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Here is what is making the headlines this week, and here's last week's edition …
Monday, May 19, 2025
- Mas renews with Movistar through 2029
- Ayuso has pain from gravel crash but remains optimistic
- Newest Moots road bike goes wider
- Van Aert says he has yet to find his best legs
Mas renews with Movistar through 2029
Enric Mas' future appears set after the Spanish GC contender extended his contract with Movistar through 2029. The deal will carry Mas almost to his 35th birthday and ensures his long-term status as Movistar's main GC rider. Mas has finished on the podium of three of the last four Vuelta a España editions.
The extension comes on the heels of former Movistar captain Alejandro Valverde advocating for the team to make a run at UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Juan Ayuso, who is currently second overall at the Giro d'Italia. Because Ayuso is just 22, Mas' extension doesn't rule out a dual-leader team. But Ayuso wants leadership opportunities now and is also under contract through 2028, meaning Movistar would need a likely expensive buyout to pry him free after having just committed significant budget to Mas.
Ayuso has pain from gravel crash but remains optimistic
Speaking of Ayuso, the UAE leader said on Monday's rest day at the Giro that he's banged up but hopes the day off will help him heal up before Tuesday's important time trial stage. "I do feel quite a bit of pain," he said at the team's rest-day press conference, noting three stitches to close the wound after a crash on a gravel sector in Sunday's stage 9.
After remounting, he said he was initially concerned but began to feel better. Post-race checks further assuaged his concerns. "There is no muscular problem," he said, although he did suffer a bone bruise. "Falling is never ideal, but with one extra day of recovery it should be okay tomorrow in the time trial." Ayuso is in second overall, 1:13 behind his teammate Isaac del Toro.
Newest Moots road bike goes wider
Iconic titanium framebuilder Moots Cycles continues to expand its range of options for mixed-surface riding. The new Vamoots 33 is the latest offering from the Colorado-based company. Named for a road that leads to many popular ride routes near its Steamboat Springs HQ, the Vamoots 33 features (somewhat confusingly) 38 mm of tire clearance, up from 35 mm on the Vamoots RCS. Moots' gravel line starts with two models at 45 mm of clearance, putting the Vamoots 33 squarely in all-road territory.
The Vamoots 33 is built with straight-gauge 3Al/2.5V titanium tubing with 3D-printed dropouts, a BSA bottom bracket, 140/160 mm flat-mount brake standard, and fits a 27.2 mm seatpost. Framesets are US$6,000, with complete bikes from $7,500. [Moots]
Van Aert says he has yet to find his best legs
On the heels of a remarkable comeback win following his severe knee injury at last September's Vuelta a España, Wout van Aert served warning that he hasn't yet hit his ceiling. Van Aert powered into the late breakaway on stage 9 of the Giro and then outkicked companion Isaac del Toro to the line in Siena, site of his first-ever WorldTour podium back in 2018 at Strade Bianche.
"I think I'm getting better, but I don't feel so good that I suddenly have my best legs back," he said at his Visma-Lease a Bike team's rest-day press conference. But Van Aert downplayed his chances slightly for Tuesday's time trial. While he's won nine TTs in his career, Van Aert noted his effort on Sunday might impact his performance. "We'll see how I've recovered, because yesterday I had to go very deep," he said, tipping stage 2 winner Josh Tarling as the top favorite.
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