Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, December 20, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware. - Henry Miller
Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Giro d'Italia, A Year-by-Year History of the Tour of Italy, Vol 2: 1971 - 2011 is available in print, Kindle eBook and audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Upcoming racing:
- December 23: Superprestige Heusden-Zolder
- December 26: World Cup Gavere
- December 29: Trofee Loenhout-Azencross
- December 30: Superprestige Diegem
- January 1: GP Sven Nys
Latest completed racing:
- December 14: World Cup Namur
- November 16: Trofee Hamme-Flandriencross
- November 1: Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
- October 26: Superprestige Overijse-Vlaamse Druivencross
- October 14 - 19: Tour of Guangxi
- October 14 - 19: Tour of Holland
- October 19: Veneto Classic
- October 19: Japan Cup
- October 19: Chrono des Nations
- October 15: Giro del Veneto
- October 12: Paris-Tours
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Van Empel’s Team Visma | Lease a Bike sent me this:
Fem van Empel has decided to put her professional cycling career on pause for an indefinite period. After a period of intensive discussions and careful consideration, it was mutually agreed with both Team Visma | Lease a Bike and Van Empel’s management that, as of January 1, she will have no further obligations to the team.
The past year has been focused on finding balance for Van Empel. In March, she consciously chose to step back from the sport to focus on her mental well-being and manage physical complaints. After this period of rest, she decided not to continue focusing on road cycling and instead work towards a return to cyclocross at the start of the season.
Fem van Empel winning the 2024 Besançon Cross.
Although her training and initial races went well, Van Empel noticed that the feeling she was seeking did not emerge. During the Koppenbergcross, she had to abandon the race because it wasn’t going well at that moment. “During the Koppenbergcross, my body and mind gave a very clear signal. I am someone who doesn’t give up easily, but unconsciously, a decision had already formed then. This feels like the right step for me now.”
CEO Richard Plugge commented: “Of course, it’s unfortunate that Fem is leaving us, but we fully respect her decision. She has meant a great deal to our team and to cyclocross in general. With her talent, Fem has achieved impressive results and wrote sports history with our team, winning multiple European and world titles. It has been special to witness her development up close and to work together. We wish her every success in the future.”
In recent weeks, Van Empel and Team Visma | Lease a Bike did everything possible to find a way for her to continue feeling good within the sport. Ultimately, the world champion concluded that it is better for now to take her career in a different direction. This means that after several beautiful and successful years, Van Empel says farewell to Team Visma | Lease a Bike with her head held high: “This is a well-considered decision that I feel good about. At the moment, both the motivation and the enjoyment I have had in cycling for years are missing. I wanted to be honest and fair about this with the team. For now, this is the best choice. It feels like the right time for a new chapter. I am very grateful for all the support I have received from the team, my family, and the fans, and I look forward to what the future brings.”
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Here’s the team’s post:
Liv AlUla Jayco are eager to start the 2026 season on a high as the Australian squad names a strong line-up for their ‘home race’, the Santos Tour Down Under.
2025 runner-up Silke Smulders will return to Adelaide aiming for even more in January with the punchy Dutch rider looking to build on a standout second season with the Aussie team.
Silke Smulders on the podium for her GC second place after stage three of the 2025 Tour Down Under.
A strong Australian group will make up the core of the team with former national champion Ruby Roseman-Gannon, criterium champion Amber Pate, Tour of Guangxi stage winner Josie Talbot, plus neo-pro Mackenzie Coupland, who will make the step up from the development team in 2026.
New Zealander Ella Wyllie will round out the stacked squad with the former Kiwi champion looking to improve on her top-10 finish overall in 2024.
Silke Smulders:
“It was first of all so cool to visit Australia this year. Exploring the country, seeing all these new animals and the nature parks. The other girls could show me around and I could really have a sense of the Australian culture. I think it is super cool to be riding for an Australian team and to actually know what the country is like and what it feels like. I had an amazing time on and off the bike.
"For me, Tour Down Under felt like a bit of a breakthrough and it gave me a big confidence boost to finish second and being so close to a GC victory. I remember it was also just such a special emotional feeling that the girls gave everything to support me and that gave me something extra for sure.
"This gives me a lot of motivation to try to do well again next year because I was so close. On the other hand, this year felt like a bit of a surprise and now I do feel more pressure to do well again for the team because it is our home race. But we have such a strong team of riders and many options to play and I am convinced that we will have this special feeling of going all in together because it is our race. That will give us that little extra.”
Jess Allen (Sport Director):
“We’re excited to kick-off the 2026 season at the Tour Down Under. As the only Australian professional team, it’s always an incredibly proud moment to begin the WorldTour season on home soil in GreenEDGE colours.
"Following a successful Tour Down Under in 2025, Silke Smulders returns once again, motivated and eager to fight for victory. She’ll be joined by our New Zealand climber Ella Wyllie, who enjoyed a strong season and is ready to start the year with real momentum.
"Mackenzie Coupland will step up from development team in 2026 and will make her WorldTour debut on home soil — an exciting milestone in her career. This year’s Women’s Tour Down Under is set to be the toughest edition yet, and the team is rounded out by Australians Josie Talbot, Ruby Roseman-Gannon, and Amber Pate, ensuring a strong and dynamic line-up.”
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
Ten new signings have today been unveiled as part of the NSN Devo Team’s 2026 roster, adding fresh energy and reinforcing the team’s global outlook as it embarks on a new chapter.
The team will comprise 20 riders for next season, bringing together emerging young talent from Europe, Oceania, North America, and the Middle East. The NSN Devo Team remains a central pillar of the NSN project, designed to provide young riders with a clear pathway, professional environment, and the foundations required to progress towards the highest level of the sport.
British Junior National Cyclo-Cross Champion Oscar Amey (17), Canadian Junior Road Champion Ben Morin (18), Australian Junior TT Champion Max Goold (18), Nations Cup race winner Filip Smørås (NOR, 18), and Polish Under-23 Road Champion Dawid Lewandowski (19) are among the new arrivals, bolstering a team that features Moritz Kretschy (GER) and Matar Peretz (ISR), both race winners in 2025.
Six of the 10 retained riders for 2026 rode with NSN’s professional team this season, and Australian Zac Marriage joins the squad after a successful time as an end-of-year stagiaire, which emphasizes the pathway offered by the program.
Tim Elverson, NSN Devo Team Manager, says: “Our team is a real springboard to the WorldTour. When we look at our group, we already see the roles and racing styles that, once developed, can take riders to the NSN WorldTeam. We’ve successfully progressed riders into key roles at the highest level before, and that pathway remains a central part of what we do.
“We race as a team to win, but we’re equally focused on every part of the process required to get there. While 2025 was another strong year, the 2026 roster reflects a clear evolution of the squad. We have an exciting group of young riders, including new national champions such as Morin, Goold, Lewandowski, and Amey, alongside many other promising talents. I believe we can win a lot of races – never say never.”
The roster is complemented by a group of riders continuing their development within the NSN structure, ensuring a balance between experience and new talent.
For the riders joining the team in 2026, the Development Team represents an opportunity to learn, grow, and take the next steps in their careers.
Amey, who brings explosive power and strong technical skills from cyclo-cross onto the road, says: “Joining the NSN Devo Team means a lot to me, as it’s the next step towards becoming a professional, something I’ve been working towards since I was a kid. My main goal for the season is to fight for podiums and victories in UCI races, while learning as much as possible from the experienced staff and teammates around me.”
Melbourne’s Goold outlined his time trialling abilities when he won his country’s junior TT title in Perth in January, but he has the potential to develop into an all-rounder.
“Joining the NSN Devo Team means a lot to me,” he says. “The environment is incredibly welcoming, and there’s a real passion for supporting riders as they work towards their goals. For 2026, I’m motivated to test myself against the best, particularly in the mountains and in the time trials.”
Lewandowski, a durable rider well-suited to hilly terrain and stage racing, is excited to take the next step in his career.
He says: “Joining the NSN Development Team is a dream come true and an important step in my career. It confirms that I’m moving in the right direction and gives me an environment where I can learn professional racing and improve every day. With a clear structure and strong support, I can focus on gaining experience and continuing my long-term development.”
NSN Development Team 2026 roster
Oscar Amey (GBR)
Dylan Bibic (CAN)
Patrick Casey (IRL)
Roei Edinger (ISR)
Imry Faingezicht (ISR)
Alvaro Garcia (ESP)
Max Goold (AUS)
Alex Hewes (AUS)
Moritz Kretschy (GER)
Dawid Lewandowski (POL)
Enrique Maranchón (ESP)
Zac Marriage (AUS)
Ben Morin (CAN)
Matar Peretz (ISR)
Miko Pirinen (FIN)
Omer Ramon (ISR)
Filip Smørås (NOR)
Fin Tarling (GBR)
Jens Verbrugghe (BEL)
Kiaan Watts (NZL)
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