PEDAL-O-METER

Sometimes the wind’s at your back, sometimes it’s all uphill

CHAMPION CHOMPER

Top PR for Haribo, as Peter Sagan ate gummy bears after winning Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. Sagan, now looking like Worzel Gummidge’s dishevelled sibling, can expect a job lot in the post.

KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES

Team GB is in the habit of employing the world’s best coaches but for the first time a Brit will head up performance at a major rival, with Simon Jones taking up the top post at Australian Cycling.

SAFE PASSAGE?

This year the Tour starts in Germany for the first time in 30 years but for 2018 it is back in France and the Vendee. The official start is the Passage du Gois, the often submerged causeway that infamously caused havoc in 1999.

SLAMMING THE BRAKES

The disc brakes furore didn’t take long to start again after their return to the pro peloton. Sky’s Owain Doull called for a rethink after claiming one of Marcel Kittell’s rotors sliced through his shoe, althought evidence is scant.

TRIAL AND TRIBULATION

Lance Armstrong was unable to prevent the US government’s lawsuit against him and his team going to jury trial in November. It alleges they defrauded the US Postal Service through doping and could face paying damages of $100m.

FRENCH DISCONNECTION

Fans of the Tour de France and Adam and Simon Yates will be disappointed that neither will be at this year’s race. They’ll head to the Giro d’Italia, with Orica-Scott teammate Esteban Chaves France-bound.