Features Road All stitched up By Cycling News published 17 June 2005 Continental's bicycle tyre division is a small part of what's now a huge company, but it's where the... Comments Image 1 of 15Maria Stolz works on a Competition tubular(Image credit: Gerard Knapp)An example of the marketing materials featuring the factory staff.(Image credit: Gerard Knapp)Smokes, or rubber tubes?(Image credit: Gerard Knapp)Maria Stolz works on a Competition tubular(Image credit: Gerard Knapp)The red material is the Vectran layer(Image credit: Gerard Knapp)The rubber tread then needs to be vulcanized(Image credit: Gerard Knapp)And so begins the stitching process.(Image credit: Gerard Knapp)The cotton layer helps protect the inner tube(Image credit: Gerard Knapp)This is the difficult part - stitching the casing together(Image credit: Gerard Knapp)Another view of Barbel's work.(Image credit: Gerard Knapp)Here, the casing is finally hand-stitched with thicker thread.(Image credit: Gerard Knapp)After the final stitching process, the tyres are inflated(Image credit: Gerard Knapp)After checking the tubular was air-tight for 24 hours(Image credit: Gerard Knapp)Then they end up here(Image credit: Gerard Knapp)An example of the marketing materials featuring the factory staff.(Image credit: Gerard Knapp)no copy in legacy cmsGet The Leadout NewsletterThe latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors Cycling NewsSocial Links Navigation More features'He can be on the podium of a Grand Tour' - Matteo Jorgenson finds a perfect fit at Visma-Lease a Bike'Collateral damage' - What impact could Donald Trump’s tariffs have on the bike industry?Latest2025 Tour of the Alps includes 14,700m of climbing in just 739km and five days of racingSee more latest ► Most Popular'One final push on the road' - Chris Froome on retirement, sliding doors and chasing another Grand Tour Hiboy kickstarts Black Friday with deals on leading e-scooter models 'I want to face the unknown' - Elisa Longo Borghini lifts lid on major new goals for 2025 and beyondShipping rates and €900 paint jobs: A deep dive into why some bikes cost so much moneyMark Cavendish's bikes: A look back at the Manx Missile's machines through the yearsThe defining moments of the 2024 season: Olympic golds, a Triple Crown and records smashed Patent pending: How patents steer innovation in cyclingClogged valves, broken chains, cheap motels - The lessons to pivot and persevere a first year of privateering'It's not even a bike race, it's the Tour de France' - Mark Cavendish on an emotional close to the season, and maybe his careerElite Avanti: A feature-filled, top-level smart trainer at a reduced priceToe straps, TT bikes and zip-tied battery bodges: Six bike tech hacks found at the cycling esports world championships
