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 …
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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