CyclistKasia Niewiadoma-Phinney dominates Mont Ventoux to be new Tour de France Femmes yellow jerseyKasia Niewiadoma-Phinney was prepared for Mont Ventoux. No one was prepared for Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney. The Canyon-SRAM leader took flight on the Bald Mountain to take her first ever stage win at the Tour de France Femmes and step into the yellow jersey, putting her on the cusp of becoming the first rider in the races short history to win twice.During the pre-race press conference in Lausanne, Switzerland, Niewiadoma-Phinney staked her claim, letting her intentions of breaking the legendary climbs QoM be known very publicly.Its definitely a very iconic climb, she said. Its going to be hard, its a long one, and I dont believe anyone will be waiting for the final kilometres to make a decisive move.She certainly was not waiting. Kicking away with 9.2km of the monster ascent left with the road still cutting a line through the forest, Marlen Reusser and Demi Vollering didnt respond. At first the gap stuck around 15 seconds and yo-yoed as the top two riders on GC switched between chasing, attacking and looking at each other.It was the perfect situation for Niewiadoma-Phinney as the pair behind became entangled in scenario reminiscent of Isaac del Toro and Richard Carapaz at the 2025 Giro dItalia. One in the leaders jersey, the other on the podium, and both refusing to be the one to reel in the attacker.The gap began to grow.Tim de Waele/Getty ImagesWhen the stage began in La Voulte-sur-Rhne in sweltering southern France, Niewiadoma-Phinney sat in third overall, 1min 17sec behind race leader Reusser and 1min 05sec behind Vollering. The expectation was that this podium was all but sealed, yet the order was still to be determined. By the time exhausted legs crossed the finish line atop the most famous mountain in cycling in dribs and drabs, the Polish rider had overhauled the deficit and more. She now sits in the maillot jaune with two stages to go, 15 seconds ahead of Vollering, who put in a spirited final kilometre to claw back some time, and 39 seconds ahead of Reusser.This was a quintessential Niewiadoma-Phinney day. She does not win on the road often, but when the victories arrive, they are monumental. She only wins big. Somehow this was her first ever stage win in both the Tour and this season, having had a multitude of second places in a strong Classics campaign. I never really liked chasing victories for the sake of winning, she said upon reminder that, prior to today, she was the only Tour winner yet to win a stage, I chase for the sake of this beautiful feeling a pure joy of riding, of feeling like a kid.She has two stages left before she can fully celebrate what she has achieved though. Saturdays Stage 8 sees some Category 4 climbs that could bring action late on, but it shouldnt disrupt the GC. The final day in Nice, however, is set to be a corker. Its short at 99km but packs in four ascents of the Col dze, the final time being a slightly shorter but steeper side before the descent to the line on the Promenade des Anglais.Vollering has already turned around one Grand Tour on the final stage this season, shes sure to try again, but Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney will be ready.For more on the new maillot jaune, read our profile of Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney.The post Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney dominates Mont Ventoux to be new Tour de France Femmes yellow jersey appeared first on Cyclist.

Wout Van Aert's 2026 plans always featured his eighth Tour de France participation, but that changed when the Belgian turned up to Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes in a subpar shape caused by elbow injury. The Paris-Roubaix champion was therefore replaced by Per Strand Hagenes whilst he enjoyed a slightly...

CyclistScotland for the brave: Tales from The Gralloch UltraIn just four editions, The Gralloch has become one of the UKs defining gravel races. Based in Gatehouse of Fleet in southwest Scotland, and forming part of the UCI Gravel World Series, it has helped put Galloway firmly on the map as a gravel destination. But for some, the most interesting part of the weekend may now be a new addition to the programme.For 2026 the familiar 111km UCI race and accompanying sportive were joined by the inaugural Gralloch Ultra, a 323km semi-supported ride with nearly 5,000m of climbing through Galloway Forest Park and the surrounding Unesco Biosphere. It gave the weekend something wilder and more drawn out; less about the intensity of a one-day gravel race and more about pacing, judgement, weather, fuelling and the cumulative effect of small decisions over a very long ride.The detailsWhat The Genesis Gralloch Ultra presented by MaxxisWhere Galloway, Ayrshire, southwest ScotlandHow far 323km, 4,819m scent (shorter distances available)Surface 70% unpaved/gravel, 30% pavedNext event 15th/16th May 2027How much 150More info grallochgravel.comIs this the Scottish answer to Gironas Traka? It bears many similarities, not just in the riding but in the way the town fills with riders, bike brands, race teams and every variation of gravel setup, from stripped-back race bikes to long-distance rigs. Like the Traka, the Gralloch is a heady mix of serious race and fun festival, with pros, ultra-riders and more casual sportivists mingling together.At the front of the Ultra, its very much a race. British pro Damien Clayton covered the route in just over 12 hours, while Charlie Bratt finished second, little more than 13 minutes behind, and Zoe McIntosh won the womens race in 15 hours. Further down the field, the same route unfolds over a longer period, where rough tracks, punctures, feed-station resets, camaraderie, low moments and the grind through the night become the story.As an event, its hard enough to be taken seriously but supported enough to bring new riders into ultra-distance racing, and by the time the last sodden souls rolled into Gatehouse in the early hours of the morning the Gralloch had already become much more than just another entry on the cycling calendar.Cyclist spoke to four riders to hear about their experiences.Article continues belowGavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryThe forests extensive network of fire roads and gravel tracks drew the UKs first-ever UCI Gravel World Series here.Gavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryAt around 300 square miles, the Galloway Forest Park is the largest forest park in the UK.Gavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryThe North & South Kyle wind farms required extensive access-track construction. These broad, all-weather tracks now make for fast, open gravel riding.Gavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryGavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryGavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryGavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryGavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryFeed Zone 3 in the village of Barr is run by locals, who turn out to keep riders fed and in good cheer deep into the night. Its the final stop before the Ultras most remote section.Gavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryLoch Doon is the largest freshwater loch in southern Scotland, stretching for around 11km below the Galloway Hills.Gavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryGavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryGavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryGavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryThe Galloway Forest Park was designated the UKs first Dark Sky Park for the darkness of its skies in 2009. On a clear night more than 7,000 stars are visible.Gavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryGavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryGavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryThe imposing Big Water of Fleet Viaduct, built in 1861, marks the closing stages of the Ultra.Gavin Kaps/Osprey ImageryRiding the Gralloch UltraZoe McIntosh26, Monmouth (15h 00min 47sec)After quite a difficult season, success for me going into the Gralloch looked like simply finishing with some kind of smile on my face. I knew the distance suited me but I came into it feeling slightly unwell, which is probably why I lost my voice by the end. On top of that it was my birthday. I couldnt let a race get in the way of celebrating that.As soon as I stood on the start line, though, I knew I wanted to race it. My legs felt fresh, Id had enough sleep and there were words of encouragement all around me. Then, maybe three hours in, I suddenly had this thought: what am I doing? Its my birthday, Im out here riding by myself is that a bit sad?I pushed on and realised I was hanging onto the back of the leading group. From that moment I knew I had it in me, although I had no clue I was leading. On the wind farm section I was riding in a group at a pace I knew could burn me out, so I eased back and chose not to burn through my matches too early.I ran out of fuel around halfway, but the boiled potatoes at Check Point 3 saved me. From there I just kept fuelling, kept pushing in the rain to stay warm, and kept checking in with myself mentally. Near the end, one message from my dad said, Go Zo 1st place cracking. That was the first I knew of it.The final kilometres were quiet and otherworldly, with low mist settling as it got dark. I remember crossing the line and not really knowing what to do. Then a friend shouted, Yes Zoe! and it brought me such joy to see a familiar face. I needed this race. A birthday win? How could I not?Charlie Bratt29, Northamptonshire (12h 16min 14sec)I let the front group go after two hours and eight minutes. I remember the time exactly. We were in a group of six and Damian Clayton had been making the climbs really hard. At the Traka Id ridden myself into a dark hole by being too responsive to stronger pros, and Id promised myself Id ride more within myself this time.It did slightly feel like I was letting the race go, but the pace seemed unsustainable. Settling into my own rhythm felt easier to manage.Within 20 minutes of riding solo we hit a rough descent that took out three of the leaders with mechanicals [including Clayton]. Ive ridden the UCI 111km Gralloch three times, which taught me how to respect the chunky gravel. Throwing caution to the wind might gain five seconds on a descent, but it can also slice a sidewall and cost you half an hour.The big turning point was missing the second feed zone. I had 2.5 litres and nine 40g gels waiting, and I made sure Id finished everything before I got there. I was about 4km beyond the town when I realised Id missed it.After about two hours you realise you cant fake it through energy depletion. You cant hold the same power on climbs, you struggle to concentrate on descents and you hit rocks you can see but cant react to.When Damian caught back up he gave me half an energy bar, which felt like a lifeline. It absorbed all the moisture in my mouth, but I was ever so grateful. Im proud of how I rescued the ride and how hard I fought when I was coming undone. If I had to sum it up in one image, it would be pouring hot chocolate over my shoes while shivering under the finish gantry.Sam Kerr42, Glasgow (20h 42min 57sec)I arrived pretty early to the campsite on Friday morning and was greeted by the worlds cheeriest security squad. Once I was set up, I rode to the events village via Gatehouse, which was absolutely rammed with riders. The shops and cafes were buzzing with cyclists stocking up on food.It had a festival vibe, but a really wholesome one. It was the most well put-together multi-day bike event Ive ever been to. Campsite, lavvies, water, bike wash they had it dialled.My race started badly. Cramp kicked into both quads pretty much immediately, which wasnt good for my head. I was taking on carbs and electrolytes so it was very confusing. I had to ride slowly and stop constantly to stretch, all while preparing myself for packing it in. Watching most of the field pass me was brutal.Just before the first feed station, around 60km in, I bumped into my pal Toby and after that my legs perked up. Maybe it was chatting to him but, after feeling so rubbish, I was utterly buzzing. I picked up my pace and started putting riders behind me.Once the pain subsided, I was loving the route. Being from Scotland I know what our gravel is like: rough, diverse, super-engaging and not easy to ride. The hardest part was around New Cumnock and the Ayrshire Alps, but the scenery was unreal.The last two feed stations were like a mirage. We were muddy and wet, then suddenly there were jovial volunteers, heaters, loads of food, hot drinks and blankets. I nearly cried with joy. Id scratched my previous two races, so this finish was really needed. It has given me the confidence to push for a bigger single-hit ultra.Alex Dyson33, Leeds (20h 16min 47sec)With a course as variable as The Gralloch there will always be a risk of punctures. Ill be honest, after eight years of long-distance riding and minimal tubeless chaos, I was definitely in debt to the sealant gods.I first got a small puncture about 20km into the ride, which I thought had sealed itself, then opened back up again 5km down the trail. A Dynaplug later and I was chasing back to a group of friends, who turned out to have waited for me. I hoped that would be the last of my rubber-themed drama.Shortly after Feed Zone 1 we were descending in a tight group with no visibility when the trail went from smooth gravel to sharp, pointy rocks. My rear tyre blew out quicker than I could say Gralloch.Ten kilometres later I was back off the bike replacing the fancy TPU tube Id been carrying for four years with a friends reliable butyl beast. After that there were no more issues, only fun. The race had ended for me as soon as the sidewall tore. From then on it was about getting to the end and having as good a time as possible on the way.As much as it was annoying, I laughed throughout; being surrounded by friends was good for my morale. What kept me going was fun trails, good company and beautiful scenery.We finished at 3am, so the night shift was short compared with some ultras Ive done. Looking back, it was an enjoyable toe-dip into long-distance riding. There was so much support, so many people that you were rarely alone, and excellent organisation throughout. I expected it to be easier, but realistically how easy can a 323km gravel ride with nearly 5,000m of elevation be?The post Scotland for the brave: Tales from The Gralloch Ultra appeared first on Cyclist.

Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney needed one attack on Mont Ventoux to turn the Tour de France Femmes on its head, taking the stage, the yellow jersey and more than a minute out of Demi Vollering in a ride that left Lizzie Deignan and Ned Boulting stunned. The Canyon-SRAM leader began Stage 7 third overall,...

CyclistIn the Drops:PocAmidal helmet, 100% Korbin sunglasses,PrologoChoice saddle and Roval Terra CLX Aero wheelsThe mens Tour de France might now be done and dusted (though many would argue it was sewn up long before 26th July, eh Tadej) but Tour fever endures thanks to the ongoing Tour de France Femmes, which is far more open than the mens race.As such, we heard from its main protagonists, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, Demi Vollering, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney and Paula Blasi before the race. Weve kept the tech side of things ticking over despite the post-Tour lull in new gear releases with an update to our titanium bikes guide and fresh look at the UCIs weight limit rules.A truly enlightening article about carbon bike repair that was first published in issue 177 of Cyclist magazine was also uploaded and is worth checking out.Finally, as ever, we round-out the week with a look at the latest gear to arrive with us in a new edition of In the Drops. Poc Amidal helmetSam ChallisPoc now has one of the most expansive helmet collections on the market, due to the brands penchant for creating designs to fulfil particular niches: aerodynamic efficiency, light weight, high ventilation, and so on. The Amidal marks a slight departure, being a more generalist design that Poc says suits a wide range of riding conditions.It can be used for racing, but works just as well for long social rides and on the commute as well, says Magnus Gustafsson, Pocs hard goods director. Thats where the light comes in.Sam ChallisPoc has partnered with light brand Knog to produce a strap-on light that is designed to nestle neatly in between the Amidals exhaust arrangement, though customers will need to buy the light separately at a cost of 40.Thanks to the horizontal bar running across the back of the Amidal, we made a clean and secure mounting point for the light, says Gustafsson. The light itself was developed specifically for use on a helmet. It was optimised for size, weight, and beam quality. Safety is paramount for Poc in our helmets, so we wanted a way to augment that protection. Increasing visibility is one of the best ways to do that.The distinctive exhausts either side of the light support this aim as well. They are made from a hard plastic to provide extra reinforcement at a common point of impact. Gustafsson says that because they are also made from different materials, on some colour options Poc products the Amidal in they work as a contrast area, which also helps with visibility.To find out more about Pocs Amidal helmet, visit poc.com100% Korbin sunglassesSam Challis100%s new Korbin models are the brands second cycling glasses to adopt a 3DPlane Molded Lens, and do so to a greater degree than the Aerocrafts that debuted the feature. Its a trend in lens design explored in the last Cyclist issue, whereby the lens is compression moulded to flare at the edges. This is an attempt to provide the unrestricted field of view of frameless designs with the rigidity of frames.Sam ChallisThe Korbins extend the feature to the lower span of their lens as well as the top edge used on the Aerocrafts, to make the lens more resistant to flexing. Vents built into the nose bridge encourage airflow behind the lens to prevent fogging.To find out more about 100%s Korbin sunglasses, visit silverfish-uk.comPrologo Choice PAS 140 NACK saddleSam ChallisPrologos first ever saddle was released in 2007 and dubbed Choice. Now the brand has reintroduced the name for a bold new saddle design that claims to improve aerodynamic efficiency. The rail-to-shell vertical distance is lower than conventional saddles some 7mm lower than Prologos Nago R4, for example which Prologo says has allowed it to shroud the rails with CFD-designed wings.Sam ChallisHiding the rails and seat post clamp apparently smoothes the airflow to reduce wake drag better, which is the low-pressure spot behind an object that effectively tries to pull it backwards. The snub-nose design has already seen action in the WorldTour under Wout van Aert and Jonas Vingegaard and despite the aero touches, is still light at a claimed 162g.To find out more about Prologos Choice saddle, visit chickencyclekit.co.ukRoval Terra Aero CLX wheelsSam ChallisThere were hints, if you knew where to look, that Specializeds recent update of its Crux gravel race bike was going to centre around improved aerodynamics. One such bit of foreshadowing was the release of the Roval Terra Aero CLX wheels, which came out a few weeks before and are used in every top-end new Crux build to help make it fast, though the brand says the Terra Aero CLXs design will make any gravel race bike faster.Over our Terra CLX II wheels, the Terra Aeros are 5.83 watts faster with our Tracer 45mm tyre at 40kmh, says Lionello Bardina, Rovals aerodynamics R&D engineer.Sam ChallisBardina credits plenty of this advantage to the wheels Chopped Aero rim profile. The rims are deep 50mm front, 45mm rear but the front is curiously flat at the nipple bed, as if a full aerofoil profile has had its nose chopped off. The shape apparently delivers the aero performance of a 70mm depth, but with the handling and weight saving advantages of a shallower rim. Spoke specialist Arris has supplied proprietary composite aero spokes to help in that regard as well, saving 100g in that area alone and contributing to a claimed weight of 1,340g.The Chopped Aero profile was the result of us testing the whole system in a gravel-specific environment, so that means how tyre tread alters airflow, common gravel speeds and wind angles thats 5-12, by the way plus how a rough surface affected speed as well, says Bardina.Sam ChallisA 27mm internal width spaces the tyre beads widely for carcass support at low pressure, while a 38.5mm external width helps smooth the transition with tyres ranging from 35-60mm in width. It also provides the width for Roval to use wide rim hooks, which help prevent pinch flatting by spreading the pressure of a rock strike over a larger surface area.To find out more about Rovals Terra CLX Aero wheels, visit specialized.comThe post In the Drops:PocAmidal helmet, 100% Korbin sunglasses,PrologoChoice saddle and Roval Terra CLX Aero wheels appeared first on Cyclist.

Jonas Vingegaard has had a busy season and it was supposed to culminate at the Tour de France where he was climbing towards a potential second place in the overall classification for a third year in a row. That race ended on the ground during stage 15, putting further damage on an already virtually...

CyclistPre-Ventoux podium watch at the Tour de France Femmes 2026Six stages of the Tour de France Femmes are now complete, but the real race starts now, with Mont Ventoux looming on Friday and the final stage in Nice not to be underestimated, so how is the race for the podium shaping up?Weve looked at the current top ten to assess their chances before the mountains come calling.1st: Marlen Reusser (Movistar)A.S.O./Billy CeustersMarlen Reusser is aiming to continue the trend of there being no repeat winners at the Tour de France Femmes. Movistars leader is in prime position to do so having stepped into the yellow jersey following her commanding win in the time-trial.Despite not having an ideal start to the season with a spinal fracture in the spring, the 34-year-old was in the top five until the crazy final day at the Giro dItalia before winning the Tour de Suisse after back-to-back stage wins in the TT and in the mountains on the final day. This is almost certain to be her best result in the Tour yet having abandoned twice and finished 28th in 2023. Shes looking incredibly strong, however the challenge doesnt get any tougher than Mont Ventoux, especially with this competition Best Tour de France Femmes result:28th (2023)Best Grand Tour result:2nd (Vuelta Femenina 2021, 2025; Giro dItalia 2025)2nd: Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) +12secA.S.O./Gatan FlammeFavourite to become the first rider to win this race twice is 2023 champion Demi Vollering, who came into the race off an incredible Classics campaign and overall victory at the Giro.She has been on the GC podium since the opening stage, moving into second after the time-trial with a deficit of just 12 seconds to Reusser. Vollering will be confident she can win on Mont Ventoux having previously taken victory on the Col du Tourmalet and Alpe dHuez. Shes looking mightily strong, winning a tough Stage 5 in the sprint against Reusser and Niewiadoma-Phinney, and shes yet to show any sign of weakness.Best Tour de France Femmes result:1st (2023)Best Grand Tour result:1st (Tour de France Femmes 2023; Vuelta 2024, 2025; Giro 2026)3rd: Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM) +1min 17secA.S.O./Billy CeustersGiven the time gaps, Reusser, Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney look likely to be the final podium, but in what order?Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney has really stepped things up a notch this year for the Tour, having put in one of the best time-trials of her life, limiting the damage against thoroughbred TTists like Reusser and Vollering vital for staying in the overall battle, although her last Tour TT in 2023, she finished down in 51st but would go on to win overall ahead of Vollering.I definitely spent a huge amount of time working on my TT skills because as everyone knew, I wasnt the best at it, she said after the stage. As you can see, if you believe in something and you put a good amount of work in, anything is possible.She was on par with Vollering throughout the Classics this year without coming away with a win largely due to her weaker sprint and that is still the case, outside of the TT she has only lost bonus seconds to her rivals. And while she did lose the three-up sprint against Vollering and Reusser on Stage 5, she came mightily close. Its also worth noting she did attack on top of the final climb on that stage a bold move, but one that shows shes ready for the fight and is stronger than ever.She said before the race she was ready to break the Mont Ventoux record. Can she do it and can she drop her rivals?Best Tour de France Femmes result:1st (2024)Best Grand Tour result:1st (2024 Tour)4th: Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team LImad) +2min 28secA.S.O./Jennifer LindiniElisa Longo Borghini has twice been a champion of the Giro but hasnt managed to replicate that success at the Tour abandoned her previous two appearances in 2023 and 2025. Her best finish was sixth place back in 2022, and in her most recent stage races, the Giro and Tour de Suisse, she raced to fourth and ninth overall and moved up from seventh on the final stage of the Giro after a crazy day.The Italian moved up from sixth to fourth in this race after going on the attack on Stage 6, gaining back half a minute on her rivals, but did she use up too much energy the day before Mont Ventoux? With three UAE riders in the top ten, it will be interesting to see how they play the final two GC days in this race they have plenty of options.Best Tour de France Femmes result:6th (2022)Best Grand Tour result:1st (Giro 2024, 2025)5th: Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM) +2min 40secA.S.O./Billy CeustersThings are looking good for Canyon-SRAM with both Niewiadoma-Phinney and Antonia Niedermaier in the top five overall, and the German currently holds the white jersey as the best young rider too.Niedermaier is having a fantastic season so far having finished runner-up to Vollering at the Giro, only losing time in the TT and on bonus seconds. She lost a bit more in the time-trial at this race, which was far flatter than at the Giro, but she has shown shes not afraid to go on the offensive, getting into the breakaway on Stage 5.She did have to do some domestique work for Niewiadoma-Phinney on Stage 6, so well have to wait and see whether Canyon-SRAM will ask her to work for her leader on Ventoux or ride for her own position. Shes only 12 seconds behind Longo Borghini and is a better climber on paper, so she could still ride up the standings.Best Tour de France Femmes result:N/A, making debutBest Grand Tour result:2nd (Giro dItalia Women 2026)6th: Dominika Wodarczyk (UAE Team LImad) +2min 54secA.S.O./Billy CeustersOne cog in a strong UAE Team LImad machine, Polish champion Dominika Wodarczyk announced herself to the world with a stunning fourth place at the Tour in 2025 in just her second year at the highest level. This year, she lines up alongside Longo Borghini and breakthrough Catalan star Paula Blasi and the trio sit fourth, sixth and tenth overall before Ventoux.In the last edition, Wodarczyk kicked things up a notch in the harder half of the race to rise up from 15th. She hadnt yet even scored her first WorldTour victory, which came in 2026 at Itzulia. With UAEs multi-leader strategy, expect Wodarczyk to attack.Best Tour de France Femmes result:4th (2025)Best Grand Tour result:4th (Tour 2025)7th: Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) +3min 05secA.S.O./Gatan FlammeLidl-Treks Isabella Holmgren (top right) enjoyed a strong Giro to finish seventh overall and she currently finds herself within 40 seconds of fourth and just 25 seconds off the white jersey of Niedermaier. The 21-year-old Canadian is an impressive talent, so dont be surprised if she stands out on Ventoux.Best Tour de France Femmes result:N/A Best Grand Tour result:7th (Giro 2025, 2026)8th: Cdrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) +3min 07secA.S.O./Billy CeustersInitially third after the time-trial, CdrineKerbaol was dropped from the maillot jaune group around 30km from the finish of Stage 5 and lost six places on GC. However this gave her the opportunity to jump away in the group with Longo Borghini at the end of Stage 6, and the Frenchwoman came second on the day to gain precious seconds back. Shes still very much in the mix, and her descending talent may yet play a big part on the final stage in Nice.Best Tour de France Femmes result:6th (2024)Best Grand Tour result:4th (Vuelta 2025)9th: Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance Soudal) +3min 26secA.S.O./Billy CeustersKim Le Court-Pienaar was initially targeting a strong overall classification for the Tour and sat in second for the first three days. The time-trial scuppered her plans, pushing her down to 15th, but an impressive victory on Stage 6 after an aggressive finale saw her rise four places back into the top ten. Shes still less than a minute off Longo Borghini in fourth.Best Tour de France Femmes result:16th (2025)Best Grand Tour result:16th (Tour 2025)10th: Paula Blasi (UAE Team LImad)A.S.O./Gatan FlammeVuelta victor Paula Blasi played down expectations for the most hotly anticipated debut at the Tour by claiming her role was to work for Wodarczyk and Longo Borghini instead of chasing her own goals. She rode her way into seventh overall after the ITT but had to work for Longo Borghini when the race exploded on Stage 5. Blasi, who is expected the leave the team at the end of the year, is now rounding out the top ten. She did briefly attack on Stage 6, so is it #FreeBlasi or are UAE playing mind games?Best Tour de France Femmes result:N/A Best Grand Tour result:1st (Vuelta 2026For more on the Tour de France Femmes, visit our hub page.The post Pre-Ventoux podium watch at the Tour de France Femmes 2026 appeared first on Cyclist.

Netcompany INEOS have finally got good news after a few rough months as Oscar Onley has signaled his return to top level. The British rider has won stage 2 of the Vuelta a Burgos, the race's first summit finish, and his first win with the British team. After Matthew Brennan won the opening stage of...

CyclistCyclist Magazine Podcast: The steepest (and best) climbs in the World, with Simon WarrenThis week on the Cyclist Magazine Podcast, James is joined by cyclist and author Simon Warren. It seems mad to think it, but when the idea of a clickbait listicle was just a twinkle in the internets eye, Simon was busy writing an actual book about cycling, which quickly becamethetext that defined a genre:100 Greatest Cycling Climbsreleased in 2010. Featuring everything from Box Hill to Bealach na B, 100 Greatest Cycling Climbsdocumented you guessed it one hundred of the greatest cycling climbs across Britain in meticulous style, from statistics and geography to descriptions of the roads themselves. Simon has written more than a dozen books since, all dedicated to discovering and documenting the best climbs around the world, from Tour de France stalwarts to dusty tracks in Tuscany and cobbled bergs in Belgium.In this episode, Simon talk about what makes good climb good but a great climb better; elevation versus length; the importance of the struggle; how Simon finds his climbs; how to plan your attack on a daunting climb; and of course, what the best climbs in the world are.Simon has just re-released an updated version ofCycling Climbs of Scotland(Adventure Books). Plus, you can check out all of Simons UK climbs in his one mega app,100 Greatest Cycling Climbs App, available in all the usual places.Chat begins at 5:57.Listen toChris Dodman on the Cyclist Magazine Podcast now on AcastCheck outall episodesAlso available wherever you get your podcastsThis episode is brought to you byBoyd Cycling, whose full range of hand-built wheels can be found atboydcycling.comand the Maserati Grecale SUV car. For more information, go tomaserati.com.The post Cyclist Magazine Podcast: The steepest (and best) climbs in the World, with Simon Warren appeared first on Cyclist.

The 2026 Tour de Pologne will enter its final act on Sunday with a 12.5-kilometer time trial. The situation in general classification remains extremely close after Louis Barr's victory on penultimate stage. Today's runner-up Cristian Scaroni however moves up to leader's jersey. The XDS Astana ride...