Tadej Pogacars control of the 2026 Tour de France has intensified the recurring argument over whether one rider winning so often is damaging the spectacle. The UAE Team Emirates XRG leader has claimed three of the opening 10 stages and carries a 3:36 advantage over Jonas Vingegaard. His latest at...

Sren Wrenskjold of Uno-X Mobility powered to a record breaking win in Nevers on Wednesday, at the end of stage 11 of the Tour de France.It was the fastest road stage of the race ever recorded at 50.9kph 0.6kph quicker than the previous best from 1999, which also finished in a sprint.On a tricky run-in at the end of the 161.3km stage in central France, fancied riders like Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) were unable to live with the Norwegian when he opened his sprint.Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM), who won stage five last week, was second, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) third.More to follow...

Clean, simple-to-fit motor system for nearly any disc-braked bike

Soren Waerenskjold completed a remarkable last-to-first turnaround at the 2026 Tour de France, winning Stage 11 in Nevers only 24 hours after finishing at the back of the race at Le Lioran. The Uno-X Mobility sprinter launched from distance and held off Olav Kooij and Jasper Philipsen at the end of...

Under 800g is unheard of for a solid TT & Tri disc wheel, but Light Bicycle has managed it with a new hollow carbon construction for their next-gen Falcon-series C25 wheel. Or if its windy where you race, and a solid disc is simply unmanageable, they also have a wild 180mm ultra-deep new rim to build up a rear wheel, almost as fast. Plus, for the wheelsize adventurous, Light Bicycles new 32 carbon Anax Gravel wheelset is lighter than many conventional 700c gravel wheel setups, and comes at an affordable price that could make trying 32ers sound like a more reasonable decisionLight Bicycle Falcon Pro Precision C25 ultralight disc wheel(All photos/Cory Benson)For the longest time, solid disc aero wheels for time trial & triathlon racing fought and struggled to get under the 1kg barrier. That started to shift in recent years, where sub-kilo disc brake disc wheels became the norm, and several even broke the 900g threshold including a few from Light Bicycle themselves.Now, theyre going even lighter, down to a claimed 779g thanks to a new derivative of their hollow internal construction with sandwich sidewalls method. The new tech keeps the main body of the disc hollow molded with plastic bladders that are removed after the resin cures. But now, they have added 6 internal stiffening ribs that connect the two outer sides of the disc wheel, almost like spokes but not continuous from hub to rim bed. The partial-length internal ribs still allow them to get bladders out after molding the wheel, but enable a significant reduction in carbon material for the outer structural skin of the disc.Tech DetailsCurrent Falcon Pro PrecisionX disc wheels come in three variants: the rim brake QR-only 977g C20 (20mm int, 26mm ext); or disc brake thru-axle 848g C22 (22mm int, 28mm ext); or latest disc brake 890g C23 (23mm int, 30mm ext). These share the same hollow construction (formed over inner air bladders) with their thin rim walls made of a sandwich of hi-mod T700/800 carbon over a thin PMI foam layer to add stiffness without adding a lot of extra weight. This still unreleased new ultralight Falcon Pro Precision C25 disc measures 25mm internal for its hooked, tubeless-ready bead. And it should come out to about 32mm external, making for a smooth aero transition for 25-30mm tires.No official release date just yet, or official pricing. But it likely will command a slight premium over the $1344 C23 due to its more complex construction.AER180 ultra-deep 180mm rear wheel for when a disc is too muchNow if a solid disc rear wheel is simply unrealistic for racing against the clock outside, where crosswinds play a role, Light Bicycle has this super deep AER180 rim to solve your time trial & triathlon woes. They call it the Kona Conqueror because it was specifically created for wind tri courses like the iconic Ironman Kona.Light Bicycle claims near-equal aerodynamic performance to a full disc while offering greater stability in crosswinds. It features similar carbon/foam/carbon sandwich construction in its long straight sidewalls like their full discs, resulting in a rim-only weight heavier than the new disc. But thats the price you pay for stability in the wind.The rear-only complete wheel can be built up as low as 1126g, with retail pricing starting at just $872, and available now.180mm deep aero U-profile T700/800 carbon TT/Tri rear-only rim21mm hooked tubeless internal28mm wide external at the tire~820g rim weightcustom builds with either 24 aero spokes32 Anax Gravel ultralight carbon wheels (or XC if thats your thing)32 is coming, but is it going to add a lot of extra weight?Light Bicycles says it doesnt have to. Their new 32 Anax Gravel carbon wheels can be built up as light as 1343g for a set, and with retail pricing starting at just $1070 with their own hubs. Making the jump to a new, bigger wheelsize may be easier and lighter than we ever thought! Plus, theyll just build them with several other hub options from the likes of DT Swiss, Industry Nine, Chris King, or Carbon-Ti, if you prefer.44mm deep low aero V-profile T700/800 carbon gravel rim32mm hooked tubeless internal37.7mm wide external at the tiremax 39.4mm wide overallcustom builds with either 24 (front-only) or 28 Alpina Ultralite Aero spokes (front or rear)(Photo/Light Bicycle)The Anax Gravel isnt the only 32 Light Bicycle wheel option either. We just wrote about the Anax32 XC wheels back in February, which now sell for as little as $1221 with Hope hubs or as light as 1465g with ST 240 hubs.Who are Light Bicycle again? (Photo/Light Bicycle)Just a quick refresher on Light Bicycle for those who may not know them, since we dont write about China-direct component companies often.They are one of the longest-running factory-direct Chinese wheelbuilders, hand-building affordable carbon wheels and shipping them directly to consumers around the world since 2011. Theyve also seemed to be one of the most innovative consumer-direct companies, continually evolving to meet consumer demand for the latest tech. Light Bicycle even now has wheel building & warehouse setups both in British Columbia to serve North America, and in France to serve the EU market.LightBicycle.com

The Tour de France is one of the most celebrated sporting events in the worldbut this is still cycling, the Arbys of sports, and so even in 2026 the riders spend the night in disgusting hotels:Fortunately, teams have access to cutting-edge sleep technology such as smart mattress cover systems:Some teams bring their own air conditioning units to the race for nights when theyre given more basic accommodation. New this year,Pogaars UAE Team Emirates-XRG have been sleeping in near 3,000 smart mattress cover systems, made by the brand Eight Sleep, which measure the riders body temperature and cool the bed accordingly. They came in handy on Monday, when the team found out their three-star hotel near Aurillac didnt have air conditioning.Yes, the Tour de France is indeed won in bed, as Joop Zoetemelk famously said (and yes, I had to look up who said that), and today thats where teams appear to be seeking the largest performance gains:If you think life got easier for the team staff now that they dont have to glue tubular tires anymore, think again, because it takes at least as much time just to make a bed:EF assistant Walid Karims job is to pack up riders rooms as soon as they leave to prepare for the race, drive to the finish, and assemble the mattress toppers. There are three of us, and it takes us an hour to an hour and a half to disassemble everything, he said, then about the same amount of time to get everything ready. They try to get to the hotels as fast as possible, because theres fierce competition for limited parking at some hotels. Which teams are on it? Lotto is good, Karim said. But if you ask me, were the best.EF let me see one of the mattress toppers. A pair of thick, insulated hoses connect the three-inch-thick pad to a cooling unit the size of two shoeboxes. The machine emits no noise. Each rider has theirs tuned to their particular specifications. The mattresses are connected to an app that allows a fine level of tuning and provides reams of data. Other than the hoses, the beds look totally normal. Its the ideal environment in which to sleep.Bike company marketing notwithstanding, its clear to most of us that bicycle performance hasnt increased meaningfully in decades, and that weve pushed the machine as far as it can go. Eventually even the most naive consumer is going to figure this out too, which is why if I were running a bike company Id immediately move into high-end bedding. This is clearly the future of the cycling industry, and if the people running companies like Trek and Specialized have any brains at all theyll pivot from Fred Sleds to Fred Beds before its too late.In fact, even Rivendell is looking to enter the sleep market, though their bed will be coin-operated, which is the bedding equivalent of friction shifting:The woodgrain panel will also complement the earth tones of your Scottish cotton bedspread.Seriously, cycling industry CEOs, beds are the only way to go from here. I mean come on, does anybody really think Pogaar keeps winning the Tour because he has the best bicycle?And is anybody really surprised by how much it costs?Tadej Pogaars race bike has become almost as famous as the Slovenian ace himself. The world champions Tour de France machine combines one of the fastest frames in the pro peloton with a carefully selected mix of stock components and specialist aftermarket upgrades.Add everything together and the numbers become eye-watering: a grand total of 17,289.41, if you were to source the parts yourself.And why is Bike Radar pretending to be surprised when Specialized are charging Fourteen Thousand American Fun Tickets for an off-the-rack Tramac now?This is the most dangerous aspect of cycling. Sure, it doesnt really matter what any of this stuff costs, and heres why:If youre paying for your own parts, you suck.See, the good riders dont need to pay for these parts because they have sponsors, and everyone else doesnt need to pay for these parts either, because they suck way too much to extract any benefit from them.Nevertheless, while this stuff may be expensive, its still attainable, and thats the dangerous part. Nobody watches F1 and considers buying one of the cars, but for as low as $486/mo with affirm (see if you qualify) you can have that Specialized. Then once you get used to the payments youll start upgrading parts, and hey, look at that, soon youve spent as much for your bike as Pogaar would have for his if he were dumb enough to pay for it.But theres a flipside to all of that, which is that thanks to the miracle of depreciation you can own the 2012 equivalent of that Specialized for just a tenth of the cost:Please note Im not endorsing the seller, or the bike, or anything like that, Im just making the point that if youre willing to wait a few years you can buy a pro-level race bike and still have plenty of money left over for that state-of-the-art Fred Bed.Speaking of depreciation, heres a look at the cost of cycling versus the cost of driving:I was hoping it might actually be interesting, but it just tells you stuff like this:Can cycling save money?Yes. Replacing driving trips with cycling can reduce spending on fuel, parking, maintenance and vehicle depreciation. Some households save thousands of dollars each year, especially if cycling allows them to avoid owning a second car.At a certain point, telling people cycling is cheaper than driving is like telling them tents are cheaper than apartmentstechnically true, but in no way helpful.

Genesis groundbreaking Croix de Fer, the original steel all-road adventure bike, has a new electric version the 60. It features Mahles lightweight XS system with its stealthy hub motor and a quick-release battery.The new Croix de Fer 60 is built around the recently updated Croix de Fer frameset, with updated tube profiles made from quality Reynolds steel. The revised seatstays offer more compliance and the tyre clearance is up to a generous 47mm.Genesis says the Croix de Fer is a versatile package that's ideal for bikepacking, gravel riding, commuting and long-distance adventures. Best electric gravel bikes: 9 gravel ebikes rated and reviewed Genesis Croix de Fer 60 geometry The Croix de Fer 60 is built around the new Reynolds 725 steel frameset. Genesis | Sportline The Mahle XS-equipped 60 is not aimed at being a full-fat, high-power ebike.Genesis Sam Lawson, product manager for the Croix de Fer 60, explains: The brief was never to simply build an electric bike. It was to build a Croix de Fer that happened to offer electric assistance. If it didnt ride like a Croix de Fer, we werent interested. Geometry XS S M L XL Seat Tube 470 490 530 560 590 Effective Top Tube 553.2 557.2 558.2 573.8 589.4 Stack 551.6 565.8 584.7 603.6 622.5 Reach 395 395 385 395 405 Head Tube 100 115 135 155 175 Head Angle 71 71 71 71 71 Seat Angle 74 74 73.5 73.5 73.5 BB Drop 73 73 73 73 73 Fork Offset 50 50 50 50 50 Wheelbase 1041.5 1046.4 1042.9 1059.4 1075.9 The 171Wh battery slots into a bottle cage. Genesis | Sportline Genesis Croix de Fer 60 what you need to know Reynolds 725 steel frame Mahle X20 motor system Comes with Shimano GRX 2x12-speed drivetrain Amplitude G-100 tubeless-ready wheels Maxxis Rambler 45mm tubeless-ready tyres After lots of research, Genesis decided on the lightweight Mahle XS system, which adds only 2.5kg to the bike including the removable eX1 battery, or only 1.4kg without the battery fitted. The Mahle X20 motor is hidden by the cassette and disc rotor. Genesis | Sportline Lawson continues: "We stopped thinking about it as a motor and started thinking about it as another gear. It's there when the climb steepens, when the headwind arrives or when your legs begin to tire late in the day. The rest of the time, you're simply riding a Croix de Fer."The Mahle XS system's X20 rear-hub motor delivers up to 65Nm of torque and the removable 171Wh battery can provide up to 55km of range, according to Genesis.The XS battery can be charged with Mahles own charger or simply through its USB-C port. That makes charging at your desk a possibility for commuters, or bikepackers and tourists can leave the charger at home and simply pack the same cable as their phone, GPS and lights. The Genesis Croix de Fer 60 is designed to be versatile. Genesis | Sportline The new Croix de Fer 60 is available now and priced at 4,499.99 / 5,199.Genesis Croix de Fer 60 specification Frame: Genesis Reynolds 725 Fork: Genesis carbon fibre Gears: Shimano GRX RX820 2x12-speed E-motor system: Mahle X20, 65Nm hub motor, Mahle eX1, 171Wh battery, Mahle e-shifters Wheels: Amplitude G-100 Tyres: Maxxis Rambler 700x45c TR

The Croix de Fer 60 costs 4,499 and features Mahle's 2.6kg XS motor system - this is the first time Genesis has added e-assistance to its classic steel do-anything bike

Mads Pedersen saw a promising position disappear during the chaotic finale of Stage 11 at the 2026 Tour de France, eventually finishing 11th as Biniam Girmay reduced his advantage in the points classification. The Lidl-Trek leader entered the final two kilometres exactly where he wanted to be, but l...

Leigh Foster's latest video chronicles a 572-mile ride between Chicago, Illinois, and Saint Paul, Minnesota. By connecting various scenic trails, quiet back roads, small towns, state parks, and stretches along the Mississippi River, Leigh created what he calls the perfect Midwest bikepacking route. Watch the 16-minute video here...The post The Perfect Midwest Bikepacking Route (Video) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.