Rouleur #123

The Futurology Issue.

The professional sport has changed significantly in the last few years, and it seems that the pace of change is accelerating. We have looked at the role of time trialling in the women’s side of the sport, which has thus far been relatively insignificant; however this is changing – the Tour de France Femmes concluded with a TT this year, and there are powerful voices advocating for more.⁠

We’ve also looked at the way rider development has evolved, which has been revolutionary in the last three or four years – riders used to turn pro around 23, gain experience over a couple of seasons, and be ready to compete for big wins in their late 20s. Not any more – riders are now winning Grand Tours in their early 20s, and this has changed the landscape of the sport for better and sometimes for worse.

We’ve also interviewed two archetypally ‘modern’ riders – Taco van der Hoorn and Jay Vine. Van der Hoorn is the first to admit that his ‘numbers’ are not in the top tier of the WorldTour; however he still wins big races through smart application of strategy, a very innovative approach to aero and technical gains, and deep research into the parcours. Vine, on the other hand, is known for being the winner of the Zwift Academy competition; however, there is more to him than power numbers, and he has now aligned a clever application of strategy and tactics to his physical prowess. But we’ve also got a headline interview with Greg Van Avermaet, whose career has been a far more ‘traditional’ affair, yet is now looking ahead to his future as a retired pro, after wins in some of the world’s biggest races.

And some of the bikes we have featured are right at the bleeding edge of modernity and technological advancement.⁠