay is adapted from my Major project and dissertation from my Master’s Degree and any support would be greatly appreciated :) open.substack.com/pub/callumde...

I also spoke to Geraint Thomas’ former coach, Ineos reporter-extraordinaire Jonny Long, and freelance machine Katy Madgwick. Together they see a changed landscape that didn’t fully utilise the 2010s successes to make the sport accessible, whilst talented riders are now forced to develop abroad.

Ned Boulting has covered cycling since 2003, he spoke about the systemic obstacles and ‘deeply foreign’ culture of cycling that never laid roots in the UK.

Red Walters spoke to me about his time on two British continental teams before and after the pandemic. Unpaid, he experienced first hand how the money and opportunities seemed to dry up.

Thomas was part of British Cycling’s first academy cohort in 2004, he’s the last gold medal winner from London 2012, his retirement is the end of an era that saw the British scene explode into life and then cave in on itself.

I’m pretty sure the Combination jersey stuck around because the Spanish jersey sponsors (first a steelmaker then a fertiliser) realised they’d rather near guarantee Valverde in their jersey (either on merit or someone’s behalf) than someone unknown. His aging probably contributed to its demise.