Isaac del Toro moves into race lead

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...

This weeks Debrief features a new Carradice poncho, Ornot's Alpha Sweater, updated Stealth Mountain Panniers, wondering if 32" tires will have the same fate as 29+, several events to follow live, and more. Find it all hereThe post Friday Debrief: New Carradice Poncho, Stealth Mountain Panniers, 32=29+?, and More appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Nearly seven years ago now, we began wondering what Trek was cooking up. The Top Fuel had been the bike of choice for Trek-affiliated race teams. However, something new began to appear at races, which would later be discovered to be the Supercaliber.And, once again, we are seeing the process repeated. People definitely spotted a new XC bike with the Trek-Unbroken XC team. With its horizontal shock mounted to the top tube, it certainly isnt a Top Fuel. And, while the new bike has flex stays, it doesnt feature the IsoStrut, the internally housed rear shock of the Supercaliber.Nope, this is a completely new bike. And today, Trek pulled back the curtain a bit, telling us more about this new bike, and why itll likely never hit store shelves.A Trek XC PrototypePhotos courtesy of TrekSo why the new bike? Was something wrong with the Supercaliber? Certainly not, but Treks designers and engineers have acknowledged that their flagship XC race bike perhaps isnt designed for the XC tracks racers face today.Simply put, the sport has evolved. Longer rock gardens, drops, doubles, and just trails that most of us would want 150mm of travel on. For these spicier tracks, the 80mm Supercaliber just wasnt cutting it, with plenty of racers reaching for the Top Fuel, despite the weight penalty.So, work officially began on a new XC Prototype bike in January 2024. The bike would, on the one hand, be a unique build from the ground up. On the other hand, Trek brought loved aspects from both the Supercaliber and Top Fuel platforms. And their goal was simple: craft the fastest 29er XC race bike possible.Treks first step was to develop a suspension platform. Similar to the Supercaliber, they ditched the tried-and-true Active Braking Pivot suspension system synonymous with Trek in favor of flex stays. They also tested two different link optionsa swing link and a flapper linkwith the latter winning out.Along with the flapper link and flex stays, they also decided to provide the prototype with 115mm of travel. While this is a touch less than what many other brands offer on their XC race bikes, Trek felt it was ideal for them. It offered enough travel for the rough tracks XC racers are encountering today, while remaining supportive for an efficient pedaling platform.Next, they needed to design the frame, with weight and efficiency as the utmost priorities. Engineers at Trek analyzed how and where different sections of the frame performed under stress. This allowed them to rework the tube shape and design where it was needed, adding or eliminating material where it made sense.Trek said the end product is a svelte package for a hardier XC race bike, tailor-made for todays World Cup circuit.But Can You Buy It?It doesnt appear so. Trek says that while it is the fastest XC race bike they have ever made, it apparently isnt the end result.The prototype is simply one step in a constantly churning iterative process within the walls of Waterloo. You may not ride this bike, but rest assured that something even bigger and better is in the works.While we may never get to throw a leg over this bike, Trek promises that what they have learned from this will make its way into future bikes.The post Trek is Racing a New Prototype XC Bike, But Youll Likely Never Get to Ride It appeared first on Bikerumor.

British rider Disley, a five-time gran fondo time trial world champion, set the new derny-paced benchmark in Newport velodrome

Stage 5 of Tirreno-Adriatico has delivered the biggest gaps of the race so far and although the day lacked big climbs in its decisive section, the fatigue from a long day with plenty ascents was enough for Isaac del Toro to make the difference after an attack late in the day. The UAE Team Emirates -...

For years, the BMC Teammachine has defined what many riders expect from a modern race bike. Long before the industry started blending climbing bikes with aero machines, BMCs flagship platform was already doing both. It was one of the original do-everything-bikes. The Teammachine has won Monuments, Grand Tour stages, and plenty of local races along the way. Now, BMC is expanding the Teammachine SLR family with a lighter frame, improved aerodynamics, and a wider range of carbon options designed to bring that performance to more riders.(All photos/BMC)BMC Teammachine SLR Whats New? The concept behind the latest generation is simple, and what all brands are trying to pull off: build a bike that excels everywhere. Simple, and yet its probably one of the hardest things to do. There are so many trade-offs, and finding the correct balance is nearly impossible, so you have to aim at who the target rider is and what they are looking to accomplish. Since the Teammachine SLR has always been about performance and performance-focused riders. The BMC team focused on the big three pillars of performance metrics that define a race bike: weight, stiffness, and aerodynamics. The question is, can they tweak all three and still maintain a bike that rides like the Teammachine without getting lost in the data? A Drop in WeightWeight reduction was one of the main targets for the new Teammachine SLR. But as BMC is quick to point out, lowering weight alone isnt enough. In performance bikes, the real metric that matters is stiffness-to-weight ratio, the balance between structural rigidity and overall mass.The new Teammachine SLR 01 frameset drops 222 grams compared to the previous generation, representing a 16% reduction in weight while maintaining the same stiffness levels.BMC achieved the reduction by having engineers select new, stiffer carbon materials, refine tube shapes throughout the frame, and even minimize the graphics package to eliminate unnecessary grams. The result is a frame thats lighter without sacrificing the crisp power transfer riders expect from a race bike.Closing the Aero GapWhile the Teammachine SLR has traditionally been BMCs lightweight all-rounder, the brand has steadily added aerodynamic refinement to the platform. Historically, the Teammachine SLR and the Teammachine R (reviewed here) were clearly separated by their aerodynamic profiles. The R model was the dedicated aero machine, while the SLR focused primarily on weight and handling.That distinction still exists, but the gap has narrowed significantly.Through refined tube shapes, reduced frontal area, and improved integration, the newest generation of the Teammachine SLR has closed the gap between itself and the Teammachine R to just 4%.How, you ask? The frame tubes themselves have been reshaped to reduce drag without adding unnecessary mass. BMC also integrated aerodynamic bottle cages designed to work in conjunction with the frames airflow profile. The bottle cage takes aero and non-aero bottles, FYI. These details may seem small individually, but together they reduce turbulence and improve efficiency.Another key component is the ICS Carbon Aero cockpit. It neatly and cleanly integrates cables and hoses while optimizing airflow at the front of the bike. You can get this cockpit separately, but if youre paying that much, you might as well buy the whole bike.Tuned Compliance Concept ReturnsOne of the defining characteristics of the Teammachine platform has always been its ride feel. BMC has long focused on balancing stiffness with comfort, and the newest generation continues that way.The frame retains the companys Tuned Compliance Concept (TCC), a design approach that uses carefully engineered frame flex to absorb road vibration without sacrificing power transfer.The most visible component of this system is the dropped seat stay design, in which the seat stays intersect the seat tube lower than in traditional designs. This configuration allows the rear triangle to flex slightly under load, helping to dissipate vibration from rough roads.(Photo/BMC)According to BMC, the newest Teammachine SLR retains 100% compliance with the previous generation, despite significant weight reduction and aerodynamic improvements. In practical terms, that means the bike maintains its ability to smooth out rough pavement while still feeling precise and responsive when power is applied.Tweaked GeometryHandling has always been a defining feature of the Teammachine series. Rather than dramatically altering geometry with each generation, BMC has refined a formula that prioritizes balance and predictability.The new Teammachine SLR maintains a consistent 63mm trail figure across all frame sizes, a number the company has optimized over many years of development. By keeping the trail number consistent across sizes, BMC ensures that riders experience the same handling characteristics whether theyre on a smaller or larger frame.This approach creates a bike that feels stable at high speeds but remains nimble when navigating technical roads or tight corners. Interestingly, the geometry mirrors that used on the Teammachine R, reinforcing the idea that the two bikes now share much of the same racing DNA.Expanding the Carbon PlatformPerhaps the most notable change for the new generation is the expansion of the Teammachine SLR lineup.BMC now offers the bike in three carbon constructions:01 Premium CarbonThis is the flagship frame construction. It uses BMCs most advanced carbon layup and a lightweight paint application to achieve the best possible stiffness-to-weight ratio.01 Pro CarbonA slightly less weight-optimized construction that maintains the same ride characteristics while using a standard paint finish.Advanced CarbonThe most accessible version of the Teammachine platform. While it uses a different carbon layup, it retains the core geometry and ride feel that define the SLR family.Modular Cockpit IntegrationBMCs integrated cockpit system has also evolved with the new Teammachine SLR. The frames are compatible with any ICS cockpit configuration, including both one-piece integrated bars and traditional stem-and-handlebar setups.Top-tier builds come equipped with the second-generation ICS Carbon Aero cockpit, which offers multiple handlebar widths and stem length combinations. This modular approach allows riders to fine-tune their fit while maintaining the aerodynamic benefits of cable integration.Updated Seatpost and OffsetsThe new Teammachine SLR also introduces updated AeroShape seatposts, designed to balance aerodynamic efficiency with fit flexibility.Seatposts are offered in three offsets:0mm offset for smaller frame sizes (4751)10mm offset for mid to large sizes (5461)25mm offset available aftermarketThis system ensures riders can achieve their optimal saddle position regardless of frame size.BMC Teammachine SLR Pricing and RangeTeammachine SLR 01 Premium CarbonTeammachine SLR 01 ONE $14,599 USD / 12,999Teammachine SLR 01 TWO $13,499 USD / 11,999Teammachine SLR 01 THREE $9,499 USD / 8,499Teammachine SLR 01 Pro CarbonSLR 01 FOUR $10,999 USD / 8,999SLR 01 FIVE $8,399 USD / 7,499SLR 01 SIX $7,299 USD / 6,499SLR 01 SEVEN $6,199 USD / 5,499Teammachine SLR Advanced CarbonSLR ONE $4,799 USD / 3,999SLR TWO $3,599 USD / 2,999SLR THREE $2,899 USD / 2,499More info at BMCThe post BMC Expands Teammachine SLR Family Lighter, Faster, Built for More Riders appeared first on Bikerumor.

Jonas Vingegaard finishes just behind, retains his lead

British rider Disley, a five-time gran fondo time trial world champion, set the new derny-paced benchmark in Newport velodrome

Stage 6 of Paris-Nice was another punchy day and although the sprinters had the opportunity to succeed, it was a late attack from XDS Astana Team rider Harold Tejada which ended up leading to success. The Colombian rider was successful after an opportunistic attack in the final kilometers. The brea...