Antonio Tiberi started off his season strong and at the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana had a level that saw him finishing fourth in the overall classification. His form continued to improve and at the UAE Tour we are perhaps seeing the highest level that the Italian has ever reached. Its amazing. T...

Tom Pidcock made his move away from INEOS Grenadiers and became a born-again stage-racer. The Briton finally proved his potential to fight for Grand Tour results at the 2025 Vuelta a Espaa; and after his maiden podium on a three-week race, he now aims to be able to do the same at the Tour de France...

On the 21st and 22nd of February the peloton in France will take on two more important race days. The first of two early-season weekends in the region will see the peloton take on the Classic Var and Tour des Alpes Maritimes. As always, you can always follow the 2026 Classic Var and Tour des Alpes...

CyclistHow XDS-Astana are shaping up for another impressive seasonIts Wednesday 11th February. The normal early season slate of Middle East racing is about halfway through, with the Tour of Oman coming to its conclusion, and it would be quite the day for XDS-Astana.At the top of Green Mountain, Christian Scaroni and Cristin Rodrguez would enjoy a 1-2 finish, kicking away from a lead group including serial Oman winner Adam Yates, and hauling them up the general classification to occupy the top two steps on the final podium.To add to the celebrations, three XDS-Astana riders finished within the top four for their respective countries at the Asian Championships with Yevgeniy Fedoro, Haoyu Su and Nicolas Vinokurov. That provides over 1,000 UCI points in one afternoon. Not a bad trip out its almost the equivalent of winning the Giro dItalia. Yet while points scoring occupied the teams thoughts at every moment in 2025 as they fought off the threat of relegation, they have three seasons before thats a problem again. Related Posts What is happening at Visma-Lease a Bike? Pro Log: Isaac del Toro is a sprinter; Austin Butler is Lance Armstrong; Demi Vollering is inevitable Which riders could actually prevent Pogaar and Van der Poel dominating the Classics? UAE Tour Men 2026 preview: Route, favourites, how to watch and start list Dario Belingheri/Getty ImagesIn an interview with Wielerflits, director sportif Dmitry Fofonov said they were riding with a completely different mentality and that last years points chasing was just a one-time plan.That means XDS-Astana now have the chance to rediscover their identity. And its already proving prosperous.Not unlike this time last year, Christian Scaroni helps lead the way in hunting victories. Interestingly, the Italian is one of only two Astana riders with a contract through 2028, with most of the team only locked in until the end of this year. Those short-term contracts give the team more flexibility for what the next three years may bring, and maybe thats why every rider seems to be racing with a point to prove.Scaroni thrived in breakaways last year, escaping five times at the Giro dItalia and completing a 1-2 with teammate Lorenzo Fortunato to win Stage 16. The pair would also finish top two in the mountains classification, with Fortunato breezing his way to the top spot of that one. Scaroni also brought a smattering of success in one-day races, winning Classic Var and Giro della Romagna and finishing second at Trofeo Calvi, Trofeo Laigueglia and GP Industria & Artigianato. Hes eyeing bigger fish at the Ardennes this season before returning to the Giro hungry for more.Tim de Waele via Getty ImagesLike Scaroni, Fortunato will be returning to the Giro after galivanting around Italy at the Trofeo Laigueglia and Tirreno-Adriatico. While he may have entered last years Corsa Rosa with the GC in mind, losing time early in the race afforded him a freedom that brought three stage combativity awards, the overall combativity prize and the mountains classification. And hed bring himself back to 12th place overall. A GC top ten is certainly on the cards in 2026 should he want it.There is less immediate expectation for Austrian U23 Champion Marco Schrettl. The 22-year-old has only just made the step up to WorldTour level having arrived from Continental squad Tirol-KTM, but given he closed the season with a bronze medal in the U23 World Championship Road Race, the potential is there.Simone Velasco is one to keep an eye on during the Classics. He rode to an impressive fourth place at Lige-Bastogne-Lige in 2025, leading home the field behind Tadej Pogaar, Giulio Ciccone and Ben Healy. With the team shifting that focus from points to wins this year, daring one-day escapades are certainly on the cards, which could also bear fruit for the likes of Alberto Bettiol, Mike Teunissen and Davide Ballerini.There are positives signs from Harold Tejada this season too, with the Colombian bursting into life on the UAE Tours new Jebel Mobrah climb, finishing in fourth place to move into a fine third on GC. Tejada is coming off a year that saw him notch a fourth place after a breakaway at the Vuelta, where he also went on to finish 12th overall. Hell surely be a feature in the breaks at the Tour and the Vuelta again this season.Theres been a little recruitment on the transfer side. The smart signing of climber Cristin Rodrguez from the ashes of Arka has got off to a quick start with that result at the Tour of Oman, and hes certainly capable of a breakaway stage win. There have been positive signs from big sprinter Gleb Syritsa and Russian Road Race Champion Lev Gonov too, who have just been promoted from Astanas development team. The new era of XDS-Astana is only in its infancy, but it already looks like they might have a winning formula.The post How XDS-Astana are shaping up for another impressive season appeared first on Cyclist.

The 2026 Vuelta a Andalucia is going to take place between the 18 and 22nd of February, in the southern region of Spain where the stages are always either hilly or mountainous. This edition is no exception, with a set of stages that is set to make for some chaotic and tactical racing. We preview sta...

If you ride with clip-in pedals, youve currently got more options than ever before. In the past few years, numerous component brands have thrown their hats into the proverbial ring, with Wolf Tooth and OneUp Components being a couple of the most recent examples. Renthal is the latest to join the clip-in pedal party, with two new SPD-compatible models aimed at downhill and trail riders.Renthal entered the pedal market with its Revo-F flat pedal almost exactly two years ago. Now the brand is giving clip-in riders the option to run its pedals, leveraging a familiar, time-tested SPD-compatible system with two models featuring forged, CNC-machined aluminum bodies. The Revo-TRC trail pedal looks fairly standard, but the Revo-DHC downhill model stands out with one of the largest platforms weve ever seen on a clip-in pedal.Renthal Clip PedalsRenthal didnt reinvent the clip pedal with these two new models, instead opting for an SPD-compatible binding mechanism of its own design. According to Renthal, this proprietary binding features easy entry geometry, a huge range of spring tension adjustment, and is fully SPD compatible.Both models also rely on Renthals patent-pending axle system, which the brand claims to allow for full serviceability at home with standard tools. The unique axle system reportedly also allows for the removal and reinstallation of the bushing, as well as pressing the bearings into place. The pedal bodies are made from forged 6016 aluminum, which is then CNCd to reduce weight. And its those pedal bodies that really separate these two new pedals. Lets take a closer look.DHC Downhill Clip PedalsWith an SPD-compatible binding, an extra-large platform, and adjustable pins, the DHC aims to combine the benefits of both clip and flat pedals for downhill riders.The DHC is aimed at downhill racers seeking flat pedal support from a clip-in pedal. The goal was to provide riders with the security and pedaling efficiency of a clip pedal with the support, feedback, and control that a flat pedal offers.As such, the DHCs pedal body shares the same silhouette and dimensions as Renthals Revo-F flat pedal, making it one of the largest clip-in platforms weve ever seen. Additionally, the perimeter of the platform features 8 adjustable pins per side for customizable grip and pedal feel. Compared to most clip pedals, even those made for DH like the Shimano Saint or the Crankbrothers Mallet DH, these pedals look massive. While the binding mechanism appears significantly offset from the middle of the pedal, it shares the same 55mm spacing from the crank to the binding as the TRC version. That big platform just extends out from there, providing more lateral support for the soles of your shoes.With the wider platform, the DHC uses a full-length spindle that spans the width of the pedal. It spins on an inboard Igus bushing plus three outboard cartridge bearings, one of which is positioned at the pedals outermost edge. The claimed weight is reported to be ~640 grams for the pair. They come in anodized Black and AluGold colors, and retail for $226.20.TRC Trail Clip PedalsRenthals TRC Trail Clip Pedals have a more traditional trail-oriented size and shape. The new TRC is similar in looks and size to many other trail-oriented pedals already on the market. The mid-sized pedal body features a platform on both sides of the binding mechanism, as well as a cage that wraps around the front and rear. We couldnt find the exact dimensions of the TRC listed anywhere, but it appears to be comparable to pedals like the Shimano XT Trail or the Look X-Track En-Rage.Renthal says the CNC-machined body and lightweight chromoly axle help to keep the weight down to 394 grams for the pair. Inside, an inboard Igus bushing, full contact wiper seal, three central cartridge bearings, and an end cap with an O-ring aim to provide smooth rotation and long-term durability. The TRC Trail pedals come in anodized Black or AluGold, and retail for $213.52With the TRC or DHC pedals in AluGold, now you can finally match your pedals to your Renthal handlebars.Renthal DHC and TRC Clip Pedals: AvailabilityRenthals new clip-in pedals are available now through the brands website. Head there to learn more or pick up a set.renthal.comThe post Renthal Joins the Clip Pedal Party with SPD-Compatible DH and Trail Models appeared first on Bikerumor.

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

One day, three races, many nuances, expectations and perspectives. In the United Arab Emirates, in Spain and in Portugal, we had routes, profiles and victories to suit every taste. But lets take a closer look at each of them to understand what led to these outcomes. At the UAE Tour, we saw a breaka...

Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) went early on the brutal finish of Jebel Mobrah at UAE Tour on Wednesday, dropping his rivals and holding off a late charge from chasing Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) to win the stage and take the leaders jersey. On what was a curious finish, many of the riders who []

Crashes, illness and withdrawals are an unavoidable part of any stage race, and the UAE Tour is no exception. From wind-affected finales and high-speed sprints to decisive time trials and mountain stages, the opening race of the WorldTour season often places riders under immediate physical stress. T...