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Friday, October 17, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice. - Montesquieu
Les Woodland's book Dirty Feet: How the Great Unwashed Created the Tour de France is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- October 14 - 19: Tour of Guangxi
- October 14 - 19: Tour of Holland
Upcoming racing:
- October 19: Veneto Classic
- October 19: Japan Cup
- October 19: Chrono des Nations
Latest completed racing:
- October 15: Giro del Veneto
- October 12: Paris-Tours
- October 11: Il Lombardia
- 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 stage winner Paul Magnier's Team Soudal Quick-Step with the results.
Here's the Tour of Guangxi stage three report from second-place Jordi Meeus' Team Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe:
A second and a third place in the sprint for Jordi Meeus after half of the Tour of Guangxi.
Jordi has always found his champion in Paul Magnier in the last WorldTour race of the year. The Frenchman has won 12 of his last 13 sprints and, with 17 wins this season, has become numerically the best sprinter of the year and the second-best rider ever.
Paul Magnier wins stage three. Getty Images
It is therefore quite remarkable that Jordi is now well up against the 21-year-old high-flyer on stage 3. After the longest stage of the tour at 214 kilometres, Jordi was half a bike length short of victory. The day before, things didn't go too well and he finished in ninth place. Previously, Jordi had already finished third on the first day.
Stage 5 breaks sprinter's days
As expected, the fourth stage of the race through the south of China - the entire tour is identical to last year's event - will also end with a sprint finish. The final stage should also end with a mass finish. The overall classification will be decided on the day in between.
Ben Zwiehoff, Alexander Hajek and Roger Adria will be the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe team on the mountain arrival of stage 5. The crew in China will be complemented by Frederik Wandahl, Filip Maciejuk and Ryan Mullen.
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Here's the Tour of Guangxi stage three report from third-place Max Kanter's Team XDS Astana:
XDS Astana Team rider Max Kanter took third place on Stage 3 of the Tour of Guangxi, which once again ended with a mass sprint. After three stages, Kanter sits in second place overall, as well as in the points classification.
Max Kanter winning stage two of the 2024 Tour of Turkey.
“The team supported me really well throughout the stage – both in the first part of the race and on the climbs, where the guys tried to raise the pace to make other sprinters spend more energy. The final sprint was quite chaotic, and my position wasn’t ideal, so I had to launch my sprint a bit late – that was only enough for third place. Still, it’s a good result, and there are a couple more stages ahead where I’ll fight for the win”, – said Max Kanter.
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We posted the report from stage winner and GC leader Ethan Hayter's Team Soudal Quick-Step with the results.
Here's the report from third-place Christophe Laporte's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Christophe Laporte finished third in the second stage of the Tour of Holland. In the 15-kilometre individual time trial, the 32-year-old Frenchman was only bested by Ethan Hayter and Jakob Söderqvist. Bart Lemmen secured eighth place.
After Tuesday’s prologue, the riders once again faced a race against the clock. Laporte got off to a flying start, setting the fastest intermediate time at the first intermediate point. The Frenchman maintained a strong pace and stopped the clock at 17 minutes and 11 seconds. Only Hayter (16:56) and Söderqvist (16:59) were faster on the flat course in Etten-Leur.
Ethan Hayter on his way to winning Tour of Holland stage two. Photo: Cor Vos
"I can be satisfied with the performance I delivered", Laporte said afterwards. "I went full gas to the finish, so I have no regrets. I’m still in a strong position overall. There are some tough stages ahead, so we’ll see how the race unfolds."
Sports director Arthur van Dongen was also pleased. "We finished third and eighth today. That gives us confidence for the tough days to come. It’s not up to us to control or dictate the race, but we’ll try to strike at the right moments", he said. "Our goal remains to aim for a strong general classification and to try to win a stage. We’ve finished second, third and fourth so far, which shows we’re right up there. Tomorrow, we’ll definitely go for the best possible result again."
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Here’s the team’s news:
INEOS Grenadiers are proud to confirm a three-year extension to their long-standing partnership with Pinarello, continuing a relationship that has helped shape some of the most memorable moments in cycling.
United since the team’s inception in 2010, Pinarello has been more than just a bike supplier - it has been a true performance partner for over 15 years. Together, the two organisations have developed, tested and raced some of the sport’s most advanced and successful bikes, achieving victories at the world’s biggest races including multiple Grand Tour successes.
The renewal reflects a shared commitment to innovation, performance and the relentless pursuit of excellence that sits at the heart of both Pinarello and the INEOS Grenadiers.
Filippo Ganna racing on a Pinarello in stage 18 of the 2025 Vuelta a España. Sirotti photo
Sir Dave Brailsford said: “Pinarello has been part of our story from day one. What defines this relationship is the genuine collaboration and shared belief that technology, elite performance, and attention to detail can achieve great things.
“With Fausto [Pinarello] and his team steeped in cycling’s rich heritage, we’ve designed and built bikes that have changed the sport. We’re excited to keep pushing forward, innovating together and building on that success over the next three years.”
Pinarello President Fausto Pinarello said: “I’m delighted that our unique partnership is continuing. Together with the INEOS Grenadiers, we’ve achieved incredible things over the years - World Championships, Hour Records, success in mountain bike and cyclo-cross, and of course, Grand Tour and other major victories on the road.
“For both of us, this partnership feels completely natural. We share the same drive to win, and with the continued collaboration between Dave [Brailsford], Carsten [Jeppesen], and the team’s management, our belief is that INEOS Grenadiers can be the best team in the world again, riding the best bikes in the world.
“What makes this relationship so special is that it goes far beyond sponsorship. We know each other deeply - our teams share ideas, push innovation, and are open to new technologies and materials that keep us at the very cutting edge of performance.”
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