Yet another tough day for a UK cycling brand in 2023, challenging times indeed. It's worth pointing out the story above is now updated with the news that the joint administrators have said Wiggle Chain Reaction is up for sale, perhaps giving a touch of hope about some sort of salvage mission, something Mike Ashley (the former Newcastle United owner whose Frasers Group already owns Evans Cycles) was linked with last week.
What has the cycling world made of today's news?
rumlad: "Sad times indeed, thoughts are with all the employees there, such an uncertain position to be in. Clearly the market is against Wiggle CRC right now, they are owned by a bad parent company, and management have made some mistakes recently that haven't helped (poor new website mainly).
"But out of this whole situation it's very likely they will find a much better new owner, who will do a much better job of turning the business around. Wiggle CRC is a modern and lean online retailer with some really good brands that they own outright, so huge amount of value in a company like that. Good luck to everyone there in the next few months, and hopefully the bike industry makes a comback soon!"
galibiervelo (we're assuming linked to the Galibier cycle clothing brand): "Awful that 450 jobs and usually keen cyclists working within the bike industry may go with CRC/Wiggle. Hopefully the individual brands can be saved. We already have had emails from factories looking for us to buy fabrics and stitching time from cancelled orders, so the oversupply and reduced prices will help the consumer in the short term. Products 'dumped' on the market helps no one long term."
RoubaixCube: "I wonder how much money they could have saved or earned in profit if they didnt touch their website design/layout."
Michael Brown: "Ordered some bargains yesterday morning before it all — they arrived in the last half hour. Can't deny: I'll miss the convenience and they were often cheaper than alternatives but I guess it's time to give some independent bikes shops some patronage."
Will you be spending more with local bike shops now? Or will you just turn to other online retailers? Let us know in the comments...
Someone who wasn't entirely pleased with the Tour de France route for 2024 was Remco Evenepoel, the Belgian commenting on the decision to include a gravel stage on next year's parcours...
[Rafa Gomez/SprintCyclingAgency]
"There are specific events and championships for gravel racing. Why do they need to add such stages to a Grand Tour? I don't think that's necessary," he told Het Laaste Niuews.
The stage in question is stage nine, the final day before the first rest day, and includes 32km over 14 sectors on the roads around Troyes. Will Remco make his Tour debut in 2023? The Giro having 68km of time trialling will likely be very appealing to the discipline's world champion, the Tour de France having 59km itself, of which 34km come on a very hilly final day from Monaco to Nice. How about both Grand Tours?
"He still has an account open with the Giro and he was considering combining the Tour and the Giro. But with what comes next, with the Olympic Games, for example, the Giro-Tour combination does not seem to be the best idea to me," Patrick Lefevere, Soudal-QuickStep's boss, said this week.
"In his first Tour, Remco doesn't have to do anything, everything is allowed. The time trials are in Evenepoel's favour but I'm sure Jonas Vingegaard liked them too. It's a tough Tour. I think it's a very difficult Tour, more difficult than this year and one of the most difficult in recent years."
Will we see Remco make his Tour debut in 2024? Or is a Giro tilt ahead of Olympics preparation more likely? All remains to be seen...
No amount of chamois cream can counter this...
That's a tad inconvenient... pic.twitter.com/nyY7fstH3f
— Clockwise (@Clockwisesss) October 26, 2023
> Children's bike manufacturer Islabikes to cease production after 18 years
Islabikes will cease production and sales of its popular bikes once current stocks have been sold, the reaction from our readers summing up the success the brand had during its 18 years in business...
Rich_cb: "I've literally just unpacked a Beinn 20 ready for junior CB's birthday. The bikes are so well designed but they have been caught up by other brands in the last few years. It's still a real shame to see them go but their legacy will be the thriving market for properly designed kids bikes. That probably wouldn't exist without Islabikes."
kil0ran: "Sad news. Proper bikes, my son loved his."
a1white: "My two godchildren both had Islabikes (one was handed down to the other when it was outgrown). Really well-built and designed to scale up well as they grow.
"Agree that they are actually proper bikes, just cleverly scaled down. People saying they are overpriced, but good components, materials and labour costs money, it doesn't make much difference that the bikes are smaller. Having a good experience, riding a good quality bike is what will help keep kids cycling into adult life, rather than a bike which is more like a cheap toy that they discard."
Sam: "Shame to see them go. But they've absolutely transformed the kids bike market. Still lots of dross but good to have a selection of quality models too (from a bunch of manufacturers)."
Richard Glazer: "Great bikes and a sensible investment. A terrible shame."
[Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com]
You might not have seen Peter Sagan ride a road bike for the last time...
In an interview with a Slovakian sport website, the three-time world champion said he still intends to compete on the road occasionally to help his preparations for the Paris Olympics where the XC mountain bike event will be his goal.
"It's true that I announced last January that I was quitting WorldTour road racing and it's not really my intention to continue racing at this level," Sagan said. "My goal is to have fun, do my best and try to qualify for the Paris Olympics in cross country mountain biking, where I would like my career to end.
"However, I am talking to Specialized and exploring the possibility of taking part in two or three road races, certainly not WorldTour, but at a lower level, to supplement and diversify my preparation and fitness for mountain biking."
Peter Sagan. Coming to a 3/4 winter series near you...
Our local road safety group has just gone on Facebook and told everyone to wear hi Vis so drivers can see us. Everyone, as in pedestrians, children, anyone not in a car. FFS. When will drivers take responsibility for their actions!!! @APPGCW
— Girl on a Brompton (@girlonabrompton) October 27, 2023
Sorry Baxter, you're going to need to get your fluorescent lead before walkies...
> The comeback dream bike build: Jack's Ridley Helium SLX with big upgrades
Perhaps a bit early for this, but road.cc drinking game idea — have a sip every time Jack mentions an upgrade justified by getting this beauty on our cycle to work scheme... you can hardly blame him, to be fair...
Pro cycling is back... sort of...
It was the Taiwan KOM Challenge this morning, a hill climbing event to put our short but admittedly often very steep British ascents to shame, no offence to anyone heading up to The Struggle for this weekend's National Hill Climbing Championships. At 105km long, yes you read that right, 105km long, although the climb proper is only 87 kilometres, the Taiwan KOM Challenge is on another level.
There were pros on show, Simon Yates on the startlist, and the event won by Australian rider Benjamin Dyball in 03:16:09.65. Yep, that's three hours of hill climbing and he even went faster than a certain Mr Nibali's best time at the event...
⛰️⏱️ Taiwan KOM Challenge. Ben Dyball broke Vincenzo Nibali's record time by 3:45. Dyball 3:16:09 (32.12 Kph) today, Nibali 3:19:54 in 2017. 105 km race started at sea level (0 m) and ended at 3,275 m. #TaiwanKOMpic.twitter.com/d26V0AZSYR
— ammattipyöräily (@ammattipyoraily) October 27, 2023
With all that said, you don't have to be a pro to ride the event (although I guess it helps, for fitness and logistical reasons), just as long as you've got the funds to get out there and can finish the event within six and a half hours you too can ride uphill for 87 straight kilometres! Tempting isn't it...
The full event was live streamed on Taiwan KOM Challenge's YouTube channel if you want a taste of the action, starting at sea level in the dark, rising gradually up through the trees and into the clouds to an elevation (3,275m) never seen in European racing.
For context, the Stelvio is 2,757 m, but the ascent from Bormio already begins at 1,200m, while the big mountain news from this week's Tour de France route reveal was the inclusion of the 2,860m Cime de la Bonette, still 400m off...
For more calf-shredding, lung-burning climbs, check out Steve's guide to the steepest and hardest cycling climbs in the world — fearsome road gradients to put on your bike trip bucket list...