Etape Loch Ness 2026 delivered Highland spectacle as 6,500 riders took on closed roadsThe 2026 Etape Loch Ness took place on Sunday 26 April, as 6,500 cyclists descended on the Scottish Highlands to ride the UKs biggest closed road sportive. Now in its 12th year, the event once again turned the roads around Loch Ness into a festival of cycling, welcoming riders of all ages and abilities to one of the countrys most iconic routes.Starting and finishing in Inverness, participants tackled the full 66 mile 106km circuit of the loch on completely traffic free roads. With around 900 metres of climbing, the route combined long flowing sections with tougher challenges, all set against the dramatic backdrop of Highland glens, forested shoreline and wide open views across the water.A key test of the day came in the form of the famous King and Queen of the Mountain climb. The 4.8 mile ascent gained 380 metres, with gradients topping out at 12 percent in places. Riders poured themselves into the timed section, cheered on by roadside supporters who added to the atmosphere that has become synonymous with Etape Loch Ness.Entries for the 2026 event sold out months in advance, making this edition the largest in the events history. The packed start pens reflected the broad appeal of the sportive, with first time sportive riders lining up alongside experienced endurance cyclists and club riders chasing personal bests. Despite the scale of the field, the event maintained a friendly and inclusive feel throughout the day.Charity fundraising remained a cornerstone of the Etape story. More than 1,000 riders took part in support of Macmillan Cancer Support, continuing a partnership that began in 2014. Thanks to the efforts of participants over the years, more than 2.62 million had been raised by the time the 2026 event concluded, helping Macmillan support people living with cancer across the UK.Speaking during event week, Malcolm Sutherland, chief executive of Caledonian Concepts, said the build-up to the weekend had been filled with excitement and pride. He highlighted the mix of personal challenges, charity targets and sheer enjoyment of riding that brought so many people together on the day.Local communities around Inverness and Loch Ness again played a vital role. Spectators lined key sections of the route, while carefully managed road closures ensured a safe environment for riders and residents alike. The closed road format continued to be a major draw, offering a rare chance to ride some of Scotlands most famous roads without traffic.As riders rolled back into Inverness to collect medals and share stories, Etape Loch Ness 2026 underlined its status as a bucket list event. Scenic, challenging and community focused, it once again showed why it remained a standout date in the UK cycling calendar.

The Five Boro Bike Tour takes cyclists through New York City on car free streets and was the launchpad for a traumatic brain injury survivor and hip replacement patient to return to cycling

Tadej Pogacar made an immediate statement at the Tour de Romandie 2026, attacking on the decisive climb to Ovronnaz before finishing the job in a reduced sprint to take victory on stage 1. The Slovenians move on the steep gradients forced the race open, but not decisively enough to go clear alone....

Tadej Pogacar delivered exactly what many expected on Wednesday, winning the first road stage of the Tour de Romandie and moving into the overall lead after a demanding day around Martigny. The Slovenian star from UAE Team Emirates - XRG proved strongest in a select four-man sprint after the decisiv...

UPDATED April 29, 2026 BY The TDA Team IN Africa: Ocean to Ocean no comments Africa: Ocean To Ocean An Incredible Cycling Journey Across Southern AfricaAfrica holds such a special place in our hearts. It was there, after all, that Founder Henry Golds crazy idea of cycling from Cairo to Cape Town came to life. Over the years, we have returned to the continent with tours like Magical Madagascar, Morocco: Kingdom of the West & West Africa en Vlo but we always dreamed of doing another epic cross-continental adventure, not from north to south but instead, from west to east. Well, the time has finally arrived!We are more than just a little excited to announce the Africa: Ocean to Ocean Cycling Expedition, a 2 month, 5040 km journey across 7 African countries Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Eswatini & Mozambique. In June 2027, riders will dip their tires in the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean before heading out across the African continent. Two months later they will pull into Maputo, Mozambique and repeat the process in the warm, blue waters of the Indian Ocean marking the end of their incredible adventure.TDAs African Project Manager, Sharita van der Merwe, describes the route and highlights in this video.The route will allow riders to visit a number of famous National Parks like Namibias, Etosha, and South Africas, Kruger, while also allowing them to discover lesser known gems including Angolas stunning Serra da Leba Pass and Eswatinis Sibebe Rock. They will pedal the challenging roads of the ancient Namib Desert, spin alongside Botswanas shimmering salt pans, past the stunning rock formations of Zimbabwes Matobo National Park and into South Africas unique Blyde River Canyon. Along the way, the riders will experience the warm hospitality and rich cultures of the African people.Dont miss out on the opportunity to join us on this amazing inaugural Ocean to Ocean tour!RELATEDTOURAfrica: Ocean to Ocean The original way to cross Africa from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean was the maritime Cape Route past the continents southern tip, a perilous... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Africa: Ocean To Ocean An Incredible Cycling Journey Across Southern Africa" Cancel reply

Weight in professional cycling has always been a key factor, specially for those who want to perform on the mountains. Remco Evenepoel is part of this list, and in a recent interview he admits that he easily gains weight, which makes it difficult to naturally perform in the mountains all-year round;...

From Ozarks to Delta Blues: Markus Stitzs new film shows why Arkansas deserves a place on every riders radarFilmmaker and route designer Markus Stitz has turned his attention to Arkansas for his latest short film, From Ozarks to Delta Blues, a journey that explores the state by bike, foot and kayak and reveals a riding destination with far more range than many cyclists might expect.The film follows Stitz from the riding hubs of Bentonville and Fayetteville in north west Arkansas to Hot Springs, Little Rock and the Arkansas Delta, tracing a route through rugged mountains, forest, greenways and vast open backroads. It is a portrait of a state shaped by contrast, where the technical trails and cycling culture of the Ozarks sit alongside the slower rhythms and flat horizons of the Delta.For Stitz, the trip was also a chance to look again at a part of the United States he had first encountered years earlier while riding across the country on a single-speed bike during his round-the-world adventure. He says the journey offered a real insight into Arkansas through the people who live and ride there, adding that it is one of the most intriguing places to ride a bike.That sense of discovery runs throughout the film. In Bentonville, a town now firmly established on the international cycling map, Stitz speaks with Ernie Lechuga, owner of the Scott Adventure Lab and a former professional cyclist who chose to make the city his home. Lechuga describes Arkansas as raw and beautiful, with untapped country roads that create a feeling of freedom. He also points to Bentonvilles community as its defining strength, saying the place feels like home for people who live and breathe bikes.The film does not stop at Bentonvilles reputation for mountain biking. It broadens the picture, showing how Arkansas caters to very different styles of riding. From the Razorback Greenway, which links Fayetteville, Springdale and Bentonville, to the long quiet roads of the Delta, the state appears to offer both accessibility and adventure in equal measure. That variety is one of the films strongest messages: Arkansas is not simply a mountain bike destination, but a genuinely diverse place to explore on two wheels.In the Delta, Stitz highlights Crowleys Ridge, an area that rises unexpectedly from the surrounding flatlands and offers shaded roads and a deep sense of history. Martin Smith, who lives in Birdeye, describes it as the only real elevation in the Arkansas Delta and speaks about the importance of linking a communitys future to its past. In the film, that idea gives the riding a richer context, suggesting these roads are about more than scenery alone. They are part of a wider cultural landscape.Hot Springs adds another dimension. Traci Berry, trails coordinator at Visit Hot Springs, presents Arkansas as a state where outdoor access is woven into everyday life. She points to its public land, two national forests, a national park and the green space that shapes many of its towns and cities. In a place like Hot Springs, with a population of around 38,000, that means a riding experience that can still feel close to nature even when it starts from the edge of town.The film also stops in Little Rock, where Sam Files of Pinnacle Mountain State Park sums up the state in three words: breathtaking, hardworking and wild. It is a neat line, but it also reflects what Stitz seems to have found across the trip. Arkansas comes across as a place where cycling is not boxed into one discipline or one type of rider. Instead, it offers a broad church of experiences, from greenway spins and gravel epics to single track sessions and remote backroad adventures.That broad appeal is supported by the practical details too. The state is presented as having a mild four-season climate, bike-friendly communities and a strong connection to the outdoors, all of which make it an attractive option for travelling riders. The routes featured in the film, covering both gravel and mountain biking, are also available on Komoot, making it easier for viewers to turn inspiration into a trip of their own.From Ozarks to Delta Blues is supported by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism and Tout Terrain USA, with Stitz riding a Tout Terrain Vasco GT during filming. The short film is available now on YouTube, and it adds another thoughtful entry to the Edinburgh-based filmmakers growing body of work documenting places through the lens of slow travel and cycling culture.For a cycling audience, the value of the film lies in how it reframes Arkansas. This is not just a destination with a famous trail scene. It is a state of layers, where riders can move from urban greenways to wild forest, from gravel roads to mountain singletrack, and from the Ozarks to the Delta with a genuine sense of travelling through different worlds. Stitzs film makes a persuasive case that Arkansas is not only worth visiting, but worth exploring properly, at bike pace.

Remco Evenepoels third place at LigeBastogneLige 2026 has not silenced critical analysis after one of the Ardennes marquee races. The Belgian, clearly outpaced by Tadej Pogacar and Paul Seixas, left mixed impressions despite stepping onto the podium. Among the most prominent voices is Greg V...

Restrap adds new Switch Top Bag to its rack system for bikepacking and touringRestrap has expanded its Switch luggage range with the launch of the new Switch Top Bag, a 15-litre rack bag designed to work specifically with the brands award-winning Switch Rack. The Yorkshire brand says the new bag has been built to be lightweight, aerodynamic and quick to fit or remove, with a focus on practical carrying for everything from short rides to longer off-road and touring trips.According to Restrap, the Switch Top Bag is intended to sit at the centre of the wider Switch Rack ecosystem. It is described as a fully waterproof inline carry system that attaches directly to the rack using a Hiplok x Restrap Switch mount and quick release tension loops, allowing riders to remove the whole bag in seconds rather than unpacking kit piece by piece at camp or at a hotel.That quick-access approach looks to be one of the key selling points. Restrap says the bag is aimed at riders who want stable, dependable luggage that remains simple to use, whether they are riding on road or off road. The company also highlights the inclusion of stretch side pockets, giving riders somewhere to stash items such as gloves, snacks, suncream or a waterproof while keeping the main compartment protected from the elements.In terms of construction and features, the Switch Top Bag uses a fully waterproof roll-top closure and includes reflective details, a rear light loop and a shoulder strap loop option. Restrap also says the bag is handmade in the UK, which will be a draw for riders who prioritise home-grown manufacturing alongside technical performance.Fitting follows the same modular logic as the rest of the Switch system. Riders first mount the Restrap Switch Rack, then bolt the Hiplok Switch mount to the top bar of the rack using the supplied 2 x M5 bolts. Mushroom-shaped mounting washers are then attached to the top bottle boss on both sides of the arch. Once installed, the bag slides into the Hiplok fitting, while webbing tension loops hook onto the mounting washers and tighten down via ladder locks to hold everything securely in place.Removal is equally straightforward on paper. To take the bag off, riders release tension from the ladder locks, unhook the two straps from the arch, then lift the tab on the Hiplok fitting and slide the bag off backwards. Restrap also says the bags position can be adjusted by up to 20mm for bikes with limited saddle clearance, with the mount and the bags underside feet both adjustable to fine-tune fit.As for the numbers, the Switch Top Bag has a claimed capacity of 15 litres, split into 13 litres of internal storage plus 1 litre in each stretch mesh side pocket. Total claimed weight is 869g, including all fittings. Pricing is set at 149.99 in the UK, alongside 209.99 and $262.99 for other markets.Taken together, the new bag gives Restrap a more complete and polished rack luggage setup, especially for riders who want the security of a fixed rear carry system without sacrificing the convenience of fast removal. For bikepackers and tourers already invested in the Switch Rack, the new Top Bag looks like the obvious next step.

The debate over a possible Tour de France debut for the very young climber Paul Seixas, a rider representing Decathlon CMA CGM Team, has split the cycling community between those urging caution and those ready to roll the dice. Amid the storm, Marc Sergeants voice at Het Nieuwsblad is the one of re...