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Ganna chosen to be a torch bearer for the Winter Olympics
Filippo Ganna has been selected for a special honour this winter. The time trial specialist and Olympic track athlete has been chosen to carry the Olympic flame from Greece to Italy as it makes its way to the Milan-Cortina Winter Games.
The torch relay began at Olympia on 26th November. Ganna and his fellow bearer, tennis player Jasmine Paolini, will convey the torch from the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens on 4th December to Rome by plane. The flame will burn at the Quirinal Palace for two days before resuming its journey through the host country, finally ending at San Siro in time for the start of the Games on Friday 6th February – running until Sunday 22nd February.
It's not unusual for summer sport athletes to play a role in the torch relay for the Winter Olympics, especially when they've been particularly successful in the own sports. Ganna is a three-time Olympic medalist, having taken team pursuit gold in Tokyo, then ITT silver and team pursuit bronze last summer in Paris, where fellow torch bearer Paolini won doubles gold.
Van Aert will meet Van der Poel five times in his eight-race CX schedule
Just days after Mathieu van der Poel announced his own winter programme, Wout van Aert has revealed his own, spanning eight races, and overlapping his nemesis at five of them.
The pair will meet first as the Kerstperiode begins at the Antwerp World Cup round on 20 December, Van Aert's season debut – it may be Van der Poel's too depending on whether he commits to a for-now provisional appearance at Namur seven days earlier. Van Aert is notably not listing the World Championships on his programme.
Van Aert's schedule (Van der Poel's races marked with an asterisk):
World Cup – Antwerp: December 20 *
X2O Badkamers – Hofstade: December 22 *
Superprestige – Heusden-Zolder: December 23
World Cup – Dendermonde: December 28
X2O Badkamers – Azencross, Loenhout: December 29 *
Exact Cross – Mol: January 2 *
World Cup – Zonhoven: January 4 *
Belgian National Championships: January 11
Girmay signs three-year contract with NSN Cycling Team
Biniam Girmay's future has finally been confirmed. After months of rumours, the Eritrean is heading to the newly-rebranded NSN Cycling Team for the next three years.
"We are incredibly excited to welcome Biniam to NSN Cycling Team," said team GM Kjell Carlström. "Not only will 2026 mark a new chapter for the team, but it also represents one for Biniam and I couldn’t think of a better time to embark on a new chapter together.
"Biniam represents everything we love about cycling. His talent is obvious, but his humility and drive are what make him an extraordinary cyclist. From the first conversation, it was clear he shares our vision both on and off the bike and I have no doubt he will be a fantastic fit and will be a leader of our team, inspiring our riders and the entire cycling community."
After four and a half years with Intermarché-Wanty, Girmay joins the team previously known as Israel-Premier Tech during a turning point for the organisation that will race under a Swiss license from 2026. The history-making sprinter will play a key role in the team's new chapter.
Van Aert supports ticketing roadside fans
Wout van Aert has added his voice to the growing chorus who support charging fans to watch bike races from the roadside, citing cyclocross as an example.
"If you charge €5 entry fee, that doesn’t mean it’s no longer for the people," Van Aert told De Tijd. "Cyclocross asks for entry money, and nothing is more ‘of the people’ than that."
The Visma-Lease a Bike rider added that it's not just a matter of maintaining the culture and tradition of cycling, but of actually sustaining the sport's very existence, pointing to the vulnerability facing teams under the current structure, i.e. when the withdrawal of sponsors can result in the complete collapse of a team, like Arkéa-B&B Hotels, for instance.
"I think that fragility would be much less of an issue if, alongside sponsorship income, there were also revenues coming from the sport itself,” Van Aert said. “From TV rights, for example, or other organisations...
"Correct me if I’m wrong, but a major race like the Ronde [Tour of Flanders] or the Tour [de France] stands or falls with us — the riders and teams who come to take part. But as a team we don’t even receive compensation that covers the cost of that participation. That should really be a minimum. The pie could be divided more fairly."
Van Alphen and Nys win World Cup Flamanville
The UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup resumed this weekend in Flamanville, France. After wins early in the day for juniors Filippo Grigolini (Italy) and Lise Revol (France), and under-23 Aubin Sparfel (France), the elites took centre stage in the afternoon.
In the absence of World Cup leader Lucinda Brand, it was all to play for among the elite women. Countless riders were after a career-best first-ever World Cup win, including Seven Racing's Aniek van Alphen, who flew clear early in the second lap. After a determined race, Amandine Fouquenet took a fantastic, potentially career-defining second place ahead of former world champion Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, the latter in her first race of the season after recovering from a knee injury.
The men's race was a blockbuster affair for seven of the nine laps as the lead group evolved through various iterations as some suffered issues, and others powered back into contention. At the start of the seventh lap, five riders remained in contention – Joris Nieuwenhuis, Lars van der Haar, Cameron Mason, Thibau Nys and Niels Vandeputte – but by the end of the same circuit of the castle grounds, Nys had attacked clear, Nieuwenhuis had suffered a mechanical and Vandeputte had dropped away, leaving Van der Haar and Mason to fight over the last two steps of the podium. Nys never had a huge lead, but it was just enough, even with a mistake factored in, and he took his second consecutive win to extend his World Cup lead, with Van der Haar second and Mason third.
Elite women top 5
Aniek van Alphen (Seven Racing) 47:26
Amandine Fouquenet (Arkéa-B&B, for now) +0:16
Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck) +0:22
Inge van der Heijden (Crelan-Corendon) +0:44
Leonie Bentveld (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez) +0:50
Elite men top 5
Thibau Nys (Baloise Glowi Lions) 1:03:01
Lars van der Haar (Baloise Glowi Lions) +0:03
Cameron Mason (Seven Racing) +0:05
Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +0:23
Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) +0:26
Thibau Nys slams Belgian CX courses
Thibau Nys arrived in Flamanville, France, a major favourite to take back-to-back World Cup wins seven days after his round one victory in Tábor, Czechia. Before the event, the Belgian national champion had some spicy comments comparing a favourable French course to those back home.
"All the other countries seem to understand how to build cyclocross courses, except for Belgium," Nys said in his pre-race comments to camera. "No bullshit, real cyclocross. No shitty corners, just a nice flow."
Next weekend's round three takes the World Cup to Sardinia, before returning to the CX heartland with the first of six consecutive rounds, of a total seven, on Belgian soil, not to mention the late-December return of the X2O and Superprestige series. Nys himself is planning to skip the Italian World Cup round in favour of training in Spain, but is expected to be back for Namur on Sunday 14 December.
Pogačar would like to see the Giro and Vuelta swap places on the calendar
Tadej Pogačar has said he'd like to see the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España swap places on the calendar, which would see the Spanish Grand Tour occupy a May-June window, and the Giro in August-September.
"I always say that it would be much better if the Giro and Vuelta changed dates,” Pogačar told AS. “Because of the weather conditions and the opportunity for riders to participate.”
Pogačar has raced every Tour de France since 2020 and won four, and he took victory at his one and only Giro in 2024. The world champion made his Grand Tour debut at the 2019 Vuelta, where he took three stages and third overall, but he's not raced it since, either withdrawing a proposed participation after a wearing Tour, as he did in 2025, or directing his objectives elsewhere – World Championships, with Canadian one-days as preparation.
American CX pro Strohmeyer describes struggles back home – 'The gravel boom has taken over'
Andrew Strohmeyer is one of North America's very best cyclocross racers, and shortly after winning the Pan-American title in early November, the 23-year-old travelled over to Europe to make his debut in the CX heartland. Since his brilliant ride at Tábor last weekend, he's talked about the trials his discipline is facing back home.
"Unfortunately, we're struggling a bit right now," Strohmeyer told Wielerflits. "The gravel boom has taken over from cyclocross. Many riders and bike brands have made the switch. It's the next big thing – as a result, we've seen a sharp decline in participants and spectators at our cyclocross events."
It's been two years since the UCI World Cup last kicked off with a round in the United States, and three since there was more than one, typically Waterloo, Wisconsin, and Fayetteville, Arkansas, the latter hosting the World Championships in 2022.
"It's gotten to the point where so many talented Americans quit cyclocross at a young age because they hate that they can't make a career out of it. All the prize money is also on gravel ... I don't get a salary, unfortunately. No American rider does, for that matter. I do have some individual sponsors who give me a little money, but that's it. That's why my biggest goal this season is to get good results here so I can be picked up by a European team. That changes everything. I'll even skip the American championships to stay here all winter."
Strohmeyer also pointed to the struggles American pros face when arriving in Europe having started the domestic season way back in mid-September, which makes it harder to make an impact.
Viviani and Impey join Ineos staff
The Ineos Grenadiers have followed up the news that Geraint Thomas has been appointed Head of Racing with the announcement that more former pros are joining team staff. On Friday, the team said that Elia Viviani and Daryl Impey are coming aboard as sports directors next season.
"Their experience, professionalism and leadership qualities will add real value to the Ineos Grenadiers," Thomas said of his new colleagues via a statement. "They will also bring fresh ideas and perspectives into an established environment which is really important for our growth as a team, as we continue to challenge ourselves in every area."
Mathieu van der Poel will start his cyclocross season at Namur World Cup
Mathieu van der Poel has announced his schedule for the 2025-26 cyclocross season. The eleventy-time (OK, seven) elite cyclocross World Champion will likely debut at the Namur World Cup round on December 14. According to the plan, he'll aim to race 13 times total, with seven (or eight, depending on if you count the weekend after January 1) of those in the packed "Kerstperiode" portion of the calendar through January 4.
Three more World Cup events follow in January before he pursues a seventh World Championship on February 1 on a home course in Hulst, the Netherlands. An eighth elite title would surpass Erik De Vlaeminck for most all time in the sport.
The full schedule:
World Cup – Namur: December 14 (TBC)
World Cup – Antwerp: December 20
World Cup – Koksijde: December 21
X2O Badkamers – Hofstade: December 22
World Cup – Gavere: December 26
X2O Badkamers – Azencross, Loenhout: December 29
X2O Badkamers – GP Sven Nys: January 1
Exact Cross – Mol: January 2
World Cup – Zonhoven: January 4
World Cup – Benidorm: January 18 (TBC)
World Cup – Maasmechelen: January 24
World Cup – Hoogerheide: January 25
World Championships – Hulst: February 2
Biniam Girmay officially parts ways with Intermarché-Wanty
It's been rumored for weeks now, but the Intermarché-Wanty team confirmed on Friday that star sprinter Biniam Girmay will leave the team ahead of its planned merger with Lotto.
Intermarché officially waved adieu to Girmay, who won three stages and the points competition at the 2024 Tour de France, in a press release and an Instagram post recapping some of the highlights of his five seasons on the team. The Eritrean is widely expected to join NSN Pro Cycling for the 2026 season, but no transfer has been officially announced.
Girmay was originally under contract with Intermarché through 2026, but with the team's impending merger with Lotto, its own WorldTour license will lapse, effectively severing contracts with riders from that side. While Intermarché has reportedly been withholding release for some riders, Girmay (and super-agent Alex Carera) has engineered an exit. His next steps are yet to be announced.
Merida to end partnership with Bahrain Victorious
Bahrain Victorious and Merida have officially ended their long-running partnership after nine seasons together, the manufacturer confirmed in a press release and Instagram post. The WorldTour squad has raced on Merida bikes since its 2017 debut as Bahrain Merida.
Merida acknowledged the split in a statement, thanking the team and the Kingdom of Bahrain for “the opportunity to be part of this exciting project” and noting that the collaboration had underpinned many of the team’s biggest results. The brand added that it will “consolidate and continue working on exciting new WorldTour racing projects” following the separation.
Team managing director Milan Eržen paid tribute to Merida as “lifelong friends” who played “an integral role in all of our success.” During their nine years together, Bahrain Victorious claimed Grand Tour stages and Monument victories including Il Lombardia, Milan-San Remo, and Paris-Roubaix.
It remains unconfirmed who will be stepping in to fill the Merida-shaped hole, but there are rumours that Bianchi could be the most likely. The Italian brand will be without a WorldTour team in 2026 as it stands after the collapse of Arkéa-B&B Hotels.
Ineos confirm Geraint Thomas as new Head of Racing
Geraint Thomas has been confirmed as the new Head of Racing for Ineos Grenadiers, stepping into a management role immediately after retiring from racing for the team.
"This team has been my home since day one, and stepping into this role feels like a natural next step," Thomas was quoted in the press release. "I’ve learnt so much from the people around me - fellow riders and staff - and I now want to continue building on our incredible past success into the future.
Dave Brailsford added: "Geraint typifies what it means to be a Grenadier. He has lived and breathed elite performance throughout his career. He always set himself very ambitious goals and invariably went on to achieve them.
"He knows what the process takes, how to deal with the highs and lows of elite sport and his willingness to now share this and mentor others to do the same is a great asset for the team. The fact that he has stayed so humble and always maintained a great sense of humour are also great attributes to bring to his new role."
Chris King partners with Reserve on new wheel lineup
As Escape has previously reported, Chris King was one of the brands impacted by Forge + Bond's closure earlier this year. With F+B no longer making the thermoplastic rims for King's self-branded fusion fiber wheelsets, the Portland, OR-based component manufacturer sought out a new partner to fill the void.
Having worked with Reserve Wheels in the past, sponsoring professional athletes like downhill racer Jackson Goldstone, King’s President and General Manager Kirby Bedsaul said in a statement, "expanding that [partnership], and bringing these world-class wheels to the everyday rider just made a lot of sense." Reserve is the carbon rim manufacturer started by and operating under the Santa Cruz Bikes umbrella.
There will be three new wheel offerings available, built around King’s R45D and Mountain Boost hubs, and made to order by the King wheel-building department. This includes road, gravel, and mountain options with Reserve’s 42|49TA road rims, 40|44GR gravel rims, and 30HD mountain bike rims.
Pricing is US$2,199 for the King/Reserve 30HD mountain wheel and US$2,299 for both the 42|49 road wheel and 40|44 gravel wheel.
Gaviria pleads guilty to drunk driving charge
Fernando Gaviria, who just signed with Caja Rural-Seguros RGA for the coming season, has received a two-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year driving ban after pleading guilty to a drunk driving charge in Monaco, Het Nieuwsblad reports.
The Colombian sprinter was reportedly arrested at around noon on October 22, and said he had been drinking that morning, pointing to "stress and family problems" while admitting his "mistake" and pleading guilty to the crime. [Het Nieuwsblad]
Neil Stephens returns to Jayco
After two seasons with UAE-Team Emirates XRG and then five at Bahrain Victorious, sports director Neil Stephens is heading back to Jayco-AlUla. The Australian former pro, who during his racing career won a Tour de France stage in 1997 and was then one of the riders ejected from the Tour in the "Festina affair" the following year, was a member of GreenEdge staff from its very first season in 2012 through to 2018.
"I have always felt it would be a nice idea to return to GreenEdge at some point," he said via the team's press release announcing the news. "Once the conversations started with Brent [Copeland, general manager] and Gerry [Ryan, team owner], it seemed like the right moment to come back, and things quickly fit into place."
Artificial climbs for Abu Dhabi Worlds?
After Tim Merlier lamented the plight of the sprinters in light of an artificial climb allegedly being prepared for the 2028 UCI Road World Championships in Abu Dhabi, Marca dug deeper to find details on the Al Wathba climb and other projects that could impact the Worlds route in three years.
The Al Wathba, already punchy enough to put riders to the test, is indeed growing. As Marca writes, "according to internal documents from the emirate consulted by civil engineering companies, the plan is to complete a much more challenging climb by 2028, approximately 3.8 km long, with an average gradient of around 6.5% and a final section that will reach nearly 11% over almost a kilometer. The last 250 meters could even reach 13%."
Moreover, the island of Hudayriyat has for some time now been the scene of efforts to engineer terrain for sporting purposes. The island features "a series of artificial slopes that already exceed several tens of meters in height," giving organizers plenty of options for putting together a race route that could, unfortunately for Merlier, prove challenging for the sprinters. [Marca]
Gaviria's transfer to Caja Rural confirmed
Fernando Gaviria's long-rumoured transfer to Spanish ProTeam Caja Rural-Seguros RGA has been confirmed.
The Colombian sprinter takes with him a decade of WorldTour experience across three teams, and 52 pro wins under his belt, including five stages and a points jersey (2017) at the Giro d'Italia, and two wins at the 2018 Tour de France. With his peak coming early in his career with Etixx-QuickStep, he's seemed increasingly lost in the weeds as time has passed, culminating in a disappointing three years with Movistar, in which he's only collected three victories.
With Caja Rural, he'll step down a level to the ProTour, but with less competition for leadership and more attention given to the sprints – compared to at Movistar – he'll hope to have more chances for himself, perhaps even at the Vuelta a España, the only Grand Tour where he's yet to take a stage win, and for which his new team is likely to receive a wildcard invite.
Træen returns to complete Uno-X 2026 roster: 'back together with a childhood sweetheart'
Torstein Træen's return to the Uno-X Mobility organisation has been confirmed, completing the 2026 roster that is expected to race as a WorldTeam after a terrific 2025.
"We’re welcoming a family member back," reads the team's announcement. "A rider who has been part of our story from the very beginning — from being a part of the first 11 riders announced for Uno-X Hydrogen Development Team in 2016, through our early years, and all the way to our debut in the Tour de France."
Træen's development was interrupted by the surprise diagnosis of testicular cancer in 2022, but he was back racing within months and fighting for results. He then drew the attention of WorldTeam Bahrain Victorious for 2024, with which he took his first WorldTour win at the 2024 Tour de Suisse, and in 2025, he made his mark on the Vuelta a España, finishing 9th overall after spending a handful of days in the red jersey. Now the 30-year-old Norwegian is returning to his roots.
"I can barely describe how much I’m looking forward to becoming a part of Uno-X Mobility," Træen said. "For me, it feels almost like getting back together with a childhood sweetheart — something that has been quietly alive inside me for years, just waiting for the right moment."
Tiberi to the Tour?
Ciro Scognamiglio of La Gazzetta dello Sport has said on X that Bahrain Victorious is planning to send Antonio Tiberi to the Tour de France in 2026. The 24-year-old Italian has made six Grand Tour starts over the course of his career, finishing as highly as fifth at the Giro d'Italia in 2024, but he has yet to make his Tour debut.
He will reportedly share the spotlight at next year's Tour with Lenny Martinez, while Bahrain Victorious could look to Santiago Buitrago at the Giro. [X]
Esteban Chaves calls it a career
Eleven years after he made his WorldTour debut with Orica-GreenEdge, Esteban Chaves is retiring, as announced on social media and in conjunction with the release of a YouTube video from his current team, EF Education-EasyPost.
The 35-year-old Colombian counts five Grand Tour stage wins and two Grand Tour GC podium finishes on his palmares, and he became Colombia's first Monument winner in 2016 at Il Lombardia. He experienced both highs and lows over the course of his illustrious career, emerging as a rising star in the wake of a serious injury he sustained in a crash at a young age and then battling various health woes in more recent years, but remained a popular figure throughout.
"I’m very happy to close this chapter in the way we are closing it," he said. "Who am I without my bike? Without the bike, I am Esteban. I am a son, I am a brother, I am a husband, I am a father. I am a human being who dreams of setting an example, who dreams of being at peace, who dreams of having a lot of contact with nature."
Uijtdebroeks describes 'blissful' introduction to new team Movistar
Cian Uijtdebroeks' move to Movistar from Visma-Lease a Bike was one of the surprise transfers of the season. Having struggled to make his mark on the Dutch superteam, the young Belgian will be a leader at Movistar, and the early signs are good.
"You might expect me not to have felt comfortable because I haven't mastered the language, but it was really blissful," Uijtdebroeks told Sporza. "It really felt like coming home somehow. That's exactly what I was looking for in a team."
The 22-year-old describes himself as "very strict and disciplined", and Uijtdebroeks believes these traits are better looked after in a more relaxed setting. Although, Uijtdebroeks was keen to point out that the Spanish WorldTeam means business.
"It is often said that Movistar works less professionally, but I've found that there's a great framework," the young Belgian said. "Without apps, but with a very human approach. Everyone has a personal dietitian – I am contacted almost daily to coordinate the planning. I get a lot of participation and freedom in putting together my program."
One of the main catalysts for his move was the opportunity to race a Grand Tour. At Visma, there was a huge amount of competition for places on any lineup, let alone a chance to lead; Uijtdebroeks has not raced a three-week race since 2024 when illness forced him to abandon both the Giro and Vuelta. That's going to be very different at Movistar.
"We are still waiting to see the Giro route, but it is certain that I will go for GC in one of the Grand Tours. Maybe I need to be convinced about the tough course of the Tour, but I would like to try. We'll see. Anyway, [first things first] I'm going to ride the Walloon classics.”
Brand and Nys win first round of UCI World Cup in Tábor, Czechia
At long last, the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup has got underway in Tábor, Czechia, with elite victories for Lucinda Brand and Thibau Nys, both racing for Baloise Glowi Lions.
Brand had a fight on her hands with two key rivals who have animated the 25-26 season thus far, with Sara Casasola and Inge van der Heijden – the only two riders to have beaten Brand so far – joining her in the lead group as the race progressed. In the last of five laps, an acceleration from Brand ended the European champion's challenge, and she kept the pressure on to drop the Italian in the corners leading into the finish. With this result, Brand took her 51st consecutive podium, eighth win of the season, and pulled on the first World Cup leader's jersey of the series.
On the results sheet, the elite men's race looked rather closer than it was in reality. Thibau Nys spent six and a half laps alone after a crash from Joris Nieuwenhuis created daylight, and the Belgian national champion was never seen again. The battle for second was hard-fought around half a minute behind Nys, and all the while a steady drop in temperature made the terrain harder and harder to predict, causing more slipping and sliding in the closing laps.
Earlier in the day, junior races were won by Soren Bruyère Joumard and Barbora Bukovská, and the under-23 men's was won by David Haverdings. There was no standalone U23 women's race, however, fourth-place elite finisher Leonie Bentveld topped the U23 category that afforded the Dutch rider a trip to the podium for the series leader's jersey.
Elite women's top 5
Lucinda Brand (Baloise Glowi Lions) 45:13
Sara Casasola (Crelan-Corendon) +0:01
Inge van der Heijden (Crelan-Corendon) +0:13
Leonie Bentveld (Pauwels Sauzen-Altez) +0:25
Aniek van Alphen (Seven Racing) +0:30
Elite men's top 5
Thibau Nys (Baloise Glowi Lions) 1:03:39
Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) +0:08
Joris Nieuwenhuis (Ridley Racing Team) +0:10
Jente Michels (Alpecin-Deceuninck) +0:12
Emiel Verstrynge (Crelan-Corendon) +0:27
Arkéa-B&B's Thibault Guernalec left with multiple injuries after being hit by a driver during training
Thibault Guernalec was out training on Friday when he was hit by a driver and left with multiple injuries, including a concussion, and fractures to his lumbar vertebra and finger.
The Breton rider's team Arkéa-B&B Hotels, which is closing at the end of the season, announced the news on social media on Saturday morning. After a decent 2025, 28-year-old Guernalec is expected to sign with TotalEnergies, though this has yet to be confirmed.
Pogačar's rumoured 2026 debut offers clues about later goals
Tadej Pogačar is rumoured to be considering a late season debut at Strade Bianche in early March 2026, according to Ciro Scognamiglio of La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Usually kicking things off in February, for instance at the UAE Tour which he won overall for the third time in 2025, the last time Pogačar waited until March to make his first appearance of the season was in 2024 as he built towards a victorious Giro d'Italia.
Though a return to the Italian Grand Tour next year has occasionally been rumoured for the world champion, it is far more likely that he would simply be amending his approach to the Spring Classics, with Milan-Sanremo (21 March) and Paris-Roubaix (12 April) once again top of his wishlist.
Kopecky breaks all-time record as she and Evenepoel win 'Crystal Bicycle' awards
The 'Kristallen Fiets' awards, conceived in 1992 by newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, were handed out in Belgium this week, with top gongs going to Lotte Kopecky and Remco Evenepoel. While Evenepoel's fifth 'Crystal Bicycle' brings him up alongside Johan Museeuw as the most-prolific man to win the title, Kopecky's sixth in a row makes her the outright record holder.
"I really did my very best to avoid all galas and award ceremonies this year," Kopecky joked to HLN, reflecting on what has been a disappointing season by her own standards. "Although at the same time, it's a bit of a mixed bag because I'm aware that I haven't had a fantastic season. I have no idea how big my lead [in votes] was in previous years, but I did expect it to be much closer this time."
Evenepoel, meanwhile, looked ahead to the future and his place in Belgian cycling history. "The name 'Johan Museeuw' has a huge resonance in the cycling world, but my ambition is to do even better and eventually become the sole record holder. I'll definitely be racing for another ten years or so. So there are still plenty of opportunities to win some Crystal Bikes."
Other categories voted on by the expert panel include Best Young Rider – which Evenepoel won in 2018 – won this year by Jarno Widar for the second year, and AG Insurance-Soudal's Lore De Schepper; Best Manager went to the Roodhooft brothers for the third time; and Victor Campenaerts won the brilliantly named 'Crystal Drop of Sweat' for best domestique.
TotalEnergies boss Bernaudeau is not retiring after all
After a report in Ouest-France suggested that longtime TotalEnergies team boss Jean-René Bernaudeau would be retiring, the team put out a statement on Friday clarifying that Bernaudeau would "continue to lead the organization for a twenty-seventh year."
Ouest-France had reported that Stéphane Heulot was likely to replace Bernaudeau at the helm of the team; the status of that move is uncertain in the wake of Friday's news from the team itself, though TotalEnergies did note that changes could be afoot in some way.
"In anticipation of the major challenges facing Team TotalEnergies in the coming months, an in-depth review is currently underway to strengthen the company’s key operational resources," the team said. "No final decisions have been made at this stage."
Vuelta's Javier Guillen succeeds Prudhomme as president of race organizers' association
Vuelta a España general director Javier Guillen was named the incoming president of the Association Internationale des Organisateurs de Courses Cyclistes (AIOCC) this week, succeeding Tour de France head Christian Prudhomme of the Amaury Sports Organization.
Prudhomme had served as AIOCC president for 18 years but did not stand for re-election. Guillen will serve an initial four-year term, but as the ASO owns a majority stake in Vuelta promoter Unipublic, the company will keep a firm role at the head of the race organizers' association. The new steering committee is also heavily represented by ASO-affiliated promoters, as four of the seven administrative roles are held by ASO-owned event companies.
Guillen also made comments on two reform ideas currently debated within the sport. In a conversation with Wielerflits, Guillen said he's against charging fans for access to the race route (outside of existing VIP zones), saying "we are and remain a free sport," while pledging to look for new income streams. Guillen also voiced support for continuing to explore a salary cap for teams. "Maybe we can't figure out a way, but we have to keep talking about it," he said.
Vinokurov Jr. becomes a 'trainee sports director' with XDS-Astana
Alexandre Vinokurov Jr. retired from bike racing in October after suffering a string of injuries in recent years, but he is not leaving the sport or even the XDS-Astana team, which also employs his father and his twin brother. The squad announced on Thursday that Vinokurov Jr. had completed the UCI's sports director training program and will become a "trainee sports director" with XDS-Astana in 2026.
"It feels strange of course at the beginning but as everyone is telling me, you need to get used to it," Vinokurov Jr. said. Still just 23 years old, he will be among the youngest DSes in the peloton as he moves into his new role.
Pogačar eyes San Remo and Roubaix again for 2026
It's not often that Tadej Pogačar comes up short in pursuit of a bike racing goal, but both Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix eluded him in 2025, so it should maybe come as no surprise that the UAE-Team Emirates XRG star is considering having another go at both races next year. It's hard to say whether his calendar is truly set in stone at this early stage, but in an interview with Marca this week, Pogačar made it clear that he wants to return to the two Classics he has yet to win.
"We go for the Tour again, it's quite obvious it's the biggest race of them all, but I want to express myself in the Classics, to show that I can improve in the Classics since this year or last year," Pogačar said. "San Remo and Roubaix are the two races that I am really keen to try again and to try for the win." [Marca]
