Back to 🇨🇾 ↗ 2026

I’m bringing back the ‘this month…’ portion of this He Who Learns newsletter. It's a forecast of an exciting month ahead and a retrospective look at the weeks gone by. + a few things I've been reading, watching and listening to. Check it out tomportsmouth.substack.com/p/this-month-i

New team over on Instagram. A DN1 in France by the name of Guidon Chalettois. Ready for another year in Red and Black. www.instagram.com/p/DQZponWDXXc/

I sent this piece to @hetiskoers.bsky.social a few months ago, just as I felt my writing start to evolve. It's a day-by-day account of an adventurous trip to Switzerland. Hope you enjoy. hetiskoers.nl/dit-is-wat-p...

End of season vibes, anyone? ___ tomportsmouth.substack.com/p/a-majestic...

I have posted an essay every week for 8 weeks on my Substack 🥹 This kind of consistency is unprecedented for me, taking my energy away from social media has undoubtedly helped a lot. If you use Substack, you could subscribe 😊 substack.com/@writebikere...

Writing has been a big goal of mine this year. And now, 10 months in, I'm proud to say I've published 1/mnth, despite the arduous schedule of a pro bike rider. I'm even more satisfied that each avenue—racing and writing—fed into the other. I haven't shared them all on here, so some ICYMI.

2025 in: » data » images » breakaways

A lot happened in 2025. These photos remind me of that. I started racing early. I moved to France. I found my confidence again, on and off the bike. I also found many incredible people to talk to and share stories with. It was awesome, and still is. tomportsmouth.substack.com/p/2025-in-da...

Tell me winter is coming without telling me winter is coming.

So. Not quite what I was expecting from this week, or hoping to be writing about by the end of it... Full outline of what happened at the Renewi Tour last week. » substack.com/@tomportsmou...

🇺🇸 Quinn Simmons on how cycling could improve its appeal: "I really like circuit racing. The style of the World Championship, the full-speed race, makes the competition good. And it is also better for the spectators. Not only that, but it is also much safer for riders.” Full story at Domestique 👇

After a successful Franco Belge last week, I'm off to my first World Tour race at the Renewi Tour starting tomorrow. Let's see what the week holds. Images from Tim Staes (Cyclimage) on Instagram

Some daily updates in 📸 from a team camp in 🇫🇷 on my substack substack.com/@tomportsmou...

When you're injured but you see a sponsorship opportunity and aero gains. 📷 Cor Vos

“Diabetes shouldn’t stop you doing what you enjoy.” Alex Pritchard (DAS-Richardsons) talks sudden Type 1 diagnosis, learning to juggle insulin with 100 g carbs an hour, and why his race ambitions are still on. thebritishcontinental.co.uk/2025/06/13/a...

South London’s 17-year-old prodigy Milo Wills (TEKKERZ CC) blitzed The Cycle Exchange Guildford Open Grand Prix, out-kicking Belgian powerhouse Jente Michels (Alpecin-Deceuninck Development RT) to stamp yet another exclamation mark on his breakout season. thebritishcontinental.co.uk/2025/07/09/2...

Postcards from 🇬🇧 National Champs. Some race.

British Road Race Champs Livestream www.youtube.com/watch?v=-22d...

Livestream for this evening's crit. First 1h full I've done for a while, so let's have a blast doing it. @jezcox.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TvE...

We're always intrigued by new requests for use of our WorldTour App, and the latest is for academic research! 🎓 @lborouniversity.bsky.social 's Alex Welburn is using VV for a Time Trial (TT) optimisation study with two female riders. 📖Read more in our blog bit.ly/4nigx15 #cycling #roadcycling

The Belgium Tour makes it 5 for 7 Queen stage breaks in 2025 The others include: Classic Besançon Doubs Tour du Doubs Stage IV | 4J de Dunkerque Brussels Cycling Classic Here are the details of catching the break at the recent Brussels Cycling Classic 👇 tomportsmouth.substack.com/p/brussels-c...

Another Queen Stage in the breakaway. This time at the Baloise Belgium Tour. It was hot and à bloc from the start.

Up next: Baloise Belgium Tour A few places I recognise on there. Kermesse racing is one of the best ways to understand the Geography of Belgium.

For those with long memories of watching the TdF on C4 and ITV…

New post. Gullegem Prof Koerse. The most intense racing in the world. IMHO.

Tom's in the break in the Brussels Cycling Classic Looking forward to heard what Muur van Geraardsbergen is like to race!

Our sponsors... Once seen they cannot be unseen. It's quite cool actually.

After seeing "Dabbel" yesterday at Gullegem—pro kermesse koerses are different gravy... It's time for a coffee and recovery ride today. The Dabbel is the new edition to Spiuk's sunglasses range 😎

Gullegem Koerse Livestream 14h00 CEST Let's go racing 🐎 ☝🏻 in 🇧🇪 this year _ www.youtube.com/live/841mE33...

There's a chat function on Substack. Some publications have found value in them, and I'd like to see if it might work for my newsletter, also. What I imagine the community chat could offer is listed below 👇🏻 substack.com/chat/1969375...

Auction finishing on Thursday evening for this beauty of a Pinarello F10 Disc! In an age of proprietary, this bike gives the ability to adjust to your hearts content, whilst not limiting your wheel choice. Have a look through the link below. 👇🏻 ebay.us/m/gTVtmc

80 Angry Men: Finding Strategies to overcome the herd mentality of how the entire peloton functions—the hierarchy of teams. I began to solve this puzzle in my latest newsletter. 👇🏻 tomportsmouth.substack.com/p/80-angry-men

I wonder, do you fancy wearing our colourful and standout jersey, or helmets too? They're certainly a great way to be seen and safe on the road, or turn heads as you roll up to the café on your Sunday Club Run. Head over to the shop, to put in your order! 👇🏻 www.materiel-velo.com/recherche?s=...

"It’s just another race." As I tried to temper my nerves, I thought about all the reasons why that might be the case. Yet this level, my first dot PRO race, was unlike anything I’d experienced before.

Happy 99th birthday to the man who gave voice to the wild. 🎉 Sir David Attenborough, thank you for a lifetime dedicated to the natural world, and for sharing its story with wisdom, wonder, and grace. You've inspired generations to fall in love with nature.

Tirana. Albania. One of the most spectacular, and historical places I've ever had the privilege of visiting. Enjoy the coverage.

My latest newsletter, "on my way," is up on Substack 👇 tomportsmouth.substack.com/p/on-my-way

FOR SALE: My Pinarello Dogma F10 Disc from 2021/2022 It has been a mantelpiece item for the last few years, and this thoroughbred deserves more than that! Check it out through the link below 👇🏻 www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28654568...

A big racing block brings with it many notes in my notepad. After a brief rest à cause de un chute à Tour du Doubs I've had an opportunity to type up some of the tales from the road. Keep an eye out • tomportsmouth.substack.com 📸 Cassandra Donne

The response to this has been great. Love telling these kinds of stories at Global Peloton. Have got another coming next week 🇲🇽

Cool to call these home races now I'm based in France... But boy, they're going to be challenging. Let's be havin' ya and put on a show for the 'home' jersey. www.wagner-bazin-wb.com/tom-portsmou...

A short review of the last few races... www.linkedin.com/posts/tom-po...

Life on the road as a pro athlete 🇫🇷 — en images 📸

Maps of where the men's and women's WorldTour races take place Men's 🇪🇸🇮🇹🇫🇷🇧🇪🇳🇱🇨🇭🇩🇰🇵🇱🇩🇪🇦🇺🇦🇪🇨🇦🇨🇳 Women's 🇪🇸🇮🇹🇫🇷🇧🇪🇳🇱🇩🇰🇨🇭 🇦🇺🇬🇧🇦🇪🇨🇳 Shame other continents aren't involved. What needs to be done to bring places like 🇺🇸 and 🇦🇷 back as well as other nations across Africa, the Americas and Asia involved? Is itbas simple as money?

Does anyone have the rulebook for *les barrages* s'il vous plaît? I have a genuine curiosity about when and where they are implemented. 🙏🏻

Here is a rant for you on his lovely Monday morning. open.substack.com/pub/cilliank...

Happy Mother's Day. I love my parents. They're my rocks. It's special when they come to watch a race, especially nowadays as it is a rarity. It's calming.

Up Next > La Route Tourangelle www.instagram.com/p/DHxwyWVIeox/