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Saturday, October 18, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
The depressing thing about tennis is that no matter how good I get, I'll never be as good as a wall. - Mitch Hedberg
Les Woodland's book Tour of Flanders: The Inside Story - The rocky roads of the Ronde van Vlaanderen is available in print, Kindle eBook and 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 & GC leader Paul Magnier's Team Soudal Quick-Step with the results.
Here's the report from Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
The fourth stage of the Tour of Guangxi ended in another bunch sprint. Niklas Behrens tried to surprise the sprint teams with a late attack, but the German saw his brave attempt fail three kilometres from the finish. Daniel McLay, who crashed earlier this week, had to end the last race of his career prematurely.
In the fourth stage of the Chinese stage race, the riders faced four categorised climbs. Six riders were part of the early breakaway and gained a maximum five-minute lead. After the attackers were caught, Behrens saw his chance to attack.
The 21-year-old German rode several kilometres alone in front of the peloton, but was unable to prevent a bunch sprint. Magnier sprinted to his fourth victory this week. Sports director Jesper Mørkøv was satisfied with the team's performance once again.
Paul Magnier makes it four stage wins in a row. Photo: Getty Sport
"We can look back on a good day. After the first climb, a strong leading group broke away and took a comfortable lead. The sprint teams had to dig really deep to catch up with the leaders. Once they had done so, we wanted to go for it with Niklas. It was a strong attempt, but unfortunately it wasn't enough to prevent the bunch sprint. All in all, it's nice that he's showing himself in this way."
After four sprint stages, tomorrow it's the climbers' turn. "Tomorrow will be the decisive day for the general classification. Although the first part of the stage is flat, the battle for the stage victory will be fought on the final climb. It would be great if we could make a bid for a good result with Cian", Mørkøv said.
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Here's the team's update:
Since 1993, October has seen the procycling world descend on East Asia for the continent’s only UCI Proseries one day race: The Japan Cup. With the exception of 2020 & 2021 (both cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic), the ‘bicycle city’ of Utsunomiya has hosted a real ‘festival’ of cycling, and this year is no different. On Friday there will be the traditional and unique presentation of the teams, followed by a criterium on Saturday, and Sunday’s main event. Once again, over 100,000 fans are expected to be there, giving the three days a special place in the calendar.
The startlist is made up of six UCI WorldTeams, four UCI ProTeams, eight UCI Continental teams, and six riders representing the home nation.
The Bahrain selection will have co-leaders in Lenny Martinez and Afonso Eulálio, as Sports Director Michal Golaś explains:
“I think we we are competitive, seeing how Lenny came back in the second part of the season. He was in the mix at Lombardy and we will give full support to him and also to Afonso, who at the end of a long season has proved he’s in good shape. I think the race suits him, but like I said, the season is long and races in the middle of October require some focus and a really strong will to perform. Those two riders will have the full support of the team.”
Lenny Martinez after stage 14 of the 2025 Tour de France. Sirotti photo
"We achieved our best result here last year as Matej Mohorič finished third, and with the the podium being the objective once again, the four riders supporting our French-Portuguese duo will be crucial on Sunday. Golaś introduces us to the rest of the team:
“We have Torstein Træen who is an experienced rider and I think he will be very important for us to guide these two boys. Vlad Van Mechelen will also be support, but he will have the chance to ride aggressively, even though the race is slightly too hard for him. Rainer Kepplinger is another support guy, and after a couple of races in Italy he will also be key for us to control the first half of the race. When the race gets hard and the selection is big enough, we will start to ride aggressively ourselves with our two leaders.
"Completing the lineup is our Devo rider Yoshiki Terada, riding on home roads, who will provide more support on Sunday.
"It’s worth mentioning too that Vlad has a nice chance to show our jersey and have a fight on Saturday’s criterium so we will support him lots then.”
The grand finale of the three-day event – the “Utsunomiya Japan Cup Road Race,” will be raced in and around Utsunomiya City Forest Park. The route is 144.2km (14 laps of a 10.3km circuit), which includes 14 ascents of the extremely challenging Mt. Kogashi (1.4 km, averaging 7.7%). Golaś brings more detail:
“The race itself is 14 laps and is pretty selective. Basically it’s just up and down with only a short flat part. We need to be ready from the start: if there are some big moves from the World Tour teams we need to follow, but like I said, the main thing is to have the race under control in the first phase and make the selection in the second, using our strength in numbers, because I really believe that those two guys are able to win the race.”
Bahrain have one clear goal on Sunday: to podium as we did 12 months ago. To achieve that objective, our boys are ready for a hard start and a demanding day, especially as it comes at the end of a long, tough season.
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Here’s the team‘s news:
Israel – Premier Tech is pleased to welcome Irishman Ryan Mullen to the team on a two-year contract through to 2027.
A multiple national time trial champion renowned for his engine, positioning skills, and selfless teamwork, 31-year-old Mullen will play a key role across IPT’s classics campaigns, sprint trains, and stage race support.
“Throughout Ryan’s career, he has made a name for himself as a dependable teammate with an incredibly strong engine and that’s exactly why we were interested in bringing him to the team,” says General Manager Kjell Carlström.
“Looking ahead to the 2026 season, we identified a gap in what we call our ‘engine room’ so we wanted to find a rider with a big engine who could bring experience and key race intelligence to the team. Not only does Ryan fit the bill, with vast experience when it comes to sprint trains and racing’s most chaotic moments, but he is a strong time trialist in his own right. We believe Ryan will be a great fit from both a racing and culture perspective.”
Ryan Mullen racing in the 2014 World Championships as an Under 23 rider. He finished second. Sirotti photo
2026 will mark Mullen’s 12th year in the professional peloton and, after four years with RedBull – BORA – hansgrohe, he’s excited for a new chapter.
“I’ve watched this team grow throughout my entire professional career, right from its early days as Cycling Academy,” says Mullen. “Seeing how far it’s come makes me genuinely excited about the opportunity to be part of what’s next, because I believe there’s still a lot more to achieve.
“I also think it’s a great experience to change environments and work with new people – and old friends – all striving toward the same goal: to win bike races. Jerseys may change over the years, but the ambition and drive remain the same.”
When it comes to his role with IPT, Mullen sees himself taking on a leadership role, tapping into his experience in all race situations.
“My qualities as a rider are what have brought me to this point in my career,” adds Mullen. “I’m never afraid to get my hands dirty in any race situation—whether it’s fighting through an echelon in Belgium, guiding a GC rider safely through tense moments, or delivering a sprinter at 70 kph. I’d describe myself as a bit of a jack of all trades, which allows me to step up and make a difference in a variety of scenarios.
“At this stage of my career, I see myself as one of the riders who brings valuable experience, and I’m really looking forward to sharing that with my teammates. One thing my teams have always said about me is that I go all in for them. Over the past few years, I’ve also developed into more of a leader, and that’s something I’m eager to contribute to this team.
“For me, the main goal is to build a strong reputation as a dependable and consistent member of the team. I take pride in being reliable and in delivering on any plan that’s put in front of me. I’m excited to be in a new environment where my skills are valued and where I can contribute to the team’s success. The group’s great as well – a lot of the guys live in Andorra like I do, so I’m really looking forward to training and racing alongside them.”
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Here’s the news from their Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
Two legends of cycling say goodbye to the sport this month: Giacomo Nizzolo and Gianluca – ‘Brambi’ – Brambilla. Nizzolo did so in Coppa Bernocchi on 6th October and Brambi in the Veneto Classic on Sunday 19th October.
Both Italians have been part of the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team for the past three seasons so it was a good moment to sit down with them one last time to look back upon their careers, the lessons learned and to hear what’s next?
The decision to retire wasn’t taken on one day or at one specific moment. It took some time to decide but both riders know this is the right moment.
“It was a process that took a few months,” Nizzolo said. “This winter I already had the idea, but I said to myself: let’s see how the first months go. After the Classics it was clear to me it was the right decision to stop.”
Giacomo Nizzolo having a good day at the 2021 Clasica de Almeria.
Brambi echoes the same sentiment. “It was more or less like with Giacomo. I decided to do a winter as always, at a 100% and then I would start racing to see how it goes. I was 80% sure this was the last year but then with the crash and the injury in Tirreno Adriatico and all the hard racing, the decision was already made in the spring.”
There are many races on the calendar the two Italians have raced throughout their long careers but there is a clear favourite when it comes to the races they will miss the most. For Brambi it’s the feeling of Strade Bianche, a race he did ten times and came in third in, in 2016.
“For me it’s Milan-Sanremo I will miss the most and I won’t miss Strade at all, so the opposite to Brambi,” Nizzolo smiles. “I loved the Classics again this year, like Paris-Roubaix. I did crash but without that moment I think we could have had a good result. I only raced it a few times but that is a race I would have liked to do a few more times.”
“I wouldn’t miss a rainy or a snowy day in the Giro d’Italia or Gran Camiño,” Brambi reflects. When told the race is now moved from February to April he laughs. “I had to retire for this but now they understood.”
Mentorship
Brambi and Nizzolo are the two most experienced riders on the team, with 16 and 15 years in the pro peloton respectively, so naturally both have been a mentor to the team’s younger riders. It’s a role they took on with pride.
“I hope I was a mentor,” Nizzolo says. “I gave my best to share my experiences with them, and I hope they got some good advice. The most important is to manage your race, when to spend your energy and when to stay calm. That is something you learn racing a lot. I spoke to Nicoló Parisini, Matteo Moschetti and Rory Townsend quite a lot and when I could, I shared my advice,” said Nizzolo.
“I have been part of the team for three years, so I saw a few neo-pros like Walter Calzoni grow up,” Brambi adds. “I tried to give them my best advice, on and off the race. It’s about training and preparation but also recovery. Some tend to overdo these things as young guys. I tried to give advice to most riders although I never stopped learning myself, even in this last year. “
Walter Calzoni has really enjoyed having his most experienced compatriots as his mentors. He turned pro with the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team in 2023 and shared the past three years with Brambi and Nizzolo.
Gianluca Brambilla in pink after stage 9 of the 2016 Giro d'Italia. Sirotti photo
“I haven’t raced much with Nizzolo, but I got to know him better this year at the training camp in Livigno, and I certainly admire his professionalism and his shrewdness in racing. I also admire how he always gives 110%, even in races that don’t suit him.
"Brambi, on the other hand, has been my mentor and point of reference since I turned professional. He has helped me a lot. He was a bit of an idol to me because when I was little, I watched him win a stage and wear the pink jersey in the Giro, and I remember that in the days that followed, he helped his captain by pulling even though he was wearing the pink jersey. I think this gesture expresses the kind of person he is without needing any explanation.
"Since my first year, I have admired his professionalism and determination in the race but above all outside the race, because he is the first to do core sessions in the morning and always stretches before going to sleep.
"His greatest strength is his ability to remain calm even in critical situations during the race and to think clearly to solve any problems that may arise. He has excellent race insights, but more importantly, he is able to bring the team together. I have shared wonderful moments with him, but also difficult ones, and he always has the right words to comfort you.
"Next year our paths will separate, but I will cherish his advice. I hope one day to have the honour of having him in the team car because, in my opinion, he will be one of those directors who give that little bit extra to the team.”
Nicoló Parisini has raced alongside Brambi and Nizzolo for the past three seasons too. The sprinter and lead-out rider said on his relationship with Nizzolo.
“I developed a wonderful relationship with Nizzo. I have a lot of respect for him as a person, for his way of doing things, for being genuine and sincere and not wearing a mask.
"Over the last two months, we spent at least 30 days together in hotels, and even though these were his last races, he was determined to end his career on a high note. Nizzo had so much class when racing. You never saw him during the race, but when it mattered, he was there, in the right place at the right time.
"I am happy I had the opportunity to share my first years as a professional with him. I still remember when he told me about his preparation for Milan-Sanremo 2020, when he finished fifth. He told me about every training session, the training sessions behind motorbikes after six hours on the bike. Sanremo is the race of my dreams and his too, and we talked about it a lot.
"I have many fond memories, and I know that our relationship will continue beyond sport and cycling. I am sure he will be on the side of the road cheering me on, and I hope one day to give him some joy too.”
Golden Days
When looking back on their careers there have been amazing days. Nizzolo names a Giro stage as a highlight but also winning the European championships and becoming Italian champion twice. Especially, the second time in 2020 meant a lot because he came back after a big injury.
This season he looks back fondly on that day in Hamburg where Rory Townsend held off an entire peloton to win against all the odds.
“Hamburg was a very special day for me. It’s always been a special race and Rory has been a special teammate. To see him win that day, is a day I won’t forget so soon.”
Brambilla has highlights like wearing the pink jersey in the Giro d’Italia in over a 1,000 days of racing throughout his career.
“When I was a kid, I watched the Giro and saw the Maglia Rosa. In 2016 I won a stage in the Giro d’Italia and got to wear the maglia rosa. My family travelled south and my daughter who was a newborn at the time came to see me. That was a dream come true.”
“This year I started with a great condition, and it was nice to almost win Ruta de Sol with Tom. Then I got the injury in Tirreno and was a bit behind for a while. Coming back in a top ten in Tour de l’Ain with big names from the Tour de France, was nice for me. Even the last races I felt good, and I wanted to make them memorable.”
What’s Next
There are no big plans post-retirement for Brambi. He is a family man through and through and looks forward to normal everyday family life after having travelled so much in his career. He is also completing the sports director’s course with the UCI in Aigle at the end of October for a potential future job in cycling.
“I look forward to not having to train in the rain anymore but just ride when I want to ride. And I want to go skiing with my daughter Asia. She is so happy I will be home more now. Asia is much more experienced than me right now on the skis,” he smiles.
Nizzolo is also just looking forward to the small things in life now he is retired, like not setting an alarm in the morning or enjoying rides on his motor bike.
Finally, they think back about one piece of advice they would give their younger selves. Both Italians mention to stress less and enjoy more because the life of a procyclist is a privileged one.
“I think I stressed too much at training camp when I was young,” Nizzolo says. “I always saw it as a test and that stressed me. Later I realized it’s just training and not a race. You didn’t need to show how strong you are at camp. That’s something I really learned but in races, I never was too stressed from the start.”
“I would tell my younger self to relax a bit more when a race doesn’t go as expected,” Brambi adds. “If you work hard and stay relaxed, the results will come sooner or later. And maybe also be a bit less strict about racing and diets, as I was before. It will be all okay in the end.”
We thank Brambi and Nizzolo for everything they added to the team and wish them a happy retirement. They will forever be part of the Q36.5 family.
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