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With the running of GP La Marseilles yesterday, it is time for the annual post on that bedrock of French cycling. Ah oui mesdames et messieurs, je vous présente La Coupe de France 2017.

Usually the phrase 'season long narrative' makes me very cross, especially when it is being shoe-horned into somewhere where it makes no sense whatsoever. However, this is not the case for the...

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As part of the UCI Europe Tour & Coppa Italia, there are a number of Italian (yeah, Lugano is in Switzerland, Lukas, I know ) races to come over the coming months, so I guess it makes sense to bundle them together in one thread again:

[csv=,]DATE   ,      ,   NAME
05.02.   ,   1.1   ,   G.P. Costa degli Etruschi
12.02.   ,   1.HC   ,   Trofeo Laigueglia
26.02.   ,   1.HC   ,   Gran Premio Città di Lugano
05.03.   ,   1.1   ,   GP Industria & Artigianato
23.03. - 26.03.   ,   2.1   ,   Settimana Int...

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The route

Running from Saturday July 2nd to Sunday July 24th 2016, the 103th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,519 kilometres.

9 flat st...

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It's that time of the year again. The new national champions have been crowned in races across Europe, new jerseys have been designed, sponsor logos - with the exception of FDJ - have been squeezed between bands of various flags. And now we settle in for a summer watching the second greatest race in the world.

As per our tradition here, we are asking you - our esteemed and learnèd members and friends - to help us out by previewing one (or more) stages of the race. There is no set form...

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The UCI's system of dates for announcing rider contracts and team licences has remained resolute over the last few years in the face of it being totally ignored by almost everybody. In fact, the "silly season" of rumours, half-confirmations and CyclingNews "exclusives" seems to start earlier every year.

And this year it seems to be somehow sillier, as well!

Big name rider retirements freeing up budgets, Uncle Oleg putting us out of our misery and himself out to pasture, rum...