The UCI jury at the 2026 Tour de France Femmes have warned riders that extra attention will be given to outfit checks at Tuesday's stage 4 time trial. After several teams expressed concerns about riders potentially 'faking' cup sizes to gain an aerodynamic advantage in the discipline, the commissair...

The Tour de France Femmes race jury will pay particular attention to rider clothing ahead of todays stage four time trial, following reports that riders may be using additional bra padding to gain an aerodynamic advantage.On Sunday evening WielerFlits reported that several teams were concerned that riders are wearing oversized bras with extra padding to save watts.According to the Dutch publication, the teams had urged the UCI to enforce its rules around non-essential equipment that modifies a riders morphology.Extra measures ahead of stage fourIt appears the UCI has taken heed of these concerns and issued a communique after yesterdays stage three.Riders must be to the final checks before the race (bikes and outfit) no later than 10 minutes before their respective start time, the statement read. Particular attention will be paid to compliance with article 1.3.032 of the UCI regulations, including nonessential elements and clothing or other items/accessories worn by a rider (including but not limited to helmets, glasses, shoes or in-race communication devices) which could modify riders morphology.If a rider is found to be using non-essential clothing, they can face disqualification and a fine of 50-200 CHF (46-184/ $62-248).WielerFlits suggested riders at the Tour de France Femmes could be checked in private by a female jury member. But it is unclear how the race jury will implement its checks ahead of todays 21km time trial through the Cte d'Or.Koen de Kort, Lidl Treks head of technical and innovation, told The Athletic that the team had found differences between push-up bras and sports bras.The problem is how are you going to police it? De Kort said. Thats the biggest issue. You can say its not allowed (but) how can you say how much a woman needs? Thats time to get pretty much into a gray area of what youre allowed to check.An aerodynamic advantageIncreased volume around the chest area can act as a chest fairing for men and women.Research suggests that chest fairings provide an aerodynamic advantage. A 2024 study found that the largest chest fairings give a 3.6% drag reduction and save at least 0.78 seconds per kilometre. It added that a chest fairing can decide who wins or loses a time trial.The study said chest fairings have been used in competition, a claim that Wielerflits also made.While a specific communique around chest fairings is unusual, the UCI has recently taken measures to prevent riders from tweaking their body shape.In June, cyclings governing body adjusted its rules to prohibit jerseys with front pockets. It said that nutritional products in these pockets are extremely difficult to access during a race but that they result in significant alterations to the riders body shape.At the mens Tour de France, the UCI also prohibited the use of ice socks on the stage one time trial because of how they change a riders morphology. Some queried this measure due to the extreme heat at the race.

The 2026 Tour de Pologne takes place between the 3rd and 9th of August and gives continuation to the WorldTour calendar. Between the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espaa, it often sees a few riders who participate in both, whilst providing opportunities for many different kinds of riders. We take...

Santa Cruz has revamped its Blur cross-country bike, increasing the travel to 120mm front and rear, updating the geometry and slimming down the tubing in order to reduce weight.There are both XC 'Race' and trail-style 'Standard' build options available, both using the same CC (Santa Cruzs top-spec carbon) frame. The suspension kinematics have been updated, too, with more mid-stroke support and significantly increased reach numbers.Santa Cruz emphasises that this isnt just a race bike, though, saying the Blur takes XC racing and adds Oh hell, yeah. We're not entirely sure what that means.Updated geometry and kinematics The new Blur Mk5 has more travel, a slacker head angle and a longer reach. Santa Cruz Santa Cruz has evolved the geometry dramatically for the latest version of the Blur, with the reach increasing significantly and the head angle much slacker.The new Blur is around 15mm longer in each size, with the old bike spanning 412-483mm from Small to XL and the new bike ranging from 425-500mm in 25mm increments.The head angle is now a more relaxed 66 degrees compared to the 67.1 degrees of the outgoing model. The bottom-bracket height has been dropped 6mm to 334mm.The rear-centre measurement remains similar to the previous Blur and keeps the proportional chainstay length, with the Small measuring 433mm and growing across the sizes to 439mm on the XL.Suspension kinematics have been tweaked, too, with the latest Blur receiving an update to the shock-actuation ratio through the travel, which Santa Cruz says will increase the support in the mid-stroke.More travel and more progressive The single-pivot flex-stay design from the Blur Mk4 remains, but travel has increased to 120mm. Santa Cruz Travel is now 120mm front and rear on all Blur Mk5 models, whereas the outgoing Mk4 Blur offered 115mm on the 'Trail' builds and only 107mm of rear suspension on the XC race-oriented builds.The new Blur therefore sits squarely in the downcountry bikes camp with an emphasis on light weight, but also promising customers strength and longevity.Santa Cruz hopes the new Tallboy, which has redesigned rear suspension and travel boosted to 130mm will fill the trail bike niche, with the Blur covering downcountry duties spanning the gap between XC race bike and those who want a lightweight, short-travel bike for trail riding.Santa Cruz says the new frame has slimmer tube profiles to reduce the weight of the frame. Its versatile, too, with space for two bike bottle cages and internal frame storage.The newest Blur frame is claimed to weigh 1.98kg, which is heavier than the claimed 1.85kg of Canyons new 125mm-travel Lux Trail.Santa Cruz has chosen to drop the budget 'C' carbon Blur frame from the range with the new version, and the only option is now the more expensive 'CC' carbon frame. Santa Cruz Blur spec and pricing Both 'Standard' and 'Race' build kits are available, with all sharing the same CC carbon frame. Santa Cruz There are seven specs on offer when buying a new Blur, with two distinct build styles on the table from Santa Cruz: one is more trail-focused with a 50mm stem, riser bar and Maxxis Aspen AT tyres.The more race-focused builds have a longer 60mm stem, flat bar, remote-actuated shock lockout and Maxxis Recon Race tyres.All the options have a dropper post and a chain guide.The Blur CC 90 will be the only build option available in the UK, along with the frame-only.All builds are available in Gloss Tart Cherry or Matte Charcoal.Blur CC Deore Frame: Blur CC Fork: RockShox SID Base Shock: Fox Float Rhythm Cockpit: 50mm Santa Cruz stem, Race Face Ride riser Drivetrain: Deore 12-spd Brakes: SRAM DB8 Wheels: Race Face AR Offset rims on Shimano hubs Tyres: Maxxis Aspen AT MaxxSpeed Extras: SDG dropper Weight: 13.21kg Price: N/A / $4,899 / 4,999Blur CC 90 Frame: Blur CC Fork: Fox 34 SL Performance Shock: Fox Float Performance Cockpit: 50mm Santa Cruz stem, Race Face Ride riser Drivetrain: SRAM 90 Eagle T-Type Transmission Brakes: SRAM DB8 Wheels: Race Face AR Offset rims on DT Swiss 370 hubs Tyres: Maxxis Aspen AT MaxxSpeed Extras: OneUp dropper Weight: 12.50kg Price: 5,299 / $5,799 / 5,999Blur CC GX AXS Frame: Blur CC Fork: Fox 34 SL Performance Elite Shock: Fox Float Performance Elite Cockpit: 50mm Santa Cruz stem, Carbon OneUP riser Drivetrain: SRAM GX AXS Eagle T-Type Transmission Brakes: SRAM Motive Bronze Wheels: Race Face AR Offset rims on DT Swiss 370 hubs Tyres: Maxxis Aspen AT MaxxSpeed Extras: OneUp dropper Weight: 11.96kg Price: N/A / $6,999 / 6,999Blur CC X0 AXS RSV Frame: Blur CC Fork: Fox 34 SL Float Factory Shock: Fox Float Float Factory Cockpit: 50mm Race Face Turbine SL stem, Carbon OneUP riser Drivetrain: SRAM X0 Eagle T-Type Transmission Brakes: SRAM Motive Silver Wheels: DT Swiss 350 hubs and Reserve 28IXC carbon rim Tyres: Maxxis Aspen AT MaxxSpeed Extras: OneUp dropper Weight: 11.68kg Price: N/A / $9,199 / 9,499Blur CC XTR RSV Frame: Blur CC Fork: Fox 34 SL Float Factory Shock: Fox Float Float Factory Cockpit: 50mm Race Face Turbine SL stem, Carbon OneUP riser Drivetrain: Shimano XTR Di2 Brakes: SRAM Motive Ultimate Wheels: DT Swiss 180 hubs and Reserve 28IXC carbon rim Tyres: Maxxis Aspen AT MaxxSpeed Extras: OneUp dropper, Chris King headset Weight: 11.43kg Price: N/A / $10,299 / 10,999Blur CC GX AXS Race RSV Frame: Blur CC Fork: RockShox SID Select+ Shock: RockShox SIDluxe Select+ Cockpit: 60mm SRAM Atmos 7k stem, Santa Cruz Carbon flat bar Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle AXS T-Type Brakes: SRAM Motive Bronze Wheels: DT Swiss 350 hubs and Reserve 28IXC carbon rim Tyres: Maxxis Rekon Race MaxxSpeed Extras: OneUp dropper, SRAM Twistloc remote Weight: 12.06kg Price: N/A | $7,999 | 7,999Blur CC XX AXS FA Race RSV Frame: Blur CC Fork: RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant Shock: RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant Cockpit: 60mm Cane Creek GXC stem, Santa Cruz Carbon flat bar Drivetrain: SRAM XX SL Eagle T-Type Brakes: SRAM Motive Ultimate Wheels: DT Swiss 180 hubs and Reserve 28IXC SL carbon rim Tyres: Maxxis Rekon Race MaxxSpeed Extras: Reverb AXS dropper, SRAM XX SL Eagle Power Meter crank Weight: 11.44kg Price: N/A / $13,399 / 12,499Blur CC frame only Price: 3,299 / $3,799/ 3,899

With Ryan filing dispatches from a Dijon-bound TGV, Callum's here to keep the live blog ticking over. Fingers crossed his ramblings cut the mustard...

The fourth stage of the Tour de France Femmes, a demanding individual time trial, promises to be more than a fight for the yellow jersey. It could also become the turning point that defines the hierarchy within UAE Team L'IMAD, where the situation of the Spaniard Paula Blasi remains one of the race...

Very comfy with fantastic lenses, but don't play well with helmet vents even POC ones

Urska Zigart finished stage 3 of the Tour de France Femmes in 137th place, the second last rider on the road and 25:51 down on the day's winnerSigrid Ytterhus Haugset. Signalling something was not right, the rider has confirmed she has been struck by an illness. TheAG Insurance Soudal rider is s...

The 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has its first significant day for the battle for general classification on Tuesday 4 August with stage four's 21km individual time trial from Gevrey-Chambertin to Dijon.Last year's race did not have a time trial, but this year's rolling effort should see the contenders for yellow split up before the mountains begin properly. There is just one time check, at 9.5km, the Lacets de Marsannay, which is actually the top of a 2km hill at 6.7%. After that, riders will crest the rise to Corcelles-les-Monts, which peaks at 300m at 4.8%. Neither of these climbs are categorised, and it's downhill to the finish in Dijon.The first rider will be the lanterne rouge, or last woman on general classification, Romina Hinojosa (Lotto Intermarch) at 2:51pm CEST (1:51pm BST/8:51am EDT). Riders will then set out at minute intervals until milie Morier (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) at 4:48pm, when there will be two-minute gaps all the way to the last rider, Sigrid Haugset (Uno-X Mobility), who took control of the yellow jersey on stage three.The GC favourites come late in the day, with Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), a former TT world champion, off at 4:54pm, Antonia Nierdermaier (Canyon-SRAM) at 4:58pm, Vuelta Espaa Femenina champion Paul Blasi (UAE Team L'IMAD) at 5:04pm, and reigning world champion Marlen Reusser (Movistar) at 5:08pm. They're followed by Pauline Ferrand-Prvot (Visma-Lease a Bike) at 5:10pm, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) at 5:14pm, Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L'IMAD) at 5:16pm, and Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) at 5:24pm.However, it won't just be the riders aiming for yellow who will aim for a solid ride, with contenders for the stage win also including British champion Zoe Bckstedt (Canyon-SRAM), who sets of at 4:29pm, Cdrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) at 5:18pm, and Franziska Koch (FDJ United-Suez) at 3:51pm.Tour de France Femmes stage 4 ITT start timesStart orderRiderTime (CEST)1Romina Hinojosa (Mex) Lotto-Intermarch14:51:002Hannah Ludwig (Ger) Cofidis14:52:003Mia Griffin (Irl) Picnic PostNL14:53:004Nomie Abgrall (Fra) Ma Petite Entreprise14:54:005Teuntje Beekhuis (Ned) Uno-X Mobility14:55:006Lene Robyn Clay (GBr) Picnic PostNL14:56:007Alicia Gonzalez Blanco (Spa) St Michel-Preference Home-Auber 9314:57:008Victorie Guilman (Fra) Cofidis14:58:009Lucie Fityus (Aus) Picnic PostNL14:59:0010Clia Le Moul (Fra) Ma Petite Entreprise15:00:0011Alison Jackson (Can) St Michel-Preference Home-Auber 9315:01:0012Caroline Wreszin (USA) St Michel-Preference Home-Auber 9315:02:0013Arianna Fidanza (Ita) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi15:03:0014Constance Valentin (Fra) Mayenne Monbana MyPie15:04:0015Heidi Franz (USA) St Michel-Preference Home-Auber 9315:05:0016Sandrine Tas (Bel) Lotto-Intermarch15:06:0017Charlotte Kool (Ned) Fenix-Premier Tech15:07:0018Kiara Lylyk (Can) Mayenne Monbana MyPie15:08:0019Marie le Net (Fra) FDJ United-SUEZ15:09:0020Naia Amondarain (Spa) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi15:10:0021Sophie von Berswordt (Ned) VolkerWessels15:11:0022Maud Rijnbeek (Ned) VolkerWessels15:12:0023India Grangier (Fra) St Michel-Preference Home-Auber 9315:13:0024Anneke Dijkstra (Ned) VolkerWessels15:14:0025Alessia Vigilia (Ita) Uno-X Mobility15:15:0026Amalie Dideriksen (Den) Cofidis15:16:0027Elena Cecchini (Ita) SD Worx-Protime15:17:0028Yuliia Biriukova (Ukr) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi15:18:0029Idoia Eraso Lasa (Spa) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi15:19:0030Ocane Mah (Fra) Ma Petite Entreprise15:20:0031Morgane Coston (Fra) Ma Petite Entreprise15:21:0032Daniek Hengeveld (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike15:22:0033Arlenis Sierra Canadilla (Cub) Movistar Team15:23:0034Quinty Schoens (Ned) VolkerWessels15:24:0035Marine Allione (Fra) Mayenne Monbana MyPie15:25:0036Fiona Mangan (Irl) Mayenne Monbana MyPie15:26:0037Eleonora Ciabocco (Ita) Picnic PostNL15:27:0038Ana Vitria Magalhes (Bra) Movistar Team15:28:0039Henrietta Christie (NZl) EF Education-Oatly15:29:0040Carlotta Cipressi (Ita) Human Powered Health15:30:0041Natalie Quinn (USA) Mayenne Monbana MyPie15:31:0042Sara Martn (Spa) Movistar15:32:0043Marit Raaijmakers (Ned) Human Powered Health15:33:0044Chiara Consonni (Ita) Canyon-SRAM15:34:0045Paula Ostiz (Spa) Movistar Team15:35:0046Alice Coutinho (Fra) Mayenne Monbana MyPie15:36:0047Francesca Barale (Ita) Movistar15:37:0048Lotte Claes (Bel) Fenix-Premier Tech15:38:0049Urka igart (Slo) AG Insurance-Soudal15:39:0050Mackenzie Coupland (Aus) Liv AlUla Jayco15:40:0051Titia Ryo (Fra) Human Powered Health15:41:0052Malou Eisen (Ned) VolkerWessels15:42:0053Lore de Schepper (Bel) AG Insurance-Soudal15:43:0054Millie Couzens (GBr) Fenix-Premier Tech15:44:0055Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Aus) Liv AlUla Jayco15:45:0056Letizia Paternoster (Ita) Liv AlUla Jayco15:46:0057Alice Towers (GBr) EF Education-Oatly15:47:0058Nina Berton (Lux) EF Education-Oatly15:48:0059Letizia Borghesi (Ita) AG Insurance-Soudal15:49:0060Lily Williams (USA) Human Powered Health15:50:0061Franziska Koch (Ger) FDJ United-SUEZ15:51:0062Anouska Koster (Ned) Uno-X Mobility15:52:0063Barbara Malcotti (Ita) Human Powered Health15:53:0064Linda Riedmann (Ger) Lotto-Intermarch15:54:0065Julie Bego (Fra) Cofidis15:55:0066Elisa Balsamo (Ita) Lidl-Trek15:56:0067Eline Jansen (Ned) VolkerWessels15:57:0068Silke Smulders (Ned) Liv AlUla Jayco15:58:0069Pfeiffer Georgi (GBr) Picnic PostNL15:59:0070Lieke Nooijen (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike16:00:0071Shari Bossuyt (Bel) AG Insurance-Soudal16:01:0072Lorena Wiebes (Ned) SD Worx-Protime16:02:0073Mischa Bredewold (Ned) SD Worx-Protime16:03:0074Josie Nelson (GBr) Picnic PostNL16:04:0075Liane Lippert (Ger) Movistar Team16:05:0076Marte Berg Edseth (Nor) Uno-X Mobility16:06:0077Soraya Paladin (Ita) Canyon-SRAM16:07:0078Karolina Perekitko (Pol) Mayenne Monbana MyPie16:08:0079Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) Liv AlUla Jayco16:09:0080Amber Kraak (Ned) FDJ United-SUEZ16:10:0081Agnieszka Skalniak-Sjka (Pol) Canyon-SRAM16:11:0082vita Muzic (Fra) FDJ United-SUEZ16:12:0083Sara Casasola (Ita) Fenix-Premier Tech16:13:0084Sarah van Dam (Can) Visma-Lease a Bike16:14:0085Loes Adegeest (Ned) Lidl-Trek16:15:0086Lucinda Brand (Ned) Lidl-Trek16:16:0087Silvia Persico (Ita) UAE Team L'IMAD16:17:0088Gaia Masetti (Ita) Picnic PostNL16:18:0089Mireia Benito Pellicer (Spa) AG Insurance-Soudal16:19:0090Kristen Faulkner (USA) EF Education-Oatly16:20:0091Ema Comte (Fra) Cofidis16:21:0092Valentina Cavallar (Aut) SD Worx-Protime16:22:0093Marion Bunel (Fra) Visma-Lease a Bike16:23:0094Nadia Gontova (Can) Liv AlUla Jayco16:24:0095Magdeleine Vallieres Mill (Can) EF Education-Oatly16:25:0096Maeva Squiban (Fra) UAE Team L'IMAD16:26:0097Paula Patio (Col) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi16:27:0098Solne Muller (Fra) St Michel-Preference Home-Auber 9316:28:0099Zoe Bckstedt (GBr) Canyon-SRAM16:29:00100Nikola Noskov (Cze) Cofidis16:30:00101Amanda Spratt (Aus) Lidl-Trek16:31:00102Riejanne Markus (Ned) Lidl-Trek16:32:00103Clmence Latimier (Fra) Ma Petite Entreprise16:33:00104Maria Rosa Klser (Ger) Canyon-SRAM16:34:00105Justine Ghekiere (Bel) AG Insurance-Soudal16:35:00106Nina Buijsman (Ned) Human Powered Health16:36:00107Nienke Vinke (Ned) SD Worx-Protime16:37:00108Debora Silvestri (Ita) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi16:38:00109Lotte Kopecky (Bel) SD Worx-Protime16:39:00110Katrine Aalerud (Nor) Uno-X Mobility16:40:00111Laura Asencio (Fra) Ma Petite Entreprise16:41:00112Dominika Wodarczyk (Pol) UAE Team L'IMAD16:42:00113Femke de Vries (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike16:43:00114Clia Gery (Fra) FDJ United-SUEZ16:44:00115Yara Kastelijn (Ned) Fenix-Premier Tech16:45:00116Usoa Ostolaza Zabala (Esp) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi16:46:00117Malwina Mul (Pol) Cofidis16:47:00118milie Morier (Fra) St Michel-Preference Home-Auber 9316:48:00119Monica Trinca Colonel (Ita) Liv AlUla Jayco16:50:00120Thalita de Jong (Ned) Human Powered Health16:52:00121Anna van der Breggen (Ned) SD Worx-Protime16:54:00122Juliette Berthet (Fra) FDJ United-SUEZ16:56:00123Antonia Niedermaier (Ger) Canyon-SRAM16:58:00124Isabella Holmgren (Can) Lidl-Trek17:00:00125Mavi Garca (Spa) UAE Team L'IMAD17:02:00126Paula Blasi Cairol (Esp) UAE Team L'IMAD17:04:00127Niamh Fisher-Black (NZl) Lidl-Trek17:06:00128Marlen Reusser (Sui) Movistar Team17:08:00129Pauline Ferrand-Prvot (Fra) Visma-Lease a Bike17:10:00130Puck Pieterse (Ned) Fenix-Premier Tech17:12:00131Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Pol) Canyon-SRAM17:14:00132Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) UAE Team L'IMAD17:16:00133Cdrine Kerbaol (Fra) EF Education-Oatly17:18:00134Marianne Vos (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike17:20:00135Noemi Regg (Sui) EF Education-Oatly17:22:00136Demi Vollering (Ned) FDJ United-SUEZ17:24:00137Kim Le Court Pienaar (Mau) AG Insurance-Soudal17:26:00138Sigrid Haugset (Nor) Uno-X Mobility17:28:00