{"id":357395,"date":"2026-01-07T17:20:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T17:20:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/357395\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T17:20:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T17:20:11","slug":"you-can-break-my-nose-but-not-my-heart-its-all-cyclo-cross-carnage-and-tiramisu-training-rides-in-this-week-on-cycling-social-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/357395\/","title":{"rendered":"‘You can break my nose… but not my heart’ \u2013 It’s all cyclo-cross carnage and tiramisu training rides in this week on cycling social media"},"content":{"rendered":"

A lot can happen in 24 hours. Even more can happen in two weeks of Christmas break: tiramisu-fuelled group rides and rare sightings of mid-winter Visma-Lease a Bike<\/a> training sessions \u2013 the festive period continues to deliver.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the final few weeks of the cyclo-cross season<\/a>. On Sunday, the British National Cyclo-Cross Championships will pit overall lead Ffion Drake<\/a> against reigning champion Xan Crees<\/a>, and see Thomas Mein<\/a> face down Cameron Mason<\/a>. On the continent, the drama continued, with a snowstorm show-down between Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert <\/a>during Exact Cross at Mol <\/a>and a sand pit take victims at the World Cup.<\/p>\n

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As we continue to sift through the last of the slush-turned-snow here in the UK<\/a>, we’ve sought refuge in cycling’s weird and wonderful corner of the internet – here are our favourite spots.<\/p>\n

You may like<\/p>\n

1. What is it in our psychology that makes us love watching other people fall off their bikes? Schadenfreude? The satisfaction of a short story resolved (cycle, fall, get back on bike)? We ended the year with a cyclo-cross rider flipping over the barriers and into the canal, and we\u2019re entering 2026 with another. <\/p>\n

2. Puck Pieterse<\/a> goes OTB on the first lap in Zonhoven at the Cyclo-cross World Cup: \u2018It was quite funny, I had to laugh!\u2019 she told TNT Sports after.<\/p>\n

3. Lucinda Brand<\/a> too has a complicated relationship with Zonhoven\u2019s tricky course. \u2018You can break my nose\u2026 but not my heart,\u2019 the 2021 Cyclo-cross world champion joked post-race. <\/p>\n

4. The song of the summer? XDS Astana<\/a> celebrate their 20th professional season with an original song, rapped and played by the team in full kit. Enjoy.<\/p>\n

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n

XDS Astana Team New Song – YouTube
\n\"XDS<\/p>\n

Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n

5. Elinor Barker <\/a>completes a casual 16 kilometre ride the day her second baby, Dylan, was due to be delivered. \u201cI\u2019m very excited to be back racing with @unoxteam once I\u2019ve recovered,\u201d Barker wrote in an Instagram post after giving birth. \u201cI found the postpartum return<\/a> to be one of the most motivating periods of my career the first time around and I\u2019m both thrilled and daunted by the prospect of getting to start again from the bottom. Aiming for a return to racing around August.\u201d<\/p>\n

6. Mark Cavendish<\/a> wasn\u2019t waiting for the British sun to roll around, and headed to Hong Kong to experience the myriad delights orchestrated by its tourist board.<\/p>\n

7. Geraint Thomas<\/a> has taken a different route post-retirement, and headed to Alpe d\u2019Huez <\/a>not by bike, but by ski. “Isn\u2019t it better to go up hills on a lift?” One commenter asked.<\/p>\n

You may like<\/p>\n

8. It\u2019s a big week for Ineos Grenadiers<\/a>. After revealing their new kit<\/a> to mixed response before Christmas, they\u2019ve launched into the new year with freshly confirmed riders for the upcoming season. Here is the team’s French trio: Kevin Vauquelin<\/a>, Dorian Godon<\/a> and Axel Laurance<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ineos <\/a><\/p>\n

A photo posted by on <\/p>\n

9. The kit in question, described by Cycling Weekly\u2019s News Editor as \u201cpretty terrible<\/a>.\u201d While Adam confesses he’s no fashion expert, 62% of our readers agree with him – sorry, Ineos.<\/p>\n

Ineos<\/a><\/p>\n

A photo posted by on <\/p>\n

10. As kit launches feed Cycling Weekly with valuable content fodder, St. Michel\u2013Preference Home\u2013Auber93 take the long view on the design of the team\u2019s new Canada kit. The maple leaf at its heart calls back to the kit of Ethel Catherwood, the first Canadian woman to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games – with the team\u2019s own funky twist. “This jersey represents the amazing female athletes that come from Canada.”<\/p>\n

11. Perfectly manicured fingernails fan around Lotte Kopecky<\/a> as she prepares for the upcoming 2026 season. “Together, Team SD Worx-Protime<\/a> ride for victory.” I’m a bit spooked.<\/p>\n

12. A rare sighting of Visma-Lease a Bike <\/a>training through a city \u2013 or was that the Christmas booze playing tricks on us again? “Go, go, go, go!”<\/p>\n

Visma<\/a><\/p>\n

A photo posted by on <\/p>\n

13. An educational interlude from *real life* Visma-Lease a Bike. <\/a><\/p>\n

Visma<\/a><\/p>\n

A photo posted by on <\/p>\n

14. It wouldn\u2019t be a social media round-up without Jonas Abrahamsen <\/a>making an appearance. The Norwegian rider takes a coffee break <\/a>during an indoor training session<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jonas<\/a><\/p>\n

A photo posted by on <\/p>\n

15. Here\u2019s hoping that Abrahamsen\u2019s next coffee break turns into a homemade tiramisu bottle stop instead? Delicious\u2026?<\/p>\n

Explore More<\/p>\n


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