Rouleur – Issue 26

In an extraordinary, unprecedented three hour interview with Herbie Sykes, UCI president Pat McQuaid confronts the harsh realities facing professional cycling in the 21st century. Uniquely we have chosen to reproduce their discussion in its entirety; a unique testimony at this, a critical period in cycling history.

Rouleur Editor Guy Andrews follows up the Trek story from issue 25 with a closer look at the Leopard team and it’s relationship with the US manufacturer, only to find the team has disbanded…

Mike Chick, writer and photographer of the extraordinary Vuelta a Bolivia feature seen on the cover of issue 22, visits another high altitude race in a distant land. This time The Tour of Qinghai Lake in China gets the Chick treatment.

Newly retired pro rider Tom Southam digs out a lifetime’s training diaries, a fascinating insight into growing up as an aspiring bike rider and changing training methods.

Ian Cleverly gets two contrasting missions this issue: a factory visit to Hutchinson Tyres in France that threatens to be dull as ditchwater but turns out to be thoroughly gripping (excuse the pun), and a day at the Vuelta, camped on the Angliru with thousands of screaming Spaniards.

Plus columns from regular contributors Matt Seaton, William Fotheringham, Johnny Green and Paul Fournel.