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The UCI has announced that round three of the 2026-27 Cyclo-cross World Cup will take place at Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow, Scotland, on December 13th 2026.
The preliminary schedule for next winter's CX World Cup was revealed at the end of January, but there was a gap on the series' second weekend, after racing kicks off with a Czech double-header at the end of November. This announcement marks only the second time Great Britain has hosted the World Cup, the first being back in the 2014-15 season when Milton Keynes, England, saw victories for Sanne Cant and Kevin Pauwels.
CX World Cup schedule 2026-27:
November 27 – Ostrava, Czechia
November 29 – Tábor, Czechia
December 13 – Glasgow, Scotland
December 19 – Antwerp, Belgium
December 20 – Koksijde, Belgium
December 26 – Gavere, Belgium
December 27 – Namur, Belgium
December 29 – Besançon, France
January 3 – Zonhoven, Belgium
January 17 – Benidorm, Spain
January 23 – Hamme, Belgium
January 24 – Hoogerheide, Netherlands
Cervelo’s Caledonia endurance road bike gets an update
The Caledonia is Cervelo’s take on the endurance road bike. The range is split into two: the previously reviewed Caledonia 5 is the premium model with lower weight and increased integration, while the regular Caledonia exists to hit lower price points. It’s the latter that has been updated.
Now the Caledonia is marginally lighter, ups tyre clearance to 36 mm (34 mm with fenders), and now features a T47a threaded bottom bracket. The geometry has been tweaked, with the numbers now based on a wider 32 mm tyre. Additionally, the bike gains hidden cable routing but without running the cables/hoses through the stem – allowing for easy swaps if needed.
There are two colours available in a choice of four build kits. The range starts at US$3,300 for a bike with Shimano 105 12-speed mechanical shifting, and tops out at US$6,500 for a bike built with SRAM Force AXE E1 and Reserve carbon wheels.
6-Bolt now available in all Chris King MTB hubs
With the recent addition of SuperBoost, Chris King has rounded out its MTB product lineup to now feature 6‑Bolt and Centerlock options throughout. Additionally, all of the brand's mountain hubs are available in either 36‑tooth or 72‑tooth RingDrive. While it still recommends the 72‑tooth option for most riders, King claims the 36-tooth variant has gained popularity in the competitive downhill segment, where the faster spinning hub helps riders who are "searching for milliseconds." [Chris King]
Kona's LBF: Legend of Big Fork
Essentially a mountain bike with drop bars, Kona's new LBF features a steel frame and a 100 mm travel fork. Said to be "built for riders who push drop bars way past their comfort zone," the LBF mates a custom pairing of SRAM Apex Eagle levers and G2 4P calipers to "deliver MTB-level braking control — without sacrificing drop-bar comfort." Its geometry is decidedly mountain bike, with 67° HTA and 75° STA, yet corrected for drop bars and optimized posture. Pricing is US$3,699. [Kona Bikes]
Pivot launches an updated Mach 4 SL
Known for its higher-end carbon fiber frames and build kits, Pivot's update to its XC/endurance platform is claimed to be lighter and stiffer than the previous version. Now with adjustable 110 mm or 120 mm of rear suspension travel, and 120 mm up front, the new Mach 4 SL also comes equipped with an internal storage compartment called the "Toolshed." Pricing starts at US$6,399 for a SRAM Eagle 70/90 and goes up to XX Transmission with Flight Attendant for US$13,999. [Pivot Cycles]
Favero Assioma PRO RL power pedals offer Look Keo compatibility
Italian-based Favero has just released a third version of its Pro power meter pedals, the Pro RL. These offer a single-sided pedal body compatible with Look Keo road cleats. This new model shares the same spindle-based power meter as the pre-existing Pro MX (SPD cleat) and Pro RS (SPD-SL cleat) options.
Like those other power pedals (which we've previously covered in detail), the new Pro RL is available in left-only or dual-sided power meter options. You can also buy just the pedal bodies, which can be fitted to any of the spindles within the Assioma Pro range. DCRainMaker has a full review of the new product.
Redshift’s Mousetrap is an easy SPD to flat pedal adapter
Sometimes you just want to jump on a bike with SPDs and not have to clip into the pedals. Solutions to this have long existed, but they’re often difficult to install and remove.
Redshift Sports’ new Mousetrap makes this a one-handed, tool-free operation via a clever cam mechanism that wedges the system in place. At just 10 mm thick, the glass-filled nylon platforms are designed to fit any SPD-compatible pedal and provide decent traction for around-town errands. When not installed, they snap together via magnets.
The company has teased that versions for SPD-SL, Crankbrothers, and Look Keo systems will be released later this year. Expect to pay US$60 / £55 / €65 AU$105 for a pair of these. More at Redshift Sports.
State Bicycle Co launches a new carbon road bike
The newest release from Arizona-based State Bicycle Co. is a carbon road bike with some aero-focused shaping at an approachable price point. Currently only available as a frameset, the Carbon Road bike has fully internal routing, room for up to 32mm tires, T47 threaded bottom bracket and UDH compatibility. There are two carbon layups available: the SL variant weighs 820 g and costs US$1,700, while the standard version weighs 1100 g for a price of US$1,400. [State Bicycle Co.]
Van Aert will make his 2026 road debut at Le Samyn
After an illness derailed his plan to start his road campaign at the Omloop Nieuwsblad, Wout van Aert will instead make his first appearance of the season at Le Samyn on Tuesday.
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) won the race last year in what was his 2025 season debut. This year's event will, somewhat surprisingly, be Van Aert's first ever start in the UCI 1.1-rated race.
Wellens breaks collarbone at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
Tim Wellens is the latest victim of a crash-marred Opening Weekend, breaking his collarbone about 85 km into Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
The Belgian national champion came into the weekend as one of UAE Team Emirates-XRG's leaders after a strong start to the season. But in a race already characterised by crashes by the time he himself slid across the tarmac, Wellens was unable to play a significant role for the second day in a row, and team medical staff confirmed about an hour after the race finished that the 34-year-old had broken his collarbone and would undergo surgery.
There's no word yet as to how long he's likely to be sidelined, but with surgical interventions, a collarbone break is often one of the quicker injuries to recover from.
Brennan dominates sprint finish at dramatic Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
Opening Weekend closed with Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday, typically a more sprinter-friendly affair than the previous day's Omloop Nieuwsblad, but still featuring a number of wearing cobbles and bergs, not to mention wind across the exposed Belgian countryside.
The race was action-packed from about the halfway point, with several teams eager to make statements at the start of the Spring Classics. The punishing aggression on many of the climbs put several of the pre-race favourites in serious difficulty, and the likes of Jonathan Milan, Paul Magnier, Arnaud De Lie, Dylan Groenewegen and Biniam Girmay were all ruled out of the action long before the finale.
24 hours after crashing out of Omloop, Matthew Brennan was more than holding his own up front with a very active Jasper Philipsen, and it was Visma-Lease a Bike that weathered the day best, alongside a very polished Decathlon-CMA CGM lineup in support of Tobias Lund Andresen. Despite numerous attacks and splits in the wind, it all came down to a reduced bunch sprint after a particularly frantic run-in.
Brennan won with ease ahead of Tudor pair Luca Mozzato and Matteo Trentin. Caught out of position, reigning champ Philipsen came home a disappointing 18th.
Charlotte Kool takes first win with new team at Omloop van het Hageland
Charlotte Kool is back to winning ways in Belgium, taking a convincing win at the FENIX-EKOÏ Omloop van het Hageland – to give the 1.1-ranked classic its full name – ahead of fast finishers Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) and Shari Bossuyt (AG Insurance-Soudal).
This marks Kool's first win since the 2025 Baloise Belgium Tour last July, and her first since jumping ship to Fenix-Premier Tech in August.
Brief results:
Charlotte Kool (Fenix-Premier Tech) 3:41:20
Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) st.
Shari Bossuyt (AG Insurance-Soudal) st.
Nienke Veenhoven (Visma-Lease a Bike) st.
Stefan Küng sidelined with a bad femur break
Stefan Küng has been sidelined, likely for a number of months, after crashing hard during Omloop Nieuwsblad. The 32-year-old TT and classics specialist started Opening Weekend with his new team Tudor Pro Cycling, looking forward to another busy spring of one-day racing, but with 50 km to go, Küng was caught up in one of the many crashes that littered the race, and abandoned soon after.
"Stefan Küng sustained a fracture to his left thigh following a crash during today's Omloop Nieuwsblad," Tudor posted in an Instagram story on Saturday evening. "Given the injury's location and severity, surgery is necessary. Stefan will remain in the hospital in Belgium overnight. He'll be transferred to Switzerland as soon as possible, where he is scheduled to undergo surgery early next week."
Van der Poel not tempted to race Kuurne
Mathieu van der Poel made a highly successful debut to his 2026 road racing season by winning Omloop Nieuwsblad (on his first attempt) on Saturday. The second race of Opening Weekend, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, was still a possibility for the former world champion even as he went about his post-race duties.
"We will decide that later in the hotel," Van der Poel said in the mixed zone. "We wanted to do this race first and then we'll see about tomorrow. We also have a good chance of winning tomorrow with Jasper or Kaden. Maybe I'll just do a long workout."
A few hours later, Alpecin-Premier Tech confirmed that Van der Poel would not make the last-minute addition to his programme, by way of a team lineup that does not include him. Alpecin-Premier Tech will instead put its full strength behind reigning Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne champion Jasper Philipsen, with Kaden Groves as a second option, both of whom had a frustrating day out on Saturday.
Brennan should be able to start Kuurne after crashing out of Omloop
The bad luck seemed to continue for Visma-Lease a Bike on Saturday. Days after Wout van Aert was forced to postpone his 2026 season debut due to illness, his successor as leader, Matthew Brennan, crashed out of Omloop Nieuwsblad.
The incident came towards the end of what had been a particularly dangerous edition, with Brennan one of many caught in perhaps the last major crash of the day, as the peloton raced towards Geraardsbergen in the last 20 km. The 20-year-old Briton abandoned on the spot, and though "he was able to make it to the team car under his own power", concerns persisted about the more sprint-friendly Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday.
However, an update a few hours after the race, shared with Wielerflits, appeared to confirm that Brennan is "okay" and should be able to start in Kuurne.
It wasn't all doom and gloom for Visma, though, as Christophe Laporte raced to fourth, best of the rest from the bunch, after Mathieu van der Poel won from a move that went clear 45 km from the line.
'This was the most dangerous Omloop of my life', says De Lie, one of many riders to crash
Omloop Nieuwsblad always carries a great deal of superlatives given its status as opening classic on Opening Weekend, and taking in many of the same roads and cobbles we'll see throughout the spring. But the 2026 edition seemed particularly dangerous, with weather and nerves playing a key role. Indeed, it was a crash that played a decisive role in the outcome.
Arnaud De Lie was one of the many riders to crash, the young Belgian coming down just as the peloton was approaching the crucial Muur van Geraardsbergen – albeit with the winning move already about a minute up the road – and the Lotto-Intermarché leader had some choice words at the finish.
"There was a lot of nervousness in the peloton, especially with this wind," De Lie told Sporza in Ninove. "Initially, it was actually a perfect day for me. Sure, it was impossible to follow Mathieu [van der Poel] on the Molenberg, but after that, I was among the best. Only, five kilometers from the Muur, someone fell next to me, and I broke my wheel. That was the end of the story."
Seixas obliterates stellar field at Faun-Ardèche Classic
While most of the sport's Classics specialists are racing over the border in Belgium, one-day racing continues in France with the Faun-Ardèche Classic, a hilly thriller that takes in a lot of the same terrain as last year's European Championship road races.
With that in mind, it should be no surprise that young French phenom Paul Seixas would thrive here having finished third behind Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel in early October. Less than two weeks after breaking the seal on his palmarès with stage victory at the Volta ao Algarve, the 19-year-old attacked clear of Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike), Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) and Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) among many other big hitters.
Seixas went solo about 40 km from the line, and by the finish had put almost two minutes into his closest rivals. Christen out-sprinted Martinez and Jorgenson for runner-up honours, all of whom will get another chance at Sunday's Faun-Drôme in Seixas' absence.
Sidi launches spring/summer collection with new US direct-sales option
Italian footwear brand Sidi officially launched its 2026 lineup this week alongside a new website for the US market that offers direct-to-consumer sales for the first time. The move also brings Sidi's full range of road, gravel and mountain shoes to North America. Sidi shoes have been partly available in the US, but this marks the first full-line offering since it parted ways with longtime distributor Veltec Sports more than 15 years ago (Veltec closed down in 2011).
Among the new and redesigned shoes are the Shot 3 and Genius X Wyve road shoes and the Dominator X mountain shoe. The new Millenium Fit, now standard across the line, uses a wider forefoot. The old Mega wide-last version continues in some shoes in the line. The new web site offers direct sales, with the option to ship to home or a local retailer for pickup. Fulfillment will be managed by Quality Bicycle Products, Sidi's exclusive new North American distributor. The new site is at https://cycling.sidisport.us
Italian up-and-comer Luca Giaimi gets a call-up to join the UAE WorldTour squad
Riders don't often join the WorldTour ranks in February, but UAE-Team Emirates XRG has decided that Luca Giaimi need not spend another minute in the organization's development team. The 21-year-old Italian has been promoted to the WorldTour squad "effective immediately, signing a contract that will see him remain with the team through the end of the 2028 season."
Giaimi enjoyed solid results in UAE's Gen Z team and also apparently impressed his employers in appearances with the WorldTour squad at the end of last season and the start of this one.
"We hope and trust that he can continue progressing both as a rider and as a person as he makes this transition to the highest level," said team boss Mauro Gianetti.
Apple TV wins bidding war for Armstrong biopic
Less than a month after the announcement of the development of a new Lance Armstrong biopic, Deadline reports that Apple TV – formerly Apple TV+ – has won the bidding war.
Apple took a more active role in the film industry in 2019, primarily as a source of funding for production and distribution for films, i.e. the creative impetus comes from outside. Apple's film 'originals' have included Oscar darlings CODA, Killers of the Flower Moon and this year's F1, which was name-checked in the original release about this latest Armstrong project.
"[The film will combine] elements of F1 The Movie and Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull and Wolf of Wall Street, and will cover the life and career of Armstrong, capturing the highs and lows of his extraordinary journey.”
Cadex introduces new Max 50 wheelset and Aero Tire
Cadex has unveiled its new Max 50 WheelSystem and Aero Tire, positioning the pairing as a fully integrated, system-level aero solution.
The 50 mm hookless carbon wheelset weighs a claimed 1,290 g, including valves and tape (1,250 g without), and is built around a 22.4 mm internal rim width and a 30 mm external rim width. The new wheels borrow the hub and spoke construction from the Max 40s released two years ago, and Cadex says integrating the hub, flange and “Super Aero” carbon spokes as a single structure reduces turbulence at the centre of the wheel, delivering a measured 2.18 W drag reduction per wheel compared to its previous generation Ultra 50 wheelset unveiled some four years ago. Dynamic Balanced Lacing is said to increase spoke-bracing angles and balance tension under load, with Cadex claiming a 5.4% increase in transmission stiffness over the Ultra 50 while maintaining comparable lateral stiffness.
The wheelset uses an R3-C48 aero hub with a 48-tooth ratchet and wave spring system, ceramic bearings, and integrated carbon spokes with hidden titanium nipples. Cadex also reports improvements in stiffness-to-weight metrics, including a 3.2% increase in lateral stiffness-to-weight and a 14.3% increase in rear transmission stiffness-to-weight compared with the Ultra 50. The accompanying Aero Tire features a taller, wider profile with refined shoulder grooves, Cadex claims reduces drag to the tune of .76 watts, a 240 TPI casing to reduce rolling resistance, and Race Shield puncture protection. Designed to be run as a matched wheel–tyre interface, the Max 50 and Aero Tire combination is intended to deliver aerodynamic efficiency, responsiveness and handling stability across real-world race conditions. Provisional pricing is set at US$3,999 / €3,999 for the Max 50 WheelSystem, with the Aero Tire priced at US$99 / €99 each.
Princeton CarbonWorks reveals new Wake 6560 Evolution II
Princeton CarbonWorks has unveiled the Wake 6560 Evolution II. Development of the new wheelset focused on a tyre-led design process, with 23–32 mm tyres from various manufacturers mounted to four internal rim widths (21, 22, 23, & 24 mm) and 3D scanned to form a matrix of various cross sections. These data sets informed iterative CFD analysis in collaboration with Luca Oggiano and Themis Petridi of NablaFlow using AeroCloud CFD software, with the fastest solutions then validated through wind tunnel testing at Politecnico di Milano and A2 in North Carolina.
That testing resulted a fully hooked rim featuring a 22 mm internal width and 33 mm maximum external width optimised for a 28 mm tyre. Rim weight drops from 470 g on the previous Evolution I to 420 g, contributing to a claimed 10% reduction in wheelset weight, with the lightest configuration weighing 1,250 g using steel spokes and Tactic TR01 hubs.
Princeton says the wheel exceeds 120 J in impact testing thanks to a new carbon layup for improved impact resistance. Sealed rim beds eliminate the need for tubeless tape, while pre-balanced rims aim to reduce vibration at speed. Prototypes of the new wheel were already raced to victories at both the men’s Ironman and Half Ironman World Championships last season.
The Wake 6560 Evolution II is available immediately in 10 paint options and six hub configurations, with pricing starting at $3,150 with White Industries CLD hubs for a claimed weight of 1,455 grams. While a Tactric TR01 hub does drop the weight to a claimed 1,250 g but bumps the price up to US$4,100.
Continental launches new Terra Competition tyre
Continental has introduced a new, low-tread Competition tyre to its gravel Terra lineup, claiming it's the fastest gravel tyre ever. Aimed to "blur the line between road and gravel", there are two casing options available: Race or Trail.
The former is aimed at faster riding with its Rapid compound, while the latter features a Grip compound and a more robust one-ply construction for traction and better puncture protection.
The Race is up to 68 g lighter than the Terra Speed tyre, and Continental claims 17% lower rolling resistance at 35 mm width. The Competition is available in 700 x 35mm, 40mm, and 45mm widths, and all models are tubeless-ready and hookless compatible.
Prices start from 69€/£59 /US$76.
Microshift goes 11-speed with Advent MX
MicroShift’s Advent drivetrain range has long been a high-value option with surprisingly good function. Now, the company has launched a more robust and premium option with trail mountain biking in mind – Advent MX.
Like pre-existing Advent products, the new MX range consists of cassettes (11-50T range), rear derailleur, and a thumb shifter. You then add a compatible 11-speed chain and 1x crankset of your choosing.
For the first time, Microshift will offer both HG and XD-compatible cassettes, including options that are entirely steel, a premium model with extra-hardened chromoly steel, or a more regular level of hardening (cheaper).
Mini groupsets, including cassette, rear derailleur, and shifter, start from just US$230 / €225. There’s a 10-speed version (10-48T cassette) at US$195 / €195.
Powless will miss Classics after knee surgery
Neilson Powless provided one of the most memorable wins of the 2025 road season last Spring when he managed to outsprint a trio of Visma-Lease a Bike riders – including 2022 Tour de France green jersey winner Wout van Aert – to take victory at the Dwars door Vlaanderen.
But the EF Education-EasyPost rider won't get a chance to defend his title. The 29-year-old American, who refashioned himself from a stage racer to a one-day rider, had knee surgery on Monday and will be out of competition for 8-12 weeks, his team said. Powless struggled with knee pain in the offseason, and had to drop out of the Tour de la Provence in mid-February.
"I was excited to try some new races this year. I had a plan of races I wanted to target and do well in, so this is a big disappointment," Powless said in a release from his team announcing the news. The team did not say what was the cause or what specific surgery was done, other than to remove the inflamed tissue.
Van der Poel decides to race the Omloop Nieuwsblad
Three days out from the race, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) has decided to make his 2026 road racing debut at the Omloop Nieuwsblad.
"As announced after the Cyclo-cross World Championships, @mathieuvanderpoel waited to complete his first training block before making a final decision on his road return," his team wrote on Instagram. "After a few solid weeks on the bike, he feels race-ready and will line up at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad."
Van der Poel will face his longtime rival Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the first race of Opening Weekend, and then his next planned start is at Tirreno-Adriatico. From there it's on to Milan-San Remo, the E3 Saxo Classic, Gent-Wevelgem, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix.
SRAM updates Maven mountain bike brakes
First released two years ago, SRAM is now updating its gravity-oriented Maven mountain bike brakes. Keeping an emphasis on high power, the new Maven B1s retain the four-piston calipers, but those pistons are an equal 18 mm diameter.
The other big change comes in the power curve at the lever. The original Maven A1s had an overly progressive power curve, while the new update aims to give the brakes smoother and lower effort power control. This improvement comes through a new lever, the SwingLink, which can be retrofitted to the original Mavens.
As before, the mineral-oil-based Mavens are available in multiple price points. There are no updates to the cheapest ‘Base’ model, which does not feature the new progressive SwingLink.
Tech news like this isn’t Escape’s usual beat, but such things often trickle over to other cycling segments.
SRAM brings Full Mount derailleur to downhill
SRAM continues to expand its range of Full Mount derailleurs, the tech first released with XX SL, XX, and XO Transmission. The latest use is in the new 7-speed XX DH group.
Designed for downhill racing, the new group combines a 10-24T cassette with a short cage derailleur. Reinforced cranks (150-165 mm lengths) and chainrings complete the AXS wireless drivetrain.
There are two cassettes, each 7-speed with the same gear range. One fits regular XD drivers, while the other is a narrower model to fit a new XD Slim freehub body standard. Like HG Slim (already used in downhill), the slimmer freehub standard gives room for wider spoke bracing angles.
The company settled on a matte silver finish, stating, “polishing is the pinch-point in our production and living in a wet, soggy area, our polished goods tend to lose their shine. So, we thought it made sense to try out a matte finish instead.”
A complete wheelset, priced at US$1,350, features silver White Industries CLD hubs and Sapim Spokes. Rims are available individually for US$200.
Van Aert to race Omloop Nieuwsblad two months after ankle fracture
Two months after breaking his ankle at Zilvermeercross on 2nd January, Wout van Aert is set to make his 2026 season debut at Omloop Nieuwsblad.
The Belgian won the classic that kicks off Opening Weekend in 2022, also in his first appearance of the season, and he came back to finish third two years later – winning the sprint from the bunch behind two attackers, his then-teammate Jan Tratnik and Nils Politt.
Joining the Belgian at the start line in Bruges will be Christophe Laporte, who has recovered well after crashing out of the Ruta del Sol having won the opening stage. Matthew Brennan will be the third string to the Visma-Lease a Bike bow, with the pressure increasing for the young Brit after a breakthrough 2025. Laporte and Brennan will then lead the team in Sunday's Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
