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"Closure" documents the Final Days of the Waterford Bicycle Factory
Available for pre-order starting today, Closure: The Final Days of the Waterford Bicycle Factoryis a 240-page photo essay documenting the company's final days in 2023. With words and images by Tucker Schwinn, co-manager of Waterford, the three-part stitched hardcover coffee table book offers a visual narrative "through portraits of machines, process, and textures that only come from decades of use and wear at the hands of expert framebuilders and craftspeople."
Closure is limited to 2500 copies. Pre-order begins today, November 3, 2025, with shipping expected by the end of the month.
Tadej Pogačar gets a statue
Tadej Pogačar and other UAE-Team Emirates XRG headliners were in the United Arab Emirates this past weekend, and during his time in Abu Dhabi, the world champion was on hand for the unveiling of a statue in his likeness at the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club.
The gold-colored statue (which seems likely to have been painted gold rather than made of actual gold) shows Pogačar bowing in celebration just as he has done to mark so many of his big career wins.
Matthews signs two-year contract extension with Jayco-AlUla
Michael Matthews has signed a two-year contract extension with Jayco-AlUla, committing his future to the team he returned to in 2021 after a four-year sabbatical at Sunweb.
"I’m super happy, I think after the problems I had during the summer this year it made me appreciate the team, my life, the way it is and the last years I’ve had in cycling," Matthews said in the team's announcement, referring to the significant health concerns that interrupted his season after he showed signs of pulmonary embolism while preparing for the Tour in June.
After a couple of period of forced rest, the 35-year-old returned to racing at the Bretagne Classic in late August, racking up five top-10 finishes in his late season appearances, including ninth at the GP Québec where he maintains a nine-race streak of top-10 finishes.
"I really feel like I’m getting better and better, so I’m really looking forward to another two years with the team and seeing what we can achieve together. Hopefully I can achieve those goals that I’ve been looking for in my career along with the team. I’m just really excited to see what these next two years bring and just appreciate every moment."
Tour of Norway under threat due to withdrawal of public funds
The Tour of Norway's short-term future has been thrown into doubt after the Norwegian government's proposal to abolish the subsidy scheme that has supported the 2.Pro stage race for almost a decade. The scheme, intended specifically for international cycling races in Norway, reportedly contributed 10 million kroner, covering about half of the race's funding.
"If they don’t reverse this decision, it probably means we’ll have to call it off," race director Roy Hegreberg told TV2. "We’d need new income sources at a level we haven’t seen in the past ten years."
Minister of Culture and Equality Lubna Jaffery explained that withdrawing the cycling-specific scheme was a move to ensure that all sports are treated equally, however Hegreberg argued that the reasoning does not take into account the very different conditions under which cycling operates, and all the costs involved.
"Other events of this scale usually have large facilities that the state, either directly or through gaming funds, has helped finance. We get no gaming funds, and we also have no income from spectators ... I think they have a poor understanding of what cycling needs."
Recently retired Norwegian pro Alexander Kristoff also weighed in on the future of his home race, which he won overall in 2019, and he holds the record of 11 stage wins.
"This isn’t an event that makes a profit, it just breaks even, so it becomes impossible if we don’t get those millions,” Kristoff said. “With both men’s and women’s races, it’s perhaps the most important cycling event in Norway each year. It would be a huge setback for Norwegian cycling not to be able to hold it. I hope politicians reconsider."
Milan "wins" Tour de France Singapore Criterium
The Tour de France Criterium in Singapore was almost a complete washout. A rainstorm forced the cancellation of the team time trial earlier in the day, but the sprinter-friendly criterium around Singapore's 2.4-kilometre circuit – went ahead as scripted planned.
It was an aggressive 25-lap race, and after Jasper Philipsen edged out Jonathan Milan for intermediate sprint honours with 10 km to go, a strong move comprising Primož Roglič, Ben O'Connor, Ben Healy, Iván Romeo and Tim Wellens broke clear. Healy was the last to be caught just inside the final kilometre, leaving the sprinters to fight for – ahem – victory. Green jersey-wearer Milan took the win ahead of Biniam Girmay and Philipsen.
All of this does of course mean very little. It is not a UCI-classified event so is not logged as an official victory for Milan. With multiple attacks, a late move from the indomitable Healy, and glory for the green jersey, it certainly appears like the script was followed to the letter. Chapeaux all round.
O'Connor confirms return to Aussie Road Nats – on home roads – in 2026
Ben O'Connor has confirmed he will return to the Australian National Championships for the first time since 2023. The Perth native will line up on home roads a year after the Championships transferred to Western Australia for the first time since 1997, won in 2025 by Luke Durbridge.
"I'll go back to Australia and do the nationals in Perth," O'Connor told media at the Tour de France Criterium in Singapore. "A home race [for me], it'll be cool. I wanted to do it last year, but it just was going to be too difficult to fly home with my newborn daughter in the end. It'll be great to do it this year. I actually can't wait."
O'Connor has not raced at home since 2023 – when he finished 7th at Road Nats and 6th overall at the Tour Down Under – and before that, not since 2019. This, though, will be the first time he's raced on home roads with the Australian WorldTeam Jayco-AlUla whose jersey he's worn since the start of 2025.
"Being on Jayco will definitely make it a lot simpler. You actually have a teammate," O'Connor said. "The last time I did this race with a teammate was [in my] Dimension Data days, and that was just one, Lachlan Morton, so it was a completely different thing back then."
Beers and Dubau-Prévot race to overall victories at Gravel Burn
After seven challenging stages, which included over 800 km of racing through extreme weather fluctuations across South Africa, Matt Beers (Specialized Off-Road Toyota) and Axelle Dubau-Prévot (Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello) have won the professional men's and women's Gravel Burn General Classification. The inaugural event finished at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, just north of Port Elizabeth in South Africa's Eastern Cape.
Following a week of racing that threw everything from hail to high temperatures to crosswinds at the riders, Beers sealed victory ahead of Switzerland’s Simon Pellaud, rounding off an unforgettable debut edition of the race. The South African managed to stay ahead of his challengers with a dominant performance through the majority of seven stages. He walks away with a new title under his belt and US$23,500 (approximately R406,000) in prize money.
In the women's field, Dubau-Prévot stormed back dramatically on the final stage, winning stage 7 and overturning an 8:54 deficit in the General Classification. After the French rider had all but ruled herself out of contention earlier in the week, she produced an extraordinary ride to win both Stage 7 and the General Classification in what has been one of the most unpredictable and exciting races of the week.
Pro Men General Classification Final
1 Matthew Beers – Specialized Off-Road Toyota – 19:01:03
2 Simon Pellaud – Tudor Pro Cycling – +5:26
3 Hugo Drechou – Numéro31.cc / Pinarello – +8:56
4 Tristan Nortje – Imbuko ChemChamp – +9:27
5 Lukas Baum – Orbea x Leatt Speed Company – +10:41
Pro Women General Classification Final
1 Axelle Dubau-Prevot – Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello – 23:40:55
4 Lauren Stephens – Aegis Cycling Foundation – +2:44
5 Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio – AG Insurance Soudal – +10:41
1 Axelle Dubau-Prevot – Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello – 23:40:55
Tour of Colombia 2026 cancelled due to lack of funds
The Tour of Colombia's planned return in 2026 has been cancelled for the second year in a row due to lack of funds.
The Colombian Cycling Federation reported that there was some interest from sponsors, but they couldn't gather sufficient resources to run the race as intended, and within the UCI standards for a 2.1 event.
The Colombian stage race, though extraordinarily popular with local fans, has suffered a storied life since its inception in 2018 when Egan Bernal took the fifth win of his fledgling career. Subsequent editions were won by Miguel Ángel López and Sergio Higuita, before a three-year hiatus. The Tour returned in 2024, with Rodrigo Contreras beating a number of WorldTour pros at the end of six stages, but budget constraints then reared up and the 2025 edition was cancelled. However, organisers are refusing to throw in the towel completely.
"The goal is clear: to preserve the essence of the Tour Colombia as a symbolic event for the country, promoting national talent, showcasing Colombia to the world, and continuing to generate a positive impact on the economy, tourism, and sports culture."
Girmay expects to be included in the merged Lotto-Intermarché lineup, but he's not yet fully committed
Biniam Girmay is among the many WorldTour pros uncertain of their future amidst the merger between Lotto and Intermarché-Wanty. For months, Girmay himself has been connected with Israel-Premier Tech in its new guise as a Canadian WorldTeam, but nothing has been confirmed. It now transpires that the new merged WorldTeam might be hoping to keep him around, and yet Girmay is still weighing up his options.
"Obviously, it's not the right time to speak because we don't decide personally. Of course, the merger is already happening, and tomorrow they will announce the guys who will personally stay," Girmay told media at a presentation event for the ASO's Singapore Criterium. "Before, I was 50-50 if I stay or not; now I'm almost quite sure I will not stay."
The Eritrean echoed some of the discontent shared by a number of Intermarché teammates who have raised concerns over the communication – or lack thereof – about the ongoing merger negotiations, something that has factored into Girmay's second thoughts about sticking around with the new team.
"We are still talking with some good teams, but it's just talk because I cannot do anything without knowing what my team [are doing] and also without knowing if I am free or not. Nothing is done yet, nothing is on paper."
Zoe Bäckstedt's CX season debut postponed after training crash
Zoe Bäckstedt has been forced to postpone the start of her cyclocross season while she recovers from hand and wrist injuries sustained during training.
"A perfect month of training and ‘holidays’ but a crash for me in training yesterday resulted in 2 small fractures in my hand and wrist," the Welsh road and CX pro wrote on Instagram. "It’s a shame to have this outcome and to miss the first races of the season but give me time and I’ll come back stronger.
"One thing I know for sure, my helmet saved my life. Thank you Giro Cycling. Wear a helmet, please."
This comes just days after the reigning under-23 world champion and her team Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto revealed the new special-edition Canyon Inflite CFR CX bike Backstedt will be racing this winter, with a frame masterminded by teammate and 'head designer' Tiffany Cromwell.
Rui Costa calls it a career
Former world champion Rui Costa, who has spent the past two seasons with EF Education-EasyPost, announced on Friday that he is retiring after nearly two decades in the pro peloton.
"I was blessed to live my dream, to win, to fall and get back up, and to always have my guardian angel with me on every bend of the road," Costa wrote on Instagram.
The Portuguese veteran, who turned 39 earlier this month, took his biggest results in the early 2010s with Movistar and then the Lampre-Merida squad that eventually became UAE-Team Emirates XRG. Costa won three straight Tours de Suisse between 2012 and 2014 and nabbed four Grand Tour stage wins over the course of his career. He took his most famous victory, the world road title, in 2013 in Firenze, where he stunned Spanish teammates Joaquim Rodríguez and Alejandro Valverde to secure the rainbow jersey.
Gravel Burn stage 6 neutralized due to extreme weather
In the penultimate stage of the inaugural Gravel Burn race event in South Africa, strong winds, rain, and heat have caused finishing times to be neutralized. Thus, riders’ times on the 144 km stage in the Eastern Cape - from Merino Farm near Cradock to Gwanishi - will not be counted towards the overall standings.
The day began with crosswinds and rain, which later turned to strong gusts and heat of around 35°C / 95° F. According to a press release from the organizers, "At one stage, riders were evacuated from their Lapa’s to a central meeting point in the Burn Camp for their safety. It was decided to delay the 7 am start by an hour and neutralise the racing to Padstal 1 - water point - at 46km on the route."
Even during the neutralized segment, Swiss professional rider Andri Frischknecht crashed in crosswinds at about 36km, and had to be taken to the hospital with a concussion and a shoulder injury. According to the release, founder Kevin Vermaak said: “This is an obviously unfortunate turn of events, and we would like to thank the positive spirit in which riders have approached it and the event crew for their hard work throughout the day.”
There is still one stage left tomorrow in the race from Gwanishi to Shamwari Private Game Reserve. It is currently expected to proceed as planned.
Thibau Nys returns to CX at this weekend's Koppenbergcross
Thibau Nys is launching his winter cyclocross programme at Koppenbergcross on Saturday 1 November, followed by Sunday's Rapencross, kicking off a relatively busy schedule, at least compared to his fellow multi-discipline campaigners.
The 22-year-old European and Belgian CX champion has not had the best year on the road, struggling to live up to his extraordinary 2024, but having not raced since the Bretagne Classic at the end of August, Nys Junior is returning to happy hunting ground: he's won both Koppenbergcross and Lokeren-Rapencross before now, in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
Koppenbergcross is a significant destination for the Nys family, as Sven Nys (now manager of his son's Baloise Glowi Lions) is the rider who has the most wins in history (nine) on the brutal Belgian course.
Colnago announces T1Rs track bike
Colnago has announced the T1Rs, its first new track platform in several years, and a bike the company says is the fastest it has ever produced. Developed from the brand’s TT1 time trial and Y1Rs platforms but free from the packaging constraints of brakes and gearing, the T1Rs combines a dual-crown fork connecting both stem and fork to the frame, narrow hub spacing, and deep tube profiles to prioritise stiffness and aerodynamic efficiency at the high speeds typical of modern track racing.
Colnago states that the bike was optimised for speeds exceeding 60 km/h and near-zero yaw angles. The frameset is built around a dedicated track layup using high-modulus carbon and internal ribbing in key areas, such as the fork crown, seatpost, and bottom bracket for stiffness. It can be configured for sprint/endurance or time-trial/pursuit events, with a choice of a standard-bar stem system or an integrated monocoque pursuit cockpit. Three frame sizes are offered, with geometry adjusted for discipline-specific demands and front-end dimensions pushed to the UCI limit on the largest size to maximise reach.
The T1Rs will be sold as a frameset only at €6,500, with cockpit kits available separately.
Pidcock and Dubau-Prévot find victory at Gravel Burn stage 5
Five days in, and the inaugural Gravel Burn stage race in South Africa continues to deliver surprises across the professional men's and women's fields. Stage 5, which traversed 137km from Blaauwater Farm to Merino Farm, gave Olympic champion Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) his first stage win. He attacked late on the final climb of Swaershoek Pass to take victory ahead of Andreas Seewald (Singer KTM Racing) and Simon Pellaud (Tudor Pro Cycling).
Matt Beers (Specialized Off-Road Toyota) retained his overall lead, though his advantage over Pellaud has narrowed to just 33 seconds with just two stages remaining.
Pro Men General Classification after Stage 5
1 Matthew Beers – Specialized Off-Road Toyota – 15:46:42
2 Simon Pellaud – Tudor Pro Cycling – +0:33
3 Hugo Drechou – Numéro31.cc / Pinarello – +6:42
4 Lukas Baum – Orbea x Leatt Speed Company – +8:28
5 Tristan Nortje – Imbuko ChemChamp – +9:19
In the pro women's group, Axelle Dubau-Prevot (Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello) returned to to the top step on Stage 5, powering away on the final climb ahead of Lauren Stephens (Aegis Cycling Foundation).
Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance Soudal) finished third on the day and continues to lead the Pro Women’s general classification, with Melisa Rollins (Liv Racing Collective) and Hayley Preen (ChemChamp Honeycomb 226ers) completing the top three overall.
Pro Women General Classification after Stage 5
1 Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio – AG Insurance Soudal – 19:39:21
4 Lauren Stephens – Aegis Cycling Foundation – +7:01
5 Axelle Dubau-Prevot – Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello – +8:54
Lazkano provisionally suspended over bio passport anomalies
The UCI announced on Thursday that Oier Lazkano, who joined Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe this year after three seasons with Movistar, has been provisionally suspended "due to unexplained abnormalities in his Athlete Biological Passport" in stretching across three seasons from 2022 to 2024.
The news may offer an explanation as to why the 25-year-old Basque rider, Spain's national champion in 2023, has not raced since Paris-Roubaix all the way back in April. Presumably he is now tasked with explaining his unexplained abnormalities to the relevant authorities in an effort to avoid a longer term ban.
Bennett signs with Q36.5
Sam Bennett is headed to Q36.5 for the 2026 season after spending the past two years with Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale. The move will reunite the 35-year-old Irishman, who counts 10 Grand Tour stage wins and a Tour de France green jersey on his career palmares, with Q36.5 Head of Performance Kurt Bogaerts, who worked with a young Bennett at the An Post-Sean Kelly team.
"We remained in contact throughout his career and now we have the opportunity to add his winning experience to our team," Bogaerts said in a team statement. "He understands what it takes to win at the highest level and especially at Grand Tours. Sam gives us the chance to target high-profile victories and the consistency we strive for."
Beers and Rollins continue to shake things up with Gravel Burn stage 4 wins
After a cold and wet start to the inaugural Gravel Burn stage race in South Africa, riders are now facing wind and heat with just three stages of racing left. Stage 4 traversed a 111 km loop through the heart of the Great Karoo and saw Matt Beers (Specialized Off-Road Toyota) regain the top spot in the men's race, with Melisa Rollins (Liv Racing Collective) shaking up the women's GC with her first stage win.
Beers edged out Switzerland’s Simon Pellaud (Tudor Pro Cycling) in another tight sprint finish at Blaauwater Farm near the Compassberg. Belgian rider Lawrence Naesen (Next Level Racing: Rapha – Orbea) rounded out the podium in third.
Beers now leads the pro men's general classification by just 57 seconds over Pellaud, with Germany’s Lukas Baum (Orbea x Leatt Speed Company) in third. With three stages remaining before the finish at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, the race remains wide open.
The women's field saw mechanicals, punctures, and crashes. Rollins held off Hayley Preen (ChemChamp Honeycomb 226ers) in a fast downhill finish. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance Soudal) finished third and now leads the pro women’s general classification, after former leader Axelle Dubau-Prevot (Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello) lost time with a puncture.
Intermarché is hoping to turn a profit from departing riders
As Wielerflits reports, Intermarché-Wanty is trying to get some cash from Visma-Lease a Bike as the latter team works out a deal with Louis Barré in what represents a broader strategy from Intermarché to recover transfer fees from departing riders as a way to drum up funds. Intermarché and Lotto have been planning a merger for months, but that arrangement is in limbo as the teams try to solve the problem of Intermarché's reported €2.5 million debts.
According to UCI regulations, the impending merger has essentially freed Intermarché riders to sign elsewhere, but the team is reportedly pointing to Belgian laws around the transfer of contracts between organizations to make the case that they retain rights to rider contracts. Apparently, Intermarché already tried unsuccesfully to get money from Israel-Premier Tech as that team worked to sign Biniam Girmay, and Intermarché is also hoping to extract a transfer fee from Visma for Barré.
It's just the latest development in what has been anything but a smooth transition for the two teams seeking to become one, and also another example of how the merger plans are making life tough for riders and everyone else.
In a separate story, Intermarché rider Tom Paquot told La Dernière Heure that he had an agreement to renew with Intermarché that disappeared with the planned merger.
"I haven't spoken to management since," he said. "There was no communication at all."
Giant meets with US customs over Taiwan import ban
Giant said a company delegation has met with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Washington to discuss the withhold release order (WRO) on its Taiwan-made products, describing the talks as "positive and constructive".
Giant was issued the WRO in late September over forced labour allegations, essentially preventing it from importing products made in Taiwan to the US. The company has since said it will seek to lift the ban and pledged several changes, including an end to recruitment fees, moving workers to new dorms, and issuing reimbursements for those hired before 2025.
According to Giant, CBP acknowledged its "proactive" engagement in the issues and indicated that findings from an independent audit that is now underway with employee interviews, document reviews, and factory/dorm inspections – will be an important part of CBP's future decisions.
Pellaud and Stephens keep it interesting with Gravel Burn stage 3 wins
With Matt Beers (Specialized Off-Road - Toyota) and Axelle Dubau-Prévot (Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello) winning the first two stages of the inaugural Gravel Burn stage race, Simon Pellaud (Tudor Pro Cycling) and Lauren Stephens (Aegis Cycling Foundation) have flipped the script, taking the top spots in Stage 3.
With the weather trending warmer and drier from the opening stage's cold and wet conditions, Stage 3 took place in the Karoo region of South Africa, on a 90 km course from Graaff-Reinet to Blaauwater. The men's race saw another exciting sprint finish with Pellaud besting challengers Hugo Drechou (Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste) and Travis Stedman (Specialized Off-Road - Toyota), who were each just three seconds behind.
The women's race also came down to a tight finish, as Stephens crossed the line only one second ahead of Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal) and Hayley Smith (Trek Driftless).
Despite Pellaud and Stephens' stage wins, the Gravel Burn GC standings were not disrupted. Matt Beers and Axelle Dubau-Prévot both retain their leader jerseys heading into Stage 4.
Shimano's sales rise but profits fall
Shimano reported a 5% rise in its bike component sales to ¥266.2bn (about US$1.75bn) for the first nine months of 2025, but at the same time, its operating profit fell 27% to ¥30.2bn (about US$200m) compared to the year prior. The Japanese component giant attributed the results to excess stock, mainly in the European market, and a weak currency that squeezed the margins further.
Shimano said that even though Europe retained steady bike sales, the inventories remained "somewhat high". In North America, sales were weaker due to the economic uncertainty, but stock levels were more "appropriate", while in China, a slowdown in sales kept the inventory high, according to Shimano.
Across the wider Shimano group, results were not much better; revenue rose 4.8%, but net profit dropped 61% to ¥16.1bn (about US$105m). Much of that was due to the ¥18.4bn (about $120m) foreign-exchange valuation losses, roughly double last year, as the Japanese yen continued its decline.
Following the results, Shimano kept its full-year forecast unchanged, expecting its 2025 revenue to be up 2%, operating profit down 29%, and net profit down 60%.
Standert updates Erdgeschoss steel adventure bike
German boutique bike brand Standert has announced a new version of its stainless-steel adventure gravel bike, the Erdgeschoss, featuring an adjustable-rake Columbus Cross+ carbon fork, wider T47 bottom bracket, and more tyre clearance. The frame, dotted with multiple mountain points, retains semi-internal cable routing for serviceability and sliding dropouts for single-speed setups or tweaks to wheelbase. Tyre clearance is 50 mm for 700c and 54 mm for 650B wheels.
There are two complete builds and two color options available, with shipping expected in early 2026. The Sram Force AXS XPLR is priced at 6,500€ (claimed weight 9.7 kg, size 54) and the Sram Rival AXS XPLR costs 4,500€ (10.6 kg). Framesets start at 2,400€, including a Chris King headset. [standert.de]
Strava rolls out device attribution after dropping Garmin lawsuit
Strava has started displaying the recording device on each uploaded activity, in addition to providing users a list of recent data sources, as part of an update that was introduced yesterday, 27 October. Strava activities now show a small source device tag (e.g., Garmin Forerunner 255, Wahoo Elemnt Roam, Apple Watch ) beneath the stats, and a "Your recent data sources" view covers the past 30 days.
Look has launched a Keo Vision Collection with built-in pedal lights designed to increase rider visibility up to 1 km. The light comes with four steady and flashing modes, and 180° light visibility, according to Look. Each light weighs 20 g, is IPX7-rated, charges via USB-C in about two hours, and runs up to 40 hours.
The system is available with two pedal options: Keo Blade Ceramic Vision with a carbon body, ceramic bearings, and a 705 mm² platform (€250), and Keo 2 Max Vision with a composite body, steel bearings, and a 500 mm² platform (€125).
If you already have Look pedals, an upgrade kit (€60) is available for Keo Blade V4 pedals.
31-year-old Jakub Mareczko is retiring on 50 wins
Jakub Mareczko has announced that he is retiring, ending his professional career after 11 seasons and 50 wins.
"It's time to stop," Mareczko wrote on Instagram. "After years of dreams, sacrifices, and intense emotions, I'm closing an incredible chapter in my life. I've had the privilege of racing with the best, learning from each of them, and experiencing cycling at the highest level. I'll take every climb, every victory, and disappointment with me."
The Italian-Polish sprinter, who switched to a Polish license this season, started his career with Italian ProTeam Southeast (later called Wilier-Triestina and Vini Zabù until its closure end of 2021), and after stints with WorldTeams CCC (before its demise end of 2020) and Alpecin-Deceuninck, the 31-year-old ends his career after a season with the Continental team Mazowsze Serce Polski.
Mareczko started six Grand Tours, repeatedly coming close to victory at the Giro d'Italia early in his career, but he was most prolific and best known for his success in Asia, in particular at the Tour of Taihu Lake. He made his debut in his first year pro, winning seven out of nine stages and – unsurprisingly – the overall title. By the end of his career, he'd racked up 18 stages at the same race; 36 of his 50 career wins were taken in Asia.
Uno-X rider Simon Dalby recovering after blood clots in the brain
Uno-X Mobility's GC up-and-comer Simon Dalby is recovering after suffering two small blood clots in the brain. His team revealed that the 22-year-old Dane had been with his parents last week when he experienced suspicious symptoms, which prompted them to rush Dalby to hospital for treatment.
"Thanks to the quick response of his parents and the excellent care at Regionshospitalet Gødstrup, he is now experiencing only mild symptoms and is undergoing specialist rehabilitation," reads Uno-X Mobility's post on Facebook. "Additional tests are being conducted to determine the exact cause, after which a plan will be put in place to help prevent it from happening again."
Dalby graduated from the Uno-X development team at the start of the 2025 season having finished sixth overall at the 2024 Tour de l'Avenir. He started out in Oman, finishing 10th overall, and wrapped up his season at the Tour de Langkawi in early October.
Chris King partners with NOBL Wheels for rim warranties
As Escapereported earlier this month, U.S. rim manufacturer CSS Composites shut its doors. While CSS had its own wheel label, Forge+Bond, it primarily manufactured rims for other brands, such as Revel Bikes and Chris King Precision Components, using a proprietary thermoplastic called FusionFiber. Many of which were sold with a lifetime warranty or no-questions-asked rim replacement policy. Thus, CSS's absence has left its former partner brands to find new solutions to address future warranty claims.
In a statement made today, Kirby Bedsaul, Chris King President and General Manager, announced that "NOBL Wheels are stepping in to manage rim replacement for any Chris King FusionFiber wheel in need of warranty service" and that "King-branded, FusionFiber rims (ARD44, GRD23, and MTN30) are discontinued for the foreseeable future." So, although CK will stand behind its advertised warranty, its in-house-built wheelsets will only be available with ENVE, Santa Cruz (Reserve), HED, and Stan's NoTubes rims moving forward.
Bedsaul offered additional process details, should a customer need to file a claim: "The NOBL rims available for replacement are the TR36 (mountain), HR25 (gravel), and HR45 (road), and the warranty process is simple. Customers with proof of original purchase will email [email protected] for a Return Authorization (RA) number, then box and ship the damaged wheel back to us, where our wheel team will remove the broken rim and rebuild with the new rim (building a matching front or rear if requested), service the hubs, and then return to the customer. The rebuilt wheel will then be cared for under the NOBL warranty. "
Beers and Dubau-Prévot go two for two at Gravel Burn stage 2
Following victories in Stage 1 of the inaugural Gravel Burn stage race in South Africa, Matt Beers (Specialized Off-Road - Toyota) and Axelle Dubau-Prévot (Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello) took their respective Stage 2 wins in sprint finishes.
Across a 108 km route from Avontuur to Willowmore, Stage 2 started with a downhill into Uniondale, followed by champagne gravel roads. It included "The Shallot," which was the roughest climb of the race, followed by a fast, smooth section featuring the Red Bull Kilometer, a qualifier for the Night Burn.
South African Beers took his second consecutive stage victory after another close sprint finish, narrowly beating Lukas Baum (Orbea Leatt Speed Company). Simon Pellaud (Tudor Pro Cycling) finished in third. The win allowed Beers to extend his lead in the general classification.
In the women's field, Dubau-Prévot sprinted to the stage victory in a tight bunch finish. She finished just ahead of Melisa Rollins (Liv Racing Collective), with Hayley Smith (Trek Driftless) taking third. Like Beers, the win also solidified Dubau-Prévot's position at the top of the overall GC standings.
'26 Vuelta to start in Monaco with Formula 1-inspired time trial
The 2026 Vuelta a España will open with a 9.6 km individual time trial through the streets of Monaco, starting at the Monte-Carlo Casino and finishing on the same stretch used for the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The route includes the famous Fairmont Hairpin, Port Hercule, and sweeping turns along the Mediterranean waterfront, making or a technical, high-speed opener that will suit the TT specialists.
It’s the first time the Vuelta has started in Monaco and the first time any city has hosted the Grand Départ of all three Grand Tours, after the Giro in 1966 and the Tour in 2009.
Stage 2 will also begin in the principality before crossing into France, with the race not entering Spain until stage 4. The full route will be revealed on December 17.
