Jonny Long
@jonnylong.bsky.social
journalist @escapecollective.bsky.social + purveyor of the Spin Cycle podcast and newsletter 📩
Primož Roglič out of context at the pre-Tour de France press conference: "Every day that you live is closer to your last one." Thanks, Primož
July 3, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Primož Roglič out of context at the pre-Tour de France press conference: "Every day that you live is closer to your last one." Thanks, Primož
Finally, Grand Tour season. All roads lead to the Tour de France 🇫🇷, which has effectively become our playoffs and Superbowl
The UCI points you accrue throughout the year feed into a table where the higher you are, the better Tour hotels/race convoy position/sign-on time you get
The UCI points you accrue throughout the year feed into a table where the higher you are, the better Tour hotels/race convoy position/sign-on time you get
February 7, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Finally, Grand Tour season. All roads lead to the Tour de France 🇫🇷, which has effectively become our playoffs and Superbowl
The UCI points you accrue throughout the year feed into a table where the higher you are, the better Tour hotels/race convoy position/sign-on time you get
The UCI points you accrue throughout the year feed into a table where the higher you are, the better Tour hotels/race convoy position/sign-on time you get
Now, the Classics Cup. Races you don't see still exist, they're just not WT (could switch out E3 for GW here).
Not all WT riders have to race all WT races. There are still squads of 30 to deal with this massively condensed calendar.
Not all WT riders have to race all WT races. There are still squads of 30 to deal with this massively condensed calendar.
February 7, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Now, the Classics Cup. Races you don't see still exist, they're just not WT (could switch out E3 for GW here).
Not all WT riders have to race all WT races. There are still squads of 30 to deal with this massively condensed calendar.
Not all WT riders have to race all WT races. There are still squads of 30 to deal with this massively condensed calendar.
Now, the all-new calendar, separated into three competitions and an overall prize. Jerseys for the winners of each to be worn the next season.
First up, the International Cup ... 🌎
(we might move the order around for timezone purposes, & maybe make USA race Hawaii not CA)
First up, the International Cup ... 🌎
(we might move the order around for timezone purposes, & maybe make USA race Hawaii not CA)
February 7, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Now, the all-new calendar, separated into three competitions and an overall prize. Jerseys for the winners of each to be worn the next season.
First up, the International Cup ... 🌎
(we might move the order around for timezone purposes, & maybe make USA race Hawaii not CA)
First up, the International Cup ... 🌎
(we might move the order around for timezone purposes, & maybe make USA race Hawaii not CA)
Nearly all the top 100 sports leagues (by revenue) worldwide feature teams with a geographical basis. That's one part of the puzzle solved - giving identity to teams.
Similarly, we're nicking the socialism of the American major leagues to make cycling more competitive than ever.
Similarly, we're nicking the socialism of the American major leagues to make cycling more competitive than ever.
February 7, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Nearly all the top 100 sports leagues (by revenue) worldwide feature teams with a geographical basis. That's one part of the puzzle solved - giving identity to teams.
Similarly, we're nicking the socialism of the American major leagues to make cycling more competitive than ever.
Similarly, we're nicking the socialism of the American major leagues to make cycling more competitive than ever.
Along with a WT berth, nations are assigned WorldTour events that feature expanded Grand Fondos and trade shows.
Along with owning TV rights, all revenue is shared amongst nations/events. We're cutting out middlemen and putting more money directly back into the sport.
Along with owning TV rights, all revenue is shared amongst nations/events. We're cutting out middlemen and putting more money directly back into the sport.
February 7, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Along with a WT berth, nations are assigned WorldTour events that feature expanded Grand Fondos and trade shows.
Along with owning TV rights, all revenue is shared amongst nations/events. We're cutting out middlemen and putting more money directly back into the sport.
Along with owning TV rights, all revenue is shared amongst nations/events. We're cutting out middlemen and putting more money directly back into the sport.
Top-ranked nations are given existing WT berths (there's already a lot of crossover).
You can still have title sponsors, but the idea is to give cycling fans teams to properly root for, and a more obvious access point for newcomers.
Maybe some combos too? 🇺🇸🇨🇴,🇦🇺🇳🇿,🇬🇧🇮🇪,🇿🇦🇪🇷🌍
You can still have title sponsors, but the idea is to give cycling fans teams to properly root for, and a more obvious access point for newcomers.
Maybe some combos too? 🇺🇸🇨🇴,🇦🇺🇳🇿,🇬🇧🇮🇪,🇿🇦🇪🇷🌍
February 7, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Top-ranked nations are given existing WT berths (there's already a lot of crossover).
You can still have title sponsors, but the idea is to give cycling fans teams to properly root for, and a more obvious access point for newcomers.
Maybe some combos too? 🇺🇸🇨🇴,🇦🇺🇳🇿,🇬🇧🇮🇪,🇿🇦🇪🇷🌍
You can still have title sponsors, but the idea is to give cycling fans teams to properly root for, and a more obvious access point for newcomers.
Maybe some combos too? 🇺🇸🇨🇴,🇦🇺🇳🇿,🇬🇧🇮🇪,🇿🇦🇪🇷🌍
I was asking about a certain YouTube channel that has Carlton doing the voiceovers 🎙️
But it's not Carlton reading out the script, it's an AI voiceover modelled on his voice
But it's not Carlton reading out the script, it's an AI voiceover modelled on his voice
December 18, 2024 at 5:39 PM
I was asking about a certain YouTube channel that has Carlton doing the voiceovers 🎙️
But it's not Carlton reading out the script, it's an AI voiceover modelled on his voice
But it's not Carlton reading out the script, it's an AI voiceover modelled on his voice
🧵I called up Eurosport commentator Carlton Kirby the other week about something weird I'd seen on YouTube that he should probably be aware of
(yes, the experience of chatting to CK on the phone certainly lived up to expectations) ... @escapecollective.bsky.social
(yes, the experience of chatting to CK on the phone certainly lived up to expectations) ... @escapecollective.bsky.social
December 18, 2024 at 5:39 PM
🧵I called up Eurosport commentator Carlton Kirby the other week about something weird I'd seen on YouTube that he should probably be aware of
(yes, the experience of chatting to CK on the phone certainly lived up to expectations) ... @escapecollective.bsky.social
(yes, the experience of chatting to CK on the phone certainly lived up to expectations) ... @escapecollective.bsky.social
But the next morning, when Evenepoel posted to thank hospital staff and graciously offer support to the postie who'd doored him, the share price rallied, up 6% by the end of the day 📈
Obviously, this is all directly linked and Evenepoel is big enough to move the market.
Obviously, this is all directly linked and Evenepoel is big enough to move the market.
December 6, 2024 at 3:35 PM
But the next morning, when Evenepoel posted to thank hospital staff and graciously offer support to the postie who'd doored him, the share price rallied, up 6% by the end of the day 📈
Obviously, this is all directly linked and Evenepoel is big enough to move the market.
Obviously, this is all directly linked and Evenepoel is big enough to move the market.
🧵 On the day Remco Evenepoel was knocked off his bike by a postal worker and broke multiple bones, the Belgian Postal Group's stock price dropped 2% to a new all-time low... 📉 @escapecollective.bsky.social
December 6, 2024 at 3:35 PM
🧵 On the day Remco Evenepoel was knocked off his bike by a postal worker and broke multiple bones, the Belgian Postal Group's stock price dropped 2% to a new all-time low... 📉 @escapecollective.bsky.social
Look, i’m a proud BPG (Big Pidcock Guy), but this is simply absolutely hateful content, cant bear it, best look for ineos since the 2021 giro
December 6, 2024 at 12:52 PM
Look, i’m a proud BPG (Big Pidcock Guy), but this is simply absolutely hateful content, cant bear it, best look for ineos since the 2021 giro
“I was just getting everything, for the whole team, what floor they’re on, where they’re staying, where the food is. Brent Bookwalter was looking for his headphones for weeks; it was pretty funny."
December 5, 2024 at 4:47 PM
“I was just getting everything, for the whole team, what floor they’re on, where they’re staying, where the food is. Brent Bookwalter was looking for his headphones for weeks; it was pretty funny."
“But then even after that, and I’m talking years, I would just get emails ... I was getting sent room assignments for the whole of the Giro.
December 5, 2024 at 4:47 PM
“But then even after that, and I’m talking years, I would just get emails ... I was getting sent room assignments for the whole of the Giro.
“Seriously though you don’t have to worry about me leaking this," Pittsburgh Steve replied. "Can I get a pair of socks or something? Thanks."
Sure enough, a pair of socks soon arrived in the mail. But the story doesn't end there ...
Sure enough, a pair of socks soon arrived in the mail. But the story doesn't end there ...
December 5, 2024 at 4:47 PM
“Seriously though you don’t have to worry about me leaking this," Pittsburgh Steve replied. "Can I get a pair of socks or something? Thanks."
Sure enough, a pair of socks soon arrived in the mail. But the story doesn't end there ...
Sure enough, a pair of socks soon arrived in the mail. But the story doesn't end there ...
On a long drive to a bike race many years ago, an email popped into Pittsburgh Steve's inbox. It was pro rider Steve Cummings' new contract with BMC, a deal no-one else knew was happening yet.
December 5, 2024 at 4:47 PM
On a long drive to a bike race many years ago, an email popped into Pittsburgh Steve's inbox. It was pro rider Steve Cummings' new contract with BMC, a deal no-one else knew was happening yet.
When Gmail first came out, Pittsburgh Steve Cummings raced to sign up the various iterations of his name. StephenCummings, CummingsStephen, Stephen.Cummings
“I don’t know which one he has, but I have the rest of them,” Pittsburgh Steve Cummings told me.
“I don’t know which one he has, but I have the rest of them,” Pittsburgh Steve Cummings told me.
December 5, 2024 at 4:47 PM
When Gmail first came out, Pittsburgh Steve Cummings raced to sign up the various iterations of his name. StephenCummings, CummingsStephen, Stephen.Cummings
“I don’t know which one he has, but I have the rest of them,” Pittsburgh Steve Cummings told me.
“I don’t know which one he has, but I have the rest of them,” Pittsburgh Steve Cummings told me.
Have you heard about that time Stephen Cummings was mistaken for Steve Cummings? 😵💫
One is a former pro who won two stages of the Tour de France. The other is an amateur racer from Pittsburgh, PA. 🧵 @escapecollective.bsky.social
One is a former pro who won two stages of the Tour de France. The other is an amateur racer from Pittsburgh, PA. 🧵 @escapecollective.bsky.social
December 5, 2024 at 4:47 PM
Have you heard about that time Stephen Cummings was mistaken for Steve Cummings? 😵💫
One is a former pro who won two stages of the Tour de France. The other is an amateur racer from Pittsburgh, PA. 🧵 @escapecollective.bsky.social
One is a former pro who won two stages of the Tour de France. The other is an amateur racer from Pittsburgh, PA. 🧵 @escapecollective.bsky.social