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 …
Sunday, December 15, 2024
- Thrilling World Cup Namur whets the appetite for ‘Kerstperiode’
- Andrew Strohmeyer and Vida Lopez de San Roman win big at US CX Nats
- Letizia Paternoster taken to hospital after training crash during team camp
- Quick Hits
Thrilling World Cup Namur whets the appetite for ‘Kerstperiode’
The third round of this season’s UCI CX World Cup (after the cancellation of last weekend’s Cabras round due to extreme weather) took place on the iconic Namur course, a.k.a. Citadelcross, and in advance of the ‘Kerstperiode’, and the arrival of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert on the men’s side, the riders turned up with all guns blazing.
Namur is perhaps one of the most wearing and attritional courses of the whole calendar, so anyone experiencing even the slightest off-day can see even minor weaknesses magnified. Fem van Empel was one rider who struggled in the mud with multiple tumbles and mechanical hampering the world champion, and ultimately ruling her out of podium contention. Meanwhile, the Fenix-Deceuninck duo of Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Puck Pieterse – in her first race of the CX season – battled with the indomitable Lucinda Brand. Only at the end of the long race did Alvarado overcome and strike out alone and take a well-deserved first World Cup win of the season.
The men’s race was almost as thrilling an affair, with young rider Emiel Verstrynge a key protagonist out front, along with World Cup leader Michael Vanthourenhout and Toon Aerts, with Pim Ronhaar chasing furiously – Eli Iserbyt’s negative relationship with Namur continued with a DNF in the early laps. Verstrynge led the field over the finish lane after six laps but the 22-year-old appeared to be flagging, so waited for his older compatriot in the leader’s jersey, and Aerts made it three soon after. Both Aerts and Vanthourenhout looked best equipped of the three weary riders, but it was the latter who had the reserves to take advantage on the last time through the off-camber section and solo to the finish, completing back-to-back wins this weekend and extend his World Cup lead.
Andrew Strohmeyer and Vida Lopez de San Roman win big at US CX Nats
Former U23 national champion Andrew Strohmeyer added a first elite title to his growing palmarès, out-kicking defending champion Eric Brunner and Scott Funston after the trio – who also stacked the podium last season – broke free of the pack on the second lap.
In the women’s race, it was a two-up battle between Vida Lopez de San Roman and two-time U23 champion Katie Clouse, the pair clearly the best throughout the six-lap race. A hand cramp hampered Clouse in the finale so last year’s silver medalist was unable to react when her 18-year-old rival launched to a terrific victory.
Letizia Paternoster taken to hospital after training crash during team camp
Italian cyclist Letizia Paternoster was on training camp with her team Liv AlUla Jayco in Spain when she suffered a crash on a descent. Posting on Instagram with images of nasty abrasions to her face, wrist, neck and collarbone area, the 25-year-old wrote that she’s had to leave camp early to return home to Italy for further examinations.
“I am sad to say that I have to leave my training camp in Spain early after suffering a bad crash on a downhill. I am going home to Italy for more checks. It’s tough to take but I know that after the rain comes the sun. Now, I will take the time to recover but I will be back soon and stronger.” [Instagram]
Quick Hits
Odd Christian Eiking swaps Uno-X Mobility for Unibet Tietema Rockets for 2025 … Damiano Caruso has told Italian media that he’s “90 percent sure” next season will be his last as a professional cyclist.
Saturday, December 14, 2024
- Roglič is the first of the ‘Big Four’ to confidently announce his 2025 programme
- Tectonic shifts continue in pro mountain biking
- Soudal-QuickStep reveal minor changes to team kit for 2025
- Quick Hits
Roglič is the first of the ‘Big Four’ to confidently announce his 2025 programme
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe is in the midst of something of a pre-season launch at their winter camp, and the day after revealing the team’s 2025 kit, Saturday saw a press conference in which Primož Roglič and co. made some big statements about his plans for next season.
A few months after sealing a fourth Vuelta a España overall victory following a disappointing withdrawal from the Tour de France, the 35-year-old has committed to returning to the Giro d’Italia, a race he won on last appearance in 2023.
“It was a fairly easy choice,” team boss Ralph Denk told gathered media. “He normally finishes in the Vuelta, so it’s better that we start with the first Grand Tour of the year now, also now that we are going through Slovenia in the Giro. The Tour was also an easy choice.”
Neither reigning Giro and Tour champion Tadej Pogačar nor Jonas Vingegaard have ruled out the first Grand Tour of the season, but with the Tour such a huge target – and the Vuelta being the only three-week race missing from Pogačar’s palmarès – it seems very unlikely either of them will be at the start. The same goes for Remco Evenepoel, whose possible participation became even less likely after his recent training crash.
Tectonic shifts continue in pro mountain biking
At the close of this Olympic cycle, there are big moves happening in the cross-country mountain biking world. The biggest recent transfers include Mona Mitterwallner and Simon Andreassen’s departures from Cannondale, which has already said goodbye to world champion Alan Hatherly, and is set to embark on a new project with Charlie Aldridge as the figurehead and four now-open berths yet to be filled.
Elsewhere, Bjorn Riley leaves Trek Future Racing after three successful years with the U23 outfit, culminating in a first World Cup win at Les Gets this year. 2020 Olympic champion Jolanda Neff is also departing the Trek family, along with Anton Cooper, and a host of downhill pros.
Scott-SRAM, meanwhile is losing a prolific winner of their own in Kate Courtney, while Loana Lacomte is leaving Canyon CLLCTV. Exactly where all the departing riders are set to continue their careers is yet to be announced.
Soudal-QuickStep reveal minor changes to team kit for 2025
After the end of transfer season, we’re now firmly in new-kit-day announcements, and the latest to show off their new threads is Soudal-QuickStep. The big reveal was made shortly after the new kit was leaked on social media, showing a design that is very similar to that of 2024, the only difference being that the base blue colour is slightly less solid, adopting a wispy, smokey look that incorporates more red and light blue smears, which apparently is a throwback to team kits gone by.
Quick Hits
Fem van Empel and Michael Vanthourenhout kept control in the mud to win X20 Herentals … The 2025 Volta a Catalunya will be even harder than usual with three tough summit finishes.
Friday, December 13, 2024
- Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe unveils new Specialized kit for 2025
- Hagens Berman Jayco becomes Jayco-AlUla’s development team
- Hammerhead adds app sideloading to Karoo computers
- Van der Poel will race ‘cross Worlds
- Quick Hits
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe unveils new Specialized kit for 2025
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe has revealed their kit and the brand that will be providing it for 2025, confirming that Specialized will take over from Sportful as the team’s kit supplier – as Escape Collective originally reported in September.
As the team announced on Friday, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe “will be fully decked out in Specialized gear, from helmets to shoes,” albeit with Koo providing eyewear and Roeckl Sports gloves. The new jersey design adds a substantial block of white to the look, extending through to the back of the jersey to facilitate “more cooling in hot weather.”
XDS-Astana also revealed their look for 2025 on Friday, joining other recent kit unveilers like Bahrain Victorious and Arkéa-B&B Hotels.
Hagens Berman Jayco becomes Jayco-AlUla’s development team
Hagens Berman Jayco has made an agreement with Jayco-AlUla that will see the Axel Merckx-run Continental team become the Australian WorldTour squad’s official development team. First founded in 2009, the Hagens Berman organization has long been one of the most prominent development squads in cycling, with one of its former riders – Eddie Dunbar – already in the ranks of Jayco WorldTour outfit.
“Growth and helping to develop the next generation has always been important to GreenEdge Cycling and team owner Gerry Ryan and by having Hagens Berman Jayco now part of the GreenEdge family is something we are all very proud of and it will provide a junction, a clear pathway for riders to envisage, a stepping stone into the WorldTour,” said Jayco AlUla general manager Brent Copeland.
Hammerhead adds app sideloading to Karoo computers
Hammerhead has announced app sideloading support for its Karoo cycling computers, available from today. The update means users are able to customise their device features more easily with third-party apps.
The sideloading feature uses Karoo’s Android-based system for the installation process, and according to Hammerhaed is the first step towards making third party partner apps directly accessible on the device. Hammerhead said that further updates to enhance app access are planned in the coming months.
Van der Poel will race ‘cross Worlds
Mathieu van der Poel has unveiled the details of his cyclocross campaign, which will get underway on December 22 at the Zonhoven World Cup round and will encompass all of the subsequent World Cup races except for the Benidorm round.
All told, Van der Poel will make 11 cyclocross starts, culminating in the World Championships in Liévin, France.
Quick Hits
Carbon framebuilder Argonaut is steadily branching out into wheels, with its new D33 gravel (US$2,800) and R43 road (US$3,400) available for purchase in early 2025 … The New York City council heard testimony this week on a proposed bill called Priscilla’s Law which would require owners of electric micromobility vehicles (e-bikes and scooters) to purchase and display license plates … Mikel Landa is not sure what is he doing after his Soudal-Quick Step contract is up at the end of 2025.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
- Kopecky: Vollering ‘should show a bit more respect’
- UCI proposes ban carbon monoxide for performance enhancement
- Lapierre returns to WorldTour with Team Picnic PostNL
- California program offers up to $2,000 off e-bikes for eligible buyers
- O’Connor will return to the Tour de France but with measured expectations
- Quick Hits
Kopecky: Vollering ‘should show a bit more respect’
After Demi Vollering said in a recent interview that she thought soon-to-be-former SD Worx-ProTime teammate Lotte Kopecky had “tried to avoid” her during the season and “was more focused on herself,” Kopecky has responded with criticism of her own in an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws.
“There is clearly something bothering Demi Vollering, but I don’t know exactly what,” Kopecky said.
“I think it’s completely unnecessary to start kicking people now. I think Demi should remember that this team has given her a lot. Demi is a really good rider, but this team has brought her to where she is now and I hope she is very grateful for that and then she should show a bit more respect for that.”
After spending the past three seasons as teammates – often targeting the same races – Vollering and Kopecky will be rivals in 2025 as the former heads to FDJ-Suez. [HLN]
UCI proposes ban on carbon monoxide for performance enhancement
The UCI said on Thursday that its management committee will decide at its next meeting whether to ban the use of carbon monoxide as a performance enhancer due to health concerns surrounding the technique. The meeting is scheduled to take place between January 31 and February 1 of next year.
The governing body pointed to various side effects “and the complete lack of knowledge about the long-term effects of repeated inhalation of carbon monoxide” as the reasons to classify carbon monoxide as a banned performance enhancer. The UCI does not plan to ban the use of the carbon monoxide rebreather, a training tool to assess hemoglobin mass. You can read more about this story here at Escape Collective.
Lapierre returns to WorldTour with Team Picnic PostNL
DSM Firmenich-PostNL will have a new name and a new bike for 2025. French bike brand Lapierre has announced a four-year partnership with what will be called Team Picnic PostNL in the new year, a move that marks a return to the UCI WorldTour for Lapierre, which was last ridden at the highest level by Groupama-FDJ. DSM rode on Scott bikes in 2024.
The agreement, which is supported by Lapierre’s parent company Accell, will see the brand supply Xelius DRS and Aerostorm DRS models to the team’s men’s and women’s squads, as well as its UCI Continental development team, from January 2025.
California program offers up to $2,000 off e-bikes for eligible buyers
Next week, a new state program in California will start issuing vouchers for up to $2,000 off the purchase of a new e-bike. The California E-Bike Incentive Project is a point-of-sale incentive, meaning the discount is taken at time of purchase. The program is open to California residents over 18 years old who meet financial eligibility requirements (gross household income up to 300% of federal poverty level). The application window for the first round of vouchers opens at 6PM Pacific on Wednesday, December 18.
There are currently no federal e-bike incentive programs, but a number of cities and states offer their own; some are open to all applicants while others are income-qualified. Similar programs are also available in other countries. The Climate Action Center has a database of over 200 programs worldwide. [California E-bike Incentive Project]
O’Connor will return to the Tour de France but with measured expectations
Ben O’Connor, who is leaving Decathlon-AG2R to join Jayco-AlUla, has told Rouleur that he will race the Tour de France next year, while also acknowledging that Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) are on another level. Nonetheless, the 29-year-old Australian said that taking on the sport’s biggest event is preferable to trying to avoid the two superstars by racing elsewhere.
“You could go along that line … do the Giro and Vuelta every year If I wanted to, but then you avoid the Tour which is the pinnacle, and you want to be at the Tour because it is the pinnacle,” O’Connor said. “It’s the biggest race of the year and you want to be there. Sport is full of greats … you can’t win everything, you can’t avoid it because that’s professional sport, you just have to get on with it.” [Rouleur]
Quick Hits
35-year-old MotoGP rider Aleix Espargaró will race for Lidl-Trek’s development team next year … Grace Brown and Saya Sakakibara win AusCycling’s Oppy Award for Cyclists of the Year … Ceratizit-WNT signs Afghan national champion Fariba Hashimi.
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
- A new women’s second division and Astana’s new name
- UAE Team Emirates is no longer using a carbon monoxide rebreather
- Lefevere: ‘It wasn’t a forced farewell’
- Giro still possible but in doubt for Evenepoel
A new women’s second division and Astana’s new name
The UCI has published its list of registered teams for 2025, confirming the teams entering the new women’s second division and also unveiling the new name of the team currently known as Astana Qazaqstan.
At the top level, there are no additions or subtractions from the WorldTour ranks, with all 18 men’s WorldTour squads and all 15 women’s WorldTour squads returning for next season. There were a handful of teams for whom registration was still pending as of the last update, but the UCI License Commission approved their entry to the WorldTour. The only other previously unconfirmed and (somewhat) notable change on either the men’s or the women’s side was the new name XDS-Astana, as the Kazakhstani team adds Chinese brand XDS as a new sponsor.
The women’s ranks are also adding their own ProTeam (second division) category for 2025, meaning that both men’s and women’s racing will have three UCI-registered divisions. The inaugural women’s ProTeams are Cofidis, EF Education-Oatly, Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi, Arkéa B&B Hotels, St Michel-Mavic-Auber93, Volkerwessels, and Winspace Orange Seal.
UAE Team Emirates is no longer using a carbon monoxide rebreather
Five months after Escape Collective first reported on their use of the carbon monoxide rebreather tool as a training guide, UAE Team Emirates has publicly said that they are no longer using the device, according to Cyclingnews.
“Two years ago, we decided to assess whether or not our riders were improving to our expectations. And so, it was an exercise that we conducted over 18 months and assessed the hemoglobin mass using carbon monoxide rebreathing which is a very standardized technique with very specific equipment,” UAE performance coordinator Jeroen Swart said.
“Actually, we finished that process now and our results show that our training camps are actually very well suited to the maximal adaptation for our riders which we see in the performances as well.”
Lefevere: ‘It wasn’t a forced farewell’
Having announced his retirement from leading the Soudal-Quick Step squad he founded two decades ago, Patrick Lefevere has provided some details on the when and why of his decision, as reported by Het Nieuwsblad. The Belgian team boss pointed to his age (“I’ll be seventy in January”) as a reason for his retirement and also said that this was not a sudden decision, nor was it at someone else’s behest.
“It’s not a forced farewell. I don’t know if I would let myself be forced,” he said. “No, it’s really okay. The decision wasn’t made yesterday or the day before. A few weeks ago I went to team owner Zdenek Bakala in Switzerland. We talked then and together we came to this decision.” [Het Nieuwsblad]
Giro still possible but in doubt for Evenepoel
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) had shown interest in riding both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France in 2025, but the chances of seeing the Olympic champ at the Italian Grand Tour seem slimmer after his training crash.
“If I’m allowed to cycle outside again in February, I won’t be able to race again until early April,” he said in a Studio Brussel radio appearance. “The Giro will come a bit early, but it’s always possible. We’ll see.”
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
- Pogačar will return to the Tour of Flanders
- Schwalbe launches a new gravel tire
- Van Rysel claims the all-new RCR-F is 13 watts faster than the RCR
- Dennis pleads guilty to lesser charge
- Enduro pro Masip says she was sexually assaulted at a World Cup race
- Zakarin bet on teammate Kittel during the Tour
- Quick Hits
Pogačar will return to the Tour of Flanders
As UAE Team Emirates gathers in Spain for a training camp, the squad has unveiled some of the 2025 calendar plans for a few big stars. Among the highlights are Tadej Pogačar’s early-season goals: The world champ has his sights set on several one-day races, including cobbled events, ahead of his later-season objectives.
Pogačar will return to Strade Bianche to attempt a title defense in 2025, and Milan-San Remo is a big goal for him as well. He will also race the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem ahead of a third career start at the Tour of Flanders, which he won in 2023. Then he will race the Ardennes Classics before he begins to build towards the Tour de France. The rest of his calendar remains undecided.
Meanwhile, Adam Yates and rising star Juan Ayuso are both expected to race the Giro d’Italia next year.
Schwalbe launches a new gravel tire
Schwalbe has announced a new G-ONE RX gravel tire alongside updated versions of the G-One R in its new G-One R Pro and G-One RS Pro tires. The new Pro tires are said to offer 10% lower rolling resistance than their predecessors, while the RX is a brand new tire designed for particularly rocky and muddy terrain.
Retaining the boomerang tread pattern of the G-ONE R that Schwalbe claims reduces rolling resistance, the RX version features more pronounced knobs and paired outer blocks for improved cornering traction inspired by its cyclo-cross tires. The open intermediate tread pattern maintains grip on steep climbs and self-cleaning in muddy conditions. Schwalbe has incorporated a new carcass construction with three plies on the sidewall and a reinforced V-Guard belt under the tread, in a bid to enhance puncture protection without increasing weight. The improved Addix Race compound further reduces rolling resistance, making the G-ONE RX a high-performance gravel tire, ideal for demanding off-road adventures.
The new tire is available in 40, 45, and 50 mm widths with both black or “transparent” (tan) sidewalls priced at €75 / $83. Escape Collective will have the new tire in for a review coming soon. [Schwalbe]
Van Rysel claims the all-new RCR-F is 13 watts faster than the RCR
After being leaked at the Tour De France earlier this year, Van Rysel has quietly revealed an all-new aero bike that joins the brand’s RCR race bike. The RCR-F was originally speculated to be called the FCR in line with the brand’s other aero-focused products. However, it has retained the RCR moniker, adding the F suffix, which stands for fast.
On that front, the new bike is claimed to be 13 watts faster than the RCR, with an increase in front-end stiffness of 7%. The new bike will be used by World Tour team Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale in 2025 with the RCR remaining as the team’s lighter-weight all-rounder platform. [Van Rysel]
Dennis pleads guilty to lesser charge
Rohan Dennis has pled guilty to an aggravated count of creating likelihood of harm in connection to the death of his wife Melissa Hoskins. He had been charged with dangerous driving causing death and driving without due care, but made a plea deal with prosecutors to accept the lesser charge.
You can read more on the story here at Escape Collective.
Enduro pro Masip says she was sexually assaulted at a World Cup race
Spanish Enduro racer Ares Masip said in an Instagram post last week that she was sexually assaulted at the 2023 Leogang World Cup race. She did not name the alleged perpetrator but said that it was a fellow rider.
Masip said that she filed a police report and also a complaint with the UCI. [Instagram]
Zakarin bet on teammate Kittel during the Tour
Former pro Ilnur Zakarin wrote on Facebook that he placed a bet on then-fellow Katusha rider Marcel Kittel during the Tour de France.
“I wished Marcel good luck, and I covered him from the wind, fed and protected him all day. I fell behind to the finish line, and when I got there, I immediately asked how he finished? He calmly replied that something went wrong today,” Zakarin wrote. “After that, I no longer bet on sports.” [Facebook]
Quick Hits
US vehicle rack brand RockyMounts has been acquired by Clarus Corporation, which owns outdoor brands like Black Diamond and Pieps … Remco Evenepoel and the Belgian postal service team up for the “Remco Reflex” sticker to prevent dooring … Eddy Merckx successfully underwent surgery after his crash.
Monday, December 9, 2024
- Colnago unveils the radical Y1RS aero bike
- Van Gils signs with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
- Pidcock will still ride Pinarello off-road even as Q36.5 stays on Scott
- Elite Direto XR trainers now compatible with Zwift’s Virtual Shifting
- Merckx hospitalized after crash
Colnago unveils the radical Y1RS aero bike
Following last week’s leak, Colnago has officially launched the Y1RS, its radical new aero race bike that claims to save 20 watts at 50km/h over the V4RS. Built under UCI’s revised 8:1 tube-depth rules, the bike fully prioritises aerodynamics with its distinctive offset seat tube and “CC.Y1” gull-wing handlebars, resulting in a 19% smaller frontal profile compared to its predecessor.
Designed with input from UAE Team Emirates and in collaboration between Politecnico di Milano and Khalifa University, the Y1RS features a steeper geometry for an aggressive racing position, which Colnago says should make it ideal for flat and rolling races.
Ronan McLaughlin already analyzed the frame ahead of its launch for Escape Collective, and he is now on-site with UAE Team Emirates to gather more details. Currently, the bike is exclusive to the pro team with consumer availability expected in April. Prices start from €12,300 (c. US$13,000) with SRAM Red AXS build.
Van Gils signs with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
After making an early exit from Lotto Dstny, Maxim Van Gils has a new team. The 25-year-old Belgian will join Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe in 2025.
“I am grateful that, after Maxim expressed his desire to change teams, his advisor, Stéphane Heulot, and I handled the situation professionally,” Red Bull team boss Ralph Denk said. Van Gils reached an agreement with Heulot’s Lotto Dstny squad to terminate his contract two weeks ago despite having a deal in place.
Pidcock will still ride Pinarello off-road and Scott on the road for Q36.5
Tom Pidcock will race for a new team in 2025, but he will continue to ride on Pinarello for his off-road adventures, even though his new team apparently still has a deal in place to race Scott bikes next season. Pinarello, whose owner Ivan Glasenberg provides financial backing for Q36.5, announced the news on Monday, saying that Pidcock would continue to ride its bikes for any mountain bike, cyclocross, or gravel races.
Scott reaffirmed to Escape Collective that it has an existing partnership with Q36.5 for road racing in 2025, and that Pidcock will race Scott bikes on the road in the coming season.
Elite Direto XR trainers now compatible with Zwift’s Virtual Shifting
Elite has released a firmware update enabling Direto XR and XR-T trainers to integrate with Zwift’s Cog and Click virtual shifting system. The update, available through Upgrado, brings 24 virtual gears controlled via Zwift’s two-button Click controller.
The update also introduces the Zwift Cog, a cassette replacement compatible with 8-12-speed bikes. Elite plans to extend similar functionality to other trainer models in 2025. [Elite]
Merckx hospitalized after crash
Eddy Merckx, 79, fractured his hip in a cycling crash while he was out riding in his home country of Belgium. The five-time Tour de France winner was hospitalized and is set to undergo surgery.
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