General News Thread

[RedheadDane]

TTT in a 1 week stage race?

I'd rather lick the elephant's foot in Chernobyl

Ahh... RR expressing his dissatisfaction with a route.
All is normal.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

TTT in a 1 week stage race?

I'd rather lick the elephant's foot in Chernobyl

Ridiculous mate , Jordan jaget is showing up here with big GC ambitions but gets penalised 1 minute for not riding for Lidl visma or UAE emirati. These guys are oligarchs who want to perpetuate wealth and resource inequality instead of an open and exciting sport

 

[Red Rick]

Catalunya route MTFs on Valter, Col de Pal and Queralt (the latter presumably after Pradell and Sant Isidre like in 2024 and planned for 2025.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Catalunya route MTFs on Valter, Col de Pal and Queralt (the latter presumably after Pradell and Sant Isidre like in 2024 and planned for 2025.

This was announced a month ago, right?

 

[Berniece]

This was announced a month ago, right?

Yes. The actual route is going to be announced in the beginning of 2026

 

[Red Rick]

This was announced a month ago, right?

Bruh......

 

[JR1012]

Fem van Empel is no longer a rider for Visma from January 1.

https://www.teamvismaleaseabike.com/news/news/fem-van-empel-puts-her-cycling-career-on-hold/

 

[Cycling111]

Fem van Empel is no longer a rider for Visma from January 1.

https://www.teamvismaleaseabike.com/news/news/fem-van-empel-puts-her-cycling-career-on-hold/

This is the second case in the Visma women´s team in a short time.

 

[awavey]

This is the second case in the Visma women´s team in a short time.

suggesting a pattern ? or just coincidence.

 

[awavey]

Demi took a tumble on a training ride, finds lack of Christmas cheer among motorists in Spain

https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/dont-try-that-yourself-bruised-up-demi-vollering-advocates-against-trying-to-kiss-the-asphalt-after-a-training-crash

 

[RedheadDane]

Thanks for the tip, Demi...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

suggesting a pattern ? or just coincidence.

It's hard to see a pattern when Van Empel is the only case, but now that the women's team is run more like the men's than what appears to have been the case under Esra Tromp's reign, I don't find it surprising that it could kill the fun for some riders.

Demi took a tumble on a training ride, finds lack of Christmas cheer among motorists in Spain

https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/dont-try-that-yourself-bruised-up-demi-vollering-advocates-against-trying-to-kiss-the-asphalt-after-a-training-crash

At least she wasn't run down by them.

 

[awavey]

It's hard to see a pattern when Van Empel is the only case, but now that the women's team is run more like the men's than what appears to have been the case under Esra Tromp's reign, I don't find it surprising that it could kill the fun for some riders.

well Cycling111 suggested Fem was the 2nd, though my mind has gone blank as to who the 1st was, but I only really pay attention to Visma now if Marianne or Imogen are riding

 

[Leadbelly]

Teams for Rwanda:

Zero Pro teams for the 2026 edition (at the moment anyway), but I reckon the start list quality won't be that different from this year.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Teams for Rwanda:

Zero Pro teams for the 2026 edition (at the moment anyway), but I reckon the start list quality won't be that different from this year.

Man, I wouldn't let so many Belgians enter a Central African country...

 

[Sciatic]

Teams for Rwanda:

Zero Pro teams for the 2026 edition (at the moment anyway), but I reckon the start list quality won't be that different from this year.

Those national team jerseys are beauties.

 

[11-34]

Rembe Rat is an unfortunate misprint

 

[KoopaCycling]

Media keep saying cyclocross is in a bad spot. methinks it's cause the very best are doing it part time. I actually think it would be better for the sport if Van Aert, Van der poel did not show up at all. That way their would at least be a sense of rivalry between the other top riders.

You'd have a whole narrative and build up rivalries between riders who can beat each other. Now those other top riders feel like filler until MVDP shows up for the WC.

Now it would be okay if MVDP and Van Aert rode whole cyclocross seasons, i think cyclocross could handle season long dominance. But these part time cameos are tougher to handle for keeping the sport healthy.

 

[AmRacer]

Media keep saying cyclocross is in a bad spot. methinks it's cause the very best are doing it part time. I actually think it would be better for the sport if Van Aert, Van der poel did not show up at all. That way their would at least be a sense of rivalry between the other top riders.

You'd have a whole narrative and build up rivalries between riders who can beat each other. Now those other top riders feel like filler until MVDP shows up for the WC.

Now it would be okay if MVDP and Van Aert rode whole cyclocross seasons, i think cyclocross could handle season long dominance. But these part time cameos are tougher to handle for keeping the sport healthy.

Whiteout Mathieu and Wout, only second tier riders would compete for the win.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Media keep saying cyclocross is in a bad spot. methinks it's cause the very best are doing it part time. I actually think it would be better for the sport if Van Aert, Van der poel did not show up at all. That way their would at least be a sense of rivalry between the other top riders.

You'd have a whole narrative and build up rivalries between riders who can beat each other. Now those other top riders feel like filler until MVDP shows up for the WC.

Now it would be okay if MVDP and Van Aert rode whole cyclocross seasons, i think cyclocross could handle season long dominance. But these part time cameos are tougher to handle for keeping the sport healthy.

The increase in spectators attending races since the the duo have returned is noticable. Belgian fans are perhaps not the most vocal and animated, but they seem to be enjoying themselves currently and not just because of the beer.
To me the bigger issues with cross at the moment are :
Lack of sponsors resulting in a shortage of top level teams with a reasonable budget. Currently only the Roodhooft bros, Baloise and Pauwels.
The difficulty non flemish riders have finding a contract.
Almost total lack of top level Belgian women.
A world cup calendar that squeezes all the races into a limited period.
The reluctance, mostly due to financial, to travel to world cups in other countries.

 

[KoopaCycling]

The increase in spectators attending races since the the duo have returned is noticable. Belgian fans are perhaps not the most vocal and animated, but they seem to be enjoying themselves currently and not just because of the beer.
To me the bigger issues with cross at the moment are :
Lack of sponsors resulting in a shortage of top level teams with a reasonable budget. Currently only the Roodhooft bros, Baloise and Pauwels.
The difficulty non flemish riders have finding a contract.
Almost total lack of top level Belgian women.
A world cup calendar that squeezes all the races into a limited period.
The reluctance, mostly due to financial, to travel to world cups in other countries.

I guess you mean too many different stuff to win (world cup, superprestige, X20), cause i don't think you can extend the cyclocross season beyond the fall and winter.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Whiteout Mathieu and Wout, only second tier riders would compete for the win.

How is Van Aert in the same tier as Van der Poel, but not in the same one as, say, Nys? It isn’t 2023 anymore.

 

[RedheadDane]

(I'm too lazy to find the relevant Vuelta-stage thread.)

'I suggested we make trophies out of tinfoil': The inside story of the car-park Vuelta a España podium

When necessity called, Tom Pidcock’s mum stepped up – and transformed a cancelled Vuelta podium into an unforgettable celebration

www.cyclingweekly.com

Something that doesn't get mention, is how - if I recall correctly from an article I read at the time - they basically had to smuggle Riccitello to the ceremony. He obviously couldn't get there in one of the IPT cars...

 

[Pantani_lives]

Only five days until the Vuelta al Táchira. I can't wait!

 

[search]

Teams for the AlUla Tour:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2008589866272256403

View: https://x.com/thealulatour/status/2008589866272256403


The route is pretty much the same as usual, just in a different order. So the upgrade to 1.Pro didn't really come with any changes.

Milan vs Merlier, a ProSeries clash of the titans - AlUla Tour 2026

The promotion of the AlUla Tour to ProSeries status, for the sixth edition of the event launched in 2020 under the name Saudi Tour, comes with the first partici

www.thealulatour.com

Edit: I of course didn't read the article I linked myself. They actually redesigned the mountain stage - so despite the same name, they now approach the final climb from the opposite site. Haven't seen a more detailed profile yet, but it should be much easier.