Welcome to Daily News, your roundup of news items from across the world of cycling. We keep this post updated throughout the week so that you can stay informed on all things bike racing, tech, industry, culture, advocacy, and more.
Here is what is making the headlines this week …
Friday, December 20, 2024
- Van Vleuten returns to cycling as ‘performance mentor’ for Fenix-Deceuninck
- Van Schip fined and suspended for track outburst
- Annika Langvad is returning to racing
- Pogačar takes Coll de Rates throne
- Spoon and WyndyMilla enter liquidation
Van Vleuten returns to cycling as ‘performance mentor’ for Fenix-Deceuninck
Annemiek van Vleuten is coming back to pro cycling to take on a new challenge, joining Fenix-Deceuninck as “performance mentor.” The 42-year-old Dutchwoman, one of the most decorated riders in history, retired from racing at the end of 2023.
“This new role is a fantastic challenge that perfectly aligns with my ambition to grow as a coach,” Van Vleuten said.
Fenix-Deceuninck, which looks to be a team on the rise as Puck Pieterse emerges as an up-and-coming star, also announced a kit deal with Alé that will see the team racing in multiple colors over the course of the season. Green, blue, and orange jerseys were unveiled at a press conference in Milan.
“Thanks to the UCI’s allowance to switch outfits up to three times per year, all three colors will appear at different moments throughout the season, both in and around the peloton,” the team said in its press release.
Van Schip fined and suspended for track outburst
The UCI has announced that Jan-Willem van Schip has been suspended from December 27 until February 1 and fined as well for an incident at Track Worlds where he “made indecent and very expressive gestures while leaving the track” after being relegated in the elimination race.
According to the UCI’s statement, the Dutchman “fully cooperated in the proceedings and acknowledged the violation of the UCI Regulations.”
Annika Langvad is returning to racing
Four years after announcing her retirement, mountain bike star Annika Langvad has said that she is returning to racing. The 40-year-old Dane had been working as a dentist and recently gave birth to a daughter.
“After some years away from racing at the hig[h]est level, it’s time to give it a go again with the Specialized Off-Road team,” she wrote on Instagram. “Why? Because I just cannot not do it.”
Pogačar takes Coll de Rates throne
The 2025 season is still more than a month away, but World Champion Tadej Pogačar is already busy. A recent Strava upload shows that the Slovenian now holds the KOM on the Coll de Rates climb located just outside Calpe, Spain. The climb is a popular training ground for many of the WorldTour’s best during the winter months.
In typical Pogačar fashion, the stats are hard to comprehend, with him clocking a time of 12:21 and an average speed of 31.2 km/h on a climb that averages 5.5%. Although Pogačar taking the KOM is no surprise, the rider he has ousted in the process is not a name you might expect or even recognise for such a coveted segment. Back at the start of 2024, Peter Øxenberg Hansen, a neo-pro for Uno-X Mobility, set the fastest time, now some 17 seconds behind Pogačar.
Spoon and WyndyMilla enter liquidation
Spoon Group Ltd, the parent company of Spoon Customs, WyndyMilla, and Gun Control Custom Paint, has entered liquidation. Announcing its closure, the British company said “the business has found itself in an impossible position” despite efforts to adapt to challenging market conditions. “This is an incredibly sad day for everyone involved,” said Andy Carr, Director of Spoon Group Ltd. “In a market where demand has dropped significantly and costs have risen, the decision to enter liquidation was necessary to address these challenges, though it is wholly regrettable.”
This news follows a turbulent week in the cycling industry. On Wednesday, GT Bicycles confirmed restructuring plans, while Rocky Mountain and Austrian giant Pierer Mobility AG, parent company of KTM motorcycles and several e-bike brands, also announced similar moves later in the week.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
- Movistar gets a new look and a sponsor renewal too
- UCI hands out awards for efforts in cycling accessibility and sustainability
- Vernon breaks collarbone in training camp crash
- Vinokourov: ‘Wasn’t possible yet’ for Cavendish to join ‘decision-making’ part of management
- Christen renews with UAE through 2030
- Proposed vehicle safety law honors Magnus White
Movistar gets a new look and a sponsor renewal too
Movistar is so closely tied to their traditional blue kit that the team likes to call its riders “the blues,” but the Spanish outfit has joined the growing number of squads getting a new look for 2025.
Movistar has unveiled a Gobik-made kit that swaps blue for a predominantly white design with blue accents. The new kit reveal coincides with the announcement that the team has renewed with primary sponsor Telefónica, the multinational firm that owns the telecom giant Movistar, through 2029. In an Instagram post, the team said that the new look was inspired by the motif of “digital brutalism.” [Instagram]
UCI hands out awards for efforts in cycling accessibility and sustainability
The UCI’s inaugural Cycling for All and Sustainability Awards wrapped up in Abu Dhabi on Thursday evening, spotlighting initiatives that merge cycling with environmental action. Held during the UCI Mobility and Bike City Forum, the four awards showcased projects redefining the future of active mobility.
Australia’s AusBike program claimed the UCI Cycling for All Award for teaching bike safety to nearly 40,000 kids in its first year, while the HERO Dolomites got the UCI Climate Action Award with its net-zero emission events in the Alps. Copenhagen snagged the Bike City Award for its growing network of Cycle Superhighways, and BEAT Cycling Club’s “TRAINingcamp” flipped the script on pro cycling travel, swapping planes for trains – and was awarded the UCI Rainbow Award.
Following the awards ceremony, UCI President David Lappartient said: “We are thrilled to reward such outstanding initiatives, all dedicated to making our sport more accessible, more sustainable and focused on getting more people to use the bicycle as an everyday form of transport.”
Vernon breaks collarbone in training camp crash
Ethan Vernon broke his left collarbone in a crash during Israel-Premier Tech’s training camp in Spain, the team said on social media on Thursday.
The 24-year-old Brit is now recovering from a successful surgery as rider and team hope that the incident will not have too great an impact on the start of his 2025 campaign.
Vinokourov: ‘Wasn’t possible yet’ for Cavendish to join ‘decision-making’ part of management
In an interview with Cyclingnews this week, Alexandre Vinokourov said that although Astana Qazaqstan and Mark Cavendish have a “good relationship,” they could not agree on a role for the Manxman to continue with the squad into 2025.
“Mark didn’t want to just be an ambassador for the team, Mark wanted to be part of the decision-making structure but that wasn’t possible yet,” Vinokourov said. “We still have a good relationship and we’ll see what happens later. Maybe in the future.” [Cyclingnews]
Christen renews with UAE through 2030
20-year-old Jan Christen has joined a growing list of riders with exceptionally long contracts at the top-ranked team in the world. The Swiss prospect has signed a deal that will keep him at UAE Team Emirates XRG through 2030 alongside Tadej Pogačar and fellow star prospect Pablo Torres.
“He is a big talent and we believe he has the right attitude and qualities to continue his progression with us,” said team boss Mauro Gianetti. “In his first year he has shown his ability to win but also to be part of a team and work as a team player which is very important quality for us. We want to see him continue to develop both as a rider and as a person.”
Proposed vehicle safety law honors Magnus White
When rising American cyclocross and mountain bike racer Magnus White was struck and killed by a driver last year, his parents, Jill and Michael, vowed to press for new laws to make cycling safer. This week, Joe Neguse, the United States Representative for Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District (where the Whites live) introduced the Magnus White Safety Act to do just that. The act builds on new safety regulations from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), finalized this year, that would require automatic pedestrian detection and emergency braking as standard equipment in all new passenger vehicles by September 2029.
The act extends that requirement to bicycle and motorcycle detection, but its real power would be codifying agency rules in federal law; currently NHTSA rules can be overturned in court or simply reversed by executive action. The bill must run a gauntlet of obstacles to become law, starting with committee hearings.
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
- GreenEdge teams get a brand new look from MAAP
- Rik Van Looy dies at 90
- Chris King’s limited edition Titanium headsets return
- Red Bull becomes a minor sponsor of Tudor
- Wolf Tooth releases Inline mount for EnCase pumps
- Selle Italia buys Vittoria shoes
- Post Carry Co launches new Slick Pack bikepacking collection
GreenEdge teams get a brand new look from MAAP
Australian clothing outfit MAAP has signed a multi-year sponsorship to supply kit for teams under the umbrella of the GreenEdge organization: Jayco-AlUla, Liv-AlUla-Jayco, and Liv-AlUla-Jayco Continental Team. On Wednesday, they unveiled a new look for 2025 that will see riders in those squads trade blue, white, and orange for a bold purple with green accents.
“Since founding MAAP a decade ago, partnering with GreenEdge has been a long-held dream of ours,” said Jarrad Smith, co-founder and co-CEO of the Melbourne-based kit brand. [Instagram]
Rik Van Looy dies at 90
Belgian cycling legend Rik Van Looy has died at age 90 after an illness. One of the sport’s brightest stars in the 1950s and ’60s, Van Looy won all five Monuments during his career (some more than once, for a total of eight Monument wins), took two world road titles, and compiled 37 stage victories across all three Grand Tours.
Friends and career rivals have paid tribute to Van Looy amid his passing, with the likes of Eddy Merckx saying that Van Looy “was a super champion who was almost unbeatable in the Classics.”
Chris King’s limited edition Titanium headsets return
Once in a while, Chris King produces a batch of its iconic headsets in a harder and more durable titanium material. Priced at US$300, the Oregon-based manufacturer has just announced a titanium version of its Dropset (IS) headsets. With limited availability, these feature a matte finish and include a titanium bolt. It’s the sort of headset you’d move from bike to bike, but unfortunately, headset sizes are hardly as standardised as they used to be. [Chris King]
Red Bull becomes a minor sponsor of Tudor
In addition to bringing Marc Hirschi and Julian Alaphilippe aboard for 2025, Swiss ProTeam Tudor is also adding a major brand, albeit as a minor sponsor. Red Bull, which is a title sponsor of the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team, will be Tudor’s “official energy drink partner,” a move that represents a small but not insignificant increase in Red Bull’s cycling footprint.
Wolf Tooth releases Inline mount for EnCase pumps
Wolf Tooth’s EnCase pumps are designed to stash the company’s multi-tool and/or tubeless plug kit within. The pumps include a traditional mount that sit to the side of a bottle cage, but now the company has announced an optional inline mount (US$15) that sits centered on the frame (predominately aimed at bikes with accessory mounts beneath the top tube). [Wolf Tooth]
Selle Italia buys Vittoria shoes
Italian saddle brand Selle Italia is branching out to one of the other contact points between rider and bicycle with the acquisition of Vittoria Cycling Shoes. The footwear brand, which is not related to the tiremaker, was founded in 1976 but has traditionally been a smaller player in the cycling shoe market than other Italian marques like Sidi or Fizik.
Post Carry Co launches new Slick Pack bikepacking collection
US-based bag and accessory brand Post Carry Co has introduced a new Slim Pack bikepacking collection, designed for speed-focused riders. The range includes a bento-style top tube bag ($42 pre-order), a frame bag in two sizes ($60), and a roll-up seat pack ($80). The bags are made with waterproof polyester and have RF-welded seams for maximum weatherproofness.
The collection is available for pre-order mid-December and ships globally from January 2025. [Post Carry Co]
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
- No ‘cross for Pidcock ‘this year’
- UAE gets a new name
- British Cycling gets £39 million of government funding
- Gee to target Giro GC
No ‘cross for Pidcock ‘this year’
Tom Pidcock has announced that he will not race cyclocross “this year,” although he did say that he plans to “return to the field next year,” which is technically only two weeks away. The former world champion in the discipline has other priorities as he makes the switch from the Ineos Grenadiers to Q36.5.
“With a lot of change I want to make sure I have the time to settle into a new environment to get to know my new team and teammates well,” Pidcock wrote on Instagram. “But so far my plan will be to return to the field next year.”
Where Pidcock will race next, then, remains to be seen, as his road program has not yet been announced for 2025 either.
UAE gets a new name
UAE Team Emirates will become UAE Team Emirates XRG in 2025. The top-ranked squad in the men’s peloton had already unveiled kit for next season hinting at the change.
On Tuesday, they made it official with the announcement that XRG – part of Abu Dhabi state-owned oil company ADNOC – will be part of the team name moving forward.
British Cycling gets £39 million of government funding
As Cycling Weekly reports, the British government has granted British Cycling £39 million in advance of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The hefty sum is apparently the largest granted to any sport out of the total of £330 million that the British government has set aside for the purpose, and it also represents an increase on what British Cycling received last Olympic cycle. [Cycling Weekly]
Gee to target Giro GC
Derek Gee, who rode to ninth overall at the Tour de France last year, will target the general classification at the Giro d’Italia in 2025. Gee enjoyed a breakthrough performance at the Italian Grand Tour back in 2023, coming close to stage wins on several occasions.
“Having raced to a top-10 result in his maiden Tour de France this year, he will once again target the general classification as he continues his development as a GC rider,” Israel-Premier Tech General Manager Kjell Carlström said. “This means our Tour de France will be more stage-hunting focused as we look to add to our three previous stage wins.”
Monday, December 16, 2024
- Cavendish to be honored with BBC SPOTY Lifetime Achievement award
- Dutch Federation gets government funding to help with moto support for races
- Tratnik: ‘I felt like a robot at Visma’
- Iserbyt’s sciatica flares up
- Tech Quick Hits
Cavendish to be honored with BBC SPOTY Lifetime Achievement award
Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) will be given a Lifetime Achievement award at the upcoming BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, 13 years after he won the main award itself back in 2011. The 39-year-old Manxman will be honored alongside various other British sports stars on Tuesday.
“I’ve been riding for 20 years and I’ve done everything I can so to be awarded this is something very, very special,” Cavendish told the BBC.
“I’m very fortunate I’ve done everything I wanted to do, and proud that’s more than many other people have done as well. I always dreamed of having my name alongside those greats I grew up watching.”
The Lifetime Achievement award comes at the end of a historic season in which Cavendish set a new record for career stage wins at the Tour de France, going one ahead on Eddy Merckx’s 34. With his new mark of 35 in the books, Cavendish is retiring from the pro peloton. He has said that he hopes to continue in cycling in a management capacity, although it’s not clear if he has firm plans to do that with any particular team just yet. Daniel Benson reported on his Substack recently that he will not be staying on with his current team as it becomes XDS-Astana for 2025.
Dutch Federation gets government funding to help with moto support for races
The Dutch cycling scene has been mired in uncertainty over next year’s racing calendar since it was announced that police support will be unavailable for a lengthy stretch due to a NATO summit, but as Wielerflits reports, the government will provide €215,000 to the Dutch cycling federation (the KNWU) for planning volunteer motorcycle escorts.
It remains to be seen whether the move will allow the Dutch racing calendar – and events like the Amstel Gold Race – to proceed normally. [Wielerflits]
Tratnik: ‘I felt like a robot at Visma’
As he prepares to embark on his first season with new team Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, Jan Tratnik has reflected on his time at Visma-Lease a Bike in an interview with Slovenian outlet Vecer. The 34-year-old pointed out that while he “felt good” and “didn’t lack anything” at his former team, he is looking forward to the “different role” he will have now – a role that will see him race Strade Bianche, the Giro d’Italia, and the Tour de France in 2025.
“I’m a mentor to the young people, I think I can help a lot,” Tratnik said. “I didn’t have that role in Visma, I was more like a robot.” [Vecer]
Iserbyt’s sciatica flares up
Eli Iserbyt was well-positioned to battle for the overall World Cup title heading into Namur on Sunday, but he DNFed as the sciatica pain that has long plagued him returned. The chronic issue is cause for concern with a busy slate of World Cup races coming up.
“It now has to be treated by the physiotherapist and then we hope for improvement,” Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal boss Jürgen Mettepenningen told Het Nieuwsblad. “Hopefully time will turn around.” [Het Nieuwsblad]
Tech Quick Hits
Component brand Logos has a new ultralight XC wheelset. The Gida SL 29 (US$1,850) features a 30 mm internal-width carbon rim with an asymmetrical cross-section, SRAM XD or Shimano Microspline freehub, and weighs a claimed 1,240 grams per pair … Event Gear, a Colorado-based snowsports brand from longtime Sampson Sports owner Eric Sampson, has a biodegradeable hot chain wax called SimplyFast, made without PFAS, metals or other toxins. It’s US$39 for a 300 g brick.
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