CyclistThe level is increasing, but the danger is increasing too: Silke Smulders Q&AYouve started 2026 with some bad luck talk us through it.I crashed the day before Christmas, on a descent in Spain. A dog came out of nowhere. I hit the dog, and then I dislocated my collarbone. So that means that the collarbone didnt break, but the ligament that holds the joint in place was torn off. This ligament needed to heal, and then I had to miss Australia.When I finally felt better again, and my shoulder was fully healed, I was really happy I could start in Valencia, and then on the second stage there was a crash on the roundabout, and I landed upside down fully on my lower back on the side of the road. The speed wasnt so high, but I just landed completely wrong on the pavement. It turned out that I broke my vertebra. Its a dangerous injury, because all your nerves are there, and in the worst case, when its not fully healed, then you can lose your legs. Its stable now so thats good, so now its just taking the time to recover. I dont know exactly when I can really start the season.Cyclists are used to injuries, but where does this rank, is this the worst youve suffered?I feel like this is my biggest challenge. Three years ago, I also really had a bad crash in Roubaix and broke my pelvis. But this one is more serious than that. With your back and your vertebrae and your nerves, its just a bit more scary and complicated. Its an injury you need to be careful with. I try not to rush it and really listen to my body, because its not something you want to push too soon or too fast.Can you talk a bit about the psychological process that youve had to go through over the past couple of weeks, from feeling ready to go, to again being back to disappointment? How do you bounce back from that?It was really shit because I felt that I was in really good shape, and I did a really good winter. And then something totally out of your control happens and you think, All my work has been for nothing. And then, I said, Okay, the season is long, there are many races to come, dont worry.After giving my shoulder some rest, I was feeling good again in training, I came back faster than expected. I knew that I wasnt in my best shape yet in Valencia, but I knew that I had enough time for the Italian races, and I was pretty happy with the level that I reached in such a small time. Then you crash like that. It was really hard, because I dont really know how long it will take, but also in the first moments after, its not really about cycling, but its just really scary in general when you know you broke your vertebra. I didnt even think about the season, but more like, Oh shit, am I going to recover?Now I know its stable, and for my health it will be okay, and I dont have so much pain. So pretty soon I can try to enjoy other things. Now I can spend more time with family and friends and I try to look at that as a positive, and know that it will all be alright, it just needs a lot of time. I accepted it pretty quickly, but its hard. Also, you always have this uncertainty. If you feel things in your back, its like, Oh, am I doing something wrong?Does it change your view on the sport? Do you ever have moments of doubt?Its hard, because its so out of your control and I am a little bit of a control freak. In the beginning of my career I wasnt scared at all, but now Im more careful. I understand more about the things that can happen and the risks that you are taking. No one forces me to ride my bike or to be a cyclist, so I make this decision and I take this risk myself. So sometimes its like, I dont have to do this, but, in the end, the love of the sport wins and I know my body can recover. It makes you think more about how we can improve safety. I think there are so many things that we can improve. The airbag system, for example, I think of maybe starting with it in training. How much can also be improved in training, when youre on the open road and you have no control. Its only going faster and faster, and the stakes are higher and higher, and the level is increasing, but also the risk and the danger are increasing. I feel like were investing a lot in things like aerodynamics and materials, training, nutrition, but in safety I feel like theres not so much investment, and if youre now out for months, that is the biggest gain you can get. I do feel that as a sport, we dont look at it enough. Maybe its because its also what makes it spectacular.Rafa Gomez/SprintCyclingAgency via Liv-AlUla-JaycoDoes it make you feel more passionate about trying to get involved in that side of the sport?Yeah, maybe it does, because when you experience things that you feel could have been different if you had maybe an airbag, or there were soft things on the sides, it makes you think about these things. If we dont say anything, there wont be any changes. If I feel like more could be done, if I want that to happen, then maybe I need to be more involved.Youre from the Netherlands, so its pretty typical to ride a bike. What was it like for you growing up and getting into the competitive side of the sport?I followed the Dutch way of getting into cycling, because I started with speed skating, like a lot of Dutchies. I always rode bikes with my family since I was a kid. On holidays, we always did mountain bike rides. So I always was riding my bike or with my dad in the forest, on the mountain bike track. I think I rode my bike more than others, but more like a hobby.From speed skating, then we went outside in the summer on the road, and then I remember my first bike was my mums race bike. I was in a speed skating club and I really liked it, but I felt that I wasnt really talented at speed skating, but I always had really good endurance. My technique was not so good, but I could always do it for a long time. Then on a bike, I felt that I was pretty good and I joined the local club near my area. I was always quite good, never winning or anything, but I really enjoyed it, so I gradually became more serious. In the juniors I came to the national team that rode some championships. I always wanted to do my best and see how far I could go. So step by step, I grew into the sport. Related Posts 'It's my dream to do the Mortirolo in a race': Monica Trinca Colonel Q&A I dont like to play the political game: Adam Hansen profile La Vuelta Femenina 2026 route revealed with Angliru climax Giro d'Italia Women 2026 to take on the Colle delle Finestre: Full route breakdown Tour de France Femmes 2026 route revealed with Mont Ventoux, time-trial and hilly Nice finale Was there a moment that you can remember where you where you thought, hey, Im actually really good at this, maybe I could ride at a really high level?With the juniors I was strong, but I was never the strongest or the one that won a lot of races. I joined Lotto-Soudal, and then I did my first Giro. I was really young. I got better and better over those ten days, I remember that I achieved quite a few top 20s. It was my first Grand Tour and I didnt really know what I was doing. Then I felt, OK, maybe I can do this, because this is the highest level, and I felt like I was really competing.That must have felt good, were you surprised how well you went?Yeah, I think so. Also I felt day after day I recovered really well. And for someone that was young, that was really not expected. It was just really nice to see how far I can go, and just ride really freely. I surprised myself there.In the past couple of seasons, youve really started to break through, coming close to some big wins. Does it feel like youre getting closer, and do you feel on track, or are you ahead of where you thought youd be?Since I started cycling its always been quite gradual and just step by step, and growing over the years. I feel like at Liv-AlUla-Jayco I get a lot of support and a lot of confidence, but I maybe miss the confidence in myself, that I am a good rider, and I can actually win races, and thats something that needs to shift still. Last year, I got a lot of confidence, and I had some really nice results, and those moments make you believe more and make you want to work more for that last little step.So I just look at myself and my progress and do everything the best that I can. Well see, maybe now my back will be a bit weaker, and I will work on that the rest of my career. Or maybe this is a really good break for my body, and I can make a really big step after this.I feel like the moment that Im most proud of myself was when I rode aggressively and brave and just went for the attack. Thats how I want to race and love to race and also with the team, how we can best win races. So thats what I would really love to do, and maybe I never win a race. Thats also fine. Maybe the levels are really improving and Im just plateauing a bit. And if I can help others, thats also fine. But in the end, even though Im not in the best place now, I really love what Im doing.Youve been with Jayco for most of your career. What about the team works for you?We have a really nice group of people with the girls, but also with the staff. I feel like I get a lot of confidence from the team, I just really feel at home. For me environment is really important and its a good atmosphere. I think thats pretty special.Rafa Gomez/SprintCyclingAgency via Liv-AlUla-JaycoOn the womens side of the sport we see riders having really long, successful careers. Youre still only 24 what kind of rider do you see yourself becoming?Thats a thing that I think will be pretty interesting, because I feel like womens cycling is evolving so quickly that you used to really have long careers, but maybe thats also shifting now, because we start earlier, we train harder from a younger age, and the races are more demanding, so maybe careers can be shorter too, because the level is so high. So I dont know if that stays the same. I think that people will hit their peak a bit younger, and also careers will maybe be a bit shorter or start earlier. Where do I see myself? Since last year, Im heading more in the direction of improving my climbing. I actually only did my first altitude camps last year. So right now thats what I want to explore, to see how far I can go in that direction and where I can come in GC classifications.Describe your ideal day out on the bike.A nice long ride with two or max four people, maybe do some efforts or race each other a bit on the climbs. Really warm, sunny; short shorts for sure. A nice loop, some nice climbs, good views, good coffee stop with cake somewhere. Good conversations. Thats my ideal day on the bike.Whereabouts in the world?I went to Livigno last year, and I really loved that area with the Stelvio, but I also really loved when we went to the French Alps and the Alpe dHuez. Maybe a really epic climb, one that has a bit of history would be ideal, somewhere that you dont ride so often thats a bit of an adventure ride with a really cool mountain. Maybe Mont Ventoux is my ideal ride!If you werent a pro rider, what would you be doing instead?I started studying business economics but stopped, so if I quit now I think I would study again and maybe then I would like to do something with partnerships, with the team or communication. That would be pretty cool. Or like I said before, maybe safety in cycling and how we can improve things. But I also sometimes think about owning a coffee place in Spain somewhere, and just baking cakes and making coffees for cyclists. Maybe also a nice bed and breakfast. The options are endless.If you could only win one race in your career? What would you choose?Tour de France. Thats maybe the least realistic one, but thats a dream, definitely.Is there anything else about you that youd like the world to know, any interesting facts?Oof, an interesting fact? Maybe that I have the surname of my mum. So thats always pretty funny, because people are always really surprised that I dont have the name of my dad. My mum really suffered in her pregnancy, and she kept her own name also. So then my dad was like, maybe we name the kids after you. You deserve it. And I think it sounds good, Silke Smulders.The post The level is increasing, but the danger is increasing too: Silke Smulders Q&A appeared first on Cyclist.

Stage 3 of Tirreno-Adriatico was the first day for the sprinters and there was star-studded list of riders looking to fight for the stage win. The strongest on the day was the man that benefited from the best leadout as well: Tobias Lund Andresen, who continues his breakthrough season with what is p...

Not to be confused with One Up components or 1UP USA, Ride1Up is a brand that focuses on affordable ebikes. The company introduced the Vorsa in 2025, with the bike quickly becoming one of the brands most versatile offerings. And, with the popularity of the original Vorsa, the lineup expands to three.The Vorsa FT (left) and Vorsa Lite (right) are new additions to the Vorsa lineupThe original Vorsa carries on its do-it-all nature, while Ride1Up adds the Vorsa Lite and Vorsa FT.Despite expanding the Vorsa platform, the drive unit remains the same. Ride1Up continues to use its proprietary Intui-Drive rear hub motor. The motor boasts up to 750W of power and 95Nm of torque, making the Vorsa Ride1Ups most powerful bike.Controlling the drive unit is a color display on the handlebars. This also allows you to switch between class-1 and class-3, allowing the Vorsa to reach an assisted speed of 28mph.From road commutes, grocery getting, and light trail riding, the Vorsa remains Ride1Ups most versatile bike. The frame comes with an integrated rear rack that can hold up to 150 pounds and also features front and rear fenders.Ride1Ups new Vorsa FT options: ST frame (left) and XR frame (right)The Vorsa FT is the fat-tire version of this bike. It features the same modular welded rear rack as well as front and rear fenders, but, well, fatter. Ride1Up specd the Vorsa FT with Kenda Krusade 4 tires for those looking for added stability in snow, sand, and gravel.Ride1Ups new Vorsa Lite options: ST frame (left) and XR frame (right)Slimming down from the standard Vorsa is the Vorsa Lite. Here, Ride1Up removed the modular rack and the fenders, cutting 10 pounds from the build. The Vorsa Lite is for those who want a sportier ride and a bit easier time carrying the bike up apartment stairs.Across the Vorsa lineup, each bike features a 100mm fork and an adjustable stem. The battery locks and is easily removable from the downside of the bottom tube. Each option also has the choice between an ST (low-step) or XR (standard) frame.The Vorsa and Vorsa FT also see integrated lights and offer quite a few additional features. Ride1Up sells the Vorsa for $1,595, the Vorsa FT for $1,695, and the Vorsa Lite for $1,495. See all the details at ride1up.com.The post Ride1Up Vorsa Gets Extra Lives with Two Additional Models, Including a Fat Bike appeared first on Bikerumor.

The Danish rider also took over the race lead, after attacking from a small group with a kilometre to go

The action that lacked over the opening days of Paris-Nice was all unleashed this Wednesday afternoon, as the weather, luck and short explosive climbs led to all kinds of chaos and drama in the French race. Stage 4 of the French race saw Juan Ayuso crash and abandon, the race completely destroyed be...

Isaac del Toro remains the general classification leader

CyclistGravel riding to the maxItalian brand 3T is known for its forward-thinking approach to drop bar bike design. 3T can even claim to be the forbear of now well-established trends such as the rise of 1x chainrings on road bikes something the Bergamo-based builder was promoting as early as 2017.You could be forgiven for mistaking its latest gravel release, the RacemaxItalia, for a road bike with the wrong wheelset. But every element of the design has been carefully considered, bringing learnings from its stable of high-performance road bikes into the world of gravel racing to offer improved aerodynamics, carbon manufacturing based in Italy and a whole host of practical touches to keep the pedals turning.3T offers the Racemax in two different formulations: the RacemaxItalia and the Racemax WPNT. While the frame and builds have some similarities, the Racemaxis the pinnacle of 3Ts gravel racing expertise and incorporates every performance gain available.Made in ItalyAs the name suggests, any 3T bike with the Italia suffix benefits from an Italian-made frameset. This is an initiative 3T restarted back in 2018. The idea was to bring some of its product lines back under the same roof as a way of offering a more artisanal grade of frame fabrication.The Racemax WPNT frame is made in the Far East, though it does still offer some intriguing possibilities for riders looking for something slightly different. 3T offers custom frame painting which takes place in its Italian painting facility in Montello, Bergamo. Thats what the WPNT (We Paint) suffix denotes, and you can have your dream paintjob ready to roll in around 6 weeks.Both frames have similar geometry, tube shapes and tyre clearance but 3T says because the RacemaxItalia uses Jazz Carbon instead of pre-preg carbon, the finished bikes have distinct ride characteristics.Jazz Carbon is 3Ts name for the process of filament winding bladder-assisted resin transfer moulding which takes place in 3Ts Italian factory. This precise and labour-intensive process of winding dry carbon allows 3T to create complex tube shapes which would otherwise be impossible. It also contributes to more refined vibration-damping and improves overall ride feel.GeometryThe remit of the Racemax WPNT is that it should ride like a road bike just one that happens to chew up gravel while doing so. To that end, 3T has given the frame progressive and speed-focussed geometry. In a size Medium the 566mm stack and the 374mm reach provide enough room for riders to get low, and lock into an aerodynamic position.The Racemaxis marginally more aggressive with a longer 377mm reach creating room for a longer, lower riding pose. Up front the 71.5 head tube angle is a degree steeper than on the WPNT which points towards sharper, quicker steering for the Racemax making it better suited to those situations that demand quick reactions at high speed.Realfast aerodynamics and smart tyre measurementsAll of these elements feed into what 3T bills as its Realfast aerodynamics. Key to this is 3Ts decision to measures its bikes tyre clearance using WAM (width as measured) and RAM (radius as measured), rather than stock measurements, to obtain the most accurate and real-world tyre sizing around which to design the bike. According to 3T, every bike design starts with the tyres.Consequently, the Racemax and the Racemax WPNT have different tyre clearances, giving a clear steer on their best use cases.The Racemax WPNT can achieve its highest speeds rolling on 35-46mm WAM tyres. If youre really looking for adventure, however, dropping down to a set of 650b rims allows you to roll out on some whopping 61mm rubber. On that kind of tyre, its really ready for anything.The Racemax is fastest on 41-51mm WAM tyres with a maximum clearance of 51mm, though this is reduced to 48mm on 2x setups.Alongside generous clearance, both frames incorporate a number of smart aero cues. These include integrated cabling, contoured down tubes to best handle turbulent airflow, narrow head tubes and neat aero cutouts in the seat tube that minimise the gap between tyre and tube.The clearest aerodynamic benefit that the Racemax has over the WPNT is the aero nose built into the profile of the head tube. In keeping with the brands design language, and seen on its Strada Italia aero road bike, 3T says the head tube nose reduces the area of the bikes leading edge, adding aerodynamic efficiency.Practical extrasNot only does the Racemax give you an aerodynamic edge over the Racemax WPNT, but there are smart practical features baked in too.The taillight system slots beautifully into the seatpost of the Racemax, leaving a smooth, integrated profile. The light itself packs 25 lumens and boasts a runtime of up to 15 hours.Having quick access to your tools and extras is absolutely vital for gravel riders who are searching for a tubeless plug or a gel mid-race. 3T has considered this too by building integrated storage into the down tube. Industry specialist Fidlock known for magnetic helmet straps and various locking devices provides the mini-hook mechanism that decouples the panel from the down tube. Inside, theres neoprene bag that eliminates rattling and stores your extras safely.3T has also gone the extra mile with the specced small parts on the Racemax. If you ever look inside the headset, youll find oversized CeramicSpeed SLT bearings which are highly regarded for their durability and smooth operation.Race to the maxThe bikes in 3Ts Racemax line are designed first and foremost to be the quickest over rough surfaces, and while the Racemax shares qualities with its WPNT sibling, it is the most refined iteration of 3Ts gravel-racing vision.That isnt to say it sacrifices practicality or comfort either. The frameset is painstakingly produced in Italy with sophisticated fabrication techniques to deliver a highly balanced ride feel. All said and done, theres very little the Racemax cant do.To find out more about the 3T Racemax Italia and 3T Racemax WPNT, click here Related Posts New 3T Racemax2 Italia gets full redesign with more tyre clearance and aero boost The post Gravel riding to the max appeared first on Cyclist.

Tirreno-Adriatico 2026 is taking place from the 9th to the 15th of March and is, as is the case every year, one of the most important races of the spring. It not only provides sprinters, time trialists and climbers with golden opportunities in one of Italy's top events; but also provides the classic...

With up to 33% off a range of cleaning and lubrication products, the Amazon Spring Deal Days is a great place to start for all your bike spring cleaning needs

Jonas Vingegaard is back wearing the yellow jersey at a pro race. The last time that happened was 12 months ago, where he was wearing the race leader's jersey also at Paris-Nice, but crashed out. Today on stage 4 of the Race to the Sun, the curse fell on Juan Ayuso who abandoned under similar circum...