tour de tech

Please find the exact calendar dates on the left for the specific races below.

Tour de La Riviere Rouge- 275 Miles Friday before the race: Red River South Marina 250 Red River South Marina Road Bossier City, La. 71112 32  16  49.15 N 93  37  17.04 W   3-6 PM Boat and equipment check   Saturday Red River South Marina 8 AM- 12 PM Boat and equipment check 12:30 PM Opening Ceremony 2 PM Start the race Race ends: Butte La Rose, La. Atchafalaya River Highway and Herman Dupuis Road 30  16  49.15  N 91  41  9.03  W First, Second and Third place awards will be presented in each class at the end of the race.   -->

TOP OF THE TECHE- 7.7 MILES

Leonville, La.

Leonville Boat Launch

30  28  25 N

91  58  49 W

7:30 AM – 9AM Boat check

possible shuttle between 8-9 AM

9:30 AM Opening Ceremony

10:00 AM Start Race (All Classes)

Race ends at Myrans Maison de Manger

1023 Neblett St.

Arnaudville, La

30  23  42  N

91  55  50  W

about 1 PM Awards Ceremony

OUACHITA RIVER 49er- 49 MILES

OUACHITA RIVER 28 (28 MILES)

Race ends Columbia, La.

Riverton Camp Road

Boat Launch

32  10  48.60  N

92  06  17.67  W

See detailed schedule at the appropriate web site for the 49 and 28 mile races

LOWER ATCHAFALAYA SPRINT RACE

3 Miles & 1 Mile

Patterson, La

1114- 1116 Main St.

29  41  41.07  N

91  18  7.47 W

7:00 – 8:30 AM A M Boat check ( NO boat checks, check-ins or registration after 8:30 AM )

8:30 AM Opening Ceremony

9 AM- Solo Female S/D

Male Solo S/D will be held after the Female Solo completes

9:00 to 10:00 AM AM Start all recreation boats: solo male, solo female, tandem male/mixed, tandem female – start time depend on number of participants – 1 mile course.

about 10:30 AM (after Solo events and a short break) Tandem events- Women S/D

11:00 Tandem Male/Mixed S/D

11:30 – 12:30  lunch for all registered participants

make up events and additional races based on weather and attenance

2:00 PM Awards Ceremony

CHITIMACHA 10 MILES

Jeanerette City Park

1603 Tarleton St, Jeanerette, LA 70544

7:00 AM race start area setup boats can be left at starting area.

7:30 AM day of race registration opens.

8:00 AM shuttle departs from Chitimacha Boat launch

9:15 AM Opening Ceremony

7:45 AM – 9:15 AM Boat check

9:30 am  Race Starts (all classes)

Race ends Chitimacha Boat Launch

Afternoon events:

checking and late registration 12:00 noon to 1:15 PM

1:30 PM 2nd heat start all  mixed classes (Alum nationals)

Awards 4:00 PM

3548 Chitimacha Trail

Charenton, La.

29  52  59  N

91  31  44  W

1:30 PM Awards Ceremony or after last paddlers arrive.

PETITE TOUR DU TECHE

250 yards to one mile loop course

New Iberia or Charenton, LA (depends on the year)

see details for the specific year and race location.

8 AM Opening Ceremony

8:15 AM PFD and boat check

9 AM races start

Schedule will be available to parents and participants during the Petite Tour du Teche race day.

TOUR DU TECHE 135 (first stage 49 miles )

CRAWFISH- 30 Miles

ACADIAN 49 Miles

Port Barre, La.

Port Barre Boat Launch

La 103 and La 741

30  33  30 N

91  57  17  W

Thursday before the race – CHECK-IN and Boat Check

1 PM- 7 PM Boat check

7 AM Opening Ceremony

8 AM Start Race (all classes )

Crawfish 30 Miles

Breaux Bridge, La.

3015 Main Hwy

30  18  46  N

91  54  14  W

All Racers must finish race by 5 PM

First, Second and Third place awards will be presented for each class at the end of the race.

TDT 135 (1st stage 49 miles) and Acadian 49 miles

Race ends St. Martinville

Evangeline Oak

Port St and New Market St

30  07  19.16  N

91  49  39.28  W

All racers must finish by 10 PM

First, Second and Third place awards for ACADIAN will be presented at the end of the race.

HOT SAUCE 24 MILES

BLACK BEAR 35 MILES

SUGAR 59 MILE

FRIDAY BEFORE THE RACE

St. Martinville, La.

4 PM- 7 PM Boat check

TOUR DU TECHE 135 ( 2nd Stage 59 MILES )

SUGAR 59 MILES

St. Martinville, La

Port and New Market Street

30  07  19.16 N

last minute boat check available  at Saturday 7:00 AM  to 7:15 AM for Hot Sauce (24 mile)

Race starts 8 AM (all classes)

TOUR DU TECHE 135 (59 MILES) and Sugar 59 Miles

Race ends Franklin, La

Parc Sur La Teche

Teche St and Commercial St.

29  47  30  N

91  29  55  W

All racers must finish by 12 AM Sunday

First, Second and Third place awards for Sugar will be presented at the end of the race.

4 PM- 9 PM Vote for Jessica Award

New Iberia, La City Park

300 Parkview Drive

30  13  19  N

91  48  42  W

All Racers must finish by 5 PM

First, Second and Third place awards will be presented at the end of the race.

New Iberia, La.

30 13  19  N

10 AM Start Race (all classes)

Race ends Parc Sur La Teche

Franklin, La.

Teche Drive and Commercial Street

All Racers must finish race by 12 AM Sunday

OIL AND GAS

Saturday before the race

5PM- 7 PM  Boat Check

TOUR DU TECHE 135 (3rd stage 27 MILES)

OIL AND GAS 27 MILES

8 am Race starts (all classes)

Parc Sur La T eche

Berwick, La.

Everett Berry Memorial Lighthouse Park

Bellview Front Street

29  41  38.38  N

91  12  54.61  W

All racers must finish by 6 PM

3 PM Awards Ceremony

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2020 WorldTour Bikes Tour De Tech

A close-up look at what the pros ride.

When Nairo Quintana broke away to win the final Paris-Nice stage, giving Bora-Hansgrohe rider Max Schachmann the overall win, no one was sure when the teams would gather again.

With impending travel restrictions soon to take place, for many American pro riders living abroad, time was of the essence and they hurriedly made plans to get back to U.S. soil.

The first indication of what might happen with the cycling calendar came to us in a press release from France’s Minister of Sports, Roxana Maracineanu, who, in trying to put a positive spin on things, said that perhaps the Tour de France could still go on without any spectators. “So, finally,” she added, “it wouldn’t be so bad, because you could still watch it on TV.”

Knowing that one of the greatest aspects of the storied race is its interface with the fans who line the streets, coupled with trying to imagine a process by which the million-plus fans could effectively and efficiently be excluded, left some heads spinning in response.

In light of the seriousness of the global pandemic, whether or not the Tour de France is run (August 29 to September 20) really becomes of secondary importance.

Given the huge amounts of money and effort that had already been expended to prepare for the 2020 season, and that, like many of you, we remain silly bike and racing geeks, we decided to go ahead and include this overview of some of the world’s top teams to share what kind of equipment was, and hopefully will again be, seen mixing it up out on the roads.

The defending Tour de France-winning squad maintains their relationship with Italian legacy brand Pinarello . The Shimano Dura-Ace-spec’d F12 returns as the bike of choice, still with rim brakes, and Pinarello’s in-house Most brand for stem and seatposts.

Funny to see the French squad go full-Italian with their shapely De Rosa SK Pininfarinas out on the road, with Campagnolo Super Record drivetrains and Fulcrum Speed tubular wheels.

BAHRAIN MCLAREN

The brightly colored Bahrain McLaren team rides Merida Sculturas with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 components and Vision Metron tubular wheels.  

ISRAEL START-UP NATION

Factor’s One and the 2 VAM are the go-to bike with their in-house brand Black Inc. supplying the wheels and hard parts, while Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 components shift the gears with oversized CeramicSpeed pulleys.  

EF PRO CYCLING

One of the more colorful teams can be found aboard Cannondale’s SuperSix Evo complete with a Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 drivetrain paired to FSA chainrings, Vision Metron wheels and one-piece Vision Metron cockpit.

LOTTO SOUDAL

The Belgian team relies on the Belgian bike brand Ridley and the Helium SLX model, with added Italian flair coming from Campagnolo’s Super Record components, Deda components and Selle Italia saddles.

ARKEA SAMSIC

The French squad rides the world’s best-performing, consumer-direct bikes from Canyon , with their Ultimate CF SLX model using a full-pull Shimano Dura-Ace component spec and wheels.

MITCHELTON SCOTT

A Scott Addict RC Pro is the team’s road bike of choice with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 components and Dura-Ace wheels. Scott’s in-house brand Syncros supplies the one-piece handlebar/stem combo.

TREK SEGAFREDO

The aero-optimized Trek Madone SLR is equipped with SRAM RED eTap AXS components, and Trek’s in-house parts brand Bontrager handles the hard parts and tubular Aeolus XXX 4 hoops.    

The African-licensed team (formerly Dimension Data) enjoys access to the whole BMC fleet, with the Roadmachine 01 being a steady choice. Enve provides the wheels, while Shimano controls the shifting duties with Dura-Ace Di2 components.

JUMBO VISMA

The Dutch squad are back on Bianchi bikes and the aero-optimized package of the Oltre XR4 and Vision Metron handlebars that all roll on Shimano Dura-Ace wheels with Shimano drivetrain.  

Italian brand Wilier Triestina provides the bikes for the Kazakhstan-sponsored team, with French wheel maker Corima providing the hoops and Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 drivetrains with oversized CeramicSpeed pulleys.

Riders can choose between the S3 aero bike and the R5 road bike with drivetrain, wheel and component specs courtesy of Shimano and Pro , with the S3 using Cervelo’s own radical one-piece handlebar/stem combo.

DECEUNINCK QUICK-STEP

The most dominant team in the pro peloton retains the Specialized Venge bike spec’d with Shimano drivetrains and tubular wheels from Specialized’s in-house Roval brand.  

For 2020 Movistar stayed with Canyon , but jumped to SRAM to use their wireless AXS Red drivetrain and Zipp wheels, along with Fizik saddles and LizardSkins bar tape.  

GROUPAMA FDJ

In fitting style, France’s Groupama FDJ makes the effort aboard a fleet of Lapierre bikes outfitted with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 drivetrains, wheels, Pro  components and Prologo saddles.  

Resplendent as he is in his rainbow kit, 2019 world champion Mads Pedersen is unfortunately all dressed up with nowhere to go now that the entire race calendar has been canceled because of the coronavirus. With so much still unknown about the pandemic’s impact, no one knows if there will be any racing this year at all.

Photos: Bettini

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• Spring Classics

Tour de France tech takeaways: The era of the do-it-all superbike

Are lightweight bikes making a comeback? And is 1x here to stay?

Tom Hallam-Gravells

Online production editor.

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© Velo Collection (David Ramos) / Getty Images

Jonas Vingegaard and his Cervélo S5

Now that the Tour de France has concluded in Paris and the yellow jersey has been awarded, it’s a good time for some technology-based reflection from the most important event on the calendar.

Cycling’s biggest race is always a hotbed for cool tech and this year was no different, with everything from new lightweight bikes to 1x setups on show.

The tech world moves fast so we’ve pulled together a list of the top trends we spotted at the race to judge which will flourish, and which will fade into the background.

A comeback for climbing bikes?

Just as the Tour de France was winding to a close last Thursday, Orbea launched its new Orca road bike.

It didn’t taste any action at the race, instead making its race debut with Ceratizit-WNT at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift this week, but its release garnered plenty of attention.

In a complete rejection of everything the industry currently holds dear, Orbea has gone off-piste, ignoring aerodynamics completely to take the Orca solely down a lightweight route. There are no aero-optimised tube shapes, or claims that it’s a certain number of watts faster on flat roads. It’s purely designed to be as lightweight as possible, because Orbea believes that weight still trumps aerodynamics in the climbing stakes.

This anti-aero, all-out lightweight approach is rare in modern cycling, including at the Tour where Michael Woods ( Israel-Premier Tech ) climbed to stage 9 victory atop the Puy de Dôme (13.3km at 7.7%) on the Factor Ostro VAM aero bike.

The Canadian could have used the O2 VAM, which was available to the team despite not being officially released until a day after his victory. It certainly had the credentials for the job, with Factor billing it as the “world’s fastest climbing bike”. So why did Woods opt for Factor’s aero option instead?

Beyond the familiarity of having raced it before, the team presumably believed that the performance difference between the two bikes on the climb would only be minimal.

That makes sense as the benefits of pure climbing bikes is their weight, but that weight has its limits - 6.8kg to be precise. Teams can’t go below that because of the UCI’s regulations. With many all-round superbikes and even some pure aero bikes - like the Factor Ostro VAM - knocking on that limit, pure climbing bikes that are solely focussed on being lightweight lose their edge.

That’s why more and more brands are giving their climbing bikes aero makeovers. Very few are fighting the aero tide, Orbea being a rare case, and we don’t expect that to change anytime soon.

Is it the era of the superbike?

If climbing bikes are unlikely to make a comeback, does that mean that we’re firmly in the era of the all-round superbike? Based on the stage-winning bikes at this year’s race, it certainly looks that way.

Only seven stages were won on dedicated aero bikes. Four of those were taken by Jasper Philipsen ( Alpecin-Deceuninck ) in sprints. The majority of the rest of the victories were taken on do-it-all superbikes.

© Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images

Jasper Philipsen took his four victories atop the Canyon Aeroad.

Many teams now favour a one-bike solution like the Specialized Tarmac SL7, Pinarello Dogma or Colnago V4Rs which they use on every stage of the race, barring time trials. All of these bikes blend a low weight and aero features into one package.

It’s hard to see that pattern changing anytime soon as most brands can add aero features to their bikes while still hitting the UCI’s 6.8kg limit.

Like climbing bikes, dedicated aero bikes could soon disappear in favour of the more rounded superbike, with the death knell already sounded for some models, including Specialized’s very popular Venge back in 2020.

Is 1x here to stay?

At this point in 2023 the use of a 1x set-up in a race is hardly noteworthy. Wout van Aert ( Jumbo-Vimsa ) used the set-up as early as Milan-San Remo in March.

The headlines ramped up in May when Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) turned the tables on Geraint Thomas ( Ineos Grenadiers ) at the Giro d’Italia, using a 1x setup with gravel gearing to overcome his rival in the stage 20 individual time trial.

Even eventual 2023 Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) joined the 1x train at the Critérium du Dauphiné, before we spotted his Cervélo S5 once again specced with 1x ahead of the Grand Départ in Spain.

After a few years in the wilderness, 1x set-ups are snowballing into prominence, but despite grabbing some headlines, Jumbo-Visma only used the set-up sparingly at the Tour, still favouring 2x on most stages. The fact that the biggest team in the world is exploring 1x is still sure to catch the attention of other teams, though.

However, unless those other teams are sponsored by SRAM , there isn’t much they can do. The American brand is the only major groupset manufacturer (we’re including Shimano and Campagnolo in this three-brand list) who has a 1x option for its performance road groupsets.

Anyone using Shimano or Campagnolo is stuck with 2x for the time being, although there’s still a lot of development required before 1x becomes a regular, viable option, even for SRAM-sponsored teams.

More tube shape tinkering

In the world of marginal gains, where the smallest aero advantage can decide a stage, every brand is always on the hunt for any tech advantage they can find. This leads to constant tweaking of tube shapes.

Of the bikes at the Tour de France, the aforementioned Factor O2 VAM caught our eye. Its top tube is incredibly thin - the narrowest we’ve seen - tapering to only 10mm in height near the junction with the seat tube.

Specialized also appears to be trying new shapes with the yet-to-be-confirmed Tarmac SL8. Images purporting to be the bike were recently leaked during the Tour, and if real, the new bike has a noticeably bulbous head tube.

Then there’s Trek ’s latest Madone which, to the untrained eye, has a large hole in the seat tube with the seatpost seemingly floating above it.

Brands always play around with tube shapes and it’s constantly leading to intriguing new designs, so we’ll be interested to see where that leads to by the time the 2024 Tour arrives.

Israel-Premier Tech

• Nationality Israel
• Founded 2015
• Team Principal Kjell Carlström
• UCI Code IPT
• Bike Sponsor Factor

Alpecin-Deceuninck

• Nationality Belgium
• Founded 2009
• Team Principal Christoph Roodhooft & Philip Roodhooft
• UCI Code ADC
• Bike Sponsor Canyon

Michael Woods

• Team Israel-Premier Tech
• Nationality Canada
• UCI Wins 16
• Height 1.75m

Jasper Philipsen

• Team Alpecin-Deceuninck
• UCI Wins 56
• Height 1.76m

Tour de France

• Dates 1 Jul - 23 Jul
• Race Length 3,401 kms
• Race Category Elite Men

Orbea is a Spanish bike manufacturer based in the Basque town of Mallabia. Part of Mondragón Cooperative Corporation, Orbea is Spain’s largest bike manufacturer and currently operates in over 65 countries across the world.

One of the most iconic Italian bike brands, Colnago has supplied bikes to some of the best riders in the world, including Eddy Merckx and Tadej Pogačar.

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The best golf clubs in moscow: luxury, exclusivity, and entertainment.

By Walter Raymond

February 24, 2015

• The Best Golf Clubs in…

In Russia, the western concept of building architecturally beautiful golf courses filled with modern and luxurious amenities has found fertile ground. What was considered a frivolous pastime during the time of the Soviets has become the latest trend for the stylish set. These days, there are countless options around Moscow to practice golf, polo, ski, yachting, and other sports alongside 5-star hotels, luxurious country houses, and magnificent villas.

The game of golf is a sport that requires passion and expertise. It is also part of a culture that considers this pastime a synonym of social prestige and exclusivity. In recent years, the new Russian elite has turned to golf as a vehicle of integration in the era of globalization. Golf courses are also meeting and socializing spaces where Muscovite tycoons can relax and also seal business deals.

Golf Courses in Russia

The Moscow Country Club, Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club, Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club, and Zavidovo Golf Club, PGA National Russia are some of the most exclusive and elegant golf courses in Russia. Some of them have made it to the list of Top 15 golf clubs in the world, a source of great prestige for the country.

Moscow Country Club Moscow Country Club

The first 18-hole golf course built in Russia, Moscow Country Club, hosts the exclusive PGA European Tour. Located just eight miles from the city center, this luxurious facility was created by architect Robert Trent Jones Jr . The design takes advantage of a typical Russian birch and spruce forest to provide a natural environment of extraordinary beauty.

Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club

The Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club is 18 miles from the heart of Moscow, close to historical monuments from the 17th and 18th centuries. Designed by famed architects Paul and Dave Thomas , this 18-hole course is part of a complex that includes a yacht club, an equestrian center, and a health and wellness facility. Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club is Russia’s version of a classic country club with multiple attractions.

Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club

This park is among the best in Eastern Europe and was awarded the 2014 World Golf Award as the best golf course in Russia. Located 25 miles from Moscow, it is part of a vast complex featuring an 18-hole golf course, designed by Jack Nicklaus , a polo club and a mountain ski club with four tracks. The design combines classic Scottish, Alpine, and English features in a dreamy landscape.

Zavidovo Golf Club, PGA National Russia Zavidovo Golf Club, PGA National Russia

Less than 60 miles from Moscow, this golf course with a definite Scottish design is the only one in Russia recognized as a PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) from Britain and Ireland. Located in an ecologically pristine area on the banks of the Volga River, the Zavidovo Golf Club embodies the spirit and appearance of the legendary Scottish golf courses. Its many springs and streams, hills, forests, swamps and lakes justify its reputation as a very demanding circuit. Last year, it entered the exclusive club of the 15 best golf courses in the world.   ■

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The wait is over. It is Thursday at @TheMasters and it's Ludvig Åberg's time. Our Red Raider will tee off round 1 at 3:18 p.m. CT. #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/lA6G7Ssoal — Texas Tech Men's Golf (@TexasTechMGolf) April 11, 2024

Tour de France tech: The biggest bikes and components on the biggest stage

What tech to keep an eye out for at this year's race

The Tour de France organisers, Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), sent an email communication last week showcasing some of the numbers and scale of French Grand Tour.

New Specialized aero bike spotted at Criterium du Dauphine

Trek Madone Disc spotted at Criterium du Dauphine - Gallery

Disc brakes expected to proliferate at Tour de France after UCI approval

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Specialized S-Works Venge: lighter, faster and all-in on Shimano discs

As well as the 176 professional riders lining up at the Grand Depart on Saturday, ASO expects 10-12 million fans to line the roads of France and Spain throughout July. Alongside these fans, 29,000 police officers will be deployed along the route, 2,000 accredited journalists will be in attendance and the race will be broadcast in 190 countries.

Put simply, if you have access to this audience, the Tour de France is the biggest and best cycling event in the world to launch and showcase your new products.

Aero is everything

In 2017, it was the year of the all-around race bike. The new Specialized Tarmac and Trek Emonda were seen for the first time in the Tour de France build-up races - the Critérium du Dauphiné and Tour de Suisse - and this year, the biggest brands in cycling are back again, this time with new aero framesets.

Specialized Venge 2019

Spotted for the first time at the Critérium du Dauphiné in June, the third iteration of Specialized's wind-cheating aero frameset was officially launched on Tuesday.

The likes of Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) are confirmed to be racing on the new bike for the Tour de France, and between the duo, alongside their teammates, we can expect a stage victory or two for the new bike on its official race debut.

Specialized says the new Venge is faster and is 460 grams lighter than the previous version of the bike, and with Marcel Kittel managing five stage victories on the 'old' version of the bike last year (although now racing aboard a Canyon at Katusha-Alpecin), fast-men Sagan and Gaviria will be confident of their chances of victory aboard the 2019 Venge.

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Cannondale SystemSix

Perhaps one of the worst-kept secrets in terms of new aero framesets, Cannondale's WorldTour team EF Education First-Drapac have been race-testing the Cannondale SystemSix since February at the Dubai Tour.

Also launched officially in the days leading up to the Tour de France, Cannondale claims that the SystemSix is the fastest UCI approved road bike in the world - although this claim was made ahead of the new aero bike launches from Specialized and more from the brands below.

Like the new Venge, the SystemSix is disc brake-only and features classic aero-specific design features such as lowered seat stays, truncated aero tubing and a fork crown that integrates almost seamlessly into the down tube.

A subtle swooping indent into the top of the down tube is a design feature you can now see on nearly every high-end aero bike on the market.

Trek Madone Disc

Like the Specialized Venge, the Trek Madone Disc was seen for the first time on stage 2 at this year's Critérium du Dauphiné.

Trek is yet to announce any details or data on the new bike, but the UCI's list of approved frames and forks shows the Madone MY19 (model year 2019) in a rim brake version and disc brake version, as well as a new Madone KVF Fork, again for both a rim and disc brake model.

Trek's WorldTour team, Trek-Segafredo, have been one of the few WorldTour teams that have fully embraced disc brake-equipped bikes this season, committing to racing on the bikes during the Classics and at the Giro d’Italia. It is interesting then, that unlike Specialized and Cannondale, Trek has opted to offer a rim brake version of its new bike - perhaps still seeing this as a valuable sector of the market.

Other notable mentions

Lotto-Soudal's Andre Greipel debuted a new aero frameset from Ridley at last month's Tour de Suisse. Spotted in a red and black camouflage plastic wrap to conceal key design features, the UCI approved frames and forks list shows a Ridley Noah Fast and Ridley Noah Fast Disc.

BMC Racing's long-term future may be in doubt, but Cyclingnews understands the Swiss bike manufacturer will stay in the WorldTour next season. Also on the UCI approved frames and forks list, two new framesets from BMC have recently become listed.

The BMC Timemachine Road 1 and BMC Timemachine 1 Disc are listed as road and time trial models, respectively, and were registered on the same week in April as the new BMC ALR E-Bike range launched last week. Could we see a new aero frame and time trial model from BMC ahead of this weekend's Grand Depart?

Other new models on the UCI approved frames and forks list include the Argon 18 Nitrogen Disc - ridden by Astana, the Bianchi Oltre XR4 CV Disc - ridden by LottoNL-Jumbo, the Lapierre Xelius SL2 - ridden by Groupama-FDJ and the Orbea Orca Aero Disc - ridden by Pro Continental squad Cofidis.

Warren Barguil's Fortuneo-Samsic squad also announced last week that they have broken contract with French manufacturer Look and will be racing on the Basque-designed BH bikes for the Grand Tour.

Disc brakes here to stay

Marcel Kittel became the first rider to take victory at a Grand Tour on a disc brake bike at last year's Tour de France, and following the UCI's decision last month to formally authorise disc brakes in racing, this could be the new normal.

While Specialized- and Trek-sponsored teams have fully embraced disc brake technology, other teams such as Team Sky and Movistar have yet to race on disc brake bikes.

Following the UCI announcement and the updated UCI approved frames and forks list, every WorldTour team now has at least one disc brake frameset and the relevant groupset components to race on should they wish.

While this year's Tour de France may still see disc brake bikes as a minority, a WorldTour team manager recently suggested to Cyclingnews that the 2019 season will see as much as 80-90 per cent of WorldTour riders on disc brake bikes.

Stage 9 cobble tech

Back for the first time since 2014, this year's Tour de France will see the peloton traverse the brutal cobbles of northern France from Arras to Roubaix.

Like the famous one-day Monument in April, won by Peter Sagan, we can expect to see wider tyres, double-wrapped handlebar tape and less aggressive endurance bikes used for the stage.

Custom paint, new national champions and more

As the race becomes saturated with the latest and greatest cycling tech, brands that aren't making headlines through new model launches will aim to utilise the Tour de France through other techniques.

AG2R La Mondiale's frame supplier Factor has been releasing teasers of new paintwork for GC contender Romain Bardet and his teammates on social media in the build-up to the race, and it is unlikely they will be the only team with special paint at the Tour de France.

Included in the Specialized Venge launch this week was also a mention of a Sagan Collection range of framesets. Ahead of this year's Paris-Roubaix, Specialized and Peter Sagan launched a limited collection of framesets celebrating the three-time world champion, and it would not be a surprise to a see the new Sagan Collection Venge in the coming days or weeks.

The past two weekends of racing have seen the majority of cycling nations in the Northern Hemisphere crown their new national road and time trial champions. Despite a short turnaround, we can expect at least some of the new national champions to don their new national jerseys aboard custom-painted framesets at the race to celebrate their victories.

Helmets, shoes, accessories and more

Alongside new bikes and components, the Tour de France also offers the opportunity for professional teams to showcase new kit and accessories on the big stage.

The 2017 edition of the Tour de France saw new helmets from Giro, Kask, Lazer, Met and more, and we can perhaps expect to see more of the same this month.

Eurobike - the world's biggest cycling trade show - has moved from late August to July for 2018, and we can expect helmet, sunglasses, shoes, clothing and accessories brands to use the month of July to showcase their 2019 products.

Cyclingnews and BikeRadar will have full coverage of all the tech on display at the 2018 Tour de France.

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Tour de Houston bicyclists urge for long-term measures to improve rider safety on city's roads

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Thousands of bicyclists took off from downtown Houston Sunday morning for the 17th annual Tour de Houston , a ride that travels through some of the city's most scenic areas.

Participants were in good spirits as they were greeted with beautiful weather at the starting line on Avenida de las Americas, right next to Discovery Green. Mayor John Whitmire joined Apache Corporation, the event's sponsor, to send off each of the three groups, riding in the 20, 40, and 60-mile routes.

The ride almost didn't take place this year.

Back in January, the Mayor's Office of Special Events preliminarily canceled the 2024 event due to a lack of funding. Whitmire said this was done without his consultation and when he found out, he explored other options to keep the event going.

The longest route takes participants through Houston's historic neighborhoods, vibrant districts, and parks before going all the way down to Clear Lake Park in Seabrook. The intersections along the way were not closed, but manned by traffic officers.

READ MORE: Houston cyclists plead next mayor for more bike lanes: 'We're demanding safety improvements'

While the event allowed bicyclists to ride safely on Houston's roads on Sunday, some riders shared with ABC13 some of the long-term measures they'd like to see to make the city more bike-friendly.

"If they could connect the bike trails together to make even long trails, that would be the best thing the City of Houston could do to improve biking in the city, in my opinion. Connect the widest trails, like White Oak and Spring Creek. Those kinds of mega trails," Ulises Martin said.

"A clearly marked lane for bikes. We do know that we have to share with cars because the City of Houston is so car-oriented. Make a better effort of campaigning to let motorists know to be aware of cyclists," Phi Nguyen said.

Data obtained by ABC13 shows 13 cyclists died in accidents in Harris County in 2023. ABC13 asked the mayor where city officials stand on the issue of bicyclist safety.

"We're growing at a rapid rate. Our general mobility is very important. We've done great things along Allen Parkway. We need to make sure that there's a safe passage in Memorial Park. So there's a lot of things we still have to do," Whitmire said.

Meanwhile, organizers said proceeds from Tour de Houston will go towards the city's RE-Plant Houston Program, which helps plant thousands of trees and reforest parks and greenspaces.

For more on this story, follow Rosie Nguyen on Facebook , X and Instagram .

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2024 Masters prize money, purse: Payouts, winnings for Scottie Scheffler, each golfer from $20 million pool

More than history and a green jacket were on the line at augusta national on sunday.

Plenty of green was up for grabs at the 2024 Masters on Sunday -- not only in the form of the famed jacket awarded to the winner of this year's tournament but also in regards to the prize money being paid out from a record-setting pool. Augusta National Golf Club announced that the 2024 Masters would have a total purse of $20 million, marking a new tournament high by $2 million and the largest payout awarded to players at one of the nation's most pristine venues.

Scottie Scheffler was the greatest beneficiary of that increased purse, capturing the $3.6 million winner's share by capturing his second Masters championship in three years . Finishing 11 under with a 4-under 68 capping a tremendous tournament, Scheffler became the fourth-youngest golfer to win two green jackets and the 10th to win two in a three-year span. The $3.6 million prize is $360,000 more than 2023 champion Jon Rahm earned a year ago.

Runner-up Ludvig Åberg achieved quite a payday in his first career major championship. Pressing Scheffler down the stretch, the young Swede scored $2.16 million for second place, a larger sum than either Danny Willett (2016) or Jordan Spieth (2015) earned for winning the green jacket.

Scheffler and Åberg were not the only players set to receive significant green by week's end. In fact, the top three were set to receive seven-figure paydays, except Collin Morikawa struggled down the stretch and entered into a three-way tie with Max Homa and Tommy Fleetwood. Morikawa lost $320,000 by bogeying the last, though he increased the take-home of Homa and Fleetwood with the trio each taking home $1.04 million. This marked the first time that the Masters had five players bring home $1 million or more.

Those among the top 11 were set to see at least $500,000 deposited into their bank accounts, and the handsome payouts trickled down the leaderboard with every golfer inside the top 36 leaving Augusta National with six figures.

2024 Masters prize money, purse, payouts

Total purse: $20 million

1st — $3,600,000 -- Scottie Scheffler (-11) 2nd — $2,160,000 -- Ludvig Åberg (-7) 3rd — $1,360,000 -- Tommy Fleetwood, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa (-4) -- $1,040,000 each 4th — $960,000 5th — $800,000 6th — $720,000 -- Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau (-2) -- $695,000 each 7th — $670,000 8th — $620,000 -- Xander Schauffele (-1) 9th — $580,000 -- Will Zalatoris, Tyrrell Hatton, Cameron Young (E) -- $540,000 each 10th — $540,000 11th — $500,000 12th — $460,000 -- Patrick Reed, Matthieu Pavon, Adam Schenk, Cam Davis (+1) -- $405,000 each 13th — $420,000 14th — $380,000 15th — $360,000 16th — $340,000 -- Nicolai Højgaard, Sepp Straka, Chris Kirk, Byeong Hun An (+2) -- $310,000 each 17th — $320,000 18th — $300,000 19th — $280,000 20th — $260,000 -- Lucas Glover, Taylor Moore (+3) -- $250,000 each 21st — $240,000 22nd — $224,000 -- Patrick Cantlay, Keegan Bradley, Joaquin Niemann, Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Adam Scott, Harris English, Min Woo Lee (+4) -- $175,500 each 23rd — $208,000 24th — $192,000 25th — $176,000 26th — $160,000 27th — $154,000 28th — $148,000 29th — $142,000 30th — $136,000 -- Jason Day, Si Woo Kim, Rickie Fowler, J.T. Poston, Tom Kim (+5) -- $124,200 each 31st — $130,000 32nd — $124,000 33rd — $118,000 34th — $113,000 35th — $108,000 -- Akshay Bhatia, Kurt Kitayama, Camilo Villegas (+6) -- $103,000 each 36th — $103,000 37th — $98,000 38th — $94,000 -- Hideki Matsuyama, Corey Conners, Ryan Fox, Luke List, Russell Henley (+7) -- $86,000 each 39th — $90,000 40th — $86,000 41st — $82,000 42nd — $78,000 43rd — $74,000 -- Phil Mickelson, Shane Lowry (+8) -- $72,000 each 44th — $70,000 45th — $66,000 -- Brooks Koepka, Jose Maria Olazabal, Jon Rahm, Danny Willett, Denny McCarthy, Sahith Theegala (+9) -- $57,200 each 46th — $62,000 47th — $58,000 48th — $54,800 49th — $52,000 50th — $50,400

Those lucky enough to make the cut but not lucky enough to finish inside the top 50 will still receive compensation, though it will trend downwards from the $50,400 figure given to the player who ultimately finishes in 50th.

51st — Grayson Murray (+10) 52nd — Eric Cole (+11) 53rd — Adam Hadwin, Neal Shipley (+12) 55th — Jake Knapp, Erik van Rooyen, Tony Finau (+13) 58th — Vijay Singh, Thorbjorn Olesen (+14) 60th — Tiger Woods (+16)

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Tour de France

Technical faq: tour de france tech, lennard zinn addresses questions pertaining to the tour de france, which kicked off july 7..

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

TTT gearing at the Tour

Dear Lennard, I saw that BMC Racing was using 58-tooth chainrings on its bikes in the team time trial at the Tour de France. How did that help them? — John

Dear John, BMC Racing’s Simon Gerrans said the team was pedaling at 90 kph (56 mph) at times. That’s pretty amazing. Let’s see how that’s possible.

A 58 X 11 gear is a 139.4” gear with a 700 X 25C tire (or a 138.6” gear with a 700 X 23C tire), and the bike goes forward pi (3.14) multiplied by 139.4, or 438 inches, with each revolution of the pedals. Since there are 5,280 feet in a mile, 12 inches in a foot, and 60 minutes in an hour, then their pedaling cadence (in RPM, revolutions per minute) is given by:

Rev/min = (56mi/hr * 5280ft/mi * 12in/ft)/(60min/hr * 438in/rev) = 135 RPM

This is a very high, yet conceivable, cadence for short periods of time. (And if the BMC riders were riding 700 X 23C rather than 700 X 25C, they would have been pedaling slightly faster — at 136 revolutions per minute rather than at 135).

On the other hand, if their bikes instead had had a top gear of 53 X 11, then, using the same equation, their cadence at 56 mph would instead have been 148 RPM (since a 53 X 11 gear is a 127.5” gear with a 700 X 25C tire). Almost 150 RPM! That is not a cadence at which they conceivably could have pedaled efficiently for any length of time. So BMC probably gained a bit on the downhills due to those 58-tooth chainrings.

On the flats, pedaling the 58 X 11 gear at their average speed of 34.1 mph would have required a cadence of 82 RPM. In a 58 X 12, instead, that cadence would have become 89.7 RPM, since the gear inches of a 58 X 12 is 127.8” — almost the same as the 127.5” of a 53 X 11. A team on 53 X 11 at 34.1mph would have been spinning at 90 RPM, essentially the same as if BMC had been going that speed in a 58 X 12. This would have reduced the chain friction on the BMC bikes by pedaling a 12-tooth cog where others were pedaling an 11-tooth cog. [related title=”More Tech FAQ” align=”right” tag=”Technical-FAQ”]

Assuming the chain length and tension applied by the jockey wheels is adjusted appropriately, there is a slight reduction in drivetrain frictional losses with a larger chainring and a larger cog. This is because the chain does not bend and straighten as much as it does when coming off of a smaller chainring and a smaller cog when achieving the same gear ratio. ― Lennard

Team Sky bikes

Dear Lennard, What’s that fin thing on the seat stays of the Sky time trial bikes? It looks like a bat wing. — Brad

Dear Brad, Those are covers over the brake arms.

About the wings on the Sky TT bikes, Pinarello says that it is, “part of the brake and acts as a cover also.”

Carbon frames vs. steel

Dear Lennard, I am going to be in the market for a road bike upgrade in the near future and am considering either a locally made, custom high-end steel bike (custom, love the look and supporting local) or a high-end carbon bike (cheaper, lighter and “faster”). With so much marketing about the advantages of aero these days (see the new Cannondale SystemSix marketing and reviews), how much speed would I actually be leaving on the table in terms of aerodynamics between a custom steel bike and a high-end carbon bike, with all other things obviously being assumed equal? — Drew

Dear Drew, The answer will depend a lot on how you ride. The faster you are, the bigger difference a more aerodynamic bike will make. It also depends on how much you sweat the other details. If you wear a loose jersey vs. skintight clothing, that will make the expense of an aero road bike as good as flushing dollar bills down the toilet, especially if you happen to also ride with long hair flowing down your back.

As you may have seen in my review of the SystemSix , as opposed to the Cannondale marketing material and reviews you mention, I’m unconvinced that the magnitude of calculated gains by the bike will be realized in real life. For instance, Cannondale’s calculation of a 30-watt power savings when pedaling this bike at 30mph within the peloton is based on the assumption that drafting reduces a rider’s drag by 40 percent. My guess is that in the real world, bikes within the peloton get more shielding from the wind than do the riders above them, due to identical wheel diameters and relative uniformity of sizes of the bikes compared to the bodies sitting on top of them, as well as air boundary layers along the road surface reducing the wind they are subject to. I would be very surprised if a guy sheltered in the middle of a peloton rolling along at 30mph would see anywhere near a 30-watt difference on his power meter between riding a standard road bike and a SystemSix, assuming he had the same wheels on both.

If you ride at a mellow pace, and/or you stay sheltered in a pack much of the time, and you wear the same kind of clothes and use the same wheels on either bike, your power savings between the custom steel bike and the aero road bike will be modest. If you pedal at 30mph on flat ground, though, the difference would probably quite substantial. And of course, the speed difference on climbs due to the weight difference will amount to something; it can be found here .

Remember that the front of the bike (fork, handlebars, cable routing) and wheels play a primary role in the bike’s aerodynamics. Since these things could be put on a custom steel frame just as easily as on a carbon frame, you can reduce the aerodynamic difference by forgoing the classic steel bike look. ― Lennard

More on tire width

Dear Lennard, I researched your prior writing on tire width and was convinced to move from my 23s to some 28s. My bike manufacturer said my frame would take up to a 28 width, so I bought some. I put them on, and while the width fit the chainstays, the tires were too high to clear the seat tube. Arrrgh.  Can you please explain the relationship between tire width and tire height? — Joe

Dear Joe, The tire height will go up linearly with tire width only if the rim width goes up proportionately as well. When the rim width stays the same, the tire’s height will increase more than its width with an increase in tire size. ― Lennard

Cleaning presta valve cores

Dear Lennard, Thrifty soul that I am, I find it easy to take removable presta valve cores completely apart to clean the sealant out of them. I use two pairs of needle nose pliers to unscrew the stop all the way off of the tiny brass threaded rod, which opens up the inside of the core for cleaning. Hot water may help. After reassembly, use the pliers to crimp the top of the brass rod so you don’t lose the stopper trailside! — Steve

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\n "},{"title":"woman who threw object at mathieu van der poel\u2019s wheel \u2018to turn herself in\u2019","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/woman-who-threw-object-at-mathieu-van-der-poels-wheel-to-turn-herself-in\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/woman-who-threw-object-at-mathieu-van-der-poels-wheel-to-turn-herself-in\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"woman who threw object at mathieu van der poel\u2019s wheel \u2018to turn herself in\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/woman-who-threw-object-at-mathieu-van-der-poels-wheel-to-turn-herself-in\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"woman who threw object at mathieu van der poel\u2019s wheel \u2018to turn herself in\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n woman who threw object at mathieu van der poel\u2019s wheel \u2018to turn herself in\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"ketones: cycling superfuel or marketing hype visma-lease a bike study seeks to dispel the doubts","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-training\/ketones-cycling-superfuel-or-marketing-hype-visma-lease-a-bike-study-seeks-to-dispel-the-doubts\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-training\/ketones-cycling-superfuel-or-marketing-hype-visma-lease-a-bike-study-seeks-to-dispel-the-doubts\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"ketones: cycling superfuel or marketing hype visma-lease a bike study seeks to dispel the doubts\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-training\/ketones-cycling-superfuel-or-marketing-hype-visma-lease-a-bike-study-seeks-to-dispel-the-doubts\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", 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\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/not-my-specialty-but-im-going-to-try-can-mathieu-van-der-poel-deny-pogacar-at-liege-bastogne-liege\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"\u2018not my specialty but i\u2019m going to try\u2019: can mathieu van der poel pip pogacar at li\u00e8ge-bastogne-li\u00e8ge\"}}\u0027>\n \u2018not my specialty but i\u2019m going to try\u2019: can mathieu van der poel pip pogacar at li\u00e8ge-bastogne-li\u00e8ge\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"wout van aert forced to skip the giro d\u2019italia: \u2018it\u2019s a big shame\u2019","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/wout-van-aert-forced-to-skip-the-giro-ditalia-its-a-big-shame\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/wout-van-aert-forced-to-skip-the-giro-ditalia-its-a-big-shame\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"wout van aert forced to skip the giro d\u2019italia: \u2018it\u2019s a big shame\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/wout-van-aert-forced-to-skip-the-giro-ditalia-its-a-big-shame\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"wout van aert forced to skip the giro d\u2019italia: \u2018it\u2019s a big shame\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n wout van aert forced to skip the giro d\u2019italia: \u2018it\u2019s a big shame\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"meet andrew august: the american rider is the youngest-ever worldtour pro","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/diamond-in-the-rough-youngest-ever-worldtour-pro-andrew-august-soaking-it-in-during-rookie-rollout\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": 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forward","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/sean-kelly-tadej-pogacars-giro-tour-double-prospects-have-leaped-forward\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/sean-kelly-tadej-pogacars-giro-tour-double-prospects-have-leaped-forward\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"sean kelly: tadej poga\u010dar\u2019s giro-tour double prospects have leaped forward\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/sean-kelly-tadej-pogacars-giro-tour-double-prospects-have-leaped-forward\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"sean kelly: tadej poga\u010dar\u2019s giro-tour double prospects have leaped forward\"}}\u0027>\n sean kelly: tadej poga\u010dar\u2019s giro-tour double prospects have leaped forward\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"patrick lefevere issues public apology over controversial comments: \u2018it was never my intention to harm anyone\u2019","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/patrick-lefevere-issues-public-apology-over-statements-it-was-never-my-intention-to-harm-anyone\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/patrick-lefevere-issues-public-apology-over-statements-it-was-never-my-intention-to-harm-anyone\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"patrick lefevere issues public apology over controversial comments: \u2018it was never my intention to harm anyone\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/patrick-lefevere-issues-public-apology-over-statements-it-was-never-my-intention-to-harm-anyone\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"patrick lefevere issues public apology over controversial comments: \u2018it was never my intention to harm anyone\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n patrick lefevere issues public apology over controversial comments: \u2018it was never my intention to harm anyone\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"chris froome \u2018comes to reality\u2019 that winning a fifth tour de france is \u2018very, very difficult\u2019","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/pogacar-vs-froome-in-his-prime-who-would-have-won-it-would-have-been-interesting\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/pogacar-vs-froome-in-his-prime-who-would-have-won-it-would-have-been-interesting\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"chris froome \u2018comes to reality\u2019 that winning a fifth tour de france is \u2018very, very difficult\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": 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Money latest: TV presenter Kevin McCloud slams 'broken' housing market; boss gave me ultimatum after maternity leave, reader says

A new mother contacted us asking about her employment rights after maternity leave - and we've enlisted the help of a legal expert. Read this and all the latest consumer and personal finances news in the Money blog - and share your own Money Problem in the form below.

Monday 15 April 2024 13:04, UK

• Spotlight on unpaid carers: 'I'm a prisoner' - mother faces spending pension looking after son with cerebral palsy
• Money Problem: My boss ruined end of maternity leave with ultimatum - what are my rights?
• TV presenter criticises 'broken' property market
• Financial markets take Middle East escalation in their stride

Essential reads

• How to earn thousands letting film and music stars shoot in your home
• Britons are buying homes, having babies, getting married and retiring later - but one key life event is happening earlier
• How your neighbour's garden could wipe up to £57,000 from your house price
• 'WTF is going on with the price of olive oil?'
• Cheap Eats: Great British Menu legend shares ultimate toastie recipe

Ask a question or make a comment

EasyJet has reminded customers to check their travel documents for damage after Vicky Pattison was turned away from a flight for having a dog-chewed passport. 

The former reality TV star took to Instagram to complain about EasyJet's decision, calling the airline the "destroyer of dreams".

The 36-year-old was reportedly trying to fly to Italy to visit a potential wedding venue. 

Posting on her Instagram story, she said she had rushed back from Newcastle to be able to get the flight, and was "beyond gutted" to be turned away by staff. 

"I've been travelling with my passport all year and no one's said anything, but it's definitely well travelled to be fair. Company policy is company policy and I get it, I'm just beyond gutted," she said. 

Reacting to how news outlets have covered the story, she added: "My passport was damaged and I just hadn't realised. 

"I am not enraged, if anything I am a tiny squishy sad ball."

An easyJet spokesman told Sky News the airline was sorry for Pattison's experience, but that it is the "passenger's responsibility to have suitable documentation for travel". 

" At easyJet, we work closely with the authorities and comply with their guidance to ensure the safety and security of all passengers and staff," he said. 

"As such, we cannot allow any passenger to travel on their planned flight with documentation damaged to such a degree that its authenticity is brought into question." 

Shoppers have been warned not to eat olives sold by Waitrose over fears they may contain pieces of glass. 

The supermarket has recalled its jars of pitted Spanish queen olives, saying they are "unsafe to eat". 

"We are recalling a selected date of the above product due to possible glass contamination," it said in an important safety warning notice. 

Shoppers have been told to no consume the olives, package up the jar and return it to their local Waitrose for a refund. 

"We apologise that it has been necessary to recall this product and for the inconvenience caused," it added. 

TV presenter Kevin McCloud has criticised the "broken and dysfunctional" property market, saying it is being monopolised by big housebuilders. 

The Grand Designs presenter and designer said Britain was falling behind other European countries such as Germany and Sweden when it comes to housing development.

"If I were the housing minister, I'd be looking at ways to break this monopoly that two or three companies have over the market," Mr McCloud said. 

He argued that quality and innovation was being stifled by a lack of competition between developers, which in turn makes the market more sensitive to downturns. 

"We have effectively a broken market, a dysfunctional market, it has been hollowed out," he added. 

"It means that when we hit difficulty, those companies nosedive and they buy each other out." 

By James Sillars , business news reporter 

You would think that an attack by Iran on Israel involving more than 300 drones and missiles would drive up oil prices.

While Saturday's strikes failed to land a damaging punch, they have stoked fears of a wider Middle East conflict.

But the financial markets have taken the escalation in their stride.

Oil traders priced in the possibility of such Iranian aggression on Friday, 24 hours beforehand.

As such, a barrel of Brent crude is actually 0.5% down at $90 a barrel.

Analysts say the outlook depends very much on how Israel responds.

Stock market sentiment has taken a slight knock.

In London, the FTSE 100 followed Asia lower. It opened 0.2% down at 7,978.

Energy stocks were the main drag.

In wider UK stocks, car distributor Inchcape climbed 1.6% after it agreed a £346m deal to sell its UK dealership operations to car retailer Group 1 Automotive UK.

The Inchcape UK division consists of 81 sites, employing 3,600 people, and works with car manufacturers including Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Toyota and Volkswagen.

Every Monday we put your financial dilemmas or consumer disputes to industry experts. You can find out how to submit yours at the bottom of this post.

This week, Sky News reader AJ2024 asks...

"While on maternity leave my employer rejected my flexible work request and told me to pick from four new shift patterns or take redundancy if they didn't suit me. All new shifts were full working hours. No support as a new mother and ruined my last few precious weeks. What are my rights?"

Katie Wood, senior legal officer at Maternity Action, answers:

All employers have a legal duty to seriously consider all requests for flexible work. This includes any request to change your days, hours or place of work. From April this year, this is a day-one right and you can make up to two requests a year. To show that they have seriously considered a request, an employer is expected to meet with you to discuss the request.

An employer can refuse a request if they have good reasons and it would genuinely be difficult to accommodate a request. There are eight legal reasons an employer can give for refusing a request but these can be quite broad.

These reasons are: 

• The burden of additional costs
• The detrimental effect on the ability to meet customer demand
• The employer is unable to reorganise the work among existing staff
• They are unable to recruit additional staff
• The detrimental effect on quality
• The detrimental effect on performance
• There is not enough work during the periods the employee wants to work
• Planned structural changes

You can ask to appeal a refusal and can also put forward other options. It can help to ask for a trial period or try to find a compromise that would work for both parties.

An employer that insists on a particular working pattern, such as full-time working hours or variable shifts, may be at risk of an indirect sex discrimination claim as it disadvantages women who have more childcare responsibilities than men. 

If an employer rejects an appeal, employees should seek legal advice. There is a time limit of three months (less one day) for starting an employment tribunal claim. Employees must contact ACAS to start early conciliation within the time limit. ACAS have more information on rights to ask for flexible work on their website.

This feature is not intended as financial advice - the aim is to give an overview of the things you should think about. Submit your dilemma or consumer dispute, leaving your name and where in the country you are, in the form above or by emailing [email protected] with the subject line "Money blog". Alternatively, WhatsApp us  here .

By Bhvishya Patel, Money team

Over four days this week, we'll be speaking to some of Britain's struggling unpaid carers, hearing at times heart-breaking accounts of their physical, emotional and financial struggles.

We start with Michelle Lewarne, 65, who has had to spend all the money she and her husband had saved for retirement on looking after their son.

"MPs should really come and live with a family like ours or work in a care home as part of their training and still try and do their job. See what it is really like for the real world." Michelle Lewarne, unpaid carer

Michelle stopped working soon after her son Peter, 41, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 14 months.

The mother of two, from Overton in Hampshire, says the money she receives from various benefits, including carer's allowance,  does not go far enough and financially it is a "disaster" for her and her husband Tony, 72.

The couple are having to dip into savings and live off Tony's pension pot - but there isn't much left.

In 2015, Tony was treated for an aggressive form of prostate cancer which has left him weaker and made it harder for him to help with the day-to-day care of Peter, who is in a wheelchair.

"I've been on antidepressants at times because it's not like we can just say 'I've had enough' and walk away," Michelle says.

"I've got arthritis in my neck and lower back, which is apparently due to lifting and moving Peter around over the years.

"If I go out anywhere I have just a couple of hours before I need to get back again. I've got to time it so Peter and my husband are not alone for too long.

"It does take a toll, you end up not sleeping very well.

"Financially, it's a disaster area. You save up for your old age but now you have to use it all to pay for the care."

Six weeks after the birth of the couple's second child, Marie, doctors diagnosed Peter with cerebral palsy and Michelle decided to give up her job as a nurse to care for him full-time.

"It was a bit of shell shock. My husband couldn't get his head around it - there was nothing wrong with his baby boy which is understandable. That was a difficult time," she says.

"I was doing agency nursing when the children were babies and my husband was doing shift work so we would be like passing ships in the night. It did start taking a toll so I gave up nursing because his job was paying better and it was easier for me to care for Peter being a nurse - I understood all the language."

When Peter turned 19, Michelle and Tony decided to seek help and now employ three carers through means-tested direct payments.

The benefit sees them receive payments from their local authority and gives them more flexibility with their support package, allowing them to arrange their own care services rather than have the council arrange them.

The £3,900 direct payments pay for the wages of Peter's carers.

Michelle is also entitled to carer's allowance, which is £76.75 a week, while Peter receives £407 in disability living allowance and £284 mobility allowance a month.

Financially, the maths just doesn't work.

"I get my pension in June and I can either have my pension as it is and lose my carer's allowance or have the allowance and they'll take some money from my pension," she says.

"That's very unfair because I won't be retired - not in the proper sense of the word. At the moment we're relying on savings - we haven't got a lot left of that."

Michelle says Peter's care means needing to use more electricity and heating than an average household, which has put further pressure on her finances.

"Peter also has a gluten, wheat and dairy intolerance and we can spend up to £200 a week or more on just buying him food. We also have to have a separate fridge freezer so that nobody mistakes Peter's food for ours."

Looking at what needs to be done to a social care system that is facing unprecedented strain, Michelle says the "biggest thing anybody could do in parliament is just listen to the carers and what they need".

"Carer's allowance is far less than even the minimum wage," she adds.

"MPs should really come and live with a family like ours or work in a care home as part of their training and still try and do their job. See what it is really like for the real world.

"You really do struggle at times. If someone who is not a carer is fed up with their job they can just hand in their notice and go off and find another job, but in our case we're like prisoners in our own home a lot of the time - we can't make those choices.

"Why is it that whenever there are any cutbacks it's always the social sector?"

A government spokesperson told the Money blog: "Unpaid carers play a vital role in the lives of their family and friends, which is why from April we're boosting carer's allowance, meaning carers receive an extra £1,500 a year compared to 2010.

"Those in low income households may also be eligible for additional financial support such as universal credit."

We're back for another week of consumer news, personal finance tips and all the latest on the economy.

This is how the week in the Money blog is shaping up...

Today : Every week we ask industry experts to answer your Money Problems. Today, a Money blog reader has had their flexible working request denied after returning from maternity leave - so what are their rights?

Tuesday : This week's  Basically...  explains everything you need to know about credit scores - and how to improve yours.

Wednesday : It's inflation day - with the March figure released at 7am.

Thursday :  Savings Champion  founder Anna Bowes will be back examining the pros and cons of another type of savings account, and the best rates available.

Friday : We'll have another Myth or Must, and Sunna Van Kampen will take us down another supermarket aisle to help us shop healthier for less.

Running every weekday, Money features a morning markets round-up from the  Sky News business team  and regular updates and analysis from our business, City and economic correspondents, editors and presenters -  Ed Conway ,  Mark Kleinman ,  Ian King ,  Paul Kelso  and  Adele Robinson .

You'll also be able to stream  Business Live with Ian King  weekdays at 11.30am and 4.30pm.

Bookmark  news.sky.com/money  and check back from 8am, and through the day, each weekday.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

Looking for some longer Money reads for your evening/commute/lunch break?

Here's four from the last few months you might like...

Cost of a pint

Many of us have noticed the price of pints creeping up in recent years. 

The cost of draught lager has gone up nearly 30% since January 2019, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The beer doesn't taste any different despite the increase in price - so where exactly does that £6-7 for a pint go? 

We've spoken to experts to get a break down...

Motherhood penalty

The word "penalty" isn't one that should go hand-in-hand with motherhood. But deep-rooted structural inequalities are causing women to save less for retirement when they become parents.

Mothers face a pension penalty of up to £183,000 by taking time out of work to raise children, according to analysis by the pensions and investment company Royal London...

A survey has revealed the energy gripes that cause the most arguments in British households...

Quitting your job to go travelling

You could be forgiven for feeling a twinge of jealousy when you see someone packing it all in to go travelling for a few months. 

Perhaps it's made you wonder if you could do the same thing yourself. 

Of course, it won't be realistic for everyone and the reality is it takes a lot of planning and saving. For many people during the cost of living crisis, it's simply not possible to save much, if at all.

But if you're wondering where to begin (and how much you might need to save), we've got some advice from two travel bloggers who have been there and done that...

By Brad Young, Money team

Earning up to £60,000 a year for letting Stormzy film a music video in your kitchen or Paloma Faith play with Lego in the living room might sound farfetched to homeowners unfamiliar with the shoot locations industry. 

But every star, studio or big brand that wants to film in a residential property needs someone willing to offer up their home for the day - and they'll pay between £700 and £3,000 for the privilege.

Homeowners and shooting agencies have spoken with the Money team about the promises and pitfalls of working with the likes of Disney, Netflix and ITV to take advantage of this niche income stream. 

Among them was Ed Reeve, a photographer from Hackney, who has had stars such as David Attenborough, Stormzy and Jim Broadbent walk through his doors in the 17 years he's been renting out his home. 

"It has been a really positive experience on the whole for us. Generally, the shoot crews are really lovely people and they're very respectful of your home," said Mr Reeve, who is registered with location agency 1st Option.

He hosts between 12 and 20 productions a year. Most bring in £1,000 for a one-day shoot, but some earn him up to £3,000 a day or last multiple days.

"We've met lots of interesting people," said Mr Reeve, including Gillian Anderson, who stars in Sex Education, Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) and Claire Foy (The Crown).

After Stormzy filmed a music video, Mr Reeves said that "every grime artist wanted to shoot here".

David Attenborough once turned up early for a BBC shoot, resulting in the pair sitting down for a cup of tea and Mr Reeve introducing his three-day-old daughter to the presenter.

"He held her and looked at her with delight... it was a really special moment," said Mr Reeve. 

Shoots can result in scratches around the interior, but Mr Reeve said he uses some of the money to redecorate – or, in one case, let a Dulux advert do it for him. 

'It's never free money'

Less enthusiastic about the industry was Emer Stamp, 48, a children's author from London, who has hosted for two years.

"You think, 'Oh yeah, my house is going to be rocking', and everyone comes round and goes 'Your house will be perfect', but for whatever reason, it's not.

"My takeout is it's not as easy to make money as you think."

Ms Stamp said her home had been chosen for three productions, including a Dell shoot and a Lego advert starring Paloma Faith, earning her approximately £6,000. 

Hosting also puts your schedule at the mercy of production companies - and sometimes they may not show up, said Ms Stamp.

"Like anything, you think it's free money but it's never free money."

So what does make a location popular? 

Becky Butler, managing director at agency Location Collective, said there is demand for average-sized family homes with a 60s/70s vibe and unusual features. 

And while a lot of the homes listed by location agencies look expensive, that was far from a deal-breaker. 

"All the practical side of things are as important, if not more so, than the aesthetics of the location," said Ms Butler.

Parking, easy-going neighbours and having one large room for equipment goes a long way with clients.

Getting the combination right can create "a fantastic additional income stream", said Jennifer Marshall, of Shootfactory, which has connected homeowners with everyone from Little Mix to Killing Eve. 

"We have properties that through our company have earned anywhere between £20,000 and £60,000 a year."

Much of the industry is based in London but, between them, the three agencies contacted by the Money team have organised filming in Manchester, Birmingham, the Midlands, the Home Counties and coastal areas.

Both Ms Marshall and the team at Location Collective said having a neighbour willing to get in on the action can be a real selling point.

This might mean a second house on the same street for a TV show, or simply somewhere to house the production team.

"Being able to let them pretty much take over is quite key. Sometimes they might have demands like painting or moving furniture," said Lily Gonnissen, head of business development at Location Collective. 

Being quick to respond to questions, contactable during the working day, and able to accommodate viewings at short notice was a top priority, said Ms Gonnissen. 

"Be friendly and welcoming - brands remember a good owner," said a spokesperson for 1st Option: "And make sure the house is clean and clutter-free before any shoots."

The default tariff for prepayment meters is now cheaper than other types of meter.

It follows the energy price cap update to unit rates and standing charges from 1 April.

Uswitch data shows 56% of households don't know about the change.

What do you need to know?

Prepayment meters have traditionally been a more expensive way of paying for energy - but now prepayment standing charges have been lowered to match those for direct debit customers.

Because prepay units are cheaper, people with these meters should pay around £47 less a year than those on direct debits (£1,643 versus £1,690).

Customers who pay when they get a bill are forking out the most - around 5.8p more per day on the standing charge than those with direct debits.

Should we all get prepayment meters?

As energy costs come down, suppliers like EDF Energy have now started offering fixed deals lower than the price cap - and as things stand these are the cheapest options for many.

Eon Next's Pledge tariff promises to be 3% below whatever the price cap is for a year.

There can be catches if you want to leave these fixed deals (though Octopus doesn't charge them) - so make sure you do your research.

How many people have prepay meters?

The number of prepayment meters has fallen almost 8% from the peak in 2019, but there's still more than seven million gas and electricity units in action.

In total, 195,503 prepayment meters were installed in 2023.

Are people swapping?

Uswitch has some research that says young people (18 to 34) are far more likely to go for prepay meters - 51% would consider it, compared with 5% of over-55s.

Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch, said: "Prepayment meters have got a bad reputation among some households, but changes to the price cap mean that their default tariffs are now cheaper than standard credit meters.

"With prepayment meters, you pay for your energy before you use it, and while there are emergency provisions, it does mean it is possible to be cut off if you have not put enough money into your account. 

"This means that younger consumers and vulnerable people are at greater risk of disconnecting themselves from their energy supply when money is tight.

"Direct debits also allow consumers to spread out their costs evenly throughout the year, meaning bills won't rise significantly in the winter when energy usage is highest."

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