tour cycling magazine

Tour Magazine 2019 is on sale now!

Tour Magazine is available to buy in all good retailers. It is the UK’s number one fan’s guide to the Tour de France

• Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Tour Magazine 2019 has now sold out online, but it is still available to purchase from all good UK retailers.

>> Check out the new range of Tour merchandise

With the Tour de France just around the corner, and the exciting building, there is no better time to pre-order your Tour Magazine. It is the best value, most colourful and informative race guide on the shelves AND it comes with FREE Tour socks.

The standard issue is only £8.99 and comes with a FREE pair of yellow Tour socks. There is also a special edition priced £12.99 that comes with yellow, polka dot and green Tour socks, a Tour neck scarf and a Tour bottle opener keyring.

Why the Tour 2019 will be unmissable...

Thomas’s defence:  Geraint Thomas was a hugely popular winner last year and captured the UK public’s imagination winning BBC Sport Personality of the Year award. There will be massive interest in his bid to defend his Tour title this year.

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

An unsung force behind his team's success, Luke Rowe shares his captain's guide

The bikes:  This could be the year that disc brakes are used on the majority of bikes at the Tour.

Mark Cavendish: Last year Cav failed to win a stage and had to pull out. He has 30 Tour stage wins, with Eddy Merckx holding the record on 34. Can the Manx Missile equal or even break the record in 2019?

Brussels start:  The Tour’s Grand Depart will be in Brussels to honour Eddy Merckx, who won his first Tour 50 years ago and went on to win five. Merckx is the best cyclist of all time.

Expert opinion on every stage from Brussels to Paris

Interviews and profiles of the yellow jersey favourites including Thomas, Froome, Yates brothers, Dumoulin, Roglic, Bardet

The teams of the tour, the favourites and the not so favourites.

Profiles of the sprinters including Cavendish and his main rivals, Sagan and Gaviria

Features on 100 years of the yellow jersey and 50 years since Merckx’s first Tour victory in 1969

Celebrate the biggest event in world cycling with the best value, most colourful and informative race guide on the shelves.

#TourSockSelfie

After the success of last year we will once again be running the #TourSockSelfie competition, keep an eye out for the competition in the mag for a chance to win £100.

Order your exclusive Tour merchandise today. 

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

From ultralight wheels to carbon bottle cages, there are precious grams to be saved in the mountains

By Tom Davidson Published 19 April 24

If we're going to have to ride through potholes, we might as well do it in comfort

By James Shrubsall Published 19 April 24

Useful links

• Tour de France
• Giro d'Italia
• Vuelta a España

Buyer's Guides

• Best road bikes
• Best gravel bikes
• Best smart turbo trainers
• Best cycling computers
• Editor's Choice
• Bike Reviews
• Component Reviews
• Clothing Reviews
• Contact Future's experts
• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Cookies policy
• Advertise with us

Cycling Weekly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site . © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Tour de France 2023 : TOUR Tech briefing for Stage 1

Robert Kühnen

 ·  01.07.2023

Tour de France 2023 - Stage 1: Bilbao - Bilbao | 182 Kilometres

Should, contrary to expectations, an athlete be able to break away earlier, the aero card would sting in this case as well.

*) The calculations are based on the bikes tested by TOUR in the laboratory and wind tunnel. The bikes at the Tour de France may differ in details. Of course, we have not yet been able to examine last-minute prototypes either.

Search form

• News & Results
• Reviews & Tech
• Training & Health

Featured articles

road bike shop cycling manager game

iphone nokia android

Most read articles

• Felt AR Road Bike Review
• The Death of a Professional Cyclist
• Armstrong set own fate by turning against Floyd
• The dominos are starting to fall
• Armstrong’s days of influence coming to an end

Selected articles

• Privacy policy
• Advertising Info

All rights reserved.  © roadcycling.com ®

Giro d'Italia 2024

Latest news from the race.

‘Take responsibility, ride for the win’ - Tudor primed for Giro d’Italia debut

'A feeling of unfinished business' - Biniam Girmay set for Giro d'Italia return

'I need to prioritise my health' – Wout van Aert to miss Giro d'Italia

2024 giro d'italia overview.

The 2024 Giro d'Italia, celebrating its 107th edition, is set to begin in Turin on Saturday, May 4 and end in Rome with a circuit stage around the Colosseum on Sunday, May 26.

The route will cover 3,321.2 kilometres and 42,900 metres in vertical elevation across the 21 days of racing. 

RCS Sport, organisers of the race, have designed a course that offers the peloton two time trials (of 37.2km and 31km), along with a Strade Bianche-style gravel stage 6 and six mountain top finishes.

Primož Roglič celebrated as the overall winner of the 2023 Giro d'Italia; however, he is unlikely to defend his victory, instead he will be focusing fully on the Tour de France.

The balanced 2024 route has attracted many of the sport's biggest names and overall contenders, including Tadej Pogačar , Geraint Thomas, Ben O'Connor and, if he can recover from his devastating injuries suffered in a crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen , Wout van Aert..

Cyclingnews will provide comprehensive reporting from the 2024 Giro d'Italia, with live minute-by-minute reports every day, as well as interviews, breaking news, race analysis, and the latest tech from our team around the world and on the ground in Italy.

Subscribe to Cyclingnews  for the comprehensive Giro d'Italia experience so you'll never miss a moment of our coverage.

2024 Giro d'Italia Route

The 2024 Giro d'Italia will be the 107th edition of the Italian Grand Tour, taking place from May 4-26. 

The  2024 Giro d'Italia route  will see the peloton tackle six summit finishes in the daunting stages through the Alps, Apennines and Dolomites , culminating in the final double ascent and descent of the Monte Grappa. 

The route also includes the Cima Coppi, Stelvio Pass at 2,758 metres, positioned mid-route on stage 16.

Giro d'Italia Records

Most overall wins: Fausto Coppi, Alfredo Binda, Eddy Merckx (five); Giovanni Brunero, Gino Bartali, Fiorenzo Magni, Felice Gimondi, Bernard Hinault (three).

Most stage wins: Mario Cipollini (42), Alfredo Binda (41), Learco Guerra (31), Constance Girardengo (30), Eddy Merckx (25) ... Mark Cavendish (16)

Most mountain classification wins: Gino Bartali (seven); José Manuel Fuentes (four); Fausto Coppi, Franco Bitossi, Claudio Bortolotto, Claudio Chiappucci (three)

Most points classification wins: Francesco Moser, Giuseppe Saronni (four); Roger De Vlaeminck, Johan van der Velde, Mario Cipollini (three)

Most starts: Wladimir Panizza (18); Pierino Gavazzi, Domenico Pozzovivo (17)

Youngest winner: Fausto Coppi, 1940 (20 years and 268 days)

Oldest winner: Fiorenzo Magni, 1955 (34 years and 180 days)

Smallest margin of victory: 11 seconds (Fiorenzo Magni, 1948)

Largest margin of victory: 1:57:26 (Alfonso Calzolari, 1914)

Fastest edition: 2013 (40.113kph)

Giro d'Italia 2024 stages

• Giro d'Italia 2024 route
• Giro d'Italia history

• Rest Day 2024-05-13

• Rest Day 2024-05-20

Latest Content on the Race

By James Moultrie published 15 April 24

News DS Matteo Tosatto on Swiss team's ambitions as they prepare for first Grand Tour

By Barry Ryan published 13 April 24

News Intermarché-Wanty confirm Eritrean will ride corsa rosa two years on from historic stage victory

By Dani Ostanek published 11 April 24

News Belgian speaks for first time since high-speed Dwars door Vlaanderen crash, Laporte to replace him in Corsa Rosa

Tim Merlier to ride second Giro d'Italia in 2024, Soudal-QuickStep boss confirms

By James Moultrie published 9 April 24

News Belgian sprinter will make first Grand Tour appearance in 18 months

Nairo Quintana injury update reveals he ruptured ligament in Volta a Catalunya crash

By Alasdair Fotheringham published 5 April 24

News Colombian will miss Tour of Alps, no date set for return to racing

Giro d'Italia still a 'serious option' for Wout van Aert despite multiple fractures

By Dani Ostanek published 2 April 24

News Het Laatste Nieuws reports that Belgian's pain is subsiding, though Visma-Lease A Bike say there is 'no news to report'

Miguel Indurain - 'Tadej Pogačar can do the Giro d'Italia-Tour de France double'

By Alasdair Fotheringham published 29 March 24

News All-time Spanish great says Slovenian star could win both Grand Tours in 2024

Tadej Pogacar heads to altitude to reach high peak for Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Giro d'Italia

By Laura Weislo published 25 March 24

News Three weeks in Sierra Nevada follow Slovenian's commanding spring performances

Larry Warbasse wants to 'help Ben O'Connor make the Giro d'Italia podium'

By Alasdair Fotheringham published 23 March 24

News US veteran plans a return to Italian Grand Tour for the sixth time in his career

Giulio Ciccone ruled out of Giro d'Italia following saddle sore surgery

By Barry Ryan published 14 March 24

News Italian back in training but new race schedule still to be decided

Top News on the Race

Mortirolo added to Giro d'Italia route after changes to stage 15

Hugh Carthy sets Giro d’Italia GC as 'big goal' again in 2024

'To fight for the same thing is exciting' – Geraint Thomas relishes Giro-Tour battle with Pogacar

Related features.

'It's a year to rebuild and find my feet again' – Caleb Ewan starts over at Jayco-AlUla

Tim Wellens: If anybody can do the Giro-Tour double, it’s Tadej Pogačar

‘I don’t go into races worried that I’m not good enough’ – Ben O’Connor on leadership, setbacks and the Tour de France

Less can be more as Giro d’Italia tries a shift in emphasis – Analysis

Five key stages in the 2024 Giro d'Italia

.css-1dmjnw1{position:relative;}.css-1dmjnw1:before{content:"";position:absolute;} .css-18zwis7{display:block;font-family:Velo,Velo-fallback,Velo-roboto,Velo-local,Georgia,Serif;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-18zwis7:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 61.25rem){.css-18zwis7{font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1;}}@media(min-width: 61.25rem){.css-18zwis7{font-size:1.75rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-18zwis7{font-size:1.75rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 73.75rem){.css-18zwis7{font-size:2rem;line-height:1.1;}} 2024’s Best and Most Exciting Bikes! .css-12l0wh{position:relative;}.css-12l0wh:after{content:'';position:unset;margin:0.9375rem auto 0.625rem;width:0;height:0;display:block;border-top:0.5rem solid #F8D811;border-left:0.5rem solid transparent;border-right:0.5rem solid transparent;}

Bicycling’s test editors tested dozens of bikes to select the 42 best bikes of 2024.

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} What All-Access Members Are Reading!

.css-1wj2ngm{display:block;font-family:Velo,Velo-fallback,Velo-roboto,Velo-local,Georgia,Serif;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-1wj2ngm:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 61.25rem){.css-1wj2ngm{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 61.25rem){.css-1wj2ngm{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1wj2ngm{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;}} Nerve Flossing for Knee Pain

6-Week Beginner Cycling Training Plan

How Often Should You Ride?

How to Improve Cadence, According to Pros

She Ditched Running After She Found Out Cyclists Have More Fun and Has Been Riding Ever Since .css-8ukkyl:after{margin:0.9375rem auto 0.625rem;width:0;height:0;content:'';display:block;position:unset;border-top:0.5rem solid #F8D811;border-left:0.5rem solid transparent;border-right:0.5rem solid transparent;}

.css-5mb4n8{display:block;font-family:Velo,Velo-fallback,Velo-roboto,Velo-local,Georgia,Serif;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-5mb4n8:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 61.25rem){.css-5mb4n8{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 61.25rem){.css-5mb4n8{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-5mb4n8{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;}} What Matthew Modine Learned Making ‘Hard Miles’

Dumbbells vs. Kettlebells: Which Is Better?

She’s on a Mission to Bring Cycling to Kids

How to Prep for a Century Ride

Cycling Training Plans for Every Kind of Rider

.css-1l6i7co:before,.css-1l6i7co:after{visibility:hidden;}.css-1l6i7co:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#f8d811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1l6i7co:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} pro racing .css-1aq4sl:before,.css-1aq4sl:after{visibility:hidden;}.

How to Watch Liège-Bastogne-Liège

La Flèche Wallonne 2024 Results

NCL Leaves Riders and Staff in Limbo

Is Matteo Jorgenson Too Tall to Win a Grand Tour?

Women’s cycling.

Kristen Faulkner’s Olympic Hopes

Should We Worry About the Tour de France Femmes?

Sofía Gómez Villafañe No Es una Soñadora

Can Lightning Strike Twice for Alison Jackson?

Ride stronger.

How to Calculate Your Power-To-Weight Ratio

The Best Exercises to Increase Mitochondria

Try Your First Race at Sea Otter

How to Avoid Bonking on Rides

All e-bikes.

Aventon Bets Big with Its New Ramblas Electric Mountain Bike

The 7 Best E-cargo Bikes Tested Head to Head

The 10 Best Electric Bikes, Tested by Our Editors

5 Legit Ways E-bikes Can Improve Your Health

The Best Folding Electric Bikes

Dear Cav, Your Comeback Has Made Me Eat My Words

If I Could Ride With Anyone...

Why I’m Done Being A Roadie

How To Get Back on the Bike After Injury

The best cycling tips.

What Are the Differences between Organic and Metallic Disc Brake Pads?

Deputy Editor Tara Seplavy and Senior Photographer Trevor Raab explain which are best for you, plus we discuss Roubaix bikes and Timeless Gear.

Bikes & Gear

The Enve Fray Obscures the Line between Race and Endurance Bikes

RockShox Debuts Flight Attendant for Cross Country

The 14 Best Road Bikes of 2024

The 14 Best Hitch Racks That Make Traveling Easier

The 10 Best Mountain Bikes You Can Buy Right Now

.css-1w9n3jm{display:block;font-family:Velo,Velo-fallback,Velo-roboto,Velo-local,Georgia,Serif;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-1w9n3jm:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 61.25rem){.css-1w9n3jm{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 61.25rem){.css-1w9n3jm{font-size:0.8125rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1w9n3jm{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;}} Watch Our Guide to Setting Up Your Bike Cleats

8 Road Bike Skills Every Rider Needs to Know

This Is Why You Need a Good Bike Fit

Make Riding More Fun With These Beginner Tips

Get Rid of Annoying Bike Noises For Good

How to Clean Your Bike Chain

How to Measure Bike Tire Size

Gabe’s Bike Shop: Bike Fits, Yearly Mileage & BBs

The Best Photos From RAGBRAI's 50th Edition

What It’s Like To Ride Paris Roubaix

The One Big Reason to Ride Faster

72-Year-Old Cyclist Founded a Community Bike Ride

Health & nutrition.

How This Crit Racer Fuels Her Performances

What Fruit is In Season Now?

What to Know About Cycling and A Normal Heart Rate

Your Spring Cycling Checklist

More from bicycling.

The Best Helmet Cameras for Fun and for Safety

Organic vs Metallic Disc Brake Pads—Which to Use?

2024’s Best and Most Exciting Bikes!

2024’s Best Road Bikes

2024’s Best Gravel Bikes

2024‘s Best Mountain Bikes

2024‘s Best Commuter and Urban Bikes

Buy Now: The OFFICIAL UK Tour De France Guide 2023

The official 204-page guide packed with team profiles, exclusive interviews and more. Buy the digital edition now!

Celebrate the build-up to the summer's biggest sporting event with the Official UK 2023 Tour de France Race Guide.

This year's 204-page Official Race Guide is packed with team profiles, exclusive interviews with the contenders of both the men’s and Femmes events, key rider stats, stage maps and lots more...

For just £10.99, you can buy the digital edition here

INSIDE THE OFFICIAL TOUR DE FRANCE GUIDE 2023:

• The only official 204-page race guide
• Official Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift A2 double-sided wallchart
• Basque Legends magazine
• Exclusive beer mats showcasing historic moments on this year's mountain passes

Share this article

Editor of Cycling Plus magazine

You may also like

Cycling plus, cycling plus june 2023 out now with the best commuter bikes, gravel wheels & riding advice, cycling on the isle of wight, cycling plus & huub launch team kit, scotland to host first-ever multi-discipline uci worlds in 2023.

• Privacy policy
• Cookies policy
• Terms & conditions
• Code of conduct
• Complaints escalation
• Manage preferences

• Buyer’s Guide
• Gear Reviews
• Rides+Events
• Training Guide
• Maintenance

Pogačar loses six minutes to Vingegaard, Felix Gall wins first Tour stage

Hugo houle in fourth straight tour breakaway.

It’s all going wrong for Tadej Pogačar in the final week of the 2023 Tour de France. Put in his place by a rampant Jonas Vingegaard on Stage 16, the Slovenian lost contact with the favourites group on Wednesday last HC-rated climb of the 110th edition and shipped almost 6:00 to the Dane. Fugitive Felix Gall–in his first Tour–cemented his place in the top 10 by winning the stage. Hugo Houle was in his fourth straight Tour road stage breakaway and was top Canadian in 43rd.

Where do we go now?

Wednesday found the 110th Tour de France looking for a new identity. No longer was it the Really Close Tour. But there was still plenty to scrap for. The first yellow jersey of the race, Adam Yates, moved ahead of Carlos Rodriguez in the Podium Tussle on Tuesday. Rodriguez has the clearer road ahead, as he is Ineos’ protected rider and Yates is working for Pogačar. A little down the stack, Gall was looking to protect his top-10 from Guillaume Martin. And then there was the King of the Mountains competition—Giulio Ciccone (63 pts) and Neilson Powless (58 pts) were trying to stay clear of Vingegaard and Pogačar, and Wout Van Aert was looming too.

Wednesday planted four climbs evenly over 166 km. The two Cat. 1s at the top of the order were both over 13 km long. The final ascent was HC-rated Col de la Loze, not as much steep (6 percent), as it was long (28.3 km). It crested 6.6 km from the finish in Courchevel, but there was a sharp rise to the line. It was another sweltering day.

Big day in the Alps coming up at the #TDF2023 ! Four climbs, including Col de la Loze, the highest point of this edition, promise to make for a spectacular and completely relentless stage! pic.twitter.com/pETrBwGgR4 — Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) July 19, 2023

The action was wild right from the start with multiple attacks on the way to the first climb Col des Saisies and Pogačar crashing. Ciccone and Powless were both in the first breakaway but the American couldn’t hang. Ciccone took the maximum KOM points after the breakaway was caught. On the descent Ciccone, Julian Alaphilippe and another rider attacked.

It was on the Cat. 1 Cormet de Roselend that the day’s enormous breakaway formed. Ciccone was there with Alaphilippe, as was Hugo Houle. But there were also several GC riders 7 to 11: Stage 10 winner Pello Bilbao, Simon Yates, David Gaudu, Gall and Martin. Again, Ciccone prevailed at the crest, and he was now 25 points clear of Powless.

The 32-strong gang reached the foot of the penultimate climb, Cat. 2 Côte de Longefoy, with only a 2:30 gap on the Jumbo-Visma-led peloton. Would the mob break up here or wait for Col de la Loze? Back in the peloton, the pace was ejecting fellows, and Houle’s compatriots and teammates Michael Woods and Guillaume Boivin were dropped. Again, Ciccone cashed in at the top of the climb. Just after Houle and three others lost contact with the breakaway, Ineos took over from Jumbo-Visma in the yellow jersey group.

Col de la Loze

It was the last HC-rated climb of the 110th edition. The breakaway started its 28.3-km climb 2:45 ahead of the radically streamlined peloton.

By the middle of climb where it leveled out, the breakaway itself was whittled down to 14 riders. Bilbao, Simon, Gaudu, Gall and Martin were still there. The Vingegaard-Pogačar group was wee, and Ineos was its engine again.

Pogačar was dropped with 15 km to ride. Marc Soler stayed with him while Adam Yates carried on with Rodriguez in his pocket.

Gall took off solo. By tipping over first, Gall he would put himself right into the KOM race, six points back of Ciccone.

Sepp Kuss and Vingegaard made a thrust to really bury Pogačar, and, boy, did they ever. Rodriguez couldn’t hang with Adam Yates.

Gall’s closest chasers were Simon and Rafal Majka. The Austrian crested with Simon Yates 21 seconds behind him and Vingegaard closing the gap. Gall hung tough for the big win and eighth spot in the GC.

Adam Yates put over a minute between himself and Rodriguez in the GC. His brother jumped up three spots to fifth and is crowding Rodriguez for fourth.

Dare I say Thursday is one for the sprinters?

2023 Tour de France Stage 17 1) Felix Gall (Austria/AG2R Citroën) 32:36 2) Simon Yates (Great Britain/Jayco-AlUla) +1:38 3) Pello Bilbao (Spain/Bahrain-Victorious) +2:51 43) Hugo Houle (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) +25:15

2023 Tour de France GC 1) Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark/Jumbo-Visma) 63:06:53 2) Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia/UAE-Emirates) +7:35 3) Adam Yates (Great Britain/UAE-Emirates) +10:45 4) Carlos Rodriguez (Spain/Ineos) +12:01 5) Simon Yates (Great Britain/Jayco-AlUla) +12:19 38) Hugo Houle (Canada/Israel-Premier Tech) +2:41:34

• Email address: *
• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

• Contributors
• Subscribe Now

CYCLE WORLD 10 BEST BIKES 2022

CYCLE WORLD 10 BEST BIKES 2022 Justin Dawes,Michael Gilbert,Bradley Adams,2 more... October 1 2022

Pure uncompromising track performance, value for dollar, touring comfort—the spectrum of criteria for which bike you need or want varies widely. Most of the time those values and features fall into generally defined segments, and those segments include a multitude of choices, and most of those choices are perfectly well-engineered, designed, and assembled.

But there are always true standouts. All year long we search for those exceptional performers. We set and define the standards by which each motorcycle should be judged, each according to its category. And after 12 months of testing, we have < i > Cycle World < /i >'s Ten Best.

Not every category in our Ten Best may matter to you, and that’s fair enough. But you may trust that each category matters very much to us. We take the task seriously, because naming a motorcycle as best is not something that should be taken lightly. Countless hours of riding, countless reams of data, and near-infinite debate and discussion goes into each and every choice. This year, as usual, some reliably excellent models have returned and some brilliant debutantes are first time inductees. However they got here, they’re the very best for 2022. Best of all, there’s a best bike here for everyone.

HONDA GOLD WING TOUR DCT

BEST TOURING BIKE

Ladies and gentlemen! We are honored, if absolutely unsurprised, to present to you the defending and utterly undisputed heavyweight champion of the world: The Honda Gold Wing!

Please pardon our efforts to create a sense of occasion for something that’s about as suspenseful as the sunrise. Year after year, Honda’s top-shelf touring motorcycle takes on all comers, many of them quite good indeed. Year after year, it beats each and every one of them. Even without any changes for 2022, and with new touring models coming to market, the Gold Wing Tour DCT wins this one without an argument from anyone on staff. Especially when the question is “What motorcycle would you jump on Monday morning if you’re in California but you have to be in Texas by Tuesday?”

In 2021, the Gold Wing Tour DCT got a few fairly significant upgrades: a new top trunk that increased storage while improving passenger comfort and a more powerful audio system with Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay. Yet even without those updates, the competition struggles to compete with the Gold Wing’s nearly five decades of evolution and refinement. Rider accommodations are undeniably plush: There’s a proper upright seating position; every contact point is right where it should be; every switch and button is exactly where your hand expects. Wind flows easily over rider and passenger as the sublimely smooth, reactor-powerful horizontally opposed six-cylinder hums away beneath.

So, yes, we could shower the Gold Wing in superlatives, and do it without exaggeration. But really, there’s no need to. It’s the Best Touring Bike for the third year running, and that, ladies and gentlemen, says it all.

Justin Dawes

1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R

BEST ADVENTURE BIKE

KTM’s LC8 V-twin powerplant is the Austrian gift that just keeps on giving. Throughout its life cycle the 75-degree V-twin has grown from 942cc to 1,301 cc. Now, as the centerpiece of the 1290 Super Adventure R, it produces 136.3 hp and 87.5 lb.-ft. of torque at the rear tire. That’s near-sportbike power in a machine meant to rule the roads and be pointed at as much dirt as possible. One hundred and thirty-six ponies in the dirt—if not for the chassis and electronic engineering prowess of 400-odd engineers working in the sleepy Austrian town of Mattighofen, such a machine would not be possible.

Big power is nothing new in open-class adventure-touring motorcycles, but no contemporary bike can match the capability of the 2022 KTM 1 290 Super Adventure R. The previous 1290 SAR was impressive, but KTM has elevated the big-bore game yet again.

KTM refined the chassis, shortening the frame at the steering head by 1 5mm to sharpen response and feeling of the front tire while lengthening the swingarm for added stability. A new three-piece fuel tank moves weight lower in the chassis, carrying most of its 6.1 gallons in saddle-style tanks. The result is a surefooted ADV bike that feels lighter than its 545-pound curb weight.

New electric rider aids are controlled via a massive 7-inch TFT dash that’s clear, bright, and easy to navigate. Lean-sensitive traction control and ABS tame the ferocity of the LC8, but can be turned off or tailored depending on the rider’s needs. Multiple modes also alter the power output, throttle response, and ABS settings. But the real star of the 1290’s electro-wizardry is Rally mode, which lets riders select how far they want the rear tire to step out before the system reigns in throttle input.

All of this can also be found on the Super Adventure S, but the R adds off-road-friendly 21 - and 1 8-inch wheel sizes, aggressive knobby tires, and manually adjustable (versus semi-active electronic) 240mm (9.4 inches) travel suspension that eats up terrain at a pace that’s simply not possible on most other ADV bikes. Everytime you push what you think of as the limit, the 1290 SAR asks if that’s all you got.

A massively entertaining powerplant, handling that belies its size, and electronics that make difficult situations easy all combine to give the 2022 KTM 1 290 Super Adventure a leg up on the competition. It pushes the limits of what an open-class ADV can do while still nailing the basic requirements of comfortable travel. It’s the full package for global domination.

— Justin Dawes

BEST MIDDLEWEIGHT STREETBIKE

Think of the RS 660 as a scaled-down model of the RSV4 Factory with huge potential, blending the work of Aprilia’s proven racing department with everyday functionality and comfort. This is the best of all things Aprilia in a platform that’s ridiculously entertaining, even educational to the most experienced riders.

Aprilia says the RS 660 is half of the RSV4 superbike, but it’s more than half of the fun. The 659cc DOHC parallel-twin engine is a direct descendant of Aprilia’s legendary V-4 powerplant. Engineers hacked off the extra cylinders, increased the stroke measurement of the two that remained, and cut it loose as a middleweight. The result is 89 horses that act like they’ve never felt so good. Around 7,000 rpm it lets out a howl that’s delightfully similar to its larger sibling’s. The balance of performance and versatility make this a remarkable engine, both made possible by a wonderfully flat torque curve. It’s as happy to slog highway miles as it is to rip and tear backroads.

But chances are the RS 660 will be ridden in anger. That’s where the technical aptitude of the superbike-level Aprilia Performance Ride Control (APRC) rider-aid suite comes in, with its selectable levels of traction control, wheelie control, engine-brake management, and ABS settings to keep the mighty middleweight in check. The precise steering and well-balanced chassis lend a hand in overall performance, and aggressive yet comfortable ergonomics beg for long days in the saddle.

In the case of the RS 660, bigger isn’t always better. A balance of performance and practicality is everything you need out of a great time on two wheels. Or, put another way, a great middleweight streetbike.

Michael Gilbert

PANIGALE V4 SP2

BEST SUPERBIKE

The ultimate trackday weapon? Ducati’s Panigale V4 SP2. Following two years of Bolognese domination in the superbike category thanks to the no-holds-barred super-exotic Superleggera V4, Ducati has been able to infuse that same technological know-how, wicked entertainment value, and overall rideability into a track-focused package that’s more obtainable by the public. This is MotoGP for the masses.

There’s a lot of magic to the SP2, and therefore a lot of value in its $39,500 price tag. Consider the spec sheet: an 1,103cc Desmosedici Stradale V4 powerplant that’s good for 182 hp on the Cycle World dyno, premium Brembo Stylema R calipers, adjustable Rizoma rearsets, and the raw reverberations of the STM-EVO dry clutch echoing the sound of classic Ducatis. The chassis is kept in check by the semi-active Ohlins NPX 25/30 fork and TTX 36 shock and the latest Ducati Traction Control Evo 3 system. Ducati has given deep consideration to every aspect of this track machine.

But what makes the SP2 truly special is the balance achieved by this combination of technology. It’s a display of class-leading raw performance, harnessed through steadfast control and composure from corner entry to exit. The result is a truly remarkable racetrack experience that gives the rider the sense of what it’s like to be a psychokinetic MotoGP superhuman: See an apex, hit it, and look to the next. Every time we swing a leg over this up-spec’d Panigale, we know it’s going to be amazing.

—Michael Gilbert

BEST LIGHTWEIGHT STREETBIKE

KTM’s RC 390 is a product of the company’s Ready to Race philosophy, and at the same time much more than “just” a small-displacement performance-first streetbike. In fact, the RC 390’s strength is in its ability to appeal to a wide audience. A tractable engine and light clutch help inexperienced riders get up to speed, a spacious layout enables all body types to commute in comfort, and sporty handling means seasoned enthusiasts are all smiles as they hunt apexes at the racetrack.

KTM took great pains to make this next step in lightweight streetbike performance, and the result is a machine that was almost all-new for 2022. The 373cc DOHC single-cylinder engine remains, but benefits from a 40 percent larger airbox, all-new exhaust system, and dedicated engine mapping. A revised steel trellis frame and bolt-on subframe save 3.3 pounds, while “open hub” wheels save an incredible 7.5 pounds. Updates extend to a radial-mounted ByBre brake caliper and WP fork with compression and rebound damping adjustment—rare luxuries in the lightweight arena. The Apex shock is adjustable for spring preload and rebound damping as well.

Spec sheets are important when it comes to cementing a position in any category, and KTM establishes its intentions with first-in-class electronic rider aids for the RC 390. Will everyone push the RC 390 to a point where they’re relying on its lean-angle-sensitive traction control and ABS? Maybe not, but KTM intends it to be a bike for riders of all backgrounds, experience levels, and goals. To not implement these technologies would be to limit growth in the lightweight streetbike category. KTM was not about to take that path, and the category is better for it.

The result of KTM’s commitment is a bike that’s nimble, fun, and has enough bark to keep the rider entertained. Perhaps best of all, the RC 390 looks like a star as you roll it out of the garage for a day of riding, its grand prix-inspired styling evoking the Ready to Race philosophy that made this all possible.

Bradley Adams

SPEED TRIPLE 1200 RR

BEST OPEN-CLASS STREETBIKE

Naked bikes may be the motorcycle industry’s success story in recent decades, but Triumph proved there’s more than one way to dress up a platform with the Speed Triple 1200 RR, a motorcycle it calls “the ultimate sportbike for the road.” We simply call it the Best Open-Class Streetbike of 2022.

How did Triumph get here? Starting with a good platform helps, and Triumph began with the rather marvelous bones of the Speed Triple 1200 RS. Add a cockpit fairing, dedicated ergonomics, and premium finishes, and the result is a motorcycle that redefines the modern sportbike category while honoring Triumph’s commitment to performance machines with its involvement in Moto2. Committed, performance-minded, and capable, but with style and grace that belies track-focused competition, the Speed Triple 1200 RR is a successful exercise in bringing two worlds together.

The 1200 RR is more than just sleek lines and a racier rider triangle. A long list of high-end features include but are not limited to Ohlins Smart EC 2.0 electronically adjustable semi-active suspension, Brembo Stylema Monoblock front brake calipers, a ratio-adjustable Brembo MCS brake lever, and carbon fiber detailing. Of course this is all managed by an advanced suite of electronic rider aids, including ride modes, cornering traction control, cornering ABS, and front wheel lift control.

The liquid-cooled DOHC l,160cc inline-triple engine produced 150.6 hp at 10,500 rpm and 82.63 lb.-ft. of torque at 8,500 rpm when strapped to the Cycle World dyno. Out in the world, its smooth delivery and flat torque curve make this powerplant an absolute gem for backroad riding. Handling is just as sweet, as the 1200 RR’s compact chassis and Ohlins suspension deliver incredible amounts of feel as the bike leans into corners. It’s committed, but with a sense of refinement that makes the bike feel perfectly suited for a full day of canyon carving.

Those hoping for a full-on Triumph-branded superbike may initially dismiss this machine. But that’s a separate matter. There’s an even bigger argument to be made for Triumph having found a void in the motorcycling space, and created a bike that fits. With the Speed Triple 1200 RR, the gentleman’s sportbike is here, and Triumph is leading the charge.

—Bradley Adams

BEST ENDURO/DUAL SPORT

There’s a line between what can be done on a trials motorcycle and what calls for a dirt bike, but with the continuing development of two-stroke enduros, that line continues to blur. Husqvarna is at the forefront of this charge with its TE 300i, a bike that has been ridden to multiple victories at Erzberg Rodeo, Romaniacs, and more of the most difficult extreme races on the planet.

From idle to 5,000 rpm, the Husky’s fuel-injected liquid-cooled two-stroke 293cc single-cylinder engine delivers abundant torque. Luggability is off the charts; right when stalling seems inevitable, the bike just keeps chugging along and finding traction. The top-end isn’t where the TE 300i makes its best power, but with 40.0 hp and 25.4 lb.-ft. of torque on tap as measured on our in-house dyno, there’s still plenty enough high-rpm pull to get up just about any hill climb you point it at.

The two-stroke powerplant produces almost no vibration, thanks to its counterbalancer. And when it’s time to refuel, the Ratio Rite can be left on the shelf; the transfer port injection (TPI) system not only eliminates

a carburetor and the jetting that comes along with it, but also the need to premix gas.

The TE 300i’s suspension makes it evident Husqvarna designed this motorcycle for the toughest trails. The WP Xplor 48mm coil-spring fork and WP Xact shock are set up on the soft side, which makes candy out of techniques like preloading, unloading, and launching up daunting climbs, as if the bike’s a two-wheeled hard enduro cheat code. Plushness in slow yet demanding single-track is off the charts.

A central double cradle chromoly steel frame paired with a composite carbon fiber subframe contributes to quick handling with plenty of flex to help absorb obstacles big and small. Pivot turns are made easy with such an agile chassis, especially at its Cycle World-measured 246-pound wet weight. The TE 300i works best when ridden with finesse, but will suffer manhandling if the situation calls for it.

Whether you’re a world-class extreme enduro racer, an everyday single-track rider, or somewhere in between, this Husqvarna gives you all the tools you need. We know from experience that when riding a wickedly tough trail like Five Miles of Hell, this is the bike to be on.

Andrew Oldar

BEST STANDARD

Triumph has had a virtual stranglehold on Cycle World’s Best Standard Motorcycle since 2019, and this year it’s the 2022 Speed Twin taking top honors. Not only is it the third time in four years Triumph’s big-bore parallel twin, the 1 200HP, has been the winner of this category, but it’s the second time in three years the Speed Twin has made CW’s Ten Best list. Last time was 2020 when it was named Best Open-Class Streetbike. Since then, the Modern Classic roadster has received a host of upgrades to once again earn recognition and praise from every staffer who was lucky enough to ride the Speed Twin.

A new upside-down 43mm Marzocchi fork has further increased the bike’s sporty nature. Brembo M50 front calipers now squeeze larger 320mm rotors. Cast aluminum 12-spoke wheels are wrapped in Metzeler Racetec RR tires, further increasing its handling prowess. Although essentially a Thruxton RS that’s been stripped and simplified with a flat seat and a taller tubular handlebar, slashing it along the twisting mountain roads above the megalopolis that is Southern California is sublime and surprising. Its classically British styling gives few clues as to how sharp the handling is when the pace is pushed.

Slightly more power has been added to the equation with higher-compression pistons, a new camshaft profile, and revised porting. On the CW dyno the Speed Twin’s 92 hp is just one up from the 2020 model we tested, but this is a win considering this new unit passes stricter emissions regulations. Throttle response from the 270-degree twin is snappy and matched to torque delivery that tugs at your shoulders as you rock back slightly on the long, flat seat.

There’s modern sporting performance underneath a silhouette that will get compliments all day from just about anyone. Ride around unassumingly with style and cordial manners, then hit the backroads and be blown away with the ease with which it dispatches snaking roads. Without protest or compromise, this could be the one and only ride in your garage.

—Justin Dawes

HARLEY-DAVIDSON

BEST CRUISER

A fine cruiser must balance modernity and tradition, heritage and relevance. We expect a chassis with dynamic handling and clean, accessible power, brought together in a form that involves its rider in the history of our sport.

The 2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST gives us exactly that: The versatility of H-D’s Low Rider S Softail chassis, the power of its largest production engine, and a new fairing and saddlebags that add functionality and change the visual meaning of the machine. The ST draws from both 1983 and 2022, balancing Harley-Davidson’s past against current custom trends to create a motorcycle that’s not only a fine cruiser, but the Best Cruiser of 2022.

Fairing and saddlebags for the ST are based on the 1983 FXRT, which has become iconic in what’s often called West Coast style, tail-bike style, or club style. These styles are defined by a tall stance and aggressive ergonomics, most often seen on a twin-shocked Harley-Davidson. Many of these modern customs are made using reproduced aftermarket components, but this cult popularity has kept FXRT style in the motorcycle pop culture spotlight and allowed us to see the style advance using modern add-ons.

Like the Low Rider S, the ST is powered by a 11 7ci Milwaukee-Eight V-twin engine, the largest currently in production. On the Cycle World dyno, we saw this bike produce 94.9 hp at 4,800 rpm and 114.79 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,500 rpm. There are no ride modes to vary throttle maps, but power delivered to the rear wheel is smooth and there’s plenty of it. Over 100 lb.-ft. of torque are produced throughout nearly the entire usable rev range, and that steep upward line at the beginning of our dyno chart shows that power is available immediately from idle. As we’ve come to expect from Harley-Davidson, clutch and throttle feel are both exquisite, which adds to the high level of rider control and a sense of connection to the machine.

The 2022 FXLR ST is not just a more versatile take on H-D’s hot-rod Softail. It’s the factory acknowledging how customers have used the FXRT since its inception. It’s Harley-Davidson showing decades of experience balancing performance with tradition and once again doing so in an outstanding way.

Morgan Gales

BEST MOTOCROSSER

Riding a 450 motocross bike can be a challenge for even the greatest racers. With so much power on tap, large-displacement motorcycles can be difficult to tame and handle, let alone rip to its full potential. Yet Kawasaki has found a way to make its flagship motocrosser walk that fine line, meaning it’s manageable for the masses yet capable enough for even the most skilled pilots.

The KX450 spins 52.2 hp and 32.4 lb.-ft. of torque on the Cycle World dyno, and out in the world its lively engine character helps keep the fun factor high while its controllability cuts down on the chance of its rider seeing their life flash before their eyes. Modulating power from the fuel-injected liquid-cooled DOHC fourstroke 449cc single-cylinder engine is made even easier with its Nissin hydraulic clutch, which offers such a nearly effortless lever pull that it’s tempting to shift even when you don’t need to.

The comfort-focused setup of the Showa 49mm coil-spring fork and Showa shock keep the ride smooth when the terrain is not. Bumps, jumps, and everything in between are no match for these well-tuned components. Balance is nearly spot on, with the fork a tad soft in relation to the shock.

The chassis department is where the KX450 stands out most. Its aluminum perimeter frame is forgiving, helping to absorb impacts from unrelentingly rough motocross tracks. And while it’s not the sharpest turning or most stable bike on the market, it scores smack dab in the middle of those two most important handling traits. In other words, this bike’s handling is about as neutral as you can get. A well-proportioned rider triangle is complemented by narrow bodywork and a flat seat, making the KX450 comfortable and easy to move around on.

Team Green’s premier class motocrosser doesn’t lean toward extremes in any one category, so even its relative weak points aren’t really deterrents in the grand scheme of things. In the same way it’s difficult to beat a competitor who finishes on the podium in every race, it’s tough to top a motorcycle that checks all of the boxes and whose drawbacks are negligible. Consistency wins titles, and in the case of the 2022 KX450, that title is Cycle World’s Best Motocrosser.

—Andrew Oldar

More From This Issue

Secret stash, the ten rest, hayden roberts, original honda elsinore, signs of change, driving the rear wheel, current subscribers can access the complete cycle world magazine archive register now.

SEARCH ENGINE

WHERE'S THE WR300R?

Killer Tacos

Grown-Up Fun

2016 Honda Vfr1200x

Opposed Twins

RACING IS LIFE

ALTERED STATE of ADVENTURE

2021 10 BEST BIKES

Balance of Power

SHARPEST BLADE

AMERICAN SWEETHEART

AMERICA'S BEST

BERLIN BUILT AMERICAN IRON

Show Stoppers!

The Trailrider

• cycleworld.com

Cycle World

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

‘Monumental effort’ means Women’s Tour of Britain goes ahead in 2024

• Condensed four-stage race begins in Welshpool on 6 June
• Lizzie Deignan: ‘I’m grateful to the people who have pulled it off’

British Cycling has named the host towns for this summer’s Tour of Britain Women after what has been described as “monumental effort” to make sure the race goes ahead.

Ten weeks after the Guardian reported the governing body would organise the race in-house ­following the collapse of SweetSpot group, the outline of the route has been unveiled, with an opening stage starting in Welshpool and finishing in Llandudno on 6 June.

Stage two will start and finish in Wrexham, stage three will begin and end in Warrington, and the final stage will start outside the National Cycling Centre in Manchester and finish in Leigh on 9 June.

This year’s race will be limited to four stages – down from six for the previous edition of the Women’s Tour in 2022 – due to the time ­restrictions British Cycling has faced, but there is an ambition to grow in the future.

Rod Ellingworth, the former ­deputy team principal of the Ineos Grenadiers who joined as race ­director last month, said: “It’s been a monumental effort by the whole team over the past 10 weeks to ­confirm the stages for this year’s Tour of Britain Women.”

The governing body’s chief executive, Jon Dutton, admitted there had been “many” moments in the last 10 weeks where he feared the race might not take place. “I dare say with 52 days to go there will be a few more bumps in the road,” Dutton said.

“We’ve had local authorities, start towns and finish towns who’ve said: ‘We’re in’ and then subsequently said: ‘We’re not in’ and that’s difficult. We’ve always had the idea of a condensed, compact race and when one pulls out that’s an issue across the board.”

British Cycling is also working on the men’s Tour of Britain, with that race due to take place over six days in September rather than the usual eight.

Dutton added that British Cycling is continuing to seek further investment for what he described as two “expensive races”. Much of the money will come from hosting fees and broadcast contracts, close to being agreed but not yet finalised, but there is a need for more commercial revenue.

All six of the UK’s UCI ­Continental level teams have signed up for the women’s race, and the former world champion Lizzie Deignan will swap her Lidl-Trek jersey for Britain ­ colours to lead a national squad.

after newsletter promotion

“Sometimes it’s easy to ­underestimate how much it takes to put on a race so I’m really grateful to the people who have pulled it off against the odds,” Deignan said.

The 35-year-old wants to use the race to prepare for a busy summer which will hopefully include the Paris Olympics, but admitted the broken arm she suffered in a crash at last month’s Tour of Flanders had come at a bad time.

“The main concern for me is it’s during Olympic selection time so I’ve missed a good chunk of races I was peaking for in terms of getting selected,” said Deignan. “There’s plenty of time until the Olympics itself to get fit and ready, but selection is harder than it’s ever been so it’s obviously bad timing.”

• Tour of Britain
• Lizzie Deignan

Most viewed

Trans cyclist picks up overall victory in Tour of the Gila

A ustin Killips, a transgender female, finished in first place in the women’s category in the Tour of the Gila as she finished in first place in the final stage of the event in New Mexico.

Killips broke free from the pack in the final minutes of the race. Killips clocked in at 3:07:16 defeating Marcela Prieto and Cassandra Nelson in the stage.

"We really wanted to get into a break," Julie Kuliecza, the team director of Killips’ sponsor – Amy D Foundation – said afterward, via Cycling News. "We thought that there was going to be something that would go right after the second sprint point, and we wanted a rider in that break so that when Austin and the other GC riders came up to it, Austin would have someone to help them and protect them, and it worked out perfectly."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

With the focus on transgender women competing against biological females taking centerstage across the country, Killips took some heat on social media for the victory.

The Tour of Gila congratulated Killips on the win but limited the responses.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Killips was also the subject of controversy at the UCI Cyclocross National Championships in December 2022, when she was accused of pushing another competitor off course. Killips denied making the move in a statement to the Los Angeles Blade.

Killips’ emergence on the cyclocross circuit was the reason Hannah Arensman , a 35-time winner on the national cyclocross circuit, said she retired from the sport altogether. Arenasman revealed her situation in an amicus brief filed to the Supreme Court in hopes of keeping West Virginia’s Save Women’s Sports legislation in place back in March.

RILEY GAINES CALLS BRITTNEY GRINER'S REMARKS ON TRANSGENDER ATHLETE PARTICIPATION 'HEARTBREAKING'

"I was born into a family of athletes. Encouraged by my parents and siblings, I competed in sports from a young age, and I followed in my sister’s footsteps, climbing the ranks to become an elite cyclocross racer," her message read. "Over the past few years, I have had to race directly with male cyclists in women’s events. As this has become more of a reality, it has become increasingly discouraging to train as hard as I do only to have to lose to a man with the unfair advantage of an androgenized body that intrinsically gives him an obvious advantage over me, no matter how hard I train.

"I have decided to end my cycling career. At my last race at the recent UCI Cyclocross National Championships in the elite women’s category in December 2022, I came in 4th place, flanked on either side by male riders awarded 3rd and 5th places. My sister and family sobbed as they watched a man finish in front of me, having witnessed several physical interactions with him throughout the race.

"Additionally, it is difficult for me to think about the very real possibility I was overlooked for an international selection on the US team at Cyclocross Worlds in February 2023 because of a male competitor.

"Moving forward, I feel for young girls learning to compete and who are growing up in a day when they no longer have a fair chance at being the new record holders and champions in cycling because  men want to compete in our division . I have felt deeply angered, disappointed, overlooked, and humiliated that the rule makers of women’s sports do not feel it is necessary to protect women’s sports to ensure fair competition for women anymore."