Spring is officially in full swing, and the global racing calendar is heating up fast. While we are busy battling it out on Rouvy for the Muckers May Championship, the pros are shifting their focus to the Grand Tours.

Here is your weekly dose of Muckers motivation, straight from the professional peloton.

1. Grand Tour Season is Here (And It’s Getting Weird)

The Giro d’Italia kicks off in less than five days. But before a single pedal has been turned in anger, EF Pro Cycling has stolen the headlines by unveiling a bizarre, “alien-themed” kit for the race. They called the design a “signal from beyond”. When you’re lining up for our Thursday Race Nights, remember that looking the part is half the battle. We might not have alien kits, but pulling on that Muckers Worldwide jersey definitely adds a few psychological watts!

2. Survival of the Fittest in Spain

The first major women’s stage race of the year is currently underway, and La Vuelta Femenina is proving absolutely brutal. After taking the red jersey in the opening stage, Noemi Rüegg was forced to abandon the race following a nasty crash on Stage 2. It was a chaotic day that saw Shari Bossuyt survive to take the win from a reduced sprint.

For the Muckers, it’s a stark reminder that in stage racing, fortunes can change in a split second. Keep your head on a swivel, stay out of trouble in the bunch, and fight for every position right up to the line.

3. The Fearless Teenage Sensation

If you ever feel like you’re getting a bit too old to keep up with the fast group on a Sunday club run, spare a thought for the WorldTour veterans. It has just been confirmed that 19-year-old French phenom Paul Seixas will make his Tour de France debut this summer. He will be the youngest rider to take on the Tour in almost 90 years.

It proves that if you have the legs and the grit, nothing else matters. So next time you’re suffering on a Tuesday night hill climb and the gradient kicks to 12%, channel that fearless teenage energy!

Mucker’s Takeaway: Whether you are dialing in your race strategy, avoiding virtual crashes in the peloton, or just trying to hang onto the front group, keep that grit alive. See you out on the virtual roads!