Tour de France by Magnum photographers with comments by Joergen Leth

Posted on 1 March 2010 by Alex Murray

Magnum is the most incredible agency in the history of photography. Its history is without compare. Imagine Bartali, Coppi, Bobet, Koblet and Kubler, starting their own team and then you’ve got an idea of the impact of its creation by Cartier-Bresson, Capa, Rodger and Seymour.

I’m not sure where I clicked on to stumble upon this beautiful photo essay containing pictures by Capa, Cartier-Bresson and others. It is a stunning piece, notable as well for the Joergen Leth commentary.

What Magnum reflect well is the role of the spectators in the event and how the story of the race can be traced through narratives which aren’t purely about the competition.

I’m always interested to see Auvergne feature in essays about Le Tour as it’s frequently overlooked in favour of the Alps or Pyrenees. The couple of images by Raymond Depardon capture so well the toughness of the terrain and it’s distinct beauty.

Having spent some time there in the past and climbed the Puy-de-Dome, I’d recomend anyone who can take a ride through the area, the home turf of Raphael Geminiani.

Leth’s commentary invokes the unpredicatability of events and the constant state of expectation that the race demands of the fans.

Sit back and enjoy.

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Cyclocosm’s A Classic Rivalry

Posted on 24 February 2010 by Alex Murray

A Classic Rivalry, originally uploaded by cosmocatalano.

A brilliant visualisation of the history of the Belgian rivalry between Quickstep and Lotto that dominates the spring races from cyclocosm, one of the most consistently interesting cycling blogs around.

You can read the full explanation of how it came to be on Cyclocosm which is a must-add for your reading list/feeds

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London League 2009/10, round 15: Team Championships

Posted on 17 February 2010 by Alex Murray

Great video of the race, see if you can spot me. Blink and you’ll miss me. In fact it’s probably not worth the effort trying not to blink.

Enjoy instead how much fun cyclocross is. Despite suffering like a beaten dog in every race, attacking the furthest depths of the finishing order and generally not being very good, every race has been fun.

teamx79

My back flared up again this week and I had to take my usual mid-race pause until the pain subsided and my lungs started working again. It cost me a good few places and I must stop putting off seeing a specialist about it.

But I really enjoyed what was one of the toughest courses of the year. It had everything: fast twisty woodland, strength-sapping uphills, nerve-jangling descents and DEEP MUD.

Not quite as insane and testing as Hog Hill was but definitely more tricksy than the brake-abusing Penshurst filthfest.

There were a couple of heavy crashes on the descent which were apparently quite nasty and resulted in the air ambulance being called out. Hope it’s a speedy recovery for the injured parties.

The organisers were great in dealing with it all and making sure they got the assistance they needed.

It’s been a great season and once again, it’s a testament to the efforts of the countless organisers that it happens and so many people take part. Thank you all deeply.

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