Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, June 27, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
It isn't where you came from, it's where you're going that counts. - Ella Fitzgerald
Bill McGann’s book Why Your Bike Is Made in Asia: My career in bicycles as I watched two continents squander an industry is available in print, 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 9 - 13: 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
We are tracking 2025 national championships here.
Here's the report from Mattia Cattaneo's Team Soudal Quick-Step:
Mattia Cattaneo took his fourth medal in five years at the Italian National Championships, after putting in another great ride on the flat roads of the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region, where the 28km event was held this week. [Editor's note, the race was won by Filippo Ganna.]
Mattia Cattaneo time trialing earlier this year at the Tirreno-Adriatico. Sirotti photo
Racing for the first time since concluding the Giro d’Italia more than three weeks ago, the 34-year-old was the first of the pre-race favorites to roll down the ramp and got off to a strong start, setting the benchmark at the checkpoint, 18:54. Cattaneo maintained this solid tempo until the finish in San Vito al Tagliamento, where he stopped the clock in 31:32 thanks to an average speed of 53.25/km/h – enough to conclude third and take his first podium of the season.
“The parcours wasn’t very long, but you really had to be on top of your game and give everything out there, while making sure you had something left for the second part so that you could keep the pace high until the end. It was my first outing since the first weekend of the month and I felt good from the moment I started, which gave me confidence for the race. To be again on the podium here and take my fourth medal makes me happy, and at the same time, motivated for Sunday’s road race”, said Mattia, who was joined in the top ten by Soudal Quick-Step teammate Gianmarco Garofoli, who concluded the race in eighth place.
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Here’s the report from Schmid’s Team Jayco AlUla:
After claiming his debut road race title last season, Mauro Schmid stormed to his first-ever win in the Swiss national time trial championships.
The 25-year-old Team Jayco AlUla rider, who grew up in the host town of Steinmaur, used his knowledge of home roads and Giant Trinity to better former Swiss time trial champion Stefan Bissegger by a single second over the 19-kilometre course.
With this result, Schmid confirms the strong form that saw him almost hold off the peloton for a stage win at the Tour de Suisse last week. Schmid will go onto defend his road race title on Sunday, in Oron.
Mauro Schmid finishing stage three of this year's Tour Down Under. Sirotti photo
Mauro Schmid:
“We had this course already two or three years ago and back then we did two laps and now only one but I know these roads really well. I grew up in this town here and it’s super special to take the win. I wasn’t expecting this but it’s another indication that the shape is really good after the Tour de Suisse and altitude training, so everything is perfect. Today, everything came together, and I could pull off a really good performance and I’m super happy with that.”
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Here’s the report from Kerbaol’s Team EF Education-Oatly:
Cédrine Kerbaol claimed her first victory in EF Education-Oatly team colors with a resounding win in the women’s time trial at the French national championships in Les Herbiers.
Cedrine covered the undulating 26.5km time trial in 37:23 and put more than 30 seconds into her nearest rival.
Cédrine Kerbaol winning the French Championship
The win was Cedrine’s second national time trial championship victory after she also won the title back in 2023.
Juliette Labous had set the time to beat, but Cédrine was measured throughout the individual test and set the quickest time at the intermediate checks at 7km and 17.6km. On the final climb to the line, she gave it everything she had to take a resounding win and EF Education-Oatly’s ninth win of the season.
“That feels really good. It feels good to get the title again,” a delighted Cédrine said at the finish. “I gave everything, and I don’t have any regrets, and that’s a very good conclusion for today after the months that I have spent working for this. I’m really happy. I went full gas from the beginning. My radio didn’t work, so I couldn’t get the nice information from Emma Trott, but I knew what she wanted to tell me. Today is a good ending for everyone who has supported me, for EF Education-Oatly, my parents, my fanclub, my boyfriend and Saint Renan Iroise Velo, the club that came to help us. I’m looking forward to wearing the new jersey.
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Here’s the team’s news:
Highly promising junior rider Benjamín Noval will ride for the INEOS Grenadiers from 2027 following the completion of his junior program.
The teenage talent from Asturias in Spain currently rides for the MMR Cycling Academy and has emerged as one of the sport’s most exciting young riders and future stars. The son of former pro Benjamín Noval, the 16-year-old has been turning heads on the junior circuit with his natural racing instincts, climbing strength, tactical intelligence and maturity.
Noval has racked up a series of impressive wins in 2025 including the GC and youth classifications at both Vuelta Ciclista al Besaya and GP F.W.R Baron, as well as strong performances at other races including Paris-Roubaix Juniors.
With an impressive natural ability and a passion and dedication for performance well beyond his years, Noval is one of the most promising young riders in the sport and his trajectory marks him as a future standout rider in the professional ranks.
INEOS Grenadiers will continue to work closely with Benjamín and his support network over the coming seasons to ensure he arrives at the WorldTour fully prepared and ready to make his mark on the biggest stage.
Benjamín Noval said: “Joining the INEOS Grenadiers is a dream come true for me. This is one of the best cycling teams in the world and I’m very happy to join its ranks so they can help me develop my qualities to their full extent. I want to thank the team for believing in me, and I hope to pay them back in the near future."
Scott Drawer, Performance Director at INEOS Grenadiers, said: “Benjamín has all the hallmarks of a rider who can develop into something very special. He’s intelligent on the bike and driven off it, and he has already shown a real edge in competitive environments. We’re excited to support his transition to the WorldTour and look forward to helping him fulfil his potential within our performance system.”
John Allert, CEO of INEOS Grenadiers, added: “At the heart of our team is a belief in long-term development and investing in the next generation of talent. Benjamín represents that future - and we're delighted he’s chosen to grow and develop with us. The foundations we will put in place for him ahead of 2027 will be designed to support performance but also his growth as an athlete and individual.”
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