If you look closely, its a Classic every day, said race director Marion Rousse of the route for next summers Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. All nine stages, from Leeds in Yorkshire to Frances Puy de Dme, were unveiled in a ceremony inside Pariss Palais des Congrs on Thursday. Those in attendance wooed at the highlights stage twos mini Lige-Bastogne-Lige through the Peak District, the following days London team time trial, the closing Queen stages volcanic finale and the excitement was justified: this is a route that promises surprise and suspense. And yet, the finale may be a damp squib. In each of the previous five editions of the Tour de France Femmes, the organisers have built the route around fabled climbs of old. They ticked off the Col du Tourmalet in 2023, Alpe dHuez in 2024, the Col de la Madeleine in 2025, and this summer, the most mythic of them all, Mont Ventoux. Next years route dodges both the Pyrenees and the Alps, and is designed instead towards a crescendo on the Puy de Dme, the volcano that towers over Clermont-Ferrand. At 170km with 3,840m elevation, the final stage is perhaps the only true mountain stage of the race. Its here that the yellow jersey will be decided. Its also a stage that risks being a flop for the fans. I was on the Puy de Dme in 2023 when the mens race returned to the mound after 35 years. Why had it taken them so long? The area is protected as a Unesco World Heritage site. As such, its final four-or-so kilometres, a twisting road barely four metres wide that towers over Clermont-Ferrand, is closed year-round to cyclists. When the Tour went back three years ago, it did so on one condition: there would be no fans on the volcano. Journalists and photographers had to apply in advance for a pass to report from the top. I watched the race from the car park 5km from the summit, where security bodies stood firm to turn people back, and guard the nature behind them. Fans weren't allowed at the top of the Puy de Dme during the men's race in 2023. (Image credit: Getty Images)As everyone in the sport will tell you, its the fans that make cycling. That stage, won by Michael Woods, was proof of that. With nobody at the road side, it made for an eerie and soulless ascent. I fear it could be similarly underwhelming for the womens race next August. Its up to the Puy de Dme department to decide with us, Rousse said of the fan logistics, but were looking into having people at the finish. Were talking about between 3,000 and 4,000 spectators at the summit, because its our final stage with the podium ceremony at the summit. We also need to preserve this climb. Four thousand fans are better than none, but that number pales in comparison to the crowds this race deserves. There may have been 10 times that on Mont Ventoux this summer. Time trial conundrumReusser won the time trial at the Tour de France Femmes this August. (Image credit: Getty Images)As well as the final six stages, the details of stage threes team time trial were also announced on Thursday. Rousse's list of landmarks included on the the 18km central London course made her sound as if she was reading out the place names on a Monopoly board: Downing Street, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, London Bridge, St Pauls Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Hyde Park, and the Mall. It's so central it made a Frenchman sat behind me in Thursdays ceremony gasp. Trs styl, very cool he said under his breath. This team time trial, naturally, comes at the expense of an individual one, which has been dropped from the course for 2027. The decision was made made to show off the team element of the sport (and undoubtedly to keep Londons roads closed for less time), but it may take some of the sting out of the general classification. Lets not forget that this summers ITT in Dijon shook up the contenders; it catapulted Marlen Reusser into yellow, ruled Pauline Ferrand-Prvot out of the running, and gave Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney something to chase. It ended up being one of the most important stages. Reusser, present at the route presentation, was understandably disappointed about the omission. I think its missing an individual time trial, the world champion said. A team one is cool its my favourite discipline but its very different for making gaps in the general classification. As for the other days, theres a lot for the stage hunters to get excited about. Stage two from Leeds to Sheffield, with seven categorised climbs including Winnats Pass and Snake Pass, is Grand Dpart GB managing director Paul Bushs favourite its wonderful, isnt it? and could see early GC blows. Stages five and seven, too, should draw out a fight. The former boasts the Classics-style recipe Rousse likes to cook up, while the latter brings the routes first uphill finish to La Loge des Gardes. The big question, though, is: will we have a similarly close GC fight as last year? Ahead of the final day in Nice, Niewiadoma trailed the eventual winner Vollering by just eight seconds. Rousse and her organising team expect tension until the end. But it may be an anticlimax if there are few fans on the Puy to see it.

You've got just a month to get fit... can it be done? From a not-quite-standing start, Liam dials in to find out if an intense indoor riding program from icTrainer will have him pedalling (and running) faster and stronger after just 30 days

Benjamn Noval is close to signing a historic contract with Netcompany INEOS ahead of his WorldTour debut in 2027. The 18-year-old Spaniard is understood to have agreed a deal extending his commitment to the British team until the end of 2031, two seasons longer than originally planned. According to...

Whats the sport where the riders race in the fall and love it when its raining and muddy? You know, the course is twisty, and they get off their bikes and run when they cant ride? ITS CYCLOCROSS. For most, cyclocross looks strange at first, but the more you watch, the more you get pulled in, and the more you want to try it yourself.You might be noticing some #crossiscoming hashtags, or seeing your riding friends posting about or looking for tubular or tubeless 33mm tires, parts for cantilever brakes or 140mm rotors. The leaves changing colors, and those questions are all signs that its indeed cyclocross season. But if you dont know that #crossiscoming, let us get you caught up and into the fold of the greatest (I might be biased here) cycling discipline of them all.(Photo/Pinarello)#CROSSISHERECyclocross, usually shortened to CX or just cross, is a fall-and-winter bike racing discipline that sits somewhere between road, gravel, and mountain biking. Its tough to explain it like that, because it was around before mountain biking and gravelbut Im gonna stop while Im ahead.The races are short, hard, and held on closed courses that mix grass, dirt, pavement, mud, sand, stairs, steep hills, and barriers (planks). Its bike racing with fewer tactics than road, less speed than crits, more/less running than anyone wants to admit, and a much higher chance of ending the day with mud in your ears.Plus, its one of the easiest forms of bike racing to try.(Photo/Markus Greber/Stevens)What Is a Cyclocross Race?A cyclocross race takes place on a short lap, usually in a park, field, fairground, school campus, or any venue with enough open space and terrain to make things awkward and highlight bike handling. Riders follow the same loop repeatedly, usually marked with tape, stakes, cones, and fencing.Races are timed and start with a mass-start sprint for the field. Beginner races are often around 30 minutes. Faster amateur (Category 3/4) fields may race 40-50 minutes. Elite (Category 1/2) races usually run close to an hour. Officials watch lap times, decide the number of laps based on the current times, and then put out lap cards near the finish: three to go, two to go, one to go/bell lap.(Photo/KTM)That part is an important and distinct part of cyclocross racing. You are not racing a fixed number of laps from the start. You race until the officials decide how many laps fit the time. Then you try to survive the bell lap without letting anyone overtake you, or you decide to make your move. (Photo/Cory Benson)What Makes the Course Different?A good cyclocross course isnt just a dirt loop or a grass crit; it has challenging features and varied terrain.For a typical race, you might start on pavement, dive into grass, hit a tight turn, run over barriers, remount, cross a bumpy field, ride through sand, climb a hill, brake into an off-camber corner, then do it again. Some laps include pedaling and driving sections in between, but theyre usually action-packed. The lap is short enough that spectators can see riders multiple times, but hard (and long) enough that every lap feels different once fatigue shows up. Think of a lap as anywhere from 7-10 minutes depending on conditions and rider. (Photo/Markus Greber/Stevens)The course changes during the day. The morning grass is slick and dries out later in the day. The mud gets deeper, ruts form, and the sand gets choppy. The line that worked in warmups might be gone by lap three.That is why cyclocross is not only about fitness. Power matters, but so do carrying speed, choosing lines, braking early, clipping in quickly, and staying calm when the bike starts moving sideways, which pays off big time.(Photo/Canyon)Why Do Riders Get Off the Bike?Because some sections are faster on foot. Cyclocross courses can include wooden/natural barriers, stairs, steep run-ups, deep mud, or sand pits. Riders dismount before the obstacle, lift or shoulder the bike, run through the section, remount, and start pedaling again.It looks hard, because at first, it is. But its also one of the easiest parts of the sport to learn. You dont need to bunny-hop barriers or look smooth in your first race. You need to dismount safely, move through the obstacle, and remount without taking out the rider behind you. A good dismount/remount comes from practice and experience, which youll gain by staying in the sport. Smooth comes later. Safe comes first.(Photo/Cory Benson)What Bike Do You Need For Cyclocross?You dont need a dedicated cyclocross bike to start. A gravel bike works well, and some beginner fields also allow mountain bikes. The main thing is checking the rules for your event. At higher-level cyclocross races, the UCI-only field limits tires to 33mm. At many local beginner races, promoters may be more relaxed, but do not assume. Read the tech guide or ask before race day.(Photo/Jordan Villella)The best first upgrade is tires. A true cyclocross tire changes the bike more than almost anything else. File treads are fast on dry grass and hardpack. Mud tires are for proper slop, and the Grifo tread is best for everything in between. (Check out our Cyclocross Tire Guide for all the CX tire info) If you only want one set, start with an intermediate tread; the Challenge Grifo or the Dugast Typhoon is perfect. It wont be the key tread for every weekend, but it will work in most conditions.(Photo/Cory Benson)How Does the Start Work?Cyclocross starts are fast and messy. Its like XCO racing, but usually with a short sprint to the courses pinch point, where positioning matters. Riders line up by category, series points, registration order, call-up ranking, or whatever system the promoter uses. Then the whistle blows, and everyone sprints toward the first corner.For a beginner, the best advice is simple: start hard, but not stupid. It is easy to get caught up in the sprint and blow the doors off yourself in the first two minutes. A cyclocross race might be shorter than a gravel race, but it is still long enough to punish bad pacing.Ride the first lap under control. Find your rhythm. Then start picking people off what I like to call A PAC-MAN Ride.If this dude is in your race, watch out! (Photo/Pinarello)What Category Should You Race?Start in the beginner or novice field.Dont worry about how strong you are on group rides or in other disciplines. Cyclocross has its own rhythm, and the first few races are about learning the sport. Youll learn what the start feels like, how to pre-ride, how to pass, where to run, how to remount, and how much tire pressure you can get away with. Watts are useless unless you can use them because you cant stay on your bike. (Photo/Speedvagen)Masters, juniors, singlespeed, open, and category-based fields are common, depending on the race. Some local events are very structured. Others are more relaxed. The promoters registration page will usually explain the options.When in doubt, race beginner. Nobody gets a prize for entering a category too high and hating every minute. Cyclocross racing should be fun; good competition is part of it.UCI Cyclocross World Championships (Photo/Easton)How to Watch CyclocrossCyclocross is one of the best cycling disciplines to watch live because the course is compact. You can stand at the barriers, walk to the run-up, catch the leaders again by the sand pit, then make it back to the finish before the bell lap.Bring boots, a jacket, and low expectations for staying clean.For televised racing, start with the big European races. Look for the World Cups, Superprestige, X2O Trofee, national championships, and the World Championships. You can find most of them on FLOBikes or on UCI replays on YouTube. Belgium and the Netherlands are the sports center, and the atmosphere is exactly what cyclocross should be: loud, muddy, packed with fans/frites, and slightly unhinged like a good concert.(Photo/FELT)Streaming Cyclocross RacesBroadcast rights change by country, but in the U.S. and Canada, FloBikes has carried much of the major cyclocross coverage. In Europe, races often appear through Eurosport, Discovery+, HBO Max, national broadcasters, or race-specific streams. The UCI also lists viewing options for major events, but geo-blocking is common, so get familiar with TunnelBear or a VPN of your choice.The pro race shows the sport at full speed. The local race shows why people actually fall in love with it.Find local races and cool weekly practices on Bikereg.com How to Find a Local RaceThe easiest place to start is BikeReg. Search cyclocross and your region. USA Cyclings event calendar also lists sanctioned races. Bike Races Near Me can help if you are just trying to see what is nearby.Local bike shops are often even better. A small group of promoters, clubs, shops, and volunteers often builds cyclocross scenes and knows every venue within driving distance. Ask your local shop; they have the real knowledge. Search for regional CX series. Look for weeknight practices. Those practice nights are gold for beginners or anyone looking to work on the basics.Useful search terms:cyclocross near meCX series plus your cityBikeReg cyclocrossUSA Cycling cyclocross calendarcyclocross practice plus your regionA local practice is the best way to learn the local scene, dismounts, remounts, starts, and cornering, without the pressure of a number pinned to your side.(Photo/Cory Benson)What to Bring to Your First RaceThe cyclocross first-timer shortlist:Bring your bike, two pairs of kit (warm-up and race), a helmet, cycling shoes you can run in, a pump, a reliable pressure gauge, water, snacks, clean clothes, a towel, and a trash bag for muddy kit.When arriving at the race: Arrive early. Pick up your number, high-five your friends or make new ones. Hit the Porta-John. Ask when the course opens for pre-ride, then get ready. Ride one lap slowly to see the course. Ride another lap at speed where it is safe. Note the features and critical bottleneck points for the start and passing. Plan where to recover on the course and where to give it the beans get ready to rock and roll. Do not make major changes five minutes before the start. That rarely ends well. Portland, OR, 2016-Single-Speed Cyclocross World Championships. (Photo by Rob Kerr.)Why Cyclocross Is Worth TryingCyclocross is hard, but it is not precious. You can race badly and still have fun or get lapped and still learn something. You can slide out, roll at tire, miss a pedal, and still have people cheering because everyone knows cyclocross is about the effort, giving it your all, and respecting the craft.Racing cyclocross makes you a better rider; there is no question about that. You learn bike handling, cornering, braking, pacing, line choice, and above all, how to persevere in adverse conditions.For beginners, it is one of the best entry points into bike racing. The races are short, and the courses are closed. The community is usually friendly and easy to break into. Spectators can actually see the race. And when it goes wrong, which it will, it usually makes a better story.Thats cyclocross. Mud, grass, tape, barriers, bad starts, good heckles, and one more lap than you wanted.Try it once. Youll probably be terrible, then youll probably sign up again.Did we miss something? Do you have more to add? Do you race and have advice or good heckles? Let us know in the comments!

Six minutes in 2026, four minutes in 2025, six minutes in 2024. The winning margins of Tadej Pogaar at the Tour de France in the past three years do not suggest a close battle, something that the race's organisers long for, to keep an audience gripped through three weeks of racing.A close battle is not something that happened in this year's race, where UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Slovenian all but sealed the yellow jersey on just stage six, with a dominant performance over the Col du Tourmalet. The route announcement for 2026 was all about "crescendo", with the organisers aiming for a slow build to the Alps at the end of the race; they had the crescendo thrown in their face with a forte performance in the first week.For 2027, then, it was back to the drawing board. Out are any early forays to the mountains, with the first summit finish on stage nine, and while few would bet against Pogaar on a punchy stage five, for example, he will not be able to have minutes of advantage by the Alps, and potentially not until the Pyrenees, if his rivals play ball. There are only three summit finishes in 21 days, down from five in 2026, amid six days in the mountains. There was little talk of 'the hardest Tour ever'. In comes two long time trials, on stages seven and 17, which are not-so-subtly designed to tilt the balance of power away from Pogaar, and towards Remco Evenepoel of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, time trial world champion. It also might help great French hope Paul Seixas, third at the World Championships this year. At 71km, t's the most time trialling since 2012 and Bradley Wiggins's triumph. It doesn't take a genius to read that ASO and route supremo Thierry Gouvenou hope to mix things up a bit, or at least not make it so much of a procession.Speaking to L'quipe, Tour director Christian Prudhomme did not hide the ambition to throw in a different challenge with the long TTs: "We can tell ourselves that there might be a chance of suspense and a great battle right to the end. Knowing, of course, that Pogaar has been so dominant in recent years, that he has such talent that, whatever the course, he somehow manages to manipulate it."Manipulate it he will. Pogaar, should he return to the level he was at before crashing out of the Vuelta a Espaa, is still one of the better time triallists in the peloton, and will be able to bend this course to his will. He is still the likely winner, Prudhomme knows this, but the hope is things are just a little bit more competitive.The first week does not look too dissimilar from 2025, when the race started in Lille, and a series of Classics-style stages followed before the Pyrenees were reached in the second week. Pogaar won two of them, in Rouen and on the Mr-de-Bretagne. Plumelec on stage five looks ripe for his picking once again, and the 28-year-old does not need high mountains to do his thing.There might also not be endless mountains, but this is a route full of pitfalls, whether that be tricky climbs, hair-raising descents or the weather, with the win potentially playing a huge role on several stages. Stage 14 in the Massif Central is the kind of day which could blow the race apart, as could stage eight. The TTs, the Alps and Pyrenees will decide the race, but there is more than enough to keep everyone interested over the three weeks.The aim, though, is for exciting racing, which was certainly true of 2025's opening week, and entertain the kids, with Prudhomme highlighting the TV audience among 15-24 year old's in that L'quipe interview. The idea is "having the favourites neck and neck right from the start, before tackling the officially mountainous sections". "The course is designed for spectacular riders," Prudhomme added.The most spectacular rider remains Tadej Pogaar. There are opportunities for Evenepoel, for Seixas, and don't forget Jonas Vingegaard, but the route of a Grand Tour won't decide the winner. Still, I was excited by the route announcement, and am ready for next July's thrills across France, even if everything points towards a familiar face in yellow. See you in Edinburgh.

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme spoke about the race's headliners and main contenders after the 2027 route reveal, and discussed the potential scenario in which Tadej Pogacar might suffer from the injuries suffered at this summer's Vuelta a Espaa. The former World Champion crashed hard...

Truckee, Californias BlackHeart Bike Co. just rolled out an updated Road Ti. This time, the titanium frame reflects a subtle carbon aesthetic with new 3D-printed highlights. But the 3/2.5 double-butted titanium, dropped and slightly curved seatstays, and pro-fit geometry mean that the titanium ride character stays. That formula helped the previous version grab Cyclingworld Europes 2024 Best Race Bike award. So yeah, leaving that part alone is a defensible call.(Photos / BlackHeart Bike Co.)The Road Tis new 3D-printed details, which originally debuted on the Road Plus Ti earlier this year, trickle down to the new Road Ti. You get a seamless seat tube cutout for extra tire clearance and fender room. The main difference between the two? The Road Ti fits up to 35mm tires with fenders. The Road Plus Ti fits up to 42mm. There are other differences, but start there. Also, a T47-68 bottom bracket shell with a lower channel and retaining clip for tidier brake hose routing, and a solid brake mount with a self-guiding hose port. Some of these features could lead to fewer colorful words in the garage when youre building or servicing this beaut.ENVE EditionRace Bike ChecklistThe rest reads like a modern race-bike checklist: kammtail downtube, one-piece carbon cockpit, and fully integrated cabling. BlackHeart says it gives little away to the fastest bikes on the road, regardless of material. Frames are reamed, chased, and faced at the factory, so your mechanic doesnt have to do it. The lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects covers the original owner. BlackHeart Road Ti GeoSignature launch editions with ENVE, SRAM, and Zipp are also available (see below). Then theres the Perfect Fit Program: a free 30-minute 1:1 consult on size, spec, and geometry. If you complete it and still end up unhappy with your size, BlackHeart covers shipping for a swap. Thats kind of unheard of.Road Ti Retail & DetailRetail: $3,499 (frameset)Includes frame, ENVE fork, seatpost, headset+$300 for custom fork paint we can match any automotive paint available Available in 9 sizes to fit riders from 50 to 67Tire clearance up to 700x35mm (with fenders)100% recyclable premium 3/2.5 double-butted titanium tubing3D-printed details carried over from the Road Plus Ti for real-world usabilityRemovable direct mount front derailleur hangerCane Creek HCR headset, T47-68 bottom bracket, Round 31.6mm seatpost,UDH2x/1x electronicBlackHeart Road Ti Signature BuildsRetail: $5,799 (starting)Includes BlackHeart Carbon barstem, SRAM Rival AXS or Shimano 105 Di2 groupset, and Hunt Allroad Alloy wheelsBlackHeart Road Ti ENVE EditionRetail: $13,749SRAM Red AXS 2X Power groupset, ENVE SES Aero Pro barstem V2, ENVE SES 4.5 Pro Carbon wheelset, ENVE Carbon seatpostCeramicSpeed Alpha BBSize 56 = 17 lbs 0 ozBlackHeart Road Ti Zipp EditionRetail: $13,499SRAM Red AXS 2X Power groupset, Zipp SL 80 Race Carbon Handlebar with Zipp SL Service Course Alloy stem, Zipp 202 NSW wheelset, BlackHeart Carbon seatpostCeramicSpeed Alpha BBSize 56 = 16 lbs 12 ozThe new Road Ti will be in stock in November at the link below, as well as through BlackHearts growing dealer network.BlackHeartBikeCo.com

CyclistTour de France 2027 full route revealed with 71km of time-trials and 3 summit finishesThe 2026 season might have just come to a close, but the wheels are already in motion for 2027 now that the route for the 114th Tour de Fance has now out been unveiled.As revealed last spring, Great Britain will host the Tour de France Grand Dpart for the third time, starting from Friday 2nd July 2027. On this occasion, it will be a cross-border affair, with Scotland hosting first before passing the rights onto England then Wales.Once in France, the riders will face a string of sprints and punchy profiles in Normandy and the Loire Valley before facing the races first mountaintop finish atop the Grand Colombier. The Alps will follow, with summit just the one summit finish expected in the range in the second week. The Pyrenees will host the races final GC battles, with a return to the high-altitude Col du Portet tabled before a return to Paris and the much-loved Butte Montmarte loop.Only three summit finishes will feature at next years race. Instead, time-trialling is expected to play a bigger role in the GC picture, as a whopping 71km against the clock makes its way into the final route the most seen at a Tour since 2012.Tour de France 2027 key informationXavier PereyronDates: Friday 2nd July to Sunday 25th July 2027Grand Dpart: Edinburgh, ScotlandFinale: Paris (Champs-lyses), FranceStage profiles: 7 flat, 6 hilly, 6 mountains including 3 summit finishes, 2 individual time-trials, 3 rest daysMountain ranges: Jura, Alps, Massif Central, PyreneesTotal prize money: 2.3 million, including 500,000 for yellow jersey winnerLive television coverage: TNT Sports, HBO Max, TG4, S4C, NBC/Peacock, SBS, Sky Sport, Eurosport, France Televisions 2025 winner: Tadej Pogaar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)Most overall wins: 5 Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain, Eddy Merckx, Tadej PogaarMost stage wins:35 Mark CavendishTour de France 2027 routeThe Grand Dpart will hit British shores on Friday 2nd July, when the 114th edition will get started in Edinburgh. From the citys Royal Mile, the Tour will head southward into England, with a stage finish in Cumbria before visiting Liverpool on day two. The third and final British stage could pose a threat in the GC, as the riders tackle the Welsh valleys before taking the P&O across to Normandy.The first week will offer something for everyone, with a mix of punchy and sprint stages as the race follows the Loire eastward across France, although a 38km-long ITT to Chambord could prove the most pivotal in the fight for the yellow jersey.The races first summit finish comes on Stage 9, when the peloton reach the Grand Colombier. Thatll preface a two-day stint in the Alps, characterised by a warm-up for the World Championships in Haute-Savoie before another summit finish at Les Saisies.The climbing then takes a pause for a few stages in order to navigate across Provence and Languedoc, where the next GC duels could arrive on the way to Mende during Stage 14. After a final rest day, the riders will reach for the TT bikes again in Toulouse before a final sprinkling of mountains in the Pyrenees. Thats where the Queen Stage will come into frame, taking the riders up to the races highest point, the Col du Portet. If that hasnt decided the outcome, theres one last day in the Pyrenees before a transitional stage takes us closer to Paris, where Montmartre will feature once again.Now, for the stats. Theres a total of seven flat stages, six deemed to be hilly, six in the mountains, three of which finishing at altitude. That leaves the two individuall time-trials, which total over 70km, the highest number at a Tour in 15 years. Your move, Remco.Tour de France 2027 previews for every stageStage 1: Friday 2nd July, Edinburgh CarlisleThere are no suprises to be found in the opening three stages. The routes for this British section have been known for some time now.Nonetheless, Edinburgh has been handed the rights to host both the Team Presentation, set to take place outside Edinburgh Castle, and the opening stage.From the Scottish capital, which will become the most northerly city to ever host the Tour de France, the course will head southwards, cutting through the Borders and Pentland Hills. There, the race will hand out its first KOM points before crossing Hadrians Wall and heading into Cumbria, where the stage concludes in a probable sprint in Carlisle.Stage 2: Saturday 3rd July, Keswick LiverpoolThe second stage starts in in Kewsick, right in the heart of the Lake District. This stage, which takes place solely in England, then heads out of Cumbria and into Lancashire via the county town. There are a few bumps around the Forest of Bowland before sweeping down into Merseyside, where a sprint is expected on Liverpools Strand, right by the citys infamous Three Graces.Stage 3: Sunday 4th July, Welshpool CardiffThe final stage on British shores at the mens race takes the riders into Wales, starting from Welshpool. From mid-Wales, the race heads southwards and into the Brecon Beacons on a profile that tables over 3,000m of climbing. The climb to Caerphilly, named the Cte de Caerfilli for the Tour, will be the final ramp before diving down into the Welsh capital.Stage 4: Tuesday 6th July, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin Cherbourg-en-CotentinAfter a rest day, the Tour picks up where it left off on French soil, albeit in its most northerly flank in Normandy, right at the tip of the Cotentin peninsula. Its the 1,000 year anniversary of Normandys William the Conquerors birth, after all.As for the stage, the loop aroundd the peninsula offers some punchy ramps. The approach to the line in Cherbourg will be a false flat, similar to the one featured when the city played host to the Tour de France back in 2016.Stage 5: Wednesday 7th July, Pontorson PlumelecThe fifth stage moves into Brittany, where a hilly finale is expected after passing through Tour de France champion Louison Bobets hometown. The finale offers a double-ascent of the Cte de Cadoual near Plumelec, last used as a stage finish on the Tour back in 2008.Stage 6: Thursday 8th July, Vannes AngersFrom the Atlantic coast, the sixth stage gives the sprinters a chance, possibly their first on French soil.Angers hosted a stage finish at the Tour de France Femmes in 2025, but it hasnt hosted the mens race for some years now. Home to old Anjou dynasty, the city is surrounded by flatland, so expect a sprint by the citys medeival castle.Stage 7: Friday 9th July, Blois Chambord (ITT) The races first time-trial is set to be a royal affair in the Loire Valley, taking riders on a 38km-long course from from Blois to Chambord. Its the longest time-trial weve seen so early in a Tour, so itll give plenty of chances to gawk at the wealth of castles in this corner of western France.The Chteau de Chambord last hosted a Tour de France stage in 2005, but its more known for its blackberry-flavoured liquor, which bears its name.Stage 8: Saturday 10th July, Bourges Le Creusot According to race director Christian Prudhomme, the eighth stage will inspire the audacious. That tagline is perhaps down to the long 224km length and the five classified climbs are expected in the finale, including the Signal dUrchon, last featured in 2021 on a stage won by Matej Mohori.Stage 9: Sunday 11th July, Villars-les-Dombes Grand Colombier The races first summit finish comes at the end of week one, when the race heads into the Ain. Starting at the Villars-les-Dombes Bird Park, the peloton will cross the dpartement in the direction of the lower Jura mountains, where they will face a mountainous finale in the Bugey. The 17km-long climb is steady in gradient, providing a real challenge at the end of a week set for some GC switch-ups.The Grand Colombier has hosted two summit finishes at recent Tours de France in 2020 and 2023. Recently, it was visited by Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, when Isaac del Toro took the honours. Next year, it could be the turn of Paul Seixas, who grew up nearby to the so-called Pyramid of the Bugey.Stage 10: Tuesday 13th July, AnnecySallanchesAfter a second rest day, the Tour restarts on the banks of Lake Annecy. With 3,750m of elevation, the tenth stage will be a looped Alpine affair. This will give us a taster of the UCI Road World championships, which follow the same finale the following month. More specifically, itll give us a chance to see how the riders fare on the Cte de Domancy, which is will be integral to both races outcomes.Stage 11: Wednesday 14th July, Cluses Les SaisiesStage 11 resembles a more traditional Alpine stage, despite its usage of new climbs. Yes, after almost 4,000m of climbing, the Tour will visit Les Saisies for the first time via the Monte de Bisanne (12.4km at 8.3%).This is the stage selected to host the tape du Tour sportive the weekend prior to the Tours arrival. For those brave enough, itll take place on Sunday 11th July.Stage 12: Thursday 15th July, Chambry ValenceStage 12 takes riders out of the mountains southwestwards. Despite the nearby peaks, the stage will be very flat. That said, theres the chance that the course will be exposed to wind toward the run into Valence.Spinters often win in Valence, nicknamed gateway to the south. Andr Greipel, Peter Sagan, Mark Cavendish and most recently Jonathan Milan have struck gold here.Stage 13: Friday 16th July, AubenasMontpellierThe Tour makes a a return to the medeival town of Aubenas last used in 2009. From there, the race will head toward the Mediterranean, with a sprint expcted in Montepellier.Stage 14: Saturday 17th July, Montpellier MendeFrom Montpellier, the race enters a pocket of mountains rarely visited by the Tour de France.The profile is constantly rolling, totalling over 4,000m of elevation gain through the Languedoc peaks. The finale is a little more familiar though. The Cte la Croix Neuve has featured on several recent Tours, most recently in 2022.Stage 15: Sunday 18th July, Rodez AlbiWeek two closes with a rolling stage that could be built for the breakaway.The final 50km or so follow a stage used by the Tour de France Femmes in 2023, won by Ricarda Bauernfeiund from the escape group. The last time the mens race visited however, it was Wout van Aert who took the day.Stage 16: Tuesday 20th July, Toulouse Toulouse (ITT)Toulouse, known as the pink city, has been included in the Tour since its first edition in 1903. It has never hosted a time-trial, however. Thats set to change next summer as Toulouse plays host to a 33km-long race against the clock.The stage is mostly flat, apart from the Cte de Pech David, used at the 2025 race. After taming its gradients, which reach a maximum of 20%, a technical finish will spit the riders out in the city centre for a final run to the line.Stage 17: Wednesday 21st July, Muret PauWhats a Tour de France without a visit to Pau? This place always finds its way onto a Tour route, and in 2027 its likely to host a sprint finish.Stage 18: Thursday 22nd July, Pau Saint-Lary-Soulan Col de PortetChristian Prudhomme has described this stage as the hardest of this Tour de France. Thats for good reason, as it clocks up a total of 5,400m of elevation gain.After hitting the first climb, theres very little flatland. From there, we tick off Pyrenean classics, including the Tourmalet and Hourquette dAncizan. The final challenge however takes the riders to this editions highest point: the Col du Portet.The Col du Portet is one of the toughest and highest mountains you can find in the Pyrenees, at an 8.7% average gradient over its 16km ascent. The col has hosted the Tour twice in the past decade, most recently in 2021, when Tadej Pogaar won atop the 2,215m-high pass in the yellow jersey. Stage 19: Friday 23rd July, Hasparren Laruns The final mountain stage begins in the French Basque Country. In Basque fashion, were straight into the hills, with a double-whammy described by Christian Prudhomme as a Basque Col de la Croix de Fer.After the Col du Soudet, the peloton will simmer before the steep test up the Col de Marie Blanque. The summit is 18km from the finish, so any attacks there could prove decisive in the final fight for GC positions.The finishing town of Laruns has become a staple in recent years. It was conquered by the Slovenians, with Primo Rogli and Tadej Pogaar victorious here in 2018 and 2020 respectively. Most recently, Jai Hindley took the honours, and the yellow jersey, on the back of a Marie Blanque-Laruns finish.Stage 20: Saturday 24th July, Maubourget LibourneAfter the Pyrenees, the Tour will return to flatland on Stage 20. Why? Im not sure.Stage 21: Sunday 25th July, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Paris (Champs-lyses)We can only hope the Tour is still in play by the time the peloton reaches the national velodrome in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, where the final stage sets off.As has now become customary, the race will head into Paris to first tackle four flat laps of the Champs-Elyses before heading up to Montmartre for three laps up the Rue Lepic.The post Tour de France 2027 full route revealed with 71km of time-trials and 3 summit finishes appeared first on Cyclist.

Local councillors welcome project, with one stressing wider greenway need to go ahead. After repeated delays on projects to upgrade the Royal Canal to modern greenway standards between Phibsborough and Ashtown, Waterways Ireland is stepping in with an 850,000 upgrade to the shared canal path between Broombridge and Ashtown.The works include resurfacing of the towpath, localised widening, and replacing kissing gates with bollards, while chicane barriers will also be added.A spokesperson for the all-island waterways body said: Waterways Ireland is carrying out works to upgrade the Royal Canal Towpath between Broombridge (Lock 7) and Ashtown (Lock 10), funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA). Work began on Monday, 5th October 2026 and is due to be completed in early 2027. Waterways Ireland regrets that towpath users will face intermittent closures during the upgrade works and apologises for any inconvenience caused.Dublin City Council has for years planned to upgrade the route between Phibsborough and Ashtown, but a number of attempts have hit different roadblocks.Waterways Ireland said that a rolling towpath closure system, designed to minimise disruption to towpath users, is in place for the duration of the works.Individual sections of the towpath will close while upgrade works are being undertaken and will reopen immediately upon completion of the works. The majority of the path will now be between 2.5m and 3m in width, however, a narrower section (approx. 1.75m) exists between Broombridge and Ratoath Road, the spokesperson said.Waterways Ireland said it is also removing kissing gates and replacing them with bollards, while also adding staggered or chicane barriers as a speed management method.The Waterways Ireland spokesperson said: To enhance overall accessibility along the corridor, we are removing kissing gates at the entry points and replacing them with bollards. To mitigate the risk associated with high-speed motorised vehicles, chicane gates (Detail H, see below) will be installed at various locations. The layout has been widened significantly to ensure improved access and better connections with surrounding neighbourhoods.The layout provides a 5-metre distance between the gate leaves, with 1.5m clearance widths. This design will facilitate comfortable access for standard bicycles, cargo bikes, trailers, and standard mobility aids. The drop-bolt design also allows the gates to be locked open or potentially removed in the future, if safe to do so, the spokesperson said.The spokesperson added: In a related development, progress on active travel in the area has taken another significant step forward with the recent submission of a Planning Application by Fingal County Council for an 8.1km section of the Royal Canal Greenway between the 12th lock and the Dublin/Kildare County boundary at Leixlip. This represents one of the final stages in completing the Royal Canal Greenway between the Liffey and the Shannon.Cllr Colm ORourke (Fine Gael) said: This is a significant programme of works which brings together a number of improvements residents have been asking for over many years.He added: There will inevitably be some short-term disruption for people who use the canal for walking, cycling, exercise and commuting. However, this is a significant 850,000 investment bringing together a number of improvements residents have sought for many years.Cllr Feljin Jose (Green Party) said: This is a welcome and long overdue improvement, especially for people using mobility aids and cargo bikes.He added: However, Royal Canal Phase 4 is still needed to deliver segregation between cyclists and pedestrians and lighting to improve safety in the winter months.The last known progress on Phase 4, the city councils last section of the greenway to be updated, was surveying of the railway line to Maynooth which crosses the towpath where the is a very narrow unpass on the towpath route. That surveying work took place at the start of 2026.

Today, WTB is adding to its lineup of carbon mountain bike wheels with the launch of the CMR Light wheelset. This new XC-oriented wheelset pairs lightweight high-performance carbon rims with WTBs World Cup-proven Frequency 7X hubs to deliver wheels built for speed, but engineered to last. WTB says they were designed for riders seeking to maximize climbing efficiency while maintaining a lively and responsive ride feel both on the race course and off.CMR Light Wheels DetailsJust about three weeks ago, WTB introduced its new CGR i28 Carbon Gravel wheels. Now, the new CMR Light slots into the brands lineup for the XC crowd with a different rim shape/profile but utilizing the same Frequency 7X hubs. Heres what you need to know.Frequency 7X HubsWTB is clearly proud of its new Frequency 7X hubs and highlights them before any other part of the new CMR Light wheels. These are the same hubs raced by the Cannondale Factory Racing team on the World Cup XC circuit this year. That includes Luca Martin, who rode them to multiple World Cup victories, podiums, and the overall XCC and XCO titles. When WTB says World Cup-proven, thats what they mean.One of WTBs main talking points for the 7X hubs is the DLC (Diamond-Like Coating) on its ratchets. This reportedly increases the ratchets hardness while also significantly reducing friction compared to hard-plated chrome. Additionally, the inner ratchet ring uses a patent-pending splined interface, instead of threads, which is claimed to withstand twice the torque of threaded designs and makes it easier to service.On top of that, WTB says it uses larger-than-typical Enduro bearings throughout, including the freehub, which it claims increases the load rating per bearing by up to 38%. The stated benefits of this are a stiffer axle assembly, greater reliability, and longer service intervals.The Frequency 7X hubs are designed for use with straight-pull spokes and centerlock brake rotors. They come in regular Boost 15x110mm / 12x148mm axle spacing only, with options for SRAM XDR and Shimano Micro Spline freehub bodies.Lightweight Carbon RimsLight is in the name of the new CMR Light wheelset, and WTB designed a purpose-built lightweight carbon rim for the application. According to WTB, it has been engineered to deliver strength, stiffness, and impact resistance while also balancing small-bump compliance and precise, responsive handling.Like most modern mountain bike rims, the CMR Light has a 30mm internal width optimized for todays tire width and profiles. It has a hookless bead and a wide bead top to help reduce the chances of pinch flats. Each rim has 24 spoke holes with external reinforcement and 4D spoke drillings to optimize load distribution. Of course, the rims also include WTBs patented TCS technology for reliable tubeless performance.Lightweight DesignAccording to WTB, the complete CMR Light i30 wheelset weighs in at 1,300 grams (front: 609g, rear: 691g), including valves and rim tape. While there are obviously lighter XC wheelsets on the market, thats still pretty light and competitive with similar high-performance models like DT Swisss XRC 1200 Spline (1,303 grams), for example.SpecsRim: CarbonSize: 29 onlyInternal rim width: 30mmSpoke count: 24, straight-pullHub: Frequency 7X w/ DLC ratchetsRotor Interface: CenterlockFreehub bodies: SRAM XD, Shimano Micro SplineWeight: 1,300 grams (front: 609g, rear: 691g)Ride With ConfidenceLike its other carbon rims, WTB backs the new CMR Light with its Ride With Confidence Guarantee. If you break a WTB carbon rim while riding, as long as youre the original owner, well send you a replacement for free. No exceptions.PricingUSD: Front $850 /Rear $950 / Wheelset $1,800EUR: Front 727.45 /Rear 822.45 / Wheelset 1,549.90GBP: Front 609.50 /Rear 689.50 / Wheelset 1,299AvailabilityThe new CMR Light wheels are available directly from the brand or through authorized North American and European WTB dealers. Head to the WTB website to learn more or find a dealer near you.wtb.com