¡Hola Conquistadores!

Regular readers will know that Conquista issue 10 contains a huge feature on 2015’s Keirin Grand Prix, which includes an interview with keirin superstar, Olympic track hero and 2015 GP Finalist Nitta Yudai.  Conquista’s man in Japan Ryu Yukawa of evolverbikes.com not only helped us secure and translate the interview, he also hand-delivered Nitta's copy, as you can see from our photo above. (Making the delivery meant attending an exclusive keirin riders' party, which explains the slightly shaky camerawork.)  You can find out more about Nitta, keirin racing and the Keirin GP (and see some much better pictures, courtesy of Brian Hodes) in Conquista issue 10, available from our website here.  

“It’s pretty cool in that the bike is both a physical vehicle and a metaphorical vehicle that can take you where you want to go”.

Issue 10 also features some of the stars of the fantastic Red Hook Crit Series, photographed & interviewed by François Lebeau.  Featured rider Ayesha McGowan is on a mission to become the world’s first female African-American professional road cyclist - and to blaze a trail for others in the process.  She was recently profiled by the BBC News website: if you’re in need of a little inspiration for your weekend spin, take a look here.  While you’re at it, go visit her website aquickbrownfox.com & show your support.   

The Belgian racing season is in full swing, and the cobbled classics are nearly upon us.  A perfect time, then, for Conquista’s favourite Northern hard man and star blogger Mark McNally to get his first podium finish and starting picking up some fabulous prizes, viz., “a CD radio alarm clock, an Easter egg, a silver sugar bowl, two bottles of wine - with wine glasses - and last but not least a cuddly toy”.  Read the latest instalment of his blog here.

The members of Conquista’s Strava Cycling Club have been putting in the hours in an attempt win our very first monthly competition by covering the Most Miles in March.  Altogether they have covered an amazing 16,000km - an average of 365km each.  As of yesterday, thirteen of our members had covered more than 500km, five had covered more than 700km, and the top two, who are separated by barely 20km, had each covered well over 800km, with two full weeks of March left to run.  But there can only be one winner of the first ever Conquista Jersey, generously provided by Kalas.  Who will take it?  Stay tuned to find out . . .