Al Hinds



Reflecting on Tour no. 99

23 July 2012 | 18:00 - By Al Hinds

From Liege to Paris in 21 stages and 23 days, over 3496.9 kilometres, a British winner declared for the first time, we've finally arrived at the finish to yet another Tour de France.


Share article: 
top

Prudhomme's vision blurred by Sky

16 July 2012 | 18:30 - By Al Hinds

When Christian Prudhomme announced the course for the 2012 Tour de France, he underlined it as a rouleur's race, but one, he maintained, offered ample opportunity and variety for those not gifted against the clock to make up their losses with long-range attacks, and mountain raids.


Share article: 
top

Loyalties tested

13 July 2012 | 17:00 - By Al Hinds

A brain-snap or an honest mistake from Chris Froome on Stage 11 exposed momentarily just how well the Brit is going on the climbs of this year's Tour de France, and despite his protestations to the contrary that he is "here to help Brad win the Tour", rekindled memories of last year's Vuelta and a handful of similar scenarios in cycling in the last 25 years, writes Al Hinds.

Is Chris Froome overshadowing his elder team-mate, Bradley Wiggins? (Getty Images)

Is Chris Froome overshadowing his elder team-mate, Bradley Wiggins? (Getty Images)

Share article: 
top

Hidden consequences

08 July 2012 | 17:00 - By Al Hinds

There was an element of déjà vu in Team Sky's performance on the Planche des Belles Filles climb of Stage 7 of the Tour de France, with a near carbon-copy scenario playing out on the Col du Joux Plane in last month's Criterium du Dauphine.


Share article: 
top

While it's important never to forget the history and the tradition in which the Tour de France is steeped, efforts to innovate and change the race for the better should not be rejected on face value alone, writes Al Hinds.

Yellow helmets are the novelty of the 2012 Tour de France. (Getty Images)

Yellow helmets are the novelty of the 2012 Tour de France. (Getty Images)

Share article: 
top

Winning formula

03 July 2012 | 13:00 - By Al Hinds

Between 2009 and 2011, Highroad forever altered a well-established sprinting culture, and created a new formula for success - but such success devalued both the effort of the team and its lead sprinter Mark Cavendish, writes Al Hinds.

Mark Cavendish (Getty Images)

Mark Cavendish (Getty Images)

Share article: 
top
Previous 10 | Page 1 | Next 10