Daily News

Winter Olympic Federations don't want cyclocross in the Winter Games

The Winter Olympic Federations, an association of federations for sports that compete in the Olympic Winter Games, put out a statement this week expressing their opposition to putting "certain additional disciplines" into the Winter Olympics. The statement comes as the International Olympic Committee mulls the addition of more sports to the Winter Olympic program, with cyclocross mooted as an option – although under current rules, only sports that take place on snow or ice are eligible to make the cut.

For the Winter Olympic Federations, that prohibition is in place for a reason, and changing the rules would be bad for the "identity" of the Games.

"The Winter Olympic Federations are firm in our belief that such an approach would dilute the brand, heritage, and identity that make the Olympic Winter Games unique – a celebration of sports practiced on snow and ice, with distinct culture, athletes, and fields of play," read the statement.

Pinarello becomes title sponsor of Q36.5 team

Tom Pidcock is back exclusively on his beloved Pinarello bikes. The multi-disciplinary star has long ridden Pinarellos on the road, mountain bike and in cyclocross, but his transfer from Ineos Grenadiers to Q36.5 saw him race Scott bikes on the road in 2025.

There'll be no such ticket-splitting in 2026, however, as Pinarello announced today that it will be the lead title sponsor of the now-called Pinarello-Q36.5 team. That's not much of a surprise given the news that a team by that name had applied for a 2026 WorldTour license, but today's announcement makes it official. The move also brings together several of team owner Ivan Glasenberg's investments, as the billionaire mining magnate owns both Pinarello and the Q36.5 apparel brand. Whether the team gets that long-shot WorldTour license will be announced in December.

Ridley’s Yungstr is the brand's take on a pro bike for juniors

Ridley’s Yungstr is the brand's take on a pro bike for juniors

Belgian brand Ridley is taking kids’ bikes seriously, maybe for the first time ever. The new Yungstr isn’t a toy or a scaled-down adult frame, but a purpose-built, full-carbon race bike for riders aged 8 to 12. Aimed at being a launchpad for the next generation of all-rounders.

Although the Yungstr is built around a 929 gram carbon frame with the complete build comes in at 8.9 kg. It runs hydraulic disc brakes, a geometry tuned specifically for young riders, and generous tyre clearance – up to 42 mm on 650B or 32 mm on 700C. The design is angled for versatility across different riding styles and disciplines.

The fit evolves too, with an easily swappable stem that lets the bike grow as its rider does. And in a neat twist, Ridley is offering a lifetime warranty that transfers even if the bike is resold.

It’s all part of Ridley’s push to give kids a genuine performance platform from their very first rides. With the platform receiving backing from Belgian Cycling, Cycling Vlaanderen, and youth squads like Acrog-Tormans.

MSRP: €2,699 with a Shimano GRX400 build.

Moots launches Scrambler titanium drop-bar adventure bike

Moots launches Scrambler titanium drop-bar adventure bike

Moots, the US titanium bike brand, has officially unveiled its new titanium drop bar adventure bike with front suspension to its lineup – the very same bike we already spotted earlier this year at Made. The Scrambler, as the bike is named, features Moots' trademark wishbone seatstays for rear compliance and the front triangle uses double-butted tubes, with a tubeset borrowed from the brand's MXC hardtail for extra stiffness. Mounts include three bottles inside the frame, a set below the downtube, top tube bento and bolt-on frame-bag mounts, plus rear rack eyelets.

There is only one complete build option, with Shimano GRX RX22 x XT M8100 drivetrain, pairing an XT 36T crank and 10–51T cassette with GRX rear mech and shifters, and Chris King MTN30 AL 29 Boost wheels wrapped in WTB Macro 2.4in tyres, maxing the clearance. The stem and seatpost are Moots own titanium creations, with routing for a mechanical dropper that can be actuated via the left GRX lever. 

Complete bikes and framesets are available at the end of January 2026, in a standard brushed finish, premium anodised options, and a Scrambler-only 'Topo' anodised finish. The complete bike pricing starts from US$9,499/£8,350/€8,195, and frameset from US$5,399/£4,750/€4,660.

DT Swiss launches its first carbon-spoked wheelset

DT Swiss launches its first carbon-spoked wheelset

It’s big news when the world's largest spoke manufacturer releases a wheelset that uses spokes from another manufacturer. Built with carbon spokes from Vonoa, the new ARC 1100 Spline 38 CS is DT Swiss’ lightest road wheel to date and its first to feature carbon spokes.

DT Swiss claims the new climbing-centric wheelset weighs just 1,174 grams for the pair, a saving of 124 grams from the pre-existing ARC 1100 Spline 38 wheelset with bladed steel spokes. According to the company, the wheels feature specific hubs and rims with unique drilling for the carbon spokes.

DT Swiss is only selling these wheels as a Wheel Tyre System (WTS), which includes a Continental Aero 111 26 mm front tyre and a Continental GP 5000 STR 28 mm rear tyre. Expect to pay €3,200 / US$3,727 / £2,900 for the set.

Trek adds frameset-only options to Project One

Trek adds frameset-only options to Project One

Trek’s customisation program, Project One, has long only offered the purchase of custom-painted and equipped complete bikes. Now Trek is opening its Project One paint booths to those who just want a new Trek frameset.

To begin, Trek is offering just its flagship road and gravel frames, including the Madone, Domane, Checkmate, and Speed Concept. Full details can be found at Trek’s Project One page

Cinelli releases Aeroscoop aero road bike with sub-7 kg builds

Cinelli releases Aeroscoop aero road bike with sub-7 kg builds

Cinelli has introduced Aeroscoop, an all-new aero road bike, pitched to be the Italian brand's fastest bike to date. The carbon frame targets low drag and high stiffness, with a claimed 4% reduction in frontal area versus the Pressure 2 – a number that Cinelli said translates to more than one minute saved over 60 km at a 45 km/h average (if you can hold it).

The headline aero claims are backed by tests run at GST's wind tunnel in Immenstaad, and Cinelli said the Aeroscoop beats the likes of Specialized Tarmac SL8 in head-on flow when using identical wheels, and ranks among the ten fastest bikes tested. 

The frame design is heavily influenced by the aero intentions, with a double-arm seatstay layout with a central air channel, a lowered and widened down tube to better shield bottles, a smoothed head tube-cockpit transition, and a reshaped fork crown to cut frontal turbulence. As one might expect, the frame has full internal routing, UDH hanger, and UCI approval.

Weight for a painted size-M frame is quoted at 950 g (±5%), with a 370 g fork. Tyre clearance is 34 mm, and Cinelli says the geometry is "pure race" across five sizes (XS–XL) with a 1.41 stack-to-reach ratio for a low, aggressive position.

The frame layup is a mix of Toray's carbon fibres, with latex bladders used during moulding to control resin flow and fibre orientation. The claimed complete-bike weights are 6.98 kg with SRAM Red AXS and Fulcrum Wind 57 wheels and 6.69 kg with SRAM Red AXS and Columbus Gara 50C. 

Build options span Campagnolo Super Record WRL 13-speed, SRAM Red eTap AXS, and Shimano Dura-Ace/Ultegra/105 Di2, paired to Fulcrum Wind 57 wheels and Vittoria Rubino 28 mm tyres; the cockpit is the Columbus Components Spirit integrated bar. Pricing ranges from €6,000 (105 Di2) up to €10,700 for flagship electronic builds.

Life Time Grand Prix announces initial 2026 rosters

To no one's surprise, breakout gravel star Cameron Jones is among 22 men and 22 women announced this week as the initial competitors for next year's six-race Grand Prix series. He's an automatic selection after getting snubbed last year and having to qualify as a wild card.

He'll face a top field, including three-time Grand Prix champion Keegan Swenson, last year's runner-up Simon Pellaud, Matthew Beers, and longtime gravel pro Payson McElveen. The women's field is headlined by 2025 Grand Prix winner Sofia Villafañe and consistent podium contenders like Lauren De Crescenzo and Cecily Decker.

There's significant turnover in both fields. In the men's lineup, 13 of the 25 final Grand Prix competitors from 2025 won't return – all of them from the lower half of the final 2025 series standings. Gravel's own mad scientist, Dylan Johnson, is perhaps the most notable omission in the men's field. It's a similar story on the women's side, as Paige Onweiler is the only rider placed lower than 13th in the overall standings to get a nod for 2026. Axelle Dubau-Prévot, Haley Smith and Crystal Anthony are all notable names missing from the initial 22-rider roster list.

Notable additions include Unbound 200 winner Karolina Migoń, 2024 Unbound winner and 2025 Gravel Earth series champion Rosa Klòser and Sarah Sturm. For the men, several top-10 riders in the overall Gravel Earth Series standings are poised to make a run at the Grand Prix, including Jan Stöckli and Simon Nordahl Svendsen.

As with last year, three wildcard entrants for each field will be selected on the basis of their performance in the first two rounds of the Grand Prix at the Sea Otter Classic and Unbound Gravel, for a full series field of 25 men and women. Full rosters are available on the Life Time Grand Prix site. [Life Time Grand Prix]

Colnago revives limited edition Steelnovo with new colours

Colnago revives limited edition Steelnovo with new colours

Colnago has added two colourways to the Steelnovo steel road frame – light blue and pastel orange – and moved the bike from last year's numbered 70th-anniversary run into ongoing production, though still capped at 400 frames annually.

The made-in-Italy frame pairs Columbus steel tubes with 3D-printed lugs and dropouts from Additiva. Spec is unchanged: 35 mm tyre clearance, fully integrated routing, T47-86 bottom bracket, UDH rear dropout, and a racing carbon fork. Seven sizes (420–570) are offered, with design, fabrication, paint, and assembly all in Italy.

There is a frameset only option available for €5,500 (frame, fork, headset); complete builds are €15,900 with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 and Enve SES 4.5 wheels, or €15,400 with Campagnolo Super Record WRL 13-speed and Bora Ultra WTO 45.

New gravel tires from Pirelli and Vittoria

New gravel tires from Pirelli and Vittoria

Vittoria has announced a significant addition to its gravel tire line. The new Terreno Pro Gravel range is claimed to have more grip, more puncture resistance, and is 5-7% faster than the existing Terreno Endurance tires. Additionally, the brand states that the new natural brown-colored tires are comprised of 92% renewable and recyclable materials, including organic cotton casings, recycled fish nets (via Seawastex material), and Fair-Rubber certified natural rubber. Further, Vittoria, which manufactures the tires in its carbon-neutral factory, boasts the Terreno Pros to have an average carbon footprint reduction of 35%.

Available in four models, the Terreno Pro collection offers a variety of tread patterns – from semi-slick to knobby – in sizing from 700 x 35c to 700 x 45c, with wider versions on the way. Pricing is US$113 per tire and is currently listed as "coming soon" on vittoria.com as of November 11, 2025.

Vittoria

Additionally, Pirelli has updated its gravel tire catalog, splitting the Cinturato into High Performance (HP-Line) and Performance (P-Line). Both models are manufactured at Pirelli’s Milan-Bollate facility, utilizing certified FSCTM natural rubber, and have been claimed to offer increased puncture protection and reduced rolling resistance due to updated rubber compounds and casings.

Retaining existing tread patterns from the previous generation, the HP-Line consists of Cinturato Gravel H and Cinturato Gravel M models. Both contain what Perelli refers to as natural rubber with FSC certification and "SmartEVO GR 120 TPI casing technology incorporated from its performance mountain bike tires.

The P-Line includes Cinturato Gravel RH, RM, S, H, and M models. These tires have a 60 TPI casing with Perelli's SpeedGRIP compound.

Pricing for the HP-Line is US$90 and US$79 for the P-line, with availability expected by late 2025.

Pirelli

The UCI is 'monitoring' the potential for race-fixing in cycling

As Velo reports, the UCI is keeping an eye on sportsbetting platforms for signs of race-fixing amid a string of recent scandals in other sports, including a major NBA betting scandal involving at least one head coach and one active player. The UCI told Velo that it "carries out regular monitoring of the risk of competition manipulation due to betting, in particular, by analyzing the bets put on offer by betting operators and any unusual betting patterns or sporting conduct."

UCI regulations ban riders from betting "on events in which they could participate" with stiff penalties for those who violate the rules. While cycling has a much smaller footprint in the gambling world than basketball or any number of other major sports, it does still draw interest from sports bettors, and the UCI is apparently hoping that any manipulation of cycling events will be detectable in suspicious activity either on the road or in the betting markets. [Velo]

Peiper joins Red Bull as Eisel jumps to Lidl-Trek in DS musical chairs

Allan Peiper is back in the WorldTour game. The former pro and longtime sports director is joining Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe as a strategic advisor for the 2026 season. Peiper, who raced 10 seasons and won a stage of the Giro d'Italia, has had a lengthy career behind the wheel of team cars as a director or lead director for Lotto, HTC-High Road, Garmin, BMC and then UAE Team Emirates.

Peiper, 65, stepped away from a full-time role at UAE in 2021 to focus on his fight against prostate cancer, and was unable to find a path back to full-time employment with the team in the 2023 season. He's been out of the WorldTour since, but in his new role he'll work with head of sport Zak Dempster on strategic direction for the team.

Elsewhere, Red Bull director Bernhard Eisel will jump to Lidl-Trek after four years with the Austrian team. Eisel, one of the top leadout men in pro cycling during his 19-year career, will now link up with top sprinter Jonathan Milan, who won two stages and the points competition at the 2025 Tour de France.

Vingegaard hints again at Giro focus in 2026: 'I think I'd rather win all three Grand Tours'

Jonas Vingegaard and Visma-Lease a Bike have yet to confirm plans for 2026, but the two-time Tour de France champion and recent winner of the Vuelta a España has hinted that he would like to target the Giro d'Italia sooner rather than later.

"Winning three Grand Tours or the Tour de France in 2026? I think I'd rather win all three Grand Tours," Vingegaard told La Dernière Heure. "The Giro remains ... But we haven't decided yet whether next season's schedule aligns with that. We still need to discuss it with the team. The Tour de France remains the biggest goal, of course. But now it's about whether we can combine the two next year."

A major part of the equation is the seemingly unbeatable Tadej Pogačar who has beaten the Dane to the past two Tour titles with little trouble.

"Sometimes Tadej really seems unbeatable," Vingegaard said. "He's very strong. He's undeniably the best rider in the world right now. But if I were to tell myself he's unbeatable, that would mean giving up. So I won't.

"I think I at least have a chance of beating him. I'm still developing, and I feel like I'm just back to the level I was at before my crash in the 2024 Tour of the Basque Country. It's taking longer than I thought to get back, but right now I can push the same watts as before the crash. And I feel like I still have room to improve. But maybe that applies to him too."

Gent-Wevelgem gets a new name

Gent-Wevelgem – full name "Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields" – is getting a (very long) new name from 2026: "In Flanders Fields: From Middelkerke to Wevelgem."

This comes as race organiser Flanders Classics enters into a 10-year agreement with the West Flandrian municipality of Middelkerke, situated on the coast almost due north of Ypres which has hosted the start since taking over from Deinze (much nearer to Gent) in 2020.

The 88th edition of the newly-monikered one-day will kick off from Middelkerke on 29th March 2026, maintaining pride of place one weekend before the Tour of Flanders.

Ruby Roseman-Gannon re-signs with Liv AlUla Jayco

Toon Aerts wins European title in Belgian 1-2-3

Toon Aerts won a hard-fought elite men's European Championship race on the beachside course at Middelkerke, outpunching defending champion Thibau Nys, with Joran Wyseure completing an all-Belgian podium. In contrast to most of the other events this weekend, the elite men's race rang with tension throughout, the top six riders finishing within 13 seconds of victory.

Earlier in the day, there was another victory for an Italian youngster in the junior men's race as Filippo Grigolini succeeded compatriot Mattia Agostinacchio as under-19 champion, with Patrik Pezzo Rosola making it an Italian one-two. In the U23 women's race, Célia Gery was the hot favourite, but the French teenager was thoroughly beaten by the more experienced Dutchwoman Leonie Bentveld.

Look out for Escape's coverage of the weekend and what to look forward to this CX season.

Elite Men top 5

  1. Toon Aerts (Belgium) 58:40
  2. Thibau Nys (Belgium) "
  3. Joran Wyseure (Belgium) +0:03
  4. Pim Ronhaar (Netherlands) +0:04
  5. Cameron Mason (Great Britain) "

U23 Women top 5

  1. Leonie Bentveld (Netherlands) 44:06
  2. Célia Gery (France) +1:13
  3. Amandine Muller (France) +1:49
  4. Shanyl De Schoesitter (Belgium) +2:25
  5. Bloeme Kalis (Netherlands) +2:42

Junior Men top 5

  1. Filippo Grigolini (Italy) 38:50
  2. Patrik Pezzo Rosola (Italy) +0:13
  3. Giel Lejeune (Belgium) +0:16
  4. Cas Timmermans (Netherlands) +0:27
  5. Delano Heeren (Netherlands) +0:49

Greg Van Avermaet is a world champion

40-year-old Belgian Greg van Avermaet has been crowned world champion in the 40-44 age group at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Marbella, Spain.

Since retiring from road cycling at the end of 2023, Van Avermaet has kept busy on the gravel circuit and successfully impacted the triathlon discipline. Earlier this year, a month after making the trip out to Unbound, the Belgian finished overall runner-up at the Ironman 70.3 in Nice, while dominating his age group via a blistering stretch on the bike (Ironman 70.3 comprises 1.2 mi/1.9 km swim, 56 mi/90 km bike, 13.1 mi/21.1 km run).

That performance left him confident of a podium finish at the World Champs in Spain, and he ultimately exceeded his own expectations, especially in his run.

Vingegaard "wins" Saitama Criterium

A week after Jonathan Milan's "triumph" at the Singapore Criterium, two-time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard "won" its equivalent in Saitama, Japan.

The 2025 Tour runner-up crashed early in the wet conditions, but was soon back in the fold and on the attack with former teammate Primož Roglič. Vingegaard then left the Slovenian behind to solo away for victory, as the chasing group charged over Roglič and to the line where Milan beat Kaden Groves to second place.

Van der Heijden tops all-Dutch CX Euro Champs podium, Brand second

Inge van der Heijden led something of an upset at the Cyclocross European Championships in Middelkerke, Belgium, soloing to victory 41 seconds ahead of leading favourite Lucinda Brand. It's the 26-year-old's first major title since winning under-23 worlds in January 2019, and it's her second win of a so-far brilliant season after kicking things off with victory at Exact Cross Meulebeke.

Completing an all-Dutch podium was Aniek van Alphen, with the on-form Italian Sara Casasola over a minute further down in fourth – these four, along with the absent Fem van Empel and under-23 superstar Célia Gery, have so far represented the hit list of riders to watch this season (with the caveat that several haven't even debuted or landed in Europe yet).

The tough, windswept, beachside course also staged age-group categories earlier in the afternoon, with Italian Mattia Agostinacchio – the 18-year-old who is headlining EF's new CX project – getting the better of Dutch wunderkind David Haverdings in the under-23 men's race; and Czech up-and-comer Barbora Bukovská winning the junior women's title by 49 seconds.

Look out for Escape's coverage of the weekend and what to look forward to this CX season after the elite men, U23 women and junior men have competed on Sunday.

Elite Women top 5

  1. Inge van der Heijden (Netherlands) 50:19
  2. Lucinda Brand (Netherlands) +0:41
  3. Aniek van Alphen (Netherlands) +0:56
  4. Sara Casasola (Italy) +2:03
  5. Amandine Fouquenet (France) +2:14

U23 Men top 5

  1. Mattia Agostinacchio (Italy) 53:15
  2. David Haverdings (Netherlands) +0:17
  3. Kay De Bruyckere (Belgium) +0:20
  4. Romain Debord (France) "
  5. Václav Ježek (Czechia) +0:23

Junior Women top 5

  1. Barbora Bukovská (Czechia) 37:30
  2. Nynke Jochems (Netherlands) +0:49
  3. Nicole Azzetti (Italy) +0:52
  4. Georgia Pellizotti (Italy) +1:04
  5. Laly Pichon (France) +1:12

Leaked video appears to confirm Bahrain Victorious switch to Bianchi

A leaked video showing Santiago Buitrago on an all-black Bianchi frame appears to confirm that WorldTeam Bahrain Victorious is swapping Merida for fellow Italian bike brand Bianchi.

It's not particularly unusual for riders to test ride alternative bikes in the off-season without necessarily indicating an ongoing or upcoming relationship, however, there have been rumours of an end to the partnership between Bahrain Victorious and Merida, with which they've worked for nine years. Add to that the fact that Arkéa-B&B Hotels is folding at the close of this season, leaving Bianchi adrift, and the stars appear to be aligning in favour of these two organisations coming together.

Team TotalEnergies swaps Enve for Cube bikes

French ProTeam TotalEnergies has found a new bike sponsor in German brand Cube for 2026 after two years riding on Enve equipment, including frames.

The German bike brand has been the bike supplier for Intermarché-Wanty since 2015 (then known as Wanty-Groupe Gobert), so have had WorldTour presence since the team's upgrade in 2021, and has been part of some huge successes, including with groundbreaking Eritrean sprinter Biniam Girmay.

With the Belgian WorldTeam merging with Lotto going into 2026, which has raced on Orbea bikes for the past two seasons, Cube's new relationship with TotalEnergies ensures its continued presence in the sport.

Philipsen: Alpecin-Deceuninck 'is trying to push me more towards the Classics'

Jasper Philipsen has told TuttoBiciWeb that his Alpecin-Deceuninck team plans to rely on him even more heavily in the Classics next season. The 27-year-old Belgian, who won Milan-San Remo in 2024 and has twice finished on the podium at Paris-Roubaix, seems happy to focus even more on races where he already features heavily for his team in conjunction with superstar leader Mathieu van der Poel.

"The team is trying to push me more towards the Classics, especially at the beginning of the season, and this obviously means that I focus less on pure sprints, but that’s not a problem," said Philipsen, who also counts 10 Tour de France stage wins and a green jersey on his career palmares. "Being able to compete for victory in races I dream of, such as Roubaix, is something very beautiful that makes it easy to focus on that type of event."

That said, he still expects to be fighting for sprint wins in the Tour de France.

"In the second half of the season, however, things change because the goal is always the Tour," he said. "It’s a demanding race where you need to have a very solid engine and base level to be fast and competitive even in the third week." [TuttoBiciWeb]

More headwinds for bike industry as Q3 earnings disappoint

The bike industry continues to struggle through its economic doldrums after the COVID-19 boom, with major companies reporting lackluster third-quarter financials. Giant Group, the largest bikemaker in the world, said in its quarterly report that net revenue was down 16.9% in the first three quarters of 2025 compared to 2024.

Fox Factory saw Q3 sales drop 13% from the same quarter last year in its Specialty Sports Group, which contains Fox and Marzocchi in suspension and partsmakers Easton and Race Face. And while not directly in the cycling industry, action cam brand GoPro reported a steep 37% drop in year-over-year revenue.

There were glimmers of positive results: Giant's OEM business grew 20% in 2025 and saw recovery in both OE and Giant-branded products in the crucial European market. And Fox's year-to-date sales in the Specialty Sports Group were essentially flat, not down, compared to the same period in 2024. But the brand was not satisfied, saying the Specialty Sports Group "underperformed expectations as OEMs, distributors and retail partners actively managed toward leaner inventories ahead of year-end."

Scott launches sub-10kg Fastlane e-road bike

Scott launches sub-10kg Fastlane e-road bike

Lezyne issues voluntary recall on Pressure Over Drive floor pumps

Lezyne has announced a voluntary recall of its Pressure Over Drive and Digital Pressure Over Drive floor pumps manufactured between 2016 and 2021, citing a potential safety risk.

The recall follows a single reported incident in which the pump’s pressurised canister forcefully ejected from the base, posing a risk of serious injury to users or bystanders. Lezyne says the action is being taken out of an abundance of caution.

Owners of affected models are urged to stop using the pump immediately and visit ride.lezyne.com/recall to check whether their product is included and to register for a free replacement.

Once a valid claim is submitted, users are asked to dispose of recalled pumps in accordance with local recycling regulations.

In the post on Instagram, Lezyne said that post-2022 Pressure Over Drive models and all replacement pumps provided through the recall are safe to use.

Victor Lafay will ride for the Unibet Rose Rockets in 2026

The Unibet Tietema Rockets, rebranding as the Unibet Rose Rockets for 2026, have announced another notable signing this week. Two-time Grand Tour stage winner Victor Lafay, fresh off of an encouraging second-place overall ride at the Tour of Guangxi, is joining the second-division team after having spent the last two years with Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale.

Lafay, although only 29 years old, had recently said that he was considering retirement, but he was apparently convinced to make the jump to a new team instead.

"We’ve already made some strong additions, but he has a punchy profile which can help us in races where we haven’t been able to perform at the top level," team founder Bas Tietema said in a blog post.

The stars are aligning for the Unibet Rose Rockets
Having switched nationality for 2025, and signed sprinter Dylan Groenewegen and climber Wout Poels, the Rockets are in pole position for a Tour de France wildcard – only missing a big French name.

Ackermann signs with Jayco

After two years with Israel-Premier Tech, Pascal Ackermann is moving on to Jayco-AlUla on a two-year deal. The 31-year-old German counts five Grand Tour stage victories on his career palmares, and he won the Classique Dunkerque in May of this year.

"We are delighted to welcome Pascal to the squad and believe that he will fit in very well with the team’s well-established leadout train," said Jayco general manager Brent Copeland. "He has shown over his career that he can win at the highest level, which is demonstrated by his multiple Grand Tour stage victories. We are looking forward to working with him next season and seeing what he can achieve under the guidance of the team’s coaches and sport directors."

Continental rider António Carvalho suspended for bio passport anomalies

The UCI announced on Tuesday that António Carvalho – racing at the Continental level with Feirense-Beeceler – has been provisionally suspended for biological passport anomalies in 2018, 2023, and 2024. The first of those seasons, Carvalho was a member of the W52-FC Porto team, which later had its license revoked due to multiple doping cases within the organization. He has spent the past three years with the Feirense-Beeceler team.

The news of the 36-year-old Portuguese veteran's sanction comes two months after the announcement that Giovanni Carboni (Unibet Tietema Rockets) had been suspended for bio passport abnormalities, and less than a week after the UCI announced a bio passport-based suspension for Oier Lazkano (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).

Jayco names Bates as men's sporting manager, Stroetinga takes over women's team

The GreenEdge organization has announced a shakeup of its team management structure that will see Gene Bates moving over from the women's Liv-AlUla-Jayco team to become sporting manager of the men's Jayco-AlUla team, while Wim Stroetinga will take over as women's sporting manager.

The changes come roughly six months after the team parted ways with longtime sporting manager Matt White in May. They are also a further sign – after the team announced a new contract for Michael Matthews on Monday – that general manager Brent Copeland is forging ahead with planning for 2026 even as the team has yet to receive its UCI WorldTour license amid delays in the process of securing its bank guarantee.

EF signs Luke Lamperti

After two seasons with Soudal-Quick Step, Luke Lamperti is joining EF Education-EasyPost. The 22-year-old American compiled a handful of wins in smaller races during his time with the Belgian squad while also showing promise in the Classics, and his new team is hoping he can continue to develop in that department.

"He's going to be one of our go-to Classics guys in the cobbled races. And he is going to be a sprinter that we use quite a bit," said EF team boss Jonathan Vaughters in a statement. "I also think he's going to be a great mentor for Noah Hobbs, our superstar U23 sprinter that we're bringing on."