Mathieu van der Poels 500CHF Tour de Suisse fine was meant to punish a hot-seat image problem. Instead, the moment has now become a punchline beyond the peloton. The Alpecin-Premier Tech rider was sanctioned after sitting bare-chested in the hot seat following the stage 4 time trial in Aarburg. Va...

A school bus driver blasted his horn for over 40 seconds as the author was cycling home from visiting her brothers grave. She warned that if everybody cycling just disappeared it would mean more congestion and more frustration. A school bus driver was apparently so incensed that he could not overtake Joan Donnelly, while she was cycling home after visiting her brothers grave, that he blasted his horn for over 40 seconds.The Rules of the Road states that motorists should Only use a horn to: warn other road users of on-coming danger; or make them aware of your presence for safety reasons when reasonably necessary. This does not include demanding a cyclist to get out of your way, but it is a guideline rather than a law.Under the current legislation, it is an offence to use a vehicles horn in a built-up area between 11pm and 7amunless there is a traffic emergency.The author and former weather presenter said that the bus driver had started to overtake while there was a solid white line on the road, and an oncoming car approached. She waved at the driver to warn him to stay back in case he couldnt see the car approaching.On X and then on Newstalk late last week, she said the drivers response was to hold down his horn for the better part of a minute. At first, when she heard the horn, she thought something might have happened between the car and the bus driver, but then she realised that the horn-blowing was aimed at her.Donnelly says the bus driver was dropping off children when she exited a cycle path about 500 metres from her home in Dublin, and she entered the roadway to cycle the last bit to her housing estate. Shortly after that, the driver tried to overtake but failed because there was an oncoming car.The bus driver who had children still on board then held down his horn, apparently just in anger that he was unable to overtake. When Donnelly made the turn towards her housing estate, she said that the bus driver then screamed abuse at her.Donnelly said: I know exactly when it happened because I was visiting my, brothers grave for his anniversary. So it was the 25th of May, right in the middle of that spell of very hot weather we had there.She said that she had cycled the 44km to the graveyard and back without issue, and it was a lovely sunny day, until she met the aggressive bus driver.I had no incidents, I had a lovely time, I was singing to myself in my head, and I was coming off the cycle path very close to my home about 500 metres from home, and I saw the bus was um unloading passengers. I noted it, but it was stopped a good distance away from the end of the cycle path, she said.Donnelly continued: I proceeded cycling [into the carragway], we went through a set of traffic lights and just after we went through the start of traffic lights, I became aware of the noise of the engine behind.It was getting quite loud and quite close, and at the same time, I saw an uncommon car from the other side. So I was like oh hes got to try and overtake, she said. She said she put my hand up to signal the bus driver behind her not to overtake. She said there was a bend in the road too, so he couldnt have safely overtaken.When the driver started beeping, she thought that the car didnt get in on time, or you know, something has happened behind her because otherwise why would he have sounded the horn? But Donnelly said: I looked over my shoulder and no, he was just annoyed that he hadnt managed to overtake. And there wasnt another opportunity for him to overtake because we are now on a bending, narrow road.She said she kept blowing the horn, which was quite startling she said that she took out her phone because she thought that hed see it and back off, but he didnt.The well-known former weather presenter said: I edited out the video because I didnt want to show the driver, but they sounded the horn for more than 40 seconds. And then, because I was at my house in the stage, so I was pulled into the filter [turning] lane to pull into my [housing] estate, and I pulled in to filter, and he stopped because he had to unload his passengers again, and he started shouting at me again.Asked what he said, she said: He was just annoyed. He was just annoyed and screaming at me. Donnelly said that maybe he got a fright with the failed overtake, But then that fear led to anger, it led him to the dark side. He just unleashed this awful anger.She said that maybe a year ago she would have put up the unedited video, but thats not the point, the point was the unnerving misuse of the horn, which was played a number of times before as well as during the item on Newstalk, which was broadcast on Friday.You dont sound a horn at someone because youre annoyed at them. Thats not the proper use, Donnelly said. Newstalk presenter Andrea Gilligan said: You certainly dont for 40 seconds continuously.Donnelly said: Absolutely not. Thats road rage. sounding the horn at a cyclist just because they are cycling on the road is not appropriate use of the horn, it should be illegal.I always say the horn should be as loud inside the car as it is outside the car, and then people might use this more judiciously. Its supposed to be alerting people to danger If the danger is that youre going to run over them, thats also not appropriate use youre not supposed to be causing the danger, she said.She called on drivers to hold their horses and be a little more patient, and outlined how, most of the time, cyclists do not hold up motorists and people cycling are allowed to be on the roads. She said another incident of a lack of patience was with a Dublin Bus driver on the Malldide Road on Thursday last, when he overtook her just to straight away pull into a bus stop. Going back to the school bus incident, Donnelly said: This bus was taking children to school because the roads are not safe for children to cycle to school.Responding to a listeners text that cyclists think they own the roads, she said: We all own the roads; the roads are there for all of us to use the road at the same time, so we do own the roads.She said that it seems some drivers just want cyclists to disappear, but that would mean more congestion and more frustration as those cyclists would get into their cars more and cause even more gridlock.Responding to other texters, she said that a group of cyclists cycling two abreast is the recommended best practise, especially in larger groups, where it would take longer to pass than if they were single-file.

La Stelvio Santini Adds Gravel to a Weekend Built Around Cyclings Sacred GiantThere are few names in cycling that carry the same weight as the Stelvio. Its hairpins, altitude and mythology have made it one of the sports great reference points, a climb that sits as much in the imagination as it does in the legs. In 2026, La Stelvio Santini will return for its 14th edition with a fresh twist, turning the established road granfondo into a full weekend of riding in the heart of Valtellina.Scheduled for Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June 2026, the event will introduce the first Stelvio Santini Gravel ride alongside its traditional road programme. It is a significant expansion for an event already regarded as one of the standout dates on the amateur cycling calendar, with organisers keeping the focus on what has long defined La Stelvio Santini: enjoyment, safety and the chance to experience the roads and landscapes of Alta Valtellina by bike.The new gravel event takes place on Saturday 6 June, starting and finishing in Bormio. Riders can choose between two routes: a 70km long course with 2,000m of climbing, or a shorter 44km option with 1,400m of elevation gain. Organised in collaboration with 3T, the gravel debut will also feature riders from Team Reverb and the Reverb community from Bergamo, adding another layer of character to the opening day.Sunday remains the domain of the road event, with three routes heading from Bormio towards the Stelvio Pass. The long route covers 130km and 4,270m of climbing, taking in Rogorbello, the Mortirolo, Bormio and the final ascent to the Stelvio. The medium route measures 108km with 3,050m of elevation gain, while the short route offers 64km and 2,280m of climbing. As in previous editions, the event will use timed climbing sections to decide the rankings, preserving the granfondos competitive edge while keeping the broader ride experience central.Interest is already strong. With entries nearing their close, 1,267 participants have confirmed, including 139 women. Of those, 172 riders are set to line up for the inaugural gravel event, while nearly 1,200 are expected for Sundays road ride. The weekend format has also encouraged a notable crossover, with 83 cyclists signed up for the combined gravel and road option.La Stelvio Santinis international pull is clear. Riders from 42 countries are due to attend, with Italy leading the numbers on 393 participants, followed by Germany with 147, Switzerland with 93, the United Kingdom with 81 and the Netherlands with 78. Entrants are also travelling from further afield, including India, Colombia and Australia, underlining the global fascination with the Stelvio and the wider Valtellina region.For 2026, the event will also have a new centre of gravity. The Village and Expo Area will be based at the Bormio Sports Center, renovated following the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. This will serve as the hub for number collection, race packs and the official Santini jersey, which must be worn during Sundays road event. The village will also host sponsor stands, technical corners from partners and refreshment areas for riders and accompanying guests.The schedule is designed to make the weekend feel like more than a single day in the saddle. The Village and Expo Area opens on Friday 5 June from 3pm to 7pm, then again on Saturday from 8am to 7pm. The gravel awards ceremony will be held at 5pm on Saturday, followed by the road event briefing at 5.30pm. Sundays road awards ceremony is scheduled for 4pm.What makes La Stelvio Santini compelling is not simply the scale of the climbs, although they are formidable. It is the sense of place. Bormio, Alta Valtellina and the Stelvio provide the sort of setting that turns an amateur event into a pilgrimage, particularly for riders who have long dreamt of testing themselves on one of Europes most celebrated mountain roads. The arrival of gravel broadens that invitation, offering a different rhythm and a deeper way into the terrain before the road riders take on the classic ascent.Entries remain open until Saturday 30 May through the official event website, with organisers inviting riders to secure their place for a weekend shaped by climbing, scenery and the enduring pull of the Stelvio.

Megamo has been on a roll with Avinox-powered bikes lately. In the last month alone, the Spanish brand launched the Upon e-road bike and the Along e-gravel bike, and now, Megamo is introducing the all-new Ryal eMTB. With 160mm of front and rear travel, its closely related to the race-ready Reason eMTB, but Megamo says the Ryal was designed to provide more comfort and greater practicality for everyday riding.Equipped with the latest Avinox M2 and M2S motors powered by removable 800Wh batteries, the Ryal features the latest eMTB technology. But with an aluminum frame and four complete builds ranging from 3,999 to 6,999, Megamo intends the Ryal to be more accessible than its carbon-framed sibling.Megamo Ryal DetailsWith the Ryal, Megamo says the goal was to create an enduro eMTB with genuine capability, conceived for riders who want authentic mountain performance but with a more accessible, comfortable, and practical approach for everyday riding. To that end, they designed a bike based on the 160mm-travel Reason eMTB platform, but with a more centered and relaxed geometry aimed at enhancing comfort, control, and versatility for everyday riders.The Ryal eMTB is Avinox powered for tackling steep climbs.The Ryal is built around a full aluminum frame with 160mm of travel front and rear. The 160mm of rear travel is controlled with a Horst-link suspension layout with a leverage ratio that Megamo describes as being progressive and controlled. The frame has 12 x 148mm rear axle spacing, internal cable routing, a UDH dropout, molded rubber chainstay protection, and one bottle mount in the front triangle.Megamo says it rethought the Ryals geometry to be both comfortable and capable.GeometryMegamo makes a point of saying the Ryal is not a watered-down Reason. Instead, the geometry has been designed from scratch to give it greater everyday usability. What does that entail? Here are the key geometry changes that Megamo says set the Ryal apart.Shorter reach and a slacker head angle (64.4 versus 63.5): a more centred position and greatermanoeuvrability at real-world speeds, not just on descents.Higher stack: a more comfortable, confident pedalling position, less aggressive over the handlebar.Shorter wheelbase: more agility and ease of handling in daily use.Slightly longer chainstays, consistent across sizes: stability and balance on the trail.Lower standover and a notably more compact size S: the bike opens up to heights the Reason leftout.Megamo Ryal geometry.With shorter reach and a higher stack, it certainly seems that Megamo is prioritizing comfort. At the same time, the slack head tube angle and longer chainstays should help to maintain stability at speed, and confidence/capability in steep, rough terrain.It comes in four frame sizes, S XL. Check out the geometry chart below for a breakdown of how the Ryal compares to its carbon fiber counterpart, the Megamo Reason.Megamo Ryal vs. Megamo Reason geometry.Avinox Drive SystemsOf course, the Ryals frame has also been designed around the integration of the Avinox drive unit, battery, and display. At this point, the industry-disrupting Avinox M2S and M2 motors dont need any introduction, as theyve been covered in great detail numerous times.The Avinox M2S motor comes on the two higher-end builds of the Megamo Ryal.For a super-quick refresher, the Avinox M2S is the most powerful eMTB motor on the market, putting out up to 130Nm of torque and 1,300W of continuous power, with up to 150Nm and 1,500W peak power in Boost Mode. The Avinox M2 is toned down a bit, but still offers more power than any other drive unit on the market at 1,100W and 110Nm continuous, and 125Nm of torque in Boost.All of the builds in the Ryal range come with either the Avinox M2S or M2 drive system. The two more expensive builds, the 03 AXS and 05, are equipped with the more powerful M2S, while the more affordable 08 and 10 versions feature the slightly less powerful M2.The 800Wh battery is removable for practicality and ease of use.All Ryal builds come with the same removable 800Wh battery, which Megamo says is one of this bikes defining features. Whether for charging the battery off the bike at home or the office, to make the bike lighter for transport, or for easy battery swaps, the removability was an intentional design choice meant to make the Ryal more practical and easy to live with.Megamo Ryal: Builds and PricingAll of the Ryal builds share the same aluminum frame, 800 Wh battery, and top-tube-integrated display. All of the builds are available in four sizes, S XL, and three frame colors, Black, Red, and White.Ryal 03 AXS: 6,999Avinox M2S motor, Fox 38 Factory fork, Fox Float X Factory shock, SRAM S1000 AXS T-Type drivetrain, Shimano XT M8220 4-piston brakes, DT Swiss H 1900 wheels, Maxxis New Dissector 29 x 2.4 EXO+ (front) /DD (rear) tires, Race Face Era Carbon handlebar, Fox Transfer Factory dropper postRyal 05: 5,499Avinox M2S motor, Fox 38 Performance fork, Fox Float Rhythm shock, SRAM Eagle 90 T-Type drivetrain, Shimano XT M8220 brakes, Megamo 29 SL 30 wheels, Maxxis New Dissector 29 x 2.4 EXO+ (front) / DD (rear) tires, Megamo dropperRyal 08: 4,499Avinox M2 motor, RockShox Zeb Base fork, RockShox Deluxe Select+ shock, SRAM Eagle 70 T-Type drivetrain, SRAM Maven Base brakes, Megamo 29 SL 30 wheels, Maxxis Assegai 29 x 2.5 EXO+ (front) / Minion DHR II 29 x 2.4 EXO+ (rear) tires, Megamo dropperRyal 10: 3,999Avinox M2 motor, RockShox Psylo Silver fork, RockShox Deluxe Select+ shock, Shimano XT M8100 drivetrain, Shimano MT520 brakes, Megamo 29 SL 30 wheels, Maxxis Assegai 29 x 2.5 EXO+ (front) / Minion DHR II 29 x 2.4 EXO+ (rear) tires, Megamo dropperAvailabilityThe new Megamo Ryal eMTBs are available now. Head to the Megamo website to learn more, see full specs, and check availability in your region.megamo.comThe post Megamo Introduces the Ryal, a More Accessible and Practical Enduro eMTB appeared first on Bikerumor.

Jarno Widar must've imagine his debut professional season to go slightly differently, but the young Belgian's extreme talent is undeniable after put in once again an excellent ride at Tour de Suisse queen stage, losing only to Tadej Pogacar, when we exclude riders in the breakaway. Widar's season ha...

Fingal County Council is running a Sofa to saddle course for people aged 55 and over who want to get back cycling.The Sofa to Saddle course is a 10-week course run by the Age & Opportunity and the Active Travel Section of Fingal County Council. The council said that the goal of the course is to help people over 55 years of age get back cycling independently.It starts from Tuesday, June 23rd, at Racecourse Park in Dublin 13,from 10am to 11:30am.The council said: The course will help participants to relearn the basics of cycling independently, focusing on balance, bike control, gearing and braking.The course is free to take part in, but registering is vital as places are limited.Fingal County Council said it can provide bicycles for use during the course, but all participants are required to bring their own helmets.The council added: The Course is most suitable for people who have previously cycled and want to regain their confidence. If you are a complete beginner, we would recommend one-to-one lessons with an instructor first.To register for a place, sign up here.

Where the men's Giro d'Italia was a simple affair of Jonas Vingegaard, ladies provided one of the most epic comebacks in the race's history. In the end, it was Demi Vollering who prevailed over her former sports director Anna van der Breggen after a breathtaking tactical battle on the final stage wh...

Last week, Merida introduced its latest eMTB, the full-power, long-travel Lithos. Rather than jumping on the Avinox bandwagon, Merida chose the time-tested, proven, and reliable Bosch CX and CX-R drive systems to power its new, carbon-framed e-enduro machine. With 170/174mm of travel front/rear, mixed wheel sizes, and an aggressive geometry, Merida says the Lithos is made to tackle the toughest terrain with confidence and control.With the Lithos, Merida wants riders to find unstoppable flow while taking on the toughest tracks, whether riding with friends or racing the clock. And, they want you to continue finding that flow for as long as possible with a focus not just on performance, but durability and reliability, too. Lets check out the new Merida Lithos.Merida Lithos DetailsRight out of the gate, Merida is walking the durability talk with the Lithos Category 4-rated CF3 carbon frame, which is backed by a lifetime warranty. The Lithos gets 170mm in the front and 174mm of rear travel, the latter using Meridas favored linkage-drive single-pivot design with flex stays.According to the brand, the flex stay design enhances reliability with fewer bearings, and the kinematic, shared with the eONE-SIXTY SL and eONE-EIGHTY, works perfectly with air and coil shocks. Merida says this yoke-less design prevents side-loading and premature wear, boosting durability, but allows us to get a perfect balance of pedaling efficiency, small bump performance, and big hit control.The Lithos comes standard with mixed wheel sizes to keep the rear end more agile. Thanks to its FLIP CHIP design, Merida says its also possible to run a 29 rear wheel while maintaining the same geometry. That said, switching to a 29 rear wheel decreases rear travel to 160mm and lengthens the chainstay to 449mm, compared to 174mm of travel and 447mm chainstays in the standard, mixed wheel setup.On the Lithos frame, Merida provides options to route cables through the headset or through ports on the head tube with molded channels in the front triangle and liners in the rear. The frame comes with an integrated rear fender, along with a large rubber chainslap protector and heel rub protectors on both sides. Riders also have the option to add the brandslong fender for more mud protection.Merida says that all of the Lithos bolts can be tightened with the 4 or 6mm hex tool stored in the rear axle lever, or the V-Mount Multi-tool under the saddle. The Tube Base Plate provides space to stash a spare tube. Additionally, all frame sizes have been designed to maximize dropper post length. The two highest-end builds come with the 230mm Team TR II dropper, adjustable between 30 and 230mm of travel without tools, while the rest of the range comes with the Expert TR II dropper, with drop length varying by frame size.Progressive but balancedGeometryMerida says the Lithos has a progressive but balanced e-bike specific geometry. Based on what we can see in the geometry chart, it appears to be right in the wheelhouse for a modern enduro bike, with a slack head tube angle, steep seat tube angle, long-ish reach, and high stack. Here are some of the highlights, according to the brand:Steep seat angle: 78.5Slack head tube angle: 64Long head tubes and increased stack for upright, confidence-inspiring riding position (646 mm in size M)Longer chainstays for a more centred balance (447mm)The Lithos comes in five frame sizes: XShort, Short, Mid, Long, and XLong. Check out the chart below for all the details.Bosch Drive SystemsWhile much of the bike industry seems enamored with the massive power of the new Avinox motors, Merida chose the proven, reliable Bosch CX drive units for the Lithos. They say, Boschs track record of proven performance, excellent reliability, and worldwide service backup was a major factor in why we chose to partner with them for LITHOS, as well as their sustainable and responsible approach.While Bosch isnt battling for the most powerful e-bike motor, the brands CX and CX-R drive units have been getting steadily more powerful with recent over-air updates. The CX drive unit still tops out at 750W, but the latest update boosted the CXs peak torque to 120Nm. So, although it may not be the most powerful, many riders would agree that the Bosch CX offers more than enough pedaling support for their needs.Boschs CX motors provide reliable support when pedaling back up for more laps.The two higher-end builds come with the Bosch CX-R motor, which is slightly lighter and includes the special Race Mode. Race Mode enables lag-free accelerations, assist with full power up to max speed, and Extended Boost.With the Lithos, Merida says the removable Bosch PowerTube battery allows riders to switch between the longer range 800Wh and lighter weight 600Wh batteries or do hot swaps for super long rides. The 600Wh battery weighs ~900g less than the 800Wh version, which may make a noticeable handling difference for some riders. Additionally, the Lithos is compatible with Boschs PowerMore 250Wh range extender.The Lithos 8000Merida Lithos: Builds The Lithos is available in five complete builds, all of which are built around the same carbon frame.Lithos 10 KMotor: Bosch CX-RBattery: Bosch PowerTube 800, 800WhFork: Fox Podium Factory, 170mmShock: Fox Float DHX Factory Live Valve Neo w/SLS CoilDrivetrain: SRAM XO AXS TransmissionBrakes: SRAM Maven Ultimate w/ 200/220mm HS2 rotorsWheels: DT Swiss HXC 1500 carbonTires:F: Continental Kryptotal-F, 29 x 2.4, Enduro, Super SoftR: Continental Kryptotal-R, 27.5 x 2.4, Enduro, SoftCockpit: Race Face Era Carbon handlebar, Merida Expert eTR II stemSeatpost: Merida Team TR II adjustable (30 230mm)Colors: Grey to Wild Honey (Holo Honey), Grey to Gunmetal (Holo Silver)Lithos 8000Halo GreenMotor: Bosch CX-RBattery: Bosch PowerTube 800, 800WhFork: RockShox ZEB Ultimate, 170mmShock: RockShox Vivid UltimateDrivetrain: SRAM GX AXS TransmissionBrakes: SRAM Maven Bronze w/ 200/220mm HS2 rotorsWheels: DT Swiss HX 1700Tires:F: Continental Kryptotal-F, 29 x 2.4, Enduro, Super SoftR: Continental Kryptotal-R, 27.5 x 2.4, Enduro, SoftCockpit: Merida Expert eTR handlebar, Merida Expert eTR II stemSeatpost: Merida Team TR II adjustable (30 230mm)Colors: Halo Green (Wildberry), Warm Slate Grey (Golden Black)Lithos 6000Wild HoneyMotor: Bosch CXBattery: Bosch PowerTube 800, 800WhFork: RockShox ZEB Select, 170mmShock: RockShox VividDrivetrain: SRAM Eagle 70 TransmissionBrakes: SRAM DB6 Stealth w/ 200/220mm Centerline rotorsWheels: Reynolds 309 Enduro Comp aluminumTires:F: Continental Kryptotal-F, 29 x 2.4, Enduro, Super SoftR: Continental Kryptotal-R, 27.5 x 2.4, Enduro, SoftCockpit: Merida Expert eTR handlebar, Merida Expert eTR II stemSeatpost: Merida Expert TR II, XS: 125mm, S: 150mm, M: 170mm, L: 200mm, XL: 230mmColors: Wild Honey (Wildberry), Warm Slate Grey (Golden Black)Lithos 5000Anaconda GreenMotor: Bosch CXBattery: Bosch PowerTube 800, 800WhFork: RockShox Domain Gold R 170mmShock: RockShox DeluxeDrivetrain: Shimano Deore M7200Brakes: TRP Evo Comp HD0M7040, 4-piston w/ 200mm TRP rotorsWheels: Merida Comp TR II aluminumTires:F: Continental Kryptotal-F, 29 x 2.4, Enduro, Super SoftR: Continental Kryptotal-R, 27.5 x 2.4, Enduro, SoftCockpit: Merida Comp TR II handlebar, Merida Expert eTR II stemSeatpost: Merida Expert TR II, XS: 125mm, S: 150mm, M: 170mm, L: 200mm, XL: 230mmColors: Anaconda Green (White), Warm Slate Grey (Golden Black)Lithos 4000Anaconda GreenMotor: Bosch CXBattery: Bosch PowerTube 600, 600WhFork: RockShox Domain Gold R 170mmShock: RockShox Super Deluxe BaseDrivetrain: Shimano Cues U4000Brakes: SRAM DB4 Stealth w/ 200/220mm Centerline rotorsWheels: Merida Comp TR II aluminumTires:F: Continental Kryptotal-F, 29 x 2.4, Enduro, Super SoftR: Continental Kryptotal-R, 27.5 x 2.4, Enduro, SoftCockpit: Merida Comp TR II handlebar, Merida Expert eTR II stemSeatpost: Merida Expert TR II, XS: 125mm, S: 150mm, M: 170mm, L: 200mm, XL: 230mmColors: Anaconda Green (White), Warm Slate Grey (Golden Black)AvailabilityMeridas new Lithos eMTBs are available now. Head to the Merida website to learn more, check availability in your region, or finder a dealer near you.merida-bikes.comThe post Merida Wants You to Find Unstoppable Flow With the New Lithos eMTB appeared first on Bikerumor.

Even in the absence of its shiniest cycling stars Tadej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic, the home fans at the Tour of Slovenia had a man in the running for overall victory - or at least the podium - Jakob Omrzel. The 20-year-old prospect of Bahrain - Victorious ultimately fell short against the more expe...