If you like to be the smartest kid in your cycling group, then this article is for you. We list some cycling-related terms that (almost) everyone mispronounces.
Who doesn't know it, the short but steep final climb of Les 3 Ballons? Even at pro level, special performances were made here. It was on here that Pogacar destroyed Roglic's yellow dream and took his 1st Tour victory. The name of the climb however does not refer to a village (ville) but to beautiful girls (Belles Filles). So it's Planche des Belles Filles.
The Sella Round, almost every cyclist has ridden it or has it on the bucket list. Four climbs, about 50 km with 1800 meters of climbing. It is truly one of the most beautiful loops in the mountains. Who wants to look up the climbing profile of the Campalongo, will be disappointed. The correct spelling is: Campolongo.
The Ötztaler Radmarathon is probably the most important gran fondo in the world. In German, the Ö (or Oe) is pronounced as "eu", not "u". So it's "Utztaler", not "Ootztaler" or "Eutztaler".
The American parts manufacturer SRAM is not infrequently pronounced Esram. However, this is incorrect. The correct pronunciation is shjrèm. By the way, SRAM is not the only parts manufacturer that is often mispronounced. The same goes for Campagnolo, the well-known Italian parts brand from Vicenza. "Campagnola", "Campagnolio" or -lia even "Campa-yolo" you come across in the wild. Although we think the last one is still pretty funny.
A week from now the Strade Bianche will be there! A wonderful gravel race for pros and amateurs. In Italian, strada and bianchi are singular. So Strada bianchi means white road. But the race is called Strade Bianche, plural so. White roads. By the way, in Italian you pronounce the 'ch' like a K. 'bianke' so, phonetically. And not 'biantsji'.
Have we forgotten something? Please let us know in the comments!
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