Two years ago, we collaborated with Verge Sport to develop the most advanced indoor cycling kit on the market (read more).
Since that time, numerous Zwift teams have created their own indoor kits with Verge, printing their custom designs on the Pain Cave jersey and bib shorts. With hundreds of riders putting the kit through its paces across countless hard indoor sessions, the original design has proven itself. But perfection is an endless pursuit, so the original Pain Cave kit has become Pain Cave 2.0 due to three modifications:
Jersey switched from bonded to stitched sleeve ends for durability
Bib straps upgraded for better breathability
Bib lycra on front (below belly button) raised a bit for more compression
Today, we’ve re-opened our Team Store, allowing Zwift Insider fans to purchase our custom kit. All orders from our store are custom-made on demand using Verge’s innovative manufacturing methods, which means you’ll receive your kit within 3-4 weeks of ordering, and you can place your order whenever you’d like.
A quote from Nathan Guerra after testing the original Pain Cave kit: “The first time I rode in this Verge kit, I rode I think for almost 8 hours. And I was like… ok… didn’t even notice it was there. Definitely had no problems. Eight hours of riding indoors can cause problems, I don’t know if anyone’s noticed…”
Here’s a gallery showing images of the original Zwift Insider Pain Cave kit, so you can get an idea how it looks in real life. (To read the full story on the development of the kit, as well as a review, visit Review: Pain Cave Indoor Cycling Kit from Verge Sport.)
The Zwift Insider kit from Verge Sport matches Zwift Insider’s in-game kit, including the “Ride Smarter / Rider Harder” text on the legs:
Our team store includes the indoor “Pain Cave 2.0” version of our kit, as well as an outdoor-friendly “Strike” jersey+bibs and base layers, all in men’s and women’s versions. And new this year, we’ve got Zwift Insider aero socks!
Lazer’s VeloVox brings pro-peloton race radios to your group rides, enabling you to taunt those you’ve dropped hands-free.
The new two-part communication device attaches to your helmet straps and features an open-ear design that should keep you aware of your surroundings.
Lazer says you can use the device to communicate with up to 30 riders, and it enables you to listen to music or take phone calls when on the road.
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Noise cancelling
The device sits on your helmet straps.
While the VeloVox shares a similar sideburn appearance to the gimmicky Cat-Ears noise-reducing strap add-ons from the early 2010s, Lazer’s noise-reduction claims are about the microphone, not the earpiece.
The microphone is said to deliver crystal-clear audio with advanced wind and noise cancellation, ensuring your voice comes through clearly, no matter the pace or weather.
There are quick-start instructions included on the packaging. Jack Luke / Our Media
Lazer has developed the VeloVox in partnership with Cardo, which is well-known for making Bluetooth communication devices for motorbikes.
The VeloVox is controlled via the Cardo Connect app, which is available from the App Store and Google Play Store.
The VeloVox intercom is labelled either side for easy setup. Jack Luke / Our Media
The two-part device is secured to each of your helmet straps. Lazer says it’s compatible with most helmet and eyewear combinations.
Sitting on both sides of the helmet, the left-hand unit controls group communications, while the right-hand side houses music and call control.
There is also Shimano integration for riders who like to keep their hands on the bar, with the ability to use Di2 shifters and STEPS ebike systems to control the device.
The Lazer logo features on the outside of the device. Jack Luke / Our Media
Lazer says the VeloVox has 11 hours of battery life and weighs 19g per side.
If you’re worried about wet rides, the device is IP54-rated and has a two-year warranty.
Cycling memorabilia hunters will be devastated to hear they’ve missed a roaring bargain, with Bradley Wiggins’ 2000 Sydney Olympics bike, raced at the Madison event, selling for only £515 on eBay.
However, it will be of some comfort to hear it went to someone with a direct connection to the bike.
The bike in question is a Terry Dolan track machine in size 62cm to suit the lofty 6ft 3in Wiggins.
Speaking to BikeRadar, the seller said the bike was originally passed down through a family in Torquay, with the legend being that it had once been raced by a young Wiggins.
Dolan frames were a common sight beneath British Cycling riders in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Although better known for his time aboard Pinarello bikes at Team Sky, Wiggins – and his contemporary, Mark Cavendish – was still riding Dolan bikes at least as late as 2007 at Six Day events.
This bike is likely a much earlier model, however – but exactly how old?
Wiggins contested the first Madison event at the Olympics. Shaun Botterill/ALLSPORT/Getty
We spoke to Stephen Dolan – CEO of Dolan Bikes and son of the eponymous Terry – who confirmed the bike was “Brad’s spare bike from the Sydney Olympics in 2000”.
“We supplied custom-built aluminium frames to both Brad and Rob Hayles to ride in the Madison event at the Olympics, where they finished 4th,” he added.
A sliver of the bike’s distinctive panelling can be made out in the photo. Shaun Botterill/ALLSPORT/Getty
Indeed, a search of the Getty Images library unearthed a photo of the young Wiggins riding the bike at the gold-medal event. The race – the first time the Madison was contested at the Olympics – was won by Australia’s Scott McGrory and Brett Aitken.
The frame is typical of the time, constructed using chunky 7003 Dedacciai alloy tubing. It’s paired with an Alpina fork and Campagnolo headset. The alloy Campagnolo Pista wheels and finishing kit look to be later additions.
The bike is typical of the era. eBay
Described by the seller as having only cosmetic marks, the bike still looks resplendent in a handsome shade of blue, with cream panels bearing the Dolan name.
After confirming the frame’s provenance, Dolan decided to buy it back for himself: “I have Rob Hayles’ frame here, so I bought it to match the bikes up.”
Dolan intends to source the original parts and will renovate the bike for display at the brand’s showroom in Burscough, Lancashire.
This humble frame will be in good company, sitting along bikes from “Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish, Chris Hoy, David Millar and Chris Boardman also currently on display.”
This route keeps us on Watopia’s southern coast for the entirety of the TTT, which is a nice change of pace. And yes, that pun is intended, because the rollers throughout this route will keep racers on their toes! Let’s discuss route details, bike choice, and all things TTT…
Looking at the Route: Southern Coast Cruise
Watopia’s new Southern Coast Cruise is an out-and-back (and out?) route that is 26.3km long, with 147m of elevation gain. The lap profile below makes it look quite pitchy, until you realize each climb or descent is only changing elevation by 5-12 meters! This course is best described as fast, but constantly rolling.
This route doesn’t have any particular features like long climbs or descents worth calling out. Or perhaps the better way to say it is: this route is full of short climbs and descents, and your team must remain constantly vigilant to maintain the ideal power levels to maximize speeds! (See TTTips below for more pointers.)
This week, bike choice is easy: grab your most aero TT setup! The CADEX Tri is the fastest frame in game by a solid margin, and the new DT Swiss ARC 1100 DICUT 85/Disc wheels are the fastest wheels. If you don’t have access to that setup (level 40+) then see this post to determine the fastest TT setup available at your level.
Top Tier: CADEX Tri with DT Swiss ARC 1100 DICUT 85/Disc2nd Tier: Canyon Speedmax Disc with Zipp 858/Super9
Whatever you do, do not use a road frame. Because just like in real life, even a “slow” TT frame is much more aero than a road frame.
This round, for the first time in ZRL history, riders have access to two different speed-boosting upgrades. You’ll want to take maximum advantage of both, because your competitors will.
Bike Upgrades: A fully upgraded TT bike will be ~50 seconds faster across an hour of flat riding vs the non-upgraded version. Yes, this race will be closer to a half-hour effort, and anyone who has raced a TTT knows that’s a huge margin. Read more on this topic >
Lightning Aero Socks: These socks are unlocked by completing the Factory Tour Challenge, which was introduced in March 2025. Finishing it takes a lot of work, but the prize, the Aero Lightning Socks, will trim another ~12 seconds off an hour of riding. Read more on this topic >
Route Recon Videos and Resources
At the time this post was composed (Wednesday, September 10), the Zwift community hadn’t published any recon videos. Hard to blame them – the route wasn’t even in game until yesterday’s update, and it’s still event only.
I’ll share any recon videos or other resources here as I get them. Share in the comments section if you find or create anything useful!
Flatter courses like this week give valuable seconds to teams with big pure-power riders who can keep their power high on the front while staying in single-file formation to conserve in the draft behind. Extra seconds can also be gained by pacing smartly, ramping up the effort on short climbs and recovering a bit once you’re up to speed on the short descents.
On a course like this week’s, I highly recommend all team members set their Trainer Difficulty to the same value so you’re all feeling the gradient changes similarly. (When one rider has it set to 100% and another 25%, the first rider may ramp up power much more than the second when a climb hits, tearing your group apart.)
Your goal in a ZRL TTT is to get four riders across the line in the shortest time possible. That means every team’s pace plan will differ based on the abilities of each rider. We highly recommend having an experienced DS on Discord directing your team, especially if your team contains some inexperienced TTT riders.
If you want to go further down the TTT rabbit hole, I highly recommend Dave Edmond’s Zwift TTT Calculator tool.
Your Thoughts
Any insights or further thoughts on this race? Share below!
The Spanish authorities will deploy 1,100 officers and 400 members of the Guardia Civil this weekend in Madrid to ensure the safety of riders in the Vuelta a España amid ongoing protests against the participation of Israel–Premier Tech in the race.
The Governmental Delegation in Madrid announced the “extraordinary” reinforcement in a statement, which was agreed upon yesterday, according to AS.
Saturday’s stage 20 from Robledo de Chavela to Alto de la Bola del Mundo takes on the mountains near Madrid, and will see 400 civil guards mobilised.
On Sunday, the final stage of this year’s race from Alalpardo to Madrid will be secured by 1,100 national police officers, in what is the largest mobilisation of police since the 2022 NATO summit in Madrid.
According to AS, the Delegation emphasised the right to protest is a fundamental right that cannot be limited, and therefore the right to peaceful demonstration will be guaranteed throughout stages 20 and 21.
The police and Guardia Civil make up the police forces for the stages throughout La Vuelta, except for those in the Basque Country and Catalonia, where security is provided by local police.
Pro-Palestinian protesters waving flags at the start of the 16th stage of the Vuelta a España. Miguel Riopa / Getty Images
The regular security operation for this year’s La Vuelta has consisted of 132 civil guards and more than 70 national police officers.
Protestors have been demonstrating at the race against the participation of Israel–Premier Tech, which is co-owned by Canadian–Israeli businessman Sylvan Adams, who is a vocal supporter of the state of Israel.
Stephanie Adam, a campaigner for the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, which called for the protests, described the team’s participation at the race as “sportswashing pure and simple”.
Many riders have voiced concern for their safety at the race and there have been several crashes due to protests.
Yesterday, the riders’ union voted to neutralise stage 17 if there were protests and race organisers have shortened today’s individual time trial due to planned protests.
Argon 18 has launched its new Nitrogen Pro aero bike, which is designed for real-world riding rather than wind-tunnel performance at all costs.
“We’re not designing a bike for the wind tunnel – I couldn’t care less where it would rank in a wind tunnel test,” says Alexandre Côté, Argon 18’s product manager.
“It would be nice to be top of the list, and it might be close to that, but the real performance comes in [the] real world – crosswinds, headwinds, rain, crappy weather.
“We all know what we ride in, and it’s not [a] pristine tarmac-controlled, resurfaced road in the south of France for the Tour de France in July. We’re riding in real-world conditions, and we have a bike that performs well in those conditions.”
Argon 18 designed the bike around 30c tyres. Charlie Allenby / Our Media
The Canadian brand has done this by designing an aero platform from the bottom up – or rather front to back, starting with 30c tyres.
“It’s what the pros and amateurs ride up out there,” says Côte. “Why make something in the lab in isolation, where the reality is different? This is where most of the brands get it wrong at the moment – optimising for a test instead of real applications.”
Argon 18 hasn’t eschewed wind tunnels completely, and undertook three rounds of testing at the Silverstone wind tunnel during the bike’s development, but tested with a rider in place and focusing on wind-averaged drag (an average of all the yaw angles you’d experience in the real world).
Argon 18 designed a cockpit specifically for the bike. Charlie Allenby / BikeRadar
In its pursuit of the perfect bike, Argon 18 seemingly left no stone unturned – including the designing of a proprietary cockpit, bottle cages and a bespoke Artech 6.A wheelset collaboration with Scope.
Although an aero platform, Côte explains that Argon 18 also wanted the Nitrogen Pro to be optimised as a complete system – meaning it’s also lightweight, with a good fit and ride feel.
The result is a frameset that comes in at 950g and a complete bike that, in its range-topping Red AXS setup, weighs 6.95kg (including power meter, bottle cages and a computer mount) in medium.
It is also 24 watts faster than the SUM Pro, making it the brand’s fastest ever bike.
Development of the bike
The brand worked with Scope to develop wheels specifically for the bike. Charlie Allenby / Our Media
The Nitrogen Pro has been almost three years in the making, with the brand’s product and R&D team taking a ground-up approach to the complete bike’s design process.
Rather than coming up with a frameset in isolation and not having any control over its integration and aerodynamic interaction with components and finishing kit, Argon 18 started with “the best all-round high-performance tyre” – Vittoria’s Corsa Pro in 30c – as the first component to encounter aerodynamic resistance, and continuously analysed the downstream impact each choice would have on the next.
This philosophy is how it ended up collaborating with Scope on a bespoke version of the Dutch brand’s Artech 6.A wheelset. They weren’t optimised for a 30c Corsa Pro, which measured at 31.4mm when fitted, so the brands set to work on developing a version that was.
The result has a proprietary rim shape, 65mm-deep rims, and 3D-printed hubs that contribute to a 1,320g wheelset weight.
From here, the frame and fork were optimised to interact with the wheelset, which involved 130 different frame tube profiles and 25 fork prototypes, to find the combination that performed best.
The carbon layup was also fine-tuned to keep the weight down, with the stiffness – which is 18.5 per cent stiffer than the SUM Pro, according to Argon18 – arising from the profiles and shape.
Atten-tion to detail
Atten is the Argon 18’s new house component brand.
Argon 18 says the componentry available on the market wasn’t up to scratch, so it decided to design its own.
“The way this industry is structured is everybody does their own thing and tries to put it together and see if it fits,” says Côte. “For us, it’s unacceptable, moving forward. It’s something we won’t be doing, if we can do better.”
The brand’s new component line is labelled Atten – the Danish word for 18 – and its most noticeable inclusion on the Nitrogen Pro is the one-piece cockpit.
Arrow-shaped to “limit the stagnation point along the leading edge”, it includes a 3° inward flair off the drops to create an ergonomically optimised setup that avoids riders needing to twist the hoods inwards.
The brand’s testing also showed that it saved 3.2 watts compared to the Vision Metron 5D ACR Evo.
The bike is said to be faster when ridden with bottles. Charlie Allenby . Pur Media
The attention to detail doesn’t end there. All of the aero testing took place with bottle mounts in place – “people need to carry water, so why not optimise around that?” – and the bike is faster with bottle cages than without them as a result.
And if you only ride with one bottle on the down tube, the brand recommends keeping the seat tube one in place, with a vented design enabling air to pass through unimpeded.
All of this comes with a serious price tag – the Nitrogen Pro SRAM Red AXS will set you back £13,000 / $13,500 / €13,995 when it becomes available in February 2026.
But the brand has also created a standard Nitrogen line-up, which features the same frame design, albeit with a different carbon layup. This starts at a more reasonable £5,200 / $5,400 / €5,995 for the 105 Di2 version. This includes the Atten cockpit, bottle cages and 42mm Atten wheels.
The riders at the Vuelta a España have voted to neutralise the race if there are further protests during today’s stage 17.
Bahrain Victorious’s Jack Haig spoke to the media ahead of today’s stage on behalf of the riders’ union, the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés (CPA).
“We decided that if there is an incident, we would try to neutralise the race and then that would be it because in the end racing to an undefined finish line is not really fair sport,” said Haig, as reported by Cycling News.
“Unfortunately, we’re being caught in the middle of something that maybe doesn’t even really involve us and at the moment we are kind of just the pawns in a very large chess game that unfortunately is affecting us,” the Australian said.
Haig explained that the riders’ decision was only for stage 17, and we can expect further daily votes.
Yesterday’s stage 16 saw pro-Palestine demonstrators blocking the course with 3km to go, with race organisers deciding to curtail the stage, which finished under the 8km-to-go banner. Egan Bernal won the stage.
Pro-Palestinian protesters at La Vuelta. Tim De Waele / Getty Images
There has been ongoing concern from riders regarding their safety, and several riders have crashed due to the protests.
Regarding stage 16, Haig said: “Yesterday it started to become a little bit uncomfortable because there were some acts to maybe deliberately try and harm the riders by cutting down trees, by putting the thumb [tacks] on the ground, to deliberately light fires.”
Cycling journalist Daniel Friebes wrote on X that there is: “General dismay growing among riders that they are (main?) decision-makers in this process. They have no appetite to race for improvised finish-lines like yesterday’s.”
General dismay growing among riders that they are (main?) decision-makers in this process. They have no appetite to race for improvised finish-lines like yesterday‘s.
Haig added that riders want to end the race in Madrid on Sunday, but that it needs to happen in a “fair way where riders are safe”.
The protests at La Vuelta are primarily against the participation of Israel–Premier Tech. The team is co-owned by Canadian–Israeli businessman Sylvan Adams, who has said Israel–Premier Tech’s riders are ambassadors for Israel.
The protests at La Vuelta were called for by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). Stephanie Adam, a campaigner for PACBI, told BikeRadar that Israel–Premier Tech’s presence at La Vuelta is “sportswashing pure and simple”.
Adam said that protests at La Vuelta will continue at La Vuelta, and until Israel–Premier Tech is excluded from UCI races and events.
Hot on the heels of dishing out our Road Bike of the Year awards last week, it’s time to turn our attention off-road and crown our Trail Bike of the Year winner… the Atherton A.130.
This year, we’ve put eight of the best all-rounders through the wringer to find a winner, with the A.130 shining through as a trail bike that’s a comfortable climber, and ridiculously flickable and fun on mellower trails, but a proper hooligan when pointed downhill.
Up against stiff competition from Canyon and Forbidden in our final head-to-head showdown, with bikes from Specialized, Giant, Pivot, Santa Cruz and Yeti also tested and earning highly commended nominations, Atherton’s A.130 takes top honours as a trail bike that does it all with aplomb.
My head-to-head feature on the Atherton, Canyon and Forbidden bikes delivers a blow-by-blow account of how these three fare against one another – and explains why the Atherton edges it to take the crown – but, for now, let’s dive into more detail on Trail Bike of the Year 2025.
Big thanks to sports campervan specialists Auto-Trail for supporting our Bike of the Year 2025 test. Head to auto-trail.co.uk for more details about their range, including the cycling-specific Auto-Trail Expedition 68, which features a purpose-built bike garage.
Our 2025 Trail Bike of the Year podium
Introducing our 2025 Trail Bike of the Year… the Atherton A.130. Scott Windsor / Our Media
Canyon’s Spectral AL6 earns a runner-up spot on our Trail Bike of the Year podium. Scott Windsor / Our Media The Forbidden Druid completes the podium as one of our two Trail Bike of the Year runners-up. Scott Windsor / Our Media
Back-to-back testing is the best way to uncover which bike performs best on the trail. Scott Windsor / Our Media
For this year’s MTB Bike of the Year test, we decided to focus exclusively on the trail bike category – it’s an exciting segment that’s really developed over the last few years, with bikes now better than ever.
We’ve got an expert team of testers here and, together with my colleague Alex Evans, and skills coach Luke Marshall, we looked back on the last 10 months of riding to put together our shortlist of the best trail bikes we’ve tested collectively.
We focused this year’s test on the trail bike category – after all, these bikes are designed to do it all. Scott Windsor / Our Media
That enabled us to capture a broad range of trail bikes with varying amounts of travel and differing builds, across a wide range of prices.
Once we’d all put our favourites forward, we hit the trails again to determine which bike came out on top. And guess what? It wasn’t easy… not only because these bikes are so good, but because the trail bike category continues to evolve.
What even is a trail bike?
One thing is for sure, a trail bike needs to rip going downhill. Scott Windsor / Our Media
We say it every year, but defining what a trail bike is can be challenging.
During the process of this test, what we’ve discovered is that while the amount of suspension travel is important, it’s certainly not the most important factor when defining a bike.
Suspension travel on the bikes here varies from as little as 130mm at the rear to as much as 160mm up front, and while the amount of squish is important, it’s not the defining factor. How it’s delivered – in terms of leverage rate, anti-rise, anti-squat and other kinematics – is crucial, dictating whether a bike is super-efficient on the climbs or will soak up chunder as effectively as a longer-travel enduro rig.
There’s also been more of an emphasis on adding bigger, more powerful brakes, along with grippier tyres that’ll stave off ride-ruining punctures.
Suspension travel on the bikes tested varied from as little as 130mm at the rear to as much as 160mm up front. Scott Windsor / Our Media
That is largely down to ensuring the bike – even if it’s capable of being ridden all day – should still be able to handle a beasting, no matter what you’ve got it pointed down.
But despite, in some cases, being focused more on going downhill, all the bikes here are more than capable of going up and along, too.
After all, trail riding is such a mix of everything that these bikes need to be the truest of all-rounders. Designing a bike like that isn’t easy.
The Atherton A.130 feels energetic and excitable when pointed uphill. Scott Windsor / Our Media
While there’s a need for it to be pedalled out into the hills for hours, maybe even days at a time, it still needs to handle the descents, a trip to the bike park or even just an evening in the woods ripping turns and hitting jumps.
There will always be some level of compromise with trail bikes, but one thing is for sure, not a single bike included here is a dud in any way.
What we were looking for in the winner
Although there’s only 130mm of rear-wheel travel, our winner, the Atherton A.130, is more than capable when it comes to tackling full-on descents. Scott Windsor / Our Media
Because we’ve hand-picked every bike here based on our testing experience – a big advantage of the way we’ve approached Bike of the Year this time round – each of them is worth considering for your next purchase.
Which one suits you best will depend on what you’re looking for in a bike and how much money you’ve got to spend. For our overall winner, we were looking for an all-rounder that exemplifies the modern trail bike.
The A.130 is a truly incredible all-rounder and ticks all the right boxes when it comes to delivering what a trail bike should. Scott Windsor / Our Media
It needed to be lively and engaging, fast and efficient, but still capable of soaking up the hits – and with geometry that would ensure we weren’t terrified on steeper, more technical trails.
It’s a big ask, but thankfully, nearly every brand out there now makes something that can meet or, in some cases, exceed these expectations.
However, the Atherton A.130 is the bike that heads off the competition as our 2025 Trail Bike of the Year.
Meet the team behind Trail Bike of the Year
Robin Weaver
As our technical editor-in-chief, Rob has years of racing and testing experience, so knows what makes a good trail bike.
Alex Evans
A hard rider with a habit of breaking bikes, senior technical editor Alex pulls no punches with his reviews.
Luke Marshall
Our former tech writer turned skills coach is rarely off a bike and can quickly expose any kit weaknesses
Garmin has launched its new Edge 550 and 850 bike computers. Here’s what you need to know about the new computers, in brief:
Garmin says the Edge 550 and 850 are its “brightest and smartest” compact bike computers.
The computers are “built to help riders better prepare and train for an event or goal”. You can use them to access free Cycling Coach plans, track your cycling ability, and monitor hydration and fuelling while riding.
The Edge 550 and 850 now offer real-time weather updates, including wind direction.
They also have features for mountain bikers, such as enduro and downhill ride profiles that enable more precise GPS tracking.
Battery life is 12 hours in “demanding use cases” and 36 hours in battery saver mode.
The Edge 850 has several extra features, including a touchscreen and built-in speaker, and you can use it to make contactless payments.
The Edge 550 costs £379.99, while the Edge 850 costs £469.99.
Last week’s Fall 2025 This Season on Zwift press release included, as the first item of business, news that a fresh version of the Zwift Click controller will begin shipping today, September 9th. Keep reading to learn all about the new Zwift Click, including my full hands-on review.
Click v2, as we’ll call it, is replacing two SKUs for Zwift. First, it replaces the original Click, a simple device with a + and – button for shifting up or down. This comes as no surprise. But the bigger news is that Click v2 is also replacing the Zwift Play controllers. (To be clear: while Zwift Play can still be used in-game, it will no longer be sold.)
Here are some images from Zwift showing the Click v2 and how they mount easily to multiple locations on drop bars, as well as flat bars and TT bars:
Zwift is not currently selling Click v2 as a standalone item, but Zwift Cog and Click upgrade kits for all Zwift Cog-compatible trainers are available at Zwift.com now for £49.99/€49.99/$49.99:
The two units are bridged together, so they use only 1 Bluetooth connection (good news for Apple TV users)
Claimed 100-hour battery life (CR2032 coin cell)
Hands-On Experience
Setup and Onboarding
Click v2 is quick and easy to set up. In addition to the two Click controllers, the package includes four straps and two soft pads you can place beneath the controllers to more secure mounting on rounded bars:
Clicking any button on a controller activates it, and an LED at the top of the controller will begin flashing blue. It turns solid blue once connected.
The first thing I did was open up Zwift’s Companion app and go to Zwift Hardware, where the app automatically detected the Click v2 which I had already turned on. The app then prompted me to perform a firmware update to version 1.1.0:
Once the Clicks were updated to the latest firmware, I started my Zwift session and paired the Click v2 (reminder: these are Bluetooth only):
Before riding, I was greeted with a simple tutorial walking me through their capabilities:
After finishing (or skipping) the tutorial, you’re ready to go! If you’d like, you can go to Settings>Controls and rotate the controllers, which may prove useful depending on how you decide to mount them.
Steering vs Intersection Selection
While the Click v2 does everything Zwift Play did (apart from braking), Zwift had to get a bit creative to squeeze all that functionality out of a pair of simple controllers.
Specifically, if you want to manually choose a turn at an intersection, you have to press A when the intersection option pops up, then choose your desired intersection with left/right arrows. (On-screen text reminds you how this works.)
Apart from this little quirk, steering is simple using the left/right arrows on the left controller.
Virtual Shifting
If you have a smart trainer that supports Zwift’s virtual shifting (see list of compatible trainers), Click v2 can handle the shifting duties. The – button on the left controller shifts down to an easier gear, while the + on the right controller shifts up to a harder gear. These also modify FTP bias in ERG workouts when shifting is disabled.
Shifting with Click v2 is just as responsive as with Zwift Play and the original Zwift Click, happening quickly and reliably.
I had the Zwift Plays installed on my bike, and added the Click v2 on the flats of my bars as shown above. I found I enjoyed pairing both the Plays and the Click v2 to my Zwift session, as the Clicks came in handy as satellite shifters when I was riding on the flats.
Other Notes
I’ve been using the Click v2 on my main Zwift setup since May, which means I’ve logged over 100 hours of use. I changed the battery on one controller in my “pre-release” set early on, but they haven’t needed a battery change since.
Overall, I’ve been pleased with the feel and functionality of Click v2. The buttons are a bit easier to press than the Zwift Play, which is noticeable when you’re a Ride On bomber like myself.
Zwift has packed a lot of functionality into the new Click, and in a format that works on flat and tri bars, not just dropbars like the Zwift Play. While it doesn’t matter to me personally (I’m a roadie), that’s a smart and inclusive move on Zwift’s part for sure.
Even though they’re only being sold with the Zwift Cog at this time, the price point is so low that I’d recommend them to any Zwifter with Bluetooth capabilities in their setup, as they put all the in-game menus and steering at your fingertips, even if you can’t do virtual shifting. They’re handy, reliable, and quite bomb-proof. My bet is they’ll quickly become this season’s most popular hardware add-on for Zwifters.
Buy Zwift Click v2
As already mentioned, Zwift is not currently selling Click v2 as a standalone item. Hopefully that will happen soon.
Until then, Zwift Cog + Click upgrade kits for all Zwift Cog-compatible trainers are available directly from Zwift for £49.99/€49.99/$49.99:
First spotted at Unbound in May, the Specialized Diverge 4 boasts increased tyre clearance, updated geometry, bigger SWAT storage and SRAM’s UDH – and includes the latest Future Shock 3 suspension system.
Tyre clearance across the range has been increased to 50mm, with 7mm clearance on all sides, or room for a 2.2in mountain bike tyre with 4mm of clearance.
The geometry has been tweaked to accommodate these bigger tyres, with a longer wheelbase and lower bottom bracket.
SRAM’s latest Transmission AXS drivetrains feature heavily across the range, thanks to the updated compatibility with SRAM UDH. All the bikes ship with 1x drivetrains, but the frame can still fit a front derailleur.
The Diverge’s USP – Future Shock – has been updated to the latest 3.0 model first seen on the Roubaix SL8. Internal frame storage has also been increased in size and now also features on the E5 aluminium models.
The Specialized Diverge 4 is available from launch online and at Specialized retailers, with prices starting from £1,999.
The Diverge 4 sees an update to the hallmark Future Shock suspension system.
The new Future Shock 3 boasts improved damping.
The adjustable Future Shock 3.3, with its easily accessible dial to tune in the suspension, features on the Pro LTD and Pro models, while the Expert, Comp, Sport and alloy models use Future Shock 3.2. The latter doesn’t offer any adjustability, but comes with three different spring weights that can be fitted to offer some personalisation.
The new SWAT 4.0 storage features on the 9r carbon frame, which Specialized says has a larger, updated door with a simplified, more robust design.
The alloy models use SWAT 3.0 – first seen on the Stumpjumper Alloy mountain bike. Specialized claims the “Diverge is the first and only alloy gravel bike with downtube storage”.
While UDH is another key update across the range, the Diverge 4 is compatible with all major gravel groupsets.
Specialized says: ”Diverge 4 is compatible with all 1x or 2x drivetrains with wide chainlines (47.5mm). For example, Shimano GRX, SRAM XPLR/Transmission with DUB Wide Cranksets, and Campagnolo Ekar all work nicely. The frame features a UDH dropout, and is compatible with all SRAM full-mount rear derailleurs. Diverge 4 is not compatible with cranksets with a standard road chainline (43.5mm).”
The tyre clearance has also been increased to keep the Diverge in line with the trend for wider tyres on gravel bikes. The Diverge is officially rated for a 50mm tyre with 7mm clearance all round, but will also accommodate a 2.2in tyre with 4mm clearance.
Updated geometry
Specialized claims the new Diverge’s updated geometry makes it more capable than its predecessors off-road.
Specialized has slightly tweaked the geometry to “help provide a more stable and confidence inspiring ride on off-road terrain”.
The head tube has been slackened by half a degree to increase the trail and lengthen the wheelbase, and the bottom bracket has been dropped by 5mm to offset the wider tyre capacity while keeping the “feeling of riding ‘in’ the bike, not ‘on’ the bike”.
The chainstays have been lengthened by 5mm to balance the handling with the longer front-centre and boost the tyre clearance, according to Specialized.
The new Diverge 4 is also available in alloy, which, for the first time, includes SWAT frame storage.
The range starts with the E5 Sport alloy model – priced in the UK at £1,999 / $2,099.99 / €2,299 – which utilises the new Shimano Cues U600 11-speed hydraulic groupset. Specialized quotes the weight of this model at 10.74kg in size 56cm.
Moving up to the carbon fibre models, and – perhaps surprisingly – Specialized has used the same Fact 9r carbon across the range. Prices here start at £2,999 for the Sport and top out at £8,499 for the Pro LTD, with a claimed weight of 8.01kg. Specialized’s quoted weight for a painted 9r frameset is 1,150g in a 56cm size.
However, the flagship S-Works line has been cut from the range. Specialized claims “the Pro LTD has already proved itself as our Athletes have been racing it, with great positive feedback from and showing its capabilities of performing well during races”.
There is no frameset-only option at present, either.
Despite being able to fit a front derailleur and 2x crankset, all the Diverge models ship as 1x, with a variety of groupset options from both Shimano and SRAM – with all the SRAM-equipped models utilising the latest AXS XPLR Transmission drivetrains thanks to the new UDH compatibility.
Full global pricing for the eight new Diverge models is as follows:
USD
EUR
GBP
AUD
DIVERGE E5 SPORT
2,099.99
2,299
1,999
DIVERGE E5 COMP
2,699.99
2,799
2,399
3,800
DIVERGE SPORT
3,499.99
3,499
2,999
5,000
DIVERGE COMP
4,199.99
4,499
3,799
6,200
DIVERGE EXPERT AXS
5,999.99
6,299
5,249
8,200
DIVERGE EXPERT Di2
6,499.99
6,499
5,499
DIVERGE PRO
7,999.99
7,999
6,999
11,200
DIVERGE PRO LTD
10,499.99
9,999
8,499
15,900
We’ve had the Diverge 4 Expert AXS in for testing over the last few weeks, so watch out for a full review soon.
Zwift version 1.97 begins its phased rollout today. This is a very minor update, but we’ll share the details nonetheless…
Aero Lightning Socks Visual Effect
If you’re one of the small subset of Zwifters who have already put in the work to unlock the Aero Lightning Socks, this update includes a new aero visual effect. See it here:
This effect appears at 25 km/h (16 mph), and gets stronger the faster you go. We found it to be fun for solo riders, but we aren’t sure how it’ll look if lots of riders have it in a group.
(That may never be an issue, though, as it takes a lot of work to unlock the socks, plus riders actually have to wear the socks in order to get the visual effect.)
Don’t know anything about the Aero Lightning Socks? These are unlocked after completing the extra credit portion of the Factory Tour Challenge, and give you a ~12-second advantage across 1 hour of flat riding in Zwift.
Zwift announced support for heart rate and body temperature from the Sennheiser Momentum Sport earbuds back in update v1.94, but the body temperature data wasn’t actually being recorded to our .fit files. This is now fixed, with the values being recorded to the core_temperature field.
Zwift says, “To get started, in the Pairing screen, open the Heart Rate card and select your Sennheiser MOMENTUM Sport earbuds, then configure the displayed metrics in Zwift Settings under the HUD tab.”
(Watch this space for a review of the Momentum Sport earbuds, which we’ve been using on Zwift for a few weeks now…)
Release Notes
Zwift provided notes on additional tweaks and bug fixes in this update:
Fixed a bug that could potentially cause riders to start in the wrong location on Hilly Route in Watopia.
SRAM is celebrating its 38th anniversary with a limited-edition run of 1,987 individually numbered polished Eagle T-Type AXS groupsets.
Dubbed the 1987 Collection, the limited-edition groupset features a unique combination of T-Type ecosystem components, all in an exclusive polished silver finish.
Aside from the rear derailleur, which is custom for the 1987 collection, it doesn’t appear to function any differently from the regular Eagle Transmission groupset – but it certainly is eye-catching.
The limited-edition groupset will set you back £3,399 / $3,499 / €3,799, if you can get your hands on one.
SRAM is pitching the groupset at riders looking to upgrade their current groupset, or those assembling a once-in-a-lifetime custom-built bike. SRAM
The main selling point of the groupset (aside from its exclusivity) is a polished aluminium colourway, which runs through all the components.
Eschewing the usual stealthy SRAM greys and matt blacks, this groupset will make your bike stand out at the bike park, but all this bling doesn’t come cheap.
The whole groupset retails for just under $3,500, and although it includes some tasty goodies and spares, such as a SRAM four-battery AXS charger, two chainrings and a spare AXS battery, it’s still a serious amount of money.
It’s expensive enough to buy two whole Calibre Bossnut mountain bikes, in fact. But that’s not the point.
SRAM is keen to stress that it is a strictly limited production run: “When they’re gone, they’re gone”.
But what’s different from the standard SRAM Eagle Transmission components you can already buy?
SRAM 1987 Eagle Transmission derailleur
The limited-edition derailleur combines the body of the XX SL with the cage from the XX. SRAM
The 1987 derailleur combines the cage from the SRAM XX derailleur with the lighter-weight body from the XX SL derailleur.
The limited-edition silver colourway makes it stand out and shows other bike nerds that you’re shifting with something special.
SRAM 1987 Eagle Transmission Flattop chain
The 1987 groupset includes a custom Eagle Transmission Flattop 12-speed chain. SRAM
The 1987 Collection T-Type chain is based on the XX Eagle Transmission Flattop chain, featuring hollow links, hollow pins and a Hard Chrome coating. It looks classy and under the cut-outs in the plates (like the XX SL chain).
There is room for subtle detailing carrying the handwriting of SRAM founder, Stan Day, and a unique groupset serial number.
SRAM 1987 AXS Pod Ultimate Controllers
The SRAM AXS Pod Controllers have silver infinity clamps for the 1987 groupset. SRAM
SRAM’s 1987 AXS Pod Ultimate Controllers are functionally the same as the standard ones, with interchangeable touch points and programmability, but they include silver infinity clamps to match the rest of the 1987 groupset.
Spares
The 1987 groupset includes two SRAM threads on chainrings in a silver colourway, plus a tool to fit them to their power meter crank. SRAM
SRAM includes 32t and 34t thread-on chainrings, as well as its Threaded Chainring Removal Tool with the 1987 groupset.
SRAM’s four-battery AXS charger is included with the 1987 groupset. SRAM
There’s also a four-battery USB-C charger included. This can charge up to four AXS batteries in the same time as it would take using four individual AXS chargers.
The four-battery charger operates quicker when charging two or fewer batteries. SRAM also includes two AXS batteries so you can keep a spare charged up, just in case.
Today, Wahoo released new versions of their KICKR CORE and KICKR BIKE. And while the BIKE is essentially an iterative upgrade from the previous generation, the new KICKR CORE 2 features some significant enhancements, making the already compelling trainer muchmore attractive.
We’re still putting the KICKR CORE 2 through its paces here in our test lab, so watch for a review in the next week. For now, let’s look at what’s new with Wahoo’s flagship mid-budget trainer and top-tier smart bike.
The New Wahoo KICKR CORE 2
The original Wahoo KICKR CORE’s longevity and reliability have proved nothing short of startling, especially considering its price point. First released in 2018, the KICKR CORE is the “little brother” to Wahoo’s flagship KICKR trainer, and its hardware has remained unchanged since release.
It did, however, receive significant firmware updates to enable auto-calibration and Zwift virtual shifting, allowing it to become the de facto trainer paired with the Zwift Ride smart frame.
But competition in this price range is strong. Today’s release of the KICKR CORE 2 brings premium features to Wahoo’s mid-budget workhorse, updating it to the standards set by the latest smart trainers.
This is particularly big news in the world of Zwift. The KICKR CORE 2 is the trainer that ships with the Zwift Ride from today onward, making today’s upgrade from Wahoo an upgrade for all future Zwift Ride buyers!
What’s New?
New or upgraded features on the KICKR CORE 2 include:
WiFi connectivity for fast, reliable connections and automatic firmware updates
Race mode for near instantaneous response
Bluetooth bridging of heart rate and other sensors to consolidate connections (great for Apple TV users)
New flat leg design for easier, more stable setups
Improved multicolored LEDs indicate connection and trainer status
Redesigned flywheel lowers product weight while slightly increasing inertial load for better road feel
Reduced setup friction and waste: easier unpacking and assembly
Key Specs
Max Wattage: 1800W
Max Incline: 16%
Max Decline: -10%
Power Accuracy: +/-2%
Connectivity: WiFi, ANT+ FEC, ANT+ Power, Bluetooth FTMS, and Zwift Protocol
Cassette: sold with 11-speed cassette or Zwift Cog
Supported Hubs: 130/135mm QR, 12×142, and 12×148 Thru Axle
Buy the Zwift Ride + New KICKR CORE 2 (Price Drop!)
The KICKR CORE is the only trainer sold as a bundled product with the Zwift Ride smart frame, so today’s upgrade to the CORE 2 means the Zwift Ride bundle gets upgraded as well! Effective today, all Zwift Ride packages sold through Zwift and Wahoo will ship with the new KICKR CORE 2, giving you a top-notch feature set at an unbeatable price.
More good news: the updated Zwift Ride now costs less! Starting today, the complete setup price drops by £100 and €100 in the UK and EU, bringing the cost down to £1099.99 and €1199,99 respectively. In the US (where tariffs are making pricing an adventure), the cost of shipping has been reduced from $110 to $75.
Looking to purchase the full package of a Zwift Ride smart frame with Wahoo’s brand-new KICKR CORE 2? Click below to purchase through Zwift (your purchase through this link helps support Zwift Insider):
Wahoo unveiled the first edition of their KICKR BIKE at Eurobike 2019, and it certainly turned heads with its distinctive look and built-in KICKR CLIMB tilting. Then in 2022, they released the updated KICKR BIKE, making various iterative improvements while also adding WiFi connectivity and a redesigned motor for higher max wattage and quieter operation.
One year later, the KICKR BIKE SHIFT was announced, sporting a similar design and base feature set as the KICKR BIKE but at a lower price point.
Today, Zwift released the next version of KICKR BIKE, named the KICKR BIKE PRO. This replaces the KICKR BIKE Gen 2, and while mostly what you’ll see here are iterative upgrades from the Gen 2 version, that’s what you would expect in the third generation of the industry’s leading smart bike.
What’s New?
New or upgraded features on the KICKR BIKE PRO include:
Handlebars redesigned for increased indoor comfort (now 40cm wide with 16-degree flare and Fi’zi:k Solocush bar tape)
Upgraded saddle (Fi’zi:k Aliante R5)
4-button controllers on top of each hood, mimicking Zwift Play controller capabilities (these also work for navigating other indoor apps, including Wahoo SYSTM, Rouvy, TrainingPeaks Virtual, and MyWhoosh)
Bluetooth bridging of heart rate and other sensors to consolidate connections (great for Apple TV users)
Increased durability thanks to more robust shifter cables and oversized quick-release levers
Key Specs
Max Wattage: 2500W
Max Simulated Incline: 20%
Max Simulated Decline: -15%
Power Accuracy: +/-1%
Connectivity: WiFi, ANT+ FEC, Bluetooth, Direct Connect
Wahoo has announced the Kickr Bike Pro, an upgraded version of its highly rated smart indoor bike.
Built around the same indoor bike frame and resistance unit as the standard Kickr Bike, Wahoo says the Kickr Bike Pro features upgraded shifters alongside “premium” contact points from Fizik.
These include a Fizik Aliante R5 saddle and the Italian brand’s Solocush bar tape wrapped on a new ‘ergonomic handlebar’ that Wahoo says is “ specifically designed for indoor riding”.
The Kickr Bike Pro is available now and priced at £3,499.99 / $3,999 / €3,999.99.
Wahoo’s Kickr Bike Pro shifters feature additional action buttons up top.
With interactive indoor cycling booming in recent years, we’ve seen an increasing number of video-game style ‘controllers’ such as Zwift’s Play and, more recently, Click v2.
Designed around Zwift (indoor cycling’s most popular app), these enable riders to control their avatar and navigate in-app menus without needing to reach for a keyboard and mouse while riding.
With other indoor cycling apps, such as Rouvy, adopting these systems and controllers, Wahoo has added more buttons to the tops of the shifter hoods to expand the Kickr Bike Pro’s capabilities.
Wahoo says it modelled the new shifter buttons to match the functionality of Zwift’s controllers. Simon von Bromley / Our Media
The brand says these are modelled to mimic the functionality of Zwift’s Play and Click v2 controllers, but they can be used with other apps where they are supported.
Wahoo has also added the ability for the Kickr Bike Pro to act as a sensor bridge for other Bluetooth or ANT+ peripherals, such as heart rate monitors.
According to Wahoo, these make the Kickr Bike Pro “the most integrated indoor training solution available”.
Upgraded contact points
Fizik supplies its popular Aliante R5 saddle. Wahoo
While the standard Kickr Bike came with unbranded parts – leaving riders free to spec their own parts, if preferred – Wahoo has partnered with Fizik to improve the quality of the Kickr Bike Pro’s contact points.
The saddle, for example, is the brand’s popular Aliante model. Designed for endurance road cycling, the Aliante features a curved profile and a pressure-relief channel in the middle.
Wahoo’s Kickr Bike Pro handlebar features flared drops. Wahoo The new handlebar features compact drops. Wahoo
Alongside this, Wahoo has specced a new ‘ergonomic’ drop handlebar. It doesn’t note exact changes compared to the bar on the standard Kickr Bike, but it appears to feature a relatively compact drop with a slight flare to the drops.
The brand says it has also refined the quick-release levers used to adjust the bike fit, for a smoother experience setting up the bike.
As before, the Kickr Bike Pro uses industry-standard saddle and stem mounting points, so riders can swap in their own favourites if preferred. Crank length is also selectable in 2.5mm increments from 165 to 175mm.
Wahoo Kickr Bike Pro spec
Wahoo’s Kickr Bike Pro is built around the existing Kickr Bike platform. Wahoo
Beyond the upgraded shifters and contact points, the basic spec of the Kickr Bike Pro is the same as the standard Kickr Bike.
This includes a maximum power output of 2,500 watts, a claimed power accuracy rating of +/- 1 per cent and the ability to simulate gradients from -15 to 20 per cent.
It also features network connectivity via Wi-Fi or Wahoo’s own ‘direct connect’ wired standard, as well as Bluetooth and ANT+ capabilities.
Wahoo Kickr Core 2
Wahoo has also announced the release of the new Kickr Core 2 smart trainer. Simon von Bromley / Our Media
Alongside the Kickr Bike Pro, Wahoo has announced the Kickr Core 2 – a new version of its iconic mid-range smart trainer.
As with the Kickr Bike Pro, the Kickr Core 2 is built around a similar platform to the original Kickr Core, but features upgraded legs and additional connectivity options, including Wi-Fi.
Priced at £499.99 / $549.99 / €549.99, we’ve got a unit in for testing ahead of the coming winter.
If you’ve been following this year’s Vuelta a España, you’ll have likely seen or read about the pro-Palestine demonstrations that have disrupted the race.
From the beginning of this year’s final Grand Tour, demonstrators have lined the roadside waving Palestinian flags, entered the course to halt the race and even engaged in a stand-off with police.
Coverage of the protests has focused overwhelmingly on statements issued by the race organisers, the riders and the Israel–Premier Tech team, which has been the main target of the demonstrations. So we spoke directly with those behind the demonstrations.
“Sportswashing pure and simple”
A protest at the start of stage 15 of La Vuelta in Ribadeo, Spain. Carlos Castro / Getty Images
In April, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement called for protests against the inclusion of Israel–Premier Tech in this year’s Grand Tours. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) is a founding member of the Palestinian-led BDS movement.
Stephanie Adam, a campaigner for PACBI, told BikeRadar via email that Israel–Premier Tech’s presence at La Vuelta is “sportswashing pure and simple”. Sportswashing is typically described as a way to improve the reputation of a government or state, and it has become commonplace in cycling.
She believes the team “was explicitly created to whitewash and distract from Israel’s grave crimes against Palestinians”, adding that it refers to itself as an “ambassador” for Israel.
“The team’s backer and co-founder, billionaire Canadian-Israeli Sylvan Adams, refers to himself as an ambassador-at-large for Israel,” she explains, highlighting how Adams has said that riders understand that being on the team means being an ambassador for the country.
Recently, former Israel–Premier Tech riders Jakob Fuglsang and Alessandro De Marchi have expressed relief at no longer riding for the team.
Israel-Premier Tech’s co-owner Sylvan Adams in 2022. Bo Amstrup / Getty Images
Adam says: “Israel is committing what the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled is plausibly genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, killing tens of thousands. Israel’s livestreamed engineered mass famine is starving Palestinians to death. It has also decimated Palestinian homes, hospitals, schools, universities, and sports facilities.”
Israel’s war on Gaza was launched in response to the Hamas attacks of October 7 2023, where more than 1,000 Israelis were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage.
Adam contextualises Israel’s ensuing war on Gaza by saying: “This is only Israel’s latest, devastating attack on Palestinian life. As Amnesty International and others have documented, Israel has been imposing an apartheid regime on the entire Palestinian people, including refugees, for 77 years.”
She says Palestinians and the PACBI’s progressive allies “will not stand by” as any sportwashing of Israel takes place. “How could we? Our most urgent task at hand is stopping the genocide. There can be no sports as usual,” she says.
“Grassroots power at its finest”
Pro-Palestinian protesters at the finish line of La Vuelta’s stage 11, which was shortened. Tim de Waele / Getty Images
Lidón Soriano has been one of the organisers of the protests at La Vuelta. In July, she was involved in launching BDS Deportivo, a platform for the boycott of Israel in sport through the BDS Movement and RESCOP, the Spanish network against the occupation of Palestine.
She says the platform’s main objective is to expel Israel from La Vuelta and all sporting competitions.
“We’ve achieved coordination throughout all stages, and it’s been wonderful to be able to create that common thread in terms of message, action, and objective,” she tells BikeRadar by email.
“From the first stage in Figueres to the current one in Asturias, we’ve been in contact with all the local groups, and all have carried out peaceful, nonviolent actions.
“Personally, the experience was impressive: grassroots power at its finest and a collective demand for justice for Palestine.”
While there have been protests at other races, none have been as large as those at La Vuelta, which even led to stage 11 being shortened due to the number of demonstrators at the finish line in Bilbao.
Soriano says she thinks there are two reasons for this. “On the one hand, the Spanish population is probably the most sensitive and supportive of Palestine of all European countries. On the other hand, the Spanish government is less repressive toward demonstrations of support for Palestine,” she says.
It is not only the Spanish population that is supportive of Palestine, but parts of the government too. Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, was the first senior European leader to accuse Israel of genocide.
The government also recently announced that it will move forward with a law that, if passed, would directly impose a military embargo against Israel. And, last week, the country’s minister of foreign affairs, European Union and cooperation of Spain, José Manuel Albares, even said he supports Israel–Premier Tech leaving La Vuelta.
UCI hypocrisy
Cyclists pass Palestine flags at La Vuelta a España. Tim de Waele / Getty Images
Albares is one of many to have called for Israel–Premier Tech to leave Spain’s Grand Tour, but the decision on whether or not they can race ultimately lies with cycling’s governing body, the UCI.
Last week, the UCI released a statement saying it “firmly condemns” the protests at La Vuelta, stressing its political neutrality. But for Adam, there is hypocrisy in the UCI’s actions.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UCI banned Russian teams from participating in competitions, but no similar ban was placed on Israel after it began its most recent attack on Gaza following October 7.
Adam says this signals to Israel that “its genocide… can continue with no consequences, with total impunity”.
Pro riders’ reactions
Jonas Vingegaard claimed the race was the “wrong place” for people to protest, but later said people were doing it for a reason. Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
Pro riders have been at the sharp end of the protests at La Vuelta. Several have crashed following protesters entering the course of the race. Some riders have acknowledged the right to peaceful protests, but expressed concerns over safety.
Following the curtailment of stage 11, Tom Pidcock said the demonstrators’ actions were “not going to help what they’re protesting for”. Race leader Jonas Vingegaard said La Vuelta is the “wrong place” for people to protest.
This week, the Dane expressed understanding for what’s behind the protests: “People are doing it for a reason, it’s horrible what’s happening,” he said after stage 15, but added that it was a “shame” the race was being targeted.
In response to their comments, Soriano is appealing to riders. “I would like to ask them what they would like the world to do if their children, wives, or mothers were being murdered,” she says.
Adam adds: “Palestinians and our progressive allies would like nothing more than for there to be no need to protest against Israel’s genocide, its apartheid rule, or its military occupation. But that is not the world we live in.”
What happens next?
Israel–Premier Tech removed its name from the team jersey at La Vuelta. Miguel Riopa / Getty Images
Israel–Premier Tech has said it’s firmly committed to racing at La Vuelta. The team has also removed its name from its kit, citing safety concerns, and Sylvan Adams has said withdrawing from the race would amount to “surrender to the terrorists”.
Meanwhile, Adam and Soriano say protests will continue through the final week of La Vuelta.
Soriano says BDS Deportivo demands the expulsion of Israel from all sporting events, and will “continue coordinating the actions that the different groups are preparing in their respective cities until governments and sports organisations fulfill their legal obligation to do everything possible to end the occupation, apartheid, and genocide in Palestine.”
Adam says protests will continue at La Vuelta, and until Israel–Premier Tech is excluded from UCI races and events.
“Riders and teams are reportedly starting to call for UCI to do just that,” she says. “We encourage them to make their collective voice heard, to uphold sporting values and push UCI to stop tarnishing the sport.”
Garmin says the new Edge 550 and Edge 850 are its “brightest and smartest” compact bike computers yet.
Launched today, the Edge 550 (£379.99) and Edge 850 (£469.99) have a new bright and colourful 2.7in display, which is a small increase of 0.1in compared to the previous Edge 540 and Edge 840.
Garmin says the two bike computers are also highly responsive, fast and they come with a whole host of advanced training features, including free training plans.
This extra performance also comes with a boosted battery life, which has increased from 26 hours on the Edge 540 and 840 to 36 hours.
The new Edge bike computers come with advanced training features. Garmin
One of the biggest draws of the new Edge 550 and 850 computers is the free Cycling Coach plans, which come alongside a host of other training features.
Accessible via the Garmin Connect app, these plans are said to “adapt based on specific course demands and the rider’s training and recovery, providing recommended training adjustments.”
You can also use the Edge 550 and 850 to see your cycling ability. Garmin says this can help you understand your strengths and weaknesses as a cyclist, and it tracks your progress over time.
Elsewhere, the smart fueling alerts prompt you to hydrate and refuel during your ride based on your current fitness, the course you’re riding, heat and humidity.
When paired with a smartphone and the Connect cycling app, you can use the computers to access Garmin’s new GroupRide data comparisons. This feature shows how your speed, heart rate, power output, cadence and more stack up against your fellow riders.
If you ride with electronic gears, after your ride you can use the computers to check how much time was spent in each gear with Garmin’s new Gear Ratio Analysis.
One particularly useful feature on the Edge 550 and 850, that doesn’t require an app or high-tech equipment, is real-time weather updates, including wind direction.
The computers also support Garmin’s enduro and downhill profiles, which launched with the recently announced Edge MTB computer. These enable 5Hz GPS recording while descending to help you see the lines you took in greater detail.
The timing gates feature will also be of use if you ride off-road. This enables you to see splits in real time for each lap or run of your ride.
So what’s the difference between the Edge 550 and 850?
The Edge 850 comes with Garmin Pay for contactless payments. Garmin
While the new Garmin Edge 550 and Edge 850 share the same bright screen and training features, the Edge 850 has several extra features, which contributes to its higher price and brings it more in line with Garmin’s flagship Edge 1050 bike computer.
One of the big draws of the Edge 850 over the 550 is the responsive touchscreen. As with the Edge 1050, the Edge 850’s touchscreen means you can pan or zoom on the map, swipe between data screens and even report road hazards.
The Edge 850 also has a built-in speaker like the Edge 1050, which provides you with a digital bike bell, audible turn-by-turn navigation, workout prompts and more.
As with Garmin’s smartwatches, the Edge 850 supports contactless payments. But this feature is only supported by certain countries, payment networks and banks, which you can check on Garmin’s website.
Another difference between the new Garmin Edge bike computers is the Edge 850 has a route creator, so you can plot out point-by-point courses directly on the device via the touchscreen.
Safety features
The computers come with Garmin’s core safety features to help “support cyclists’ peace of mind and awareness”. Garmin
The Edge 550 and 850 also include Garmin’s core safety features, which are said to help “support cyclists’ peace of mind and awareness”.
Both computers will alert you to road hazards reported by other Garmin users, and enable you to contribute any hazards you spot.
Your family and friends can use Garmin’s LiveTrack feature to see your location in real time.
If an incident is detected, the computers will send a message with your location to your emergency contact.
The computers are also compatible with Garmin’s Varia radar bike lights to audibly alert you to when a vehicle is approaching and capture footage from your ride.
New Garmin Rally pedals
Garmin has also launched its new Rally power meter pedals. Garmin
