Stage 18 of the Tour de France initiates the final block of mountain stages at this year's Tour de France. UAE Team Emirates - XRG enter it looking to manage the illness that has impacted Adam Yates; whilst Tadej Pogacar reminisced on the climb to Orcires-Merlette where he almost won for the first...

After a busy six months of riding this spring and summer, Neil has had ample time with all kinds of gear. Featuring some surprising selections, his latest Editor's Dozen runs the gamut from small, inexpensive items to higher-priced picks that emphasize a "buy once, buy right" ethos. It highlights an array of helpful, unique, and interesting stuff. Browse his full list hereThe post Editors Dozen: Neils Favorite Gear of 2026 (Spring/Summer) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Headquartered in Californias San Francisco Bay Area, Ornot is a cycling apparel brand that not only produces made-in-the-USA, high-quality pieces but is also a brand favorite of the Bikerumor crew. And today, Ornot announces Mission Shorts for women.(Photos / Ornot)Ornots Mission Shorts are made in the USA from a medium-weight, stretch-woven, recycled fabric. They also carry a Bluesign certification. The high-waisted cut offers room through the thighs and a wider leg opening. This prevents fabric bunching during a ride while keeping the silhouette clean and free of visible underwear lines. The length lands somewhere in the middle ground: not a micro-short, but not in the boardshort territory either.The hidden elastic waistband is one of the more practical design details of the Mission Shorts for women. It sits flat against the body, so theres no bulky ridge showing through a tucked-in shirt, and it gives enough give that you can take a full breath without feeling constricted. Where these shorts stand out from other, more typical cycling gear is in their versatility. Like most, if not all, apparel made by Ornot, the fabric and styling dont signal workout wear. This means you can transition easily from a bike commute to a hike, a summer barbecue, or an afternoon out with friends. Womens Mission Short Retail & DetailRetail: $126Goldilocks rise (8.5) for cycling and casual wearInseam: 7.5bluesign approved Recycled 4-way stretch (85% Nylon / 15% Elastane)Elastic waistband for comfort, movementSlant front pockets for easy drop-inHigh-set zippered back pocketsCasual matte finish Designed in San Francisco and sewn in Oakland, CA.These shorts are designed in San Francisco and sewn in Oakland, California. Theyre made with recycled material that adds an environmental consideration for shoppers who factor sustainability into their purchasing decisions.See the link for all of the kick-ass stuff Ornot offers.OrnotBike.com

McNulty shared a photo of the motorists car on social media after he caused the American to crash shortly before Tuesdays time trial

Good morning and welcome to the liveblog of Stage 18 of the Tour de France. Today's stage takes the peloton over a demanding route, culminating with the summit finish at Orcires-Merlette. It could be the perfect opportunity for a strong breakaway to fight for victory, while we should also expect an...

The latest from Garmin is the brand-new CIRQA Smart Band Health and Fitness Tracker. This new screen-free device tracks fitness and health metrics around the clock with a low-profile and inconspicuous wrist strap (or arm band) design. Like similar devices, the CIRQA continuously tracks numerous metrics to provide a picture of overall health and wellness. It also tracks and records activities and is compatible with Edge cycling computers for real-time heart rate monitoring while you ride.We purposefully created CIRQA Smart Band for those who are passionate about staying healthy and active. With its discreet design and trusted health and fitness tracking tools Garmin is known for, this smart band complements our lineup of popular smartwatches and wellness monitors, allowing users to transition smoothly between their Garmin devices throughout the day. Plus, with no subscription required, CIRQA Smart Band helps you stay on top of your health and fitness goalsand makes a thoughtful gift for others who want to do the same.Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales and MarketingGarmin CIRQA Smart Band DetailsGarmin designed the CIRQA to be distraction-free with no screen to steal your attention as you go about your day. Meanwhile, the device continuously monitors health and performance metrics and automatically detects and records activities throughout the day. The low-profile fabric bands are claimed to provide maximum comfort and are available in a range of colors, including Citron Gray, Mauve, French Gray, Dark Olive, Captain Blue, French Blue, and Black. It is sold in a wrist strap configuration, and an arm band is sold separately to suit varying needs and preferences.The CIRQA Smart Band does not require a subscription for its core health and wellness tracking functions. Users simply need to connect it to the Garmin Connect app to view the data collected and insights provided.Health MonitoringLike similar devices, one of the primary purposes of the CIRQA Smart Band is to provide users with continuous monitoring of important metrics to provide a picture of overall health and wellness. To do this, the device monitors wrist-based heart rate, skin temperature, stress, Pulse Ox, Body Battery energy monitoring, and other metrics, which can be viewed on the Garmin Connect app.Garmin says, Women can also track their menstrual cycle and pregnancy, get better period predictions and past ovulation estimates by tracking skin temperature while sleeping3 and sync their data with the FDA-cleared Natural Cycles birth control app (Natural Cycles subscription required).Of course, the CIRQA Smart Band also tracks a users sleep and offers insight into recovery, which could be useful for cyclists and other athletes. According to Garmin, This smart band provides comprehensive sleep data, including a detailed breakdown of sleep stages, a sleep score, guidance on optimal sleep duration, heart rate variability, respiration and nap detectionall readily available within the Garmin Connect app.Fitness TrackingThe CIRQA Smart Band tracks fitness basics like daily steps and calories burned, plus it has numerous other fitness tracking features. Cyclists will be happy to know that the CIRQA is compatible with Edge cycling computers, so you can monitor your heart rate on your device while you ride. Other fitness tracking features are listed below.Manual activity tracking: Track more than 80 different activities including running, walking, yoga and more or select a favorite activity to track by simply tapping the single side button.Advanced training metrics: Dial in with performance features like training readiness to know whether its a good day to go hard or take it easy and track progress with HRV status, VO2 max and training status to get insights into training effectiveness.Workout benefit and recovery time: Better understand how each workout affects the body and how much time is needed to recover.Connected GPS: Connect to a compatible iPhone or Android smartphones GPS to accurately track outdoor walks, rides and runs.LiveTrack location sharing: Let friends and family follow along in real-time when using a smartphone and the Garmin Connect app.Pricing and AvailabilityGarmins new CIRQA Smart Band is available with a retail price of $199.99. The optional arm band accessory sells for $59.99. Head to the Garmin website to learn more.garmin.com

Tadej Pogaar's teammate Brandon McNulty has abandoned the Tour de France, midway through stage 18.The American is the first UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider to leave the Tour, leaving the yellow jersey with six support riders over the final few stages. McNulty would have been a key part of Pogaar's support in the two upcoming Alpe d'Huez stages, although with the Slovenian having a 4:32 buffer over Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), his abandon may not prove decisive.It comes the day after his teammate, Adam Yates, was revealed to be suffering with a stomach illness. It is not yet known if McNulty's abandon is connected. Separately, McNulty was already suffering after being hit by a car during his reconnaissance of the stage 16 time trial course on Tuesday.After Yates suffered on Wednesday's stage 17, UAE team boss Mauro Gianetti said that Yates has been isolated from the group, but expressed confidence that its nothing more than an episode. Neither was he concerned that the infection could be contagious to other members of the team.More to follow...

On stage 15, Quinn Simmons came close to winning on the Plateau de Solaison. The Lidl-Trek rider is, for a second year in a row, showing the form of his life at the Tour de France but despite this, the American champion hasn't been able to bring the result he dreams of. Much is due to team orders, a...

Orbea has launched the Orbea Foundation, a new organisation that aims to expand the Spanish bike brand's social and environmental work through cycling, education and community projects.The foundation marks the next step in Orbea's long-standing community work. While the company says it has supported clubs, schools, charities and research organisations since becoming a worker-owned cooperative in 1969, the new organisation gives it a dedicated structure to develop its own initiatives and expand support for third-party projects."Organisations have both the ability and the responsibility to help improve the communities they are part of," said Arrate Vidarte, director of the Orbea Foundation."As a cooperative, we have always believed that lasting change comes through collaboration and by combining our strengths."We see this in projects that create opportunities wherever they take place, from trail-building initiatives that generate economic value in the Pyrenees to programmes that promote more sustainable mobility." The foundation focuses on sustainable mobility alongside other areas. Orbea The Orbea Foundation will focus on five areas: sustainable mobility, sport and wellbeing, education and cooperativism, social justice, and cultural and sporting heritage. Trail building is a key part of the foundation's aims. Orbea Among the projects already receiving support are Spain's Zona Zero trail network and Bera Bike Park, alongside Peak Pursuits, a Canadian programme that helps young people access cycling, and Pisgah Area SORBA's trail restoration work in the United States. Orbea is supporting Pump for Peace, a charity and social initiative that builds pump tracks in underprivileged areas. Orbea Elsewhere, the foundation is backing educational partnerships with technical institutions linked to the cycling industry, while its social projects include collaborations with the Spanish Cancer Association, ALS charity Dale CandELA, UNICEF initiatives in Africa and Germany-based CYCLITS, which promotes greater inclusivity in cycling.Organisations wishing to partner with or seek support from the foundation will be able to apply through the Orbea Foundation website.The move sees Orbea join a growing number of cycling brands investing beyond product development, using bikes as a platform to support healthier communities, improve access to sustainable transport and help preserve riding destinations for future generations.

The Tour de France has returned to the Alps and for the first time in this race, a mountain stage has been captured by the breakaway. After weeks of trying, Richard Carapaz has finally gotten a win, crossing the line in first place on stage 18 at the Orcires-Merlette summit finish. The stage had a...