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It was officially announced late on Tuesday evening that Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung will race the Ronde van Vlaanderen. After participating in the Milano-Sanremo and Il Lombardia last season

Castelli got rave reviews when the 2013 edition of Milan–San Remo got hammered by snow and sub-zero temperatures, and half the pro-peloton was equipped with the black stealth looking, fully aero, fully breathable and fully protected Gabba WS Jersey. When the WorldTour peloton tackles the first Monument of the year on Sunday, as Milan–San Remo returns for its 105th edition, there is a good chance of rain, #GabbaWeather, but luckily no snow is expected this year for the riders who will cover the 294 kilometers to the seaside.     The Gabba WS Jersey has become the pro’s favorite piece for wet, cool, and dry conditions. Core protection without overheating is great even when the sun is shining. And the unmatched breathability keeps you drier than your old jacket that just became obsolete. Sharp eyes will notice how many pro riders from other teams use the original Gabba with the logos blacked out or mostly unbadged, and the trend of riders from non-sponsored teams wearing its Gabba jerseys when conditions take a turn for the worse. Some other brands have tried to copy it, but pros know they’re at a disadvantage if they don’t have a real Gabba. Castelli-equipped Gerald ...

Last year’s edition of the Milan-Sanremo is one that would never be forgotten, from the rain, cold and snow to the mid race transfer and finally to the eventual outcome where Gerald Ciolek put African cycling on the map by taking a most magnificent victory. Come Sunday, Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung will return to the scene of its most famed victory to date and take part in the Milano-Sanremo as the defending champions. Team Principal, Douglas Ryder, is excited to be back at the first Monument of the year, reflecting on the good memories of last year and the significant role it has played in the teams’ development over the past year. “Last year the first victory was just to be invited to Milano-Sanremo and to be able to stand on the start line with the great riders and teams in cycling, to win the race was the immediate realisation of a dream. We had so many highs and lows with crashes, the bad weather, freezing riders totally unaccustomed to the conditions. It will be a race we will never forget.” “Our credibility in cycling and opportunities that came from that iconic victory has helped shape the team to focus ...

Rider diary, by Matthias Knossalla – For my first training camp this year I decided to travel to the beautiful island of Mallorca. I always prefer staying in the north of Mallorca, because you find everything you need there. The Tramuntana mountains for example are only 20 kilometers away. One of my season highlights will be the Ironman Mallorca in September, so staying in Can Picafort (only 10 minutes away from the swim start) was a logical decision. Triathlon training camps are something special, if you have chosen a hotel which is well known for its good sporting facilities: Countless athletes in “Finisher Shirts” everywhere. You can even spot them at dinner. Please don’t wear them all the time! At most days we started our training at 07:00 a.m. with a short swim session, followed by a quick shower and the traditional sprint to the breakfast table. Being first is a huge honor. If you train 35 hours a week, it is important to get in all the calories you need. So try to maximize the total amount of calories. In the first three days we were riding on flat terrain in endurance pace at 230-240 watts. Later that week we included some threshold ...

Team Garmin-Sharp’s Dan Martin gets his 2014 racing season underway today at the seven-day Tirreno-Adriatico in Italy (Mar 12-18) It is only the Garmin-Sharp rider’s second time doing the race and after last year’s rain-lashed affair where he finished 19th overall, just under eight minutes down on race winner Vincenzo Nibali (Astana Pro Team), Martin said he’s under no pressure whatsoever, with his big goal just two months away. Indeed, the team for Tirreno is built around American Andrew Talansky, but given the significant number of new faces in the team’s roster this year – and retirements of Christain Vande Velde and David Zabriskie – Martin’s keen to show the new guys the ropes and lead by example by chasing whatever results are possible. “The average age has dropped substantially in the team this year and there’s a lot of young riders. That’s going to change how we race and it’s definitely changed my position in the team. I feel old now,” Martin laughed (he’s just 26). “I’m now one of the older guys. It has brought it home to me that I’m going into my seventh season this year and the time has flown by. I have a bit of experience now and ...