Issue 144

Le Tour is here - bienvenue to Rouleur 144.

Our special Gallic issue brings all the colour of cycling's biggest race to life. Get ready for a linguistic tour across the route, Barcelona's "magic mountain", and what it truly feels like to crash out of the opening stage.

Meanwhile, Greg LeMond sits down to discuss his carbon-fibre start-up, whilst admiring the likes of Mathieu van der Poel. A forthcoming Hollywood biopic also puts Lance Armstrong firmly back in the spotlight, but will it be box office gold or total flop? Plus, unearth Katie Archibald's retirement plans – and why she's more at peace with it than you might expect.

And remember wherever you are: Visca el Tour! Vivo o Tour! Viva lo Tour! 

Ned Boulting

On Frenchness. Can they finally win their own home Tour? Unlikely, but not impossible in the next few years. Maybe…

Greg LeMond

The three-time Tour de France winner reveals to Rouleur that he had discussions about starting his own top-level racing team, but nowadays he’s more focused on his carbon fibre start-up business and admiring what he believes is one of the best ever generation of riders.

Montjuïc: Back in the game

The famous Barcelona climb has a long and storied history in cycling, from Federico Bahamontes to Tadej Pogačar. Last featuring in 2009, Le Tour makes a welcome return to Montjuïc for the opening two stages in the Catalonian capital.

A linguistic Tour de Fance

The 113th Tour de France starts in Barcelona and finishes in Paris, covering 3,333 kilometres across two countries, five mountain ranges, and – if you count every dialect and language along the way – more than a dozen distinct linguistic traditions.

Over and out

Crashing out of any race hurts, physically and mentally, but the opening stage of the Tour de France? We can only imagine their pain. Four racers who have experienced that sinking feeling on day one of Le Tour.

Where Eagles dare

Specialist grimpeurs are an endangered species in these times of talented all-rounders. Are the days of maverick mountain goats over, or is there a future for race-changing attacks on high? Andy McGrath puts his head in the clouds at the Tour of the Alps to get the full skinny from climbers living on the edge.

One for the road

We’re here for the beer. How an Italian living in Belgium collected over 280 cycling-themed bottles and cans from 11 different countries, ranging from non-alcoholic thirst quenchers through to super-strong sippers. Felix Lowe takes one for the team.

Lazarus Lance

A forthcoming biopic on Lance Armstrong puts the Texan firmly centre stage once again. The man the Tour de France would rather forget refuses to go quietly and could be headline material all over again thanks to Hollywood superstars and Apple Originals. Box office gold or total turkey?

Del Toro and the new wave 

Mexican cycling’s decades in the doldrums look set to end, with 22-year-
old superstar Isaac del Toro leading the charge and a reinvigorated federation aiming to put their country back on the racing map.

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Social media posts from pro riders are considered part and parcel of the job these days. But not all of them get it right. When bike racers become content creators

Compassion club

Newly-retired Katie Archibald considers starting a book club. It’s cheaper than therapy but you will have to bring your own snacks