Florian Lipowitz left the Tour of Slovenia with two wins in two days, the overall title and fresh momentum before the Tour de France. Before his final-stage attack in Novo mesto, though, his race had already turned on a striking exchange with Giulio Pellizzari in Kranjska Gora. Pellizzari caught Lip...

Our latest Weekend Snapshot showcases a captivating mix of reader-submitted scenes from unexpected locations around Germany, Australia, and Montenegro. Find out what a few folks from our community were up to during their recent getaways and share something from one of your rides here...The post Weekend Snapshot appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Not since 1959 had the Tour de Suisse seen dominance like it did last week. The organisers had planned for a race, but instead they got an exhibition. On his debut appearance, Tadej Pogaars overall victory was crushing: he won by six minutes and 32 seconds, the races largest winning margin in 67 years, and in fewer stages just five compared to the usual eight. Pogaar won three of them. At times, it seemed effortless for the world champion. On stage one, he charged out of the peloton, like a seal swimming through a shoal of fish, to win with a 71km solo that earned him the race lead and a two-and-a-half-minute advantage. Victories for Romain Grgoire (Groupama-FDJ United) and Jhonatan Narvez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) then interrupted the Pogaar show, before regular programming resumed; he won stage fours time trial by four hundredths of a second ahead of Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech), and then tagged and swallowed the escaped Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) on the final day to stamp the GC with a stage win. It was, in ice skating parlance, the final twirl at the end of a gold-medal-winning routine. But what does it mean for the Tour de France? Its now less than two weeks until the Grand Dpart in Barcelona on 4 July. Pogaar hailed his sojourn in Switzerland as really good preparation, a chance to test the legs, the heart, the lungs, everything. Though he hasnt shared the results of that self-assessed cardiogram, everything seems to be in fine working order perhaps even better than ever. Im really looking forward to a whole month in France, he told Cycling Pro Net with a confident grin. Still, if the world champions on-bike performances werent a big enough warning sign for his Tour rivals, then a training tale he told Lquipe last week certainly was. On our camp [in Sierra Nevada], theres a climb that I tested on last year, he began. I set a really good time, and I told myself, Wow, I will never be able to go faster than that. Pogaar returned to the unnamed climb at the end of his camp earlier this month. How did he fare? I was significantly faster than last year, he said. From a training perspective, I would say I'm stronger. It bears reminding that Pogaar won the Tour by four minutes and 24 seconds last year. (Image credit: Getty Images)Pogaars approach to this years edition has been more refined. In a bid to arrive at the race fresher than any of his rivals, the Slovenian has done fewer race days than ever before, and to a near-perfect record too he has collected 13 wins in just 16 starts. Over the past six editions, he averaged 24 pre-Tour race days. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), by comparison, has already completed 36 in 2026, mostly due to racing, and winning, the Giro dItalia. Its hard to know at this stage which strategy is better. But if a reduced calendar stops Pogaar showing signs of burnout in the final week of the Tour I cant wait for it to be over, he said after his stage 18 press conference last year then this winning formula may prove the most potent yet. So roll on 4 July. Mark the day Pogaar will begin his bid to earn a record-equalling fifth Tour title, one that will bring him in line with Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurin, Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx. Pogaar has previously branded comparisons between him and Merckx as complete nonsense. Forgive me, then, for drawing another parallel right now: just before Merckx won his fifth Tour de France in 1974, he made his debut at the Tour de Suisse, and topped the overall standings. History could now repeat itself. And the Tour might see a level of dominance it hasnt witnessed in decades.

Biniam Girmays Baloise Belgium Tour victory has strengthened belief inside NSN Cycling Team that the Eritrean is moving back towards the level that made him one of the defining sprint stories of the 2024 Tour de France. Girmay won three stages and the green jersey at that Tour, becoming the first B...

Fairlights go-fast, go-far hardtail just got a fresh new Ochre color. Available to order tomorrow, the mustard-yellow hue is accompanied by a 133-page lookbook that illuminates every detail of their most dirt-friendly model. Explore all the specifics belowThe post The Fairlight Holt 2.0 Ochre Is Stunning appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Canyon is teasing us with a new Lux Era cross-country bike this week at Eurobike that combines all manner of new tech. 32 wheels, an upside down fork, an aero-optimized full-suspension race bike frame, and a next-level integrated aero biplane cockpit. That last bit is what really makes this bike interesting, thoughCanyon Lux Era 32 concept XC bike gets wild aero cockpitAs XC racing speeds have increased a 33% average speed boost on the World Cup in ten years, according to Canyons figure there is more demand for aero optimization from the racers an their teams. In 2016, the average speed of XCO MTB World Cup races was 18 km/h. Today, its 24 km/h. Longer races are getting faster, too: the Leadville 100 MTB now sees winning speeds of 28 km/h.But outside of the skinsuits, aero helmets, shoe covers, and occasional repurposed aero gravel wheels we see in short track racing, there are relatively few truly aerodynamic optimizations done for Olympic-distance XC racing. Much like banned puppy paws on the road, weve seen racers resort to holding their fork crowns to get low & aero. Well, that is before the UCI cracked down on the unsafe practice of not holding onto ones handlebars.Canyons answer in this new Era of Speed just put the handlebar down at the fork crown!Much like we saw with their innovative if widely derided, and ultimately abandoned double-decker gravel Hover bar, the simple idea here is to give riders & racers alike more hand positions. Stick with the conventional wide grips for technical off-road sections. Then, get your arms in and body low, by bringing your hands down to the lower section of the biplane handlebar, tucked-in next to the aero headtube but still securely on the handlebar to maintain bike control.But is it UCI-legal?Simply put, no. Or at least probably not. At least not yet.Canyon admits that getting approval from the UCI will ultimately decide whether this concept works or not. And they havent even started that process yet. Right now, Canyon say that athlete and wind tunnel testing is now taking place to quantify how much time such a cockpit could provide. But ultimately, their idea is to create a comfortable, secure place on the bar where racers can safely get more aero, without sacrificing control. My personal guess is that the UCI might only allow it if the rider could reach their brakes in these XC drops. After all, these are off-road capable bikes, even if the intention would only be to get super aero on the smooth paved or hardpack sections of an XCO course. While requiring brake control would certainly make this harder to implement, that could lead to further interesting innovation.What other interesting tech is hidden in this Canyon Lux Era concept bike?The bar and wheelsize may be what first caught our eyes, but theres more to this Lux Era concept.First, the frame itself is said to be more aerodynamic, with a pointed aero headtube profile. Because, while tweaking tube shapes isnt the only answer, clearly theres some ground to make up since most XC bikes have given little attention to aero optimization. The rear shock even is tucked inside the toptube out of the wind, but with a cutaway on top to make it easy to set up sag. Next, even the fork seems to be more aero, with a thin crown design on this upside-down fork prototype.Canyon also claims the upside-down promises better performance, pretty much like weve seen from every similar fork better fore/aft rigidity, better hard braking stability, reduced unsprung mass, better lubrication and sharper handling. Maybe Canyon can help make the next upside down XC fork stick, whether thats by lowering its price or just mainstreaming the idea again.They even seem to have made your cycling GPS more aero, by integrating a round computer display directly into the top cap. Not sure how practical that round screen is, though. And, oh how proprietary it must be!So when is the Canyon Lux getting the 32 treatment?I hate to be the one who keeps telling our readers that 32 wheels are invading. But it seems that theres no stopping them at the moment. And these bigger wheels dominate the bulk of new MTB development were seeing certainly in the cross-country sphere.Sure, Canyon just launched a new lighter, faster, more capable, and importantly 29 Lux World Cup cross-country race bike less than two months ago. And rumor has it that another short travel 29er is coming soon, as well. But the fact that this concept bike features 32 wheels is telling.XC racers were already looking to get lower, and more aero on their current 29 bikes. So this concept could have first debuted on a 29er. The fact that it is a 32 bike highlights a few key points:First, 32 wheels in XC racing are unavoidable at this point. A World Cup XCC short track podium over the weekend further cements their viability.The brand-new Lux WC may be 29 today, but Canyon already admits that their athletes are testing new, bigger wheel concepts. And theyll be testing this concept over the next 12 months including racing or simulated racing situations.The inevitable higher front end as a result of the top of the front wheel being a full 7cm (2.75) higher off the ground (my own real measurement) means that a taller rider+bike combo is going to be difficult to avoid, even with dramatic negative stem angles. So, getting the rider more aero is likely going to be more important than ever on a 32 XC mountain bike.The XC racers perspective?Wild aero handlebars arent quite ready for pro cross-country racing. And a 32 Canyon Lux is most definitely not going to hit the consumer market this year. But it will not surprise us to catch a glimpse of a 32 working prototype from any brand before the end of the season. The fact that Canyon is sharing this concept bike project with the world in midsummer, cements the idea that they are taking 32 serious for XC racing.Whether its world cups or marathon races, riders constantly are figuring out how to go faster. Every second counts even more. Todays cockpits only let you go so far. We need a solution that lets you get aero and comfortably stay aero. Luca Schwarzbauer, Canyon XC RacingCanyon.comThe post Sure, Canyon Lux Era XC Concept Bike is 32, But Its Aero Wing Handlebar Is The Real Story appeared first on Bikerumor.

Ill start out this review by admitting that I've rarely been so confused by a bike. "What exactly is this?" was my immediate reaction when I first saw the Salsa Wanderosa, and that question lingered far longer than I expected.When Salsa Cycles unveiled the Wanderosa in January, I knew it'd be an oddity. But it was the kind of oddity I was excited to ride.. A self-proclaimed industry first, the Wanderosa is a Class 3 full-suspension gravel e-bike. Its got a carbon frame, 120mm of suspension up front, 110mm at the rear, a long reach, short stem and very wide drop bars. Its also got a dropper post and tyre clearance up to 2.35 inches.Salsa calls this "a genre-bending blend of full-suspension capability, progressive drop-bar geometry, and motorised assistance for a radical ride experience."At the time, I called it a cross-country e-mountain bike with drop bars. All off-road versus all-road.I tend to gravitate toward bikes that reward effort. I like underbiking. I like finding the limits of a bike and occasionally crossing them. Looking at the Wanderosa, I assumed that it would be a drop-bar shred machine, and imagined riding the 23 miles to my nearest trailhead, ripping a few mountain bike laps, then riding home with just enough battery.One ride on the Wanderosa and I came to a very different conclusion. The bike isn't a drop-bar e-MTB at all. And to Salsas credit, the brand insists it was never intended to be one. Instead, it's something much more, well, radical. No, not in the lets get rad kind of way. But in its uniqueness: a full-suspension gravel bike built around comfort, confidence and exploration. This is not developed to be a drop bar eMTB. It is truly meant as a gravel bike that can travel further, faster. The full suspension is there to serve the speed; making the faster ride more comfortable, Salsa told me. Its for riders seeking to explore and gain more confidence in whatever terrain they encounter.Salsa knew exactly what this bike was about. It also knew it was taking a gamble.Only a limited number of Wanderosas were produced, in part because Salsa anticipated that ridersmyself includedmight misunderstand the bike's intent. At first glance, it certainly looks like one thing. On the trail, however, it reveals itself to be something entirely different.Meet the Wanderosa(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)The Wanderosa is what Salsa calls a "light electric full-suspension gravel bike." At its core sits a high-modulus carbon frame paired with a flex-stay rear suspension design delivering 110mm of travel. Up front, a RockShox SID fork provides 120mm. For comparison, thats the same amount of travel youll find on, say, the Specialized Chisel Full Suspension XC mountain bike. From here, the gravel aspect becomes a tad more apparent with (very wide) drop bar handlebars and, on this review bike, a SRAM Apex Eagle mechanical drivetrain and disc brakes. Bar widths range from 44cm to a remarkably wide 52cm depending on frame size.The geometry follows the modern "progressive" playbook with a slack front end, steep seat angle, long wheelbase and short stem. Power comes from the FAZUA Ride 60 system paired with a 480Wh integrated battery. The motor produces 60Nm of torque and can reach assisted speeds of 28mph.Specifications as reviewed(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)Carbon frame with flex-stay rear suspension120mm RockShox SID forkRockShox SIDLuxe Select+ 3P, 110mm travelFAZUA Ride 60 motor480Wh integrated batteryClass 3 e-bike28mphUp to 55 miles of rangeTyre clearance up to 2.35inProgressive gravel geometryTranzX YSP18 Dropper postDrivetrain: SRAM Apex EagleCassette: SRAM PG-1210, 10-50T, 12-speedWheels: WTB ST i27, 29 in.Bars: 44cm Salsa CowchipperWeight: 40 lbsPrice: from $7,999The ride(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)The Wanderosa's biggest challenge may be managing expectations.Mine certainly got in the way.When I first picked up the bike, with its beautiful seafoam green carbon frame, towering front end, wide bars and generous suspension travel, it looked, in one word, shreddy.Parked next to my full-suspension trail bike, the Wanderosa was just as long and perhaps even a smidge taller at the front. And, for the first several rides, I treated it like a mountain bike.I pulled on a pair of cut-off jean shorts, enjoyed the wind-at-my-back feeling of the electric assist on the ride to the trails, dropped the seatpost and pointed it downhill.I rode it like a drop-bar e-MTB because that's exactly what its silhouette suggested. But while I had an absolute blast powering up fire roads and grinding effortlessly to the top of climbs, the Wanderosa remained disappointingly muted on the way back down.It was planted, stable and composed. But not playful. It didn't seem particularly interested in getting airborne or being flicked aggressively through corners.I also struggled to get comfortable.The front end is exceptionally tall for a gravel bike, and the reach felt relatively compact. I swapped the stock stem for something longer and lowered the bars as much as possible. Even then, I never quite found that forward-leaning, aggressive position I instinctively wanted.The harder I pushed the bike toward my usual, somewhat aggressive, riding, the more I felt like I was fighting it.What is this thing? I kept asking myself.And then I realized that the issue wasnt the bike. It was the rider. I was getting in its way, not the other way around. Once I stopped trying to ride the Wanderosa like a mountain bike, or even like my usual gravel race bikes, the bike's purpose became much clearer.Because when used as intended, the Wanderosa may just be among the smoothest gravel bikes I've ever ridden.(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)On rough gravel roads, washboard surfaces and chunky doubletrack, the suspension shines and the bike feels remarkably composed. Embedded rocks, corrugations and square-edge hits simply disappear beneath you. Instead of constantly searching for the smoothest line or hovering out of the saddle to spare your back and hands, you can stay seated, relax your grip and let the bike float across the terrain.The result isn't an adrenaline rush. It's comfort, control and confidence.The Wanderosa encourages the kind of riding where curiosity replaces caution. The kind that invites you to go where you haven't gone before. When you spot an unfamiliar fire road disappearing into the trees, instead of wondering whether you'll have enough energy to investigate, you simply turn onto it. A dotted line on a map becomes an invitation rather than a question mark.Just pack a lunch and go explore.The Wanderosa feels less like a performance bike and more like a hiking boot on two wheels. The motor helps you cover greater distances and steeper grades, while the suspension smooths whatever terrain you encounter along the way. Together, they create a bike that constantly asks: "Where do you want to go today?"The Wanderosa doesn't make you faster in the way a race bike makes you faster. Instead, it expands your riding radius. It makes the world feel a little smaller and your options a little bigger.The wide tyres and full-suspension chassis contribute as much to that feeling as the motor itself. Knowing the bike can comfortably handle whatever surface appears around the next corner gives a reassuring sense of confidence. Whether the route turns into loose gravel, washboard, rutted forest roads or rocky doubletrack, the Wanderosa remains calm, predictable and unfazed.Likewise, the FAZUA Ride 60 powers the experience with a smooth, quiet and relatively lightweight system. In its lowest assistance setting, the motor does little more than offset the bike's additional weight. In the middle Blue mode, however, it delivers a steady, natural feeling boost no matter how rough the terrain becomes. Some e-bike systems can feel abrupt or unpredictable when traction is limited, but the FAZUA remains impressively controlled.Range, however, may be the limiting factor for some riders. While I found the 480Wh battery adequate for most rides, the claimed 55-mile maximum feels somewhat restrictive on a bike whose entire purpose is encouraging bigger adventures. A range extender option would make a lot of sense here.The handlebar-mounted controls also took some getting used to. Designed more like SRAM Blips than a traditional e-bike remote, they can be difficult to locate and activate on rough terrain. Personally, I'd prefer a more conventional control unit positioned near the stem or top tube, where changing assist modes feels more intuitive.Value and conclusionAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookAnne-Marije RookStarting at $7,999, the Wanderosa is certainly an investment. It is also an undeniably niche product.Which makes reviewing it surprisingly difficult. After all, who else is making a Class 3, full-suspension gravel e-bike?Nobody.So rather than measuring the Wanderosa against bikes it was never intended to compete with, it makes more sense to evaluate it for what it is: a category of one.Viewed through that lens, the Wanderosa succeeds remarkably well.I looked at the Wanderosa's generous suspension and mountain-bike-inspired silhouette and mistook it for a shreddy e-mtb with drop bars. But I was wrong. This is an exploration bike.Its greatest strength isn't speed, capability or even comfort, though it offers all three in abundance. It's an invitation to explore and go further. To turn down the unknown road. To investigate that logging track you've always wondered about. To venture farther from home knowing the suspension will smooth the terrain and the motor will help get you back again.This is a bike for the rider who throws it on the back of the car and spends an entire day wandering logging roads, forest service routes and forgotten connectors. The rider who values comfort and confidence over outright speed. The rider who values comfort and confidence over outright speed. The Wanderosa is a purpose-built machine for riders who simply want to see what's around the next bend and the next and the next. Yes, that's a surprisingly specific rider. But if thats you, then the Wanderosa is certainly worth a test ride.

Researchers found that warnings of the safety risks associated with large vehicles had a negligible effect on whether motorists would want to buy one

Chris Harper left the Andorra MoraBanc Classica with his own Tour de France preparation moving in the right direction after playing a major role in Tom Pidcocks victory on Coll de la Botella. The Australian was one of the strongest riders on the final climb, where Pidcock eventually beat Carlos Ver...