Sophie Smith

Latest articles by Sophie Smith

Ben Swift in action in Australia
Ben Swift puts his hand up for Tour de France selection

By Sophie Smith Published

News The Ineos Grenadiers road captain hinted 2025 may be his swansong season but is thriving on team’s changed approach to Grand Tour racing

News
Welsford in action at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race alongside his Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe teammates
'Better than he was last year' – Sam Welsford sets the standard as sprinters look to UAE Tour

By Sophie Smith Published

News The Australian won gold in the velodrome at the Olympics last year but is keen to further cement his name on the road in 2025

News
Picture by Zac Williams/SWpix.com - 25/01/2025 - Cycling - 2025 Santos Tour Down Under, Stage 5 Mclaren Vale to Willunga Hill, Adelaide, Australia - Geraint THomas, Ineos Grenadiers.
‘I don’t want a year of fizzling out’ – Geraint Thomas aims to be competitive in season of lasts

By Sophie Smith Published

News Ineos Grenadiers veteran suffered from illness during a five-week block of training and racing in Australia but will now return to the 'bunker'

News
Baker on the podium of the 2025 Schwalbe Women's One Day Classic after finishing second
'A big head-knock' - Georgia Baker recalls long battle with concussion

By Sophie Smith Published

News Australian’s form belies what she endured following a season-ending crash last year

News
GEELONG AUSTRALIA FEBRUARY 01 Amanda Spratt of Australia and Team Lidl Trek crosses the finish line during the 9th Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race 2025 Womens Elite a 1418km one day race from Geelong to Geelong UCIWWT on February 01 2025 in Geelong Australia Photo by Dario BelingheriGetty Images
'My attack was the speed of the lead-out' –Two-pronged Lidl-Trek effort falls short at Women's Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

By Sophie Smith Published

News Amanda Spratt and Niamh Fisher-Black were at the pointy end but could not match the speed of the small group sprint rivals

News
WILLUNGA HILL AUSTRALIA JANUARY 18 Maeve Plouffe of Australia and ARA Australian Cycling Team competes in the breakaway during the 9th Santos Womens Tour Down Under 2025 Stage 2 a 115km stage from Unley to Willunga Hill 370m on January 18 2025 in Willunga Hill Australia Photo by Dario BelingheriGetty Images
Maeve Plouffe lands new team after off-season 'scramble'

By Sophie Smith Published

News The glow of the Paris Games didn’t last long for the Aussie Olympian

News
ALTSASU, SPAIN - APRIL 03: Jai Hindley of Australia and Primoz Roglic of Slovenia and Team BORA - hansgrohe - Yellow Leader Jersey compete during the 63rd Itzulia Basque Country 2024, Stage 3 a 190.9km stage from Ezpeleta to Altsasu 526m / #UCIWT / on April 03, 2024 in Altsasu, Spain. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
'The goal is to win the Tour de France' - Jai Hindley and new role with Primoz Roglic

By Sophie Smith Published

Sponsored

Team sports director says Hindley is 'a champion in cycling', 'sometimes too nice' and talks about a different kind of season with a different kind of leader

In-depth
Australian Road National Championships men's road race at Buninyong in 2024
Opinions split on location change to Australian Road Championships

By Sophie Smith Published

News Event moving to Perth in 2025 following two decades on fixed course in Buninyong could 'throw a cat amongst the pigeons'

News
Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step)
‘I don’t know where I will be next year’ - Julian Alaphilippe rides back into red zone via the Tour Down Under

By Sophie Smith Published

Soudal-Quick Step leader goes back to basics to return to his best and discover his future

Teams & Riders
Sam Welsford, Stephen Williams, and Isaac Del Toro played starring roles at the 2024 Tour Down Under
Seven conclusions from the Tour Down Under - From unexpected winners to chasing time on Willunga Hill

By Simone Giuliani Published

Analysis An Israel-Premier Tech triumph, a wild WorldTour debut and sprinting momentum for Sam Welsford

Analysis
Elia Viviani (Ineos Grenadiers) during the 2024 Down Under Classic
Elia Viviani vying for Giro d'Italia selection and track Olympic glory in 2024

By Sophie Smith Published

News Italian fears Ineos trade teammate could be biggest obstacle to track gold

News
Tour Down Under 2024 winner Stephen Williams with his Israel-Premier Tech teammates
‘He’s a bloody champion’ - Confidence key to Williams’ Tour Down Under triumph

By Sophie Smith Published

News Israel-Premier Tech puncheur won stage six to secure the overall race win and is now focusing on the Ardennes Classics

News
Battling to the line on the top of Willuanga Hill at the 2024 Tour Down Under
Battle of the Brits: Just one final showdown remains in tight Tour Down Under shakeout

By Simone Giuliani Published

Analysis Australian race always expected to be tight but two riders enter final stage with no gap and line in close proximity

Analysis
Jayco-Alula work to tee up Simon Yates en route to Willunga Hill.
‘We can’t make other teams race’ – Jayco-Alula come up short on Willunga

By Sophie Smith Published

News Simon Yates unable to shake off rivals with a late attack on the penultimate stage of the Tour Down Under

News
WILLUNGA AUSTRALIA JANUARY 20 Stephen Williams of United Kingdom and Team Israel Premier Tech celebrates at podium as Orange Santos Leaders Jersey winner during the 24th Santos Tour Down Under 2024 Stage 5 a 1293km stage from Christies Beach to Willunga Hill 372m on January 20 2024 in Willunga Hill Australia Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
‘Willunga always won in last 800m’ - Patience pays off for Israel-Premier Tech at Tour Down Under

By Sophie Smith Published

News Stephen Williams leads after penultimate stage, sports director Sam Bewley confident squad can finish the job at Mount Lofty

News
ADELAIDE AUSTRALIA JANUARY 13 George Bennett of New Zealand and Team Israel Premier Tech competes during the 17th Down Under Classic 2024 Mens Elite a 135km 1 hour 1 lapkm one day race from Adelaide to Adelaide on January 13 2024 in Adelaide Australia Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
George Bennett finds 'selfish gene again' as GC leader with Israel-Premier Tech

By Sophie Smith Published

Features Kiwi climber relaxed at Tour Down Under with freedom to go for Grand Tour stage wins in 2024

Features
2024 Tour Down Under: Cameron Scott was one of the fallers in a crash on stage 3
‘If in doubt, sit them out’: Bahrain Victorious tackles concussion issue head-on

By Sophie Smith Published

Analysis Cameron Scott withdrawal from Tour Down Under blow for Australian but marks progress in sport's approach to head-knocks

Analysis
Sam Welsford is congratulated by his Bora-Hansgrohe teammates after scoring his third win in four days at the Tour Down Under
‘You can’t deny it’: Sam Welsford proves he is fastest sprinter at Tour Down Under

By Sophie Smith Published

News Days into a new contract and new campaign the Australian has already won almost as many times as he did in all of 2023

News
Sam Welsford and his Bora-Hansgrohe lead out celebrate a second sprint win
‘You can turn your brain off, they’ll do the whole thing for you’: Welsford praises Bora-Hansgrohe Tour Down Under leadout

By Sophie Smith Published

News The fight for Welsford’s wheel on stage 3 was more intense than the sprint to the line

News
TANUNDA AUSTRALIA JANUARY 16 Caleb Ewan of Australia and Team Jayco AlUla competes during the 24th Santos Tour Down Under 2024 Stage 1 a 144km stage from Tanunda to Tanunda UCIWT on January 16 2024 in Tanunda Australia Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
Caleb Ewan feeling the pressure ahead of final Tour Down Under sprint

By Sophie Smith Published

News Australian lost teammate Luke Plapp to a crash and has a final chance to win a sprint in Port Elliot on Friday

News
Biniam Girmay
Girmay stalled by Alaphilippe clash in chaotic Tour Down Under finale

By Sophie Smith Published

News Eritrean takes fourth on stage to move into points jersey

News
Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) is the new GC leader after stage 2
‘Pogacar-esque’: Isaac Del Toro shows he could be cycling’s next big thing

By Sophie Smith Published

News The Mexican neo-pro was compared to teammate Tadej Pogacar after winning stage two of the Tour Down Under

News
Bauhaus watches on as Welsford pips him to the line on Stage 1
‘I was the best from the rest’ - Bauhaus makes most of unlucky situation

By Sophie Smith Published

News German sprinter takes second at Tour Down Under opener, relying on Jack Haig to help lead him out after his team took multiple hits

News
Sam Welsford (Bora-Hansgrohe) is congratulated by his new teammates on his victory on stage 1 of the Tour Down Under
‘The new Sam, he’s a powerhouse’: Van Poppel compares Welsford to Kittel, Greipel

By Sophie Smith Published

News Bora-Hansgrohe says goodbye to Sam Bennett welcomes Sam Welsford at Tour Down Under with winning start

News
TANUNDA AUSTRALIA JANUARY 16 Caleb Ewan of Australia and Team Jayco AlUla competes during the 24th Santos Tour Down Under 2024 Stage 1 a 144km stage from Tanunda to Tanunda UCIWT on January 16 2024 in Tanunda Australia Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
'I was on my limit’ - Recovering Ewan runs out of steam on Tour Down Under stage 1

By Sophie Smith Published

News Sprinter sick in the run-up to home race, where he is he working with his new Jayco-AlUla lead-out train for first time

News
1 2 3 4 Archives