When Isaac del Toro won Stage 2 of the 2026 Tour de France in Barcelona, he was riding the Colnago V5Rs lightweight race bike, rather than the Y1Rs aero road bike preferred by the rest of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, including team leader Tadej Pogaar, who crossed the line just behind him.Why would del Toro choose the V5Rs, when the Y1Rs offers, according to Colnago, around 4% energy savings? Its wind-tunnel test results show it to be 16 watts faster at 50km/h, a speed thats not unrealistic in a pro race.A source within the team has told us its mainly because del Toro really likes the V5Rs and uses it a lot in training. He swaps between the V5Rs and the aero Y1Rs and, were told, will be back on the Y1Rs on subsequent stages (as seen during today's Stage 3). Read more about Isaac del Toro's Colnago V5Rs Del Toro started Stage 2 of the 2026 Tour on the aero Y1Rs, but swapped to the V5Rs following a mechanical with 60km to go. Dario Belingheri/Getty Images In fact, del Toro started Stage 2 on the Y1Rs, which was also ridden by the rest of the team. He swapped to the V5Rs after a mechanical with 60km to ride forced a bike swap.The Stage 2 profile shows much of the 2,500m elevation gain was in the second half of the stage and the three laps of the finishing circuit included the particularly steep Montjuc climb.Lower weight Tadej Pogaar's Dark Series raw carbon Colnago Y1Rs weighed 7.25kg when we checked the bike ahead of the 2026 Tour de France. Ashley Quinlan / Our Media While in the majority of situations, aerodynamics trumps low weight, the V5Rs probably sits right on the UCIs 6.8kg weight limit. Ahead of the 2026 Grand Dpart, we weighed Pogaars Y1Rs at 7.25kg. In contrast, Pogaar's painted Colnago V5Rs for the 2025 Tour de France weighed under the UCI weight limit. Kyle Dewick / Our Media The Y1Rs del Toro was riding until his bike swap was painted, so it will weigh even more than Pogaars bike. For a weight-obsessed pro forced to make a bike change coming into a punchy finale and for his directeur sportif, that might tip the decision in favour of the lighter bike.There are other reasons why del Toro might favour the V5Rs over the Y1Rs. The bikes geometries are subtly different, with Colnago claiming the low weight and all-rounder design make the V5Rs an ideal companion for elevation-heavy stages, mountain stages in Grand Tours and for riders seeking an exceptionally responsive and lightweight ride.Colnago reckons the V5Rs is the bike for steep climbs and explosive sprints, too, attributes that make it well-suited to the Montjuc circuit. More on the 2026 Tour de France Who is Isaac del Toro? 4 things you need to know about the Mexican who could be a future Tour de France winner Isaac del Toro's stage-winning Colnago V5Rs may sit exactly on the UCI weight limit Fans told to avoid Tour de France stage 3 due to major wildfires A Tour de France breakaway only has a 2% chance of winning, so why join one? Every team bike at the 2026 Tour de France More agile geometry Del Toro also rode the V5Rs when he won the Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes last month. Dario Belingheri/Getty Images Colnago claims the V5Rs delivers greater agility and superior control, especially on technical climbs and descents. It also says it is generally more comfortable.There are more frame-size options for the V5Rs, with seven sizes offered, rather than the Y1Rs five. The head tube angle for a medium-sized bike is 72.3 degrees versus the Y1Rs 73 degrees, and the front-centre is longer, which might offer greater ride stability on the fast descent that also featured. The ENVE cockpit on the V5Rs may be more comfortable if del Toro likes to use the tops. Ashley Quinlan / Our Media It may be easier to get a fit that suits del Toro, too, and there are more component choices. While UAE Team Emirates-XRG usually rides the V5Rs with an ENVE SES Aero Pro cockpit, the V5Rs can be fitted with other cockpits if preferred.In contrast, the Y1Rs uses Colnagos distinctive proprietary cockpit. For anyone who likes to climb on the tops, its arguably not ideal because the Y-shaped tops angle the hands and arms outwards, where theyre probably less aero than a tucked position, compared to the T-shaped bars of the V5Rs classic one-piece cockpit. The cockpit of the Y1Rs is more extreme and it could be more difficult to get comfortable on the tops. Simon von Bromley / Our Media All the UAE Team Emirates-XRG riders have a choice between the two bikes, so we may see them swap between the Y1Rs and V5Rs, as Pogaar did when he won the 2025 Critrium du Dauphin (now renamed the Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes).Were told del Toro will be back on the Y1Rs for some of the coming stages.And finally, it was a great marketing coup for Colnago to have a 1-2 on the first road stage of the 2026 Tour, with the teams star riders on different bikes.It showcases the brand's road bike range and should raise awareness of its other options when the halo Y1Rs aero bike and the TT2 time trial bike have tended to hog the limelight thanks to their association with Pogaar.

Isaac del Toros first Tour de France has already moved far beyond anything he expected. Two days into the race, the Mexican has gone from debutant to stage winner, white jersey leader and key helper in Tadej Pogacars first move into yellow. One day after taking his maiden Tour stage win in Barcelo...

Wildfires are ravaging southwestern France, with Tour de France organisers announcing changes to todays stage 3 so public resources could be focused on rescue and firefighting operations.The changes to stage 3, from Granoller, Spain, to Les Angles, France, were announced on Sunday evening. They limit the race to the bare minimum people in the last 40km for its completion, as it heads through the Pyrenees-Orientales region and finishes in Les Angles.Race organisers ASO announced that the last section of the stage will be limited only to the riders and essential vehicles. They said the caravan would not travel along the last 40km of the route, and fans were told not to gather along the route or near the finish.But if you are watching todays stage 3, you may have spotted the odd spectator on the roads within the restricted section of the route.Local police officers told sports journalist Anders Mielke on TNT Sports that this is because they cannot stop locals from attending the race.We have police officers at every corner. We just saw some fans being told off and that they were not allowed [to be on the roadside], Mielke said while reporting from within the last 40km.If you see fans in the last 40km, it will be local people living on the course, Mielke said.Yet Mielke reported later in the day from Col du Calvaire, the second last climb of the day within the last 40km. He reported seeing fans from Norway and Germany.The restrictions to stage 3 come as extreme heat has spread across Europe with wildfires breaking out across the continent.Ahead of the Tour de France, race director Christian Prudhomme said the Tour de France organisers were taking extra steps to ensure the safety of the riders and the public.We will obviously experience high temperatures during the Tour de France. Protecting the riders and the public is paramount for us. The watchword is adaptation, Prudhomme said.French officials were also told they could cancel Tour de France stages if a red heatwave alert is issued, according to a French Interior Ministry document seen by Reuters."In exceptional circumstances, and in consultation with the organiser and all relevant parties, you may decide to cancel a stage if health or operational conditions no longer allow for the simultaneous safeguarding of spectators and staff, and the continued provision of emergency services to the public," the document said.Tomorrows stage four heads from Carcassonne to Foix, where temperatures could hit 39C. More on the 2026 Tour de France Isaac del Toro's stage-winning Colnago V5Rs may sit exactly on the UCI weight limit Fans told to avoid Tour de France stage 3 due to major wildfires A Tour de France breakaway only has a 2% chance of winning, so why join one? We weighed Tadej Pogaars 2026 Tour de France bike and its heavier than you might think Jonas Vingegaards Cervlo S5 for the 2026 Tour de France is bang on the UCIs 6.8kg weight limit Can the Tour de France ever be Pogaar-proof? The race organisers face a near-impossible task These 2 Tour de France rule changes could reshape the 2026 race Cycling just got weirder Netcompany-Ineos adopt peculiar tactic for Tour de France team time trial

At the Tour de France, the racing does not always end at the finish line. Sprint deviations, sticky bottles, feeding breaches, littering fines, time penalties, yellow cards and relegations can all become part of the daily story, especially in a race where every stage result and jersey position is wa...

The 2026 Tour de France will take place from the 4th to the 26th of July. Throughout the21 stages, the peloton will be racing through the mountains, sprint stages, cobblestones, individual and team time trials, and even. We take a look at all stages, their official profiles, and preview the days -...

Paul Seixas responded to his stage 2 frustration with the best result of his debut Tour de France so far. The 19-year-old finished fourth at Les Angles on stage 3, crossing the line just behind Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Richard Carapaz after the first Pyrenean test of the race. Seixas had...

On Friday, EKO unveiled its new R2 carbon road bike helmet, just in time for the Tour de France. The brand states that this new lightweight, carbon-topped lid was specifically designed with thermal management as its top priority, and to meet the demand of climbers and riders competing in hot weather conditions.It was a timely product launch indeed, with an extreme heatwave across much of Europe and temperatures expected to soar above 40 C during the opening stages of the Tour possibly longer. With temperatures like those, riders will certainly need all the help they can get to stay cool during the mountain stages, and frankly, every other stage of the Tour.With the R2 CARBON, our goal was to create the ultimate helmet for climbers: extremely lightweight, exceptionally ventilated, and aerodynamic enough to remain highly efficient in every race situation. It is another example of our commitment to pushing the boundaries of high-performance cycling equipment, -Lucas Viano, Helmet Product Manager at EKOEKO R2 Carbon DetailsEKO says the new R2 Carbon helmet was developed with the worlds best riders. In the Tour, both the NSN Cycling Team and Lotto-Intermarch WorldTour teams will be taking advantage of this brand-new, gram-saving, and highly-ventilated R2 Carbon helmet. Of course, it has been designed with climbing in mind, but Id wager theyll be using it for more than just the mountain stages.EKO says its new R2 Carbon helmet strikes a balance between lightweight construction, ventilation, and aerodynamics. Three performance attributes that are often tricky to combine. Of those attributes, thermal management was the highest priority, and it was designed to provide maximum ventilation on the most grueling climbs and in the hottest temperatures.According to EKO, Thanks to its highly ventilated structure and optimized design, the helmet helps riders maintain a more stable body temperature while delivering an aerodynamic efficiency close to that of dedicated aero helmets, particularly at the lower speed typical of climbing.ConstructionThe R2 Carbons helmet has a typical in-mold construction, which is topped with its namesake carbon upper shell. It uses a BOA Fit System to optimize fit and stability on the head, and a Fidlock magnetic buckle to secure the chinstrap. According to the brand, the R2 Carbons lightweight construction results in a claimed weight of just 238 grams. It comes in sizes S, M, and L.Cooling GainsEKO states that it has ventilation optimized for hot weather. Details are somewhat sparse, but it appears there are five intake vents across the front of the helmet, with three wide-open ventilation channels running front to back over the top of the head. According to EKO, Measurements taken during development show a 19.6% increase in the Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC) compared to other helmets on the market.What does that mean for riders? In practical terms, this improvement promotes better airflow around the scalp and speeds up heat dissipation during efforts. Internal simulations indicate up to 1C of extra cooling at scalp level. In the real world, EKOI suggests that this improvement in cooling could result in a performance gain of 0.5% to 1.5%.AvailabilityYou can see the new EKO R2 carbon in action over the course of the next few weeks on the heads of NSN Cycling Team and Lotto-Intermarch WorldTour teams. We wish them the best of luck and hope it helps them climb faster and keep their heads cool during what is projected to be a very hot Tour de France.While WorldTour pros will be wearing the R2 Carbon for the Tour and beyond, EKO says it will be available to buy at the end of 2026. It will be offered in two versions, including a Carbon Top model (presumably painted?) and one with a more exposed carbon finish. The brand did not share any pricing details.ekoi.comThe post EKO Drops R2 Carbon Road Helmet Just in Time for TdF Heatwave, Climbing Stages appeared first on Bikerumor.

The white minibus is decked out in advertising signs for a window company. There are 16 seats inside, but only one of them is occupied: the drivers. The bus trundles its way around France every July, bringing up the rear of the Tour de France peloton, repurposed from an otherwise nondescript van into the broomwagon the vehicle that swoops up the riders who fall too far back and miss the time cut. Arnaud De Lie of Lotto-Intermarch loitered in front of it throughout Sunday's third stage. More on him later. Arvid de Kleijn of Tudor Pro Cycling was also hanging out just front.This year's race is meant to be a joyous occasion for De Kleijn. Aged 32, hes making his Tour debut. Its also his maiden Grand Tour. A late-bloomer, he didnt turn pro until 2020 and didn't start winning sprints regularly until 2023. A win at Milano-Torino in 2023 and a stage victory at Paris-Nice in 2024 was an indication that in an increasingly youthful sport, older riders could still emerge. Its not out of the realm of possibility that he could win a stage of this July's Tour. His year so far, however, has been marked by tragedy and sadness as well as euphoria. In February, his father, Cees, died of cancer. De Kleijn, understandably, took a break from racing. Towards the end [of my dads life] things became very difficult for him and for all of us as a family, De Kleijn said in May.A few weeks after his dads passing, a group of young adults attacked him while out training and broke his nose. There was no way to reason with them, so I tried to leave, he said. One of them punched me in the face several times I still dont understand why it happened.At the same time, De Kleijn was welcoming his first child into the world with his partner. It was beautiful news, of course, but becoming a father while preparing to lose my own dad that was emotionally overwhelming. I was living between two extremes: joy and heartbreak at the exact same time.As the Tour left Spain and headed into France on stage three, the Dutchman struggled in the repressive heat and felt physically hamstrung. My body didnt want to do it today, he said at the finish. After the team time trial Im just blocked. My body doesnt want to push that much.De Kleijn, supported by two Tudor teammates, endured rather than enjoyed the third stage. Every pedal stroke was an effort. He could have given in, abandoned, but the memory of his father was at the forefront of his thoughts.Im completely exhausted but I just told [my teammates] that I was riding with my dad in mind, he said, hunched over in Les Angles, cold bottles of water being poured over him by his teams staff. He had made it, 41 minutes behind stage winner Tadej Pogaar, but crucially seven minutes within the time limit. De Kleijn continued talking about his father: "I saw him suffer so much and I had him in mind. This suffering is nothing compared to what I saw. I just needed to keep on going, keep the pressure on the pedals.De Lie did not see the finish.The 24-year-old Belgian fell ill two days before the race got underway in Barcelona with a stomach infection, and there were doubts if he would even start stage ones team time trial, after he stepped off his bike during the TTTs recon. In the end he did, and he finished stage two as well but in dead last place.(Image credit: Getty Images)He wouldnt even be that fortunate on stage three. De Lie was at the back of the stage throughout, the broomwagon in his rearview mirror the whole way, the spectre of going home early casting a long shadow over him. The TV graphics showed how far behind De Lie was in essence a countdown to his exit.Yet it was not inevitable, even if it looked that way. I had the feeling he was getting better, his Lotto-Intermarch teammate Liam Slock told Cycling Weekly. On the bus he was actually quite happy. This morning he was confident he was going to make it. Two other teammates shared the same opinion. We decided before the stage that Bauptiste [Veistroffer] would stay with him, explained Huub Artz. And if we thought that he was making a strong impression and needed help, I would drop back. But there was the possibility that he would not have the legs. De Lie did not have the legs. His condition had regressed and he was in survival mode all day. The stifling heat could have been to blame. That was one of the hottest days on the bike Ive ever had, Slock said. At the beginning it was always between 38 and 40 degrees until the penultimate climb when it went down a bit.Late on, the decision was made that Veistroffer would leave De Lie behind to make sure he made the time cut himself. With just kilometres remaining, De Lie waved the white flag. He hopped into a team car and withdrew from the race. To protect his health, the Belgian eventually stepped off his bike on the final climb of the day, his team said.It was agony and ecstasy in the Pyrenees. De Kleijn, riding in the memory of his father, just about found a way through the suffering. De Lie, however, barely rode a few dozen kilometres in France. The broomwagon has claimed its first victim of the 2026 race.

Jonas Vingegaards yellow jersey was gone at Les Angles, but the Tour de France duel with Tadej Pogacar had not tilted as sharply as the podium ceremony suggested. Pogacar won stage 3 after UAE Team Emirates XRG dragged the race back together and superstar teammate Isaac del Toro launched him into...

This stage ought to go to the breakaway, and if not then end in a reduced bunch sprint. The flat finish doesnt suit the Slovenian and with many riders well down on GC already plenty can go clear and not trouble the overall classification.Angles ferms: it took 90 minutes for the breakaway to form. Visma-LAB tried a few times to place Matteo Jorgenson but Isaac del Toro closed him down.A solid move of 19 went clear including Alex Baudin who was the best placed on GC and while Egan Bernal had worked hard to get in the move, punctured and could not chase back. For a moment it looked like Baudins mechanics could have started opening the boxes of yellow accessories in anticipation of him being the new race leader as the bunch sat up and many leaders stopping to urinate. Only Visma-LAB got back to work, presumably hopeful to keep the yellow jersey. They still havent announced a replacement sponsor for next year.With the move within range, UAE took up the chase, reportedly a decision taken by the riders and not the team car. The breakaway could feel it and looked resigned, all the effort to go clear but they could not sustain it.It was surprising to see UAE chasing for hours. But Tadej Pogaar wanted the win and the chance to defrock Jonas Vingegaard. It seemed a lot of effort for another win but what price getting one over your rival? Its the first time Vingegaard has ever lost the yellow jersey.The Route: 181km and 2,700m of vertical gain. After several days for the GC contenders and baroudeurs this syage was meant to be for the sprinters but the layout of roads in Foix and some municipal refusals to uproot street furniture meant the plan was changed with an extra day in the hills to shrink the bunch by the time they reach the finish.Its south out of Carcassonne amid the Limoux vineyards. The first 20km arent big roads but they roll well. After 30km things get wilder with twisting sections, climbs and a road thats one minute in a canyon and then another on an exposed plateau.The Col du Paradis is pleasant and, away from the Tour very peaceful, but no paradise for climbers. A gentle descent with some corners gives way to roads shaded by plane trees and the intermediate sprint in Quillan. The Col de Coudons twists around a lot but is very steady.The Col de Montsgur is the hardest climb and after a gentle start theres 4km at 7-8% to the top below the rocky cliffs upon which is perched the Montsgur fort.Theres an unmarked climb with 12km to go but its difficult ambush terrain, a wide road with good visibility.The Finish: the course drops into the Arige valley. Once by the river there its into the town of Foix and a right turn over the bridge with 300m to go for a flat finish.The Contenders: a good chance for the breakaway and now that Pogaar has got one over Vingegaard perhaps UAE dont need to chase. They could loan the yellow jersey but almost 150 riders are over ten minutes down so they can keep it without much work.This stage is open to plenty of riders, its less mountainous than Stage 3. It could end in a reduced bunch sprint too.Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) is suited and will try again. He won a stage in the Aura Tour with his sprint and can take confort from not having to go solo but he has the engine for this in the finish. Team mate Mads Pedersen is in the green jersey already and can score double at the intermediate point and then the finish, or hope to sweep up at the finish on a day when others will be dropped.Romain Grgoire (Groupama-FDJ) is a finisseur and said hes got two goals this season: the French championships and a Tour stage. Now hes shown the form to win the first the latter is possible.Dorian Godon (Netcompany) has a string of World Tour wins this year and can crown that with a stage win thanks to his sprint.Luke Plapp (Jayco) tried on Stage 3 and can win here but would he have to go solo to do this? Matej Mohori (Bahrain) ought to be a contender but he hasnt won a road race since February 2024. Similarly Ben Healy (EF) is a fit for the stage but is the form sufficient?Simmons, Godon, PedersenGrgoire, Plapp, Healy, Aranburu, CortWeather: hot with 39C during the stage. A gentle breeze from the south of 10-15km/h should be a cooling breeze.TV: KM0 is at 1.25pm and the finish is forecast for 5.35pm CEST. Tune in early to catch the battle for the breakaway.The post Tour de France Stage 4 Preview first appeared on The Inner Ring.