The new super-light SLR Racing Replica saddle is hitting the road. The same applies to an expanded roster of pro teams that will race aboard Selle Italia saddles across the WorldTour and ProTeam ranks next season.At just over 100 grams, the new SLR Racing Replica sits squarely in the no compromises performance camp, bringing technology developed under professional riders to cyclists chasing race-day performance on their own local roads.(Grand Prix Cycliste la Marseillaise 2026 47th Edition Marseille Chteau-Gombert Marseille 145,8 km 01/02/2026 Hugo Houle (CAN Alpecin Premier Tech) A Modern Evolution of an IconFew saddles carry the legacy of the SLR name. Over the years, the shape has become a go-to choice for riders looking for something light, minimal, and ready for aggressive race positions. The new Racing Replica version keeps the recognizable SLR silhouette but updates the underlying construction. At the heart of the saddle sits a carbon fiber skeleton integrated directly into the shell, a structure produced in collaboration with Austrian composite specialist Fibionic.That internal carbon structure allows Selle Italia to reduce the shell thickness to just 1.5 mm while maintaining stiffness and trimming weight without sacrificing power transfer. Combined with redesigned carbon rails and streamlined EVA padding, the result is responsiveness and efficiency.Weight comes in at 109 g for the S3 size and 113 g for the L3, placing the Racing Replica among the lightest race-ready saddles currently offered in the brands lineup.Shorter Leaner More Race FocusedThe SLR Racing Replica also adopts a slightly shorter overall length, now measuring 242 mm, roughly 6 mm shorter than the previous generation and edging closer to current UCI limits.Padding has also been reshaped, with less material at the rear after pressure-mapping analysis showed that much of that area sees minimal rider contact in aggressive road positions. The result is a cleaner, more compact platform designed for riders who spend long stretches in the drops or push forward in race situations.Despite its minimal appearance, Selle Italia says testing with professional riders showed that the new shell construction maintains stiffness longer over time than more traditional saddle builds.SLR Racing Replica Saddle Available Now The SLR Racing Replica launches in two sizes:S3 130 x 242 mmL3 145 x 242 mmBoth versions use oversized carbon rails and EVA padding, with an MSRP of $439.90 USD.Selle Italias Pro Presence Expands for 2026Alongside the product launch, Selle Italia confirmed its continued investment in professional racing through partnerships across both mens and womens squads next season.On the mens side, partnerships continue with WorldTour teams including AlpecinPremier TechandNSN Cycling Team. ProTeam sponsors include Cofidis, TotalEnergies, Tudor Pro Cycling, Caja RuralSeguros RGA, Team FlandersBaloise, and Solution Tech Nippo Rali.New partnerships for 2026 include expanding new programs such as Modern Adventure Pro Cycling and Unibet Rose Rockets.Selle Italia is also expanding its focus on womens racing, backing FenixPremier Tech at the Womens WorldTour level and Cofidis Women Team and Ma Petite Entreprise in the Womens ProTeam ranks.The SLR Racing Replica is available now through Selle Italia dealers worldwide.The post Selle Italia Ultra-Light SLR Racing Replica Saddle & Expands WorldTour Team Lineup for 2026 appeared first on Bikerumor.

This Monday, the 16th of February, the peloton will take on the Clsica Jan Paraiso Interior. The four-year old race has been won by Tadej Pogacar, this year it has Tom Pidcock as its headliner, and next year it aims for no less than cyclocross World Champion Mathieu van der Poel at its startlist....

Rose focuses on aero and performance with their new Shave series. Their top specd Shave FFX utilizes aerospace-grade Torayca M40X carbon for a ridiculously light frame.But they didnt leave out the endurance athlete with the Shave. For those looking for a bit more of an all-day comfort experience, Rose gave the Shave their AergoConcept design.Simulated Wind TunnelsAerodynamics was the centerpiece of the new Shave, with the Rose Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool serving as the basis for its aero design. The CFD tool essentially acts as a virtual wind tunnel, where they use software-based analysis methods to simulate air flow around a bike.Using CFD, Rose can see the effects of geometry and component changes significantly easier. They were also able to consider the shapes and junctions of each individual section of the frame. Top tubes, down tube, seat tube, etc., were all individually tested with the CFD software and optimized for aerodynamic performance.But, for those of you assuming this is where aero testing stopped, youd be wrong. All of the CFD testing was to build an optimized prototype of the Shave for wind tunnel testing in real life.Three Bikes, One Rose ShaveWith the new Shave, Rose expected aerodynamic performance standards to be high while maintaining a more comfortable geometry. They claim the Shave is the answer for those who refuse to compromise on speed during long days in the saddle.Rose accomplishes this with their all-new AergoConcept. Using the CFD tool, the Shave was designed with geometry that leans slightly toward the endurance cycling side of things. When compared to the Shave FF or FFX, the Shave has a slightly shorter top tube, and longer head tube, chainstays, and overall wheelbase. It also has a slightly slacker head tube angle, seat tube angle, and a touch lower bottom bracket. Most importantly, it has a much higher stack, meaning the rider will sit more upright for comfort. The frame, wheels, and cockpit are all carbon, keeping weight down and performance high. Rose offers the Shave in four builds: 105 Di2, Rival AXS, Ultegra Di2, and Force AXS, with pricing starting at 3,600.Shave FF (left) and FFX (right)The Shave FF and FFX are unapologetically fast. Here, Rose prioritized aerodynamics above all else. The result is longer reach with a steeper and more aggressive geometry designed to push the limits on the road.Rose uses the same carbon layup for the Shave and Shave FF frames with a weight of 850g. Weight is cut even further with the aerospace-grade Torayca M40X carbon used in the Shave FFX, which has a frame weight of 795g.The Shave FF is offered in an Ultegra Di2 or Force AXS build, and starts at 5,600. Roses Shave FFX comes with a Dura-Ace Di2 or Red AXS build and starts at 8,000.See all the details at rosebikes.com.The post Rose Makes Aero More Upright with Their AergoConcept Shave Aero Road Bike appeared first on Bikerumor.

The 2026 Tour de la Provence will take place from the 13th to the 15th of February, giving continuation to the French stage-racing calendar and also returning to the mountains, where the race has in the past seen notable performances. We preview stage 1, which is estimated to start and finish at 11:...

Electric mini-pumps were among the many trendy products in 2025. From Silca and Trek to Cycplus and Muc-Off, many brands threw their hats into the portable tire inflator ring. Topeak was among them, and its E-Booster Digital was my first experience using one of these new-fangled gadgets. Topeak didnt waste much time, and it recently introduced its second pocket-sized compressor, the new E-Booster Digital Mini.As the name suggests, the E-Booster Mini is a smaller, lighter version of an electric mini-pump. But this isnt just a shrunk-down copy of its larger sibling. The Mini has an updated design, a revised shape, and a color display. It sacrifices 17% of its battery capacity for ~30% reduction in weight. It works with all the valve types and comes with everything you need, including a soft storage bag, which I think is a nice touch.I recently got my hands on the new E-Booster Digital Mini. Ive tinkered around with it and run it through a series of inflation tests, and so far, Ive been quite impressed. Not only does it look and feel more refined, but its pumping performance is on par with its larger, heavier sibling, which it has already replaced in my hydration vest.Topeak E-Booster Digital MiniCheck Price at TopeakSpecificationsMSRP: $150Weight (measured): Pump: 121 g, Hose: 22 g, Bag: 8 g, total: 151 gDimensions: 54 x 33 x 72mmMax pressure: 120 psiClaimed accuracy: +/- 2 psiGauge: Digital w/presetBattery Size: 500 mAhCharge time: 45 min.ProsVery compactLightweight much lighter than the larger sizeImproved display screen and locationWorks with all valve typesSurprisingly good pumping performanceComes with a soft storage bagConsFairly expensiveKinda loud like other electric pumpsNeed to remember to check battery and recharge occasionallyJeremy BensonTopeak E-Booster Digital Mini DetailsTopeaks latest electric mini-pump slots in nicely alongside the larger E-Booster Digital and adds to the quickly growing number of options on the market. Given that it is Mini, it isnt too surprising that it has a more compact form and a lighter weight. It has a black polymer-and-alloy housing and measures just 54 x 33 x 72mm, making it easily fit in the palm of your hand. Unlike its larger sibling, the Mini does not come with a silicone cover; it manages heat differently and apparently doesnt require it.All the parts that come with the E-Booster Mini.The button controls and digital display are on the side of the unit, rather than on the back of the larger version. Three buttons, one for power, and + and to change your preset pressure, comprise the controls. On the small color screen, the preset pressure is shown as a small yellow number, while the pressure gauge is displayed as a much larger numbers in white. Once set to a pressure, the unit holds the preset until the user changes it. Units can also be changed between psi, bar, and kg/cm2, depending on your preference.The pump head on the E-Booster Mini can be used directly on Presta, Schrader, and Clik Valves. Switching between them requires unscrewing the pump head and shuffling the two small parts inside to match the valve in question. It also comes with a 2 extension hose for use with the resin valves on TPU tubes.The extension has a Schrader-threaded tip, plus it comes with a separate threaded Presta head, or it fits a threaded Clik head adapter.LED flashlightColor display and USB-C chargingJust below the pump head, a small, integrated LED flashlight can be turned on with a double tap of the button should you need it for use in the dark. The USB-C charging port is on the back of the device, and it comes with a USB-A to USB-C charging cord. According to Topeak, the charging time for the 500mAh battery is as fast as 45 minutes. It also comes with a waterproof bag, plus a soft drawcord storage bag, which is not something all of the other brands include.Topeak provides a chart with inflation estimates based on tire size and pressure, which you can view below. Despite the 500 mAh battery storing 17% less power than the 600 mAh battery in the original version, inflation specs are nearly identical. I ride mountain and gravel bikes, so this chart tells me that the E-Booster Mini should have me covered for four (mtb) to five (gravel) inflations at my usual pressures.Size and WeightWhen I first tried the original E-Booster, I was impressed by its pumping ability and relatively small size. I have since used quite a few different electric mini-pumps, including the very small and lightweight Cycplus AS2 Ultra, which changed my impression of the E-Boosters size and weight. With the E-Booster Mini, however, Topeak addresses the size and weight concerns that some riders had about the original. It may not be quite as small or light as the Cycplus Ultra, but I think it still lives up to its Mini description.With dimensions of 54 x 33 x 72mm, the Mini looks and feels significantly smaller than its larger counterpart. While it may not look it side-by-side, it feels about half the size/volume in hand. That translates directly to its packed size as well, making it much less obtrusive in your hydration pack, jersey pocket, or saddle bag. Compared to some of the chunkier options out there, it should also be much easier to fit into in-frame storage compartments.Mini vs. originalMini on the scaleMini vs. Cycplus UltraThe E-Booster Mini is much smaller than the original, pretty darn lightweight, and nearly as small as the Cycplus AS2 Ultra, the smallest and lightest on the market.Weight-wise, the Mini came in 1 gram over its claimed weight at 121 grams on my scale. For the absolute lightest setup, you can just carry the pump unit, but Id recommend at least putting it into the included soft storage bag. This adds 8 grams, but itll help protect the device from contact with other items and improve comfort if its in your jersey pocket. If youre carrying the extension hose and thread-on Presta head, thatll add 22 grams, bringing the total to 151 grams for the pump, hose, and bag.For comparison, the full setup of the larger E-Booster weighed 215 grams, 65 grams more than the Mini, due in part to the 25-gram silicone heat cover. The Cycplus AS2 Ultra weighed 128 grams with its silicone cover and extension hose (it does not come with a soft storage bag), which is 23 grams less than the Mini. Thats not surprising, given that the Cycplus AS2 Ultra is the lightest and smallest electric inflator were aware of, thanks to its smaller 400 mAh battery.Using the E-Booster MiniThe E-Booster Mini is super easy to use, just attach to the valve, press the button, and walk away.Like other electric mini-pumps, the E-Booster Mini is very easy to use, which is its main appeal. And just like all of the others Ive used, its a bit loud it is a small air compressor, after all which is arguably the least appealing thing about all of them to me. In my mind, the noise is the tradeoff for not having to pump a tire by hand with a mini-pump or burn through another CO2 cartridge. The noise is also why Im partial to always using the extension hose, so I can attach the pump and walk away for the 90 seconds or so that it takes to hit the preset pressure and shut off. Without the hose, youre stuck holding the pump onto the valve while it drones on in your face. Not ideal.The smaller size of the Mini is great, and its absolutely easier to stuff in my hydration vest, leaving more room for snacks. Even though it is smaller and has less battery capacity than the original, my series of pumping tests revealed that it doesnt compromise its inflation performance. With a fully charged battery, the Mini inflated a 29 x 2.4 tire from zero to 25 psi exactly 4 times. Thats on par with Topeaks chart, and the performance of the original E-Booster when it was new. Thats also 1.5x more tire inflations than the smaller Cycplus AS2 Ultra, which I think is pretty significant.I got four full inflations of a 2.4 mountain bike tire to 25 psi. Accuracy-wise, Topeak claims +/- 2 psi, and Id say that sounds reasonable. I checked it with my analog pressure gauge and the analog gauges on three different floor pumps. Turns out, the gauges on my floor pumps dont align perfectly, but it was within 1 psi of my gauge and my most trusted floor pump. The other two floor pumps read about 4 psi high each time, but the results were the exact same for three separate tests. So, even if it isnt perfectly accurate, at least its consistent. Im not exactly sure how Topeak keeps the E-Booster Mini from getting hot when its pumping, but it stayed relatively cool in my pumping tests. It got a little warm, but it never got hot, and not needing a silicone cover saves a bit of weight and space, comparatively. The silicone cover on the original E-Booster weighed 25 grams and the unit got hot enough while pumping that it was nice to have.My TakeawayThe Topeak E-Booster Digital Mini is smaller, lighter, and more refined, without sacrificing pumping performance. If youre looking for an electric mini-pump, theres no shortage of options, and theres likely to be even more in the coming months. While I was relatively impressed by the original E-Booster last year, Id argue that the new E-Booster Mini is an improvement in nearly every way. Its smaller, lighter, has an improved display, and doesnt require a silicone cover. Its beyond simple to use, and it packs as much pumping power as its heavier sibling despite a smaller/lighter battery. Like most electronics, the technology and performance of these mini-compressors are advancing very rapidly. Its frankly kinda hard to believe that something so small is capable of inflating a mountain bike tire four times, but here we are. And while the Cycplus AS2 Ultra takes the lightweight crown by ~25 grams or so, that comes at the cost of at least a full tire inflation. Light is right, but not running out of battery in your electric mini-pump is well worth a minor weight penalty in my book. But these are just my first impressions of the E-Booster Mini. Im going to keep using it and report back with any findings that seem worth sharing. topeak.comThe post First Look: The Topeak E-Booster Digital Mini is Smaller, Lighter, and Just as Powerful appeared first on Bikerumor.

CyclistClsica Jan Paraso Interior 2026 preview: Route, favourites, how to watch and start listIts finally time for the first Monument of the 2026 season OK maybe not but there are plenty who rate the Clsica Jan Paraso Interior as one of the most undervalued races on the pro calendar.The race takes place on Monday 16th February and circles through the olive groves of Andalusia, with six gravel sectors to tackle along the hilly parcours, which leads to an uphill finish back where it started in beda. Its essentially the Spanish non-WorldTour Strade Bianche, but always delivers good racing, scenic backdrops and a giant metal olive for the victor.Past winners include Tadej Pogaar and Micha Kwiatkowski who beat Isaac del Toro last year, though in 2026 the start list is headlined by Tom Pidcock, Tim Wellens and Maxim Van Gils.Clsica Jan key informationLuis Angel Gomez/SprintCyclingAgencyDate: 16th February 2026Start and finish: beda, Andalusia, SpainDistance: 154kmElevation: 2,400kmOlive grove gravel sectors: Six, 25.1km2025 winner: Micha Kwiatkowski (Ineos Grenadiers)Live TV coverage: TNT Sports, Discovery+Clsica Jan 2026 route and gravel sectorsClsica Jan has had to slightly adapt its route through Andalusias olive groves in 2026 due to a series of storms in the region. The result is one of the gravel olive grove sectors has been removed, but the organisers have replaced it with a second feature of another sector, which will also lead to a new, uphill run to the finish.Starting and finishing in the town of beda in the Jan province unsurprisingly the race takes riders through a series of gravel paths through the local olive groves, making it Spains answer to Strade Bianche. There are six gravel sectors, with the longest, Mar de Olivos, the one to be ridden twice before the climb back to beda.Sector 1: VandelviraThe first olive grove sector comes after 79.9km and its the easiest of the lot at just 1.2km with only 38m of elevation and a max gradient of 4.4%.Sector 2: Mar de OlivosRiders will first take on the 7.3km Mar de Olivos sector after 97km. As well as being the longest it features the hardest climbing, with a gradient going up to 9.5%, racking up 198m of elevation. This leg will be a good splitter of the bunch and should give the favourites a nice recon of the final sector.Sector 3: JuancaballoAbout 15km later the peloton will face the 3.7km Juancaballo sector, which is the easiest of the lot in terms of climbing.Sector 4: Santa EulaliaThe fourth sector is in the village of Saint Eulalia, which incidentally is named after the patron saint of inclement weather. That probably explains why this sector wasnt too badly affected by this years storms. This sector is only 2.3km long but the gradient goes up to 7.9%.Sector 5: San BartolomThe penultimate sector at San Bartolom is 3.3km long with a max gradient of 5.1%. If were comparing saints, as one of the apostles Saint Bartholomew is a patron saint of absolutely loads of things, including, but not limited to: Armenia, butchers, dermatology, plasterers and twitching.Sector 6: Mar de OlivosTo finish off, its another run through Mar de Olivos, which takes the race right back to the foot of beda. Clsica Jan 2026 favouritesRafa Gomez/SprintCyclingAgencyTheres been a little shake-up of the teams in 2026. While the number of WorldTour representatives has increased from four to five, though Ineos and Visma-Lease a Bike wont be lining up this year, and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, Bahrain Victorious and Soudal-QuickStep come in instead.Theres still set to be a few big names looking to get an early one-day win as well as a bit of practice for Strade Bianche.Cyclists ratings: Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5), Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates XRG): Matej Mohori (Bahrain Victorious), Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe): Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Roger Adri (Movistar), Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious): Benot Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe): Luk Kubi (Unibet-Rose Rockets), Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Ivn Romeo (Movistar), Viktor Soenens (Soudal-QuickStep)How to watch Clsica Jan Paraso Interior 2026Luis Angel Gomez/SprintCyclingAgencyEven among the Winter Olympics and the start of the UAE Tour, TNT Sports has found a spot to broadcast Clsica Jan this year, with coverage kicking off on TNT Sports 1 and on Discovery+ at 14:30 and scheduled to finish at 16:45 (both GMT).Elsewhere it will be shown on Eurosport 2 in Europe; FloBikes in Canada, Australia and New Zealand; Canal Sur locally; Teledeporte in the rest of Spain; HBO Max; VTM in Belgium; and Eurosport in Asia and Pacific territories.Clsica Jan 2026 start listData powered by FirstCycling.comClsica Jan 2025 highlightsThe post Clsica Jan Paraso Interior 2026 preview: Route, favourites, how to watch and start list appeared first on Cyclist.

The Vuelta a Murcia will be taking place from the 13th to the 14th of February, having a two-day format this year. The race provides stages for the sprinters, classics specialists and climbers to build on their form towards bigger goals this spring, whilst providing reputable wins for those who vent...

This new limited edition steel gravel Battaglin Milano might be the most affordable made-in-Italy bike weve seen in decades.Known mostly for their premium custom steel and, more recently, titanium & forged carbon road and gravel bikes, Officina Battaglin is about to drop a price bombshell. Their new in-house TIG-welded steel Milano gravel bike will sell complete, cheaper than their already affordable Matera gravel frameset. From just 2500 including VAT or less than $3000 delivered in the US, youll be able to get the handmade Italian steel frame built complete with a Campagnolo Ekar GT groupset. Plus, two similarly affordable wireless electronic builds will be on offer as well, if thats your preferenceTruly affordable new Italian steel Battaglin Milano gravel bikeWe like to talk a lot about affordable bikes, but that goalpost feels like it keeps moving. When Battaglin launched its fillet-brazed Matera gravel bike last spring, it felt relatively affordable at 2562 for the handmade-in-Italy frameset. Now, the same northern Italy frame building workshop is back with a complete steel gravel bike for even less money!With the Cortina already their top-tier gravel bike, and the winter Olympics underway, Battaglin couldnt resist naming the other end of their gravel pricing spectrum the Milano. Plus, theres apparently a big new gravel race in Italy also called the Milano-Cortina.(All photos screengrabbed from Battaglin teaser video)Now, how they built a more affordable Italian steel bike is a big part of this story. One of Battaglins specialties has always been their custom-developed smart jigs that make batch manufacturing steel bikes even more efficient, and theres certainly more of that at play here. But they also refined a simplified steel tubeset for the Milano based on decades of close cooperation with made-in-Milan steel tubing manufacturer Columbus. Then, Battaglin TIG-welds the new frame in their Marostica, Italy workshop to speed up manufacturing. Stock geometry and simple, fixed builds also keep costs down and efficiencies of scale up. Plus, this new complete bike is offered direct to consumers only, keeping overhead costs to a minimum.And in the end, its the gravel buyers who reap the benefit of those cost savings.What we do know, so far?From about thirteen seconds of rapid-fire teaser, we can see that the new Battaglin Milano features fully integrated internal cable routing compatible with mechanical or wireless routing via a semi-integrated Deda S-DCR headset with a separate bar & stem. The Italian steel bike is built up with the same full carbon fork as the rest of the Battaglin gravel family, with 3-pack cage and fender mounts.This new Milano is officially rated for bikepacking, and will include additional braze-ons to haul all of your gear, including rack & fender mounts. The frameset features a threaded T47 bottom bracket, conventional round seatpost with external clamp, flat mount brakes, 12mm thru-axles, a UDH, and max 50mm tire clearance. All bikes will ship with 45mm tubeless-ready Continental Terra tires and tubeless-ready alloy wheels, with tubes installed, plus a carbon Deda seatpost.Battaglin Milano Pricing, options & availabilityWe expect full details on build kits and more photos of the limited production complete bikes in about one or two weeks, when the new Battaglin Milano officially launches. Five stock sizes will be on offer. And the Milano will come in three paint jobs white, grey & gold. in white with Campagnolo Ekar GTThe most affordable bike is a complete Campagnolo Ekar GT 1x 13-speed mechanical build for 2500, including VAT. Battaglin says they plan to also offer this complete build for the equivalent of 2500 abroad, including import duties/taxes/fees to US buyers, as well. That comes out to about $2980 based on the current US dollar exchange rate.in gunmetal grey with Shimano GRX Di2For those who prefer electronic shifting, two wireless versions are also on offer. A mixed Shimano GRX Di2 112 setup includes the top-tier RX825 derailleur with the new 7-series shifter, selling for just 2999. in gold with SRAM Rival XPLR AXSAnd a full SRAM Rival AXS Xplr 112 build will set you back 3499.Until the official launch, you can head directly to Battaglins Milano preview landing page here to express your interest and sign up for more info as soon as it is ready. Buying a handmade Italian steel gravel bike just got a lot more affordable!OfficinaBattaglin.comThe post Battaglin Milano Teases Affordable Made-in-Italy Steel Gravel Bike, Only 2500 Complete! appeared first on Bikerumor.

The Vuelta a Murcia will be taking place from the 13th to the 14th of February, having a two-day format this year. The race provides stages for the sprinters, classics specialists and climbers to build on their form towards bigger goals this spring, whilst providing reputable wins for those who vent...

Jim Ratcliffe is one of Great Britain's most influential figures, as he is the owner of INEOS. The British billionaire is a also an owner of the INEOS Grenadiers and the Manchester United football club; and his recent comments against the UK's immigrant population alongside false information has spa...