Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Thursday, June 26, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
There is no frigate like a book to take us lands away nor any coursers like a page of prancing Poetry. - Emily Dickinson
Marcus Aurelius' Meditations is available in both Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- June 21 - 29: Most national road championships
Upcoming racing:
- July 2 - 7: Tour of Austria
- July 5 - 27: Tour de France
Latest completed racing:
- June 24: Giro dell'Appennino
- June 15 - 22: Tour de Suisse
- June 18 - 22: Baloise Belgium Tour
- June 8 - 15: Critérium du Dauphiné
- June 13: GP Kanton Aargau
- June 8: Brussels Cycling Classic
- May 9 - June 1: Giro d'Italia
- May 29 - June 1: Tour of Norway
- May 14 - 18: 4 Jours de Dunkerque
- May 18: Rund um Köln
- May 13: Classique Dunkerque
- May 11: Tro-Bro Léon
- May 10: GP du Morbihan
- May 9: Tour du Finistère
Here’s the team’s press release:
The Arkea-B&B Hotels team has been informed by its two title partners of the non-renewal of their respective contracts, which expire at the end of the season on 31 December 2025.
In a challenging financial climate for cycling, Emmanuel Hubert and his teams are fully committed to an active search for new partners.
The team, the staff and their representatives would like to sincerely thank Crédit Mutuel Arkéa and B&B Hotels for their commitment and confidence over the last few years.Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, first via Fortuneo and then in its own name, has supported the team for almost ten years, a longevity and loyalty that is rare in professional cycling today. The B&B Hotels group, meanwhile, has played a decisive role in enabling the team to turn a corner over the last two years.
Team Arkea-B&B Hotels at the teams presentation ceremony before the 2025 Strade Bianche. Sirotti photo
In this period of search for new partners, the structure and its teams are more determined than ever to perform well in the various races that will mark the season, in particular to make the colors of the Arkea- B&B Hotels jersey shine.
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Emmanuel Hubert, General Manager:
I would like to thank Arkea and B&B Hotels for standing by us. A decade for Arkea, which has enabled us to write some great chapters together, while B&B Hotels has given us the opportunity to change dimension from 2024 onwards. Arkea and B&B Hotels have been wonderful partners who have enabled us to achieve great things in our sport, at the highest level. We've brought a lot of joy to our Breton supporters, but not only that, as our team has a strong presence in France and internationally, as was the case again during the recent Tour of Switzerland. Remaining constructive and optimistic, I'm working hard to secure the team's future. That's my objective at all times. I know that nothing can be taken for granted, but I want to believe in it. I remain confident in our project and will continue to promote it to potential new partners who will be able to identify with our ambition and values.
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
UAE Team Emirates-XRG and ENVE have announced a multi-year contract extension, continuing their partnership as the team’s official wheel and handlebar supplier.
ENVE’s first contract began in 2023 after UAE Team Emirates independently conducted in-house testing of the leading wheels on the market—both in the wind tunnel and on the road. ENVE came out on top in performance and rider preference. Since then, UAE Emirates has been ranked the #1 team in men’s professional cycling, with Tadej Pogačar holding the title of the world’s top-ranked male cyclist. In addition to topping the rankings, the team has claimed two overall Grand Tour victories, six Monuments, and a World Championship since the partnership began.
Tadej Pogacar time trialing at the 2025 Critérium du Dauphiné on ENVE wheels. Sirotti photo
Mauro Gianetti (Team Principal & CEO, UAE Team Emirates-XRG): “Our path to becoming the number one team in the world has been built on more than just having the best riders—it’s about assembling the right team, from staff to partners, and using the best equipment available. Since joining forces back in 2023, ENVE has proven to be a key partner for us, sharing our commitment to performance, innovation, and excellence.
"We are proud to extend our partnership with ENVE as we continue to pursue victories at the highest level of the sport in the years to come.”
ENVE equips UAE Team Emirates with its full range of SES road wheels—including the U.S.-made SES 2.3, 3.4, 4.5, and 6.7. Among these, the SES 4.5 has become the team’s go-to wheel in most race scenarios, thanks to its class-leading aerodynamic performance and rolling efficiency.
The collaboration also extends beyond race-day products. In 2023, ENVE and the team launched their first joint R&D project: the SES Aero Pro One-Piece Handlebar. Designed specifically for World Tour-level demands, the bar combines precise handling with optimized aerodynamics. Additional products developed with UAE Team Emirates will be commercially available later this season.
“Securing the original contract with UAE Team Emirates-XRG was a proud moment for the company,” said ENVE CEO Mike Stimola. “Being recognized as a leader in the industry and seeing our products win at the highest level is a testament to the strength of our engineering and manufacturing teams. But extending that contract—especially when every other wheel and component brand is competing for the same opportunity—demonstrates the depth of our partnership with the team and our ongoing commitment to innovation and making riders faster.”
As UAE Team Emirates-XRG prepare to defend their Tour de France title beginning July 5, ENVE will be there to support them with both road and time trial wheels, as well as road and time trial handlebars.
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Here’s the team’s news:
26th – 27th – 29th June:
Team Polti VisitMalta is set to compete with a strong lineup of riders at the national championships of Italy, Spain and Malta. We’ve entered that time of year when riders go head-to-head against their fellow countrymen, all dreaming of wearing their national colors for an entire season.
It all begins tomorrow in Friuli Venezia Giulia, the northeastern Italian region. The ITT will gather the specialists over 28 kilometers along the Tagliamento river: three Polti VisitMalta riders will take on the course — Alessandro Tonelli, Mirco Maestri (last year’s European Team Relay champion) and young Gabriele Raccagni.
Mirco Maestri (shown after stage 12 of the 2024 Giro d'Italia) will ride the Italian time trial championships. Sirotti photo
On Sunday, they’ll be joined for the road race by Ludovico Crescioli, Samuele Zoccarato, Andrea Pietrobon, Davide De Cassan, the two Bais brothers, Davide Piganzoli and Giovanni Lonardi. A blend of climbers and a sprinter suited to a race profile that could favor different kinds of riders: across nearly 230 km, the final 70 include three laps of a fairly manageable climb in San Floriano del Collio. As sports director Stefano Zanatta explains: “It’s not the hardest route, but the heat and the long distance will make the finale challenging. Our riders have shown good form recently and we’re fielding a solid group of attackers plus Lonardi. The Italian Championships are a big deal for us, starting with the time trial.”
Meanwhile the Spanish nationals will take place in the south of the country, in the province of Granada. On Friday, a 14 km uphill time trial in Sierra Nevada awaits Alex Martín — who’s in excellent form — and Pablo García: a perfect opportunity for riders familiar with altitude. On Sunday, they’ll be joined by Fernando Tercero, Diego Sevilla, Javier Serrano and Fran Muñoz for the 191 km road race around the Francisco Abellán reservoir: a demanding circuit to be completed five times.
Directing the squad will be Jesús Hernández: “We’ll line up a motivated and united squad, ready to make a difference in key moments. The road course isn’t extremely steep, but it’s constantly up and down, very technical and under intense heat. Depending on how the race unfolds, we can back Martín, Tercero or Sevilla, with Muñoz, Serrano and García playing crucial supporting roles.”
Last but not least, Aidan Buttigieg will be chasing a third straight national road title in Malta on Sunday. On a slightly undulating circuit totaling about 60 kilometers around the streets of Fleur de Lys, in the Birkirkara district, Buttigieg will fight to keep wearing the Maltese cross in the peloton with the jersey of the team that also bears the name of his country.
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