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, October 27, 2024
- Urška Žigart’s ‘Pika Team’ set to develop young female talent in Slovenia
- Van der Poel may not return to the Tour in 2025
- Winner’s circle: Baloise Trek Lions smash Superprestige Overijse
- Quick Hits
Urška Žigart’s ‘Pika Team’ set to develop young female talent in Slovenia
As Žigart herself prepares for a transfer to AG Insurance-Soudal QuickStep for 2025, the Slovenian national champion of both road and TT is ready to “give something back to Slovenian cycling” with the launch of the ‘Pika Team’.
The team takes its moniker from her own nickname, just like fiancé Tadej Pogačar’s ‘Pogi Team’, and, as the ‘Pogi Team’ does for Slovenia’s boys, seeks to develop young female riders from the junior and under-23 ranks, providing a valuable stepping stone from the youth categories to the pro peloton.
Van der Poel may not return to the Tour in 2025
Speaking at the Criterium Internacional de Ciclismo in La Nucía on Saturday – during which he raced a rally car, as well as current pros and retired ‘legends’ – Van der Poel confided that he didn’t much enjoy the 2024 Tour de France.
“It might be an exaggeration to say that I was not happy during the Tour,” Van der Poel told Spanish newspaper Marca, “but it was not really a nice time.”
The 29-year-old Dutchman was making his fourth appearance on road cycling’s biggest stage, and though he helped teammate Jasper Philipsen to three stage wins – Van der Poel has been a vital lieutenant for seven of Philipsen’s nine Tour stages – the then-world champion went without personal success.
“I immediately took the yellow jersey on my debut in the Tour [on stage 2 in 2021],” he added. “This year I struggled to reach my best level, although it wasn’t that bad either. I know I’m better in one-day races and that’s where my focus lies … Next summer might be a good time to start mountain biking again, if I have the time. That is still a big goal.”
Winner’s circle: Baloise Trek Lions smash Superprestige Overijse
The cyclocross season is steadily picking up towards next weekend’s European championships and the start of the World Cup series three weeks after that. With a few races under their belts, this weekend saw back-to-back racing in Belgium and the Netherlands and wins for Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Eli Iserbyt on Saturday, then dominance from the Baloise Trek Lions in Overijse this afternoon.
Both Lucinda Brand and Thibau Nys skipped Saturday’s Exact Cross outing in Heerderstrand before powering to dramatic victories in Belgium, the on-form Brand doubling up after Tuesday’s Nacht Van Woerden and Nys overcoming an early mechanical mishap to out-kick Eli Iserbyt to his first CX win of the season.
Quick Hits
Track cycling duos Vittoria Guazzini and Chiara Consonni, and Simone Consonni and Elia Viviani came out on top at London 3 Day on a good weekend for Italy and Casa Consonni … Marta Cavalli is looking for a new home after four years of ups and downs with FDJ Suez … The ongoing ASO-organised Tour du Faso stage race has had its UCI status stripped after inviting Russian team CSKA Moscow (‘Central Sports Club of the Army’) to take part.
Saturday, October 26, 2024
- Wout van Aert is revealed as the squirrel on the Masked Singer
- Van der Poel can’t help but win, even on holiday
- Katie Archibald suffers a second unlucky injury in six months
- Winner’s circle: Alvarado and Iserbyt solo to victory in the sand
- Quick Hits
Wout van Aert is revealed as the squirrel on the Masked Singer
The big news this weekend is that Wout van Aert was, in fact, the squirrel on the Belgian version of The Masked Singer. A week on from the one-off appearance of ‘Eekhoorn’ who performed Song 2 by Blur to the show’s eager fans, the cartoonish, latex-suited, rodent superhero lifted the large head from his – err – head to reveal Van Aert’s beaming and slightly sweaty face.
“I was looking forward to it, but I was also a bit scared,” Van Aert said after the big reveal. “And that was actually exactly the reason I wanted to do it: something out of my comfort zone. It’s once in a lifetime, right?
“Nobody knew about it except my wife. I knew I was going to be a squirrel, but when I saw the costume I thought, ‘What the f*ck?’ I was expecting a cute bear, but not a latex superman suit.”
Van der Poel can’t help but win, even on holiday
In similarly bizarre off-season news, Mathieu van der Poel interrupted his holiday to race – and win – the Criterium Internacional de Ciclismo in La Nucía, Spain. The exhibition event, which also drew such names as Alejandro Valverde, Óscar Sevilla, Claudio Chiapucci, Giani Bugno, Luis Angel Maté and Vuelta stand-out Pablo Castrillo, incorporated points, endurance and elimination races, and ‘The Duel‘, which, from what we could gather, involves cyclists racing a rally car up and down the finishing straight shared with the road course. Silly season, indeed.
Katie Archibald suffers a second unlucky injury in six months
Just a few weeks after making a triumphant return to the boards at the World Championships in Denmark, Katie Archibald dislocated her shoulder at the London 3 Day on Friday night after a mishap with her bike when coming off the track, resulting in a small stumble with big consequences.
The record-breaking Scottish track star was ruled out of her third Olympic Games early this year after breaking her leg in a freak gardening accident in June. The recent world champs marked her racing comeback where she was instrumental in Great Britain’s Team Pursuit title defence, Archibald also racing to second in the Madison with partner Neah Evans. After a stripped-back worlds itinerary, the London 3 Day was Archibald’s next step on a winter calendar that’s set to include a return to the UCI Track Champions League where she is reigning women’s Endurance champion.
Winner’s circle: Alvarado and Iserbyt solo to victory in the sand
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado’s winning season continued with victory at Exact Cross Heerdestrand, soloing to her third-consecutive win after attacking in the sandy section that ran along the water’s edge of the dynamic Heerderstrand course. She’s now won three of the four races she’s started since her debut in Beringen where she came second to world champion Fem van Empel, Alvarado’s worst result so far.
In the men’s race, Eli Iserbyt made a defiant comeback after his three-race suspension for stamping on Ryan Kamp’s bike. The Belgian national champion attacked on the fifth of nine laps and held Pim Ronhaar and Laurens Sweeck at bay all the way to the finish, where Iserbyt said, “This was nothing to do with revenge. I just wanted to race.”
Quick Hits
Dutch national CX champion Joris Nieuwenhuis (Ridley) has further postponed his season debut as he seeks to fully recover from Shingles … former Belgian national team coach Sven Vanthourenhout is set to sign on for a management role at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe … New Zealand’s Kate McCarthy and Germany’s Jason Osborne (until recently with Alpecin-Deceuninck) have been crowned UCI Esport world champions at a first-of-its kind, in-person showdown in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Friday, October 25, 2024
- Lauf Gravel Worlds will offer $100,000 in total prize money next year
- Eurosport will have exclusive Tour broadcast rights in the UK for 2026
- Vingegaard starts 2025 prep trying to ‘close the gap with Pogačar’
- Quick Hits
Lauf Gravel Worlds will offer $100,000 in total prize money next year
Lauf Gravel Worlds, the Nebraska gravel race that long predates the UCI’s decision to create a world championship event for gravel, will offer a total prize purse of a $100,000 in 2025, the biggest purse in the discipline by a wide margin.
The men’s and women’s winners will take home $17,500 with prize money on offer for both top 10s. Organizers have said that GoodLife Brands will pay “100%” of associated costs so as not to pass those costs onto event participants. Organizers will also make $100,000 worth of donations to non-profits next year.
The Gravel Worlds prize money bump comes at a big time for gravel prize purses generally. Last week, Life Time announced that all of the events in its Grand Prix series will offer prize money moving forward.
Eurosport will have exclusive Tour broadcast rights in the UK for 2026
Barring an unforeseen twist, cycling fans in the United Kingdom will no longer be able to watch the Tour de France on free-to-air television from 2026 as Eurosport has secured exclusive rights to broadcast the race.
The Eurosport and ITV broadcasts of the Tour have coexisted for years, but this newly announced deal appears set to end ITV’s Tour broadcast. More broadly, it also appears set to end more than four decades of free-to-air Tour coverage in the UK, which first started on Channel 4 back in 1980. Ironically, the ASO has also agreed to a deal with the European Broadcasting Union that will ensure that the Tour will be shown on free-to-air television in much of Europe for the foreseeable future.
Vingegaard starts 2025 prep trying to ‘close the gap with Pogačar’
In an interview with Velo, Visma-Lease a Bike trainer Tim Heemskerk has said that Jonas Vingegaard is getting an early start on training for 2025 in an effort to match the level that Tour de France rival Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) reached this season.
“We can only accept Pogačar raised the bar this year,” Heemskerk said. “It’s a big, big advantage we could start early with Jonas. We need it if we’re to push on and close the gap with Pogačar.” [Velo]
Quick Hits
Larry Warbasse signs with Tudor … Jarno Widar will stay at Lotto-Dstny despite ample WorldTour interest.
Thursday, October 24, 2024
- Pogačar extends through 2030
- Utrecht could host the 2029 Grande Partenza
- Battistella signs with EF
- Quick Hits
Pogačar extends through 2030
World champion Tadej Pogačar was already under contract through 2027, but UAE team Emirates has decided to secure his services even further into the future. The 26-year-old Slovenian has signed an extension that will keep him with the squad all the way through 2030.
Even as teams in today’s peloton are agreeing to longer and longer deals, Pogačar’s contract represents an exceptionally long commitment from his team. Then again, he is an exceptional rider, the first man to win the so-called Triple Crown in more than three decades.
“This team has been my home now the last five years and I truly can’t imagine myself anywhere else,” Pogačar said in a statement from the team.
“This team gives me the best chance at fighting for wins and that is exactly what I aim to do.
Utrecht could host the 2029 Grande Partenza
In other news that will be relevant to stage racers in the distant future, Wielerflits reports that the Giro d’Italia could return to the Netherlands in 2029. The Italian Grand Tour last visited the country for its 2016 start in Appeldoorn; now, organizers are in talks to bring the race to Utrecht.
If the plans work out, Utrecht will become the first city ever to have hosted the starts of all three Grand Tours.
Battistella signs with EF
Former under-23 world champion Samuele Battistella will join EF Education-EasyPost. The 25-year-old Italian has spent the last four years with Astana-Qazaqstan, and he and his new team are hoping the change of scenery will “reignite his career” after a few quieter seasons.
Quick Hits
Gerry Ryan has been inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame … Ribble Rebellion will shut down after one season … Rémi Cavagna signs with Groupama-FDJ.
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
- Rapha lost £22.7 million last year
- New Wahoo head unit leaked
- Reusser is headed to Movistar
- Canyon-SRAM signs Consonni
- Quick Hits
Rapha lost £22.7 million last year
Rapha posted a pre-tax loss of £22.7 million in its last year of financial reporting. A Road.cc notes, that marks the seventh straight year that the British clothing brand has been in the red.
A spokesperson pointed to behind-the-scenes positives for Rapha while acknowledging the losses.
“Against the backdrop of a turbulent and competitive post-pandemic cycling sector, as well as decreased consumer confidence in several key markets, Rapha has continued to strengthen its core business operations, returning to a positive EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization] position,” the spokesperson said.
Last year, Rapha posted a pre-tax loss of £12 million, and thus the figure of £22.7 million represents a significant trend in the wrong direction, though it is not quite the biggest loss the company has posted in the last few years, as Rapha apparently lost over £32 million in 2019.
New Wahoo head unit leaked
Leaked images of a new Wahoo head unit have emerged on Reddit. We’re across the details on this unreleased product and won’t fake not knowing, but rather we’ll save sharing the specifics for a later date.
In the meantime, hop into the Escape Collective members discord where a lengthy thread discussing the new head unit has already started.
Reusser is headed to Movistar
After riding to many of her biggest career results during her stint at SD Worx-ProTime, Marlen Reusser is heading to Movistar. The 33-year-old Swiss time trial talent has signed a three-year deal with the Spanish squad.
Reusser’s departure is one of several big changes underway at SD Worx, where superstar Demi Vollering is also leaving, while former star rider Anna van der Breggen is set to come out of retirement and return to the pro peloton for the team in 2025.
Canyon-SRAM signs Consonni
Three time Giro d’Italia stage winner Chiara Consonni is on the move. The 25-year-old Italian, on the heels of two especially strong seasons with UAE Team ADQ, is joining Canyon-SRAM on a two-year deal.
“I hope to contribute to the team with my experience in the sprint and lead out,” said Consonni, who will likely be a leader for her new team in the spring Classics.
Quick Hits
Chantal van den Broek-Blaak renews with SD Worx for a final season … Cyclist rides through eight U.S. states in 24 hours to set a new Guinness World Record … Sven Vanthourenhout is in talks to join Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe as performance manager.
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
- Red Bull unveils a promising under-23 squad as Ineos is reportedly in talks to get a development team too
- Road and mountain bike axed from Commonwealth Games slate
- Lapierre announces all-new quiver-killing Xelius DRS
- SD Worx adds Mondini as first-time sports director
- Quick Hits
Red Bull unveils a promising under-23 squad as Ineos is reportedly in talks to get a development team too
As the world’s best teams are looking for younger and younger stars to potentially develop into the next Tadej Pogačar, one big-budget squad has unveiled the roster of its new under-23 squad while another big-budget squad is reportedly in talks to get a development team of its own.
The new Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe Rookies team, intended to “fill the gap” between Red Bull’s under-19 Grenke-Auto Eder team and the WorldTour squad, will have four of those U19 riders in the lineup for its inaugural campaign next year. Among those youngsters is promising Italian youngster and junior road world champ Lorenzo Finn, who will be joined by at least 10 others announced by the organization.
“Just like the U19 team, the U23 squad will compete in the key races on the calendar, offering the best opportunities for growth,” said Director of Development John Wakefield in a statement. “Next season, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe will have the most complete and seamless talent development program in professional cycling.”
Daniel Benson reports that the Ineos Grenadiers may also have their own development team in the works. Nothing is official yet, but Ineos is apparently in talks with the already existing Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank to forge a relationship between the German development squad and the British WorldTour outfit.
Road and mountain bike axed from Commonwealth Games slate
The Commonwealth Games, which give athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations a chance to compete across variety of sports every four years, will feature far fewer sports in 2026 when Glasgow hosts the Games following the withdrawal of Victoria, Australia, as host.
Road cycling and mountain bike events will not take place at the smaller (and therefore less costly) 2026 Commonwealth Games, with track being the lone cycling discipline among the 10 sports that will be contested in Scotland.
Lapierre announces all-new quiver-killing Xelius DRS
French brand Lapierre has just revealed its new Xelius DRS race bike. The brand claims that it is 14 watts faster than the Aircode, historically the aero-focused bike in the range. Combining elements of both the Xelius SL3 and the Aircode, the new DRS model will replace both existing lines from 2025.
Along with the aero improvements, the trademark triple triangle design of the seat stays remains.
SD Worx adds Mondini as first-time sports director
Anna van der Breggen’s impending return to racing and Lars Boom’s departure for FDJ-Suez leaves SD Worx with big shoes to fill in the sports director department, and the team is filling one of those spots with Gianpaolo Mondini, a former pro who has nonetheless never been a DS.
During his racing career, Mondini won a stage in the 1999 Tour de France. He later joined the US Postal team but was fired after news emerged that growth hormone and EPO had been found in his hotel room at the 2001 Giro. Mondini has worked for Specialized for more than a decade, interfacing with SD Worx in that role. Now, he will join SD Worx more officially as a sports director for 2025, a role he called a “dream job” via a team statement.
Quick Hits
Urška Žigart signs with AG Insurance-Soudal … Rosa Klöser will race road with Canyon-SRAM next year.
Monday, October 21, 2024
- Pogačar sees a Grand Tour triple as ‘feasible’ but he doesn’t want to ‘make enemies’ in his team
- Hayter: Ineos ‘could do with a couple changes’
- Iserbyt gets a suspension and a fine
- Swenson and Villafañe repeat as Life Time Grand Prix series winners
- Rule28 rolls out two new aero collections
Pogačar sees a Grand Tour triple as ‘feasible’ but he doesn’t want to ‘make enemies’ in his team
On the heels of a season that saw him complete the first men’s Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double in more than two decades, Tadej Pogačar has said that he sees a Grand Tour triple as doable – but that doesn’t mean he is going to try.
“A jump to victory in all three three-week races in the season is feasible, but I respect my teammates,” Pogačar told Slovenian news outlet Siol. “We know the UAE team has the potential to win a Grand Tour even when I’m not around. There’s no need for me to be greedy within my team and make enemies where I’m at home.”
Pogačar’s words echo what he said prior to the Vuelta a España this year, when he made it clear that it was time for the likes of Adam Yates and João Almeida to get their chances after they had ridden in support of Pogačar earlier in the season. It seems that the world road champ, even if he thinks he could pull off the Giro-Tour-Vuelta sweep in a single season, values their support more than the prospect of achieving such an unprecedented feat. [SIOL]
Hayter: Ineos ‘could do with a couple changes’
As he prepares to depart the Ineos Grenadiers for Soudal-QuickStep, 26-year-old Ethan Hayter has offered up an opinion on the situation at the British squad. Once the dominant team in cycling, Ineos has seemed riven by internal divisions lately amid a long stretch of racing disappointments, and Hayter’s words add credence to the notion that things are not all well behind the scenes.
“I don’t really know what’s going on to be honest. I’ve had a tricky year working with them and once I was leaving it was even trickier,” Hayter told Eurosport at Track Worlds. “I wish them all the best next year but they could do with a couple changes.”
Iserbyt gets a suspension and a fine
A week and a half after he stomped on the bike of former teammate Ryan Kamp during the Beringen Exact Cross race, Eli Iserbyt has been handed a three-race ban by the UCI. He must also a pay a fine of 2,500 CHF for the incident.
Swenson and Villafañe repeat as Life Time Grand Prix series winners
For the second straight year, Keegan Swenson and Sofía Gómez Villafañe have claimed the overall titles at the Life Time Grand Prix series, which came to a conclusion over the weekend at Big Sugar in Arkansas.
Swenson took wins at Sea Otter, the Leadville 100, Chequamegon, and the Rad Dirt Fest, and Villafañe’s victories came at Sea Otter, Chequamegon, and Big Sugar.
Rule28 rolls out two new aero collections
Rule 28 has introduced two new aero clothing collections: Neo and One. While the £600 price tag and claims of a double-digit wattage saving on the new Neo suit may grab the headlines, it’s the inclusion of so-called “double-layer” technology that is perhaps most interesting.
Rule 28 made its name as one of the first to market with an aero base layer, but the new suit ditches the base layer to incorporate dual layer aero gains into a single garment. The result, Rule 28 claims, ensures the aero ribs maintain optimal placement. It also makes for a hefty price bump over the outgoing suit, but if the claims are true, the suit could bridge the gap between a fast suit and a custom-made “super suit.” The proof will, of course, be in the independent testing that will hopefully follow. [Rule 28]
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