Il Lombardia will take place on the 10th of October 2026. The race is the ultimate culmination of the Italian autumn classics, having the status of fifth and last monument of pro cycling. With Tadej Pogacar absent this year, there will be a new winner after five editions. Below, you will find the pr...

Last Friday I announced the Meh-Roica Pageant with great fanfare and even greater artwork:And I can already tell its going to be a tough one to judge, because there are some very strong contenders. For example, remember Airborne?Shockingly it appears they still existand even sell a rim brake frame?Its not cheap, either, which is weird, since as I recall the whole thing with Airborne was that it was budget titanium of questionable provenance.Anyway, turn-of-the-century off-brand titanium certainly screams Meh-roica, though the owner does admit theres a mount for a handlebar bag, and as I mentioned, handlebar bags WILL NOT BE ALLOWED in the make-believe Meh-Roica ride Ill never organize:Sorry, but handlebar bags smack of gravel (thats SMK of GRVL in Gravelese), and Meh-roica is a celebration of everything gravel is not.That doesnt mean Ill instantly disqualify your submission if the bike has one, but its certainly not gonna help you.The flat pedals arent helping, either. Walkability is also very un-Meh-roica. Ideally you should be duck-waddling in road shoes, or at the very least using mountain bike shoes that are so stiff that they defeat the purpose of the recessed cleat.Speaking of bikes that are deeply out of fashion, I recently resumed test-piloting the GT XTR 1000, and this past weekend I got out on it once again:Like the AMP-ersand before it, the GT (which stands for Gaudy and Telescoping) is coming in quite handy as my dedicated I-have-to-drive-somewhere-so-I-might-as-well-throw-a-bike-on-the-roof-and-squeeze-in-a-ride bike. Usually I go to the forbidding Trails Behind The Mall, but this time I went to another popular spot called Graham Hills Park:Theres a reason its called Graham Hills and not Graham Flatsand in case youre confused, the reason is that its very hilly. Fortunately, the thing Id say the GT is best at is going up hills like the one in the photo above; its a nimble climber with good traction, and well suited to the steep, rocky, and root-y trails that characterize this area. However, the thing its worst at is going down those hills:I havent yet figured out how to take a photo that properly conveys steepness, so youll have to believe me when I tell you that the hill in the photo above is very steepsteep enough in spots that I worried I might go over the bars. In fact once or twice I even found myself thinking it would be nice to have a dropper post, which never happens. This isnt to say I was terrified, or that I didnt enjoy the ride. For one thing, I remember when feeling like you were going to go over the barsor, you know, just going over the barswas a normal part of mountain biking. I mean I used to ride this:[This was actually mine.]Also, my commanding officer, Paul Johnson of Classic Cycle, was kind enough to configure the front end of the GT to mitigate this effect (riser bars, up-angled stem, and a longer fork than the one on the bikes web page), which is highly uncharacteristic of him, since usually hes trying to kill me, so its mostly quite comfortable. And really, these moments of concern were few, brief and isolated, and the rest of the time the bike felt quite composedpoised, even:Indeed, I enjoyed myself enough that the next day I decided to go off-roading again, only this time on the Jones:In recent years the Jones, like its owner, has evolved into less of a mountain bike trail thrill-seeker and more of an all-around meanderer. However, fresh off the GT, I decided to revert to a plastic saddle and clipless pedals to facilitate maneuverability:One of the biggest differences between the two bikes is I really dont want to ride the GT anywhere but on mountain bike trails, which is why I only use it when Im driving. But the Jones is happy pretty much anywhere, so instead of driving I rode from my home to the forbidding Trails Behind the Mall via paved and unpaved pathways:Arriving at the trails, I was all excited to smugly parade myself before all the lazy mountain bikers who had driven their full-suspension bikers there (you know, just like I had done myself the day before at Graham Hills), but sadly the parking lot was virtually empty:So onto the trails I went:The GT is, as I say, a fun and nimble bike. The Jones is just as fun while at the same time exuding maturity and competence and making you want to ride to the trails and even to other, different, further trails after youve been on the trails you were riding to for awhile. It can also handle anything the GT can with the added benefit of never making you feel like youre going to go over the bars. In fact, when youre riding the Jones its hard to imagine its even possible to fall off of it at all.Oh, sure, Ive managed to do itBut I happen to be exceptionally talented in that area.

Additional photos by Chris Wilson Sun Valley, located in Idahothe Gem Stateis home to the worlds first chairlift, built in 1936. Best known as a swanky ski resort town with []The post The Idaho Gem appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Visma | Lease a Bike have appointed former rider Nathan van Hooydonck as their new Sporting Director with immediate effect. A former rider in the team from 2021 to 2023, the Belgian will now lead the team's sporting operations after re-joining after retirement in September 2024. Aa heart muscle ano...

It has been said to me before that I have a bike bag problem (my tyre problem is worse but lets not go there) and thats because Ive been reviewing bike bags since around 2018 when I got my first gravel bike. Im not claming to be an expert, far from it but I know what works and I know what I like.The current market is flooded with bar bags, I bought my first back in 2018 which I ordered from Cordell.cc in Spain (pre-brexit so it was easy and not stupidly expensive!) and that bag is still going strong even to this day. That bag set the bar (pun intended) and everyone Ive tested since has to come close or surpass it to pass muster.Topeak describe their Tubular bar bag as a duffle which just reminds me of coats worn in the 1980s with a toggle fastening. Sadly no such fastening exsists on this bag but it does come with a full length zip, two end pockets and a bungee cord for extra storage options on the front. Topeak Tubular bar bag endless potential Topeak Tubular bar bagThe bag attaches to the bike via two velcro straps that will fit the chunkiest diameter bars and can easily be trimmed to remove excess on a smaller one. There is a elasticated cord to fit around the bikes head tube to stop the bag flapping around. The bag material is robust, made from 600d polyester, is water repellent and stain resistant. The bag will take up to 3kg of weight is 23 x 14 cm and weighs 259g on my kitchen scales. The version I have is black, you can also get green but on both versions the interior is black. The bag has a stiffener meaning there is no saggy bag syndrome and it keeps its shape if you put a small heavy item in it. The interior is the same polyester as the outer as far as i can tell. Topeak Tubular bar bag velcro strap Topeak Tubular bar bag bar fittingThe bag fits to any bike very easily and is secure once fitted. It takes seconds to remove if you wanted to take it into a cafe/B&B etc or to another bike. The bags capacity is 3.8L so you can stuff quite a few items in it. it will easly take a waterproof jacket, spare tube, e-inflator and sandwiches/cake. The side pockets are generous and ideal for wrappers or energy bars for on the fly snacking. Topeak Tubular bar bag side pocket Topeak Tubular bar bag bungee cordIve had this Topeak Tubular bar bag on various bikes, both gravel and MTB since march 2026 and so despite the summer sun its also seen some rain. The bag is water repellent but id pack any precious items in plastic bags if it looks like there will be a deluge. The size is great, you can get a lot of things inside the bag if you pack carefully but there isnt a lot of stretch in the material, especially the zip. This keeps the bag looking good but does cause a bit of a fight if you want to get to an item at the bottom of the bag under lots of other stuff, especially if you are riding along at the time. The bungee cord on the front does a great job of holding onto the just one more thing items or things you are taking on and off frequently like a gilet or light rain jacket. On a Peak district tour i carried 10 rashers of bacon for around 12 miles secured by the bungee that we picked up in a local butchers. The side pockets are quite deep but could do with a bit more elastication on the opening for added security so id be more likely to trust items such as a multitool or tubeless repair kit without fear of those item bouncing out on rough terrain. The biggest drawback though is the black interior. Even on n a bright sunny day or let alone a gloomy overcast one or at night its difficult to peer in and see whats inside the bag. The affore mentioned tubeless repair kit got lost in there and i spent ages looking for it only to discover it in the black hole under a cap a few rides later. Not a deal breaker but something to note. A nice bright colour in there would make this bag stand out, literally. Topeak Tubular bar bag interior Topeak Tubular bar bag webbingAfter 5 months use the Topeak Tubular bar bag looks as good as the day it arrived, it has withstood rain, mud, dust, at least two crashes and 4 different bikes and remains unscathed. Topeak market this as a commuter/local gravel ride bag and I think they have that right, with a couple of tweaks it would be up there with my Spanish original. That being said the Topeak doesnt look like its been to hell and back like that one does, so if you want something to look good, work well and be good value for money the the Topeak Tubular bar bag is definately one to consider.more information on the Topeak Tubular bar bag can be found here

British bike brand Ridgeback has recalled three of its hybrid and commuter models due to reported defects in the tyres. The company has asked customers to immediately stop riding any of their Comet, Motion or Speed models sold since 2020, which could be affected. The tyres on affected bicycles may have manufacturing defects along the tread pattern which could lead to a failure of the tyre posing a fall hazard, Ridgeback said in a statement. The brand also shared images of the issue, which show the middle of the tyres tread bursting open. According to Ridgeback, this occurs when the defective tyres are inflated to the recommended pressure printed on the sidewall. The defect is in the centre of the tread. (Image credit: Ridgeback)It is uncertain how many customers in total the recall affects. A safety notice was published on the UK Governments Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) website earlier this month with a medium risk level. The product presents a risk of injuries as the tyres may fail while the bicycle is in use. This could cause the rider to lose control and fall, the OPSS notice said. Philippa Wheeler, a product safety solicitor at law firm Leigh Day, warned tyre failures can lead to serious and life-changing injuries. "While recalls can be unsettling for consumers, prompt action to address potential safety defects is an important safeguard, Wheeler said. Customers have a right to expect that the products they purchase are safe and free from defects, and effective recall processes play a vital role when products fall short of those standards." Across the three recalled bike models, Ridgeback has listed 54 affected product item numbers, all with the prefix RB21, pertaining to different frame sizes and colourways. The full list can be found on Ridgebacks recall notice. A selection of the affected bikes. (Image credit: Ridgeback)The brand has asked any customers who fear they might be affected to please stop riding your bicycle immediately, and contact their local Ridgeback dealer. Any defective tyres will be replaced. We recognise that many of you will rely on your bicycle as a primary mode of transportation. Ensuring that you are safe and back on your Ridgeback as swiftly as possible is our utmost priority, the brand said. Wed like to apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank you for choosing Ridgeback.

CyclistFor the love of ciclismo: A history of cycling in 6 objects at Italys Ghisallo MuseumOn the shores of Italys Lake Como, a bidons throw from the Madonna del Ghisallo climb and its accompanying chapel, sits the Ghisallo Museum. Founded by one of Italys most celebrated cycling sons and ardent collector, the late Fiorenzo Magni, its home to hundreds of bicycles and thousands of pieces of memorabilia, and no trip up the Ghisallo is complete without stopping by. Staff will even provide slippers so you dont you dont have to walk around in your cleats.From Hour record bikes to historic jerseys and everything in between there are even Fausto Coppi-branded razor blades the Ghisallo houses one of the most elaborate cycling collections in the world. Nothing owned, all loaned or donated, and all for one reason: a true, Italian-level passion for cycling.Cyclist visited one sweaty afternoon after a ride up the Ghisallo, where we were shown around by museum director Carola Gentilini and press officer Clara Azzali, who picked out some of the museums most treasured pieces and shared the stories behind them.The cycling memorabilia here numbers in the thousands, all of it donated or loaned.Mike MassaroThe monument to Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali outside the chapel honours one of the greatest rivalries in the history of the sport.Mike MassaroMike MassaroVincenzo Torrianis megaphone, circa 1950Long before radio, race directors used megaphones, shouting at riders from the open tops of cars, and used lavagna chalkboards to display information like time gaps, says Azzali. We have a lavagna here that would be worn by race officials, made of wood and fitted with two deflated tubular tyres that acted as braces, and this megaphone belonging to Vincenzo Torriani, Giro dItalia patron from 1949 to 1993.While the Tour had Henri Desgrange and Flix Lvitan, the Giro had Armando Cougnet and Torriani, the former the founder, the latter the man who made the race what it is today. He brought the Giro to the Stelvio in 1953 and the Gavia in 1960, assuaging any concerns of bad weather with the retort, If it rains, you get wet.Torriani also oversaw Milan-San Remo and Il Lombardia, adding the Poggio (1960) and Cipressa (1982) to the former, and to the latter the infamous Muro di Sormano (1960), a one-time drovers track he reportedly discovered on holiday, whose 27% gradients proved so difficult it was removed in 1962 after rider protests (it returned, mercifully tarmacked, in 2012). But its arguably Torrianis image that made him such a legend among Italians. Suavely dressed, silver hair coiffed and cigarette perpetually hanging off his lip, Torriani cut a figure part statesman, part capo, as feared for his bullish nature as he was revered for his gusto.The Italians recognise two people at first sight, wrote La Gazetta dello Sport journalist Claudio Gregori. Torriani and the Pope.With thanks to an article by William Fortheringham in ProCycling circa 2020Mike MassaroMaglia Rosa collection, 1935-presentI think this is the most important part of our collection, says Azzali. It was created with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the newspaper that set up the race in 1909 and introduced the pink jersey in 1931 to match its paper. We have nearly 70 jerseys now with many donated by the riders, the earliest from 1935, which was won by Vasco Bergamaschi. One special one is from 1955, won by Fiorenzo Magni, which has the first non-cycling sponsor in the cycling world on it: Nivea. Magni went to them in 1954 and asked them to sponsor his team, because his bike sponsor Ganna had withdrawn support. With that he changed forever how cycling teams were funded.Mike MassaroStephen Roches 1987 jersey is also very special as this was the Triple Crown year. Its amazing to think it was still wool. We also have the black jersey, the maglia nera, for the rider in last place overall. It came in after the war in 1946, when Italy was very poor, so the organisers gave it as a cash prize, but by 1951 they abandoned the idea as riders started hiding in barns or at the side of the road to make the time cut at the last possible moment.The last rider to win the jersey was Giovanni Pinarello, whose performance was deemed so poor that his team, Bottecchia, paid him 100,000 lire to end his contract early. He used the money to set up a bike business.Mike MassaroTour of Flanders winners sashes, 1949-51Fiorenzo Magni was often called the third man because of the intense rivalry between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali that dominated his career, says Gentilini. He still won the Giro dItalia three times, in 1948, 1951 and 1955, but he never won the Tour de France. He did come close. He was wearing the yellow jersey on the 12th stage of the race in 1950 when his team captain, Bartali, was attacked by hostile fans [back then teams were organised by nation]. Bartali ordered the Italian team to leave the race, and though Magni argued they traded insults and really went at each other he eventually agreed to leave.It is something of a mystery why Magni agreed to leave the race, but he had other successes. He was an excellent one-day racer and won the Tour of Flanders three years in a row [1949-1951], earning the nickname Il Leone delle Fiandre, the Lion of Flanders, even though he was Italian. These are the sashes he was awarded.Perhaps his most famous moment came in the 1956 Giro. He crashed on a descent in Tuscany [on Stage 12] and broke his collarbone, but he didnt want to abandon the race. The next day was an uphill time-trial, but Magni couldnt really use his left arm to brace himself when he was climbing, so his mechanic, Faliero Masi [who built Masi bikes, including this silver one here, made for Magni in 1980] had the idea of wrapping a piece of inner tube around the bars that Magni could hold between his teeth to steady himself. He actually crashed the day after too, fainted from the pain and ended up in an ambulance. But when he came to he shouted to the driver to let him out, and he kept going.Magni eventually finished the Giro second overall to Charly Gaul, adding further feats of heroism through a snowy 242km mountain stage that saw 60 riders abandon, earning him a second nickname, Fiorenzo il Magnifico.Mike MassaroGino Bartali Tour de France bike, 1938We dont buy anything and we dont sell, says Gentilini, although sometimes people make us offers. There was a Taiwanese gentleman who really liked one of our Colnago-Ferrari bikes and offered me 100,000, but that is not what we do, especially as our president is a huge Gino Bartali fan, meaning this bike is one of the most special in the collection.This is the bike Bartali won his first Tour on in 1938. He was a very religious man, and you can see at the back of the stem what looks like a coin with the Virgin Mary, because he wanted her protection when he raced. In 1938 we were under the fascist regime, and Benito Mussolini told Bartali to go to the Tour instead of the Giro because Italy needed international recognition. When war broke out, Bartali hid documents for the Jews in his bike and he was able to cycle around Italy delivering them because he was now so famous for his win that the police didnt stop him.Mike MassaroThis bike is a Legnano, featuring the companys trademark seat binder bolt just in front of the seat tube lug, along with some of the most advanced components of the day. Above the bottom bracket sits a device that drips oil onto the chain, which was crucial for the operation of Bartalis Vittoria Margherita gears four in all via a complex lever system. Step one, push the lever by the chainset forwards to release chain tension. Step two, twist the handle on the levers end to actuate a rudimentary derailleur on top of the chainstay that pushes the chain left or right, while back-pedalling to get the chain to catch onto the next sprocket. Step three, pull the lever to re-tension the chain. A famously convoluted system, but one Bartali was famously good at using.Mike MassaroStephen Roches kit, 1988Stephen Roche was an interesting rider for Italian fans. Of course he won the 1987 Triple Crown [the Giro dItalia, Tour de France and World Championships in one season], but he was not liked in Italy because of that Giro, says Azzali.Indeed, as Roche told the Cyclist Magazine Podcast, he had his bags packed and a car with engine running, ready to take him out of Italy as soon as he crossed the line on the last days time-trial. Riding for Italian team Carrera Jeans-Vagabond, Roche was tasked with supporting defending champion and team leader Roberto Visentini, and by Stage 13 things were going to plan, the pink jersey having moved from Roches shoulders to Visentinis. But on Stage 15 Roche found himself in a breakaway his leader had missed, and despite instructions from his directeur sportif to slow down, he pushed on, eventually putting 6min 50sec into Visentini. The day ended with the Irishman back in pink and his apoplectic team leader 3min 12sec down in GC.The backlash that followed was huge. Roche received death threats, made all the more credible by the insults, spitting and punching he received from enraged tifosi as he raced up the climbs the next day. A few stages later, Visentini fell and retired, while Roche went on to win.Curiously, while his teammates wore the legendary denim Carrera Jeans kit seen here, Roche raced in black, Peugeot-branded shorts. A contract dispute years before with ex-team Peugeot was finally put to rest when Roche and Carrera agreed to Roche racing with his old sponsors branding for two seasons.Mike MassaroFausto Coppi Hour record bike, 1942We have lots of track bikes here the Hour record bike of Francesco Moser for example but this one is really special: Fausto Coppis Hour record bike of 1942, says Gentilini. Coppi had won the Giro dItalia aged just 20 on 9th June 1940, then the next day, 10th June, Mussolini declared war on France and Germany. The legend goes that by 1942 Coppis managers feared he would be called up to the front so they suggested he try to break the Hour record, and he thought, OK, maybe if I do this epic thing they will let me avoid military service.Mike MassaroHe couldnt prepare very well as there was rationing of food and petrol, so he couldnt train behind a motor-pacing derny. For the attempt he even had to ride 100km from his home town in Castellania to the Vigorelli Velodrome in Milan. But somehow he broke the record by just 31m [riding 45.798km], although the plan didnt work, as the government still sent him to do military service in Africa. Coppi became a prisoner of war, returning to Italy in 1945 and racing the first post-war Giro dItalia in 1946, where he was runner up to Gino Bartali. He then won the Giro in 1947, much to the delight of all of Italy.For 1946, Coppi had signed with Bianchi, but prior to that he rode for arch-rivals Legnano, the makers of this bike (note the elegant L for Legnano inset on the cranks). With a 52-tooth chainring and 15-tooth sprocket its some way off the monster 6414 gear turned by current Hour record holder Filippo Ganna (56.792km), and it seems incredible that riders ever rode on wooden rims such as these. But the silk used in the high-end tubulars endures, even if the rubber has long since perished.The post For the love of ciclismo: A history of cycling in 6 objects at Italys Ghisallo Museum appeared first on Cyclist.

The Giro d'Italia 2027 will start in the country's north-east corner of Trieste as it's been reported that the opening stage will also ride through Slovenia. The Grande Partenza is set to be officially announced next week, with the full route presentation set to take place in Rome next month. Follow...