CyclistOne down: 5 talking points from the Tour Down UnderAs Jay Vine crossed the finish line in Stirling, he didnt look like a man who had just sewn up his first Tour Down Under title. Who won? he asked after greeting his family in the shade.It had been a hectic race, with many of his UAE Team Emirates XRG teammates crashing out, and the Australian had been downed himself with 90km to go by a kangaroo crossing the road.With the first WorldTour race of the season now ticked off, weve picked out the five biggest talking points and a rider to keep an eye on as 2026 progresses.Highs and lows for UAEUAE Team Emirates XRGThree days into the Tour Down Under and viewers were met with an all-too-familiar sight: UAE Team Emirates XRG dominating. For those who didnt fancy a 2am wake up call here in the UK to watch the action, Jay Vine and Jhonatan Narvezlaunched a successful 14km two-up attack (how very GP Montralof them) to go 1-2 on Stage 2, the first of two GC-focussed days that took the peloton over two ascents of Corkscrew Road. They rolled in together, with Vine taking the stage win and the leaders jersey, which he would keep until the end of the race.Stage 4 to Willunga would be the undoing of Narvez, however. On the longest day of the race, a crash would take down the defending champion, thwarting any possibility of a UAE 1-2 overall and forcing both Narvez and teammate Vegard Stake Laengen to abandon the race.The teams challenges didnt end there, as a pair of kangaroos became entangled in the peloton whilst trying to cross the road on Stage 5. Vine hit the ground and was forced into a bike swap but managed to cross the line safely some 90km later to win his first Tour Down Under title. Teammate Mikkel Bjerg was less lucky, the kangaroo chaos leaving him with fractures in his shoulder and hand. It made for a lengthy injury list after a rollercoaster week.Kangaroo carnage A 'hopping' mad situation! Jay Vine was unfortunate to hit a rogue Kangaroo that was attempting to cross the track during the Tour Down Under! pic.twitter.com/6F5Jdd0Fed SBS Sport (@SBSSportau) January 25, 2026 Much of the beauty of cycling lies in its journey through the outdoors, whether it be ticking kilometres off through the Tuscan countryside or catching a tan in Australia. But this does lend itself to outside interference. Animals, cars and protestors have all interrupted races over the years.While the latter two can be controlled or predicted, animals obviously have no understanding of the fact a bike race is barrelling through their home terrain at warp speed, and unfortunately we had another reminder of that unavoidable truth when two kangaroos collided with the TDU peloton during Stage 5. It was a horrible sight, and reports filtered through afterwards that at least one of the kangaroos had been euthanised as a result of its own injuries. A really sad situation. Related Posts The 9 most anticipated head-to-heads to look forward to in 2026 Pro Log: UAE Tour to feature new super-steep climb; Regg defends Tour Down Under title; Van der Poel and Brand win (again); UK Grand Dpart routes announced Robyn's 6 pro transfers to follow in 2026 King of the Hill: Richie Portes six-year domination on Willunga Hill Willunga Hill cannedCon Chronis/Getty ImagesThe queen stage of this years Tour Down Under ended up being shortened over severe heat and extreme fire danger. Stage 4, the races penultimate stage, was altered to remove the GC-deciding triple ascent of Willunga Hill as temperatures threatened to crest 43C, cutting 45km and the key climbing action from the stage.Race director Stuart OGrady emphasised afterwards that rider and spectator safety is always the number one priority for our event and that the alteration came after consultation with emergency services authorities, riders and the UCI.As a result, the overall podium was sewn up early with Vine, Jayco-AlUlas Mauro Schmid and Australian Harry Sweeny of EF Education-EasyPost making up the top three on GC. The stage finish then became one for the sprinters a very different dynamic than usual.The routes for the Surf Coast Classic races have also been altered this year following a bushfire threat in the Otways region. Calendar changes due to the weather typically occur around the Giro dItalia and the Vuelta a Espaa, but in future years could soaring temperatures force more regular changes to the Tour Down Under? Its something to keep an eye on.Liftoff for Sam Welsford and Ineos GrenadiersCon Chronis/Getty ImagesIneos Grenadiers are not a sprinters team. They dont have the experience of Soudal-QuickStep or pack multiple cards to play such as Alpecin-Premier Tech. They tried to experiment with the signing of Caleb Ewan last year only for the Aussie to retire five months into the year.Still, Sam Welsford joined the team from Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe this winter, leaving behind a squad that was becoming even more GC-centred than it already was with their recruitment of Remco Evenepoel. Welsford is now working under the eye of former Ineos sprinter turned sports director Elia Viviani and the new head of racing Geraint Thomas following the Welshmans own retirement from the pro peloton last year.His first opportunity to shine Down Under came on Stage 1. The Ineos sprint train came to the fore with a quartet of riders in front of Welsford in the final 2km, including prologue winner Sam Watson and the experienced Ben Swift. Despite that, they would be overtaken by Decathlon-CMA CGM, who delivered Tobias Lund Andresen to the stage win. Visma-Lease a Bikes Matthew Brennan would also finish in front of Welsford, relegating the Australian to third, having been forced against the barriers in the dash to the line.Fast forward to Stage 3 and another sprinting opportunity. Things were a little bit different this time, the peloton having to chase down a pair of breakaway riders, who still held a 40-second gap inside the last 4km. The last man standing from the breakaway duo, Groupama-FDJ Uniteds Enzo Paleni, was reeled back under the flamme rouge itself. NSN Cycling Team then tried to take control from a fading Visma-Lease a Bike, with Ineos Grenadiers eventually bringing their man forward in the last 300m through the efforts of Swift and Watson. It was the perfect leadout and Welsford duly scored his first stage win of 2026 by quite the margin ahead of Lund Andresen.They couldnt replicate that success on Stage 4. Things got a bit heated in the final 2km as the Ineos Grenadiers train squeezed and shouldered into a gap between EF Education-EasyPost and Uno X Mobility, but in the end their best-placed finisher Watson only came in seventh as NSN Cyclings Ethan Vernon claimed stage honours. If they continue to work at it, however, all the signs point to Swift and Watson being at the heart of quite the sprint train in months to come.Matthew Brennan notches first win of the yearVisma-Lease a BikeMatthew Brennan opened his own account for the year with a sprint victory on the Tour Down Unders final stage around Stirling. It was a hilly day that looked perfectly suited to the Wout van Aert-esque prodigy and his Visma-Lease a Bike teammates did their part to set him up for success by sweeping up the remainder of the breakaway inside the final 2km.It would be Ineos Grenadiers Micha Kwiatkowski who ignited proceedings perhaps unaware that Watson was not on his wheel and the former World Champion ended up providing an ideal leadout for Brennan. NSN Cyclings Brady Gilmore attempted to go early but Brennan kept him in his sights, reeling him in around the final bend.Brennan was a name on everyones lips for a potential stage win, having already finished a close second on Stage 2. Hes coming off an incredible breakout season that saw him nab stage wins at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, the Tour de Romandie, Tour de Pologne, Lidl Deutschland Tour, the Tour of Britain and the overall at the Tour of Norway, and big things are expected of him in 2026.Rider to watch: Tobias Lund AndresenCon Chronis/Getty Images23-year-old Tobias Lund Andresen moved from Picnic-PostNL to Decathlon-CMA CGM over the off-season and claimed his first WorldTour victory on Stage 1 at the Tour Down Under after a brilliant display of teamwork, with a sprint train that looked locked and loaded well before they delivered their man to victory.As well as his Stage 1 win, Lund Andresen podiumed on three more stages and took home the points jersey too. Combine his talents with the also-newly-signed Olav Kooij plus the wealth of other new signings for the teams sprint train and Decathlon-CMA CGM are well worth keeping an eye on for any flat finishes they target this season.The post One down: 5 talking points from the Tour Down Under appeared first on Cyclist.

The fourth round of the Challenge Mallorca is the Trofeo Andratx - Pollena, which is going to be taking place on the 31st of January this year, estimated to start at 12:20CET and finish at 16:05CET. We take a look at its profile. First held in 1997, the Trofeo Pollena has challenged riders with a...

If you had to pick the most significant places in the history of Irish cycling down the years, the obvious answer is Avenue des Champs-lyses in Paris, where Stephen Roche, Sean Kelly and Sam Bennett had some of their crowning moments. Or Col dze in the south of France, where Kelly and Roche dominated at []

CyclistWe predict every mens WorldTour race in 2026The WorldTour season is underway at long last, with the Tour Down Under now done and dusted over the weekend.Now that weve already made our bold racing, transfer and team predictions ahead of 2026, lets take it a little further this time and cast a full years worth of premonitions. Indeed, well be reaching for our crystal ball once again to take a look at the entirety of the mens WorldTour calendar except the races in Australia.Well run through each of the stage races and Classics in the sports top tier, describing what we see as the potential podium finish, with a small dash of justification, before we inevitably get egg on our face when they turn out to be anything but true in a years time.Lets dig in.UAE TourUAE TourIt seems as though everyone and their dog is going to the UAE Tour this year bar Tadej Pogaar, who has a statue in the country. Hes left his big shoes to be filled by Isaac del Toro, who I think has a good shot here, not least because hes been training in the Middle East more than anyone else in contention.Yes, Im neither backing Jonas Vingegaard nor Remco Evenepoel here. I reckon the latter will crumble on the Jebel Hafeet, while Vingegaard will struggle to keep up with Del Toros aggressive climbing style on the sparkly new Jebel Mobrah. Plus, hes never been the best when it comes to early-season tests.Vingegaard fans, dont worry. Hes going to turn his fortunes around in a few weeksOur podiumIsaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike)Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious)Omloop Het NieuwsbladLuc Claessen/Getty ImagesI think the tectonics of the Classics will shift this spring. Visma-Lease a Bike have shed a hefty chunk of their cobbled roster, Alpecin-Premier Tech likewise, while Lidl-Trek hope to excel more in the Grand Tours than one-day races. If Van der Poel skips any races, that should really throw the door open to other contenders.Given that the Dutchman is expected to skip this traditional opener, prepare for some chaos. While many may lean on Visma-Lease a Bike, QuickSteps beefed-up Classics team looks particularly threatening. Dylan van Baarle and Jasper Stuyven are two former winners of this race, now housed under the same roof.Welcome back, classic Soudal-QuickStep.Our podiumJasper Stuyven (Soudal-QuickStep)Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarch)Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike) Related Posts What are the Grand Tour favourites' race schedules for 2026? Our very early ideal 2026/27 pro cycling transfer window What to expect from every mens WorldTour team in 2026 All the 2026 WorldTour kits ranked from worst to first Strade BiancheXavier PereyronThe organisers have slightly tweaked the route of this Italian epic in an attempt to make it less suited to long-range attacks. Whether this deters Pogi or not is to be concluded, but I can envision an outcome that sees a UAE double-act whizzing up the road. For that, brace yourselves for the Pogaar and Del Toro tandem, rolling through the dusty Tuscan hills at 400W while maintaining a leisurely conversation.The battle for third will be the only thing to save us from the mind-numbing UAE domination. In that sense, Id love to see someone like Paul Seixas or Louis Barr making the bronze medal spot. In reality, its more likely to be Ben Healy or Quinn Simmons.Our podiumTadej Pogaar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)Paris-NiceA.S.O./Billy CeustersThe route for this years Paris-Nice is a little softer than usual. Theres only one high mountaintop finish, but thats offset by a few punchy finales throughout the week. The startlist boasts both Joo Almeida and Juan Ayuso, which will be a fascinating showdown after several seasons spent as teammates at UAE Team Emirates, and it serves up an all-important team time-trial. Remember, one of those will open this years Tour de France.Paris-Nice often delivers a few twists and turns. There are bound to be echelons, crashes and chaos in the rainy first week of March. After some cursed years though, Ill back Joo Almeida for a first stage race victory in France.Our podiumJoo Almeida (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious)Kvin Vauquelin (Ineos Grenadiers)Tirreno-AdriaticoUnipublic / CxclingIf Paris-Nices route is softer than usual, Tirreno-Adriatico is a walk in the park. The Italian race has cut out its mountaintop finishes, leaving just a 3km climb as the only uphill conclusion in this race. Those lighter profiles infused with a time-trial have led some to tip Filippo Ganna, but that seems a little too optimistic in my eyes. Instead, this week-long test reminds me a lot of the 2023 edition, won by Primo Rogli. There are a bunch of Rog-friendly finales, so I reckon itll be a closely fought battle for time bonuses against Isaac del Toro.Our podiumIsaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Primo Rogli (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike)Milan-San RemoDario Belingheri/Getty ImagesThese days, Milan-San Remo is the hardest of the three Monuments to predict. Its also the hardest to win if your name is Tadej Pogaar.After his attempt on the Cipressa last year, I suspect Pogaar will try something similar again in 2026. However, this time teams will be more suspicious of the move. In particular, I think Lidl-Trek will be able to garner some control of the peloton while they pursue the Slovenian and anyone daring enough to follow his wheel. This should allow the race to end in a sprint, which seems like a rarity in La Classicissima these days.The romantic would choose Michael Matthews, but I need to be realistic and back Mads Pedersen. He deserves a Monument more than anyone in the peloton right now.Our podiumMads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)Michael Matthews (Jayco-AlUla)Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Premier Tech)Volta Ciclista a CatalunyaHarry TalbotCatalan racing often delivers in bucket loads. This year, I expect nothing else.The last of Marchs WorldTour stage races will feature Remco Evenepoel, Florian Lipowitz, Jonas Vingegaard, Derek Gee-West and Joo Almeida, just to name a few. Its absolutely stacked with Giro and Tour contenders, and, to be honest, may offer the most competitive start list outside of the Grand Tours.The profiles for the 2026 route havent been revealed yet, but we have an idea of where the race is heading. There are a couple of summit finishes and the traditional punchy circuit around Barcelona. It could all come down to that final day, much like it did last year, but I reckon Vingegaard will get his Giro prep off to a flying start against several of his big rivals. Visma havent scrimped on his team either, as theyve already confirmed that this will be a test run for the Tour de France roster.Our podiumJonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike)Joo Almeida (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Felix Gall (Decathlon-CMA CGM)The Flemish ClassicsXavier PereyronJust like that, were back on the pav in Belgium.The results of these intermediate Flemish Classics are usually dictated by momentum and form during that specific week. Startlists are also relatively fluid during this time of year, so were going to tackle the lot as one big blob, especially given how similar a lot of these courses are to one another. The one exception is the Ronde Van Brugge, formerly Brugge-De Panne, which is a pancake-flat profile free from any big cobbled sections or hills.Chances are Mathieu van der Poel is likely to win any of these races. Judging from the past two years, Mads Pedersen is also bound to be a perennial figure. Keep your eyes on Dwaars door Vlaanderen though, thats often a bit of a free-for-all.Ronde Van BruggeTim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep)Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech)Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)E3 Saxo ClassicMathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)Jasper Stuyven (Soudal-QuickStep)In Flanders Fields (formerly Gent-Wevelgem)Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM)Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)Dwars door VlaanderenMathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek)Matej Mohori (Bahrain Victorious)Antnio Morgado (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Tour of FlandersXavier PereyronWhile its almost 100% certain that hell avoid the cobbles the week prior, Tadej Pogaar is the best rider at the Tour of Flanders. We can be pretty confident of that after two wins in three attempts since 2022. In all likelihood, hell be in flying form come April. On the steeper bergs, the Slovenian will distance everyone, including three-time winner Mathieu van der Poel. Leaving them all in the dust, the Slovenian will win Monument number 11 and, more importantly, receive a morale boost heading into Paris-Roubaix, which he has underlined as his main objective for 2026.Our podiumTadej Pogaar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)Itzulia Basque CountryTommaso Berardi/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesWhile the big guys rattle over the cobblestones, Itzulia Basque Country welcomes a pretty substantial startlist. Primo Rogli, Isaac del Toro and Juan Ayuso lead the early list of favourites, but theres always a surprise or two in this race, which is filled with punchy climbs. In that regard, prepare yourself for a Del Toro vs Ayuso bloodbath, filled with tension from their former days together at UAE.Side note, this race also doubles up as a kids club since teenage sensations Paul Seixas and Jarno Widar are set to take to the start line. They could be contenders for the top five in all seriousness.Our podiumIsaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek)Mikel Landa (Soudal-QuickStep)Paris-RoubaixXavier PereyronDespite his bullish ambitions at Paris-Roubaix, Im not 100% convinced that Pogaar will claim a historic cobblestone trophy. Then again, Pogaar won the Tour of Flanders on his second attempt.To the sound of a thousand yawns, Im going to plough on and declare Mathieu van der Poel the champion of Paris-Roubaix for a history-equalling fourth time. After three consecutive wins, all in different fashion, hes the most proven of the lot on the French pav.Lets spice things up with third place. Theres no fun in predicting Jasper Philipsen or Mads Pedersen, so Ill single out Filippo Ganna. The Italian has been slowly improving on the cobbles, and this race has always been suited to the thoroughbred time-triallists.Our podiumMathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)Tadej Pogaar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)Amstel Gold RaceDario Belingheri/Getty Images)Currently, Pogaars scheduled to take a weekend off after Paris-Roubaix. Since hes ditched the Dutch race, lets go full fantasy. This is how I imagine the race situation.Lidl-Treks Quinn Simmons makes a long-range attack at 80km to go. He pulls out a two-minute gap by the time the peloton reacts. Tom Pidcock and Remco Evenepoel anchor a chasing group, but the pair fail to cooperate once they come within 20 seconds of the lone American. Simmons takes the win, resplendent in the star-spangled jersey, with Pidcock winning the pity party sprint for second place.Our podiumQuinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek)Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5)Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)Flche WallonneA.S.O./Billy CeustersFlche Wallonne has had a couple of shock results over the past few years. I mean, who had Stephen Williams down to win an Ardennes Classic?Currently, Pogaar isnt down to race on the Mur de Huy. That leaves Remco Evenepoel, who has struggled on this finish in the past. Thats important to bear in mind this steep finale is tailored to specialists. With that, Mattias Skjelmose and Kvin Vauquelin have both featured on the podium in recent editions. Ill throw in Romain Grgoire as a contender too, given his consistent top ten results and punchy characteristics.Our podiumMattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)Kvin Vauquelin (Ineos Grenadiers)Romain Grgoire (Groupama-FDJ United)Lige-Bastogne-LigeLuc Claessen/Getty ImagesIf you were sick and tired of the Pogaar-Evenepoel tandem in the Italian Classics last year, then brace yourselves for more this spring. This pair are streets ahead of everyone else on the startlist, having won the five most recent editions between them. Pogaar is ultimately the stronger of the two, so it feels natural to back the Slovenian for yet another Monument title.As always, the more exciting battle will be for third. Our podiumTadej Pogaar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)Tour de RomandieMaxime Schmid/AFP/Getty ImagesJust a few days after romping home to a fourth Monument victory in the Ardennes, Pogaar races a Swiss stage race for the first time as an elite pro.In Romandie, well get to see Pogaar face Roglic for the first time properly since 2022 too, so thats something to look forward to, I guess. That said, Im convinced the Vuelta merchant will end up working for the consistent Lipowitz, who seems to have a real knack for slipping on the podium in rather understated fashion.Our podiumTadej Pogaar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious)Eschborn-FrankfurtGFR/Marcel HilgerTo the five people tuning into this one, the win should be contested by hardier sprinters dodging the Giro. Seriously, this shouldnt even be a WorldTour race.Our podiumArnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarch)Corbin Strong (NSN Cycling Team)Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)Giro dItaliaHarry TalbotBarring any surprises on the build-up to the Bulgarian Grande Partenza, the Giro is expected to be a tale of Almeida and Vingegaard, just like last years Vuelta.Weve analysed both Vingegaard and Almeidas chances in depth, but Ill give you the short and sweet round-up here. Vingegaard is stronger in the mountains, but Almeidas team and time-trialling ability are a level above. On a full Giro course though, this should favour Vingegaard in the tough final week.As for third, I think well see a Jai Hindley renaissance as he returns to his favourite race, spurred on by an expiring contract at the end of the season. The large amount of time-trialling, however, could throw a spanner in the works as Derek Gee-West and Richard Carapaz eye up that third place spot.Our podiumJonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike)Joo Almeida (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)Tour Auvergne-Rhne-AlpesXavier PereyronThe Critrium du Dauphin has a new name, but I doubt anyone will actually be calling it the Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes by the time Remco Evenepoel, Isaac del Toro and Juan Ayuso congregate at the start line in June.This race is often the most reliable litmus test before the Tour de France, but its also quite unique in its Alpine demands. Evenepoel has underperformed here in recent years and Ayuso has some issues with consistency. That said, I reckon the Spaniard will somehow come away with the overall title (only to underperform a month later).Our podiumJuan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek)Matthew Riccitello (Decathlon-CMA CGM)Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Copenhagen SprintMagnus Stenild AndersenAfter making a muted WorldTour debut in 2025, the Copenhagen Sprint returns a couple of weeks earlier in the schedule. This was done to entice more sprinters, but it still clashes with the Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes and it takes place just before the Baloise Belgium Tour. In that regard, its difficult to see who will come here.Our podiumDylan Groenewegen (Unibet-Rose Rockets)Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon-CMA CGM)Gerben Thijssen (Alpecin-Premier Tech)Tour de SuisseXavier PereyronYadda, yadda, yadda, Pogaars here, so you know the drill by now.The rest of the startlist is hazy at the moment, but Id expect Oscar Onley to make a visit to Switzerland ahead of the Tour like last year, and Matteo Jorgenson has altered his schedule to include the Swiss race instead of his usual Dauphin run-up.Its probably not worth tuning into this one.Our podiumTadej Pogaar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Oscar Onley (Ineos Grenadiers)Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Tour de FranceXavier PereyronIm sure Ill flip-flop on my Tour de France call throughout the season. For now though, I dont see an outcome where Pogaar fails to win a history-equalling fifth yellow jersey. The fight for the podium will be intense this year, I reckon. Vingegaard will enter the Tour with buckets of fatigue after the Giro, while Evenepoel and Lipowitzs happy-family situation looks destined to fall apart. Elsewhere, we have no idea what a Juan Ayuso-led Lidl-Trek squad could look like, nor an Ineos Grenadiers team bursting at the seams with viable GC leaders.While Vingegaard suffers his worst Tour de France to date, Ill predict that Visma unveil a stunner of a kit, which will most likely be designed using an AI algorithm. Our podiumTadej Pogaar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike)Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)San Sebastian KlasikoaGonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty ImagesNow, who suits a Basque beret?Personally, I think it would suit Juan Ayuso, who needs a little bit of cheering up after a disappointing Tour. Thats if he decides to show his face in public just one week after his Tour de France stinker, not least in his home nation.That should leave UAE Team Emirates XRG to scoop up the win with someone fresh off their conveyor belt of WorldTour success. This time, I pick Jan Christen, who rode a strong but tactically inept race in 2025.Our podiumJan Christen (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost)Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Tour de PologneMateusz Birecki/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesI have a soft spot for the Tour de Pologne, a race that mysteriously adopts a French name instead of an English or Polish one. Lord knows whos turning up to Gdynia for the start in August. I doubt itll be flooded with big names from the Tour or Vuelta startlists, so consider this Tom Pidcocks best shot at winning a WorldTour stage race. Otherwise, take a bet on any B-tier WorldTour rider with decent time-trial capabilities and an aptitude for rolling profiles.Our podiumTom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5)Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers)Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)Renewi TourDavid Pintens/Getty ImagesLord knows what the Renewi Tours startlist will look like come August. Only a couple of riders have it confirmed on their programme for the moment, so dont expect a Pogaar or Vingegaard cameo.These days, Tim Wellens seems unbeatable in the Renewi Tour (lets not talk about last years edition). UAE will also have a prerogative to win as many races as possible in the hope of surpassing the 100-marker by the end of the year. To make matters even more dominant, Ill double down on my UAE pick and say they get a one-two overall courtesy of Wellens and Belgian teammate Florian Vermeersch.Our podiumTim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep)Bretagne ClassicA.S.O./Oman Cycling Association/Thomas MaheuxFrances forgotten WorldTour Classic has a 50/50 chance of either ending in a reduced bunch sprint or a lone attacker. Those arent ballpark figures either, sprints have quite literally decided 50% of the winners since 2020.Theres a big chance that someone like Mathias Vacek or Benot Cosnefroy could slip away towards the end. However, Im going to play it safe and say it comes back to a reduced bunch sprint. If anything, that saves me some of the guesswork on those daring enough to launch an attack.Our podiumPaul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep)Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarch)Dorian Godon (Ineos Grenadiers)Vuelta a Espaa Unipublic / CxclingThis years Vuelta a Espaa starts in Monaco for the first time. Despite kicking off in his backyard, Tadej Pogaar is sitting this one out. Whats the excuse this time, Tadej?Anyway, this leaves a rather depleted startlist for the three weeks in Spain(ish). Joo Almeida leads UAE in Del Toro and Pogis absence, while Primo Rogli looks to become the first rider in Vuelta history to win five overall titles. To top it off, sprinkle in some Matthew Riccitello, Enric Mas and the Tours walking wounded.On the road, I think itll be a close battle between UAE Team Emirates XRG and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. Almeida doesnt seem like a Grand Tour winner, so I have to trust my gut (and previous predictions) and stand by Rogli. The Slovenian is the Vuelta whisperer, and a historic fifth title would be the perfect send-off if he were to leave Red Bull at the end of the year.Our podiumPrimo Rogli (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)Joo Almeida (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Enric Mas (Movistar)GP Montral and QubecAlex Broadway/Getty ImagesThe two Canadian Classics will hold a little more weight this year, given that the UCI Road World Championships visit Montral later in September. On that note, expect a stacked startlist for the GP Montral as that covers a near identical route as the race for the rainbow bands. Tadej Pogaar has won in Montral twice and gifted the victory away last year, so consider that a done deal. As for Qubec City, we often see a surprise winner or a bunch finish. Reprising his role from 2022, UAE will send new signing Benot Cosnefroy on a late move to claim the victory solo. GP QubecBenot Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Corbin Strong (NSN Cycling)Michael Matthews (Jayco-AlUla)GP MontralTadej Pogaar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)Toms Skuji (Lidl-Trek)Il LombardiaDario Belingheri/Getty ImagesIll make this short and sweet.Pogaar has won five Lombardia titles in a row. He is quite literally unbeaten in the Italian race. Unless he moves to Tahiti or contracts leprosy a week before, the Slovenian will surely add a sixth Lombardia trophy to his collection.Behind Lombardys own pearly king, I see this as a chance for some chasing group chaos, just like in many races over the past two years. Following his impressive performances in the Italian autumn last year, I have my fingers crossed for a podium finish for little old Paul Seixas.Our podiumTadej Pogaar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM)Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)Tour of GuangxiMassimo Fulgenzi / Spring Cycling AgencyIm not a fan of the WorldTour ending on the bum note that is the Tour of Guangxi. Riders are often adverse to raising their hands for this one, while TV broadcasts are often restricted and shown at the very early hours of the European morning. That might be more of a testament to my laziness rather than the race quality.On that point, this race is rarely visited by Grand Tour contenders. In fact, no rider has ever ridden the Tour of Guangxi in the same year as a Grand Tour podium finish. In that case, this could be a good opportunity for some late-season redemption. Our podiumOscar Onley (Ineos Grenadiers)Aleksandr Vlasov (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana)The post We predict every mens WorldTour race in 2026 appeared first on Cyclist.

On the 26th of January, you'd expect there to be a clean sheet of riders who are continuing their career into 2026, and those who are not. However, not everything is either black or white, as a few riders remain in the grey zone. More specifically, 40 of them, as is publicly known. A few World Tour...

Over the last 6 months the bike accessory market has seen a flood of E-inflators. These small rechargable pumps have been marketed as a replacement for the traditional hand pump. Those pumps have been around really since bikes changed from solid tyres to pneumatic rubber versions and are carried on the bike or in a pocket so in the event of a puncture or just a tyre pressure adjustment to cope with a change in riding terrain you can add or release air to suit.The big thing that those traditional pumps have going for them is that they are mechanical. You as the rider are the engine that powers them. As long as youve made the required number of cake shop stops on your ride you should have endless energy to power them. The downside of course is that you need to carry that pump and pumping up a tyre, especially a road tyre to say 90psi takes quite a bit of effort. CO2 cannisters I hear you say! small, effective and they can seat a tyre onto the wheel rim easily. What I say is that they are mainly a one shot job, if you get the applicator incorrectly fitted to the valve you lose all the gas in one go, they can burn your fingers with the extreme cold the escaping gas produces and that cold doesnt always play well with tyre sealant. They are also not refillable and become litter straight away.So a small, rechargable pump sounds ideal doesnt it. lightweight compared to a frame pump, can be used again and again and they work with any sealant on the market. The air being pushed out of them even creates heat instead of cold (theres even a warning about this on most inflators). The fact that its powered by a battery (hard to dispose of) and charged by electricity that (in the UK) is generated by coal fired or nuclear power stations and so is bad for the enviroment is another thing to consider. Then again modern frame pumps are mostly plastic and lets not even go there!So, with the positives and the negatives of the concept of an e-inflator laid out lets look at the Topeak E-Booster mini. Ive tested quite a few inflators now (5 others in fact) but the Topeak version has come along as the first that has UK distributor backing when it comes to warranty etc. Obviously they are all manufactured in China. All the others were direct from China also and any issues would need to be dealt with by contacting a company overseas. So 1st point to Topeak and Extra UK.The Topeak E-Booster Mini weighs in at only 121g on my unverified kitchen scales and is 5.4 x 3.2 x 7.3mm in size.. It has an electronic display showing battery status and switchable PSI/BAR, an on/off button and +/- buttons. it comes with interchangable parts to fit presta or schrader valves and some disassembly is requred to change these over, but thats no different to any other pump. Generally youll adjust it to how your valves are configured once and never change it again. it also comes with a flexible extension tube so if the inflator doesnt fit between your spokes because of deep section rims or weird spoke patterns you can still use it. Topeak also recommend using the extension on TPU inner tubes as the heat generated by the pump might melt the plastic valves!Operation is simple, a long press on the on button to turn the pump on. then using the + or buttons set the PSi you want your tyre to inflate to. Then push the pump onto the valve and press the on button once and the pump will start pushing air into the tyre. Heres a warning, these things are LOUD! and that goes for all e-inflators Ive tried. The Topeak E-Booster Mini then happily pumps your tyre up to the pressure youve chosen and then shuts itself off when the pressure is achieved. If you want to stop it before then then one press of the on button will stop the inflator. Ive not checked to see if the pump achieves the stated pressure as I dont have anything accurate enough to check. What I do have though is my thumbs and they are never wrong! So a quick squeeze to see if its in the normal range I like and then pull the pump off the valve and you are good to go. An extra feature on the Topeak E-Booster Mini Ive not seen on any other inflator is the fact it has a torch light. A double tap on the on button turns the light on or off, quite handy when you drop your valve cap in the grass on a night ride!Topeak claim that the E-Booster Mini on one charge will pump 80psi into 70028 road tyres 3 times and 25psi into 29 x 2.4 4 times. Ive found that itll inflate a typical gravel tyre such as a 700 x 45 to 35psi 4 times. The inflator takes 45-50 minutes to charge from zero to full using a USB-C cable and a little longer if thats via a laptop or similar. The box also contains a handy drawer string cloth bag to keep the inflator and accessories together.So, would I choose to throw away my traditional frame pump and just use an e-inflator? Well, yes and no. For local riding which in my case is probably 85% of my riding Id definately only take the electric inflator. With the reliability of tubeless technology these days I cant actually remember the last time I had to use a frame mounted pump, in fact Id better check its not seized up! So Im more than happy to rely on an e-inflator when im not too far from home and know where i am at all times and I think 4 tyre inflations would cover any eventuality. If i was riding a multi day ride somewhere remote Id want analog back up of a manual pump.Would I chose the Topeak E-Booster Mini over all the other e-inlfators Ive tried? Yes definately, its proved to be reliable and robust, its taken a few knocks and drops and continued to work as described but a big thing for me is the UK back up and the peace of mind that comes with it.you can find more details on the Topeak E-Booster Mini here

From the 28th of January to the 1st of February, the peloton will take on the Challenge Mallorca. The five-day event is split between five one-day races, each with very different courses and suited to different riders. This includes the Trofeo Calvia, Trofeo Ses Salines, Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana,...

First of the trial lockers planned for the Capel Street and Grafton Street areas. 40 short-term bicycle lockers are to be installed in locations around Dublin City Centre, aimed at people cycling into the city centre to socialise, shop, dine, or visit the many attractions in the area.The lockers, provided as part of a trial by Dublin City Council, will include a variety of types of units and locations. The trial is being run with the support of the National Transport Authority.The use of the lockers, which hold a single bicycle, will be via an app that opens the smart locks on the units. Users will pay per use, although the rental fees have yet to be announced.Cllr Michael Pidgeon (Green Party) said: I had my bike nicked a few years ago, and it was a big blow. Having somewhere secure to lock a bike is a big concern for people going into town especially for people who have new, more expensive bikes. Anything the city can do to allay these fears will help.The trial will be operated by Bleeper, a company that runs its own bike share business and also last year won the tender to run the councils separate BikeBunker locker system for residential use. BikeBunkers were originally trialled before being rolled out as a permanent service, but unlike BikeBunkers, the new lockers will be for short-term use only.IMAGE: An example of a locker.We have much detail on this trial yet, but it seems like a really positive step. Key things to watch are whether people overstay, if they get much use, and whether the visual impact of them is worth the benefit, Cllr Pidgeon said.He added: Im just generally happy that the city is trialling easily reversible stuff like this. Its much better to try something and see if it works, rather than endlessly speculating and debating every possible outcome.In an update to councillors, Dublin City Council officials said: These lockers are intended for short-term use, enabling visitors to securely park their bikes for a few hours while they socialise, shop, dine, or visit the city centres many attractions.Secure cycle lockers will be installed in several public locations (both on-street and off-street) throughout Spring 2026, followed by an evaluation period of at least one year to assess their impact, officials said. The information provided to councillors outlines how the first cycle lockers will be installed at sites on Capel Street and Grafton Street in the coming weeks, with six lockers placed in each location.The council said that the trial will assess the demand for paid secure short-term cycle parking, compare various hardware and software solutions for short-term cycle lockers, and assess the performance of different location types, including on-street vs off-street locations. The process will include getting feedback from locker users, city residents, businesses, and other city centre visitors.Dublin City Council also already offers free indoor bicycle parking on the ground floor of three multistory car parks in the city centre.These are located at the multistory car park on Drury Street, at The Spire Car Park on Cathal Brugha Street, and at the street-level Jervis Street Car Park at 61-66 Jervis Street (not to be confused with the Jervis Shopping Centre car park).Unlike municipal bicycle parking facilities in the Netherlands, these locations in Dublin City Centre are not directly guarded, although they have proven popular.

Scribe Cycling has been making big waves in the industry lately, racking up loads of excellent reviews from top gear publications and stellar fan reports on Trustpilot. From cross country to mountain biking to race-ready triathlon designs, the company boasts a massive fleet of high-quality wheels, ready to climb, descend, and coast with minimum drag.But why are top-tier cyclists turning to (UK-based) Scribe for their wheels? For starters, every wheelset offered by Scribe is wind tunnel-tested, hand built, and quality controlled in Belfast, and backed up by the brands Lifetime Crash Replacement. The company is also revered for its legendary cost-to-watt ratio, which offers world class power at working class prices.(Photo/Scribe Cycling)What Makes Scribe Cycling so Unique?Hand-BuiltThese arent your hum-drum, mass-produced, made in China bike parts. Every set of wheels from Scribe Cycling is 100% hand-built at their center in Belfast, Ireland. The company is keen on only using high filament Japanese Toray carbon fiber for its carbon wheelsets, and T1000 from South Korea for their Ultra range, keeping them ultra-durable and ultra-lightweight. Plus, Scribes high-touch ethos extends to its customer service team, too. Send them an email, and youll get a response from an experienced cyclist with an advanced level of buyer support.Intensive TestingThe folks at Scribe Cycling are serious about the testing and quality control of every wheelset that they ship out. Not only is every piece individually checked in Ireland for tension, weight, roundness, and trueness before its shipped to an expectant bike fanatic, but the brand also boasts decades of product innovation. This includes extensive wind tunnel testing to ensure top-tier aerodynamics that mean more speed and less drag when youre out on the road. Check out Scribes YouTube Channel for a birds-eye view at the companys best-in-class testing.Cost DifferentiationNot only does Scribe offer a 3-year Infinity Warrantyagainst workmanship and manufacturing defects, but the company also provides an industry-leading lifetime crash replacement, because, hey, we all take a tumble sometimes. Theyve also run the numbers and sussed out that Scribes wheels offer the best cost-to-watt ratio in the business, meaning that the premium speed and performance you get comes at a price that beats out all the competition.And, when youre ready to upgrade your Scribe wheels, you can utilize their Re-Gen program, which offers steep discounts on a new set of wheels when you return your old set.Scribes High-Performance Wheel CollectionsRoadScribe boasts a high number of road-ready wheelsets for professionals ready to splurge and intermediate riders just upgrading their kit. The brands INCEPTION collection is ideal for riders who are stepping up to carbon wheels for the first time. These super-lightweight models offer a premium upgrade that youll feel right away, without the premium price tag of competitors.Closeups of Scribes OSL8 carbon spokesScribes testing at the Silverstone wind tunnel found measurable watt savings from the new OSL8 spokes.The companys PERFORMANCE Range is a step up from its incredible INCEPTION Collection and is backed by extensive in-the-field testing and internal R&D. The wind tunnel-optimized lan SL series offers featherlight OSL8 (Oscillate) carbon spokes and double-disc ratchet drive hubs for high durability and faster engagement. On the slightly more affordable side, Scribes Core SL offers steel Alpina spokes from Italy, rather than carbon, for optimized race performance. The same series is also available in a rim brake style, if thats your pleasure.Ready to seriously upgrade your set for your next Ironman or hometown triathlon? Scribes Tempus series should be on your list. Sporting ultra-durable T1000 carbon fiber, ceramic bearings and 28mm integration, these babies offer second-to-none aerodynamic performance.Finally, Scribe has recently launched their ULTRA lan range which brings completely new spoke technology to the market through their OSL8 wavy carbon spokes, and their ULTRA CORE range that Scribe claims is the fastest up-to 65mm wheelset on the planet!GravelIf youre a serious, race-focused cyclist seeking the absolute best in top-performing wheels, check out Gravel Carbon collection. With their carbon fiber rims, Berd spokes and ultra-responsive hub system, theyll get you into the backcountry and back to town with impressive (and lightweight) aerodynamic performance.Mountain BikingScribe also has a Mountain collection that they sell through their partner SILT MTB. SILT Mountain Collection was made for adventurous cyclists looking for rugged durability and control when theyre descending slickrock or rolling over miles of bumpy singletrack. SILTs Downhill series is hand-built with 6069 welded alloy rims and steel spokes for affordable, trustworthy performance on even the most demanding terrain. Similarly, the highly-durable Enduro series is made with steel spokes and brass nipples, but utilizes either hardened 6069 alloy or reinforced carbon fiber for lightweight rim performance that you can depend on in the wilds.For epic cross country MTB wheelsets that deliver top-tier precision and durability on gnarly trails, consider upgrading to Scribes SILT Carbon Cross Country series. Reinforced carbon fiber helps keep these wheels ultralight, while single-disc 45-tooth ratchet drive hubs offer unparalleled responsiveness on demanding climbs and descents.(Photo/Scribe Cycling)How to Carry Scribe CyclingEverything Scribe does is with the next decade of riding in mind.They plan for the future by actively designing, developing & wind-tunnel testing new and innovative products each and every quarter, staying well ahead of the industrys ever-changing landscape. They also prioritize their IBD partners and aim to give them early access to these innovations before public release. The brand offers wheels for road, TT / IM, and mountain bike (with SILT MTB). All dealer enquiries should be directed to: dealer@scribecycling.com(Photo/Scribe Cycling)This post was sponsored byScribe Cycling.The post Bike Wheels Hand-Built in Belfast: Scribe Cycling Wants to Revolutionize Your Riding Experience appeared first on Bikerumor.

The final race of the 2026 Challenge Mallorca is the Trofeo Palma, the race best suited to the sprinters. This will be taking place on the 1st of February, starting out at 10:30CET and finishing at 14:05CET. The Trofeo Palma is the last of the Challenge Mallorca races this year and is also the gran...