A Guide To Smooth Riding Through The Winters

Canyon-SRAM rider Ricarda Bauernfeind went solo with just under 36km to go and never looked back to win today’s Tour de France Femmes stage.

Bauernfeind attacked on the Côte de Laguépie with Brit Claire Steels (Israel-Premier Tech-Roland) but soon distanced the British rider and took off solo.

With co-operation in short supply in the reduced bunch behind she built a gap of 1-30 by 22km to go. Ace time trialist Marlen Reusser spent significant periods on the front of the bunch for her SD Worx team trying to create an opportunity for her team leader and yellow jersey holder Lotte Kopecky, but the gap remained stubborn and only reduced to 35 seconds.

A wide, elasticated back panel offers a fantastic fit, even if you have a much narrower waist than hips, and the shorts are cut high around the back, to keep you covered in the riding position.

Maria Victory

The legs are tapered and have hems shaped to accommodate knee pads and a long 15-inch inseam. Instead of poppers, the shorts fasten with a short zip and sliding clasp, which is very secure.

62mm-deep DT Swiss wheels

• Frameset: Dare VSRu aero road (size 56cm)
• Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 (54/40t crankset, 11-34t cassette), CeramicSpeed UFO waxed chain
• Power meter: Shimano Dura-Ace FC-R9200-P
• Wheelset: DT Swiss ARC 1100 Dicut 62 disc brake
• Cycling computer: Garmin Edge 530/540
• Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One TLE 25c (measured width 27.7mm)
• Bar/stem: Dare AeroV1, 38cm handlebar width, 12cm stem length

The Lite version of the popular SingleTrack II shorts features a familiar tailored fit and length with a ‘barely there’ feel, being lightweight and breathable without compromising durability. A zippered fly with a popper closure gives the shorts a clean look and elasticated Velcro adjuster tabs enable you to fine-tune the fit around the waist.

There are three well-sized zippered pockets – two on the front and one on the rear. The high elastane content ensures stretch in all directions for an excellent fit, which can be altered via the adjuster tabs on the waistband.

As Bauernfeind crossed the line in Albi she clapped her hand over her mouth in disbelief.

The Tour stage win is easily the biggest of her career. A talented climber, she notched up third at the Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées last year and took the young rider jersey in the process. She has also held the U23 German road race and time trial titles.

She join’s yesterday’s stage winner Dutchwoman Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) in claiming her first WorldTour win at this Tour. Kastelijn was also solo in her win into Rodez.