Pedal into the weekend with five of the week’s top stories

Welcome to the May long weekend! Three days await: seventy-two hours in which to flex those cycling muscles and get out there on the trails, on the streets, or on the track to burn off all that work week still clinging to your bones. What a week it’s been in the world of Canadian cycling, too.

Here’s a look at five of the highlights we’ve discussed over the past few days.

1) On Monday, we reported that Leah Kirchmann, riding in the Tour of California, had claimed second overall while winning Stage 3 of the race—and the day after a truly inspiring stage two finish, at that.

2) For the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games, Canada’s Steve Bauer will be carrying the torch to kick off the festivites. Appropriately enough, he’ll be doing it on his bike.

3) During Stage 4 of the 2015 Giro d’Italia, 22-year-old Davide Formolo won his first Grand Tour stage, while Australia’s Simon Clarke held on to the coveted pink jersey.

4) Later, during Stage 7, Italy’s Diego Ulssi came out on top during Friday’s sprint at the Giro d’Italia. Riding for Lampre, it was the second stage victory for the team in three days.

5) Big cycling plans this weekend? Larry Humber has suggestions for seven very effective, very simple uses of duct tape for touring cyclists, especially those with more ambition than money.