Results: 2026 Rabobank UCI CycloCross World ChampionshipsThe post Results: 2026 Rabobank UCI CycloCross World Championships appeared first on IrishCyclingNews.com | Irish Cycling News | IrishCycling.

Cross-country mountain biking is buzzing with chatter around the arrival of 32in wheels and weve heard plenty of rumours about brands considering this largest wheel size for gravel. Now, Australian titanium and steel expert Baum has unveiled the new DBM 32. The benefits of 32in wheels are said to be improved stability, grip and roll over rougher surfaces. What Baum sees, however, is a solution to the problem of building custom bikes for very tall riders. A 32-inch wheel makes a lot of sense for tall and very tall riders, says Darren Baum, but a 32er is not going to work for everyone because of the extra standover and reach. A bigger wheel size allows us to build a bigger frame with better proportions, which is something that has really been missing from the market. Read more: 32in wheels are rolling out what does it mean for your local bike shop? Six months of testing Huge tyre clearances and an ENVE carbon gravel cockpit. Baum Baum has been test riding the bike for more than six months and is now confident enough to offer the larger wheel size to its customers. Until now, it has been reluctant to offer the option because there was limited availability of 32in-specific parts: rims, forks, spokes and especially tyres. However, with the commitment of major players such as Schwalbe, were seeing this burgeoning standard expanding enough for Baum to put the DBM 32 into production. Baum's 32in-wheel gravel bike is now available to order. Baum Baum explains that his decision to add the DBM 32 to the brand's roster isnt based on the trend its down to his experience of riding his own 32in prototype. He also invited other riders to try the bike and provide feedback. Perhaps the most surprising thing has been how quickly everybody has been able to adapt to the bigger wheels, Baum says. They roll really well, offer lots of grip, and they are very stable, which is exactly what we were all saying when we started using 29-inch wheels. 32-inch wheels arent going to replace 29-inch wheels, but they will allow me to make a better bike for tall riders. First DBM 32 details ENVE's full-carbon mountain fork provides huge clearances for the DBM 32. Baum The first production bike, the DBM (Drop Bar Mountain) 32, was built for one of Darrens customersa seasoned cyclist who is 6ft 7in (200cm) tall, with a saddle height of 91cm, and has always struggled to get a proportionally correct bike. The frame is made from seamless 3AL/2.5v titanium tubing, matched to a head tube made from a billet of 6AL/4V titanium. All of the components come via ENVE, including its 32in-compatible rigid carbon mountain fork. The DBM 32 is made from custom-butted titanium. Baum The frames 2.6in clearances have been retained from the (standard) DBM gravel design. That gives enough clearance for the 32in Maxxis Aspen tyres. To get this level of clearance, the seat tube is custom-curved, combined with a 3D-printed chainstay yoke, and by using a wide 89.5mm T47 bottom bracket shell. The ENVE two-piece carbon cockpit is painted to match the frame. Baum The bike is finished with a SRAM XX SL groupset, matched with RED AXS levers, RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post, and ENVE bar and stem. The 32in wheels are custom-built for Baum and everything is finished in a Matt Camo custom paintjob. Pricing is in line with the current DBM gravel bike, with frame-kit prices starting at around AU$13,450 (circa 6,850 / $9,500) and complete bikes from AU$16,192 (circa 8,300 / $11,400). The DBM 32 is finished in full custom paint. Baum

From the 4th to the 8th of February the World Tour peloton take on the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana. A race above many of its World Tour peers in terms of startlist, it features every year a whole array of starts looking to use the good weather and familiar roads to kick off their season. We preview...

Rising from the Bonneville Salt Flats and West Desert (Best Desert), the Silver Island Mountains form a ring of salt-dusted limestone peaks sticking sharply above an ocean of arid white, []The post Salt and Silver Overnighter appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Being a formerly semi-professional and now semi-retired bicycle blogger is not without its perks. For example, I have unfettered access to one of the most comprehensive bicycle museum collections in the worldeven if I do often end up on bikes like this:Also, because somehow Im on a million schlocky PR mailing lists, Im the first to know about exciting new product releases and marketing opportunities:But perhaps the biggest perk is all the lube:See, back inI dunno, 2021 maybe?Dumonde Tech were kind enough to send me a care package. I never thought Id get excited about lubricants (well, bicycle lubricants, anyway), but it turns out this stuff is fantastic. In fact, the pawls on the PRJCT GRVL bike seemed to be hesitating a little bit, so I recently treated them with Dumonde freehub oil:By the way, I couldnt figure out which tool I needed to disassemble the freehub, until I finally discovered I didnt need any tools at all. You just pull it apart with your hands in about five seconds like one of those multi-bit screwdrivers. Amazing.And yes, the lube job seems to have helped.Anyway, Dumonde recently reached out to me asking if I needed a restock, and probably because their lube is so effective and long-lasting I did not. However, Im always thinking about YOU, my cherished readers, and so I asked if they could send me some stuff to give away to YOU, my cherished readers, which they did:Of course now I have to figure out how to give it away, and while Im always thinking about YOU, my cherished readers, its also against my personal belief system to give stuff away without getting anything in return, so lets go ahead and do aBike Snob NYC Spirit of Gravel Lube Giveaway ContestSponsored By: Dumonde TechOh, wait, thats going to need a logo.Cue the AI!Jesus.Why cant AI manage to spell when you GIVE IT THE FREAKING WORDS!?!All right, never mind the logo, heres how going to work. You will write an essay about what the Spirit of Gravel means to you, and you will email it to me using the subject line GRVL GRVL GRVL. Please include a mailing address in your submission. Want to know more? Heres an FAQ:How long does the essay have to be?I really dont care. It can be ten words, or it can be 10,000 words, though the longer it is the less likely Ill read it. In fact, it doesnt have to be an essay at all. It can be a picture, or a song, or an animated GIF, or a limerick, or a haiku. Just keep in mind that whatever it is, you give me permission to reproduce it on this blog, regardless of whether or not you win, though you should let me know whether you want credit or not.What do I get if I win?You get one (1) bottle of Dumonde chain lube and one (1) Dumonde t-shirt. How many winners will there be?There will be two winners because I have two bottles of lube and two t-shirts. One is size M and one is size L. (The shirts, that is.) So please specify which size you want.The above notwithstanding, I also reserve the right to add more winners and award them stuff randomly. Ive got a lot of stuff I dont need and it occurs to me now this could be a good opportunity to de-clutter.Do I have to wear the shirt while I apply the lube?Officially yes, but if I find out you arent I wont rat you out. Just try to wear some kind of shirt, lubing a chain shirtless can be dangerous.Can I dress a salad with Dumonde chain lube?You absolutely can, just as long as you DO NOT EAT THE SALAD.If I do dress a salad with Dumonde chain lube and eat it anyway and get sick or die can I sue somebody?No, you cannot. I just told you DO NOT EAT THE SALAD. What are you, stupid?Yes, I am very stupid. I often put random stuff on my salad and eat it, which is why I have brain damage.Thats not even a question.Sorry.Whatever.How will you choose a winner? Will you look at all the submissions?I dont know, it depends how many come in. Im sort of hoping the winner will just jump out at me. I didnt start a bike blog to do work. Can I play if Im in a country other than the United States?Sure, go ahead, but the harder it is for me to mail you a prize the less likely you are to win anything, and mailing stuff abroad seems like a real hassle. Remember what I just said about work?What if Im in Greenland?You might have had an inside track if we had taken over Greenland, since then it would just be domestic postage, but it doesnt look like thats happening, which is too bad because I bet theres some sweet gravel there.Whats the deadline?Lets call it Sunday, February 8th, 2026, at exactly 11:46am Nuuk time. (GMT-2)Which do you think is the better salad: Caesar, or Greek?Sorry, my attorney has advised me not to answer any more salad-related question.So there you have it. Good luck, and, uh, good luck!SincerelyTan Tenovo

The Tour de France has announced the routes for the three opening stages of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes in 2027. This will be the first time both races have started in the same country, outside France, in the same year and will provide a spectacular six days of top-tier racing for British cycling fans in July. Well run through the 2027 mens and womens UK stages and what to expect. Well also report on reactions to the news, both good and bad, and offer a history of the Tours previous visits to the UK and British riders successes at the Tour. Read more: Confirmed 2027 Tour de France to start in the UK with tri-nation Grand Dpart Mens 2027 Tour de France Grand Dpart stages The three men's Tour stages will span Scotland, England and Wales. ASO The action starts with the team presentations on Wednesday 30 June, which will take place at Edinburgh Castle, ahead of the Grand Dpart on Friday. Expect to see the pros warming up and admiring the sights around the city. Stage 1: Edinburgh > Carlisle Friday 2 July 2027 184km Ca 2,000m elevation gain Stage 1 will head south through the Scottish Borders, taking in towns including Galashiels and Hawick, well-known from the Tour of Britain, before running along Hadrians Wall and heading into England. Theres one categorised climb on the route the 2.2km, 6.7% average gradient Cte de Melrose, contributing to around 2,000m of total ascent. Stage 2: Keswick > Liverpool Saturday 3 July 2027 223km Ca 2,800m elevation gain Stage 2 is a hillier affair, with around 2,800m of climbing and five categorised climbs, predominantly through the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire, before a flattish run into Liverpool. Stage 3: Welshpool > Cardiff Sunday 4 July 2027 223km Ca 3,000m elevation gain Things get even hillier through Wales, with a total of 3,000m of climbing and eight categorised climbs two with average gradients of over 10%. The longest is the 6.6km Cte de Bannau Brycheiniog, a 3.5% climb taking the riders over the Brecon Beacons. Theres a final 12.5km downhill run into Cardiff. Womens 2027 Tour de France Grand Dpart stages The Tour de France Femmes will include two stages around the Pennines and one in London. ASO The full route of the three Tour de France Femmes 2027 stages has yet to be announced, but we know it will twice traverse the Pennines before a final stage in or around London. Stage 1: Leeds > Manchester Friday 30 July 2027 TBA km TBA elevation gain Stage 2: Manchester > Sheffield Saturday 31 July 2027 TBA km TBA elevation gain Stage 3: London > London Sunday 1 August 2027 TBA km TBA elevation gain What has the reaction been to the 2027 Tour de France Grand Dpart? Men's Tour director Christian Prudhomme was won over by the 2014 UK Grand Dpart. Dario Belingheri / Getty Images Christian Prudhomme, the Tour de Frances director, has said: The UK has always welcomed the Tour with passion and pride, and the route details we are revealing today reflect the beauty and diversity of Britains terrain. Bringing both Grands Dparts here is a testament to the strength of our partnership with British Cycling and the enthusiasm of the UK. Official reaction to the announcement has been enthusiastic, with UK government minister for sport, Stephanie Peacock, stating: These routes will reach places few other events can and give people another reason to be proud of where they live. Scottish first minister, John Swinney, said: The Tour de France starting in Edinburgh will be a moment of real national significance and a powerful endorsement of Scotlands ability to deliver on the biggest international stages. Eluned Morgan, first minister for Wales, added: Wales is proud to host a stage of the Tour de France Grand Depart for the first time in 2027, which will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase our stunning landscapes at one of the worlds biggest sporting events. As reported by the local press, reaction in areas the Tours will pass through has been overridingly positive, too. As with the 2014 Tour, there are plans to use the Tours UK stages as a springboard to tackle inactivity and improve mental wellbeing. Named Joy, this initiative will aim to tackle various social issues. It cost around 5m for Florence to host the 2024 Grand Dpart. MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images Not everything in the Tours UK garden is rosy, though. As Charlie Allenby pointed out in his March 2025 BikeRadar opinion piece, hosting one Grand Dpart, let alone two, is expensive. He cites a reported bill of 5 million for Florences 2024 Grand Dpart and 4.2m for the three 2014 UK stages. Total costs for the 2014 UK Tour stages were estimated at almost 30m, although a cost:benefit analysis cited by Allenby suggested that there was a net economic gain of close to 100m. But with the parlous state of UK road racing, he suggests the money could be better spent promoting UK cyclings grassroots and nurturing a new generation of star riders. Snake Pass road has endured repeated landslips, which have reduced the road to one lane in four places. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images There have been questions, too, about the state of roads potentially on the routes, specifically Snake Pass in Derbyshire, which could be on Stage 2 of the Tour de France Femmes. Its reported to need millions of pounds spending to stabilise the road surface, which is suffering from severe subsidence, and is reduced in places to a single carriageway. The Tour may at least provide a kick to get it sorted, with the UK government potentially helping Derbyshire council to foot the bill. Note, too, that Manchester and Sheffield are only 60km apart via Snake Pass. So theres plenty of scope for the race to bypass the road completely, perhaps going in the opposite direction to tackle the Holme Moss climb, which featured in the 2014 Tours Stage 2. The Tour likes its history and frequently makes repeat visits, as highlighted by the Leeds Grand Dpart. The Tour de France and the UK The 2007 Tour started with a prologue and first stage around London. Although this is the first time the Tour de France Femmes has visited the UK, the mens Tour de France has been in the country on four occasions. The first visit, in 1974, saw the peloton, with Joseph Bruyre of Belgium in the yellow jersey, spend a day racing laps of the A38 Plympton bypass in Plymouth before returning to France. It was not judged kindly. Eddy Merckx won the race overall for the fifth time. Miguel Indurain won the 1994 Tour de France, which included two stages in the UK. Pascal Rondeau/Allsport The Tour didnt return until 1994, when the riders travelled through the newly opened Channel Tunnel for two stages: Dover to Brighton and a loop starting and finishing in Portsmouth. The race, overall, was won for the fourth consecutive time by Miguel Indurin. The Tours third visit was in 2007, with a Grand Dpart prologue in London and a first road stage from London to Canterbury over 203km, won by Aussie sprinter Robbie McEwen, before the Tour returned to France, with Alberto Contador winning overall.The five British riders starting the 2007 Tour included two future winners and represented the largest number in 20 years. The two 2014 Tour stages in Yorkshire drew huge crowds. Tim de Waele / Getty Images By its fourth visit in 2014, Britain had caught the cycling bug and the Yorkshire Grand Dpart was a spectacular success, with two stages through the Pennines followed by a third UK stage from Cambridge to London, finishing on the Mall. British favourite for the 2014 overall win, Chris Froome, crashed three times during the subsequent two stages as the race headed through northern France, and abandoned, opening the way for Vincenzo Nibali to win in Paris. Britains success at the Tour de France Brian Robinson was the first British rider to complete the Tour and to win a stage. Ribble The first Briton to finish the Tour de France, in 1955, and to win a stage, in 1958, was Brian Robinson. The first to wear the Tour de France yellow jersey was Tom Simpson in 1962, although that was only for stage 12. Chris Boardman took the yellow jersey in the 1994 Tour prologue time trial in Lille, the second UK rider to wear it, and held it for the subsequent three stages, although he lost it to Johan Museeuw before the race headed through the Channel Tunnel to the UK on Stage 4. Chris Boardman was Tour race leader on three occasions in his career. He was followed the same year by Sean Yates, who also wore the jersey for only one stage. Boardman again took the jersey for a single stage in both 1997 and 1998, following wins in the prologue time trial. He was followed in 2000 by David Millar, who took the jersey in the first-stage time trial and held it for stages 2 and 3. Team Sky's run of Tour wins began with Bradley Wiggins in 2012. John Berry/Getty Images It wasnt until 2012 that Britains run of overall wins started with Bradley Wiggins, followed in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017 by Chris Froome. He was succeeded in 2018 by Geraint Thomas. Starting in 2008, Mark Cavendish was racking up stage wins, as well as donning the yellow jersey in 2016. By 2024, hed reached a total of 35 stages, the greatest by any rider at the Tour and almost half the UK riders total tally of 78 stage wins. He also scooped up the Tours green points jersey in 2011 and 2021. Adam Yates (no relation) is the only other British rider to date to wear yellow, but no British rider has yet won a stage of the Tour de France Femmes or led the race.

A team time trial victory. Two solo wins. Three race days that were never meant to happen in the original plan. Remco Evenepoel could hardly have scripted a more emphatic first appearance in Red Bull colours at the Challenge Mallorca. The narrative before the week began was simple. Evenepoel would r...

When Simon Yates sudden retirement left a Giro winner-sized hole inside Team Visma | Lease a Bikes Grand Tour plans, many outside the team assumed the pressure would immediately shift onto the shoulders of the squads newest climbing recruit, Davide Piganzoli. Inside the team, however, things look...

Specialized has issued a stop-ride notice on all of its Turbo Como SL models after identifying a potential issue with the forks. The brand says the steerer tube on affected models may develop a small fatigue crack, which could lead to a progressive failure of the fork, posing a fall hazard. All Turbo Como SL bikes sold from 2021 onwards are affected, including all Turbo Como SL 4.0 and 5.0 bikes, with belt or chain drives. Specialized says the 'Como SL' marking typically appears as a small, subtle graphic on the top tube or back of the seat tube. Other Como bikes without the 'SL' designation are not affected. The brand says owners should stop riding the bikes immediately, warn new owners and await an update to its recall page. As of last month, it said it would be several weeks before there are details of an approved rework plan. The list of affected SKUs is here.