A preview of the VeloNews July issue.

When American Taylor Phinney won the under-23 Paris-Roubaix on May 31, it made our decision to feature him on the cover of our July issue appear prophetic.

It wasn’t, however, a tough decision to put Phinney on the cover. His elite world pursuit title in March saw the teenage phenom scratch the surface of his seemingly boundless potential.

And between our planned in-depth features on both Phinney and the USA Cycling development house in Izegem, Belgium, where Phinney sometimes lives, the choice was a no-brainer. Three years ago he was a 15-year-old newbie, now he’s the world elite pursuit champion. It seemed only natural to question what was coming next for the American phenom. Now we know the U.S. has a very likely future elite Roubaix winner on its hands.

Some VeloNews.com readers may not realize that content found in our print version is completely original and unique from our online content. In fact, those newer to cycling may not know that VeloNews started as a print publication 37 years ago, a tradition that continues to this day. While our Web site focuses on breaking news, race reporting and the latest in tech, our monthly magazine goes further behind the scenes, providing color, analysis and context.

For our story on the USA Cycling development program, senior writer Fred Dreier visited the house in Belgium where the federation sends the nation’s top young riders to learn the ropes of European road racing. A few, like Phinney, appear poised to blossom into the stars of tomorrow; others will eventually quit. All will learn that it’s not an easy or glamorous road to the top. Photographer Casey B. Gibson took some great shots at the house, and some didn’t make it into the magazine. You can get a taste in an outtakes gallery on the Web site today.

Another example of the analytical writing found in the magazine can be found in an article titled “Assembling the Puzzle,” written by managing editor Neal Rogers. After years of race reporting, Rogers flipped the microscope around, from focusing on the riders to focusing on the cycling press. He asked several top pros just how accurate the media is at getting inside the peloton. Their answers might surprise you.

The monthly magazine is also an opportunity for our tech editors to dig deeply into the latest product trends, and our July issue is a perfect example. Longtime technical writer Lennard Zinn put 18 pairs of aluminum handlebars and stems to the test to see which were stiffest, as well as explain why so many pro teams prefer aluminum cockpits to carbon fiber. Meanwhile test editor Matt Pacocha, a former NORBA pro, rode a three-mile off-road test course 28 times, alternating between a hardtail and a full-suspension bike, to determine which is faster. Again, the answer may surprise you.

More than anything, you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that our print edition offers up all-original content from the same VeloNews edit staff you’ve come to know and appreciate online. We see the print and online editions as separate but complementary. Pick up the July issue, and we’re sure you’ll feel the same way.

Editor’s Note: Click here: for a little more taste of the July issue.

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