Tweets of the Week: Love letters to a bike, and a special Valentine's Day jersey
Charlotte Kool is the modern day Jane Austen in this week's social media round-up
In case you missed the billboards, TV adverts and general consumer frenzy, this past Tuesday was Valentine’s Day. It’s a time for celebrating love and recognising those dearest to you - mostly through exchanging heart-shaped tat - and the cycling world dived into it headfirst.
It makes sense, really. Professional cycling teams are intrinsically bound to their sponsors. The relationships may be commercial at their core, but they’re married with love, passion and a joint ambition for success.
It shouldn’t have come as a surprise, then, when earlier this week, Team DSM’s Charlotte Kool penned a gushy love letter to her Scott Foil RC aero bike - the same one that carried her to two sprint victories at the UAE Tour Women.
“Dear Scott,” the Dutchwoman wrote. “I’m addicted to you. I will never tire of you. Through the ups and the downs, my heart is chained to yours, and nothing can foil our love.”
Who knew the sprinter was as quick with word play as she is on the bike?
Let's hope there's more romantic prose to come, a series of love letters addressed to a different cycling item. Keep an eye out for future works, including Ode to the Chamois and I Love You, Clipless Shoe.
Elsewhere on social media this week, Alex Dowsett pulled on a special new jersey, Josie Knight lost a hand and Soudal Quick-Step’s Ilan van Wilder joined the premature celebration club.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
1. Shall I compare thee, my road bike, to a summer's day?
A #ValentinesDay love letter to our @bikeonscott Foil RC 🚲𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓭, @charlottekool 🥰 #KeepChallenging #WinEveryRide #FoilRC pic.twitter.com/hRuXSOaZWyFebruary 14, 2023
2. Long sleeves in the desert is a brave idea, but a necessary one when you leave your skinsuit at the hotel
Du vent, du sable et à l’avant dans les bordures ! 💨 🤭 Oups, le maillot manches longues et le cuissard de @M_ColesLyster parce que j’ai oublié ma combinaison à l’hôtel. Mais l’habit ne fait pas le moine, on peut quand même être devant 😜#UAETourWomen l @ZaafCyclingTeam pic.twitter.com/avDS89oeu8February 10, 2023
3. There was a flying Dutchman at the European Track Championships
pic.twitter.com/LwEW0SxMLiFebruary 12, 2023
4. Josie Knight added to her medal tally, but sadly lost a hand in the process
Who stole my other hand!!! https://t.co/ETb8ICdyFfFebruary 11, 2023
5. Ever wondered which biblical figure Mark Cavendish would be? The answer, it turns out, is Elijah
Should be working. But instead... pic.twitter.com/k1JfN2XevvFebruary 12, 2023
6. That smile. That damned smile
🫡 pic.twitter.com/JpZoX5oaPMFebruary 13, 2023
7. Jumbo-Visma Women went the whole hug with their Valentine's Day post
In good times and in bad times, in wins and in setbacks, inside and outside cycling: LOVE IS ALL! 💕Happy Valentine's Day! pic.twitter.com/SC2DDYWYr1February 14, 2023
8. Introducing the leader of the romance classification...
And with that, another Valentine's Day draws to a close. It was a special one being able to spend time with my one true love (bike) as well as @chanelchannel__ with the stage 5 clinger jersey. A real leaders jersey from the folk at @nopin pic.twitter.com/PTzfONOuTyFebruary 14, 2023
9. There's a club for everything these days, including one for those who have celebrated second across the line
I’ll pass the baton to another Belgian 😇 Welcome to the club @IlanWilder. Your day will come soon 🤜 https://t.co/jrZzgR0R31February 16, 2023
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is fluent in French and Spanish, and holds a master's degree in International Journalism, which he passed with distinction. Since 2020, he has been the host of The TT Podcast, offering race analysis and rider interviews.
An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill, and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides. His best result is 28th in a hill-climb competition, albeit out of 40 entrants.
-
USA Cycling unveils 2025 National Championship schedule with 17 chances to claim the Stars and Stripes jersey
From cycling eSports in February to cyclocross in December, here are the dates and locations for the 2025 season
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Tech of the week: A shockingly expensive steel bike from Colnago, a surprisingly affordable carbon bike from Pinarello, DT Swiss energises our cycling lives and Pog's bars are now yours to buy
Colnago's Steelnova is a thing of beauty but you'll pay for the pleasure, while Pinarello's F1 is an inexpensive gateway to the brand. DT Swiss enters the dynamo hub market and Enve brings Pog's cockpit to market
By Luke Friend Published
-
Tweets of the week: Tom Pidcock as a cake, Mark Cavendish speaks Gen Z, and stiletto cycling shoes
There's a likeness beneath the icing
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: What's next for Mark Cavendish?
It's the question on everyone's lips
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Remco Evenepoel celebrates an important day, GB Olympians meet the King, and Ineos Grenadiers throw a party
Happy World Ventilation Day everybody
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Demi Vollering rescues a goat, Mark Cavendish does martial arts, and Wout van Aert sings as a squirrel
It's been a particularly surreal week on social media
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Off-season hits hard, Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich hang out, and Lotte Kopecky shows she's a daredevil
Jeremy Vine gets irate about a cycle lane and more in this week's social media roundup
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tweets of the week: Lidl-Trek go brat, some muddy riders at Paris-Tours, and Cav is the new Bond?
It's everyone's favourite cycling social media round-up
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tweets of the week: Tadej Pogačar's special nutrition isn't as pro as you think
The Giro d'Italia winner has his own Italian dish
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Peter Sagan cycles on water, Mathieu van der Poel hops about, and the European Championships has an anthem?!
Stevie Williams signs for Ipswich Town, and there is a gold medal thief in our midst...
By Adam Becket Published