Today's live blog is something of a team effort at road.cc towers, Callum is here to kick things off on a fine Tuesday.

Ben Turner has provided an update after his heavy crash at In Flanders Fields, revealing he has avoided any fractures despite a violent fall that ended his race. The INEOS Grenadiers rider was brought down during the chaotic middle phase, going over the handlebars in a high-speed incident that immed...

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe could be set to continue an emerging trend in the transfer market, with another rider from Team Visma | Lease a Bike reportedly under consideration ahead of the 2027 season. After already bringing in Jan Tratnik and the Van Dijke brothers in recent years, the Red Bull-ba...

Beyond wind tunnel data and marketing claims, the performance of aero road bikes is not decided solely by tube profiles or rim depth. Our test of the most exciting aero road bikes of 2026 revealed seven clear insights that show where modern aero race bikes are heading.1. Generous Tire Clearance Is Becoming the New Normal, Even on Race BikesOur test field shows more than 32 mm tire clearance is no longer the exception on modern aero road bikes. That doesnt mean you should automatically use it all, though. For many races, 28 to 30 mm tires still hit the sweet spot where aerodynamics, rolling resistance and precise handling intersect. Greater clearance simply gives you more flexibility to improve the comfort and versatility of your bike. Tires around 32 mm only really make sense when rough tarmac or cobbles would otherwise drive up rolling resistance and fatigue. What matters more than the figure on the spec sheet is the actual space between tire and frame. Under load, a tire flexes and deforms, so what fits snugly in the stand may start rubbing once youre racing hard.2. The Crux of Riding PositionFor a long time, the rule seemed simple: the lower you go, the faster you are. But the reality in the pro peloton now tells a different story. Many modern aero road bikes come with a slightly higher stack, or cockpits with a subtle rise. The reason is straightforward: an extremely low position is only fast if you can actually hold it. The moment your hips and lower back start to lock up or your breathing becomes restricted, you lose power and, with it, speed.3. The Fastest Bike The Best Bike for YouBikes like the Factor ONE show just how far you can push aerodynamics: maximum efficiency at high speeds, uncompromising integration, and a tangible advantage once youre north of 40 km/h. But that performance only comes to life if your position, power output and typical terrain actually suit the concept. If you cant consistently hold the aggressive riding position, or you spend much of your time below 30 km/h, the aero advantage quickly fades. For many ambitious riders, the fastest concept on paper isnt the best choice. A balanced aero all-rounder often makes more sense: light enough for long climbs, efficient enough for fast sections, and comfortable enough to stay strong deep into a long race.4. Is a Wider or Narrower Handlebar Better for a Road Bike?Hardly any component influences real-world aerodynamics as directly as your handlebar. A narrower cockpit immediately reduces the frontal area of your arms and shoulders, often with a more noticeable effect than even the most sophisticated tube profiles. But neither ultra-narrow nor traditionally wide is automatically faster. If the bar is too wide, your arms catch the wind like barn doors. Too narrow, and you lose control in sprints or on high-speed descents, your shoulders tense up, and you unconsciously flare your elbows. Just like that, the expensive aero advantage disappears. What really matters is balance: a compact front end combined with a stable, relaxed posture that you can actually maintain under pressure.5. Pro Gearing vs Real-World RidingWhat makes perfect sense in a WorldTour sprint stage doesnt automatically translate to your local race. Big chainrings and tightly spaced cassettes deliver serious top-end speed at a high tempo, but they demand constant pressure on the pedals. For many riders, slightly easier gearing with a broader range is the smarter choice. It keeps your effort more manageable and your cadence steadier. If youre constantly looking for a lower gear or grinding up climbs instead of spinning smoothly, youll lose more time than any theoretically faster gear could ever give you back.6. Shorter Cranks Have Gone MainstreamShorter cranks were never a classic marginal gains trend. Theyve always been more about individual bike fit, as we explored in our Short Crank Curiosity feature. Thats what makes it so interesting that shorter cranks are now becoming standard spec items for many brands. Its not about chasing a few extra watts its about ergonomics. Shorter cranks can slightly open up the hip angle, making it easier to hold a compact, aerodynamic position. At the same time, cadence often stays more consistent, because the pedalling motion itself becomes more compact.7. In-House Isnt EverythingFully integrated systems developed entirely in-house sound like a match made in heaven, and they usually look the part too. But maximum brand purity doesnt automatically mean maximum performance. MERIDA and BMC show that high-end components from third-party manufacturers can perform on an equal footing, often with greater flexibility when it comes to bike fit and servicing. What really matters isnt whether every part comes from the same brand: its how well the whole package works together.The TestfieldThis is part of the 2026 Aero Road Bike Group Test for an overview of this group test as well as an overview of all tested aero bikes, check out the 2026 Aero Road Bike Group Test.All bikes in test: Cervlo S5 | Factor ONE | MERIDA REACTO TEAM | ROSE Shave FFX | Wilier Filante SLR ID2Der Beitrag What Really Matters: Our 7 Takeaways from our Aero Road Bike Test erschien zuerst auf GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine.

Regardless of whether you believe they perform as a viable alternative to tubeless, TPUs make the perfect emergency tube: light, easy to fold, and easy to carry

Patients pedalling for 20 minutes a day experienced ripples in a part of their brains that improved how they processed and remembered information

Packable and impressively waterproof, but compromised by rather weak breathability

The decisive moment at In Flanders Fields may not have come on the Kemmelberg, but much earlier and in a far more unexpected way. Long before the race reached its defining phase, Mathieu van der Poel had already made his intentions clear. Not publicly, not over the radio, but in a brief exchange wit...

A group of 13 cyclists from Dundee-based global people development company Insights are preparing to tackle one of the toughest charity rides on the calendar, an 800-mile journey across Britain and Ireland in memory of Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir.Team Insights will line up for Doddies Triple Crown, a four-day endurance challenge that starts on 10 March, with the aim of raising 30,000 for the My Name5 Doddie Foundation. The ride supports research into Motor Neurone Disease and provides vital help for people and families affected by the condition.Among the riders taking on the 2026 challenge are Insights Group CEO Andy Lothian and Insights Learning and Development CEO Fiona Logan. Alongside colleagues from across the business, they have been logging long winter miles in often grim conditions to prepare for the physical and mental demands of the event.A tougher route for 2026Organised by former Scotland captain Rob Wainwright, Doddies Triple Crown will see hundreds of cyclists cover 800 miles in just four days, travelling from Scotland to Ireland ahead of Scotlands Six Nations match against Ireland in Dublin.Following the success of the 2025 edition, which raised more than 1 million, organisers have increased the distance from 700 to 800 miles. The aim this year is to raise a further 1 million, making the 2026 ride the toughest yet.The route begins in Melrose on Tuesday 10 March, heading south to Leeds on day one before continuing to Gloucester and then Pembroke. Riders will take an overnight ferry to Ireland, with the final leg running from Rosslare to Dublin, finishing in time for the international fixture at the Aviva Stadium.Riding for Doddies legacyDoddie Weir, a former Scotland and British and Irish Lions international, died in November 2022 aged 52 after living with MND for more than six years. Through the My Name5 Doddie Foundation, he helped drive forward research into treatments and improved care, committing millions of pounds to studies, clinical trials and patient support across the UK.Andy Lothian says Weirs attitude has been a powerful motivator throughout training.At Insights we are aiming to do our bit to help push progress forward, inspired by Doddie Weirs legacy and motivated by the incredible community behind this cause, he said. Doddie was not only inspiring in his rugby career but in how he refused to let this illness define him. His legacy goes far beyond sport.Reflecting on the build-up to the ride, Lothian added that the challenge has tested the team in more ways than one.Preparing for an 800-mile ride has pushed us well outside our comfort zones. Weve built up the miles gradually, supported each other through tough, wet and windy sessions, and kept reminding ourselves why were doing this. By the end we expect to be very saddle sore, but it will be worth it.Team Insights is encouraging individuals and businesses across Dundee and Scotland to support the fundraising effort through donations, raffle prizes or by sharing the campaign.Motor Neurone Disease is a life-shortening condition affecting the motor neurons of the nervous system. Around six people are diagnosed every day in the UK, with up to 5,000 adults living with the disease at any one time.