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Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) took his second straight stage win at Paris-Nice on Thursday, extending his GC lead along the way.
The fifth stage of Paris-Nice concluded with a series of short but challenging climbs, where Vingegaard once again left the field behind, albeit this time in more traditional attire as the weather was significantly better on Thursday's stage 5 than it had been for his stage 4 win on Wednesday.
Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick-Step) broke free of a group of chasers to take runner-up honors just over two minutes back. Harold Tejada (XDS-Astana) finished third at the head of a small group.
Van der Poel beats a select group of big names to win Tirreno stage 4
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) took his second stage win of this year's Tirreno-Adriatico on Thursday in a hectic finish in Martinsicuro, where a select group contested stage 4 in a reduced sprint.
Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) tried to go long on the finishing straight, and then Van der Poel surged with about 200 meters to go. He stormed to the front and held off some big names to nab the win ahead of Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility). Pellizzari's efforts also secured him the race leader's jersey as Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG) dropped to second overall, two seconds back.
Lund Andresen beats a strong field to win Tirreno stage 3
Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon-CMA CGM) continued his stellar start to 2026 with a victory on Wednesday's stage 3 of Tirreno-Adriatico.
The 23-year-old Dane, who won a stage at the Tour Down Under and then took the one-day win at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, proved fastest in a strong field at the end of a long day on the bike. After 221 km, Lund Andresen topped Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarché) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) in Magliano de' Marsi.
Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG) finished safely in the bunch to retain his GC lead.
Neuhaus Metalworks launches 32-inch rigid mountain bike
Californian framebuilder Neuhaus Metalworks has launched the Nova32, a rigid mountain bike built around 32-inch wheels. With it, the brand joins the ever-growing list of small and custom builders – such as Zinn Cycles, Starling, and Sour Cycles – in offering bikes with the bigger wheel size.
The Nova32 has a steel frame that uses the same tubeset as the brand's Hummingbird model and is paired with a carbon fork. Neuhaus says the oversized wheels are aimed at long-distance cross-country riding, where they can help carry speed over rough terrain.
Neuhaus is only making the bike as a limited run of 10 frames per size across three sizes — ML, L and XL. Framesets cost US$1,799, and there is a US$2,599 rolling chassis option with frame, alloy wheels and Maxxis Aspen 32×2.4 tyres.
Evoc's Mountain Bike Bag Pro keeps the handlebars on
Bag and accessory brand Evoc announced its new Mountain Bike Bag Pro travel case today, billing it as the first travel case that lets mountain bikers leave their handlebars on. As internal cable routing becomes more common on mountain bikes, disassembly for travel is increasingly an issue, one the new bag sidesteps: just loosen the stem bolts and turn the bar.
The price for that (other than the US$1,000 / €795 retail cost) is size: at 145 x 99 x 36 cm, the soft-side case is well above almost all airlines' oversize limits, meaning you'll pay extra bag fees. It's also 9 kg / 19.8 pounds empty, meaning that fully loaded with a bike and any sundries, it may also trigger excess weight fees.
The case, which is similar to the brand's recently updated Road Bike Bag Pro, uses a rigid polycarbonate shell bottom which Evoc says is stronger than conventional aluminum rails. Side stabilizers add more protection and can be removed to store the bag flat. [Evoc Sports]
Van der Poel bests Del Toro in Classics-style finish of Tirreno stage 2
With gravel and a punchy climb to close out the day, stage 2 of Tirreno-Adriatico had the ingredients for a thrilling showdown, and some big names delivered in the end. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG), and Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) broke clear on the sterrato inside the final 10 km and then Van der Poel took the stage win in the three-rider sprint to the line.
With overnight leader Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) finishing just over a minute down, Del Toro's is now atop the overall standings with Pelizzarri now sitting second, one second back.
Continental has added a 35 mm option to its flagship Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR tyre range.
The new size joins existing 25mm, 28mm, 30mm and 32mm versions, in both black and 'transparent' sidewalls. While Continental has long offered the GP5000 AS TR in 35 mm, this release is positioned purely at racers.
Alongside the 35mm S TR, Continental has introduced a 30mm version of its Continental Grand Prix 5000 TT TR, previously available only in 25mm and 28mm. The move reflects increasing clearance on modern TT and triathlon bikes, and offers teams a lighter, race-ready alternative as tyre volumes continue to creep upward.
Kanter sprints to victory on stage 2 of Paris-Nice
The second stage of Paris-Nice came down to a bunch kick, where Max Kanter (XDS-Astana) took a somewhat surprising win as a few of the pre-stage favorites struggled to navigate the finale. Kanter benefited from a strong lead-out and then launched with a few hundred meters to go, holding on ahead of Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Jasper Stuyven (Soudal-Quick-Step) to take his first ever WorldTour win.
Overnight leader Luke Lamperti finished fifth on the day and thus retained his position atop the GC standings.
Ganna cruises to TT win and leader's jersey on stage 1 of Tirreno-Adriatico
Filippo Ganna delivered on his favorite status in the first stage of Tirreno-Adriatico, winning the 11.5 km time trial in Lido di Camaiore. Ganna completed the course in 12:08 to finish a commanding 22 seconds faster than his Ineos Grenadiers teammate Thymen Arensman, who took runner-up honors on the day. Max Walscheid (Lidl-Trek) was a further four seconds back in third.
Ganna now leads the GC heading into Tuesday's stage 2, which finishes with an intriguing climb that includes some gravel roads.
Life EV came out as the highest bidder in the January 2026 auction to purchase Rad Power's assets for US$13.3 million in cash, valued at about US$14.9 million after liabilities. The deal follows Rad Power's bankruptcy announcement in December 2025 and marks a dramatic reversal for the once popular e-bike brand, which at its peak was valued at more than US$1.6 billion.
Life EV said it will continue operating the Rad Power Bikes brand in the US, support existing customers through warranty and gift card programs where applicable, and expand retail presence in selected markets.
The company also plans to move Rad Power's bike production to the US, using the Foreign Trade Zone structure, which can postpone tariffs on imported parts until the finished bikes are sold or shipped.
RaceFace launches its lightest XC crank in the Era SL
RaceFace is updating its products range for modern cross-country and downcountry use. The new Era SL carbon crank is the company’s lightest to date, with a claimed weight of just 422 grams including a 32T chainring. That’s about 40 grams less than SRAM XX SL, and 120 grams less than Shimano XTR.
The new crank is available in 160, 165, 170 and 175mm lengths, and in black, kashmoney (Kashima-like), and stealth colours. It features a 30 mm aluminium spindle and uses RaceFace’s own Cinch chainring mounting system. It's backed by a lifetime warranty, with "crashes included". These cranks are priced at US$577.
Aussie champ Coupland takes her first pro win in Europe
After a compelling start to her WorldTour career in Australia, new Aussie champ Mackenzie Coupland (Liv AlUla Jayco) has claimed her first professional win in Europe.
At the three-day UCI 2.1 Vuelta a Extremadura Femenina in Spain, racing for the Liv AlUla Jayco Continental team, Coupland was sitting fourth overall going into the final day of racing. On the final stage, Coupland got up the road late in a small group, before beating emerging British star Lauren Dickson (FDJ United-Suez) in the two-up sprint for stage honours. That stage win saw Coupland win the tour overall, in addition to the points classification, and best young rider classification.
“It was a hard stage today with quite long climbs one after another," Coupland said after the final stage. "It was really nice being part of this team, Liv AlUla Jayco Women’s Conti team again, and with such strong girls we were able to be aggressive in the race today.
"The Australian jersey gives me a lot of self confidence and I definitely felt it helped me to keep pushing on.”
Another rising star of Aussie cycling – and Coupland's teammate – Talia Appleton took third on the final stage and overall.
Post Carry Co’s Loomer is a handlebar-on travel case
Drop bar bikes with integrated cockpits have created modern problems for travelling. Joining the likes of Scicon, Orucase, and EVOC, Post Carry Co’s new Loomer bag allows you to keep the handlebars entirely in place.
The Loomer bag is designed for road and gravel bikes, with room for up to 700 x 55 mm tyres and bars up to 460 mm (46 cm) wide. Post Carry claims the bag is 10-15% smaller in external dimensions versus its competitors.
Two sizes are offered, each at US$900. Pre-orders are open with delivery into the US expected late April.
Luke Lamperti takes biggest win of his career on Paris-Nice stage 1
EF Education-EasyPost's Luke Lamperti took by far the biggest win of his career on stage 1 of Paris-Nice by winning the sprint into Carrières-sous-Poissy, a result that also sees the 23-year-old American ride into the first yellow jersey of the race.
The opening stage was characterised by the escape of a strong breakaway that maintained its lead deep into the race. Sébastian Grignard (Lotto-Intermarché) was the last man standing from the day's move, and the Belgian held off the peloton until about 1,500 metres to go.
There was a little chaos in the finale as a few riders came down in late crashes, but EF Education-EasyPost was well organised in bringing their leader to the fore. Marijn van den Berg executed a perfect leadout, and with pre-race favourite Biniam Girmay (NSN) boxed in behind him, Lamperti sprinted to his first WorldTour win, and a first victory with his new team.
UAE Team ADQ fills top four as Longo Borghini wins Trofeo Oro
Racing continued in Italy the day after Strade Bianche for the women's peloton at the 1.1-ranked Trofeo Oro. Elisa Longo Borghini emerged victorious for the second time, making her the first to win more than one edition in the event's five-year history.
What makes the result all the more brilliant is that Longo Borghini stood at the head of a team 1-2-3-4 after UAE Team ADQ had controlled from the start. Defending champion Karlijn Swinkels eventually finished runner-up 55 seconds down, Strade Bianche standout Dominika Włodarczyk was third on the same time, and Silvia Persico a close fourth, with the remaining two teammates rounding out the top 10, making it a remarkable team outing.
Puck Pieterse was the only non-UAE rider to make the lead group when Longo Borghini and co. had lit up the race, and the young Dutch rider finished the day in fifth.
While most of the cycling world's eyes were on Italy, racing resumed further north at the one-day Salverda Bouw Ster van Zwolle, a 1.2-ranked Dutch race whose winners have included Dylan van Baarle, Elmar Reinders and Fabio Jakobsen. Parkhotel Valkenburg's Mathis Avondts added his name to the list, the first Belgian to do so in more than 20 years, but his win was overshadowed by an ugly altercation about 34 km from the finish.
With the peloton strung out, 24-year-old Kiaan Watts moved onto the front of the race as Marijn Maas of BEAT p/b Saxo, only to give the Dutchman a powerful smack on the head, followed by some angry gesticulating. Watts was soon disqualified by the race jury, and his team released a statement a few hours after the race.
"NSN Development Team deeply regrets the actions of Kiaan Watts today at the Salverda Bouw Ster van Zwolle race," the statement begins. "The team expects that its riders race in a sporting and professional manner at all times and wishes to extend an apology to Marijn Maas, the BEAT CC p/b Saxo team, race organisers, and the UCI Commissaires.
"As a result, the team has decided to remove Kiaan from Dorpenomloop Rucphen tomorrow to give him time to reflect on his actions and the consequences."
Chase group rides off course at women's Strade Bianche
A group containing several big names at the women's Strade Bianche has taken a wrong turn and ended up off course, jeopardising their chances of rejoining the front of the race.
The chase group of 11 – including defending champ and pre-race favourite Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) – was roughly a minute behind the lead group of 13 with 35 km to go in Saturday's race when they followed a race moto down the right fork when the road split in two.
Several of the riders soon realised they were off the race route and turned around, heading back up the way they'd come before rejoining the course. No race staff or signage had been present at the split in the road.
Vollering had lost contact with the front of the race after a mechanical on the Le Tolfe section of gravel, roughly 42 km from the finish. Another of the top favorites, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) also found herself in that chase group after also having a mechanical on Le Tolfe.
Ratio Tech brings 34T and 36T chainrings to GRX cranks
Best known for its SRAM shifter upgrade kits, and recently, its own modular rear derailleur, Ratio Tech is back with another new product to fill a market gap.
The UK-based manufacturer is now offering chainrings to suit Shimano GRX asymmetrical 4-bolt cranks. While Shimano itself offers 1x rings down to 38T, Ratio is offering sizes of 38T, 36T, and a truly unique 34T.
The rings are 1x-specific, with a tooth profile claimed to be compatible with 11, 12, and 13-speed chains. The rings are machined in the UK from 7075 aluminium and priced from £60 / US$67 / €58 / AU$95.
Almeida out of Paris-Nice after illness
After UAE Team Emirates XRG unveiled a Paris-Nice roster with João Almeida surprisingly absent from the squad, the Portuguese all-rounder provided some clarification for the schedule change on social media.
"A few days after Algarve I got sick with flu symptoms and not being able to complete a training session until 4 days to the start of the race I don’t feel good and fit to race, especially such a hard race as Paris Nice," he wrote. "Today, I am back feeling healthy and my natural motivation to train and push myself is back but my fitness just isn’t there. I will focus now to be ready for our next goals which will be Cataluña and Giro!" [Instagram]
Bianchi's new Infinito pushes all-rounder firmly into gravel-lite territory
Heritage brand Bianchi introduced the latest version of its Infinito all-road model and after going conservative with the previous version, the one unveiled today is squarely at the forefront of trends in the all-road category.
Tire clearance is now 40 mm (with slicks, says Bianchi), up from 32 mm on the previous version, and there's a revised Countervail technology that Bianchi says is 20% lighter but retains its vibration absorption properties. The geometry sees a shift to a taller stack and longer chainstays (and thus, wheelbase) as well as a zero offset seat post for a slightly more forward position. There's a downtube storage box, and the bike uses a UDH derailleur attachment. Bianchi says the bike will work with both road and gravel groupsets.
The range features seven sizes from 47–61 cm and starts from €2,790 with a Shimano 105 mechanical groupset. Bikes are available now. [Bianchi]
Küng is out of the hospital, no date set for return
Stefan Küng passed a first milestone in his recovery from a fractured femur suffered at last weekend's Omloop Nieuwsblad. The Swiss TT and Classics specialist was discharged from the hospital after undergoing surgery Monday to repair the bone, according to a report from his Tudor team.
Küng can begin light training inside in three to four weeks if his recovery goes smoothly, but full training is around three months off, so the team has not yet set a target date for a return to competition. That's an ambitious schedule. The femur is the largest bone in the body, and healing typically takes 3–6 months.
The Tall & Elegant is a zero offset seatpost from Paul Component Engineering
The Tall & Handsome setback seatpost has been a mainstay in the Paul catalog for many, many years. Originally designed and made by the brand's founder and owner, Paul Price, it was meant to offer a better fit for the Brooks saddles he loved (which have notoriously limited fore-and-aft adjustment). Machined in-house from 2024/6061 aluminum, the new Tall & Elegant is (finally) a zero-setback version from the Chico, CA-based brand and features some innovative updates.
First, the brand claims each adjustment bolt is spaced far enough from the post to allow uninhibited access, whether using a multi-tool or torque wrench. Additionally, each bolt head sits on spherical stainless steel washers, allowing it to pivot and self-align. The clamp itself has about a 15-degree up-and-down tilt range, which, in addition to fore-and-aft placement, can be adjusted by micro-adjusting the two bolts. Oval and round saddle rails are both compatible with the post's clamping mechanism. The Tall & Elegant weighs 327-402 g, depending on diameter (27.2, 30.9, or 31.6 mm), and comes in black, purple, polished, or silver for US$236.50. [Paul Component Engineering].
Michael Matthews breaks both wrists in a training crash
Jayco-AlUla announced on Thursday that Michael Matthews will miss some time after a training crash in which he fractured both wrists.
Matthews had enjoyed a strong start to the season with an early win at the Gran Premio Castellón, and Paris-Nice had been the next race on his calendar. The 35-year-old Australian, who has dealt with various frustrating injuries over the years, must instead spend time recovering, with any Classics ambitions now in doubt as well.
BMC expands Teammachine SLR line broader price range
BMC has expanded the Teammachine SLR family, adding new models aimed at broadening the platform’s appeal across a wider range of price points.
The range now includes three carbon tiers: 01 Premium, 01 Pro, and Advanced, each offering different levels of weight optimisation and component specification. Premium models range from €8,500 / $9,500 to €13,000 / $14,600 for top builds, while the Advanced-level models will start at €2,500 / $2,900 when they arrive later this month.
Shimano E-Tube app is temporarily incompatible with newest Android OS
In a brief note to consumers, Shimano Japan told owners of Di2 bikes who have registered on the E-Tube Project application that it is currently not working properly on the latest version of the Android mobile operating system.
Shimano said that it is working on a fix for compatibility with the new Android 17 Beta OS but asked users to "please refrain from updating your OS" to the new version. Once the bug is fixed, Shimano will post the information on the Google Play store.
Vittoria updates Air-Liner tyre insert
Vittoria has launched an update to its Air-Liner Light Road tubeless tyre insert, introducing a redesigned material and manufacturing process to improve performance. The new insert was developed with input from WorldTour teams and is designed to provide puncture support, bead stability, and rim protection, with the brand claiming it doesn't affect ride feel or speed.
The main change comes from the manufacturing process. Rather than being cut from a block, the material is now extruded. According to Vittoria, this creates more uniform closed cells and a smoother outer surface. The benefit of this is that the insert reduces sealant absorption, allowing riders to use up to 10% less sealant than with the previous model.
The company also claims improvements in run-flat capability and installation. In the event of a puncture, the insert expands to support the tyre. Vittoria claims that the insert can provide a similar ride feel to a tyre inflated to 14.5 psi (1 bar), allowing riders to ride for up to 50 km.
Weight for the inserts remains unchanged at 30–40 g per wheel, and they will be offered in three size ranges covering 28 mm to 42 mm tyres, with prices starting at €60 / $78
Outlaw Gravel is a new "enduro format" event in Steamboat Springs
Debuting on May 31, 2026, Outlaw Gravel is a new four-segment gravel race that starts in Steamboat Springs, CO, and traverses the surrounding Routt County. Racers will participate in four timed gravel segments, racing against the clock, and connecting the remainder of the 66-mile course via untimed roads. There is also a 44-mile version with three timed segments. The inaugural event will be limited to 300 participants, which the event organizer states is designed to "deliver a safe, thoughtfully produced, rider-first experience." Additionally, the event honors Mark Satkiewicz, creator of SBT GRVL, by donating a portion of its proceeds to the Mark Satkiewicz Legacy Fund. [Outlaw Gravel]
Nobl’s Ethos mountain bike wheel range starts at 993 grams
Based in North America, Nobl’s new Ethos series consists of five new wheelsets built around Berd’s polymer spokes. According to Nobl, the key design goal was to create wheels with optimal torsional flex.
Headlining the range is the Ethos SL180, a 29er cross-country race wheelset that features DT Swiss’ 180 hubs, 28 Berd spokes per wheel, 30 mm internal-width rims, and a claimed weight of just 993 grams. These are priced at US$2,500 a pair.
Other wheels in the range span from cross-country through to all-mountain, each featuring Nobl’s new Ethos Ti70 with Hook flange (developed in collaboration with Berd and Erase Components). Wheelsets with these new hubs and Berd spokes are priced at US$2,300. We'll soon be receiving that lightest Ethos SL180 model for review, until then, see more at NoblWheels.
OneUp XC pedals claim to be the thinnest dual-sided SPD
OneUp Components is branching outside of its usual trail and gravity mountain bike focus with a new SPD pedal aimed at gravel and cross-country riders. One feature is a reduced stack height, with OneUp claiming the 26.8mm total pedal thickness is the slimmest of all dual-sided SPD pedals.
The pedals spin on cartridge bearings and a bushing, all serviceable via a supplied socket tool. A pair weighs an actual 301 grams, approximately 20 grams less than Shimano XTR M9200s. At US$160, they’re priced below Shimano XTR and Wolf Tooth’s SPD pedals (previously reviewed).
Escape tech editor Dave Rome has been using the pedals for a couple of months and notes that early impressions are great with a more stable pedal-to-shoe interaction. However, he noted that the increased pedal body width can lead to more pedal strikes in tight and rocky terrain. More to come, but in the meantime, see more at OneUp Components.
Specialized debuts tubeless cotton road tires
Specialized is well known in the road tire world for both its tubeless performance tires and its high-end, cotton casing clinchers. But both technologies have not been available in the same tire. The new Cotton TLR changes that. The tire features a hybrid poly-cotton casing identical to the clincher-only Cotton Folding Racing Only and Turbo Cotton models and adds tubeless compatibility with both hooked and tubeless straight side (TSS, aka hookless) tubeless rims.
That combination is ideal in a performance setting. The 32oTPI casing and Gripton T2/T5 tread compounds from the existing cotton tires offer the likelihood of low rolling resistance, enhanced by the lack of an inner tube. Notably, in a 28 mm size, the tire is only 20 grams heavier than the non-tubeless cotton models. Specialized is also updating sizing options with the new tire, which offers 28, 30 and 32-mm widths. The bead is compatible with both hooked and hookless style rims (within current ISO standards) and Specialized says precision manufacturing should allow lever-free installation.
The new tire certainly isn't for everyone. Aside from the US$110 per tire asking price – $20 more than the Cotton Folding Racing Only – Specialized expressly notes that the casing and compound are engineered for riders who are prioritizing rolling resistance, road feel and grip rather than longer-term durability or puncture protection.
