The 2026 Tour de Suisse classifications are set to move quickly in a new five-day format where there is little room to recover from an early setback. From the punchy opening stage around Sondrio to the individual time trial in Aarburg and the final mountain stage in Villars-sur-Ollon, the fight for...

Nacho Pellejero traveled to Alaska to participate in the 2026 Iditarod Trail Invitational 350. After years of believing the cold would be the hardest part, he quickly discovered that his own mind would be his biggest hurdle. "In Your Mind" documents his ITI journey and explores what happens when fear, uncertainty, and isolation begin to take control...The post In Your Mind: Riding the Iditarod Trail Invitational 350 (Video) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Romain Grgoire claimed victory on Stage 2 of the Tour de Suisse after emerging as the fastest rider from a select group of breakaway survivors in Locarno. The Frenchman outpaced Marcel Camprub and Bart Lemmen in the final sprint, while Tadej Pogacar and Mathias Vacek launched a late pursuit from t...

Isaac Del Toros victory at the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes and the crash that forced Paul Seixas to abandon have been two of the most discussed topics in the international peloton in recent days. Cyrille Guimard weighed in on both, analysing the Mexicans progression and the situation of Decathlon CM...

The Wild eMTB has been a mainstay in the Orbea lineup for nearly a decade. It has undergone numerous changes over the years, ultimately maturing into a long-travel, full-power model that has served as somewhat of a benchmark in the category. Today, Orbea reveals the next stage of the Wilds evolution, integrating the new Avinox M2S drive system with a custom RS Tune developed to prioritize handling, control, and connection to the trail, not maximum power.While it looks quite similar to its Bosch-powered predecessor, Orbea is adding it to the growing list of Avinox M2S-equipped bikes. But with suspension travel, kinematics, and geometry closely mirroring that of the non-electric Rallon enduro bike, plus the custom, RS-Tuned motor, Orbea aims to set the Wild LT apart from the masses. Lets check it out.Orbea Wild LT DetailsWith its latest crop of long-travel electric and non-electric mountain bikes, Orbea has really leaned into distinctive aesthetics and design features. From the non-electric Rallon to the light-power Rallon RS and the new Wild LT eMTB, the tube shapes, lines, and downtube braces give them all a unique look thats unmistakably Orbea. At a quick glance, one could easily mistake any one of these bikes for the others.Looks Like a Rallon.Frame DetailsOrbea is offering the new Wild LT eMTB in both OMR Carbon fiber and High Polish Alloy frames. Regardless of material, Orbea says they have worked hard to include the exact same high-performance features and ride quality across both platforms. They look strikingly similar to the outgoing, Bosch-powered Wild, but with a slimmer appearance due to the less bulky Avinox drive unit and batteries.Buyers can purchase the Wild LT with either 29 wheels front and rear, or in a mullet setup. They make a dedicated linkage for each rear wheel size, so that switching between 29 and 27.5 doesnt impact the geometry. Theres a geometry-adjusting flip-chip in the lower shock mount. At the front of the bike, the ZS56 headset is intended to make it easy for riders to install aftermarket reach or angle-adjust cups for fine-tuning fit and geo.Buyers can choose between dual 29 wheels or a mullet setup.The frames have internal cable routing, 12 x 148mm rear axle spacing, one bottle mount in the front triangle, and molded rubber protection for the chainstay and bottom bracket/motor, plus a shuttle guard. The Wild comes with 155mm cranks for obstacle clearance, and the frames have been designed with maximum dropper travel in mind. The Fully Loaded Pivot magnetically holds a set of hex keys for use on the trail. Orbea claims complete bike weights start below 21kg (46.3 lbs.).The Wild LTs suspension and geometry are designed to get wild on descents.SuspensionThe new Wild LT has 170mm of rear suspension paired with a 170mm fork. Its also compatible with 180mm forks, which are an option when purchasing. Orbea says it is incorporating lessons learned on the racetrack, and the Wild shares its active kinematics with the Rallon enduro bike. With 170mm of rear travel and a progressive leverage ratio, the suspension smooths out rough tracks while maintaining predictable support, minimizing pedal kickback, and optimizing traction.Additionally, Orbea says the integration of the Avinox drive system and optimization of its mounting area allowed them to lower the shock mount, upper linkage, and top tube. Not only does this increase standover clearance, but it also helps to get the mass of the suspension low and centered in the frame, which ensures the Wild stays calm and planted as speed and consequences rise.GeometryOrbea says this new eMTB has race-ready geometry with new levels of adjustability to let you tune the Wild LT for any trail. As expected for a race-inspired bike in this travel bracket, its long, low, and slack, geared towards stability at speed and confidence in rough and/or steep terrain. A flip-chip integrated into the lower shock mount allows riders to adjust the bottom bracket height by 8mm and the head tube angle by 0.5 between the high and low settings.Size LargeSome of the important angles and measurements include the slack/slacker 63.90 H/63.34 L head tube angle and steep 78 H / 77.5 L seat tube angle. Chainstays are 448mm across all sizes, and reach measurements and stack heights appear to be aligned well with modern standards and the Wild LTs intended use. It is available in four sizes, S XL. Check out the image above for the highlights, or the geometry chart below for all the details.Avinox M2S Drive SystemWith the new Wild, Orbea is jumping on the Avinox bandwagon, but its pretty clear they dont want it to be just another Avinox-powered bike. To set it apart, Orbea says it has developed a custom RS Tune to optimize its performance and control exactly how the assistance is delivered. According to Orbea, development of the RS Tune focused heavily on reactivity, meaning how quickly and naturally the motor responds to input.Orbea says theyve increased the motors reactivity so that 5x less pedal rotation is required, its 2x more sensitive to pedal force, and 3x more sensitive to pedaling speed. The idea is that the motors increased reactivity enhances control in technical terrain or when restarting on steep hills.Orbea gave the Avinox M2S motor a custom RS Tune to optimize its performance to their exact specifications.At the same time, theyve made the RS Tune torque-dominant. Theyve adjusted it so it still tops out at full torque, 130Nm or 150 Nm with Superboost, but it peaks at 750W of power. Thats much lower than the 1,300W peak (1,500W boost) capabilities of the M2S drive unit.The reason for this is, as Orbea puts it, When climbs become technical and cadence drops, torque becomes more important than power. High torque provides the immediate support needed to maintain momentum, overcome obstacles, and keep moving through terrain that would otherwise force riders to stop.Of course, riders also have the ability to fine-tune the four assistance modes to suit their preferences, conditions, or terrain. This can be done through the app or directly through the RS-HMI controller (RS models only).Orbeas MyO customization lets buyers choose between 600Wh and 800Wh batteries.Battery OptionsOrbea offers lots of options when purchasing bikes, giving riders the ability to customize numerous aspects of the complete builds through MyO. They also give the option to choose between 600Wh and 800Wh batteries, so riders can pick between longer range or lighter weight depending on their needs or handling preferences.Orbeas RS ecosystem integrates the battery, motor, controller, dropper, derailleur (and optional rear shock), into one system powered by the main battery.RS EcosystemSpeaking of batteries, Orbeas RS ecosystem available on the RS models integrates all of the electronics on the Wild eMTB into an integrated system powered by the bikes battery and controlled by the RS-HMI remote. This connected system was introduced on the Rallon RS earlier this year and is now making its way onto other bikes in Orbeas eMTB range.Orbeas RS-HMI controllerOrbeas RS-HMI remote controls the motor, the MC10-RS Smart Dropper, and the optional Fox eNeo shock. At the same time, the drive system, dropper, and wireless derailleur are all powered by the bikes main battery, so riders dont need to charge them all separately.Orbea Wild LT: Builds and PricingThe new Wild LT comes in both carbon and alloy frames, and a wide range of builds to suit varying needs, preferences, and budgets. Given its travel bracket and gravity-oriented intended use, Orbea says all of the builds include robust, DH-capable parts to meet the challenge. This includes burly wheels and the same Maxxis Assegai 2.5 EXO+/Maxxis DHR II 2.4 DD tire combo as standard.As is typical of Orbea, the complete builds are just a starting point, and the MyO customization allows buyers to choose optional upgrades for components, including suspension, handlebars, wheels, tires, brakes, frame color, and more. For the Wild eMTB, buyers also get to choose their preferred wheel size configuration, mullet or full 29, and battery size, 600Wh or 800Wh.The Wild LT M-LTD RSWild LT CarbonThe carbon-framed Wild LT is offered in four complete builds, with three standard frame colors per build. The RS models include the RS Ecosystem of integrated components.Wild LT M-LTD RS: $14,883 USD / 13.499 / 11,879OMR Carbon frame, Fox Float X2 Factory shock, Fox 38 Float Factory fork, SRAM XX AXS drivetrain, SRAM Maven Ultimate 4-piston brakes, Oquo Mountain Control MC32LTD POWER wheels.The Wild LT M-Team RSWild LT M-Team RS: $11,024 USD / 9.999 / 8,799OMR Carbon frame, Fox Float X2 Factory shock, Fox 38 Float Factory fork, SRAM GX AXS drivetrain, SRAM Maven Silver 4-piston brakes, Oquo Mountain Control MC32TEAM POWER wheels.Wild LT M10: $9,371 USD / 8.499 / 7,479OMR Carbon frame, Fox Float X2 Factory shock, Fox 38 Float Factory fork, Shimano XT Di2 drivetrain, Shimano XTR 4-piston brakes, DT Swiss H 1900 Spline wheels.The Wild LT M10Wild LT M20: $7,717 USD / 6.999 / 6,199OMR Carbon frame, Fox Float X Performance shock, RockShox ZEB Base fork, Shimano Deore mechanical drivetrain, Shimano Deore 4-piston brakes, Race Face AR 30 wheels.The Wild LT M20Wild LT HydroOrbea refers to its alloy models as Hydro, a reference to the hydroformed aluminum frames. They have the same geometry and the carbon versions, and each comes in three frame colors and in full 29 or mullet wheel size configurations.Wild LT H-Team: $8,819 USD / 7.999 / 6,999Hydro frame, Fox Float X2 Factory shock, Fox 38 Float Factory fork, Shimano XT M8200 drivetrain, Shimano XT 4-piston brakes, Oquo Mountain Control MC32LTD POWER wheels.Wild LT H10: $7,717 USD / 6.999 / 6,199Hydro frame, Fox Float X Performance shock, Fox 38 Float Performance fork, Shimano Deore/XT drivetrain, Shimano MT620 4-piston brakes, DT Swiss H 1900 Spline wheels.Wild LT H20: $6,173 USD / 5.599 / 4,899Hydro frame, Fox Float X Performance shock, RockShox ZEB Base fork, Shimano Deore M7200 drivetrain, Shimano MT420 4-piston brakes, Race Face AR 30 wheels.AvailabilityThe new Avinox-powered Orbea Wild eMTB is available now. Head to the Orbea website to learn more, customize and buy, or find a dealer near you.orbea.comThe post Orbeas New Wild LT eMTB Integrates the Avinox M2S Drive System with an Exclusive RS Tune appeared first on Bikerumor.

The American cycling fans will see a new national champion rise this weekend in the women's elite category as Kristen Faulkner opted to skip her title defense following a complicated travel to this year's venue - Charleston, West Virginia. A two-time US champion, Faulkner was going to be the women t...

The Tour de France guide with all the stage profiles on one page along with a summary of each stageat inrng.com/tour and from here to July available via the menu at the top of the page.Once the race rulebook is published there will be details on the points and mountains competitions, time cuts and more for easy reference during July.Route Summary54,450m of vertical gain in total, the third most mountainous route in the last 20 years (average is 50,400m) but a lot of this climbing is away from the set-piece mountain stages and reserved for battles stages in the mid-mountains. There are seven summit finishes but some are mild like Les Angles and Gavarnie. One solo time trial with 26km makes it the third lightest for TT distance in the last 20 years (average 50km). The sprinters get five clear chances, the same as last year but those with range have a shot at more wins.The start in Barcelona obliges an early visit to the Pyrenees and so these are more hors-duvre than main course. Indeed the route seems designed to leave the reveal of the winner for as late as possible with mid-mountain stages that look promising for frantic breakaway days, although even better if the big names want to try too.Theres no realistic course that could trouble Pogaar a blend of 21 sprints and time trials could thwart him but its not a realistic prospect and so even if we think we know the winner already, plenty of stages along the way offer amusement before the Alpe dHuez finale.Stage 1 Saturday 4 JulyA team time trial in Barcelona. Held in the evening, the time of each team is taken on their first rider across the line and all riders get credited with the time it takes them to complete the course. Its on big boulevards at first where strong riders can propel their teams before two climbs in Montjuc where team leaders will make their bids for the first yellow jersey.Stage 2 Sunday 5 JulyA spin up the Mediterranean coast then turning inland to add some climbing in the hills before a finishing circuit in Barcelona with the finish again in Montjuc. The finish line is in the same place as the first stage but the preceding climb is different, its steeper and was used when the Vuelta a Espaa finished here in 2023. If it helps imagine the Volta a Catalunya finish, just harder.Stage 3 Monday 6 JulyA mountain stage? It goes into the Pyrenees, there are 3,850m of vertical gain and the finish is just short of 1,800m above sea level so yes. The finish isnt savage but has some hairpins and should give us a glimpse of form. Stage 4 Tuesday 7 July2,700m of vertical gain and this looks like an ideal mid-mountain stage for the breakaway, especially if the yellow jersey after Barcelona and Les Angles wants to give it away to better reclaim it later. Its all on scenic roads of the Aude and Arige.Stage 5 Wednesday 8 JulyThe stage goes to Pau for the 77th time. Its not totally flat but this is a day for the sprinters.Stage 6 Thursday 9 JulyThe Tourmalet awaits after the classic route out of Pau via Lourdes to the Col dAspin. So far, so dj vu but the finish is novel with the climb to the village of Gavarnie. Its a spectacular location inside a national park which explains why the race hasnt been here before and if it works it opens up more routes thats exciting as same road goes on to the Col de Tentes at over 2,200m but next time as that would be too much for the first Thursday.Stage 7 Friday 10 JulyA sprint finish in Bordeaux. Well see if anyone attacks at all given the move is certain to be reeled in.Stage 8 Saturday 11 JulyA sprint stage, this time arguably more scenic as it follows the Dordogne valley to Bergerac.Stage 9 Sunday 12 JulyA day for the breakaway on hilly terrain with sapping rural roads that offer little rest. Its likely more teams have spent more time analysing this stage than the Alpe dHuez days as so many will want to go for the win on a day with plenty of uncategorised climbs. Expect a raucous first hour and more.Stage 10 Tuesday 14 JulyBastille day and its back to Le Lioran for the third time this decade after 2020 and 2024. Visitors to the ski station could be forgiven for thinking theres only one road there as the same roads are used again: the steep Pas de Peyrol and the Col de Pertus leading to the Font de Cre. Its no bad thing, a photofinish was needed to separate Tadej Pogaar and Jonas Vingegaard last time.Stage 11 Wednesday 15 JulyA flat stage to Nevers. When Paris-Nice came here in 2024 the team time trial found a steep hill to spice up the finish but this time its a day pledged to the sprinters.Stage 12 Thursday 16 JulyHillier than the previous stage, the sprinters will be desperate to take this as afterwards their opportunities vanish.Stage 13 Friday 17 JulyThe first two editions of the Tour de France did cross some small mountain passes and hills but in 1905 the Ballon dAlsace was the first big mountain tackled by the race. Today it takes 150km to reach it which is a problem for the eventual stage winner as theyll have to cope with pushing a big gear for hours before finding their climbing legs to make their winning move. Will the GC riders attack? Dont bet on it given the next stage.Stage 14 Saturday 18 JulyOnly 155km and 3,800m of vertical gain but this is a crucial stage. The race has crossed the Col du Haag many times but in passing along the ridge of the Grand Ballon. Now it takes a new route up, a forest track thats been paved to use as a cycle path and its steep and cycle-path wide in places, think an Alsatian version of the Col de Loze.Stage 15 Sunday 19 JulyWith luck we could have two races for the price of one as the breakaway goes clear to contest the stage win and the GC contenders battle it out. The stage opens in the Jura mountains and some gentle but persistent climbs. The new climb is Mont Salve, climbed via the direct route on the north-west flank and while the profile says its 4.7km at 11%, it climbs to the start making it 9km at 9% and the upper half has sustained sections at 15% so plenty will be dropped here. Theres still about a third of the stage left before the final climb to the Plateau de Solaison, 11km at 9% where Isaac del Toro just wrapped up the Aura Tour.Stage 16 Tuesday 21 JulyA time trial on the shores of Lake Geneva. The hilly climb out of Evian is gradual, it climbs at 3% most of the time on a regular road before a trickier descent. What looks flat for the final 8km is twisty in Thonon.Stage 17 Wednesday 22 JulyPlenty of jagged peaks and cliffs on the horizon but the route avoids the mountain roads. It still crosses the Massif des Bauges and climbs to the Col du Frne before dropping back to skirt the start town of Chambry and then take the Col de Couz before the route reaches the plains for Voiron which hosted the Vueltas French arrival last year. Sold as a sprint stage when presented last autumn, many will be tired now and this is a great day for a breakaway battle.Stage 18 Thursday 23 JulyA ski station summit finish that avoids the high passes, the Col de la Festinire comes after Monteynard and no surprises before the finish in Orcire-Merlette, 7km at 6.5%. It featured in the 2020 Tours first week and the low gradient saw teams ride up in train formation and anyone who struck out was mown down. Coming in the third week means it should be different and a breakaway should be clear for the stage win.Stage 19 Friday 24 JulyJust 130km. The Bayard and then Noyer climbs will sting early on as a move tries to go clear for the day. The Col dOrnon is a gentle climb before a spectacular descent to Le Bourg dOisans. Then come the 21 hairpins 23 if you actually count them to the finish line in Alpe dHuez, back after a four year hiatus. Its famous for being famous but with 13km at over 8% its a decisive climb.Stage 20 Saturday 26 JulyAfter the pelotons had a rough nights sleep at 1900m in Alpe dHuez here comes the Queen Stage with 5,600m of vertical gain. The Croix de Fer is a big start and then comes the mighty Galibier, the high point of the Tour. The plot twist is rather than the descent all the way to Le Bourg dOisans at the foot of Alpe dHuez, a right turn instead to tackle the Col de Sarenne which leads onto Alpe dHuez via a backroad. The Sarenne has been used before but as a descent and the climb is tougher than the stats suggest.Stage 21 Sunday 26 JulyIts back to Paris with the Rue Le Pic and Montmartre making an encore after the thrills they supplied the last time. The Paris match will be slightly different this time with a longer passage along the Champs-Elyses in between to lengthen the laps and give some riders more chance to chase in between the ascents of Montmartre.The Unmissable StagesDo you really want to miss anything? Every stage is live from start to finish and with most of the best riders present and in peak form theres an intensity and pressure only felt at the Tour.The easy advice is to say watch almost everything but on the sprint stages tune in for the finish; but if you did that last year youd have missed Jonas Rickaert and Mathieu van der Poels thrilling move.Stage 1 should look the part amid the landmarks of Barcelona and the team time trial is now a televisual event thanks to the rule timing riders individuallyStage 2 should offer lively sport in the finishStage 6 for the Tourmalet and Gavarnie finishStage 9 for the breakaway battle, the first hour could be more thrilling than the lastStage 14 for the Vosges mountains and the Haag summit finishStage 15 for the Plateau de Solaison finishStage 19 for the Alpe dHuez summit finishStage 20 and the Alpe dHuez encore, hopefully theres some suspense leftStage 21 for the Paris match in MontmartreThe post Tour de France Stage Guide first appeared on The Inner Ring.

Stage 2 of the Tour de Suisse 2026 was defined for Tadej Pogacar by a matter far more important than anything that happened on the road. Hours before the start, the UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider received worrying news about his partner, Urska Zigart, after a heavy crash in the women's version of Swi...

Jarno Widar's made a name for himself as one of the most outstanding talents during his two-year stint in Lotto's development team, during which time he had won the "Baby" Giro Next Gen, Ronde de l'Isard or Giro Valle d'Aosta and became under-23 European road champion. Naturally, the expectations fr...

The new Nukeproof Tracker FS is based on the Enduro World Series-winning Mega, but it costs less than the half the price at 1,999 / 2,499. Nukeproof has down-specced the enduro bike's tubing but maintained the suspension pivot points, kinematics and geometry of the Mega. So although it doesn't have the complex top tube or intricate yokes, the Tracker FS has the key parts of the Mega. As a result, the Tracker FS looks like great value for gravity riders wanting to hit enduro stages or bike park laps. The cycling industry always goes from boom to bust but one company shows theres a more sustainable way to do business Travel and spec The Nukeproof Tracker FS is a budget version of the popular 165mm travel Mega enduro bike. Nukeproof The Tracker FS's simpler frame means it has external cable routing, rather than the Megas internal cable routing setup. The frame has a simpler shape with different yokes and dropouts to the Mega. It also forgoes the butted down tube of its higher-spec sibling. These differences in frame construction reduce cost but we can speculate that it will add weight to the finished frame. A mechanics dream with external cable-routing the Tracker FS should be a breeze to work on. Nukeproof The bike is specced with big rotors and four-piston SRAM DB4 brakes. It has RockShox suspension with a 170mm Domain Gold R suspension fork and a 165mm Deluxe Select R air shock. The Tracker FS uses a mullet setup with WTB ST i30 Tough wheels and Schwalbe Magic Mary tyres. It has a Shimano Deore 12-speed drivetrain with non-series Shimano cranks and a threaded bottom bracket. Geometry The Tracker FS copies the Mega's established geometry with a 64-degree head angle and similar reach numbers. Nukeproof The Tracker FS has the same geometry as the more expensive Mega. Reach ranges from 430mm for a small up to a roomy 515mm for an extra-large frame. The head angle is a slack 64 degrees. The effective seat angle is a steep 78 degrees, but 77.5 degrees on small and medium sizes. The bottom bracket height is 343mm. Where does it fit in the range? The Tracker FS has more travel than the Reactor but less than the "super enduro" Giga, putting it in the middle of the enduro category. Nukeproof In Nukeproofs range, the Mega and Tracker FS both sit together above the new Reactor, which is a 130mm trail bike. They sit below the super enduro Giga which has 170mm travel and a 180mm fork. The Tracker FS is aimed at those riders who want to access the performance of the Mega but dont quite have the budget. The bike is currently only available in black and one specification, so ordering and stocking the Tracker FS is simple, and Nukeproof can pass the cost savings of a simplified range on to the consumer. The Tracker FS comes hot on the heels of the Tracker hardtail which was released in January.