The 2026 Tour de Suisse will take place from the 17th to the 21st of June this year, a special edition in which the race has been thinned down from eight to five race days. Tadej Pogacar headlines the final pre-Tour de France World Tour event, which every year brings a luxurious startlist. We previe...

Cannondale is giving the new CAAD14 the Team Dream treatment, and the result is exactly what youd expect: lightning bolts, throw-back paint, matching kit, and fun. Because no matter how tough and hard we try to look, were all just kids riding bicycles. (Photos/Cannondale) CAAD 14 DREAM TEAM What is This? The Cannondale x Team Dream CAAD14 is a limited-edition frameset drop, with a worldwide cap of 100 numbered framesets. Thats it. Not 100 per region. Not 100 per color. One hundred total.CAAD14 Team Dream BlueCAAD14 Team Dream RedAnd because Team Dream doesnt really do quiet, there are two versions: Player 1 (Red)andPlayer 2 (Blue), each limited to 50 framesets. Yes, Choose Your Player is the theme, but Im getting some vibes of Ride The Lightning, and maybe some of those Wolf Shirts youd find at truck stops on the road, but in the best way possible.But its an alloy bikeFirst off how dare you talk badly about the CAAD? Secondly, the CAAD line has always had a special place in the road world. For some of us, the CAAD embodies a time in cycling where alloy was aerospace and just seeing an older CAAD SAECO edition frameset sets the blood on edge. A Paris Roubaix ridden Team Cannondale Saeco CAAD with a HeadShock, as seen at the Flandrien Hotel (Photo/Jordan Villella)But alloy isnt a material of the past; its damn good for a bike and pretty much spot-on for a criterium creature like the CAAD 14. Its sharp, direct, honest, and usually a little more fun than it has any business being.A stock Cannondale CAAD 14 with SRAM Rival AXS (Photo/Jordan Villella)CAAD 14 Recap If this is all new information to you, check out our first ride review of the Cannondale CAAD 14. If youre too lazy to click that link, heres the brief: The CAAD14 is crafted from SmartForm C1 Premium Alloy, with integrated cable routing, flat-mount disc brakes, a BSA 68mm threaded bottom bracket, and UDH.The frameset also gets a full-carbon CAAD14 fork with Cannondales Delta Steerer, which is a pizza-slice-shaped steerer that routes the lines neatly into the frame. Tire clearance is listed for measured 32mm tires with 4mm of space on all sides, which is the right call for a modern aluminum road bike. Fast road tires are bigger now. Roads are still bad. Everyone wins.Choose Your Fighter: Player 1 or Player 2?The two colorways are the whole vibe here.Player 1 Red gets a hot red rear triangle and fork legs fading into purple and lightning graphics up front. Its loud, fast-looking, and just unhinged enough to feel right on an aluminum race bike.Player 2 Blue swaps the red for a bright blue base, with the same Team Dream lightning treatment and yellow-green graphics. Its maybe the cleaner of the two, but only in the way a fireworks display can be restrained.CAAD14 Team Dream Both have that Team Dream energy: part bike race, part arcade cabinet, part fever dream after drinking too much gas station coffee before a Tuesday night crit.Proper Kit IncludedEvery Cannondale x Team Dream CAAD14 includes an exclusive Cannondale x Team Dream cycling kit, available in two colors. Buyers get an access code that opens a private Team Dream page, where they can pick their kit and have it shipped directly.Thats a nice touch. Also dangerous. Because if you buy the bike, you basically have to wear the kit at least once. Its the law. Not a real law, but a deeply important fake one.Theres also a separate casual apparel collection from Team Dream celebrating the collaboration. And like most Team Dream drops, the advice is simple: move fast. When its gone, its gone. What You GetThe frameset comes with the CAAD14 aluminum frame, a full carbon fork, an integrated headset, and a Cannondale SAVE carbon seatpost with a 27.2mm diameter and 11mm offset.Size: 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, and 61cmPrice: $2,499 / 2,499 / 398,000.Is that cheap for an aluminum frameset? No.Is it cheap for a numbered, limited-run Cannondale x Team Dream CAAD14 with exclusive kit and paint that looks like it was designed during a thunderstorm inside an arcade? Also no.But thats not really the point here. The point is to craft something fun that inspires and reminds us that bikes are playful. Yeah, its a bit pricey, but theres a 9/10 chance youre gonna be the only one on your local group ride with this bike and kit. So ride the lightning! Cannondale.comThe post Choose Your Fighter: Cannondales Team Dream CAAD14 Is Limited Alloy Chaos appeared first on Bikerumor.

Tuned Mass Dampers (TMD) have grown quickly in popularity among gravity-oriented mountain bike riders. With sprung masses that damp vibration before it reaches the rider, theyve proven effective at reducing fatigue, improving comfort and control, and calming a bikes handling. Now, Rimpact is bringing the same technology to gravel bikes, with the new TMD Gravel.Earlier this year, we reported on Rimpacts TMD V2, an updated version of its TMD that lives inside a suspension forks steerer tube. At the time, the brand stated that the TMD V2 was not compatible with gravel bikes, and that a gravel-specific unit was in the works. The TMD Gravel has arrived, lets check it out.A Tuned Mass Damper for Gravel?If youve spent any time riding gravel bikes, then you are already well aware that impacts are common and vibration is pretty much constant. While we can try to manage it with tire volume, tire pressure, compliant handlebars and wheels, cushioned bar tape, and/or gravel suspension forks, the effects of vibration are an ongoing issue for most riders. A Tuned Mass Damper is simply another method for reducing vibration and feedback from rough surfaces like those frequently encountered on gravel bikes.The small weight, or mass, in the TMD is suspended between two springs, and it damps vibration by responding to and counteracting forces before they reach the riders hands.Rimpact says, Tucked away at the bottom of your fork, TMD is a suspended mass that manages feedback and fatigue: smoothing out rough terrain so you can stay comfortable and ride further.Frankly, I think a TMD for gravel sounds like one of the best applications for the technology. Even smooth gravel creates consistent vibration that is readily transmitted through rigid carbon forks and drop bars to a riders hands and upper body, and rough gravel is even worse. Ive experienced enough hand numbness and arm fatigue in my years of gravel riding and racing to welcome any form of relief.Claimed BenefitsGo Longer: Feedback from the front wheel is managed before it reaches you. Hands, arms, and mind stay fresher for longer.Confidence Over Chatter: Reduces unwanted energy felt through the bar, keeping you fresh to take the long route.Smooth Is Fast: Reduces hand and arm fatigue, giving you more energy to push your limits.Increased Confidence: A calmed front end with less feedback, giving you a confidence-inspiring ride over rough terrain.Out of sight, not out of mind: Securely mounts low and out of the way by replacing the flat mount brake adapter on your fork: no interfering with your cockpit setup.Easy Setup, No Uncertainty: Designed to excel over varied terrain, no setup or adjustment required.The parts of the Rimpact TMD Gravel.TMD Gravel DetailsThe TMD Gravel operates on the same principle and general design as the in-the-steerer-tube TMD V2, but it has been repackaged to mount externally on gravel bikes. Instead of a forks steerer tube, the suspended mass a weight suspended between two springs is housed in its own tube. This tube is held with brackets and mounts directly to your rigid gravel forks flat brake mounts.Rimpact says the TMD Gravel is designed for use only with flat brake mounts and is compatible with 140mm and 160mm rotors. The TMD mount takes the place of the flat mount adapter with a flippable design to work with both rotor sizes.The claimed weight of the TMD gravel is 450 grams. Rimpact doesnt specify the exact weight of the suspended mass, but were guessing its similar, if not the same as the V2, which uses a 250-gram brass weight.According to Rimpact, the TMD Gravel is designed so the springs never use more than 80% of their available travel. By avoiding full compression, spring life is significantly extended, and replacement is rarely required. Should yours ever wear out, Rimpact sells a full range of replacement parts.If you use a gravel suspension fork, Rimpact recommends using the TMD V2, which fits inside the forks steerer tube. The V2 is compatible with any fork with a 1-1/8th metallic steerer, and is optimized for steerer lengths 180mm or longer.Pricing and AvailabilityThe TMD Gravel retails for 229.99 and is available now directly from Rimpact.rimpactmtb.comThe post A Tuned Mass Damper for Your Gravel Bike? Rimpacts TMD Gravel is Here appeared first on Bikerumor.

Following a breakthrough GC win in Europe, Factor Bikes expands its commitment to George Hincapies Tour de France project

The new Crankbrothers Trail Speed Lace Vent shoes are designed with maximum air flow in mind and are available in both flat and clipless versions. Check them out here...The post The Crankbrothers Trail Speed Lace Vent Shoes are for Hot Days appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Two months out from the Desert Gravel in Fruita, Colorado, my cousins invited me to join. Id never raced before. I said yes anyway.That decision led to an introduction from BikeRumors editor-in-chief, Zach Overholt, to Joey Early and Brandon Wold at DT Swiss. The plan: pick up a custom build at DT Swisss US headquarters in Grand Junction on Friday afternoon, race 50 miles through the Colorado desert Saturday morning.Ive been riding for about a year now, with my usual setup being a BlackHeart AllRoad AL with a rigid fork mostly road, with some gravel over the past few months. So when Joey walked me through the build, I was looking at something considerably more capable than what I ride at home.The BuildThe test bike was a Litespeed Toscano FI in titanium Litespeeds dedicated gravel platform sized at 60cm and built up with the DT Swiss F132ONE suspension fork, GRC 1100 DICUT 50 carbon wheels, Shimano GRX 827 Di2, Vittoria Terreno T30 tires, and an FSA ACR stem with K-Wing AGX carbon bars. Light, stiff, quiet the kind of build that makes you wonder if your legs are worthy of pedaling something of this caliber.Before we headed out to the race venue, Joey gave me a tour of DT Swisss facility. What stood out was the precision of it: tensioning machines, serialized component logs, meticulous records on every part. The whole team had a relaxed but clearly knowledgeable vibe.The ForkThe F132ONE is DT Swisss gravel-specific suspension fork with 40mm travel, 32mm stanchions, and a PushControl lockout on the handlebar. Clean build, nothing fussy. For someone whod never ridden a fork with a remote lockout before, it was immediately intuitive.Currently, the DT Swiss F132ONE gravel fork is limited to OEM availability through Litespeed and Obed, which is why we tested on the Toscano FI here. Race DayDesert Gravels 50-mile course mixes pavement with roughly 40 miles of gravel: hardpack, loose wash, horse tracks, and washboard. It was windy. I pulled a group early, learned a hard lesson about drafting, and spent much of the second half riding solo into a headwind trying to claw back time.The fork earned its keep. On the washboard sections that were visibly shaking other riders, I tracked through with noticeably less input. I passed several people on a rough stretch and could watch them getting knocked around while I was able to stay composed.The lockout (activated by a lever on the bar under the left brake lever) became my experiment mid-race. Curious how much difference it actually made, I flipped it closed on a rough section to test it. Almost immediately, I felt it: getting bounced around, hands taking more punishment, less control. I opened it back up within seconds. On the smoother flats and road connectors, locked out was the right call. It converted power cleanly and made a real difference on a windy day where every watt mattered. But on the rough stuff, locking it out was a quick reminder of what the suspension was doing for me.My arms were sore after. Thats the honest version of comfort suspension doesnt make rough ground disappear, it just takes the edge off the sections that would otherwise leave you wrecked by mile 30.I finished 15th overall, first in my age group. First race ever!Bottom LineI went into this without much gravel racing experience and zero experience with suspension forks. What the F132ONE gave me was control on rough terrain and efficiency on the flat sections, where I could lock it out. For someone still figuring out what gravel riding is, it made a complicated course feel manageable. The Litespeed Toscano FI is a beautiful platform for it, light, responsive, and well-suited to the kind of mixed terrain that defines Colorado gravel racing.The Litespeed Toscano test bike was provided by DT Swiss and American Bicycle Group for this review. Bruce Lin from ABG also rode the Toscano at Desert Gravel. Check out his piece for a more experienced riders take on the same platform.dtswiss.comThe post Desert Gravel on DT Swisss F132ONE Suspension Fork: A Newcomers Perspective appeared first on Bikerumor.

The Baloise Belgium Tour will be taking place from the 17th to 21st of June in 2026, and it will be the single most important preparation race for the sprinters ahead of the Tour de France. We take a look at the stages for this year's edition.Below, you'll also find all the information on how to wa...

Keeping your feet cool during the heat of summer is a challenge, and Crankbrothers is providing riders with a new solution in the Trail Speed Lace Vent shoes. The brand-new Trail Vent shoes share the same general design and silhouette as their existing Stamp Trail and Mallet Trail counterparts, but are made with a highly breathable mesh upper to maximize airflow when temps rise. Available with a Speed Lace closure in the Bone colorway only, the Trail Vent shoes are a compelling new highly-ventilated option launching just in time for summer..I got my hands on a pair of the new Mallet Trail Speed Lace Vent shoes last week and have taken a couple of rides in them so far. The temperatures have been climbing up into the low 90s F, where I live, creating perfect conditions for testing the ventilation of Crankbrothers latest shoes. So far, Ive been really impressed. If youre interested in my initial impressions, you can find them at the end of this article.For hot weather (photo/Jeremy Benson)Trail Speed Lace Vent DetailsIt was a bit more than two years ago that Crankbrothers expanded its mountain bike shoe lineup with the Trail versions of its Stamp and Mallet shoes. With a respectable weight, balanced sole stiffness, streamlined design, and multiple closure options Crankbrothers Trail shoes have proven to be a popular choice. In fact, the Mallet Trail BOA is my current favorite clip-in shoe for trail and all-mountain riding.Today, Crankbrothers is expanding its Trail family of shoes with the brand-new Speed Lace Vent versions. These shoes share the same overall design, soles, and fit as their non-Vent counterparts, but are built with a highly-ventilated mesh upper to maximize airflow. The open mesh on both sides of the midfoot and wrapping over the toes allows for virtually unrestricted airflow. The flip side is that the mesh provides zero weather resistance, but it dries very quickly.You can actually see right through the mesh used in the construction of the uppers. (photo/Jeremy Benson)Made from a non-absorbent, perforated EVA foam that dries quickly if it gets wet, the tongue is lightly padded and breathable. The Speed Lace closure makes lace tension adjustments quick and easy, and the integrated lace pocket keeps the laces tucked away and tidy.Despite the breezy mesh upper, the Trail Vent shoes still have quite a bit of structure, with a TPU-reinforced toe box for protection from rock strikes and a rigid heel pocket for support. The EVA cushioned midsole is also intended to provide a bit of shock absorption and vibration damping.The Trail Vent shoes come with the Speed Lace closure in the Bone colorway only. Given the intended hot weather use case, the light color seems like a logical choice. Crankbrothers says it hides dust while staying cooler in the sun.Trail Vent: Stamp and Mallet VersionsSimilar to the rest of the Crankbrothers mountain bike shoe lineup, the new Trail Vent models come in both Stamp and Mallet versions. If you are unfamiliar, the Stamp shoes share their name with the brands Stamp flat pedals, while the Mallet shoes share theirs with the brands clip-in pedals. Both are designed with Crankbrothers proprietary Match Technology that helps to provide the best shoe-to-pedal interface and offer superior control and confidence on the trails.Stamp Trail Speed Lace Vent: $169.99 USD / 169.99 / 169.99The Stamp Trail Vent is designed for use with flat pedals and features a full-coverage outsole made from Crankbrothers proprietary high-friction MC2 rubber compound. According to Crankbrothers, the MC2 rubber compound is optimized for grip and durability and, when combined with its low rebound properties, allows the shoe to stick to the pedal body. Thats combined with a moderately flexible midsole to reduce vibration and enhance pedal feel.Claimed weight: 309g per shoe (US 9 / EU 42)Available Sizes:US: 5-15US WMNS: 6.5-16.5EU: 37-49Mallet Trail Speed Lace VentThe Mallet Trail Vent shoes are designed for use with clipless/clip/clip-in pedals. That includes a 2-bolt Match Box cleat pocket and a fiber-reinforced shank, which adds stiffness and support underfoot for efficiency on the pedals. The Mallet Trail uses Crankbrothers mid-friction MC1 rubber compound, which allows for easy pedal entry and exit with enhanced durability. While the rubber is slightly firmer, Crankbrothers says off-the-bike traction is consistent and predictable thanks to deep lugs at the toe and heel.Claimed weight: 408g per shoe (US 9 / EU 42)Available Sizes:US: 5-15US WMNS: 6.5-16.5EU: 37-49First ImpressionsThe Mallet Trail Vent shoes have a familiar fit and silhouette as the standard version. Im already a huge fan of the regular Mallet Trail BOA shoes. They fit my feet well and offer what I feel is the most balanced performance of any trail/all-mountain shoes on the market. That said, they arent the most breathable shoes around, and Im already prone to sweaty feet.As mentioned, Ive only had the chance to take a couple of rides in the Mallet Trail Vent shoes thus far. Weve just started regularly breaking the 90 F mark in the past couple of weeks, so the timing for trying out these new ventilated shoes couldnt have been better.My first order of business was to weigh the, and they clocked in at 427g per shoe in size 43.5 EU (10 US).The Speed Lace system is easy to use, and the lace pocket is appreciated.The Mallet Trail Vent shoes appear to be built on the same last as the standard Mallet Trail, and they fit my foot well right out of the box. The Speed Lace closure is simple to use, making it quick and easy to get the shoes on and off, or make mid-ride tension adjustments. The integrated lace pocket at the top of the tongue swallows up the laces for a super-tidy look, with the added benefit of keeping them from snagging on anything while you ride.From the very first pedal stroke, the ventilation of the mesh uppers was immediately apparent. Air flows directly to the foot through the open mesh, and I can absolutely feel the difference. It is night and day compared to the upper on the standard Mallet Trail BOA, and pretty much every other shoe I own, for that matter. During my two hot test rides, my feet were notably cooler, more comfortable, and far less sweaty than they would have been in any other of my riding shoes.Prodigious ventilation combined with ample support is something I can get behind.One thing that immediately stood out to me about the Mallet Trail Vent was that it felt just as supportive as the standard version. Other highly ventilated shoes Ive tried, like the Five Ten TrailCross XT, sacrificed support for breathability. Not so with the Mallet Trail Vent. The uppers provide a familiar level of support for the foot, allowing me to ride with the same confidence and control as the standard version.Likewise, the sole has the same balance of stiffness and forgiveness that Ive already come to appreciate about the standard Mallet Trail. Which is to say, theyre stiff enough to feel efficient while climbing or on long, pedal-heavy rides, yet damp and forgiving enough to never feel like theyre punishing your feet.In my brief experience, Ive been very impressed by the Mallet Trail Vent shoes. The ventilation is top-notch, and the shoes dont sacrifice support or compromise performance for it. Theyre a bit of a quiver shoe for hot weather, but could definitely be a worthwhile investment for those who live and ride in the heat. Alternatively, they seem like they could be a great option for those who ride in super wet and warm conditions with any frequency.Either way, I think theyre a great new addition to the Crankbrothers shoe lineup, and my feet are looking forward to staying cooler during the hottest rides of summer.crankbrothers.comThe post First Look: Crankbrothers Trail Speed Lace Vent Shoes are Made for the Hottest Days appeared first on Bikerumor.

A Dutch junior Paul Vriesman won't have good memories of 2026 season. Recruited by the highly-respected Decathlon junior programme, the 17-year-old was hoping to prove himself as an upcoming talent in the mountains, but instead faces one setback after another. His first start at Kuurne - Bruxelles -...