Giulio Pellizzaris victory at the Tour of the Alps 2026 was built over five days of controlled aggression and growing authority, culminating in a decisive final-stage attack that secured both the stage win and the overall classification. Riding for Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, Pellizzari arrived as...

Nairo Quintanas return to winning ways at the Vuelta a Asturias carried far greater meaning than the result alone, as the Colombian dedicated his stage 2 victory to compatriot Cristian Camilo Muoz following the tragic news of his death earlier in the day. This stage is dedicated to Camilo, Quint...

Santa Cruz Bicycles is one of several brands that dont attend Sea Otter. But Santa Cruz has been hosting a pre-Sea Otter industry gathering, which it calls bike night, for the past several years. Its less of a check out all of our cool new stuff event, and more of a lets hang out and catch up kinda vibe. Santa Cruz had the recently updated Nomad on display, but anything else was overshadowed by free beer, hot pizza, and good conversations.But after the hustle and bustle of the Sea Otter expo last weekend, Santa Cruz dropped into our inboxes with some product update info. The popular and highly regarded Vala CC and Bullit CC eMTBs are both getting frame color updates, new builds, and some new integrated features. For the Vala CC, Santa Cruz is also introducing Lite builds with slightly lighter weights than the standard options.Bullit CC: UpdatesThe Bullit CC comes in two new colors and builds, including the XO AXS RSV build and Gloss Purple Smoke/Spring Green pictured here.We covered the Santa Cruz Bullit eMTB when it launched last year, so if youre interested in the details, you can find all the pertinent info here. Santa Cruz hasnt made any major design changes to the bike. It still gets 170mm of rear wheel travel using a four-bar suspension design, runs a 170mm travel fork, and rolls on mixed wheel sizes. Its powered by a Bosch CX drive system, with a 600 Wh battery.New Bullit ColorsSanta Cruz is offering the Bullit CC in two new frame colors this year. The new Matte Carbon/Purple Sunset Chameleon colorway has color-shifting graphics/decals. The other is Gloss Purple Smoke/Spring Green, which looks pretty classic Santa Cruz.The Bullit CC in the new Matte Carbon frame with Purple Sunset Chameleon logos, with the XT Di2 Podium RSV build.New Bullit BuildsThe Bullit CC is being offered in two new top-of-the-line builds, with the XT Di2 version also adding some integrated features.Bullit XT Di2 Podium RSV: $13,499 (22.6 kg or 50 lbs.)The Bullit CC with the XT Di2 Podium RSV build.The top-tier Bullit CC build comes with a 170mm Fox Podium Factory inverted fork, a Fox DHX2 coil shock, SRAM Maven Silver brakes, Reserve 30|DH Carbon wheels w/ DT 350 DF hubs, and Maxxis Double Down Tires. It also features a Shimano XT Di2 drivetrain thats hardwired to the bikes battery for charging. Additionally, the wired derailleur connection supports manual, manual plus, and auto-shifting modes, which can reportedly be configured through the Bosch app.Bullit XO AXS RSV: $12,599 (21.7 kg or 47.9 lbs.)The Bullit CC with the XO AXS RSV build.The XO build comes with the brand-new Fox 38 Factory Grip X2 fork, Float X2 Factory shock, and SRAM Maven Silver brakes. It rolls on Reserve 30|DH Carbon wheels with DT 350 DF anti-kickback bubs wrapped in Maxxis Double Down tires. The SRAM XO AXS Transmission drivetrain is hardwired to the bikes battery, so youll never forget to charge it.Vala CC: UpdatesThe Vala CC in the new Matte Carbon colorway.The Vala really broke the typical Santa Cruz mold when it launched a couple of years ago. The four-bar suspension design was a major departure from the brands signature VPP suspension, and it has been very well-received by testers and consumers alike. So, Santa Cruz isnt messing with this winning formula, which you can learn more about in our launch article here.Long story short, the Vala gets 150mm of rear travel using a four-bar suspension design, paired with a 160mm fork, and mixed wheel sizes. The Bosch CX drive unit provides the pedal assistance, with a 600Wh battery powering the system.The Coral logo really pops on the Gloss Slate Blue frame.New Vala ColorsThe Vala CC is offered in two new colorways. Gloss Slate Blue/Coral brings some classic Santa Cruz style, while the Matte Carbon/Gold Sparkle has a much stealthier appearance.New Vala BuildsThe Vala CC comes in a new XT Di2 RSV build with a wired and integrated derailleur. Santa Cruz is also introducing Lite builds to the Vala CC platform to save a little weight for those who are interested in doing so.Vala CC XT Di2 RSV: $11,999 (21.3 kg or 47.1 lbs.)The Matte Carbon frame with Gold Sparkle logos is nice and stealthy-looking, shown here with the XT Di2 RSV build.The XT Di2 RSV build comes with the brand-new Fox Factory 38 Grip X2 fork, a Fox Float X Factory shock, and SRAM Maven Silver brakes. It rolls on Reserve 30|HD Carbon wheels with DT 350 DF anti-kickback hubs wrapped in Maxxis EXO+/Double Down tires. The Shimano XT Di2 derailleur is hardwired to the Bosch CX drive unit for charging. This integration also allows for manual-plus and auto-shifting modes to be set up through the Bosch Flow app.The XT Di2 derailleur is hardwired to the drive unit, so you dont need to charge a separate battery.New Vala Lite BuildsSanta Cruz says the new Lite builds bridge the gap between full-power bikes and lightweight bikes by maintaining the same Bosch Performance CX Line motor and 600Wh battery, but making smart spec decisions that save lbs (or kgs).Theyve given the Lite treatment to two of the Vala CC builds: the XT Di2 RSV described above, and the XX AXS RSV. The claimed weights of both options weigh 1.1 lbs less than their standard counterparts, which is lighter, but not exactly earth-shattering.The Lite build switches to a Fox 36 fork and EXO+ tires front and rear to save 1.1 lbs.Vala CC XX AXS Lite RSV: $13,999 (20.6 kg or 45.5 lbs.)The XX Lite build closely mirrors the standard XX version, but drops weight by moving to a Fox Factory 36 Grip X2 fork, EXO+ tires front and rear, and a Chris King dropset headset.Vala CC XT Di2 Lite RSV: $11,999 (20.8 kg or 46 lbs.)The Lite version moves to the Fox Factory 26 Grip X2 fork, EXO+ tires front and rear, and XT brakes.AvailabilityThe new colors and builds of the Bullit CC and Vala CC eMTBs are available now. Head to the Santa Cruz website or your local Santa Cruz dealer to check them out.santacruzbicycles.comThe post Santa Cruz Announces New Colors and Kits for Bullit and Vala CC eMTBs, Plus Lite Builds appeared first on Bikerumor.

Vincenzo Nibali sees Tadej Pogacar as the rider still holding the decisive edge ahead of Lige-Bastogne-Lige, with the Italian pointing to a gap that neither Paul Seixas nor Remco Evenepoel may yet be able to close. That view comes with obvious context. Pogacar is a three-time winner of La Doyenne,...

TAAP Kalas after the finish of Rs Tailteann 2025. (Photographer: TAAP Kalas).Cairde Rs Tailteann is delighted to announce TAAP Kalas as one of our visiting teams for the 2026 event as they return for their second appearance at the race.TAAP Kalas are no strangers to Irish racing, having ridden Rs Mumhan on several occasions before making their Rs Tailteann debut last year. The team has built a strong reputation for giving younger riders an opportunity alongside more experienced riders and will once again arrive in Ireland with a squad eager to make an impact.With an early start to the 2026 season, TAAP Kalas has prepared by racing at a high level in the UK, including two National A races, a UCI 1.2 event and a three-day stage race. That strong block of racing should leave the team well prepared for the demands of Rs Tailteann.For this years edition, the team is expected to bring a mix of experience and fresh faces, including two riders who have raced in Ireland before and three who will be competing here for the first time. TAAP Kalas will be aiming to fight for stage wins while also protecting their strongest general classification rider.Henry Latimer, Team Manager said: TAAP Kalas is really looking forward to returning to Rs Tailteann in 2026 after making our first appearance in the race last year. We have had a strong start to the season, racing at a high level in the UK, and we feel that has prepared us well for what lies ahead. We are hoping to be in the mix for stage wins while also looking after our best-placed rider on general classification. The new route looks very exciting, with proper point-to-point stages and roads that should make for challenging but enjoyable racing.Race Director Ger Campbell added: We are delighted to welcome TAAP Kalas back to Rs Tailteann for 2026. They made a positive impression on their debut in the race last year and they continue to show strong ambition in how they approach their racing. With a good mix of experience and new talent, they will be another team to watch on Irish roads this May.

The main cycling event of this week, the 2026 Liege-Bastogne-Liege is just around the corner. There's no secret who the main favourite is, however the three-time winner Tadej Pogacar will face some rather challenging opponents in two-time winner Remco Evenepoel and fresh La Fleche Wallone champion P...

Giulio Pellizzari's rise in recent years has been remarkable. When he debuted at Giro d'Italia two years ago, it was a learning curve that ended up with a near-stage win, if it were not for a certain Tadej Pogacar. Two years later, Pellizzari will be heading to Grande Partenza in Bulgaria as one of...

With 79 editions, Tour de Romandie rightfully belongs among the most-respected races on men's WorldTour calendar. The Swiss stage race has its share of iconic champions since the innaugural edition of 1947, and with Tadej Pogacar as headline name this year, the race is well on the way to add another...

Paul Seixas is no longer a prospect but a fully formed force, and one of the prime contenders for the next fixtures on the calendar after his emphatic triumph at La Flche Wallonne. Heading into the upcoming Monument, the Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the Decathlon CMA CGM youngster is already viewed as one...