The UAE Tour has gotten off to a thrilling start, with the GC riders coming to the front right on day 1, on a stage where the main favourite Jonathan Milan crashed. Isaac del Toro benefitted from the chaos that followed,

The 2026 Volta ao Algarve will take place from the 18th to 22nd of February, and as is the case every year, will be one of the most fought out early-season stage-races. It features stages for the sprinters, climbers, timetrialists and classics specialists all to fight for results and work on their f...

Remco Evenepoel does not enter the 2026 UAE Tour stage 2 time trial needing to prove that he is fast against the clock. Three consecutive world titles, Olympic gold and a long list of dominant time trial performances have already settled that debate. What is more intriguing ahead of stage 2, howeve...

CyclistPro Log: Isaac del Toro is a sprinter; Austin Butler is Lance Armstrong; Demi Vollering is inevitableWelcome back to another edition ofPro Log. Heres a rundown of the latest results before we get started:UAE Tour Men, Stage 1, Mon 16th February:1st Isaac del Toro, UAE Team Emirates XRG, 2h 30min 56sec; 2nd Cees Bol, Decathlon-CMA CGM, +00sec; 3rd Antonio Tiberi, Bahrain Victorious, +00sec.Clsica Jan Paraiso Interior, Mon 16th February: 1st Tim Wellens, UAE Team Emirates XRG, 3h 29min 31sec; 2nd Tom Pidcock, Pinarello-Q36.5, +48sec; 3rd Benoit Cosnefroy, UAE Team Emirates XRG, +1min 04sec.Clasica de Almeria, Sun 15th February:1st Biniam Girmay, NSN Cycling Team, 4h 10min 36sec; 2nd Milan Fretin, Cofidis, +00sec; 3rd Matteo Moschetti, Pinarello-Q36.5, +00sec.Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, Overall, Sun 15th February:1st Demi Vollering, FDJ United-Suez, 8h 53min 24sec; 2nd MavaSquiban, UAE Team ADQ, +1min 02sec; 3rd Mie Bjrndal Ottestad, Uno X Mobility, +1min 12sec.Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, Stage 4, Sun 15th February:1st Demi Vollering, FDJ United-Suez, 2h 54min 40sec; 2nd Liane Lippert, Movistar, +00sec; 3rd MavaSquiban, UAE Team ADQ, +00sec.Isaac del Toro wins first stage of UAE TourUAE Team Emirates XRGIsaac del Toro came out of the gates like a charging bull at the UAE Tour to open his season with victory for UAE Team Emirates XRG. With the race set to be a showdown between himself and Remco Evenepoel, the 22-year-old Mexican took advantage of a slight uphill final kilometre to attack the sprinters, and just about managed to hold on with Decathlon-CMA CGMs Cees Bol nipping at his heels. A time bonus at the line means hes now ten seconds ahead of Evenepoel on GC after the opening day, which will be very useful with a time-trial coming up next.The races headline sprinter Jonathan Milan was expected to dominate the sprints in the absence of Soudal-QuickSteps Tim Merlier, but he was taken down in a crash in the final 2km. Thankfully he was able to pick himself up and finish the stage. His Lidl-Trek team say he has avoided any fractures and will be assessed again prior to Stage 2.Austin Butler to play Lance Armstrong in biopicWikimedia Commons, license 3.0Reports from Deadline suggest were getting a Lance Armstrong biopic, with Austin Butler, the star of Elvis and Dune 2, set to play the disgraced cyclist in a movie from Conclave director Edward Berger thats currently subject to a bidding war. Film producer Scott Stuber, who recently produced the Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me from Nowhere, is said to have convinced Armstrong to approve a tell-all story. Related Posts Pro cycling winners and losers in January 2026 UAE Tour Men 2026 preview: Route, favourites, how to watch and start list Cycling Spring Classics 2026: Race dates, Monuments, cobbles and live TV guide Demi Vollering wins first stage race of seasonSzymon Gruchalski/Getty ImagesFDJ United-Suezs Demi Vollering came out swinging in her first stage race of the season, Setmana Ciclista Valenciana. In a copy and paste of her start to 2025, she broke away on the opening stage and would never be knocked off the top spot. After the third stage was cancelled due to high winds, Vollering then raced to a second victory on the final day in a sprint against Movistars Liane Lippert. UAE Team ADQs MavaSquiban came in second overall with Mie Bjrndal Ottestad of Uno X Mobility in third.Visma-Lease a Bikes rising star Viktria Chladonov was notably present at the front of the race, and after her third place on the first day, the 19-year-old would end up fifth overall. Watch this spaceWind whips up a frenzyUAE Team Emirates XRGValenciana wasnt the only race impacted by winds this week, as both stage of the mens Vuelta a Murcia were affected. The opening day was shortened to 83km, and the second stage was initially switched from 190km to 148km, but with riders blown off the road, organisers deemed it impossible to continue and neutralised the stage. UAEs Marc Soler would win the race ahead of teammate Julius Johansen and Pinarello-Q36.5s Tom Pidcock. Its a busy time in the headlines for the Soler family as a report from Escape Collective revealed Marc Solers father, Jaume Soler Serrano, had been given an 18-month suspension from Spanish anti-doping agency CELAD for working with former US Postal Service coach Jos Mart.Facelift for Paris-RoubaixXavier Pereyron2026 has become a big year for races changing their names. Joining the likes of the Critrium du Dauphin (now Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes) and Gent-Wevelgem (now titled In Flanders Fields from Middelkerke to Wevelgem), Paris-Roubaix has officially changed its name to Paris-Roubaix Hauts-de-France. Will anyone actually call it that? Probably not.The post Pro Log: Isaac del Toro is a sprinter; Austin Butler is Lance Armstrong; Demi Vollering is inevitable appeared first on Cyclist.

Race officials play a central role in shaping each stage of the UAE Tour, issuing formal decisions that can affect individual results, team strategies and the general classification. This rolling jury and fines report documents all official rulings released during the UAE Tour 2026, including penalt...

CyclistVolta ao Algarve 2026 preview: Route, favourites, how to watch and start listAfter the European openers in Spain and France, the peloton moves to the southern coast of Portugal for the 2026 Volta ao Algarve. Starting on Wednesday 18th February, the five-day stage race looks poised to be a decisive battle for the GC contenders in this early-season period.Last years edition was a closely fought contest between a host of star names, including Jonas Vingegaard, Joo Almeida and Primo Rogli. In the overall standings, the Dane would come out victorious, with the home nations Almeida in second and Ineos rider Laurens De Plus in third.The 2025 champion has decided to skip this years Volta ao Algarve, leaving Joo Almeida to start as favourite for the title. Hell be alongside a fleet of riders targeting the 2026 Tour de France later this year as Florian Lipowitz, Oscar Onley and Juan Ayuso bid for the yellow jersey.Volta ao Algarve 2026 key informationJoo Calado/FPCDate:18th-22nd February 2026Start: Vila Real de Santo Antnio Finish:Malho (Loul)Stages:5Distance:673.7km2024 winner:Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike)Live television coverage:TNT Sports, Discovery+, RTVE, FloBikes, HBO Max, EurosportVolta ao Algarve 2026 route and stage-by-stage previewThe parcours for this years Volta ao Algarve offers a well-balanced mix of profiles, with two stages suited to the sprinters, two for the climbers, and an individual time-trial for equal measure.It all begins in the eastern tip of the region towards the Spanish border, where the sprinters will get a shot at stage victory in Tavira. The following day, the race heads further down the coast for the first summit finish of the week at the Alto de Fia.The GC will receive another shake-up on Stage 4 as the riders navigate a flat 19km time-trial in Vilamoura, followed by one last sprint into Lagos. That leaves one last mountaintop finish at the end of Stage 5, which loops around the centrepiece climb of Malho. Related Posts We predict every men's WorldTour race in 2026 What to expect from every mens WorldTour team in 2026 Is 2026 make or break for JooAlmeida? UAE Tour Men 2026 preview: Route, favourites, how to watch and start list Stage 1, Wednesday 18th February, Vila Real de Santo Antnio Tavira, 183kmThe race gets underway in the border town of Vila Real Santo Antonio. The first 50km will skirt along the Spanish frontier before turning towards the coast for a succession of two hills. The riders will pass through Vila Real Santo Antonio for a golden kilometre, featuring three bonus second sprints, before heading west towards Tavira on flat roads.Stage 2, Thursday 19th February, Portimo Fia, 147kmThe second stage starts along the coast in Portimo, known for its motorsport track. The first two-thirds of the stage are largely undulating, with a few categorised bumps along the way. After passing through a quick succession of intermediate sprints in Casais and Serenada, the riders will face the Alto de Fia (8.8km at 6.2%). Used in every edition of the Volta ao Algarve since 2017, the peak has crowned Tadej Pogaar and Remco Evenepoel in the past. Last year, UAE Team Emirates XRGs Jan Christen took the stage honours atop Fia.Stage 3, Friday 20th February, Vilamoura Vilamoura, 19.5km (ITT)The time-trial bikes will get an outing on Stage 3 for a 19km race against the clock. The profile offers just 140m of vertical gain, so expect the purists to thrive on this flat test around the marina town of Vilamoura.Stage 4, Saturday 21st February, Albufeira Lagos, 175kmWe head to the holiday town of Albufeira for the start of Stage 4. The route wraps around the western part of the region, with another golden kilometre on offer at Alzejur, the races most westerly point. From there, the race returns to the southern coast for an expected sprint in Lagos, a frequent host city for the Volta ao Algarve.Stage 5, Sunday 22nd February, Faro Malho, 148kmThe final stage heads out from the regional capital of Faro. After a brief run-in with the coast, the peloton will turn inland for a relentless final 60km, which features four classified climbs as part of a finishing circuit. The loop covers Soidos (2.1km at 7%) first, then the Alto do Malho (2.7km at 8.9%), just 10km after the summit. On the final lap, the Malho will serve as a summit finish.The Alto do Malho has welcomed the Volta ao Algarve on each edition since 2009. While Tom Pidcock and Jonas Vingegaard appear on this mountains roll of honour, Alberto Contador is the most successful visitor, having won here on three occasions.Volta ao Algarve 2026 favouritesJoo Calado/FPCTheres a host of top stage racing names at this years Volta ao Algarve. Given our early point in the season, many GC contenders will be using the event as a chance to get their 2026 season underway.One of those riders is Ayuso, who will be using the race to make his debut in Lidl-Trek colours. The Spaniard should perform well in the two punchy finales and the 19km race against the clock. Hell also want to prove himself after leaving UAE Team Emirates XRG in tense fashion last autumn.We shouldnt discountAlmedia either. At his countrys biggest stage race, the UAE rider will be highly motivated to finally add this race to his palmars. Recent form from the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana suggests hell be in contention for a podium, with a similar pair of support riders in Brandon McNulty and Felix Groschartner. Regardless, seeing Almeida go head-to-head with Ayuso will also be an interesting storyline to follow after the pairs escapades over the last few seasons as teammates.Among the other names here, look towards Ineos debutants Onley and Kvin Vauquelin, last years white jersey winner Lipowitz and youngster Paul Seixas to light up proceedings at this years Volta ao Algarve.Cyclists ratings: JooAlmeida (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek): Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Oscar Onley (Ineos Grenadiers): Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers), Kvin Vauquelin (Ineos Grenadiers), Danel Martinez (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM), Matthew Riccitello (Decathlon-CMA CGM): Maximilian Schachmann (Soudal-QuickStep): Jarno Widar (Lotto-Intermarch), Yannis Voisard (Tudor Pro Cycling), Felix Groschartner (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Max Poole (Picnic-PostNL)How to watch Volta ao Algarve 2026Joo Calado/FPCViewers in the UK can only watch the Volta ao Algarve on TNT Sports, which is available to stream through Discovery+. Every stage will be aired on TNT Sports 1, often after the conclusion of both the UAE Tour and the Vuelta a Andalucia.Elsewhere, FloBikes has the coverage across Canada, while most of Europe will be able to tune in via Eurosport or its streaming services Discovery+ or HBO Max. For free-to-air coverage in Portugal, all five stages will be broadcast on RTP.If the race isnt being broadcast in your country, or you are travelling abroad, a VPN will allow you to hide your devices location to access content that is normally geo-blocked. Read more:How to watch cycling for less in the UKRead more: Which countries can watch cycling for free in 2026?UK TV timesStage 1, Wednesday 18th FebruaryTNT Sports 1:15:0017:00Discovery+: 15:0017:00Stage 2, Thursday 19th FebruaryTNT Sports 1:15:0017:00Discovery+: 15:0017:00Stage 3, Friday 20th FebruaryTNT Sports 1:15:0017:00Discovery+: 15:0017:00Stage 4, Saturday 21st FebruaryTNT Sports 1:14:3015:45Discovery+:14:3015:45Stage 5, Sunday 22nd FebruaryTNT Sports 1:14:3015:45Discovery+:14:3015:45International broadcastersCanada:FloBikesEurope:Eurosport (not UK and Ireland)Portugal:RTP, EurosportUnited Kingdom:TNT SportsUSA: MaxVolta ao Algarve 2026 startlistJoo Calado/FPCData powered by FirstCycling.comThe post Volta ao Algarve 2026 preview: Route, favourites, how to watch and start list appeared first on Cyclist.

The original plan for Jorgen Nordhagens 2026 season was clear. The UAE Tour was meant to be the first race in which he would line up alongside Jonas Vingegaard, beginning a year designed around learning directly from Team Visma | Lease a Bikes established GC leader. Vingegaards withdrawal from th...

The Velduro Rogue broke cover as a 3D printed mock up at the China Cycle Show in May last year. It's a high-pivot enduro e-bike powered by the DJI Avinox M1 motor and MBR has just been sent one for testing. Before Danny Milner gets out riding on the Rogue, though, he's taken it to the workshop and measured the weight, geometry and travel.If youve been wondering what Danny Milner and Alan Muldoon have been up to, then wonder no more and head Continue reading

Tim Wellens described his victory at Clsica Jan as the outcome of an early decision that demanded discipline rather than aggression, after choosing to commit long before the race reached its natural point of tension. For Wellens, the defining element of the day was not the final margin, but the fa...

Im going to try to write this first paragraph without sounding like an old git reminiscing about the good old days of biking. First off Ill say that the old days, the late 1980s early 1990s when Mountain bikes were new and those of us who got into off road riding at that time took our first pedal in the dirt were pretty bad. Bad bikes unless you spent a silly amount of money, bad components and hardly any parts back up if you broke anything. This was pre internet so no surfing the web for the best prices or how to videos, even your local bike shop unless you were very very lucky was really only interested in road bikes so were reluctant to stock parts for MTBs.ok, I know those of you born this side of the milienium are now thinking get on with it grandad! well my point is (and this will reinforce the old fogey opinions) youve never had it so good!Back then, we expected that the bike was probably not going to make it to the end of the ride without some sort of mechanical. Im not just talking punctures either although they were many as we only had tubes and tyres were heavy and still managed to be fragile. Im talking about broken chains, rear mechs, front mechs (remember them?) 26 rims that needed truing after every ride, ball bearings either seizing as the seals were so bad water just flowed straight past them or bearings just falling out as the manufacturing tolerances were stuck in the 70s and not designed for the job. It was fun, learning to rebuild your bike on a friday night until 1am so you could at least get to the start of the ride on Saturday morning was a great way to learn how things worked and Im still amazed I could rebuild a shimano freehub with bearings scrounged from my local motor factors on my stairs with totally inappropriate tools, some of which came from the cutlery draw in the kitchen!I think Ive painted a picture there and Ive done it to point out how good todays bikes are. We have come a long way. The bikes still shift with deraileurs be it cable or electronic but I cant remember the last time I had a mechanical problem out riding and with the advent of tubeless technology I have to check my pump and tyreslevers are still working every now and again as they get used so infrequently. Bikes are much more reliable now and are built so they can take on the demands of off road riding and still be in one piece afterwards. But being blas about this reliability is a mistake. Even the best most expensive bike still needs maintenance, you need tools to do this and to fit those gram saving upgrades to your pride and joy, some tools will even indirectly save you money.So here are a few of the tools I think every home mechanic should have in the garage/shed/bottom of the stairs, Topeak and their importer Extra UK very kindly took a look at my list and sent out the Topeak tools they thought best fitted the bill.Topeak Hex setA good quality set of Allen wrenches/Keys should be at the heart of every cyclists home maintenance kit, this one from Topeak runs from 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10mm. They are T type and the T piece is moveable, sliding from one side to the other enabling you to get into tight areas. The T gives you more control and leverage than the standard L shaped wrench. Each also has a plastic speed sleeve on the main shaft which you can hold while you twizzle (technical engineering term for turning rapidly) the end for rapid tightening and untightening of bolts. The wrenches have a straight cut end rather than a ball end. This makes engaging bolt heads at an angle more awkward but does ensure the risk of rounding off of allen bolts is reduced and gives excellent tool to bolt engagement when undoing stubborn hardware.The tools come in a plastic stand that feels robust, has a magnetic tray so you dont loose tiny steel parts and the hex key carrier can be detached to hang on a tool wall. It also fits to topeaks work stand, the E-up Pro. The tools seem to be of excellent quality and weight and should last many years of bike tinkering by expert and the most hamfisted amongst us *waves* alike. The size range should be adequate for all modern gravel, MTB and road bikes unless your bike has some left of field bolt head sizes, if it does its probably Italian.topeak JoBlow sport ex pumptopeak JoBlow sport ex pump smart head Even in the days of tubeless tyre technology you still need to add or reduce the air pressure in tyres. A track pump is a home workshop must have. It takes all the work out of pumping up tyres that you get with using a small hand pump. This JoBlow 120 is the ideal thing to have, its not complicated at all, you dont even have to swap parts in the pump head to change from Presta (thin) to Schrader (car valve) valves. The Topeak smart head does both without fuss. I even used this pump to inflate a car tyre in an emergency one frosty 5am Morning. There I was half asleep on my non working day standing outside not looking forward to swapping and losing the parts of my old pump (all are set to presta) in the dark but i suddenly thought of the smart head and it just pushed straight on, with the lever locked I was able to inflate the tyre and get my other half off to work and go back to bed, I was in love with Topeak smart heads from then on!The Topeak Sport EX pump will inflate tyres to 120psi, hence the name but even roadies have abandonned rock hard tyres now havent they? but if you need that pressure itll do it. Ive even used it to seat tubeless tyres but that might be more about how tight the tyre bead was on the rim and the quality of my rim taping. It isnt designed for that job but it was a pleasant surprise. The pressure dial is large and even though its situated at the bottom of the pump it is easy to read. Ive got nothing other than my thumbs to test the accuracy of the dial but it is definately in the ball park of how much squidge I like from my tyres at 30psi. The pump has a barrel made of steel and a plastic foot and feels sturdy enough to take some knocks. At less than 37 at time of writing it is great value and I cant see you needing anything more than this for your home workshop.Topeak cable cutterTopeak cable cutters nifty cable end openerFrayed cables not only look bad they can get you into trouble too. The frayed end can fail, pull out form under a bolt when under tension and this is at best a loss of gears and at worst a loss of teeth if its a brake inner on a non hydraulic system. Frayed cables are also a nightmare to thread through cables and ferrules if not cut precisely. The Topeak cable and housing cutter looks like a set of garden pruners but it is a simple design that works perfectly every time. They are long enough to get the required leverage to cut neatly through gear and brake inner cable and also through outer cable leaving a neat end with no fraying. They are spring loaded too making life easier. These cutters also have a bonus feature Ive not seen on other models and thats a little pin that you can push into an outer cable and to open up the plastic sleeve to allow much easier access to pass an inner cable through. In a world where there are 100s of cable cutters out there doing the same job that little feature elevates the Topeak version above all the others.Topeak Shuttle tyre leversWith the demise of tubed tyres, tyre levers have become somewhat redundant until it comes time to swap tyres. These Topeak shuttle levers then are a worthy edition to your tool arsenal. Made of tough engineering grade plastic (I presume that makes then stronger?) they come as a set of two levers, one long and one shorter. The longer one has more leverage for stubborn tyres and because they are plastic they are less likely to damage rim tape or wheel rims if you have to get aggressive with them. They clip together which should stop them from getting lost in messy sheds or cars.However, because of the size of the one lever its not something id carry on the bike as theyd take up too much room and if you are running tubeless youll hardly ever need them but they are perfect for home and when a little more oomph is needed to remove or pop on a tyre.Topeak Essential ToolshopTopeak chain tool and ratchetTopeak torque sleeveTopeak quick link pliers and chain hookUp to now the tools have been the basic essentials you get you started with home maintenance. Now if you want to go a touch further Topeak have their Essential Toolshop and it is pretty comprehensive. It consists of Hex (allen) bits 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 mm. Torx bits T10, T15, T20, T25, T30, T40. Phillps x 2 and flat head bits. it has a ratchet for the bits with an extension bar (or speed sleeve as Topeak call it), a chain tool, chain quick link pliers and chain hook to aid rejoining chains, a disc brake/pad spacer and a torque sleeve to make sure your bolts are tightened to manufacturers spec. this all comes in a robust compact carry case. Weirdly, even though this is a lot of tools, all of which are relevant for home bike maintenance the bits are small and fiddly and when swapping the most used bits, the 4-5mm I soon reverted to the Hex key set above. However the essential tool kit was perfect for keeping in the van/car for car park repairs or bolt checks, its come on every biking holiday and was much better than lugging bigger tools around. So, if you are stuck for space at home, I have friends who have to keep their bike in a cupboard under the stairs Harry Potter style then the Essential tool kit is ideal for keeping on a shelf somewhere taking up minimal space and works equally well in a cluttered garage or shed filled with lawn mowers. Topeak chain wear indicatorFinally a tool every cyclist should own. If you dont own any other tools i recommend you buy one of these first. Its a chain wear indicator and its a tool that can save you money. A chain wears out, even a well lubricated one wears out and wears the other steel components it touches such as chainrings, cassette sprockets and pulley wheels on a rear derraileur at the same time. This is fine if you regularly change your chain. however if you dont and wait until a chain is so worn out it starts to affect shifting or all the teeth on everything resemble sharks fins its too late. The wear on other components will be to such a level that simply adding a new chain wont be enough. that brand new unworn chain will not interact with the other components that have litterally changed tooth shape to match the other chain. this causes skipping and chain slip. This is where it gets expensive, changing a cassette, chainring and associated items is going to cost an absolute fortune in parts (and labour if you need a mechanics help).So this tool that costs less than 6 can save you hundreds of pounds by letting you know when to change a chain before it starts wearing out your drivetrain to the point of no return. its very straight forward to use but rather than write paragraphs in a how to style ive stolen Topeaks instructions to show how easy it is, Im sure (hoping) they dont mind.All of these Topeak tools Ive written about have been in use working on my bike for the last 4 months. they endured my hamfistedness, got covered in oil and grease, have been sworn at when Ive dropped one and the bolt Ive been loosening has fallen to the floor never to be seen again. The essential tool kit has been to 3 different countries in the back of my van and saved a couple of my rides from being cancelled and helped a few strangers to get their bike going again. Ive even fixed a couple of machines at work with that kit as no tools were in site! Nothing has broken, none of them look worn out so im confident to say that they will last the average home bike mechanic for years and years and with that longevity in mind it makes the inital outlay to buy them seem more and more insignificant.You can find all of Topeaks tools, those above and many many more on their website here but be careful, once you start buying tools it can get addictive!