Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, October 25, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring. - Marilyn Monroe
Les Woodland's book Cycling Heroes: The Golden Years is available in the print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Upcoming racing:
- October 26: Superprestige Overijse-Vlaamse Druivencross
- November 1: Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
- November 16: Trofee Hamme-Flandriencross
- December 14: World Cup Namur
- December 23: Superprestige Heusden-Zolder
- December 26: World Cup Gavere
- December 29: Trofee Loenhout-Azencross
- December 30: Superprestige Diegem
- January 1: GP Sven Nys
Latest completed racing:
- October 14 - 19: Tour of Guangxi
- October 14 - 19: Tour of Holland
- October 19: Veneto Classic
- October 19: Japan Cup
- October 19: Chrono des Nations
- 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
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Tim Wellens, Vegard Stake Laengen and Julius Johansen extend their deals with the Emirati squad, as UAE Team Emirates-XRG readies for 2026
UAE Team Emirates–XRG is pleased to confirm a new round of rider contract extensions as the team continues to strengthen its core for the coming seasons.
Tim Wellens, 34, has signed a new deal to stay with the team until the end of 2027.
Since joining UAE Team Emirates–XRG in 2023, the Belgian has become a key presence in the team’s Classics and stage race campaigns, taking memorable victories and providing valuable experience across a wide range of terrains.
Wellens: “It was a straightforward decision for me to continue with UAE Team Emirates-XRG. I feel truly appreciated within the team, and I also appreciate everything the team does for me.
Tim Wellens wins 2025 Tour de France stage 15. Sirotti photo
“I’m honoured and proud to spend more years with the best team in the world, surrounded by the best people – not only the riders but all the staff as well. Here, I’ve found the perfect balance between supporting the team and riding for others, while still having my own opportunities.”
Vegard Stake Laengen, 36, one of the longest-serving riders in the squad, will also remain with the team through 2026.
The Norwegian joined the Emirati setup in 2017, making him one of the team’s founding members. A trusted road captain and consistent performer, Laengen has been an integral part of multiple Grand Tour victories and continues to play a vital leadership role within the group.
Julius Johansen, 26, extends his contract until 2026.
The versatile Dane has grown steadily within the team since joining, developing into a strong all-rounder capable of supporting the squad across a range of one-day and stage race profiles.
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Here’s the post from Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
After this year’s grand mountain finale on Col de la Madeleine, the decisive battle of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes will take place on the barren slopes of Mont Ventoux and on the last stage in Nice. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is already looking forward to returning to the race in which she triumphed with Team Visma | Lease a Bike in 2025.
”It’s a super nice route. It’s going to be beautiful, and I really like it. I’m already excited to work hard towards defending my title. Finishing in Nice is fantastic. It means a lot to me, since I live in the area. I know the roads extremely well, which is an advantage. Mont Ventoux is also climb I’ve done many times. It’s actually quite easy for me to train there and to get to know the climb even better,” Ferrand-Prévot said after the big presentation.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot winning the 2025 Women's Paris-Roubaix. Sirotti photo
For the second time in the race’s history, the 2026 Tour de France Femmes will start outside France, with the first two stages being held in Switzerland. A hilly opening awaits, offering opportunities for strong sprinters and puncheurs, including a finish in Lausanne, where Wout van Aert claimed victory in the men’s race in 2022.
The race will then move into France, where one of the key stages awaits on day four: a 21-kilometre individual time trial finishing in Dijon - the second-longest time trial in the race’s history, and a day Ferrand-Prévot is ready to take by the horns.
”I think it’s great to have a time trial, especially in this region. I know the area quite well, riding through the vineyards is amazing. I’m really happy about that stage and looking forward to it. I’m ready to put in the work on the time trial. It’s a chance to ride a different bike and develop yet another discipline, which is something I really enjoy,” the defending champion remarked.
Stage seven will bring the week’s main highlight as the mighty Mont Ventoux makes its appearance. The 20-kilometre climb has long been regarded as one of the toughest in cycling, and will no doubt have the climbers licking their lips in anticipation. The day after, a marathon stage of 175 kilometers will take the peloton to the rivera, where the final battle looms in the area Ferrand-Prévot trains in day in, day out.
The race concludes with a brutal circuit on the Col d’Eze outside Nice, on a short but demanding 99-kilometre stage that will decide the Tour de France Femmes before the winner of the yellow jersey is crowned on the Promenade des Anglais. All in all, almost 19.000 meters of altitude are on the menu on the course, a new record for Tour de France Femmes.
”It’s a complete Tour, and that’s the challenge. In terms of the parcours, there’s not much that’s dramatically different from last year. It’s never really flat, not even in de first stages. There’s one ultimate test with the Mont Ventoux, which will make the big separation. It’s comparable to Col de la Madeleine from this year, perhaps slightly tougher due the temperature and the wind,” team manager Rutger Tijssen reflected.
”Everything takes place in a relatively small area, with few transfers, which is nice. The time trial is back, which is a great challenge and requires a slightly different preparation compared to last year. We need to take a step forward here, also with Pauline. It’s very trainable, and Pauline has shown that she can make great strides when she sets her mind to something,” were the words of Tijssen.
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Here’s the team’s news:
After officially announcing the addition of four Italian riders, one Spanish, one French and one Argentine, Team Polti VisitMalta strengthens its 2026 roster with an athlete whose nationality carries special significance: Maltese. Equally symbolic is the timing of this announcement — during the team’s training camp in Malta, which began two days ago and will conclude the day after tomorrow. This new signing, joining national champion Aidan Buttigieg in the squad, is 26-year-old Andrea Mifsud.
After starting out as a young footballer, Mifsud decided to switch to cycling following a serious injury. Having become one of the key figures of the French Continental team Nice Métropole Côte d’Azur, last year he obtained a citizenship that meant a great deal to him — that of the archipelago where his grandparents came from, and where he spent his childhood summers falling in love with the land of his ancestors.
Andrea Mifsud racing the 2025 European Championships.
A generous and resilient cyclist, displaying the classic traits of a rider equally at ease on the road and in gravel, earlier this month he proudly carried the Maltese cross in the breakaway that animated the European Championships in France — an international showcase that deepened his emotional bond with both of his beloved nations. From today, his life also includes an Italian Professional structure with a Mediterranean soul that will allow him to be a cycling ambassador every day, not just when representing the National Team.
Mifsud: “I’m honoured to have signed with this project, that goes beyond cycling itself. This is a pivotal moment for me — a reward for my dedication, work ethic and career progress. Here I have the privilege of being inspired every day by Ivan Basso and Fran and Alberto Contador, people who know better than anyone what determination and a winning mentality mean. I feel a responsibility to set an example through my performances, that will drive me to give everything I have to contribute to the team’s goals. I’ve been impressed by the staff’s expertise and professionalism, and by working closely with them and my teammates I’m confident I’ll keep improving quickly. I can’t wait to wear this beautiful jersey!”
Carlo Micallef, CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority: “We are incredibly proud to see that through the Malta Tourism Authority’s vision and investments, Maltese talent is also getting the opportunity to shine on the international stage. The inclusion of Aidan Buttigieg and Andrea Mifsud in Team Polti VisitMalta is more than a sporting achievement — it is a testament to Malta’s growing presence in global sports and the potential of our athletes. Through strategic partnerships like this, we are not only showcasing and promoting Malta to the world but also supporting athlete development. Our islands may be small in size, but our ambition knows no bounds.”
Fran Contador, general manager Polti VisitMalta: “We’re very pleased to welcome a second Maltese rider. Having both Andrea and Aidan on our roster reflects our concrete commitment to developing cycling in their country, which believes strongly in us and in a partnership that we’ll continue to strengthen in pursuit of mutual growth. Beyond competing at the highest levels, we aim to make a positive impact on several fronts. Allowing the two best Maltese talents to race as professionals is a clear sign of the path we want to continue together.”
Ivan Basso, team principal Polti VisitMalta: “With the race calendar we’ll face next season, we’ll need riders capable both of supporting the team and seizing opportunities when they arise. We believe Andrea has valuable qualities to express and can combine teamwork with strong performances and results.”
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