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 …
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
- Froome is not yet set on retirement
- Ganna smashing KOMs as Milan-San Remo looms
- Hansen warns of ‘rising number of deaths’ in pro cycling
- Pivot introduces the Trailcat with a split range
Froome is not yet set on retirement
Chris Froome seems likely to call it a career when his contract with Israel-Premier Tech is up at the end of this season, but the four-time Tour de France winner said recently on the Never Strays Far podcast that he isn’t actually certain of his plan.
“I haven’t one hundred percent decided that I’ll be retiring at the end of this year,” Froome said. “Chances are, yes, I’ll be calling it a day, but I’m just keeping the door open.”
Froome, who is set to start his 2025 campaign at the UAE Tour later this month, will turn 40 in May. [Never Strays Far]
Ganna smashing KOMs as Milan-San Remo looms
As his first major season target of Milan-San Remo looms, Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) is training hard enough to knock Remco Evenepoel off his perch atop the Strava standings on the backside of the Coll de Rates, a popular training ground for pros in Spain’s Valencia region.
While Tadej Pogačar remains the KOM holder on the best-known route up the Coll de Rates, Ganna stormed up the side from the town of Tàrbena (5 km at 5.6%) in 10:10 in a training ride on Saturday, one second faster than the previous best set by Evenepoel in January of 2024. [Strava]
Hansen warns of ‘rising number of deaths’ in pro cycling
In a post on X, CPA President Adam Hansen has warned of the dire consequences of not taking rider safety seriously enough. Hansen’s comments came in response to a post by Spanish journalist Jorge Matesanz, who had expressed support for organizers of the Trofeo Andratx after riders decided en masse to quit the Challenge Mallorca race due to dangerous weather conditions.
“Recently, watching pro cycling, I would not let my child to race bikes, it has become too dangerous,” Hansen wrote. “I hear the same from x-pros & fans alike. The rising number of deaths will kill the sport in the long run.” [X]
Pivot introduces new Trailcat line with a split range
Pivot has announced a new platform joining its existing trail bike range in the shape of the Trailcat, which replaces the Trail 429. The Trailcat is positioned at the shorter travel end of the trail bike spectrum. It splits the long-running Trail 429 into two models: the lighter weight SL and the longer travel LT to address the needs of different kinds of trail riders. Both the SL and LT use Pivot’s DW suspension platform and incorporate internal down tube storage.
The SL makes use of 120 mm of rear suspension, paired to a 140 mm fork whilst the LT ups the rear travel to 135 mm and increases the front wheel travel to 150 mm. Pivot is offering both the SL and LT builds with Fox’s Live Valve Neo electronic shock. Builds start from US$6,000 with Live Valve Neo equipped models starting at US$9,500. [Pivot Cycles]
Monday, February 3, 2025
- With CX Worlds in the books, Van der Poel looks ahead to Flanders
- Young French fans return Van Aert’s lost watch
- British up-and-comer Aiden Worden dies in collision with car
- Assos unveils new Equipe R and Dyora R bib shorts
With Worlds in the books, Van der Poel looks ahead to Flanders
After securing his seventh career cyclocross world championship title on Sunday in Liévin, France, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is looking ahead to defending his Tour of Flanders title.
“But this year a certain Tadej Pogacar is participating,” he noted in an interview with Sporza. “I will have to be in top form to be able to follow him.”
Van der Poel confirmed that his spring road schedule will be similar to his 2024 program, with the addition of either Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico. Before that, he will take a bit of time off.
“I heard that Thibau Nys is also going skiing,” Van der Poel said. “Maybe I should join him!” [Sporza]
Young French fans return Van Aert’s lost watch
In other news from Cyclocross Worlds, Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) apparently lost his Garmin watch out on the course en route to runner-up honors in the race. Fortunately for the Belgian pro, two young fans picked up the watch and brought it to the mixed zone, where Van Aert was conducting post-race interviews.
“There are still honest people,” Van Aert said, as Het Laatste Nieuws reports. [HLN]
British up-and-comer Aiden Worden dies in collision with car
18-year-old Aiden Worden, the British junior national champion in the 25-mile time trial, died on Saturday after a collision with a car during a training ride in Lancashire. At present, further details about the incident have not been made public.
“A promising young talent and incredibly valued friend and teammate, there is no doubt this loss will be felt deeply by the whole cycling community,” British Cycling said in a statement.
Assos unveils new Equipe R and Dyora R bib shorts
Assos has launched new bib shorts – with color – as part of its new Equipe R and Dyora R collections. Though not quite the first time the Swiss brand offers options beyond the classic black, the new shorts come in more earthy shades of blue and green.
Inspired by its top-tier Equipe RS shorts, the bibs feature raw-cut cuffs and lightweight materials, and the collections also include lightweight short-sleeve jerseys. [Assos]
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