In a rare, almost unprecedented first at the Tour de France, the bar at the summit of the races first mountain finish counted empty seats. Beers in hand, around 20 punters dashed to the edge of the terrace to watch Tadej Pogaar win the stage. Perhaps only a few hundred more had made the hike up to the ski resort, on a day the fans were told to stay at home. The announcement came less than 24 hours before the stage start. On Sunday evening, Tour organisers ASO urged people not to go to the finish of stage three, due to wildfires tearing through the Pyrnes-Orientales region. The town of Les Angles had prepared to welcome 25,000 people. On its first time hosting the Tour, maybe only a quarter of that number turned up. My mum messaged me in the evening yesterday: Ah, we cannot come to see the stage today because of the rules, Pogaar said. Being here on the podium was a little bit sad, just seeing photographers and a few people, not the usual big crowd around the finish area. But if that is what is good for safety, I understand its better. The bar by the finish line was ready for larger crowds. (Image credit: Tom Davidson)To discourage people from coming to the roadside, Tour organiser ASO stopped its publicity caravan a carnival of sponsor-led floats handing out freebies 44km from the finish line. Fans still lined the course in drips and drabs, but it wasnt the masses the biggest bike race in the world is used to. At the crperie in Les Angles, the chefs had prepared extra batter for the Tours arrival. We were expecting to be full all day, but the fire killed our dreams, said waiter loi, who served a handful of polka-dot clad punters on the terrace. Its a shame for the businesses who have been waiting for this day for more than a year. I know some that bought many kilos of meat, and not all of it will be sold. This was supposed to be the town's big day. Yellow jersey bunting hung from street lamps all along the parade. Restaurants brought mobile bars out onto the pavement, but none of them had queues longer than a couple of people. With two hours to go until the peloton came through, the 300 or so sheep in the field by the cable car outnumbered the fans in the street. Antoine, owner of the restaurant Chez Antoine, was non-plussed by the scarce footfall. Hes used to Les Angles, being a town of barely 600 people, having a sleepy feel. For him, it was just another Monday. Yes, we were penalised because the prefect decided to intervene and stop people from coming, Antoine said. All the police and firefighters are dealing with the fires. Can you imagine if a tourist went up the mountain and had a medical emergency? What would they do? I completely understand [the measures].(Image credit: Tom Davidson)By the time the peloton arrived at around 5pm, the town had fleshed out a little. Fans rang cowbells, applauded the riders and shouted their names as normal. TV viewers at home might have seen a route lined with fans, but the reality is the crowds were only one person deep. The circus had come to town, but only a few had managed to get in. Of course, Im sad, Les Angless mayor, Michel Poudade, told Le Parisien. After all, Tour finish towns in France pay upwards of 100,000 for the honour of welcoming the race. The decision from the authorities has left us with a strange feeling: why did we go so far to prepare for this? There are businesses with full fridges who are going to lose a lot of money," the mayor continued. Im going to plead the case to the Tour organisers for another Tour finish in Les Angles in the future. Perhaps then the town will get the Tour party it planned for.

Tadej Pogacar secured a perfect day at the Tour de France by winning Stage 3 in Les Angles and moving into the overall race lead. The UAE Emirates - XRG leader proved the strongest on the steep uphill finish, powering clear of Jonas Vingegaard in the final metres. Although both riders are on the sam...

Portland Design Works (PDW) is a bicycle component company that provides clever and unique bike bits for both your bicycle and your enjoyment. Today, we are going to be talking about inflation devices as PDW just launched the new AirForge Mini Pump.(Photos / Portland Design Works)Speaking of inflation, Im a big fan of this brand, and I use the crap out of their Essentials Electric Pump. It was a piece of gear that I didnt know I needed so badly. But for those who would prefer inflation without batteries, this pump is small but mighty. PDW is calling the new AirForge mini pump ultra compact. But despite its diminutive size, this inflator combo can handle any flat you throw at it.Its small enough to fit in a handlebar bag, frame bag, some top tube bags, a hip pack, or even a jersey pocket. Or, if you want it attached on the bike, you can use the included mount. AirForge Mini Pump Retail & DetailTo simplify inflation, the pump includes a press-fit nozzle (Presta valve only), and the CO2 delivery is controlled by twisting the threaded CO2 cartridge itself. No extra controls necessary. Retail: $39Presta Valve CompatibleWeight: 74g (2.6oz)Length: 153mm (6)Diameter: 19mmIncludes water bottle boss mounting bracketCompatible with threaded C02 cartridges. Hit the link below for more details on the AirForge, check out all of their inflation devices, or any of the other clever bike bits that PDW offers. RidePDW.comThe post Portland Design Works Launches New AirForge Ultra Compact Mini Hand/C02 Pump appeared first on Bikerumor.

After romping into the yellow jersey and taking the stage victory with it on day three of the Tour de France at Les Angles, Tadej Pogaar put up the unlikely theory that he might never win again.While not a mathematical impossibility, the likelihood of that scenario looks vanishingly small, given the form that the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider has shown over the past three days. While rival Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) may have swiped a popular yellow jersey on stage one, Pogaar was still fastest up the final climb. Yesterday he gifted the stage win to teammate Isaac Del Toro, before finally opting, as if at will, to take one for himself.Plus a change.Pogacar's 'never win again' suggestion was mostly an attempt to fend off the question of whether he was eyeing up Mark Cavendish's 35-stage Tour de France win record which would require 14 more to beat for the Slovenian."That's still quite far away," Pogaar said. "Maybe today was my last victory ever, so I prefer to stay in the moment enjoy this victory. Every victory feels very special, and if we can have more moments like yesterday, I'll also be grateful."So far my career is already beyond my wildest imagination, so yeah, I don't want to think about Mark's record. Just go with the flow and see what we can do in the future, but yeah, if today is my last victory, I'm happy enough."As if to underline the improbability of his 'last win' postulation, when asked whether he planned to build his form throughout the race, he said there was no form left to build."I think maybe this was in the past, like 20 years ago, when they were aiming that the shape will grow to the last week," he said. "But I think now these days you need to come with the best shape possible at the start of the Tour, and you go with it. You try every day to recover as much as possible, eat food like a robot, and just go with the flow with what you bring here."Last win or not, Pogaar had planned for stage three to be a family affair, with his mother at the finish. However, due to wildfires in the region, a decree issued by the Pyrenees-Orientales department forbade fans from attending the race under threat of prosecution, so she opted to stay away."My mum messaged me in the morning, saying, 'Ah, we cannot come to see the stage today, because of the rules," he said.But not everyone was keen on the restrictions, prosecution or not: "We came to 20km to go, and the top of the climb was full of people, which was, for me, nice," he added. "But yeah, a lot of people decided not to come but still many, many did. Only here in the final, I think, it was a bit less."With the heat set to soar to 40 degrees plus for Tuesday's fourth stage from Carcassonne to Foix, and continued high heat lasting well into the race, today's ruling may not be the last of the Tour. But as they proved today that won't necessarily deter the fans. And if Pogaar's form remains as hot as the fry-an-egg tarmac of southern France, they're likely to see him win another stage too.

Tadej Pogacar moved into the yellow jersey at the 2026 Tour de France after taking victory in a brutal finishing burst at Les Angles on stage 3, but his first reaction was to point straight at Isaac del Toro. One day after Pogacar allowed Del Toro to take his maiden Tour stage win in Barcelona, the...

Northwave recently added a new model to its 2026 Core range of off-road shoes. With XC-styling, a two-dial closure system, and a carbon sole, the all-new Striker aims to be a versatile option for cross-country, marathon, and gravel riders. Fit-wise, Northwave adds more versatility, offering the Striker in both standard and Wide Fit versions. And when you consider its 210 price tag, it sounds to us like the Striker strikes a nice balance of performance, features, and affordability, too.Northwave Striker DetailsWith the Striker, Northwave says it set out to create a shoe that balances performance and comfort. Their target audience is riders putting in long miles and seeking a shoe that is both responsive and versatile. To that end, its intended for cross-country, marathon, and gravel riding; three disciplines with extremely similar shoe performance demands.For efficiency on the pedals, the Striker is built on top of Northwaves Carbon XC 12 sole. There is exposed carbon in the cleat mount area, but the rest of the sole is overlaid with TPU in the instep, lugs/pontoons bordering the cleat, and lugs at the toe and heel.The synthetic upper features perforations on both sides of the midfoot and above the toes, along with an open mesh tongue for ventilation and breathability. Thermo-bonded TPU reinforcements on the toe and heel provide a degree of foot protection and durability.The Striker features a dual-zone closure system with dual X-Dial SLW3 dials. With two dials, riders can make independent adjustments to tension over the upper and mid/forefoot to optimize fit, comfort, and foot security. To further enhance foot security, Northwave also added a directional material in the heel pocket to prevent slippage and heel lift.The standard version of the Striker has what Northwave refers to as its Pro fit. The Wide Fit version adds 5mm of width to the metatarsal area to provide a more comfortable fit for the wider-footed riders among us. Both the standard and wide versions of the Striker are intended to be unisex shoes, and they come in whole sizes 36 to 48, with half sizes between 39.5 and 45.5.Specs and FeaturesCarbon XC 12 soleStrategically placed TPU inserts on the outsoleIntegrated airflow channels for improved breathability and thermoregulationThermo-welded TPU reinforcements on the upperOpen mesh tongue for increased airflow and comfortDual X-Dial SLW3 closure systemSizes: 36 48 (half sizes: 39.5 45.5)Weight: 364 gStandard version colours: sage, sand/green forest, light grey/black, black/light greyWide Fit colours: black/light greyPrice: 209.99AvailabilityThe Northwave Striker and Striker Wide are available now. Head to the brands website or your favorite Northwave retailer to learn more or pick up a pair.northwave.comThe post Northwaves New Striker is Built for XC, Marathon, and Gravel, and it Comes in a Wide Version, Too! appeared first on Bikerumor.

The 2026 Tour de France classifications will shift across three weeks of racing, from the Grand Dpart in Barcelona on 4 July to the final stage in Paris on 26 July. Across time trials, sprint stages, breakaway opportunities and the high mountains, each day can alter the shape of the race for yellow...

At 19 years of age, Paul Seixas continues to amaze with a 4th place in today's challenging Tour de France stage. Just a quick look at his rapidly-growing palmares confirms that he's rightfully a very hot property on the transfer market. And teams are willing to offer astronomical resources to ensure...

Tadej Pogacar has described Isaac del Toros stage 2 victory at the 2026 Tour de France as one of the highlights of his own career, after allowing his UAE Team Emirates XRG teammate to cross the line first in Barcelona. Del Toro claimed arguably the biggest win of his career on Montjuic, attacking...

The all-new Ridley Kanzo Fast aero gravel redesign is an open secret. Once again, Ridleys own R&D manager Pieter Potters already raced the bike at Traka 360 earlier this spring. And now weve seen it on display at Eurobike, too.What we saw looks very much like an aero road bike. But now ready to take on the chunkiest gravel races with clearance for massive tires.All-new Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0 aero gravel race bike soon!(All photos/Cory Benson)While the original Kanzo Fast claimed that it could be the fastest, most aero gravel bike when it launched back in 2020, gravel aerodynamics have progressed a lot in those six long years. A narrow frontal profile, being the first bike to debut a Classified virtual 2x drivetrain, and 42mm tire clearance was no longer cutting it. Whats new?So, it looks like Ridley took everything they learned about making the Noah Fast 3.0 faster by pushing the limits of the most recent UCI frame design boxes, and applied it to the upcoming Kanzo Fast 2.0. This new gravel race bike will get a complete aero road bike-inspired aerodynamic redesign. The new Kanzo Fast frame features the same deep aero headtube extension connecting top & down tubes and the same dropped seatstay design that spreads wide around the rear tire as the new Noah Fast. Even the same huge connection above the bottom bracket, from the aero downtube to the rear wheel cutout in the seattube.Just here, everything is more wide-set to fit bigger tires. And generally, the aero gravel bikes gets smoother curves compared to the more angular edges on the road. And no more of Ridleys signature F-Surface Plus grooves to reduce drag via controlled airflow boundary separation.Bigger tires & more versatilityBigger tires were one of the most significant changes in gravel race bikes in the past few years. And the new Ridley Kanzo Fast doesnt hold back. Ridley fitted this new bike with massive 55mm tires, a huge upgrade in max tire clearance. At the same time, the bike returns to 2x compatibility. Because a lot of top-level gravel racers still prefer tight gearing steps of a 2x, and not everybody wants to be locked into Classified hubs. They were able to fit huge tires and big chainring clearance thanks to an incredibly thin chainstay. Plus, the return of 2x possibilities means you can use the removable front derailleur mount for an upper chainguide on 1x setups, too.The new Kanzo Fast 2.0 also moves from a D-shaped design to a deep full-aero wing seatpost, it seems inherited from the Noah Fast 3.0. But the gravel race bike uses a pair of grub screws from the back to hold the post in place, not an internal wedge-style clamp. And the new frame now also gets internal frame storage, via a nice wide opening very low in the downtube where it doesnt affect the mounting point for the main downtube bottle cage.Other Key Tech DetailsThe new bike looks like it will use a similar Elite-level hi-mod UD carbon construction, visible here through translucent purple paint that I hope makes it to the production bikes. And this generation of carbon Ridleys all come with a new lifetime and transferable warranty.It also gets the same recessed toptube bag mounts weve seen on more adventure-focused Kanzos. That means a smoother, clean setup if you dont want a snack bag on your bike. And more stable bag mounting if you do. Plus, we see CeramicSpeed SLT headset bearings. So you never need to worry about replacing a headset bearing with all those fully integrated internal cables and brake lines running through it. Yes, it UDH-ready, too, something Ridley updated as a running change on the original Kanzo Fast. And still no cage mounting bolts under the downtube or on the fork legs, cementing this as a race-only gravel bike. Although Ridley may still have hidden fender mounts, as they know a lot about riding, racing, and training in wet weather.One last thing, the unreleased Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0 also seems to be sporting some new house-brand Forza Skiron RS aero gravel race wheels. Well have to wait for the Kanzo Fast to get the full details. But we can see that they feature a wide & deep aerodynamic profile and come laced with deep-bladed Vonoa carbon spokes.Now we just have to wait until Ridley makes the launch official.Ridley-bikes.comThe post Unreleased Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0 Reshapes Aero Gravel Race Bike For 55mm Tires appeared first on Bikerumor.