Stephen Puddicombe

Stephen Puddicombe is a freelance writer based in Bristol. He has written for Cyclingnews since 2020, and has covered cycling professionally as a freelancer since 2013, writing for outlets such as Rouleur, Cycling Weekly and Cycle Sport, among other publications. He is the author of The World of the Tour de France, published by Sona Books. Outside of cycling he is a passionate cinephile, and a long-suffering Spurs fan.

Latest articles by Stephen Puddicombe

LIEGE BELGIUM APRIL 27 Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates celebrates at finish line as race winner during the 111st Liege Bastogne Liege 2025 a 252km one day race from Liege to Liege UCIWT on April 27 2025 in Liege Belgium Photo by Dario BelingheriGetty Images
As it happened: solo attack on La Redoute decides men’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE Don't miss the action as the peloton tackles 11 climbs and a flat finish in Liège for the final Ardennes

LIVE
HUY BELGIUM APRIL 23 Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates XRG celebrates at finish line as race winner during the 89th La Fleche Wallonne 2025 a 2051km one day race from Ciney to Huy UCIWT on April 23 2025 in Huy Belgium Photo by Dario BelingheriGetty Images
As it happened: La Flèche Wallonne Men decided by sprint up Mur de Huy

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE Don't miss the racing action as the elite men tackle a 205km route, featuring the brutally steep finish up the Mur de Huy

LIVE
Danish Mattias Skjelmose Jensen of Lidl-Trek wins the men elite 'Amstel Gold Race' one day cycling race, 255,9 km from Maastricht to Valkenburg, The Netherlands, Sunday 20 April 2025. BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM (Photo by DIRK WAEM / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)
As it happened: Shock winner in three-up sprint at Amstel Gold Men 2025

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE Don't miss the racing action as the elite men tackle 34 climbs along a twisting 255.9km route, featuring three ascents of the iconic Cauberg.

LIVE
OVERIJSE, BELGIUM - APRIL 18: Remco Evenepoel of Belgium and Team Soudal Quick-Step celebrates at finish line as race winner during the 65th De Brabantse Pijl - La Fleche Brabanconne 2025 - Men's Elite a 162.6km one day race from Beersel to Overijse on April 18, 2025 in Overijse, Belgium. (Photo by Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
As it happened: Brabantse Pijl Men decided by two-up sprint between Evenepoel and Van Aert

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

Live Don't miss the racing action as the elite men's peloton tackles 162.6km from Beersel to Overijse

Live
Alpecin-Deceuninck's Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the 122nd edition of the Paris-Roubaix one-day classic cycling race, 259,2 km between Compiegne and Roubaix, at the Vélodrome André-Pétrieux in Roubaix, northern France on April 13, 2025. (Photo by Francois LO PRESTI / AFP)
As it happened - Long-range solo move decides historic Paris-Roubaix

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE Don't miss all the action from the elite men's 259.2km race from Compiègne to Roubaix

LIVE
URDUNA SPAIN APRIL 11 Ben Healy of Ireland and Team EF Education EasyPost celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the 64th Itzulia Basque Country 2025 Stage 5 a 1723km stage from Urduna to Urduna UCIWT on April 11 2025 in Urduna Spain Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
As it happened: Long-range solo attack succeeds on stage five of Itzulia Basque Country

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

Live The peloton tackles 172.3km hilly race from Urduña to Gernika-Lumo

Live
MARKINAXEMEIN SPAIN APRIL 10 Joao Almeida of Portugal and UAE Team Emirates XRG Green Points Jersey celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the 64th Itzulia Basque Country 2025 Stage 4 a 1696km stage from Beasain to Markina Xemein UCIWT on April 10 2025 in MarkinaXemein Spain Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
As it happened: Change in leadership at Itzulia Basque Country as stage won with successful solo attack

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE The peloton tackles the mountainous 169.6km race from Beasain to Markina-Xemein

LIVE
SCHOTEN BELGIUM APRIL 09 Tim Merlier of Belgium and Team Soudal QuickStep celebrates at finish line as race winner during the 113th Scheldeprijs 2025 a 2028km one day race from Terneuzen to Schoten UCIWT on April 09 2025 in Schoten Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
As it happened: Scheldeprijs Men decided in bunch sprint

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE The peloton tackles 202.8km from Terneuzen to Schoten in mid-week Classic

LIVE
Slovenian Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates wins the men's race of the 'Ronde van Vlaanderen/ Tour des Flandres/ Tour of Flanders' one day cycling race, 268,9km from Brugge to Oudenaarde, Sunday 06 April 2025. BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND (Photo by ERIC LALMAND / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)
As it happened: Solo attack triumphs in thrilling Tour of Flanders

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE The peloton tackles 268.9km with 16 hills and seven cobblestone sectors between Bruges and Oudenaarde

LIVE
WAREGEM BELGIUM APRIL 02 LR Neilson Powless of The United States and Team EF Education EasyPost celebrates at finish line as race winner ahead of Wout Van Aert of Belgium and Team Visma Lease a Bike during the 79th Dwars Door Vlaanderen 2025 Mens Elite a 1842km one day race from Roeselare to Waregem UCIWT on April 02 2025 in Waregem Belgium Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
As it happened: Visma Lease-a-Bike stunned at the finish of Dwars door Vlaanderen

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE The peloton tackles ten climbs in 184.5km

LIVE
Danish Mads Pedersen of Lidl-Trek wins the men elite 'Gent-Wevelgem - In Flanders Fields' one day cycling race, 250.3 km from Ieper to Wevelgem, Sunday 30 March 2025. BELGA PHOTO JASPER JACOBS (Photo by JASPER JACOBS / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)
At it happened: Gent-Wevelgem Men decided by long-range solo attack

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE The men's peloton tackles 250.3km from Ypres to Wevelgem

LIVE
HARELBEKE BELGIUM MARCH 28 Mathieu Van Der Poel of Netherlands and Team Alpecin Deceuninck celebrates at finish line as race winner during the 68th E3 Saxo Bank Classic Harelbeke 2025 a 2088km one day race from Harelbeke to Harelbeke UCIWT on March 28 2025 in Harelbeke Belgium Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
As it happened - Huge gaps in very selective E3 Saxo Classic

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE The peloton tackles 208km in Harelbeke

LIVE
DE PANNE BELGIUM MARCH 26 LR Jonathan Milan of Italy and Team LidlTrek race winner Juan Sebastian Molano of Colombia and UAE Team Emirates Phil Bauhaus of Germany and Team BahrainVictorious and Erlend Blikra of Norway and Team UnoX Mobility sprint at finish line during the 49th Classic BruggeDe Panne 2025 Mens Elite a 1956km one day race from Brugge to De Panne UCIWT on March 26 2025 in De Panne Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
As It Happened - Favourites held up in crash-marred Classic Brugge-De Panne finale

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE Peloton tackles 195km from Bruges to De Panne in mid-week Classic

LIVE
SANREMO ITALY MARCH 22 Mathieu Van Der Poel of Netherlands and Team Alpecin Deceuninck celebrates at finish line as race winner ahead of Filippo Ganna of Italy and Team INEOS Grenadiers and Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and Team UAE Team Emirates during the 116th MilanoSanremo 2025 a 289km one day race from Pavia to Sanremo UCIWT on March 22 2025 in Sanremo Italy Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
As it Happened - historic Cipressa attack determines winner of Milan-San Remo

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE The first Monument of the season will again start in Pavia as the peloton tackles 289km race route to San Remo

LIVE
Team Visma-Lease a Bike's US rider Matteo Jorgenson wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey celebrates as he cycles across the finish line in second place, to win the Paris-Nice cycling race, after the 8th and final stage, 119,9 km between Nice and Nice, on March 16, 2025. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)
As it happened: Attacks galore during exciting Paris-Nice finale

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE Peloton race 119.9km into Nice where the overall winner will be crowned

LIVE
AURON, FRANCE - MARCH 15: Michael Storer of Australia and Tudor Pro Cycling Team celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the 83rd Paris - Nice 2025, Stage 7 a 109.3km stage from Nice to Auron 1603m / #UCIWT / on March 15, 2025 in Auron, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
As it happened: Breakaway defies peloton to win final summit finish of Paris-Nice

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE The peloton tackle reduced 109.3km route to summit of Auron

LIVE
Lidl-Trek's Danish rider Mads Pedersen (L) celebrates next to Ineos Grenadiers' British rider Joshua Tarling as he crosses the finish line to win the 6th stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race, 209,8 km between Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban and Berre l’Étang, on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)
As it happened: splits in bunch shake up GC at Paris-Nice stage 6

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE A bunch sprint is likely but crosswinds could yet have their effect on the last flat 209.8km stage into Berre l'Étang

LIVE
Bahrain Victorious' French rider Lenny Martinez celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win during the 5th stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race, 203,3 km between Saint-Just-en-Chevalet and La Côte-Saint-André, on March 13, 2025. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)
As it happened: Yellow jersey changes hands on steep finish of Paris-Nice stage 5

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE A stage for the breakaways or a stage for the GC? This could get very tough in the second half of the 203.3km race to La Côte-Saint-André

LIVE
Portuguese Joao Almeida of UAE Team Emirates celebrates after winning stage four of the 83th edition of the Paris-Nice cycling race, 163,4km from Vichy to La Loge des Gardes, France, Wednesday 12 March 2025. BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS (Photo by DAVID PINTENS / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)
As it happened: GC action on summit finish despite weather-enforced neutralisation

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE Peloton tackle first summit finish atop La Loge des Gardes

LIVE
Team Visma-Lease a Bike's riders including Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard (L) cycle during the 3rd stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race, a 28,4 km team time trial between Nevers Magny-Cours Circuit and Nevers, on March 11, 2025. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)
As it happened: New overall leader as stage three team time trial shakes up GC at Paris-Nice

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE 28.4km team time trial from Circuit Nevers Magny Cours to Nevers could see significant differences between the GC favourites

LIVE
BELLEGARDESURVALSERINE FRANCE MARCH 10 A general view of Tim Merlier of Belgium and Team Soudal QuickStep Yellow leader jersey celebrates at finish line as stage winner ahead of Emilien Jeanniere of France and Team TotalEnergies and Alexander Kristoff of Norway and Team UnoX Mobility during the 83rd Paris Nice 2025 Stage 2 a 1839km stage from Montesson to Bellegarde UCIWT on March 10 2025 in BellegardesurValserine France Photo by Dario BelingheriGetty Images
As it happened: Bunch sprint decides crash-marred Paris-Nice stage two

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE The peloton tackle exposed 183.9km race that could lead to echelons forming on the flat plains of northern France into Bellegarde

LIVE
Soudal Quick-Step's Belgian rider Tim Merlier (C) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win of the 1st stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race, 156,1 km between Le Perray-en-Yvelines and Le Perray-en-Yvelines, on March 9, 2025. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)
As it happened: Bunch sprint decides opening stage of Paris-Nice

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE Stage 1 kicks off with a 156.1km hilly, technical route in which the sprinters will struggle to contain the breakaways on the roads to Le Perray-en-Yvelines

LIVE
Team UAE's Slovenain rider Tadej Pogacar celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 19th one-day classic 'Strade Bianche' (White Roads) men's cycling race between Siena and Siena in Tuscany on March 8, 2025. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)
As it happened: Pogačar and Pidcock battle for men's Strade Bianche

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE The 19th edition of WorldTour race features 81.7km of gravel across 16 sectors and traditional Piazza del Campo finish

LIVE
Jasper Philipsen wins Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
As it happened: Big bunch sprint decides Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE All the action from the 196.8km race with 13 climbs but plenty of room for sprinters to rejoin on the roads to Kuurne

LIVE
Norwegian Soren Waerenskjold of Uno-X Mobility celebrates after winning the men's one-day cycling race Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (UCI World Tour), 197 km from Gent to Ninove, Saturday 01 March 2025. BELGA PHOTO JASPER JACOBS (Photo by JASPER JACOBS / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)
As it happened: Season opener Omloop Het Nieuwsblad ends in a sprint

By Stephen Puddicombe Last updated

LIVE All the action as the peloton tackles 11 climbs and 8 cobbled sectors across challenging 198km route in Flanders

LIVE
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