Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
I love criticism just so long as it's unqualified praise. - Noel Coward
Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, Vol 2: 1976 - 2018 is available in print, Kindle eBook & Audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- October 7: Binche-Chimay-Binche
- October 7: Tre Valli Varesine
Upcoming racing:
- October 9: Gran Piemonte
- October 11: Il Lombardia
- October 12: Paris-Tours
Latest completed racing:
- October 6: Coppa Bernocchi
- September 28 - October 5: Tour de Langkawi
- October 5: Coppa Agostoni
- October 4: Giro dell'Emilia
- October 3: Mûnsterland Giro
- September 21 - 28: World Cycling Championships
- September 17 - 21: Tour de Luxembourg
- September 20: Super 8 Classic
- September 19: Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen
- September 17: GP de Wallonie
- August 23 - September 14: Vuelta a España
- September 14: Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
- September 14: GP de Fourmies
- September 14: Trofeo Matteotti
We posted the report from fourth-place Andrea Raccagni Noviero's Team Soudal Quick-Step with the results.
Here's the report from Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Team Visma | Lease a Bike once again showed its attacking spirit in the Coppa Bernocchi. The yellow-and-black squad took the initiative in the Italian semi-classic, launching several attacks through Sepp Kuss and Matthew Brennan, whose efforts were only neutralized a few kilometers from the finish line.
On the undulating 200-kilometre route, Brennan, already a fourteen-time winner this season, started as one of the main favourites. The young Brit, however, was not planning to wait for a potential bunch sprint.
After the early breakaway of five riders was caught, Brennan and Kuss went on the offensive during the hilly phase of the race. The duo managed to form part of a strong lead group of twelve. Within that front selection, Kuss sacrificed himself for his British teammate.
Behind them, the peloton cooperated well and gradually closed the gap to the breakaway. Everything came back together soon after. Brennan made another late attempt to escape, but the bunch did not grant him any freedom.
Visma | Lease a Bike rider Sepp Kuss just after the race finished. Sirotti photo
“I felt good today”, Brennan began afterwards. “We stuck to our pre-race plan: to stay alert in the decisive moments, and that went well. Sepp was really strong and reacted perfectly when Michael Matthews tried to stir things up. I then waited for the right moment to bridge across.”
Brennan continued: “Our group worked well together, but so did the peloton. The team tried to disrupt the chase behind, but unfortunately, that wasn’t enough. It’s a pity we were caught in the end. Still, we can be proud of the effort we put in today. We gave it everything, even if we couldn’t finish it off with a win”, he concluded.
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And here's the Coppa Bernocchi report from third-place Giovanni Lonardi's Team Polti-VisitMalta:
Consistency and confidence. With determination, Team Polti VisitMalta worked hard in the peloton to prevent the various attacks and the passages over the Piccolo Stelvio. So that, they could protect Lonardi for the sprint.
All the work paid off, with an imperial Mirco Maestri launching the sprint by his own and leaving Lonardi perfectly positioned in the final 200 meters, where he pushed to raise his arms. The rider secured third place in the victory of French champion Godon (Decathlon).
The Coppa Bernocchi podium, from left: Tobias Lund Andresen (3rd), Dorian Godon (1st) & Giovanni Lonardi (3rd). Sirotti photo
The Italian Professional Cycling League also honored Giovanni Lonardi on the podium as the best Italian cyclist of the race.
Giovanni Lonardi: “We worked hard to prevent the breakaway from reaching the finish line and allow us to fight for the win. I was just a point short in the sprint that would have allowed me to be even further ahead, but I’m happy with the result and very grateful to all my teammates for their support in making it possible.”
Stefano Zanatta, Sports Director: “It was a race we didn’t think would be decided in a sprint. But we worked hard with other sprinter teams, with our riders Diego Sevilla, Andrea Pietrobon, and Mattia Bais, to be able to fight for the win. Mirco Maestri’s work was impeccable, and we achieved a podium finish that greatly reflects the hard work of all our teammates. After Malaysia, we’re continuing to build on our strength and want to maintain our focus and results in the races ahead.”
Tomorrow marks the end of the Lombard Triptych with the Tre Valli Varesine, one of the most significant races for Team Polti VisitMalta and a demanding 200-kilometer route between Busto Arsizio and Varese.
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
Eleven years ago, the Cycling Academy team was founded with a vision of nurturing young talent from non-traditional cycling countries, including Israel, providing aspiring riders with a clear pathway to professional cycling.
Over the past 11 years, the team, which evolved to Israel – Premier Tech four years ago, has experienced the highs and lows that come with professional sport, from the pure joy of seeing our riders win Tour de France stages to the challenge of relegation, and fighting back to the WorldTour. It is, and always has been, a sporting project.
The team takes pride in its achievements on the road, but even more so in the culture it has built within. This culture has been the foundation that enabled the team to overcome the challenges of recent months, standing firmly behind our riders and staff during an incredibly difficult period. Throughout this time, the team’s owners and management have recognized the need for change.
Team Israel-Premier Tech being presented before the start of 2025 Vuelta a España. Sirotti photo
With steadfast commitment to our riders, staff, and valued partners, the decision has been made to rename and rebrand the team, moving away from its current Israeli identity. In sport, progress often requires sacrifice, and this step is essential to securing the future of the team.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Sylvan Adams has chosen to step back from his day-to-day involvement and will no longer speak on behalf of the team, instead focusing on his role as President of the World Jewish Congress, Israel.
Although a new chapter awaits, one that will be revealed soon, the team will remain true to its founding promise: to develop cycling talent from around the world.
To our fans: thank you for your unwavering support throughout the years, and especially during these past few weeks. We look forward to continuing this journey together.
Here's the BBC report on the coming name & management change:
The Israel-Premier Tech team are to drop Israel from their name from next season.
The team were at the centre of several disruptions during last month's Vuelta a Espana in Spain, as pro-Palestinian protests were staged over Israel's war in Gaza.
The team said the past few months had been "an incredibly difficult period" but "recognised the need for change".
They added: "With steadfast commitment to our riders, staff, and valued partners, the decision has been made to rename and re-brand the team, moving away from its current Israeli identity.
The Israel-Premier Tech squad, whose five British riders include four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome, is Israeli-registered and owned by Israeli-Canadian property billionaire Sylvan Adams.
It was founded as Israel Cycling Academy in 2014 and has been sponsored by Canadian company Premier Tech since 2022.
Premier Tech said last month it expected Israel to be dropped from the name from the 2026 season.
Adams is to step back from his day-to-day role as part of the changes and will no longer speak on the team's behalf.
The 66-year-old is closely associated with Benjamin Netanyahu's government and has previously told BBC Sport he is a "self-appointed ambassador to Israel".
There were several protests and disruptions during the three-week Vuelta, aimed mainly at the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech team, who stopped using their full name on their jerseys midway through the race.
The final stage, around Madrid, was cancelled following pro-Palestinian protests, which caused scuffles with riders and the course to be blocked in several places.
The team had their invitation to last weekend's second-tier Giro dell'Emilia race in Italy revoked over fears the race could have been affected by similar disruptions.
President of the professional cyclists' union Adam Hansen has said cutting races short may be the only way to deter protests.
World cycling governing body the UCI said it will continue to welcome Israeli athletes at its competitions despite calls for sporting boycotts.
After the United Nations commission of inquiry formally declared Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza - a claim Israel denies - there have been growing calls for the country to be suspended from international football competition.
The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
At least 67,139 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
Analysis:
This is a painful admission by the team and its owner Sylvan Adams that the presence of Brand Israel is causing unease in places such as elite sport.
Adams' involvement in Israeli politics is well known, if not officially assigned. He supported Benjamin Netanyahu's government on a trip to the White House to oversee the signing of an accord between Emirati nations and Israel during President Trump's first term in 2020.
The team began largely thanks to Adams' passion for cycling, and belief that the sport can bring communities closer together in parts of the world away from its European heartland. Indeed, a certain amount of new infrastructure at the recent Road World Championships in Rwanda came from Israeli investment.
But despite a few Grand Tour stage wins here and there, Israel-Premier Tech have found the pace hard going at times at the elite level, and can ill afford to lose sponsors such as Canada's pesticide specialists Premier Tech.
And, as a multi-billionaire businessman, Adams knows corporate image is everything.
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Here's the team's news:
Binche-Chimay-Binche is set to be Soudal Quick-Step’s final outing of the season on Belgian soil. More than 200 kilometers in length, the parcours of this 38th edition won’t give a moment of respite to the riders Tuesday afternoon, when the combination of hills and cobbled segments – coming in quick succession in the second part of the race, when the peloton will be on the local circuit – could whittle down the group and be used as springboard for an attack by those hoping to prevent everything from coming down to a bunch sprint.
Soudal Quick-Step, who sits on 46 victories since the start of the season, will be present at the start of the Belgian one-day race with a strong team, capable of playing an important role in the finale. Ayco Bastiaens, former Belgian Champion Yves Lampaert, Martin Svrcek, Bert Van Lerberghe and Warre Vangheluwe, together with Devo Team’s Jasper Schoofs and newly-crowned U23 European ITT Champion Jonathan Vervenne – will be the riders pinning on a number for The Wolfpack.
Ayco Bastiaens will race Binche-Chimay-Binche.
“Binche-Chimay-Binche is a hard race due to the combination of uphill sections and cobblestones. We won’t be able to count on Tim, but this doesn’t mean we won’t have a strong squad, featuring the likes of Yves – who became Belgian Champion a couple of years ago in Binche – Bert, another rider who likes this kind of route, or Martin, who comes after a solid outing at the European Championships. It will also be nice to have two young guys from our feeder team, as this should be a good experience for them, so we’re looking with confidence to this challenge”, said sports director Tom Steels.
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