James West

Occasional contributor to a weekly cycling mag. If not riding bike then probably drinking coffee & talking/reading/watching cycling. Views my own - and amateur!

[James West @USPostalBoy]

THREAD on final 10km of @LeTour / @LetapebyTDF, from @LesMenuires to @Val_Tho, which I cycled up last week whilst on a ski holiday. Hopefully it is of use to anyone doing l’Etape du Tour 2019.
NB: I also cycled down again, as had to get home. That part n/a to #tdf2019 in July

[Stan Collymore @StanCollymore]

Set a treadmill at 21kph ( max most will go to) and try to run for 30 seconds on it.

That's what he did for 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds.

The peak of human physical achievement. Insane, absolutely insane.

[Milano Sanremo @Milano_Sanremo]

🎬 The Poggio as the turning point, then a heart-stopping sprint on Via Roma.

🎬 Il Poggio come spartiacque e poi una volata da cuori forti in Via Roma.
Goditi gli Highlights della Primavera Donne

#SanremoWomen @CA_Ita

https://t.co/9gObSg2Nwm

[James West @USPostalBoy]

What would really improve @BBCSport @BBCiPlayer coverage is if the #Olympics2026 event highlights weren’t titled after who won each flippin’ race. Talk about spoilers. Wouldn’t do it for football, please stop doing it for Winter Olympics highlights!!

[BBC Politics @BBCPolitics]

Labour's Luke Charters describes his mental health struggles and asks the PM if he agrees that the strength of a man is being open with emotions

The government will tackle challenges that "disproportionately affect men", Keir Starmer says

#PMQs https://t.co/Kx7G5d6PWN

[Stan Collymore @StanCollymore]

Suicide.

I'm choosing to be deliberately blunt and provocative in this post because it's necessary. Government, charities, football clubs are all pushing water up a hill in highlighting what is undoubtedly a major health crisis.

You take a rope.
You put it up in a garage or a tree nearby or far away.
You're thinking about every loved one you'll leave behind as you put that rope around your neck.
Then you drop.

Some are decapitated.
Some aren't.
All are found by someone who has a lifetime of trauma that will never leave them.
A son.
A daughter.
A brother.
A sister.
A mother.
A father.

I know 2 men who hung themselves.

One was found by his Mom.
One was found by his brother.
Neither have recovered fully. 20 and 30 years on.

A life sentence for people who were already worrying, terrified their loved one may do something.

So just visualise the above and ask, "is there another way"?

A segway for a moment.

I do a few Q&A's every year. Tales of yesterday with a 99% male audience of my age group.

After the stories and fun, my last question back to the audience is..

"Hands up if you struggle with a mental health issue".

Nobody ever puts a hand up. Despite 1 in every 3 of 500 attendees statistically struggling.

"Ah, nobody, that's fucking brilliant! Well I do! ". I then graphically tell people, stunned into silence about how a rope around my neck in the middle of nowhere jolted me to go home and cry like a baby to my Mom.

After the Q&A has finished, something always happens. I'll be chatting to a few guys, saying bye and one by one, men will come over and whisper " I struggle".

Or my mailbox the next day will have 30 emails from guys, their partners or kids saying " Dad/Uncle /Brother was there last night and what you said hit them hard".

And that's how some people realise that it's time to speak to a pal or family member or even rant to me in an email. It works, I often get a follow up email a year or 6 later saying that they took responsibility for their suicidal feelings and are now flying.

Humans are programmed to want to live, to have families and to keep the species growing and thriving. So for a human to want to short circuit that desire isn't normal, and it should never be spoken of as normal. It's the ultimate red flag.

If you suspect your mate, Dad, Brother, Uncle is struggling mentally, they deserve your intervention.

They deserve a " are you OK, please tell me what's up".

They deserve an opportunity to get past wanting to hang a rope over a tree or in a garage and slowly struggle until they die and you find them.

If you've been there and trust me I have plenty, then you'll know that text out of the blue, or a footie mate or one of your kids asking jow you are can open the curtains to some sunshine.

Because when suicide is your only answer, the room is already dark, and you can't see a way out.

So please, fucking pretty please, ask that husband, Dad, Uncle, Cousin, footie pal TODAY how they are.

You may be shocked what comes back but extremely glad that you asked.

For those who struggle, you're not alone.

[Mihai Simion @faustocoppi60]

The best mountain domestique of the last 20 years, Rafal Majka is ending his career today. He finished on the Vuelta podium, won 2 KOM jerseys and 3 stages in TDF but more importantly, destroyed full pelotons for Contador and Pogacar. Do widzenia! 👋

[robyn @robyn_emz]

Egan Bernal said he sad a ‘95% chance’ of either becoming paralysed or dying after his horror training ride crash in 2022.

Now he's not only back cycling, but has won a stage at the Vuelta a España.

This is phenomenal. Congratulations @Eganbernal. 🇨🇴

[Geraint Thomas @GeraintThomas86]

I couldn’t finish my career without a proper goodbye could I? Excited to announce our plans for an event at Cardiff Castle after the final Tour of Britain stage on Sunday 7th September. The details are being kept a surprise from me for now… but I’m told it’s going to be a lot of fun. 4,000 completely free tickets will be available soon and I’ll post the link when they’re available to grab. Hopefully see you all there 🏰👌🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[James Lucas @JamesLucasIT]

15 places where nature doesn’t look real 🧵

1. Grindelwald, Switzerland

[Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift @LeTourFemmes]

💙🤍❤️

[Mihai Simion @faustocoppi60]

Today's newspapers in France celebrating the French Tour winner.
#TDFF2025

[David Millar @millarmind]

And like that, another chapter ends… it’s been a great privilege to be part of the same team who got me into @LeTour 33 years ago during my summer holidays in the UK. @itvcycling - thank you. Best thing? Last day was my boys first day seeing what I do, or used to. Thanks Ned. ❤️

[CafeRoubaix @CafeRoubaix]

22 years ago, this happened at the Tour de France.

[Lukáš Ronald Lukács @lucxsronald]

THREAD

The best photos from Paris Roubaix part 2 🪨

1. On rails (📷: jeredgruber)

[Raghu @IndiaTales7]

Some of the Heart-Breaking Moments captured on camera.🧵

A Thread Not for the soft-hearted ⚠️

[Ciro Scognamiglio @cirogazzetta]

Info @Gazzetta_it It's not at all a secret, anyway @TeamEmiratesUAE sources confirmed us that after @LeTour this year @TamauPogi will be at the start of @lavuelta six years after his first (and so far only) participation @cycling_podcast

[Andrew Hood @EuroHoody]

He will race - and he will win!

[Daniel Friebe @friebos]

Confirmed: Roglič will target the Giro & also ride the Tour.

[Cyclist magazine @cyclist]

Ever wondered what a Grand Tour around the USA would look like?

We took on the challenge and mapped out 21 stages to create an American alternative to the Tour de France. 🇺🇸

🧵

[Andy Bhoy @Andybho27665205]

Brilliant🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💚😎😍☃️🎄🤭