Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, October 10, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
To know that we know what we know, and to know that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge. - Nicolaus Copernicus
Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, Vol 1: 1903 - 1975 is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Upcoming racing:
- October 11: Il Lombardia
- October 12: Paris-Tours
- October 14 - 19: Tour of Guangxi
- October 14 - 19: Tour of Holland
- October 15: Giro del Veneto
- October 19: Veneto Classic
Latest completed racing:
- October 9: Gran Piemonte
- October 7: Binche-Chimay-Binche
- October 7: Tre Valli Varesine
- 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
We posted the report from winner Isaac del Toro's UAE Team Emirates-XRG with the results.
Here's the report from third-place Bauke Mollema's Team Lidl-Trek:
Bauke Mollema showed he’s still got that trademark grit and race smarts today with a strong third-place finish at Gran Piemonte. With a mix of youth and experience lining up for us today, Bauke showed the young guys how it’s done! We had both Liam O’Brien and Nils Aebersold from the Future Racing team join the men’s team in the beautiful Piemonte region and they were put straight to work, controlling the race from the start. It was a fast, unpredictable day out on the road, but the guys stayed calm and sharp from start to finish. The team was lucky in having two cards to play when things started to heat up with both Bauke and the in-form, Andrea Bagioli.
Bauke Mollema finsihes third. Sirotti photo
In the final kilometers, as the pace ramped up and the bunch began to splinter, our guys were well represented. Sam Oomen, O’Brien, Jacopo Mosca, Bagioli and Bauke made all the right moves. The experienced Bauke sensed the danger so turned defensive ridging into attacking, timing his effort to perfection. With a podium spot on the line, he dug deep and came through with a solid third place, a well-earned reward for a savvy ride. It’s his first podium spot in three years and it shows that he’s peaking just in time for a race he’s previously won before – Il Lombardia. Andrea Bagioli rounded out the top 10 with yet another consistent ride for the man on home soil.
From Bauke..
It's been awhile since I've been on a podium so it feels really nice, especially in a hard one day race like today. Del Toro was simply too strong but it was nice to be up there in the final and to come close. It was great to be in that front group and to start the second last climb with a little advantage but 1km into the climb I heard Del Toro was already coming across so I tried to save a little bit so I could survive the steep part and stay in his wheel for a little bit longer. It was just the last little kick before the descent that he went so fast and that was it. It was nice to be together with Hirschi and to fight to the line but he just got the better of me in the sprint.
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Here's the Gran Piemonte report from fourth-place Fabio Christen's Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team:
The season is slowly coming to an end but the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team riders are still motivated to get good results. Today in Gran Piemonte, Fabio Christen showed the legs and the motivation are still there by sprinting to fourth place. Gianluca Brambilla finished just outside of the top ten in twelfth place.
Gran Piemonte is one of the many autumnal classics in northern Italy. They are all full of history and race through amazing landscapes. The Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team always loves to show their team colours in Italy and today it was up to Fabio to take the main stage.
Fabio Christen wins the field sprint for fourth. Sirotti photo
“There was an early breakaway of six riders who were caught at two laps from the end,” he says about the race scenario. “Then a group of eight riders anticipated. Brambi and I stayed in the big group. On the last big climb to Castelletto d’Erro I tried to follow the move by Isaac Del Toro but parked a bit. I know I have a good sprint so I relied on that and stayed calm. I stayed with the group and in the end we sprinted for the fourth place which I got.”
Christen had a breakthrough season with his first professional wins in Murcía and Slovenia, strong results in Tour de Suisse, a sixth place in Brabantse Pijl and his debut in a Grand Tour last month in La Vuelta.
“Of course I was tired after the Vuelta but I recovered well from that and from the World Championships in Rwanda. My coach and I did some good training and it gives me confidence I still have this form after a long season. Next up is the gravel world championships for me on Sunday in the Netherlands. It’s a special event, all self-supported but I will be there with Tom. The motivation is high, form is good and it will be good fun.”
And here's the report from Egan Bernal's Team INEOS Grenadiers:
Egan Bernal led home the Grenadiers with a top-10 finish at Gran Piemonte.
The Colombian rider finished in ninth place, sprinting from the chasing bunch in Acqui Terme.
Victor Langellotti wasted no time, attacking as soon as the flag was dropped for the start of 179km race. The six-man break established a two minute gap, but Langellotti was reeled back in with 55km remaining.
The peloton races by the vineyards of Piedmont. Sirotti photo
As the riders hit the third punchy climb of the day, three riders from the break still had a minute and 30 second lead over the peloton, while Filippo Ganna and Egan Bernal led the peloton chase.
Inside the final 50km, accelerations came from the peloton, with Ganna quick to chase down any efforts. While a group of six escaped after the three-man break, Ganna and Bernal continued to chase from a depleting peloton as the riders entered the finishing circuit for the first time.
Isaac Del Toro (UAE Emirates - XRG) eventually took the win in Acqui Terme after a solo attack, with Bernal sprinting from the chasing peloton to take ninth.
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Here’s the team’s post:
Team Visma | Lease a Bike heads into Il Lombardia with hopes of delivering a strong performance after promising showings in Giro dell’Emilia, Coppa Bernocchi and Tre Valli Varesine. Tiesj Benoot and sports director Marc Reef share their thoughts ahead of the fifth and final monument of the season.
Tiesj Benoot checking out the Tour of Flanders course earlier this year. Sirotti photo
When the bells ring atop the Madonna del Ghisallo and thousands of passionate cycling fans cheer on the passing riders, it can only mean one thing: Il Lombardia is here. The “Race of the Falling Leaves” marks the end of the Italian fall classics in style, always combining breathtaking scenery with brutal climbs. This year will be no exception.
With a lineup featuring the in-form Cian Uijtdebroeks and Ben Tulett alongside Sepp Kuss and Tiesj Benoot, Team Visma | Lease a Bike enter the race without a clear favorite but with strength in numbers.
“Lombardia is a huge race, so we’re really motivated to perform here. It’s also a really hard race. The decisive climb this year, Passo di Ganda, is massive, especially after such a long day. We’re bringing a strong team. Cian and Ben are going well, and Tiesj gets better the harder the race is, so hopefully they can all play a role in the finale,” says sports director Marc Reef.
Benoot returns to the team after illness kept him out of the World Championships. A resilient ride at the European Championships last weekend proved that the Belgian is already back at a high level, and he’s eager to finish his season and time with the team on a high note in Italy.
“The atmosphere in the race is amazing, and the area is beautiful, even though the climbs are a bit too hard for me,” Benoot smiles. “It’s the perfect race for climbers, especially when we finish in Bergamo like this year. I really want to end the season with a good feeling. The race is very honest, so you just hope to have a good day.”
Il Lombardia not only marks the end of the season for Benoot, but also the end of his time with Team Visma | Lease a Bike. Since joining the team in 2022, he has played a key role in both the classics and stage races, proving himself a consistent performer and a well-respected teammate.
“It will be special, because I’ve really felt at home in this team,” Benoot reflects. “It’s a bit sad, but we’ll see each other on the road next year, and I’ll take with me all the great memories and relationships I’ve built here.”
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Here’s the team’s news:
24-year-old Ecuadorian rider Harold Martín López, who is having the best season of his professional career, will continue to race with XDS Astana Team for the next two years (2026 and 2027).
In the 2025 season, Harold Martín López achieved four victories: he won the overall classification of the Tour of Hellas, one stage and the General Classification of the Tour de Hongrie, as well as a stage victory at the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkiye, where he also finished 2nd overall. In addition, López took 3rd place overall at the Tour of Qinghai Lake.
Harold Martín López wins 2025 Tour of Turkey stage 6. Sprint Cycling phjoto
“This year has been amazing for me. Beyond the victories and podiums, the most important thing is that I’ve grown as a professional rider, gained valuable experience, and become more confident in my abilities. This season I had the chance to race alongside great champions like Diego Ulissi, Sergio Higuita, and Wout Poels and their support meant a lot to me. I truly believe that XDS Astana Team is the right place for me to keep progressing and moving forward. This team has already done so much for me, and I want to repay the trust and support with new results. I’m really happy to extend my contract with XDS Astana Team for another two seasons – it’s an important step in my career”, – said Harold Martín López.
“After two years with the continental team and two seasons at the WorldTour level, Harold Martín has made big progress, gaining confidence and the kind of experience that allows him to fight for strong results in major races. There’s still a lot of work ahead, but we’re glad to renew his contract after such a great season that showed he can be one of the team leaders, take responsibility, and achieve solid results”, – said Alexandr Vinokurov, General Manager of XDS Astana Team.
Here’s the team’s announcement:
John Wakefield takes over the position of Director of Coaching, Sports Science and Technical Development. Tim Meeusen succeeds him as Director of Rookie Development.
John Wakefield most recently held a dual role. In addition to successfully establishing the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe Rookies and leading the junior team, the South African coach also works with athletes such as Tour de France third-place finisher Florian Lipowitz and U23 world champion Lorenzo Finn.
Going forward, Wakefield will focus on leading the department that brings together training management, sports science, and projects in technical development. He takes over the role from Dan Lorang, who will continue to work as a coach for the team while also taking on additional responsibilities within the Red Bull Athletic Performance Center. Under the guidance of John Wakefield, a team of eight coaches supports more than fifty athletes across the WorldTour, U23, and U19 squads.
Development of talent
Tim Meeusen succeeds John Wakefield as head of the team’s talent program. The Belgian has served in recent years as Head Scout and is regarded as the discoverer of some of cycling’s most promising young riders.
The junior team GRENKE – Auto Eder is currently the most successful youth squad in the world, with numerous prestigious victories including Paris–Roubaix, the Tour of Flanders, the ITT World Championships, and the European Road Championships. The Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe Rookies also impressed in their debut season, finishing as the second-best UCI Continental Team worldwide – crowned by the U23 world title.
Zak Dempster, Chief of Sports at Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe: “It speaks to the strength of our organization that we not only develop athletic talent but also nurture talent within our management. John combines coaching experience with scientific expertise and leadership skills – exactly what it takes to lead the performance core of our team. Tim has set benchmarks in scouting, and with his passion and intuition for young riders, our development teams have reached the very top level. I’m confident that both will play a key role in further advancing our structures in their new positions.”
John Wakefield, Director of Coaching, Sports Science and Technical Development: "For me, performance is built on structure, knowledge, and trust. My focus is on connecting the scientific, technical, and human sides of our work so they reinforce each other every day. When those elements align, riders from across the World Tour and Development teams can truly develop and not just perform, that’s how we help each one reach their full potential.”
Tim Meeusen, Director of Rookie Development: “The development of homegrown talent is never a coincidence – it’s the result of years of structured work. From the juniors to the WorldTour, we’ve built a system that works and allows us to identify, support, and develop riders from an early stage. That’s the foundation we want to keep building on in the years ahead.”
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