General News Thread

[Samamba]

Women’s and men’s professional road cycling: 53 teams have submitted the essential documents with a view to registration in 2026

www.uci.org

Jayco missing on the lest who have made the October 15th deadline. No problem as they still have time to rectify it but technically all their riders are free to leave the team right now.

Intermarché also obviously missing.

 

[Netserk]

Women’s and men’s professional road cycling: 53 teams have submitted the essential documents with a view to registration in 2026

www.uci.org

Jayco missing on the lest who have made the October 15th deadline. No problem as they still have time to rectify it but technically all their riders are free to leave the team right now.

Intermarché also obviously missing.

While they don't list Jayco, the list is of 19 teams and they write that 20 have applied.

Teams that did not submit all the essential documents by the 15 October deadline, are included in the above count but are not included in the list below. However, they still have the possibility to rectify their situation before the end of the registration process, which would enable them to be registered for the 2026 season. In accordance with the UCI Regulations and subject to other applicable provisions, riders from these teams may terminate their contracts early, but this right will lapse if their team is subsequently registered.

So the window should close soon.

 

[Samamba]

While they don't list Jayco, the list is of 19 teams and they write that 20 have applied.

So the window should close soon.

Yeah it's not the first time this happens, no one will actually leave (definitely given the situation on the market now, there's barely places left with the whole Arkea and merger thing) but you never know. Usually it isn't a good sign for a team. In the past Astana and DSM missed it for example when they had some financial trouble.

 

[Samamba]

Also confirmation of WB disappearing as a pro team, the jump towards pro team from Colpack and of course the new american team Modern Adventure.

On the womens side Jayco is obviously also missing, Roland en Ceratizit too. Lotto(-Intermarché?) is stepping up to Pro Team, Ma Petite Enterprise is a new French team.

Decision about WT status will be public the 10th of december (but normally we shouldn't get any surprises).

Oh yeah and Q36.5 (applied for a WT license but obv won't get it) registrered as "Pinarello-Q36.5"

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I'm surprised neither VolkerWessels or Laboral Kutxa have applied for a WWT license, but they will of course be able to ride the WWT races next season anyway. It's still laughable if Cofidis, which scored fewer points than Roland this year (although to be fair to them they didn't compete in the "fake" races in El Salvador) end up getting promoted.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Oh yeah and Q36.5 (applied for a WT license but obv won't get it) registrered as "Pinarello-Q36.5"

And IPT seems to have dropped the PT as well as the I, and appear simply as 'Cycling Academy'

 

[RedheadDane]

And IPT seems to have dropped the PT as well as the I, and appear simply as 'Cycling Academy'

Wait, if the WorldTeam is going to be called 'Cycling Academy', what's the devo team gonna be called?
'Cycling Academy Academy'?
Then they could add a Junior team, calling it 'Cycling Academy Academy Academy'.

 

[yaco]

Yeah it's not the first time this happens, no one will actually leave (definitely given the situation on the market now, there's barely places left with the whole Arkea and merger thing) but you never know. Usually it isn't a good sign for a team. In the past Astana and DSM missed it for example when they had some financial trouble.

Jayco has missed the deadline once before and everything was rectified. An hour later, Jayco send a tweet announcing two more riders for their women's development team.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Wait, if the WorldTeam is going to be called 'Cycling Academy', what's the devo team gonna be called?
'Cycling Academy Academy'?
Then they could add a Junior team, calling it 'Cycling Academy Academy Academy'.

Cycling Academy Devo
The Junior team could be called Cycling Kindergarten, or Cycling Preschool, your choice.

 

[Berniece]

E3 has been changed slightly. 5km’s longer, 200m of altitude extra. Karnemelkbeekstraat Will be done twice, as well as Oude Kwaremont but from a different direction

“Niet zwaarder, wél uniek”: E3 Saxo Classic pakt in 2026 uit met dubbele beklimming E3-Col en Kwaremont en start en finisht ook komende zes jaar in Harelbeke

<i>Never a dull moment</i>, met de organisatoren van de E3 Saxo Classic. Op de hun kenmerkende, originele manier kondigden ze hun verlengde huwelijk met Stad Harelbeke aan. En: een paar opmerkelijke parcourswijzigingen voor 2026. Met twee beklimmingen van de E3-Col én... de Oude Kwaremont...

www.hln.be

 

[Netserk]

E3 has been changed slightly. 5km’s longer, 200m of altitude extra. Karnemelkbeekstraat Will be done twice, as well as Oude Kwaremont but from a different direction

“Niet zwaarder, wél uniek”: E3 Saxo Classic pakt in 2026 uit met dubbele beklimming E3-Col en Kwaremont en start en finisht ook komende zes jaar in Harelbeke

<i>Never a dull moment</i>, met de organisatoren van de E3 Saxo Classic. Op de hun kenmerkende, originele manier kondigden ze hun verlengde huwelijk met Stad Harelbeke aan. En: een paar opmerkelijke parcourswijzigingen voor 2026. Met twee beklimmingen van de E3-Col én... de Oude Kwaremont...

www.hln.be

With the distances mentioned, it also changes the route from Taaienberg to the finish, not just before that.

 

[gavia88]

changes in the E-3 route for the upcomming years:
https://cyclingpro.net/velopro/autr...-2026-inclura-deux-pentes-du-vieux-kwaremont/

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Tour Colombia 2.1, previusly announced as rejoining the calendar in 2026, now won't go ahead due to a lack of funding

https://twitter.com/x/status/1983917044648087626

View: https://x.com/fedeciclismocol/status/1983917044648087626?t=vv7DrtQhXO8Lx82WeKihZQ&s=19

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Will be the second year in a row with zero pro races in Latin America, arguably the area where the sport has the largest number of fans that isn't Europe. Really not a good sign in terms of internationalisation, or even for the sport in general.

 

[Rob5091]

You lucky Germans! (don't get too used to it though as it could all change pretty soon)
https://www.moviejones.de/news/news...chland-ndash-das-ende-der-sky-aera_50073.html

A new phase begins with January 2026 for the German-language streaming market: HBO Max officially launches in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The time is deliberately chosen – in time for the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, which is completely and exclusively on HBO Max be transferred. This is the end of the era in which Sky Germany the exclusive rights to HBO- Content held.

 

[search]

You lucky Germans! (don't get too used to it though as it could all change pretty soon)
https://www.moviejones.de/news/news...chland-ndash-das-ende-der-sky-aera_50073.html

HBO Max in Germany is not going to be a platform for sports, although they will broadcast the Olympics (not exclusively. The article linked above is incorrect).

For sports, there's Discovery+, and it will continue to exist as it is. It's only sth like 5 Euro a month over here.

 

[Berniece]

Gent-Wevelgem has a new name, and start location (Middelkerke) for the next 10 years. The new name is "In Flanders Fields. From Middelkerke to Wevelgem. I like the first part of the name "In Flanders Fields", but the second part "From Middelkerke to Wevelgem" is a bit ridiculous. Apparently Middelkerke demanded that their name would be part of it. I get why for publicity reasons, but I hope everyone will just eventually say "In Flanders Fields".

Besides that the route stays very much the same. A bit more wind is in play because they start in Middelkerke.

Gent-Wevelgem wordt omgedoopt tot "In Flanders Fields. From Middelkerke to Wevelgem", Middelkerke is de nieuwe startplaats | sporza

Zeg vanaf 2026 niet langer Gent-Wevelgem, wel "In Flanders Fields. From Middelkerke to Wevelgem.". De klassieker krijgt dus niet alleen een nieuwe naam, want de start verhuist ook van Ieper naar Middelkerke. Er is een overeenkomst voor 10 jaar afgesloten, zo maakte organisator Flanders Classics...

sporza.be

 

[search]

looks like a good way to destroy all recognition you've build up over decades. If Middelkerke wants its name to replace "Gent", then they just shouldn't start there.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Dumbest rebranding since the HBO Max -> Max -> HBO Max debacle.

I also imagine the municipality of Wevelgem will be pretty peeved.

 

[RedheadDane]

Gent-Wevelgem has a new name, and start location (Middelkerke) for the next 10 years. The new name is "In Flanders Fields. From Middelkerke to Wevelgem. I like the first part of the name "In Flanders Fields", but the second part "From Middelkerke to Wevelgem" is a bit ridiculous. Apparently Middelkerke demanded that their name would be part of it. I get why for publicity reasons, but I hope everyone will just eventually say "In Flanders Fields".

Why not just... "Middelkerke-Wevelgem"?
Are they trying to beat the "Roue Tourangelle" race for longest race name?

 

[search]

looking forward to the Tour changing its name to "Tour de France, and also some days in Spain" next year.

 

[Berniece]

Dumbest rebranding since the HBO Max -> Max -> HBO Max debacle.

I also imagine the municipality of Wevelgem will be pretty peeved.

If you are going to sell your start and finish locations it doesn't make sense to have those names in the branding of the race. Since it changes all the time. In that regard I understand they don't call it Gent-Wevelgem anymore.

It's silly that it's so long now. "In Flanders Fields" has a nice ring to it, with the obvious link to history. Adding From Middelkerke to Wevelgem is silly. No one is going to say that last part...

 

[KoopaCycling]

It's a pity but money is needed. And I imagine Middelkerke would not accept Gent as start name when it does not start in Gent anymore. Unlike some other places who allowed the name to remain the same. Not sure why they did not go for something like Flanders Fields Classic, instead of In Flanders Fields though.

Well I do get it, historic aspect, famous poem and all that.

In fact i just read an interview, where the mayor says the new name branding needs time to become accepted. And so he felt he needed the contract to be for 10 years. Clearly he wants to promote Middelkerke tourism and it's casino. [politician's name removed: mod]

 

[search]

If you are going to sell your start and finish locations it doesn't make sense to have those names in the branding of the race. Since it changes all the time. In that regard I understand they don't call it Gent-Wevelgem anymore.

I see the reason, but at some point, a race name just starts to become a brand in itself, and is not dependent on the exact location of the start or finish anymore.

Middelkerke is closer to Gent than Compiegne to Paris, for example, and still no one would want Paris-Roubaix to change its name.

 

[RedheadDane]

looking forward to the Tour changing its name to "Tour de France, and also some days in Spain" next year.

Just think of what the 2022 TdF would have been: "Tour de France, also some days in Denmark, Belgium, and Switzerland."

Or this year's Giro: "Giro d'Italia, also some days in Albania. Slovnia and the Vatican City also features."