June 2011

The Tour is upon us and our latest batch of iPhone wallpapers, inspired by the tour, are now available.

To change the background wallpaper on both your lock screen and home screen:

1. Download the image by holding your finger on the wallpaper and tap 'Save Image';
2. Go to your photo library, choose the photo and tap the arrow icon in the bottom right corner of the screen;
3. Tap 'Use As Wallpaper';
4. Drag the photo to position it, if required (pinch to zoom in or out until it looks the way you want);
5. Tap 'Set', then choose whether you want to use the photo as wallpaper for your lock screen, home screen, or both.

Wallpaper 1 - TdF The Tower

Wallpaper 2 - TdF Riders

Wallpaper 3 - TdF Sunflowers

Whilst Bradley 'Wiggo' Wiggins was pulling on his new jersey in a deserved epic solo win, some of us were basking in the spectacle that is euro fans at a road race. We were at the French National Road Race Champs to see how our neighbours across the water do it.

This year the race was held in Boulogne, a thirty minute drive from the channel tunnel and an easy place to reach, held on a 13km circuit that ran along a coastal road before cutting back through the centre of town. Perfectly spectator friendly, fourteen laps meant that photographer Andrew Waterman, who we were travelling with, had plenty of time to snap the big Pro Tour teams and riders battle over a horrific and brutal course. A vicious steep road from the beach to the cliffs offered the best view as riders ground their gears to get over the top.

The final five laps proved to be the toughest, as the break and chasing peloton blew to pieces. Sylvain Chavanel rode across to a group of six riders before attacking and riding what looked to be the three hardest laps of his life. A chase from Roux and former winner Voeckler got fans into a dizzy spin, Chavanel's trademark white gnashers leading him through the pain.

Result
1. Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step)
2. Anthony Roux (FDJ)
3. Thomas Voeckler (Europcar)

Images (where watermarked) are used with permission of Andrew Waterman.

Early twenty man break leads over the back of the course

In the late seventies scratchy wool shorts were the norm. John Herety was making his way through the ranks from amateur to pro and he hated wearing woollen shorts. "Bob Downs bought a pair of Descente shorts in Condor, he was the second rider in the UK to have a pair of Lycra shorts and I was the first. Mine were from Harry Halls in Manchester."

Lycra was aerodynamic, breathable, comfortable, tight fitting and super shiny. No one had seen shorts like that in the peloton and riders ridiculed our man, Mr Herety. To them the shiny material made him look like he was racing in silky briefs. Little did they know.

Tour Series 2011 Champions. Let's not forget those 5 out of 5 wins either.

Good work by everyone involved in Rapha Condor Sharp. That extends to our equipment suppliers for Shimano Dura-Ace, Fizik, Giro and Continental; to Skoda for getting the boys to the races; Alec and Spike, the mechanics; and, of course, the mastermind - Mr John Herety.