A motor-paced event will be reintroduced to the UCI Track World Championships next year after more than three decades off the programme. Stayer racing, which involves six riders drafting behind motorbikes at speeds of up to 100kph, was last included in the Track Worlds in 1994, and will return to the championships in Paris, France in 2027. The news came at the end of a wide-ranging UCI press release earlier this week, and took members of the motor-pacing community by surprise. It literally has just come out of the blue, said Paul Curran, a four-time British stayer champion who competed in the event at the 1994 Worlds in Palermo, Italy. I wasnt expecting anything. Theres been no rumours of it or anything. I thought it was a joke at first, said UK race organiser Graham Bristow, a stalwart of the motor-pacing community. Obviously Im very pleased about it. I just wish it hadnt been so long before they reinstated it For the last 30 years, everyones been telling me its dead. Dating back to the late 19th century, stayer racing is a totally different animal to the more widely practised derny racing, Bristow explained; pacers stand up to create a bigger draft, and straddle larger motorbikes, equipped with a roller at the back pressing against which the rider races. The riders bike is also adapted with a smaller front wheel (24-inch) and reversed fork blades.Due to the specialist equipment required, stayer racing is not widely practised, but is still prominent across mainland Europe, particularly in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. German riders won this years mens and womens UEC Track Stayer European Championships, held in Italy in July, in finals that lasted 40 minutes for the men and 30 for the women a format likely to be copied at the Track Worlds. A post shared by Union Europeenne de Cyclisme (@uec_cycling)A photo posted by British derny champion Dannie Watkinson placed sixth at the recent Euros, in the first final ever held at the championships for women. Id absolutely love to race at the World Champs for the stayer, she said. That would be such an experience, and I think its amazing that theyve added it into the OG World Champs and not made it a separate event.It really grows the general publics knowledge of it, Watkinson added. Similarly, former two-time British derny champion Matt Gittings, who has been stayer racing since 2012, has his sights on competing at next years Worlds. Asked how he reacted to the announcement of the events inclusion, he said: That wasnt on my bingo card Its a really unique and crazy discipline. Its been such a small, little niche in cycling. Its cool its going to be on the world stage. The fastest speed Gittings has reached on a stayer bike is 111kph, recorded on a 400m outdoor track in Germany. The average speeds are normally around 75kph [on larger outdoor tracks], he explained. On a smaller [250m] indoor track, like the one at the Worlds, its going to be more like 65 to 70kph. A post shared by Matt Gittings | Euro Pro Coaching (@mgittings)A photo posted by These speeds, combined with large, heavy motorbikes, have raised some safety concerns. One international track coach, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Cycling Weekly the events inclusion in the Track Worlds feels like a recipe for disaster. I know its happened before, but when you put the chance of a rainbow jersey on the line, people are going to make decisions that they might not normally make, they said. There have also been questions raised about the events accessibility due to the need for specially adapted bikes derny racing, on the other hand, is practised on standard bunch bikes. The stayer is going to be more spectacular, said Gittings. Theres more noise, its bigger, its faster, and it was traditionally in the World Championships in the past. I think thats the reason [the UCI] chose stayer over derny. The UCI is yet to release information about the qualification process for the stayer event. The finals will be held some time between 26-30 August during the track competition at next year's 'Super Worlds'. As the countdown begins, what can fans expect? Its a bit like a fairground ride, said Curran, looking back on his experience as the last generation of stayer racers at the Worlds. Its the hardest thing Ive ridden, but its the most exhilarating and fun thing Ive ever done on a bike as well. Its rattling round at speeds you shouldnt really be doing. It always felt a bit naughty to me.Feature image courtesy of Tim Rademacher, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

An e-MTB from Honda and a buzzy new motor system head up this week's compilation, plus a new roadside test to identify illegal bikes from Germany

Nairo Quintana was initially set to retire at the Vuelta a Espaa, which was later changed to the World Championships. As it turns out, this Sunday's race will also not be the last of the Colombian's career, as he is extending his schedule further into the fall. Quintana, part of Movistar, was not...

As we scanned the extensive breakfast menu at Abergavennys Angel Hotel, the days first challenge was deciding how much to eat. A big day demands someone to moan to, so Id roped in Chris Moores, a long-time ride buddy who, 10 years my junior and 10kg lighter, always keeps me on my toes. It was early June, and he was quick to get his excuses in about being woefully short on miles, but I assured him muscle memory would see him through. Wed hit the Tumble within a couple of kilometres, meaning a full English or should that be a full Welsh? would be too much ballast to drag up a 16% slope on cold legs. Instead, I opted for two eggs, a sausage, beans, and toast. Then more toast. Every carb would count over the nine hours of riding ahead.The Brecon Beacons National Park covers 1,347sqkm (520sqmi), and three years ago its Welsh name Bannau Brycheiniog was officially reclaimed Bannau meaning peaks, and Brycheiniog referencing the early medieval kingdom that covered the area. Id ridden here many times, but never attempted a ride like this: covering the entire National Park from east to west and back again, ticking off all seven major passes my definition of major being those that have featured in races for generations. Plotting the route was great fun, right up until I clocked the final stats: 250km with 4,000m of elevation. I was going to need that extra toast.We rolled out of Abergavenny on a cool, dry morning and hit the Tumble barely warmed up. With breakfast sitting heavy, we were doing uncomfortable battle with one of the kingdoms most feared ascents. Famous for hosting a multitude of races, including a recent brace of Tour of Britain summit finishes, its unrelenting 10-16% gradients offer no chance for recovery or gathering of thoughts. My legs felt dire from the off, so we just ground it out. This was no time for heroics; it was going to be a long day.Halfway Hardship(Image credit: Andy Jones for Future)With one giant climb in the bag, it was straight onto the next: Llangynidr Mountain not the classic side but the opposite flank. We still got to enjoy the hairpins, flowing down rather than crawling up them. One thing youll notice about riding the Brecon Beacons is that, unlike the Yorkshire Dales or the Lake District, the gradients are slightly shallower. This makes them a touch easier to ascend and a lot faster to descend. Whereas dropping down the passes of Cumbria is a brake-grabbing fright show, these descents flow and sweep much like the Alps, allowing you to truly enjoy your free speed. As for the Welsh road surfaces, they arent merely better kept than Englands crumbling gave us a helping hand to the exposed, weather-beaten summit.This was the most westerly point of the ride, and with 100km in the legs, we were starting to think of lunch. There was no time limit on todays ride, so we could stop for actual food instead of inhaling a couple of gels and pressing on the luxury! Id picked out the Dwy Afon Cafe in Craig-y-Nos Country Park, which fell conveniently at mid distance. Not only was it perfect for our needs, but its also home to an excellent information centre explaining the geology of the area we were riding through red sandstone layers giving the mountains their steep, flat-topped shapes and dramatic valleys.Unfortunately, by now, Chris was starting to look a little dishevelled. Hed been pulling hard turns on the flat maybe too hard, because he knows no other way to ride and his head had dropped. I was having none of that, though. I told him we were halfway: lets eat, recharge, and hed be just fine. Sausage sandwich and chips wolfed down, it was back on the road and into a flurry of three passes network they offer some of the smoothest, most unblemished tarmac this side of the Continent.Riding up to Brecon, it was time to head west as far west as we would go so we jumped on the A40 and got it done. This is really the only downside to linking all the passes together: the roads running along the north and south of the park are unpleasantly busy, but its a necessary evil to knit together the climbs.After an almost 40km slog into a direct headwind, I might add we made it to the base of Black Mountain. Its a 7.2km monster of a climb with sensational views and a picture-perfect hairpin, perhaps the most spectacular in Britain. Again, we tapped out a steady rhythm, with the peak ahead of us and the ever-improving vista to our right. Sweeping left through the giant switchback, the wind that had been in our faces finally in quick succession, starting with the sensational Bwlch Cerrig Duon. This tiny sliver of a road, passing through immaculate scenery, was the perfect wake-up for our cafe legs. Flowing down the other side and picking through a succession of tiny, hedge-lined rural roads, we headed back south for a date with the Devils Elbow. Not to be confused with the significantly more evil Devils Staircase further north, the Devils Elbow is still fearsome enough to be worthy of its fiendish moniker. The Devils Elbow(Image credit: Andy Jones for Future)At this point, even though wed stopped for lunch, Chris was still consuming food like a human trash compactor. We raided the boot of photographer Andys car, and Chris demolished whatever he could find. The approach to the Devils Elbow was rugged and dirty, twisting into a cul-de-sac of towering valley sides with just one way out: up a wall of a climb. From a distance, catching sight of the road cutting its fearsome zig-zag into the side of the hill struck fear into the heart. Thankfully, it wasnt quite as heinous as it had appeared; it never goes over 20%, but it was still by far the hardest ascent of the day.By now, I could see Chriss lights were starting to go out, and I had to switch to full Mr Motivator mode. Come on, its all downhill after this, I promised, lying through my teeth. It feels far away from the madness of the modern world.The backside of the Elbow is a rough old road. After some more climbing, we crossed to the A4059 for the next pass: an easy, big-ring ascent across Penderyn Moor. This is, without exaggeration, my favourite road in Wales. Surrounded by vast swathes of grassland that stretch to the horizon like some American Midwestern savannah, the immaculately surfaced road cuts through the serenity with you at its centre. Its not so much a road as immersive therapy, a place of total and utter calm that feels far, far away from the madness of the modern world.Back to the rat race, we joined the A470 and strapped in because the next 10 miles are some of the fastest youll ever ride. In the shadow of Pen y Fan, the parks highest point, we began one hell of a descent. We engaged our biggest gears, assumed an aero tuck, and gripped the bars for 20 minutes of pure adrenaline. Riding on a high(Image credit: Andy Jones for Future)Once in Brecon, it was Coca-Cola time. We rolled into a petrol station, and right away I knew Chris had gone. He was exhausted, angry, and felt hed let me down. He had not at all. Given hed taken on this nine-hour epic from a base of doing the odd two-hour ride, he had done us both proud. Still, it didnt lessen his dejection at having to abandon, loading his bike into the photographers car. I inhaled a Mars bar they never used to be so tiny, Im sure and downed a Coke, and then I was off. There were 60km left, and I swear my legs hadnt felt this good all year. I was feeling strong and loving it. Come hell or high water, I was getting this ride doneThere was just one giant hill left: the Gospel Pass. Arriving in Hay-on-Wye, I stopped briefly to snatch provisions from the car including gilet and arm warmers, as it had started to rain, just in time for the final ascent. The Gospel Pass is worthy of its holy name, and with rain in the air and shafts of light breaking through gaps in the clouds like heavenly beams, it felt magical. With 220km in my legs, I was tiring but focused. Come hell or high water, I was getting this ride done.Until now, Id waxed lyrical about the quality of the roads on this ride. With hardly a blemish, they had been near-immaculate but that ended with the descent off the back of this pass. With mud, debris, potholes, and barely wide enough for a single car, it really might be the worst road in Wales. At times, youll find yourself descending not much faster than you were climbing. Eventually, it improves, and before I knew it, I was closing back in on Abergavenny. The last five miles dragged a bit, but as I rolled into the car park at the Angel Hotel, I was on cloud nine. What a ride. The Brecon Beacons are a magical place. Under clear skies, the endless views from every peak, stretching across lush green farmland and barren, windswept plains, are magnificent. The riding is hard but never savage the perfect place to ride a bike. So, download this GPX, pick a ride buddy ideally one whos done a bit of training and head to Bannau Brycheiniog. It will be a day out youll never forget.The rideFancy giving it a go? Download the GPX route here.The route Simon and Chris set out to ride (Image credit: Andy Jones for Future)KEY TRAVEL INFORMATIONWHERE TO STAY We stayed at the Angel Hotel in Abergavenny (175-275 per room per night), and Id recommend it the staff were friendly and the rooms fantastic. You can eat at the hotel, or there are plenty of restaurants in town. houseofcaradog.com/the angel-hotelREFUELLING OPTIONS We planned three stops but ultimately only needed two. At 61km, the Glanusk Cafe on the A40 just outside Sennybridge is a great early option, featuring a shop to fi ll up on water. For lunch, we hit the Dwy Afon Cafe in Craig-y-Nos Country Park on the A4067 (roughly 120km), which serves sandwiches, cakes, sausage rolls, and hot and cold drinks. Finally, Brecon has plenty of cafes, but in need of a quick sugar hit, we gulped down Coke on a petrol station forecourt.BIKE SHOPS If the worst happens and you need a repair, there is Gateway Cycles in Abergavenny: (gatewaycycles.co.uk); Bi-Ped Cycles in Brecon (bipedcycles. co.uk); and Drover Cycles in Hay on-Wye (drovercycles.co.uk).OTHER THINGS TO SEE AND DOThe Brecon Beacons are also fantastic to explore on two feet as well as two wheels, highlights being the hike up to the highest point, Pen y Fan, and the quest to fi nd Llyn-Y Fan Fach, voted one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. If youre a lover of fi ne whisky, then make a beeline for the Penderyn Distillery: penderyn.wales/tours-breconbeacons.THE FAMOUS FIVEThese are the five most famous passes in the area. Theyre also some of the best climbs in the country. THE TUMBLELength: 4.7kmHeight gain: 362m Summit height: 473m Average gradient: 8% Max gradient: 16%Strava segment: hereKOM: Afonso Eulalio, 12.27 QOM: Illi Gardner, 15.09BLACK MOUNTAINLength: 7.2km Height gain: 367m Summit height: 498m Average gradient: 5% Max gradient: 8%Strava segment: hereKOM: Ed Laverack, 15.58 QOM: Illi Gardner, 19.07BWLCH CERRIG DUONLength: 5.7km Height gain: 260m Summit height: 482m Average gradient: 4% Max gradient: 10% Strava segment: hereKOM: Ben J., 11.42 QOM: Illi Gardner, 13.11DEVILS ELBOWLength: 1.9km Height gain: 189m Summit height: 453m Average gradient: 10% Max gradient: 20% Strava segment: hereKOM: Andrew Feather, 5.36 QOM: Illi Gardner, 7.21GOSPEL PASSLength: 4.7km Height gain: 278m Summit height: 554m Average gradient: 6% Max gradient: 17% Strava segment: hereKOM: Andrew Feather, 11.01 QOM: Illi Gardner, 13.15

On the 25th of September, the World Championships will host the men's under-23 road race, featuring big riders such as Ben Wiggins, Ashlin Barry, Cameron Rogers and Hctor Alvarz. Below, you'll find the favourites for the race, the course and the preview. The riders will find the exact same course...

Follow the mens under-23 road race at the 2026 UCI Road World Championshipslive as the riders tackle 174 kilometres over 12 laps of the Montral circuit. Hctor lvarez, Aubin Sparfel, Elliot Rowe, Henrique Bravo, Niels Driesen, Noah Mller Andersen Lindholm and Vclav Jeek are among the contende...

The early years of riding are as much about inspiring confidence on the bike as they are about enjoyment. In fact, the two things are inextricably linked. So any bike with design features that can tick those boxes is worth considering. The best kids' bikes can also accommodate growth and remove technical complexity for parents who might not be bike riders themselves. It's not easy to tick all those boxes though, especially with one eye on keeping price down.Ridgeback's Dimension 20 definitely ticks a few of those, and inspired our test rider to try new routes and take on a few more challenges, all while keeping a smile on his face. He started riding this bike which is aimed at 5.5 to 8.5-year-olds as a six-year-old on the cusp of growing out of his 16-inch wheel bike. The size guide on the Ridgeback website suggests this Dimension 20 (there are five in the range) suits children from 111cm to 130cm. Which is, on average, around three years of growth.In truth, the first couple of months of riding this bike it was clearly a bit big for him, but once he'd set eyes on it, there was no going back to his Woom 3 that had served him well until then. We put the saddle down as low as it would go and made sure his toes could touch the floor when straddling the saddle. It was a stretch, but as a confident rider, he made it work. A dropped top tube gives a little extra standover height (Image credit: Future)One key feature that allowed him to ride this size bike a little earlier than he would normally was the dropped top tube. It comes down from the headtube at a steeper angle before levelling off before it joins the seat tube under the saddle. This gives a little extra standover height when a rider is standing over their top tube, just in front of the saddle. If they can't do that, they're more likely to topple over sideways when they come to a stop. Ridgeback has five 20-inch wheels in its range. The MX20 shares the same frame but comes with knobbly tyres and some cheaper componentry to drop the RRP by 60.There's another Dimension 20, which has a straight top tube for a slightly older age range (six to nine years) and comes in 70 dearer thanks to a slightly better quality frame (not that the rider would notice) and a better mix of components. Finally, a second MX20 and the Harmony both have suspension forks, which we'd probably sway you away from. At this price (both are 349.99) the tech in the forks is unlikely to be up to much, and we'd argue that very few riders between the ages of six and nine would be able to tackle terrain that requires suspension.A solid aluminium frame and wide, round tyres inspire confidence in young riders (Image credit: Future)This Dimension 20 provides adequate components with no unnecessary features that bump the price up. The weakest of the components was the aluminium V-brakes. They took a little while to set up and went out of alignment on a couple of occasions. This could have been down to knocks they received putting it in and taking it out of the car boot, but V-brakes were never the best (in my opinion), so do make sure they're set up correctly. Optimum set-up means having the right amount of cable pulled through to give tension, the brake pads toed in, and having them hit both sides of the rim at the same point in the pull. There was a tiny amount of reach adjustment in the brake levers themselves, although I would have liked them set a little closer to the bars.The Jagwire cables and outers do mean the pull is smooth, and remained so throughout the test. The rims have a machined braking surface and a wear indicator the black line running around the centre of the brake surface. Any child is going to grow out of this bike before they wear the rims down, but it's a useful tool if you're looking at a secondhand one.The brakes worked as they needed to, they just need checking on regular occasions and adjusting when needed.V-brakes can go out of alignment, so be sure to check in on them. (Image credit: Future)We loved the tyres on the bike, their nice wide, round profile inspired confidence, and the diamond tread with minimal raised profile worked well on all surfaces we covered. We've tested bikes with more aggressive treads (essentially knobbles that are raised a little higher and with bigger gaps in between them) but it's rare to ride through mud wet and deep enough to need such a tread. These worked just fine.Handlebar grips may not seem important, and you don't need to spend extra money here, but as the main touchpoint for the rider they are essential. These had a nice, soft, rubbery feel, and there were no complaints from the rider that his hands hurt, or that they were slipping. The lip on the outer edge is there to keep hands from slipping off the side. The reach to the brake levers was 34mm (from the front of the grip to the back of the lever) with the adjuster screw wound in. Ideally, that would be a little closer to the bar. The grips were nice and tactile, but the reach to the brake levers could come in a little. (Image credit: Future)The open drivetrain was a small step up from the 16 inch Woom 3, our previous test bike, which had a completely enclosed drivetrain, meaning no feet, ankles or fingers could get caught on the chain, spiked on the chainring, or covered in chain grease. The Dimension has an exposed chain, but the chainring is covered on either side with a plastic guard, so ankles are protected from the teeth. A feature Ridgeback continue on their 24 and 27.5 inch wheel bikes. The chain ring is covered on both sides to protect feet, ankles and fingers (Image credit: Future)Protection, for the bike, comes in the form of a cage around the rear derailleur. No parent will be surprised to read that a kid will happily lie their bike down (AKA drop it) in a flash to run to the toilet, stroke a dog, or pick up a stick that they like the look of. Rear derailleurs are vulnerable when this happens, as the hanger they're attached to can get bent with hard or regular impacts, hence the cage. Some other bikes come with a kickstand, which is a better option, but not all children will think to use it when they see a particularly special stick that they desperately want to take home. A simple cage protects the rear derailleur from any knocks when the bike is left on it's side (Image credit: Future)The Shimano derailleur gives a range of seven gears, controlled by paddle shifters underneath the right-hand brake lever. There's a good chance this will be your child's first geared bike, and learning when and how to use them is a key stage in their development. Don't be surprised if this takes a few months for them to build up the confidence to use it. The upwards shift into a smaller gear is actuated by pushing in the thumbshifter (away from your body), which has a little more resistance than some little hands can deal with. Changing down the sprockets into a bigger gear is done with the downshift paddle actuated by the rider pulling it toward them with their index finger. This takes a fair bit of concentration at first, and means the rider is subtly adjusting their grip in order to change gear. Instinct tells me that this should be easier than a gripshift gear change mechanism, but my daughter picked that up quicker when she first moved to a geared bike. It's hard to say if that's down to the rider or the tech. I wouldn't say one is more suitable for developing riders than the other; they're just different. Seven speed Shimano gear system is a mark of quality on a kids bike (Image credit: Future)Adjustment in the bike for a growing riderThe only adjustment on the Dimension 20 is in the seatpost that has 14cm of vertical movement. (For which you'll need a 6mm hex key.) Growth spurts aside, this is likely to be more than enough to last at least two years' of riding, hopefully a bit more. (The 5.5 - 8.5 year age range is a guide to the type of age the bike will fit, not a guarantee that your child will ride it between those ages. Kids vary wildly in their sizes at certain ages and grow at different rates.) Sadly, there is less adjustment at the front of the bike. There is 22mm of spacers under that stem, so if dropped right down when you first purchase it (get a mechanic to do this if you're not comfortable doing it) it can then be raised 22mm over time, along with the saddle. There is however, no adjustment in forward reach with this fixed stem. This means that as the saddle goes up, the riding position will become a little lower and shorter, relative to saddle height. Without increased reach, a rider's centre of gravity can go a little higher than is ideal. It's not a massive problem, but it might just knock a few months of use off the bike. This can be countered by swapping out the stem for a longer one, just ensure it matches the fork column and bar diameters. Any adjustment upfront will require a replacement stem (Image credit: Future)Value and VerdictWe've really enjoyed our time on the Dimension 20 which was a great transition bike for my six-year-old son as he stepped up to a 20 inch wheel bike for the first time. At 349.99 it's quite an investment and it's not hard to find other makes at less than half this price. But by spending more, you're assured a good quality bike that, if looked after, will last the two to three years this bike should cover, growth-wise. There was nothing on this bike that let it down. The frame, Shimano gears and tyres really stood out, and the contact points are good too.The brakes needed a little adjustment, but a cheaper bike would have even worse components needing even more adjustment. The lack of inbuilt adjustability at the front is a problem for growing kids, but can be tackled by replacing it with a longer riser stem. That's a bit more cost both for the part and a mechanics time swapping it out, if you're not confident, but would be worth it to get more use out of it. Plus, if you do invest in a good quality bike, and look after it, there's every chance of passing it down or selling it on when the time comes.

AI-generated assets are finding their way into cycling marketing, and that's not a good thing, rants Liam

Mathieu van der Poel and the Netherlands know that they have to seize a golden World Championships opportunity in the absence of Tadej Pogacar. But when it comes to commanding the race, they're happy to let other nations do their dirty work in Montreal. The Alpecin Premier-Tech leader is not one of...