Daily News
Seixas cements Basque Country lead with dominant stage 2 showing
After claiming his first WorldTour win in Monday's opening time trial of the Itzulia Basque Country, Paul Seixas upped the ante on Tuesday. The 19-year-old Frenchman stuck a long-range attack to take an emphatic victory on stage 2.
Seixas went clear on the Cat. 1 San Miguel de Aralar with over 25 km still to go on the day. Despite the presence of some big names in the chase group, he held on solo out front to win by a whopping 1:25 ahead of second-placed Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) with Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) in third on the day. With four stages to go, Seixas has nearly two minutes' advantage in the overall standings.
[race_result id=6 stage_id=90108 count=5 gc=0 year=2026]
[race_result id=6 stage_id=90108 count=5 gc=5 year=2026]
Easton EC90 ALX crankset focuses on the options
In Dave Rome's head to head test of SRAM Force XPLR and Shimano's GRX Di2, he dinged the Japanese brand for its relative paucity of chainring options and crankarm length. Easton's new EC90 ALX crankset is an aftermarket alternative that definitely fills the gaps for Shimano users who want more configurations.
The new crankset features a bonded carbon fiber layup over inserts that Easton says is its strongest crankarm yet. That silver section above is an anti-scuff plate. It's available from 160-175 mm lengths and in standard or wide spindles (30 mm axle) to fit both conventional and Shimano GRX/Cues chainlines. The crankset works with direct-mount 1x and 2x chainrings, with options for 47/32T, 46/36T, and 46/30T in 2x and 38-44T for 1x Shimano 12-speed systems and 36-44T in SRAM Flattop configurations. But options will set you back as the crank retails for US$490. [Easton Cycling]
Vermeersch and McNulty renew with UAE Team Emirates
UAE Team Emirates-XRG confirmed on Tuesday morning that two key riders will remain with the team for the foreseeable future. Classics specialist Florian Vermeersch has extended his contract to end of 2029, while Brandon McNulty's now runs through 2030, nudging his tenure beyond a decade.
Both have become key cogs in the machine that supports Tadej Pogačar who dominates on all terrains. For Vermeersch, his value comes especially in the spring, where this year he's been on particularly good form. The 27-year-old Belgian scored two WorldTour podium of his own at the Omloop Nieuwsblad and E3 Saxo Classic, while also supporting his leader on the way to victories at Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders.
"We’ve already had some great results together, but I believe there is still a lot more to achieve both for me personally and for the team," Vermeersch said. "Extending until 2029 gives me the stability to keep improving and chasing big goals. It feels like a special group of people here and I’m happy to be staying."
As for McNulty, the American all-rounder is on hand for Pogačar's hilly and stage racing ambitions – including last month's Milan-San Remo – while also going after his own, including winning last year's Tour of Poland overall, followed a month later by the GP Montréal.
"I feel like I have the right balance here, I feel at home," McNulty said. "Signing through 2030 gives me a lot of confidence and motivation to keep working hard and reaching goals with this team."
Flanders crashes will keep several top riders out for weeks
Both the men's and women's Tour of Flanders on Sunday saw a higher-than-usual rate of crashes, particularly in the earlier going as crosswinds played a role. Post-race, a number of prominent names popped up on the injured list and will be out of action for some time.
The women's peloton was hit hardest, as Marlen Reusser (Movistar), Kim le Court Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal), Elena Cecchini (SD Worx-Protime), Victoire Berteau (Cofidis) and Caroline Anderson (Liv AlUla Jayco) all sustained fractures. Reusser's is the worst: She suffered fractured vertebrae that will keep her away from racing for as long as two months.
Le Court Pienaar (wrist, five weeks) and Anderson and Berteau (arm fractures, 6 weeks) will also be out for the rest of spring. On the men's side, Matteo Trentin (Tudor) was enjoying a strong ride when a crash at 40 km to go ended his Flanders with a broken collarbone; again, the rest of his spring one-day campaign is done.
Bid to add bicycles to steel and aluminum tariffs is denied
A proposal by a US domestic bike manufacturer to add imported steel and aluminum bikes to the list of products subject to a 50% materials tariff was denied last week, according to Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.
The Trump administration last Thursday announced the modified list of products subject to the tariffs and bicycles were not included. The administration also dropped some steel bike products, including e-bikes and e-bike parts, from a similar steel tariff. The aluminum and steel tariff proposal would have applied to the value of steel and aluminum frames, but there was confusion over whether that would be assessed on the material content alone or the imported value of the finished frame.
Bike industry pushes back on 50% tariffs proposed on bicycle metal content
The industry is fighting back as one of its own has proposed a new duty that would increase the cost of almost any imported bike.
Suvi Loponen
The proposal was submitted last year by Guardian Bikes, an American manufacturer, and the Aluminum Extruders Council, a consortium of US aluminum providers. It prompted strong pushback from PeopleforBikes, the primary US bicycle industry advocacy organization.
Sainbayar gets into Flanders breakaway in history-making first Monument for a Mongolian rider
With the second Monument of the season underway, all eyes were trained on the breakaway for the first 100 km. Among the 13 riders to make it were two from Burgos-Burpellet BH in the Spanish ProTeam's Tour of Flanders debut, including Jambaljamts Sainbayar, the first Mongolian rider ever to start a Monument.
“It’s such a good feeling. It’s an honour to me to be in the biggest Monument of the cycling," Sainbayar told CyclingProNet in Antwerp on Sunday morning. "Also in my career it’s the longest [race], so yeah, I’m really good, it’s such an incredible feeling. I’m happy to get here.”
It's been a big week for the 29-year-old who hails from Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar. Now in his third year with his team, Sainbayar made his Classics debut at In Flanders Fields last Sunday, before preparing for his first Monument.
"The day before we did a 90km recon with the team, so that was also surprising to me," Sainbayar said. "But I did also one World Championship in [2021] and that was also some cobbled sections – I’m used to it.”
As it happens, Sainbayar made it into the breakaway at the World Championship road race he mentioned, which also started in Antwerp before finishing in Leuven. Before the race he hoped to do the same at his first Tour of Flanders – mission accomplished.
De Lie's Classics curse persists as illness keeps him from Flanders
Arnaud De Lie has been ruled out of the Tour of Flanders due to persisting symptoms of the illness that led to his DNF at Wednesday's Dwars door Vlaanderen.
"Arnaud De Lie will unfortunately not start in the Tour of Flanders this Sunday," read Lotto-Intermarché's announcement on Friday. "Although he did a recon of the course [Friday] morning with his coach, it became clear to Arnaud that he has not recovered sufficiently to compete 100% in such a demanding 278-kilometre race as Flanders' finest. Arnaud is being closely monitored by the medical and performance staff to ensure he can prepare as well as possible for Paris-Roubaix and be fully ready for that goal."
De Lie also missed out on his home Monument last year, his 2025 Classics campaign ruined by lack of form attributed to over-training – the then-Belgian champ took a two-month break after abandoning Gent-Wevelgem. This year hasn't gone much better, but he has been more of a factor, with good performances at Tirreno-Adriatico and at last weekend's rebranded In Flanders Fields where he finished fourth in the bunch sprint.
Marianne Vos is out of the Tour of Flanders
Marianne Vos' absence from racing will continue for another weekend as the Dutch star will not race Sunday's Tour of Flanders. Vos, who won the race in 2013, has opted out of racing to be with her family following the death last week of her father, her Visma-Lease a Bike team announced on social media.
Vos started the season with two top-10 finishes at Strade Bianche and Trofeo Alfredo Binda, but has not raced since as her father's failing health caused her to miss Milan-San Remo. Escape Collective offers its sincere sympathies to Vos and her entire family.
Carapaz undergoes perineal surgery, pledges it won't affect Giro plans
Richard Carapaz's leadup to his planned Giro d'Italia start in a month took an unexpected detour this week after the Ecuadorian posted on social media that he had undergone surgery.
"I had a procedure last night for a perineal condition," the EF Education-EasyPost rider wrote on his Instagram. "Everything went as planned and successfully. From today, fully focussed on recovery and returning to the maximum level in front of the Giro."
Carapaz, who won the 2019 Giro and was third last year, has had a low-key start to the season but was 10th overall at last week's Volta a Catalunya, including a sixth-place finish on stage 6.
Cam Jones sets White Rim FKT on a lark
Cameron Jones has a new title, and it's one he wasn't even eyeing. The defending Unbound 200 champion set a new Fastest Known Time (FKT) on Utah's White Rim Trail, a trek of around 100 miles that takes place in Utah's rugged slickrock country.
Jones apparently wasn't targeting the record for fastest unsupported attempt, which was previously set by Keegan Swenson in 2021. He was on his way to the Sea Otter Classic and diverted as a spontaneous side quest; despite a bit of recon, he was reportedly seeing some 90% of the course for the first time during the attempt. His time of 5:23:27 lops almost five minutes off Swenson's previous record. Jones' fellow Scott-sponsored athlete Hannah Otto holds the women's record of 6:37:44, set not quite a year ago. Jones rode the Scott Spark RC World Cup set up with drop handlebars, a Shimano XTR/Ultegra drivetrain and Fox suspension, Industry Nine wheels and Schwalbe Rick XC 29 x 2.4" tires.
Caja Rural rider Jaume Guardeño in intensive care after training crash
Jaume Guardeño (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) has been hospitalized after a serious training crash. According to Marca, the 23-year-old Spaniard hit a rock while riding, lost control of his bicycle, and collided with an oncoming car, reportedly suffering a severe traumatic brain injury.
According to his team, Guardeño was airlifted the Hospital Taulí de Sabadell, where he remains in intensive care.
Vittoria extends Corsa Pro Control sizing up to 42 mm
Wide road tires are pretty clearly here to stay. Vittoria is the latest to jump in with high-end rubber made in ever larger sizes. Its Corsa Pro Control was already available up to 700 x 34 mm wide, and the brand has now extended that with 38 and 42 mm options.
All the tires use the same 320 tpi cotton casing and the Race Formulation rubber compound. The size range now spans from 26 mm to 42 mm; that 26 mm is the narrowest underscores just how much the optimal size window has shifted for road tires. Just 10 years ago the brand would have stocked 23 and even 21 mm options. The new tires retail for US$107/€96 and are available immediately.
Fränk Schleck will take over for Michael Rogers as Lidl-Trek Women's Team Manager
Pon.Bike 2025 revenue stays stable at €2 billion
Pon Holdings, the Dutch family-owned conglomerate that owns more than 20 bicycle brands, including Cannondale, Cervelo, Santa Cruz, Focus and Gazelle, has reported that its Pon.Bike division revenue was around €2 billion in 2025. The figures, first published by Bike Europe, show that the group stayed profitable through what it described as another turbulent year.
For the last three years, Pon's results have stayed relatively stable; in 2023 the company reported a peak €2.3 billion in revenue, while in 2024, the figure was €2.1 billion. In 2025, over half of Pon.Bike's sales came from e-bikes, and across its portfolio, the company launched more than 20 new models.
Pon to appoint new CEO after 15 years under Smalbraak
Pon Holdings – the Dutch conglomerate which owns Cervelo, Cannondale, Focus and other cycling brands – has announced a leadership change, as its long-time chief executive Janus Smalbraak will step down after 25 years at the company. His successor is Christian Dahlheim, currently CEO of Volkswagen Financial Services, who will take the
Suvi Loponen
Pon does not expect either the automotive – it is the importer for several car brands, including Volkswagen and Audi – or the bike market conditions to improve in 2026, and instead highlighted focus on "programs to improve efficiency".
This was the view of the new Pon Holdings CEO Christian Dahlheim, who took on the role on 1 April 2026 following Janus Smalbraak, who spent 26 years at Pon, and 15 as its CEO.
Decathlon CMA CGM 10-rider women's team in the works
Bipartisan Safe Speeds bill would address e-moto concerns
It's a long way yet from law, but a bipartisan bill introduced in the US House of Representatives focuses on creating federal standards for lightweight electric vehicles, with an eye to creating a regulatory framework for e-bikes and higher-power vehicles like e-mopeds and e-motos. The bill is prompted by rising safety concerns around the use of unregulated e-motos on public rights-of-way, including bike lanes and paths.
E-bike makers are writing checks they can’t cash
Manufacturers chasing power figures for short-term sales externalize the cost onto the broader riding community.
Caley Fretz
The Safe SPEEDS act has four sponsors: California Democrats Dave Min, the lead sponsor, and Jared Huffman, as well as Republicans Brian Fitzpatrick (PA) and Mike Lawler (NY). The bill would direct the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to analyze data about crash incidents involving light electric vehicles, as a step toward creating different classifications and labeling requirements. The bill would also urge the CPSC to formally adopt PeopleforBikes' three-class definitions for e-bikes. That would prevent statistical information on crashes from lumping low-speed Class 1 e-bikes, for instance, in with unregulated, high-power e-motos.
The bill has been referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee for next steps.
Allen adds real-time Bluetooth monitoring to its Go Compact bike rack
Bike rack manufacturer Allen has launched the Smart Suction Go Compact rack, building on its existing Go Compact suction rack with the addition of real-time monitoring through a Bluetooth connection.
Suction-based racks have been around for a while now, but for some, the level of trust placed in mounting their pride and joy to the roof of their vehicle via suction cups rather than something mechanical puts them off the idea.
In a press release issued ahead of the product launch, Alex Allen, CEO of Allen, said, “Suction-based products have already proven their reliability. But drivers want absolute confirmation that the cups are fully secured. Our Smart Suction monitoring delivers that peace of mind.”
The Smart Suction Go Compact is available for $300 USD / £180 (ex. VAT) / €200 (ex. VAT) and is compatible with 9, 12, and 15 mm.
Prosecutors close investigation into Muriel Furrer's death
The Zurich public prosecutor's office announced on Monday that it had finished its investigation into the death of Muriel Furrer, the 18-year-old who died as a result of injuries sustained in a crash in the junior women's road race at the UCI Road World Championships in 2024.
"The accident occurred at approximately 11:04 a.m., out of sight of support vehicles, race officials, spectators, and marshals," said a statement from the prosecutor's office. "The injured cyclist lay hidden in the undergrowth and was not visible from the road. As was customary at previous editions of this World Cycling Championship, live tracking of all athletes was not used at the event. Therefore, the sudden disappearance of an athlete was not automatically reported. Due to these circumstances, the injured cyclist was not discovered until 12:26 p.m."
Emergency personnel arrived soon after Furrer was found, but she later died in the hospital.
Over the course of the investigation into the circumstances of the crash, the prosecutor's office found that "no third-party involvement in the cyclist's fall could be established, nor could any criminally relevant breach of duty be found in connection with course safety or emergency assistance after the accident."
Scott appoints new co-CEO
Scott Sports has named Hsuan Boon Tan as the company's co-CEO, replacing Juwon Kim, who is returning to South Korea to focus on strategy and investment at Scott's parent company, Youngone Corporation.
Tan has been a member of Scott's board for the past two years and will now work alongside existing co-CEO Pascal Ducrot. As part of the wider leadership changes, Ducrot will also sit on the Scott board going forward.
Olympic biathlete Émilien Jacquelin joins Decathlon-CMA CGM devo team
Four-time Olympic biathlon medallist Émilien Jacquelin is set to join Decathlon-CMA CGM's NewGen (development) team this year, starting May 1.
Jacquelin is best known for his swashbuckling style as a biathlete, with results including nine World Championship medals (five as winner), as well as having recently secured his first Olympic gold medal in the team biathlon event in Milano-Cortina. But his love of cycling has never been far away – indeed, throughout the 2026 Winter Olympics he competed wearing an earring that belonged to the revered Italian climber, Marco Pantani.
Marco Pantani’s earring is in the Winter Olympics
A French biathlete is paying tribute to the legendary climber, wearing Pantani’s earring for the duration of the Milano-Cortina Games.
Iain Treloar
The combination of Jacquelin's athletic potential and deep love of the sport proved tantalising for Decathlon-CMA CGM, who opted to bring him on board for an initial six-month stint with its development squad. In a press release announcing the signing, Decathlon-CMA CGM's head of performance, Jean-Baptiste Quiclet, said that "cycling is already one of the pillars of [Jacquelin's] biathlon training. In this post-Olympic year, the idea is to offer him the opportunity to try his hand at competitive cycling with the team’s support, so he can develop his potential."
As for Jacquelin, this is a chance for him to "live out this childhood dream ... I plan to give 100%, with no half-measures. I am fully aware of how fortunate I am, and I am also eager to share my experience with the younger riders."
'I don’t feel very good on the bike at the moment' – Almeida post-Catalunya
João Almeida headed to the Volta a Catalunya hoping to prove form and build confidence ahead of the Giro d'Italia where he is expected to be sole leader of UAE Team Emirates-XRG for the first time. However, at the end of the seven-day race, the Portuguese rider could only log 38th overall, his best stage finish coming on stage 5 with 16th.
"I don’t feel very good on the bike at the moment," Almeida said ahead of stage 7 on Sunday morning. "Maybe I need to rest, understand what’s going wrong with me, and keep working hard."
Like several others, including Remco Evenepoel, and Tom Pidcock who was forced to abandon before the final weekend, Almeida crashed on stage 5 which dented his GC challenge, but the 27-year-old didn't pin his disappointing performance entirely on his misfortune.
"No, I was already feeling like this before the start," Almeida said of his form. "Maybe I need to do some tests and analyses. I’ll have to check with the medical team.”
Almeida is not expected to race again before the Giro, which kicks of on Friday 8th May for the grande partenza in Bulgaria.
Gilmore wins action-packed stage 7 as Vingegaard wraps up Catalunya GC
NSN's Brady Gilmore took victory in the reduced bunch sprint on stage 7 of the 2026 Volta a Catalunya, closing a dramatic finale on Barcelona's dynamic Montjuïc circuit, which will next be seen on stage 2 of the Tour de France.
For much of the finale, Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe's numerous leaders had committed themselves to an aggressive race, hurling attacks at Jonas Vingegaard and their other GC rivals. Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz successfully isolated the race leader on a few occasions, but the race leader was unfazed, and there were enough who were motivated to ensure a large group made it to the finish together.
Ineos Grenadiers had control of the peloton in the closing kilometres for two-time stage winner Dorian Godon, with Red Bull working for Evenepoel, but a lonely Gilmore surfed the wheels beautifully to snatch the win. Vingegaard finished safely at the back of the group to seal overall victory, with Lenny Martinez and Lipowitz joining him on the podium.
[race_result id=14 stage_id=89955 count=5 gc=0 year=2026]
[race_result id=14 stage_id=89955 count=5 gc=5 year=2026]
Drunk spectators provoke aggressive incident with Visma team car at Coppi e Bartali
A pair of intoxicated spectators were the perpetrators of a bizarre and dangerous incident during stage 4 of the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali on Saturday afternoon. In footage captured by a roadside fan, you can see one man climb on top of the Visma-Lease a Bike team car seemingly attempting to remove a bike from the rack, while the other thumps aggressively on the driver's side window.
"We take this incident very seriously, as it put the safety of our colleagues at risk," Richard Plugge said in a statement posted to the team's website. "Our staff on site immediately went to the police and also reported the incident to the race organization. In the end, no equipment was stolen and no damage was caused. The colleagues in the car are okay, but understandably shaken.”
Unwell Mads Pedersen will miss Gent-Wevelgem
More bad luck has struck at the heart of Lidl-Trek as Mads Pedersen has been forced to withdraw his name from the startlist of 'In Flanders Fields – From Middelkerke to Wevelgem', previously known as Gent-Wevelgem, a race the Dane has won three times including in 2025.
"I have some sad news regarding the race tomorrow, In Flanders Fields: I won't take the start due to sickness," Pedersen said in a video posted on Instagram. "I was dealing with a cold the last few days, and it definitely also affected the race yesterday in E3 [where he finished 9th – ed.], so the team and the medical staff took a decision for me not to race and keep the focus on the coming week.
"So yeah, this has nothing to do with the wrist, the wrist is definitely moving forward and it's a lot better than we expected. My muscles around the wrist and in the arm are sore, of course, due to lack of movement for four or five weeks, but that's completely normal, so no worries about the wrist, it's all due to sickness. So in the end, I wish my teammates all the best tomorrow and I hope Jonny can take the victory with number 1 on the back."
Tim Torn Teutenberg has been drafted in as a replacement in a Lidl-Trek team that is now fully committed to Jonathan Milan, albeit with a strong team in support that includes in-form Edward Theuns and Mathias Vacek.
'I didn't learn much, except that the pursuers were ridiculous' – Boonen on his DS training at E3
Former pro Tom Boonen spent Friday's E3 Saxo Classic in a Soudal-QuickStep team car to see if he has a future in a team role, with mixed results.
"It was a nice day, I saw a great race. It was fun to be in the car again. Today was a reconnaissance day; I don’t know what the future holds," the former Classics specialist told Sporza. "Van der Poel delivered as expected, but it was quite a tough performance. Otherwise, it was a typical edition of [E3], exciting until the very end. I didn't learn much else today, except that those pursuers were ridiculous at the end.
"I worked myself up about that. You do all that work together to get there, and then those last 10 meters are really not the time to start acting like a fool."
Why chasing groups always blink
Nobody wanted to be the sucker. So everybody lost.
Caley Fretz
Pidcock withdraws from Volta a Catalunya with injuries sustained in stage 5 crash
Tom Pidcock did not start stage 6 of the Volta a Catalunya on Saturday morning after coming down in a nasty high-speed crash while descending the previous day that resulted in a loss of almost half an hour, dropping from second to 74th overall.
"We did everything to try to make it to the start but it’s not possible," Pidcock said in his team Pinarello-Q36.5's announcement. "I fought to finish the stage yesterday to make sure I had the option to continue. Now the focus is on recovery, and I’ll be back."
Pidcock suffered visible damage to his knee which was very swollen on Saturday morning, with stiffness in his upper body and pain to his wrist.
"“Due to his crash, he suffered injuries, most likely bone and ligament damage, in particular to his right knee and also right wrist," team doctor Lorenz Emmert said in the same statement. "Further clinical evaluation and imaging will follow in the next days, additionally to the already initiated healing process."
Richard Plugge and Axel Zingle receive yellow cards for E3 sticky bottle
While his teammates Per Strand Hagenes and Christophe Laporte were finishing a brilliant second and seventh respectively, Axel Zingle had a rather different day at the E3 Saxo Classic, resulting in a disqualification and fine, with added yellow card, for a sticky bottle captured by a roadside fan.
Visma-Lease a Bike released an apology after the race: "we regret the incident. This does not contribute to the image of cycling. It happened in the background after a flat tyre and it didn't affect the result, but it shouldn't have happened."
It wasn't clear at first who was in the car at the other end of the sticky bottle, but suggestions it might have been team boss Richard Plugge were later confirmed with the announcement that he'd also been handed a fine of €500 and a yellow card.
Little 500 Qualifications on Saturday
Pidcock 'okay' after crashing into ravine in Catalunya
Tom Pidcock started stage 5 of the Volta a Catalunya as a GC contender but finished the day merely grateful to have emerged from a scary crash relatively unscathed.
The Brit went down off-camera on a late descent and was thus conspicuously absent from the lead group on the final climb. He later explained that he had fallen into a ravine.
"I was drinking on the descent and misjudged a corner," he said. "I overshot it and went down the ravine. It was like one of these horror crashes you see, but I am okay. I’ll go for a check, but I think I’m okay. I am lucky I could talk on the radio. I was far from the road and nobody knew I was there. I’m happy I could finish the stage."