Thomas the (future) triathlete, Bevin will miss the TDU: Daily News Digest
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Hello again, CyclingTips readers!
Your big story of the day comes from 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, who said in a recent interview that he plans to complete in triathlon events after he retires from the pro road peloton.
That’s right, Thomas is looking not to gravel (more on that sector in a moment, by the way), but instead to combining cycling with swimming and running after he calls it a road racing career.
However you feel about triathlons – and we know how much of a hot-button issue this can be – you can probably see a time trial talent like Thomas crushing the bike portion of the sport. In so doing, he would join a long line of former road pros making the transition to triathlon.
For now, of course, Thomas remains squarely focused on his WorldTour racing goals, but at the very least, he has given us something to think about as this year’s road season is getting started.
Until next time, readers!
What’s News
| Thomas plans to race triathlon after he retires from the WorldTour peloton
Geraint Thomas has said that he plans to compete in triathlon events after he retires from the pro road scene. As the 33-year-old Welshman mentioned in an interview at an event put on at triathlon retailer Nytro Multisport in Southern California, he has at least some experience in triathlons from his youth, and will be looking for a new sporting avenue when he eventually calls it a WorldTour racing career.
“I used to swim as a kid, and I did a few triathlons,” Thomas said in the interview. “When I retire from professional cycling, I definitely want to do an Ironman, or maybe a few.”
| Boswell shifts focus
Ian Boswell has decided to retire from pro road racing, shifting his focus to competing in gravel events.
After a concussion derailed his 2019 campaign, the 28-year-old American spent several months considering what his future might look like. He had an offer to continue in the pro peloton, but will instead take up gravel racing in 2020 as one of several riders sponsored by Wahoo Fitness. Wahoo’s Frontiers video series will document his transition into the gravel scene.
| Bevin will miss the Tour Down Under
CCC’s Patrick Bevin, who won a stage at last year’s Tour Down Under, will miss this year’s race. The 28-year-old New Zealander experienced an irregular heartbeat while training in Adelaide.
Tests confirmed a supraventricular arrhythmia, which he has been treated for. Team doctor Max Testa says there is no ongoing concern, and Bevin is expected to make a full recovery, but he will not start the upcoming Tour Down Under.
| Novo Nordisk will race on disc brakes
The Novo Nordisk team is joining the collection of pro outfits that will race on disc brakes in 2020.
The Shimano-equipped squad has announced that riders will be on Colnago’s C64, Concept, V2r, and V3r bikes in road races, and Colnago’s K-Zero for time trials this season.
| December 28 is Spain’s version of April Fool’s Day
Tuesday’s Daily News Digest included the incredible story of a cyclist who met the son he didn’t know he had in a race in China last year, published in Ciclismo a Fondo on December 28. Today’s update: December 28 is el Día de los Santos Inocentes, basically an analog for April Fool’s Day in Spain.
Consider us fooled, and sorry we didn’t notice sooner. In any case, chapeau to the writer for spinning such an elaborate tale.
| Socially Speaking
We sometimes hesitate to share crash videos but this one was a little different.
Finally!
A video of Chris Froome's crash has emerged on Social Media. This will finally silence those conspiracy theorists…… https://t.co/GFNch4U3Ga
— RiksRedGuard (@RiksRedGuard) January 14, 2020
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After seeing some truly impressive training rides from Egan Bernal and other stars of the sport over the past few weeks, we decided to explore what’s behind the massive rides that pros put in during the offseason.
| Preview: Women’s Tour Down Under
Matt de Neef offers 10 things you should know about the Women’s Tour Down Under in his preview of the upcoming race.
| How Paris succeeded in becoming a cycling city
Over at Curbed, you can read about how Paris succeeded in becoming a city for cyclists, and how other cities can follow suit.
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SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY NEWS DIGEST PODCASTToday’s featured image of Greg Van Avermaet, Oliver Naesen, and Mathieu van der Poel at the Tour of Flanders comes from the Grubers.
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