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Lifetime Grand Prix adds pregnancy policy for athletes
The Life Time Grand Prix has introduced a pregnancy policy aimed at better supporting athletes before, during, and after pregnancy.
The new policy protects an athlete's roster status and offers flexibility for returning athletes to preserve the "competitive balance across the field". In announcing the policy on Instagram, the series said: "Athletes shouldn't have to choose between career and family. The Life Time Grand Prix is committed to building a series where athletes can compete, grow, and thrive, on and off the bike. Because real support doesn't stop at the finish line."
Any rider who withdraws from the series due to pregnancy after being selected for the series can do so without penalty and will receive a protected roster position for the following year.
The policy also states that additional wildcard entries may be allocated in these cases to maintain “competitive opportunity.”
Catalunya stage 5 summit finish brought down 2.2 km due to high winds
A day after the decapitation of stage 4, the Volta a Catalunya has succumbed to strong weather once again, only this time the route is only shortened by 2.2 km due to strong winds atop La Molina.
The summit finish stages the finale of a major mountain stage comprising five classified climbs, and despite the amendment, the riders still have a 16.9-kilometre hors-catégorie challenge – average over 7% but with irregular steep ramps – before they reach the line.
'It was a shocking fall' – Silvestri reflects on that Milan-San Remo crash
Vernon tops Godon in shortened Catalunya stage 4
With high winds leading to the shortening of stage 4 at the Volta a Catalunya, what was initially planned to be a GC day instead came down to a sprint. Ethan Vernon proved fastest in Camprodón, taking his and NSN's second WorldTour win of the season.
Race leader Dorian Godon settled for second on the day with Tom Pidcock delivering a solid sprint to nab third, earning bonus seconds that moved him into second overall ahead of Remco Evenepoel. Friday's stage 5 should see the GC contenders battling in earnest as the race tackles several hard climbs in the Pyrenees.
DT Swiss's gravel suspension fork is now available in North America
DT Swiss has partnered with Obed Bikes and Litespeed to bring its F 132 ONE gravel suspension fork to North America. While the fork has been available on select models of Canyon's Grizl gravel bike, these models were not available in the US market.
Both Obed and Litespeed already offer frames designed around suspension-corrected geometry, with riders now able to spec the fork directly through each brand’s custom configurator.
The fork itself offers 40 mm of travel, with a bar mount lockout switch that can be actuated from both the drops and the hoods. The F 132 One also has additional mounting points on the lower legs, with a load capacity of 3 kg per leg.
The fork will be available globally from April 26, offered exclusively on complete builds via Obed and Litespeed.
Wolf Tooth goes upmarket with Mark Zero range
Wolf Tooth has a new range of top-tier products for those who count grams and appreciate finer details. The new Mark Zero range applies advanced machining, more labour-intensive techniques, and premium materials to a number of Wolf Tooth’s existing product lines.
For example, the new Wolf Tooth DEL and ALT pedals are available within the Mark Zero range, where they get an exclusive Shadow Grey colour, titanium spindles with Diamond-Like Coating (DLC), titanium hardware, and further machining on the made-in-house aluminium bodies. This all brings the dual-sided ALT XC pedal down to a claimed 246 g (regular version is 294 g).
Other products in the range include centerlock lockrings (35% lighter), seat post clamps, IS headsets, and BSA bottom brackets (77 grams with ceramic bearings) – all in that Shadow Grey colour. Wolf Tooth has teased that other components may be added to the range in future. More at WolfToothComponents.com.
Canyon adds Aeroad CF SLX to MyCanyon personalization program
After launching the MyCanyon semi-customization program around the flagship Aeroad CFR road bike, Canyon has expanded it to the CF SLX tier of the Aeroad platform, for certain markets.
MyCanyon allows buyers to select personalized touchpoints and paint finishes at the time of purchase. Riders can pick crankarm lengths from 160-175 mm, stem lengths from 70-140 mm for the CP0048 PACE bar/stem (the bar itself is already adjustable), and personalized name stickers applied at the factory.
The CFR tier also allows the buyer to select from a variety of paint schemes, but that will not be available at the lower-price CF SLX tier, which starts at €4,500. The other catch is the expansion is, for now, only available for the European market.
Light Bicycle’s AeroRevo one-piece bar
Best known for its carbon rims, the Chinese manufacturer has turned its attention to a premium one-piece integrated carbon aero road handlebar.
The new AeroRevo, priced from US$410, is available in bar widths of 340/380, 360/400, 375/415 and 395/435 mm. Additionally, most of those widths are available with stem lengths ranging between 90-130 mm. According to the company, the smallest size option weighs just 250 grams.
The finish is customisable, as is the choice between the provided alloy computer mount and an upgrade to a 3D-printed titanium version. The bar comes with its headset topcap and spacers, but custom 3D printed transition spacers are also available (Light Bicycle has not published what bike models are available). It's backed by a three-year warranty and a crash replacement policy.
Organizers shorten Catalunya stage 4 due to windy mountaintop conditions
Stage 4 of the Volta a Catalunya was expected to be a big day for the general classification as the race was set to finish at the Vallter ski area, but high winds have forced organizers to rethink the route.
Instead of climbing to 2,143 meters, stage 4 will finish at the town of Camprodon, more than a thousand meters lower, dramatically reducing the likelihood of GC action. The climbers can take solace in the fact that Friday's stage is set to be a massive challenge that will include three Cat. 1 climbs before a summit finish high up in the Pyrenees at La Molina.
Sidi founder Dino Signori dies aged 90
At the age of 90, Dino Signori, the founder of Italian footwear brand Sidi, has passed away.
Signori established the company in 1960, growing it from a small artisan workshop into one of cycling and motorcycling’s most recognisable performance footwear brands, blending traditional Italian craftsmanship with technical innovation.
In a statement, Sidi CEO Davide Rossetti described him as more than a founder, calling him “a pathfinder” whose values of daily commitment, innovation, and continuous improvement would continue to guide the company.
Signori leaves behind a lasting legacy in both cycling and motorsport, with Sidi vowing to honour his vision and dedication into the future.
Jay Vine's comeback race cut short as he crashes out of Catalunya
After spending a lengthy stretch off the bike following the Tour Down Under, which he won despite a crash caused by a kangaroo on the final stage, Jay Vine's return to racing at the Volta a Catalunya has been cut short by another crash.
The UAE Team Emirates XRG rider went down alongside a few others – including teammate Ivo Oliveira – on Wednesday's stage 3. Vine ended up in a ditch and was clearly in pain, ultimately pulling out of the race.
Cort sprints to Catalunya stage 2 win
Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility) sprinted to victory on stage 2 of the Volta a Catalunya on Tuesday in Banyoles.
A lumpy run-in to the finale put pressure on the fast finishers but Cort was able to work his way back to the front in time to contend for the stage. Ivo Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates XRG) went long in the final few hundred meters but a pack of hard-charging sprinters surged past, with Cort leading the way over the line to take a clear win ahead of Noa Isidore (Decathlon-CMA CGM) and Francesco Busatto (Alpecin-Premier Tech).
Pirelli launches P Zero SL-R, claiming it is the fastest in the peloton
Pirelli has announced a new tyre technology aimed at optimising wheel and tyre aerodynamics, called PAAS (Pirelli Advanced Aerodynamic System), which it claims can reduce drag.
The patented concept focuses on reshaping the tyre profile to better manage airflow, particularly at the higher speeds typical of modern road racing. PAAS alters where the tyre’s widest point sits in relation to the tyre's height above the rim, aiming to keep airflow attached to the sidewall and reduce turbulence.
The company says the gains are present at yaw angles up to ±20°, where disruptions to airflow can limit the performance of increasingly wide rims and tyres.
Based on internal testing, Pirelli is claiming the new technology can offer a 20% (5-watt) reduction in drag compared to its existing P Zero Race TLR RS setup.
Pirelli goes on to claim that these aerodynamic gains come without compromising rolling resistance, weight, or usability, with the tyre already claiming stage wins under Jonathan Milan at the AlUla Tour earlier this year.
The Pirelli P Zero Race SL-R will launch in 28 and 30 mm widths with a retail price of €100 / £95 / US$128 / AUD$156
Froome has a new job, but he's yet to confirm he's retired from pro cycling
Chris Froome is back in the news, but it's not to confirm he's retired from pro cycling despite having no contract since the close of 2025. Instead, he's got a new job as chief innovation officer at French company Vekta, an AI training platform that analyses training data and can be used to calculate power zones and monitor stress.
"I’ve spent my career inside some of the most advanced performance environments in sport, and I’ve seen both the strengths and limitations of existing tools," Froome said in the press release shared with Cycling Weekly. "What drew me to Vekta is the team’s ambition to build something that genuinely reflects how athletes train, race and adapt over time. For me, this is about rolling up my sleeves and helping build what comes next in performance, and I’m very excited to get stuck in."
This would not be the first time the seven-time Grand Tour winner has got involved with a cycling tech brand, but this looks like being a more hands-on position than his previous ambassador roles. It's understood that his new role with Vekta is not full-time, but will involve product development and chairing an athlete advisory board. The platform, which only launched in spring 2025, is already working with a number of WorldTeams including Decathlon-CMA CGM, Groupama-FDJ United, Jayco-AlUla and Lidl-Trek.
Pogačar won Milan-San Remo on a cracked frame
It turns out that Tadej Pogačar won Saturday's Milan-San Remo on a cracked frame, a result of the dramatic crash 33 km from the finish that disrupted several including the world champion, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert – the latter waiting around for a bike change.
"Only after the finish did we realize Tadej had ridden the finale on a cracked frame," Boštjan Kavčnik, Pogačar's mechanic, told Slovenian outfit Delo. "The rear fork was damaged, but fortunately it held together. Had Tadej known the true condition of the bike, he would never have descended so aggressively as he even attacked on the descent and tried to push Tom Pidcock to the limit."
Kavčnik added that Il Classicissima was the first time Pogačar had opted for a one-by setup, saving weight and improving aerodynamics. In the quest for optimisation at every level, the team also went for deeper wheels and narrower tyres – 28 mm compared to the 30 mm width chosen 12 months prior – in anticipation of the race's high speed.
"Tadej crashed on his left side, where there’s no gear shifter [due to the one-by setup], but the [Di2] crash mode was still triggered. He reset it himself and didn’t notice anything else wrong, so we didn’t change the bike ... This bike will now go into his special collection, it cannot be used anymore."
Skujiņš out for the rest of the Classics
Although Lidl-Trek's Classics ambitions were starting to look up when Mads Pedersen returned to racing at Milan-San Remo, it's not all good news for the team right now as Toms Skujiņš has said he will miss the rest of the spring Classics as he recovers from illness.
"Got proper sick at Paris Nice and haven't ridden much since coming back home early," Skujiņš said on social media. "Will definitely try to make the most of it, recover and get the body ready for the rest of the year. Still many goals out there this season."
Godon wins the opening stage of the Volta a Catalunya
Dorian Godon (Ineos Grenadiers) won stage 1 of the Volta a Catalunya on Monday in a hotly contested uphill sprint.
The 29-year-old Frenchman narrowly pipped Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) in Sant Feliu de Guíxols with Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) taking third on the day.
Anton Cooper and Samara Sheppard win New Zealand mountain bike national titles
Held in Rotorua, the 2026 New Zealand National Mountain Bike Championships saw Anton Cooper and Samara Sheppard become the newest elite cross-country title holders.
For Cooper, it was his 11th national cross-country title. The former U23 and junior World Champion enters another season of World Cup racing with the new team of PXR Lapierre. Meanwhile, this was Sheppard’s third national title.
Rebecca Henderson and Jack Ward win Australian national elite XCO titles
The Australian MTB national championships were held at Mount Buller (Victoria) this weekend past. In the men’s, following his win the XCC (short track), young Jack Ward rode to his first elite XCO (cross-country Olympic) title with over a minute lead to second-placed Harry Doye.
In the women’s, World Cup racer Rebecca Henderson won her 13th consecutive national XCO title. Like Ward, Henderson also won the XCC title.
Nairo Quintana has announced his retirement at a pre-Volta a Catalunya press conference, confirming that he'll end a storied 15-year career at the end of 2026.
"I want to keep building. Setting up businesses and supporting athletes. Giving something back to the people," he said in quotes gathered by AS. "I want more children to dream like I dreamed. This journey continues with new dreams. It doesn't end here, it is just beginning.”
Now 36, Quintana started his career in Colombia before moving to Europe and being picked up by Movistar for 2012. He's spent a total of 11 seasons with the Spanish WorldTeam, spending three years away at the Arkéa Samsic outfit before an unplanned absence from the sport's upper echelons following Tramadol positives at the 2022 Tour de France. He ends his career as a mentor for the younger riders coming through the ranks at Movistar.
Debora Silvestri suffers multiple fractures in horror Cipressa crash - 'could be worse'
Milan-San Remo Donne was marred by a horrifying crash on the descent off the Cipressa when, in a blind corner, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney was among the first to hit the ground. Rider after rider then came careening into the Polish champion, two of them sent flying over the barrier and onto the steep driveway several feet below. Worst off was Laboral-Kutxa's Debora Silvestri, who was sent base over apex, flipping over and landing hard on her back.
It was a shocking thing to see, and though the host broadcaster did keep showing the crash footage, it cut before Silvestri's impact. Shortly after the end of the race, news spread that the 27-year-old Italian had been conscious on her way to the hospital, and later that evening, Silvestri herself provided an update on Instagram.
"Sure not the final I had imagined... I feel quite good, 5 ribs broken and micro fracture on shoulder ... could be worse. Time to recover but no worries, I will come back."
Van der Poel reveals painful injury picked up in Milan-San Remo crash
Mathieu van der Poel was once again in the picture for a Monument title in Saturday's Milan-San Remo, latching onto an attack from Tadej Pogačar with Tom Pidcock on the Cipressa. He was eventually dropped on the Poggio and went on to finish eighth, later revealing he'd been racing with some significant discomfort from the crash that also took down Pogačar and third-place Wout van Aert.
"During that big crash, another rider came from the left, and that's how I hurt my hand quite badly. I think the damage isn't too bad, but it really does hurt," Van der Poel told Het Nieuwsblad on the Via Roma. Adding to NOS, "I was with them [Pogačar and Pidcock] when I needed to be, but I didn't feel great. I said on the radio, 'I can't hold my handlebars properly anymore.' I tried."
Van der Poel is next expected to race at the E3 Saxo Classic on Friday where he's won the past two editions on the trot, and never finished off the podium in four appearances.
Evenepoel gets police escort off snowed-in Teide for flight to Volta a Catalunya
Remco Evenepoel is one of the big names expected to make the Volta a Catalunya a particular spectacle from Monday, but he very nearly didn't make it to the start. Tenerife has been heavily affected by Storm Theresa, and for those staying at altitude on Mount Teide, the heavy rain turned to snow, leaving many stranded, including the Belgian and his entourage.
Evenepoel's team Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe issued an appeal to get him off the island, by helicopter if necessary, but ultimately he was able to take advantage of a police escort off the mountain and to the airport, where he caught his flight to the Spanish mainland.
He'll start his second Volta a Catalunya on Monday, hoping to go one better than in 2023 when he finished second to now-teammate Primož Roglič.
Niewiadoma-Phinney walks away with "road rashes and bruises" after Milan-Sanremo crash
Groenewegen sprints to a clear win at the Bredene Koksijde Classic
Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet Rose Rockets) sprinted to victory on Friday at the Bredene Koksijde Classic, where the break was caught in the finale to bring the fast finishers to the fore.
Groenewegen took a commanding win in the bunch kick ahead of Pascal Ackermann (Jayco-AlUla) and Pavel Bittner (Picnic-PostNL) to bring his and his team's win total to two so far on the year.
Chiru unveils 32in gravel bike and 3D-printed aero road model at Düsseldorf
French titanium specialist Chiru has launched two new bikes at Cycling World Düsseldorf, including a 32in-wheel gravel model and a 3D-printed aero road bike.
The Veldt gravel bike (above) is built around the trending 32in wheel size, and the titanium frame is paired with a dedicated 32in titanium fork and clearance for tyres up to 2.4in. There are two frame sizes available and prices start at €3,910.
Alongside it, the Aerix aero road bike uses 3D-printed titanium in key areas – the head tube and seat cluster – and is completed with an Enve carbon fork and tyre clearance up to 34 mm. Framesets, coming in five sizes, start at €4,895.
Knolly Bikes to restructure
Canadian mountain bike brand Knolly Bikes is considering restructuring after its lender, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), demanded repayment of its loan, the company said in a statement on Thursday.
Founder and chief executive Noel Buckley said the move had forced the business to evaluate all restructuring options, and confirmed that Knolly is not closing doors. He expects to provide further updates in the coming weeks.
The company had already been cutting costs and working to improve efficiency, and was preparing to launch several new models before the bank's intervention. Most outstanding customer orders have already been fulfilled, Buckley said, with the remaining ones being processed. He emphasised that dealer relationships remain a priority for the company.
Buckley also criticised RBC's actions, noting the bank recently reported record profits and claimed that smaller businesses are facing increasingly limited options in a banking sector that keeps consolidating.
Longo Borghini ruled out of Milan-San Remo Donne due to illness
In the latest blow to the potential drama awaiting the cycling world this weekend, Elisa Longo Borghini has been ruled out of Milan-San Remo due to illness.
The Italian national champion was expected to lead UAE Team ADQ on Saturday, one of the on-form riders hoping to ruin La Primavera for the sprinters after last year coming so close to a triumphant solo victory in the revived women's event, until Lorena Wiebes took the win in a reduced sprint.
Alena Amialiusik has been called up in Longo Borghini's place, the sixth rider in a team that will now throw its weight behind Italian fast finisher Silvia Persico and seasoned attacker Maví García, with Eleanora Gasparrini, Brodie Chapman and Strade Bianche revelation Dominika Włodarczyk in support.
Australia’s Spoken show to remain in Sydney for 2026
Previously known as the Handmade Bicycle Show Australia, Spoken expanded its scope to become Australia’s boutique cycling show, all while still centred around Australia's builders and small brands. See our previous coverage of this event here.
The show moved from Melbourne to Sydney in 2025 and has now been confirmed to remain at Sydney’s Carriageworks venue in 2026. The show will run from the 19th to the 21st of June. More information at Spoken.
