Mathieu van der Poel is the biggest wildcard ahead of Omloop het Nieuwsblad. Whilst ordinarily the Dutchman is the man to beat in the cobbled classics, the first classic of the year is not overly difficult and is also his first race day of the season. However, you never know what to expect from the...

For many years, Biniam Girmay has raced for one of Belgium's top teams in Intermarch-Wanty, however he has not often had the Opening Weekend in his schedule. In 2026, and carrying serious momentum after two wins earlier this month, the Eritrean sprinter returns to the cobbled classics where he will...

CyclistIts my dream to do the Mortirolo in a race: Monica Trinca Colonel Q&ATell us a bit about getting into cycling as a kid. Did you watch it first?Yes I always watched the racing. My brother, who is four years older than me, started to race, so I followed his races. My family then became more interested in cycling, and we always followed the races on TV.I remember in 2008 me and my family went to Varese to watch the World Championships. I have good memories from that, I was very young, maybe seven years old, and an Italian rider won. For me, it was special, to watch such an important race, and to be there.Also my house where I grew up is at the foot of the Mortirolo. So every time the Giro dItalia passed through my valley, me and my family went to watch. Its a dream to do this climb in a race, its my home.So you decided to start racing because of your brother?At the beginning, yes, my brother started and four years later I followed him. I liked the sport. At the start, I did mountain biking for six years, and then I tried to do some races on the road. I love the mountain bike, but I decided to race on the road.Trinca Colonel leads the group of favourites on Jebel Hafeet at the 2026 UAE Tour. Luca Bettini/SprintCyclingAgency via Liv-AlUla-JaycoYou raced against some other big Italian names as a young rider?I did some races with Elisa Balsamo and Letizia Paternoster when I was 12 or 13 years old I think. I remember they were already very, very strong. I was strong too; I never won, but I was always in the top ten. So, not the strongest, but I was always there.At that point could you imagine that you would have a future in the sport?No, not at that point, because I was very young and I didnt understand what I could do, how good I was for my age at that moment. Also my grandparents didnt feel so good at that time, and I decided to stop racing. I stopped for many years. I continued to study and I started to work, and didnt ride the bike.After a few years, when I became older and more confident, I decided to try again. Also I think I tried again because I had people around me that helped me to do it, because alone it was difficult, but with people around me that said to me, You can do it. You have to try, because you are strong enough, I decided to try again. At the time I was working as an optician in Livigno, and I decided to stop working, and try to race again.Did you miss it while you were away?Yeah, I was always thinking about how I could do it. I watched on TV and I thought I would like to be there, because its a passion and this passion never died.She finished just 12 seconds down on winner Elisa Longo Borghini on Jebel Hafeet. Luca Bettini/SprintCyclingAgency via Liv-AlUla-JaycoWas it difficult when you returned to the peloton?I thought it would be more difficult. Maybe the first race was a bit stressful for me, because it was my first time again in the peloton, but it was not so bad. And then after every race that I did,I felt more confidence and more comfortable. It was strange, because after a few races I felt like I never stopped cycling, maybe because the bike for me is like a part of me. So it was not so difficult in the end.Did you notice any big changes since you left, in how the peloton raced, or in womens cycling?Yeah, for sure. But when I raced when I was young it was many years ago. So then I stopped and, for sure, everything has changed. I think now is a very good moment for womens cycling, maybe the best moment. So Im lucky to be here now.Its even more impressive that you came back and almost immediately you were up there with some of the top riders. Did you expect that?Its also strange for me, because two years ago I was a new one in the peloton, and I felt like I could stay there, but I didnt think about how maybe after a few years I could do something very important. I think now Im more confident. Also at the start I didnt have many hours of training, and I didnt know my body. Now I know my body very well, and how I can feel at the start of a race or in training. Im impressed with myself too, because I didnt think that I could make these developments. I knew that I could do more than at the start, because I never trained a lot, not like this. So Im very happy, and I hope to improve again.Do you think that coming back a few years older and wiser maybe gave you an advantage?I think Im very similar to the young riders, because in the end I had no years in my legs, no years of efforts. So yeah, Im older, but for cycling Im like a new rider.How about mentally, bringing in more maturity perhaps?I worked before cycling so I know how life is off the bike. So for me now its a very good life. I enjoy everything I think more than maybe a young rider who has maybe just raced and not gone to work.You know both sides, so you can appreciate it more.Exactly.Whats the best bit about your job?I like most choosing what time to wake up, when to train I choose my time. Also I like to travel, to go to different places and to meet new people. Also, now Im learning English, its an opportunity, because I can speak with different people from different countries. I like that.She finished 2nd overall at the UAE Tour, a career best at a WorldTour race.Luca Bettini/SprintCyclingAgency via Liv-AlUla-JaycoSo far in 2026 weve seen you riding strongly at the UAE Tour. Did you expect to be up at that level already?No, honestly. I went to UAE with no specific efforts toward this race, because it was not one of the very important races for me this year. But I knew that I felt good in training, so I went there thinking, okay, I dont know how my shape is, but I feel good and we never know what can happen. It was very low pressure, just go and see what happened. And in the end, its always like this when I go to races where I dont know what I can do because maybe I havent prepared so much for this race, but in the end I was strong enough.When you look at the likes of Demi Vollering, Pauline Ferrand-Prvot, these major GC names, do you see yourself near that level, or reaching it in the future?I would like to reach this level and, for sure, I will do everything to reach it. Im sure that with no pressure and step by step, I think its possible, but for now Im not at that level. Maybe for some types of efforts I can be at that level or close to it, but I need to improve in other parts or other types of efforts.What are your biggest goals for the 2026 season?I will race Vuelta, Giro and Tour. Every Grand Tour. Next, I will do the Italian classics Strade Bianche, Trofeo Binda, San Remo and then the Ardennes. Before the Ardennes, we will do some altitude to prepare, especially for the Vuelta. I hope to do something on GC at the Tour de France, for sure, but we will see.Whats your favourite race?My favourite race is Strade Bianche. I love this race. I like gravel sectors, I like the atmosphere, the place, I really love this race. Every year after the race Im already nostalgic. Its strange.Would you say that was the race you would most like to win in your career?I would like to win Strade Bianche one time. Maybe its not the best race for me, for my characteristics for now, but for sure its a dream. Then also Tour de France is of course a dream, and the National Championship too I would like to wear the Italian jersey.What brings you joy off the bike?I love sport. I love skiing, Nordic skiing or ski mountaineering, and also running. I love to go to the mountains. I live in the mountains, but I love to go to the Eiger where we have a small house, and to stay there where its not so busy. Its very relaxing. Related Posts 'I remain grateful for the amazing support I still receive': Julian Alaphilippe Q&A Giro d'Italia Women 2026 to take on the Colle delle Finestre: Full route breakdown Classic climb: Mortirolo, one of the Giro dItalias toughest climbs Cycling Spring Classics 2026: Race dates, Monuments, cobbles and live TV guide Monica Trinca Colonel bioBorn: Grosotto, Italy, 21st May 1999Team: Liv-AlUla-JaycoNotable results: 2026 2nd Stage 4; 2nd overall, UAE Tour20256th Tre Valli Varesine1st Stage 6, 3rd Stages 4 and 5, Tour de lArdche2nd Italian National Championships Road Race; 5th Time-Trial3rd Stage 1, 5th Stage 2, 4th Stage 4, 7th Stage 7; 7th overall, Vuelta Femenina8th Lige-Bastogne-Lige8th Trofeo Alfredo Binda4th Stage 3; 4th overall, UAE Tour2024:7th Tre Valli Varesine7th Giro dellEmiliaThe post Its my dream to do the Mortirolo in a race: Monica Trinca Colonel Q&A appeared first on Cyclist.

7 of March is going to be a big day for cycling fans, as in the roads of Tuscany the World Tour returns both for the men's and women's peloton alike, with the one and only Strade Bianche. Here is where and when to watch the race live, including in the United States and the United Kingdom. As always...

Worlds MTB Stars Set for Explosive Start to 2026 HERO UCI Marathon World Cup in Costa BlancaThe 2026 HERO UCI Crosscountry Marathon World Cup roars into action on 21 February, with the opening roundthe HERO Costa Blanca presented by Millennium Luxury Propertiesbringing a worldclass field to the rugged trails between Calpe and Benissa.The event marks the second edition of the World Cup series after its successful launch in 2025, and anticipation is high: more than 180 Elite and Master riders from 26 nations across four continents will battle for the seasons first set of World Cup points on Costa Blancas technical, sunbaked terrain.A Brutal Opening TestRiders will face two demanding courses:82 km with 2,700 m of climbing50 km with 1,400 m of climbingBoth routes snake through the picturesque yet punishing hills of the Costa Blanca, combining steep climbs, rocky singletrack, and panoramic ridgeline sectionsa true earlyseason test of form and resilience.Elite Men: Seewald Returns as Target No. 1Reigning World Cup champion Andreas Seewald (Singer KTM Racing) is back to defend the title he secured just five months ago. But the German powerhouse will not have an easy ride.Among his main challengers:Wout Alleman (Belgium)Samuele Porro (Klimatiza Orbea Team, Italy)Gioele De Cosmo (Lee Cougan Basso Factory Racing, Italy)Leo Paez (Lee Cougan Basso Factory Racing, Colombia)One of the most exciting newcomers is David Valero (Klimatiza Orbea Team)tentime Spanish national champion and Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallistwho will make his World Cup marathon debut and is expected to be a major factor on home soil.Elite Women: Van Doorn Faces Stacked OppositionIn the womens field, defending champion Rosa Van Doorn (Netherlands) aims to repeat last years triumph, but the depth of competition has grown significantly.Key rivals include:Adelheid Morath (Germany, Lee Cougan Basso Factory Racing)Sandra Mairhofer (Italy, Lee Cougan Basso Factory Racing)Paula GoryckaKurmann (Poland)Lejla Njemevi (Bosnia)Claudia Peretti (Italy)Natalia Fischer (Extremadura Ecopilas, Spain)The womens field also welcomes rising star Anna Weinbeer (KTM Spada powered by Brenta Brakes), runnerup at the 2025 XCM World Championships.A Festival Atmosphere: HERO Village Opened 20 FebruaryBeyond the racing, the threeday HERO Village opened on 20 February, offering fans:Team presentations (15:30)The HERO Race Talk at 16:00 with major stars including Fischer, Valero, Hannah Otto (USA), and Leo PaezLive streaming via the events Instagram profileThe race will be broadcasted liveon the official World Cup website: www.heroucimarathonworldcup.com

Isaac del Toro picked up where he left off at the end of last season with an overall victory (plus two stages) at the UAE Tour. The value of this result is clear when we see the names such as Felix Gall (5th), Derek Gee (7th), and especally Remco Evenepoel (10th) finish far behind the Mexican youngs...

Ltape Italy launches new cycletouring rides for 2026, bringing Tour de France flair to everyday cyclistsLtape Italy by Tour de France has announced two new cycletouring events for 2026, designed to capture the atmosphere of the worlds most famous cycling race while remaining accessible to riders of all levelsfrom club cyclists to firsttimers and ebike users.The initiative expands Ltape Italys commitment to promoting cycling as a relaxed, inclusive, and culturally rich experience, rather than a purely competitive endeavour. Both events will replicate the visual and emotional cues of a Tour de France stage, complete with authentic signage, onroute installations, and a vibrant event village.Piemonte ride opens the series in MayThe first event, the Ltape Piemonte Cycletouring Ride, will take place on 31 May 2026, offering a 50 km loop with around 795 metres of climbing in the heart of the Maritime Alps.Starting and finishing in Entracque, the route winds through a varied landscape of alpine forests, open valleys and small historic settlements. Riders will pass through Valdieri, continue towards the more urban surroundings of Borgo San Dalmazzo, and then climb back through Roccavione before returning to the mountains of Valle Gesso.The organisers describe the course as ideal for riders seeking a scenic day out rather than a highpressure challenge, with smooth stretches, steady gradients and plentiful opportunities to take in the surroundings. The ride is open to both traditional bikes and ebikes, supporting the events emphasis on accessibility.September brings the Mondov cycletouring showcaseThe second event, the Ltape Mondov Cycletouring Ride, will follow on 20 September 2026 with a slightly longer 60 km route and a more demanding 1,104 metres of elevation gain.Starting from Mondov, the course crosses the rolling hills and patchwork farmland of the Monregalese and Alta Langa regions. Riders will weave through vineyardlined provincial roads and a series of rural villages, including Bastia Mondov, Cigli, Murazzano, Marsaglia and Niella Tanaro, before looping back to the start.With uninterrupted panoramas, historic centres and alternating wooded and exposed stretches, the Mondov route offers a distinctive mix of physical challenge and cultural immersion. As with the Piemonte event, ebikes are welcome.Tour de France atmosphere at the heart of the experienceBoth rides will feature full route signage inspired by the Tour de France, developed in France and now used across Ltape Italy events. Riders can expect banners, stagestyle markers and visual references that recreate the feel of a professional race while keeping the environment relaxed and enjoyable.The central hub for both events will be the Ltape Village, designed around the trademark yellow and black colours of the Tour. Attendees will gain access to the Tour de France Museumfeaturing historic memorabilia and exclusive displaysand the official merchandise area.A familyfriendly celebration of cyclingParticipation is open to everyone, including younger riders, provided those under 18 are accompanied by an adult throughout the route. The organisers aim to create a safe and inclusive environment that encourages families to enjoy the sport together.Registration for both events costs 25, which includes the official jersey, race pack, onroute refreshments and a final pasta partya package designed to keep the events accessible and communityfocused.Paolo Bruno of EPT (Events People Territory), the organising company, said the rides reinforce the message that cycling is for everyone, highlighting the importance of hospitality, shared experiences and regional appreciation alongside the sporting activity.Registration now openEntries and further information are available at: https://letapeitaly.it/iscriviti-ora/

The 2026 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is expected to be completely in control of Alpecin-Premier Tech this Saturday. With two biggest favourites at the starting line, the Belgian team will be looking to ensure its first victory at the Belgian Classic. Either through their superstar Mathieu van der Poel, or...

The cycling season in France continues with a pair of one-day races in the Ardeche region as riders reminisce about the 2025 European Championships won by Tadej Pogacar. However the Team Visma | Lease a Bike will rely on debutant Matteo Jorgenson for the Faun-Ardche Classic and Drome Classic this w...

All the key information on broadcasters and live streams for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on February 28, the first cobbled Classic and European race of the 2026 WorldTour.