Urska Zigarts Grand Tour ambitions no longer feel like a distant projection. As the Giro dItalia Women heads towards its decisive weekend, they are being backed up by results, consistency and another place inside the races top 10. After the race returned to flatter terrain on Stage 6, Zigart rema...

Its a bit of a mouthful, but for the 2026 edition the race formerly called the Critrium du Dauphin becomes the Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes. Why? Well, get ready for a geography lesson. Over the years, the Critrium du Dauphin had been the classic warm-up race for contenders in the Tour de France, starting less than a month later. The Tour de Suisse is another popular pre-Tour leg-stretcher, and where Tadej Pogaar, winner of the 2025 Dauphin, will line-up this June. But despite its name, the Critrium du Dauphin had long since spread beyond the historic Dauphin province around Grenoble, with the modern race now traversing a much larger part of south-eastern France. Even the name Critrium du Dauphin was a fairly recent construction, with the race established by the Dauphin Libr regional newspaper in 1947 to promote its circulation, and known by that original name until 2010. We'd all become very familiar with the Critrium du Dauphin, though, and there's no doubt that the Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes is a tongue-twister. So what's behind the name change of one of the most prestigious week-long stage races in cycling? Cycling's shameless self-promotion Regardless of the name, the race takes in some of the most spectacular and challenging terrain in France. Getty Images Theres a long history of newspapers and other organisations using bike races to promote themselves. Even the Tour de France was established in 1903 to increase the sales of a newspaper ironically called LAuto and printed on yellow newsprint, which subsequently lent its colour to the race leaders jersey. Meanwhile, the Omloop Nieuwsblad race in Belgium is also named after a newspaper (it dropped the 'Het' from its name this year). It too had previously changed its name, having been called Het Volk from 1947 to 2009, when the Het Volk newspaper, the race's original promoter, ceased publication. Tadej Pogaar won the 2025 race. Getty Images As for the race in question well, France has seen a series of reorganisations of local and regional governments and, in 2014, the Auvergne and Rhne-Alpes regions, where the action takes place, were merged into one: Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes. It's an equivalent administrative level to the Hauts-de-France region that's the title partner of Paris-Roubaix (now known officially as Paris-Roubaix Hauts-de-France) and the Grand Est region, hugging the border with Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany in north-eastern France, which will host the 2028 Tour de France Grand Dpart. So where is Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes? The race takes place across the mountainous Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes region. A.S.O. The Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes covers a hefty chunk of central and south-eastern France. It's one of 18 administrative 'regions', which are made up of 101 'departments'. Much of the Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes is mountainous, and it includes departments in the Massif Central, along the Rhne valley, including Frances second city Lyon, and the high Alps reaching up to the Swiss and Italian borders. Now you know. Getty Images Its a geographic area that reflects where the modern race takes place, so the new name more accurately represents where the 'Dauphin' goes. Its a new name that fully reflects the race's regional roots, said Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme. The Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes region is also now one of the races major partners, giving that financial backing a front-and-centre position among any new fans tuning in to the race although we'd wager that it'll be referred to as 'the Dauphin' by existing fans for some time yet. Who's riding this year's race? Teenage star Paul Seixas has the weight of France building on his young shoulders. With Pogaar, who won last year's race by 59 seconds ahead of Jonas Vingegaard, heading to the Tour de Suisse, all eyes will be on Paul Seixas at the Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes. The 19-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame and will use the race to fine-tune his prep for the Tour de France, where he's set to become the youngest starter for 89 years. The Decathlon CMA CGM Team rider has won the Itzulia Basque Country stage race, Faun-Ardche Classic and La Flche Wallonne this season, and finished second behind Pogaar at Strade Bianche and Lige-Bastogne-Lige. If he wins the Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, expect the Seixas hype train to go into express mode ahead of the Tour de France Grand Dpart in Barcelona.

Hot (or should I say cool) on the heels of their lightweight Habanero Delta Jersey launch, San Franciscos Ornot is continuing to ramp up for riding in warmer weather. This time, with the launch of their new pro-cut n racey Park Jersey. And, complementing that, is a new Lightweight Wind Vest. And, these new items are available in both mens and womens cuts, while being chock full of stylish performance.(Photos / Ornot)Lets check em out. Park JerseyRetail: $168Ornots Park Jersey is their most fitted cycling jersey, with a very intentional race-fit. The Park Jersey also stays with Ornots ethos of wearing a performance jersey without feeling like a billboard.The pro-cut Park Jersey is a tight-fitting performance jersey thats aerodynamic, compressive, and cut for riders who want to go fast. Every component is made from recycled materials, and the fabric provides UPF 30 sun protection. Sporting three rear pockets plus a zippered side pocket, you can bring all the carbs you can fit in it, Ornot.Features:Recycled Italian-engineered fabricCertified OEKO-TEX 100Performance race-fit. Size up if youre between sizes3 rear pockets plus one rear side zipper pocketRear side zipper pocket for keys and credit cardsMoisture-wicking fabric that keeps up with youRear reflective detailing for low-light visibilityTemp range: 72 and up30+ UPF sun protectionLightweight Wind VestRetail: $118Ornot says their Lightweight Wind Vest is built to keep you warm when you need it, while disappearing when you dont. Its made from ultralight 40 gsm ripstop. And sports Oeko-Tex certified recycled fibers. Its designed for compact performance.Its super breathable with an open-knit back panel that ensures a great fit, while contouring around anything that may be shoved in your back pockets. With a C0 DWR finish on the front, riders will stay dry in case a light rain tries to ruin their ride. The two-way zipper allows for easy venting as well. Riders will be easy to spot in low-light conditions with the vests reflective details. And when the temperature rises, the vest packs down to fit in the palm of your hand, in its own tiny internal pocket. At just 75 grams for a size medium, its pretty dang light. That way, its easy to take on all of your rides, Ornot.Features: Lightweight, packable wind protection.2-way zipper for venting and pocket access.75 grams (size Med).Built-in stash pocket.Reflective details on the shoulder and back.Breathable stretch knit back.Made using Oeko-Tex approved fabric.Check out all of the wicked stuff Ornot has to offer at the link below, Ornot. Ornotbike.comThe post Ornot Drops Park Jerseys and Lightweight Vest to Keep you Cool this Summer appeared first on Bikerumor.

Elisa Balsamo continued her remarkable Giro dItalia Women run on Stage 6, sprinting to victory in Brescello after a flat day that briefly threatened to turn into something far more complicated. The Lidl - Trek sprinter came into the finale with only Lucinda Brand left as her final lead-out rider, b...

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Arnaud De Lie won Stage 4 of the 2026 Tour de Wallonie in Eupen, launching his sprint inside the final 500 metres to overhaul Riley Sheehan after a fast, attacking finale. Sheehan had accelerated inside the final 6km and remained at the front into the closing stages, but De Lie came through stronges...

Riding a bike around the world for over a year is tough enough. Now imagine doing it with your dad

Mountain biking legend Charlie Cunningham has died at the age of 78 in his native California. He will be remembered as a founding father of the sport. Cunningham suffered a major bike accident in 2015, leaving him with multiple injuries, including head trauma. MTB photographer and frequent BikeRadar and MBUK contributor, Steve Behr, met Cunningham at home in the mid 1990s and saw his workshop. Behr described Cunningham as friendly, quiet and unassuming as he talked him through the innovations he was working on. Tech pioneer The 1988 Cunningham Racer, built by Charlie Cunningham, paved the way for modern mountain bikes, using oversized aluminium tubing in its construction. Jeff Archer/First Flight Bikes An early proponent of using aluminium for bike frames, Cunningham built his first frame in 1977 and experimented with other exotic materials for components, including a magnesium stem. As well as improving the design for hub and bottom bracket bearing systems, Cunningham also helped develop MTB standards such as wider front hubs and zero-dish rear hubs. He is also widely credited with helping to create the original, iconic Specialized Ground Control tyre. Innovations such as these influenced the speed and direction of the progression of MTB technology. Cunningham, Mark Slate, Steve Potts and Lance Wyeth were the co-founders of the Wilderness Trail Bikes (WTB) brand in Marin, California in 1982. Charlie Cunningham, Wilderness Trail Bicycles co-founder and Fairfax, California resident. Pat Reddix Cunningham, and other inventors like him, helped differentiate MTB tech from road bikes and beach cruisers, playing a part in establishing the discipline as technically advanced, as well as distinct in its own right. He was inducted into the Marin Museum of Bicyclings Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 1988.