Hello Velo, it’s been an eventful off-season for many WorldTour and gravel cyclists.
Wedding planning kicked into high gear for several of them. Ben Healy proposed to his partner on their African vacation, while WorldTour couple Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Dylan van Baarle got engaged after several years together. Quinn Simmons (who popped the question to his girlfriend on the streets of Paris after this year’s Tour de France) wasted no time officially tying the knot this fall.
In typical off-season fashion, many escaped to various beaches around the world while others rode on the back of camels, indulged in cheese tastings or even stamped their passports on US soil for some pretty iconic events.
Lets dive in.
An off-season of ‘I Dos’
This article is quickly becoming the wedding newsletter but love was in the air this fall for pro cyclists. Scroll below to see notable riders who tied the knot.
Derek Gee
Keegan Swenson + Sofía Gómez Villafane
Quinn Simmons
Juliette (Labous) Berthet
Engaged: Ben Healy, as well as Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Dylan van Baarle
Cheese connoisseur at Rouleur live
Social feeds were buzzing recently from Rouleur Live, the cycling exhibition and festival combining cycling culture, tech, gear brands, pro cyclists, and fans.
This year, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot attended and tested her knowledge on more than just cycling.
Euro stars in the USA
In case you missed it, some of the biggest names in cycling headed to the US for some off-season fun. Wout van Aert traded some time on the bike for some time in gym to shoot hoops with cycling ambassador and NBA Hall of Famer Reggie Miller at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center.
Van Aert and Visma women’s rider Margaux Vigié hit the track at The Thermal Club, racing Porsches alongside MTB downhill world champion, Jackson Goldstone. To top off the trip, the group also attended a Lakers game.
MVDP’s LA tour and comeback to running
Mathieu van der Poel got his USA fix on the streets of LA in October. While he led a group ride in Southern California, back in Europe, he’s been honing his running skills and it’s getting the triathlete field worried. His swimming skills remain a big unknown.
PFP in NYC
Besides getting engaged, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Dylan van Baarle spent Halloween in the Big Apple. The couple stayed in Brooklyn and they too indulged in some NBA fun at a Brooklyn Nets game.
Tadej and Urška on the move
This may be to only time we see Tadej Pogačar in his European champion jersey.
So don’t blink.
Lorena Wiebes’ less than ideal November ride
Lorena Wiebes came to Instagram stories to share an image that is seen far too often in the cycling world.
Wiebes showed her damaged bike after being a hit by car on a ride. Luckily, she said she was “quite ok” despite being hit from behind.
Despite all the ‘I Do’s’ in this article, we’re highlighting the biggest DON’T.
Don’t be that guy. Keep the roads safe for cyclists, in the off-season and always.
Women’s WorldTour on holiday
Ending this Social Digest on a less somber note, showing where in the world the women’s peloton has been this fall.
Source URL: https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-culture/pro-cycling-off-season-updates-social-digest/