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The Season ahead

2009 promises to be an exciting year for cycling. With Lance Armstrong set to return to the fray, the sport will also remember another champion, Fausto Coppi, on the anniversary of his greatest season. Amateur riders everywhere will be setting their own training goals and riding ambitions and the year looks set to be a busy one for Rapha. Below is a month by month guide (well, almost) to the year ahead.

12 Reasons to be cheerful

1. A far from bleak mid-winter
2. The Rapha Condor team – stronger and more stylish than ever
3. The world’s most exclusive cycling club
4. Rapha Continental, the journey continues…
5. Unsanctioned and unmarshalled, a new kind of racing
6. Fausto Coppi and the 100th Giro
7. Rouleur
8. Rapha rides Far East
9. More night manouevres
10. The Boss is back – in hardback
11. Dandy about town
12. Sportives – the cols that keep on coming

1. A far from bleak mid-winter

With the UK in the grip of the first real winter for years, the cold weather in January and February is something to be relished. Well chosen training gear, such as Rapha’s Winter Jersey and Winter Tights, will keep you protected from the elements, allowing you to rack up the miles and steal a march on your less well-equipped friends. In the US meanwhile, Rapha kicks off the year in warmer climes, riding and previewing each of the eight stages for the upcoming Tour of California. The 800-mile stage race travels from Sacramento to Escondido, from February 14th-22nd.
www.amgentourofcalifornia.com
- Feature to follow soon.

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2. The Rapha Condor team –
Stronger and more stylish than ever

Rapha Condor signed off in 2008 as the UK’s number-one rated cycling team. This year the team is set to cement its position with the addition of some star names. The official team launch is scheduled for January 23rd and racing starts in February. With the team due to compete in the UK, Japan, the US, Ireland and South Africa, the Rapha Condor riders are currently training in South West France. Look out for the boys in black in their new team kit and on new bikes.

raphacondor.cc »

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3. The world’s most exclusive cycling club

The day Rapha Condor unveils its new line-up of riders, January 23rd, will also see the launch of the world’s most exclusive cycling club. Members of the Rapha Condor Club will spend the upcoming season getting closer to pro racing than any other amateur riders. The first of a series of exclusive training camps will be held in February, with club members saddling up alongside team riders. Members will also have their own exclusive kit, social events and networking website. With each member a part-owner of the team, they will also enjoy VIP access and hospitality areas at top races. For more details or to find out how to become a member:

Rapha Condor 2009 membership invitation »

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4. Rapha Continental,
the journey continues…

Since 2007, two teams of Rapha riders have taken part in an ambitious project to ride and document the most epic routes in North America. Published as an online journal, 25 rides have been completed so far, covering more than 3,000 miles and 25,000ft of climbing. Rides to date have concentrated on East and West coasts but from May this year the Continental is expanding. New rides will take in the Midwest, Southwest, South, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. To ensure no stone is left unturned in the hunt for the best rides America has to offer, Rapha is inviting customers to become part of the Continental by submitting epic rides in their local area and, if successful, leading the team for a day.

Continental Calling »

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5. Unsanctioned and unmarshalled,
a new kind of racing

Last year, Rapha launched a new kind of competitive cycling in the US. Gentlemen’s Races pit teams of riders against each other, the clock and mile after mile of roads and tracks. With the emphasis on sporting conduct (don’t worry, women are welcome too), six races were held in 2008 and more will be held this summer. Though dates have still to be confirmed, venues currently being considered include Toronto in April, the Northeast in May, a mountain race in August and the Northwest in September.

Gentlemen's Rides »

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6. Fausto Coppi and the 100th Giro

Rapha’s favourite race of the year, the Giro d’Italia, celebrates its 100th anniversary in May. The 92nd edition of the race (the event was not held during the two world wars) runs from 9th – 31st May and boasts an exciting route, starting with a time trial in Venice. With five stages on the Ligurian coast to come before the finish in Milan, there will also be the small matter of a certain Mellow Johnny hitting the comeback trail in earnest. This year is also the 60th anniversary of Fausto Coppi becoming the first man to achieve the Giro/Tour double in the same year. A new Rapha merino jersey will be available to mark the occasion and Rapha is also helping to launch William Fotheringham’s new biography of Il Campionissimo.
www.ilgiroditalia.it

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7. Rouleur

In 2009, the world’s most beautiful cycling magazine celebrates its fourth year. Selected extracts and images from all 11 issues are available online at rouleur.cc and copies of Rouleur’s 2009 calendar, featuring compelling images from Rouleur photographers, are still available but selling fast.

Rouleur 2009 calendar »

A more comprehensive collection of photographs can be found in The Rouleur Photography Annual 2008. And don’t forget to renew your subscription if yours is due to lapse:

Rouleur Subscriptions »

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8. Rapha rides Far East

Rapha continues to go from strength to strength in Japan. Rapha’s latest collections were a huge hit at the Tokyo bike show last November and in May this year the Rapha Condor team will compete in the Tour of Japan. The event runs from 17th – 24th May and the team will follow their appearance with a number of rides and social events for Japanese customers.

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9. More night manouevres

With Rapha’s hugely popular Smithfield Nocturne now firmly established on the cycling calendar, last year saw the addition of another Nocturne, in Salford, Manchester. In 2009, the Rapha Nocturne Series will return with evenings of fun and elite racing. With the Smithfield Nocturne scheduled for 6th June and Salford for 29th August, additional events in Cheltenham and London’s Canary Wharf are also planned.

Last year’s Smithfield event was graced by no less a light than Mark Cavendish, while Sir Chris Hoy (then plain old Mr.) put in an appearance at Salford. For highlights of those events, along with a taster of what to expect this year:

Rapha Condor Smithfield Nocturne »

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10. The Boss is back – in hardback

You may have heard that this year ‘the Boss’ is back – Mont Ventoux that is. Rapha will be riding the Giant of Provence this summer and probably more than once. The second volume of Rapha’s inspiring guides to the great climbs of Europe, Great Road Climbs of the Southern Alps and the Riviera, includes Ventoux and will be published during the Tour de France, which takes place between 4th and 26th July.

Volume one in the series, Great Road Climbs of the Pyrenees, by Graeme Fife, has now sold out:

Great Road Climbs of the Pyrenees, by Graeme Fife »

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11. Dandy about town

An economic downturn invariably encourages people to smarten up their work attire. After all, it’s hardly the time to stand out by being scruffy. Which could prove tricky for the thousands taking up cycling in ugly Dayglo gear. Rapha customers, on the other hand, are only too familiar with the concept of smart urban riding and stand out from the crowd in clothes that are as stylish as they are functional. Rapha’s Urban Riding range will be expanding this spring, with new sophisticated and bespoke gear guaranteed to appeal to any dandy on a bike. A highlight of Rapha’s current Urban Riding collection is the limited edition Tweed Softshell.

Tweed Softshell »

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12. Sportives – the cols that keep on coming

Rapha will be riding numerous sportives this year and is also involved in the newest and toughest sportive of them all. ‘Les Cent Cols’ has been created by Phil Deeker, a Rapha rider whose pedigree in such events includes riding 300 cols in 28 days in 2007. This September, 32 riders will ride 100 cols in 11 days. Covering more than 1,800km, Deeker’s route includes such legends as Croix de Fer, Telegraphe and Galibier, as well as Izoard and Ventoux. Rapha has secured places for a team of four people to ride with them and details on how to win a place will be posted later in the year.

For more information on the challenge:
www.centcolschallenge.com

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