Equipe Mont Ventoux
June 4, 2018
Je bent niet gek om de Ventoux op te rijden, maar het is gekkenwerk om het opnieuw te doen.
Een gebruikelijk Provencaals gezegde, want de Ventoux kent vele gezichten! In een décor van grind en gruis, met hier en daar een paar verdwaalde struiken, heeft de wind vrij spel. Verraderlijk ook, want een stralend blauwe lucht kan plots omslaan in een helse onweersbui.
Confessions of a cyclist
April 19, 2018
Since 1982 it is possible for cycling enthusiasts to ride the tour version of Liege Bastogne Liege. Based on the route of the oldest cycling classic, this 235 kilometer tour offers a unique opportunity to defy the Belgian hills. With the famous col de la Redoute as a real challenge!
One of the pioneers of this ride is John Pool In 1983, he and his three older brothers hired a van and took off, filled with anticipation.
Our Collabs
April 19, 2018
Le Patron is proud partner of the new international UCI competition 1.2! The Holland Cup is an international competition of 6 races where continental and pro continental teams appear at the start.
The organization wants to organize a strong field of participants where young talents (patrons) can present themselves and show their skills.
Then and now
April 19, 2018
This Sunday, the 104th edition of Liege Bastogne Liege starts. Who will be the 105th winner? No, this is not a typo. In 1957 two winners were declared! The reason for this is still valid today. It all has to do with closed railway crossings. The ‘Scheldeprijs’ is fresh in our minds: 30 riders were taken out of the race after ignoring the stop sign.
The clogged message for 2018 from Le Patron
January 10, 2018
A new year with new good intentions. Are you still searching for one?
Choose one that strikes several birds with one stone! Le Patron has hidden this message in all her casual cycling shirts.
We will lift a corner of the veil! If you maintain this good intention, these are some of the benefits:
*It is good for your health. Not only for your condition, but also for less stress.
Our tribute to Tuscany
July 26, 2017
Fiorenzo Magni, rival of Coppi and Bartali, grew up in the Tuscan hills. His Mediterranean temper and courage provoked our curiosity to visit his birthplace.
Cycling in Tuscany means putting yourself to the test on the hills and slopes where many cycling legends trained. Especially on the Monte Serra. New insights and training methods have their roots on this climb. Before we dare to enter this outdoor version of a lab, we get a lecture by one of the founders of the high cadence and increased RPM: Cecchini.
Read more…
The magic of the casual cycling shirt
July 12, 2017
It’s probably the most frequently washed piece of clothing in your wardrobe: your Sunday morning cycling shirt.
Preferably, the shirt has a zipper with an open end, so you can change it easily into a jacket. It reminds you of climbing the mountains while suffering in the burning sun. And then there’s that convenient zippered back-pocket. Perfect for keeping your phone when you’ve activated Strava. It prevents your phone from falling out when you’re grabbing a banana from the other back-pocket.
The butterfly of Maastricht
May 26, 2017
No legendary flight to the top for the Maglia Rosa this year, but another spectacular story added to the Cima Coppi! Tom Dumoulin showed us a legendary descent to the finish and kept his pink dream alive. He certainly showed the same adhesion like his ancestors!
Will he bring the pink jersey to the 100th finishline? Be prepared with our Cento Giro-shirt!
A hell of a ride!
May 23, 2017
Today is dedicated to the Cima Coppi, a prize for the first rider to cross the highest point of the Giro. To get the award, the winner will have to climbe and descent the famous Passo di Stelvio. Exciting, because there is still a chance of bad weather on this mountain! Like that day in 1965, when they introduced the Cima Coppi. It was snowing heavingly and it was too dangerous for the riders to go downhill on the slippery road.
But Graziano Battistini defied the snow and was on his way to win the race. Just three hundred metres before the finish, it was impossible to ride his bike. There was too much snow on the road. He didn’t hesitate, got of his bike and crossed the finishline by foot. The rest is history…
Another tribute to Il Campionissimo
May 19, 2017
Today’s giro stage will finish in Tortona, the place where Fausto Coppi died in 1960 at the age of only 40.
His close relatives could hardly believe the fact he died. Like his loyal friend and soigneur Biagio Cavanna. Never again would he feel the power of Fausto’s mighty quadriceps in his hands. The fact that Biago was blind pushed the myth of Fausto’s legs to an even greater height!
Featuring the Olympic Stadium
April 11, 2017
Back in the twenties, at the then-edge of Amsterdam a iconic building arose from the fields. Dutch architect Jan Wils designed a recognisable stadium in the style of the Amsterdam School. The use of red brick, the typical forms and the steel framing for windows and doors are stand-out characteristics of this architectural style. The current Olympic Stadium was the main stadium for the 1928 Olympic Games.
In 1954 Amsterdam hosted another big sporting event, the first foreign Grand Depart ever. Days before de start the city is already in a good vibe. The clean new white trucks and other team cars are dominating the streets. Also the Mediterranean atmosphere brought by the many followers of the peloton creates a lot of excitement in the then gritty Amsterdam.The eight of July The Peloton departs from the olympic stadium in Amsterdam to arrive in Paris 3 weeks and 4656 km later.