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Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, October 28, 2025

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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia

Thanks to television, for the first time the young are seeing history made before it is censored by their elders. - Margaret Mead

Plato's dialogue Apology is available in both Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Upcoming racing:

• 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 26: Superprestige Overijse-Vlaamse Druivencross
• 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

Here’s the team’s post:

A year that defined who we are: resilient, united, and always moving forward – even in the face of adversity. Across every program, every race 2025 was a season built on belief and teamwork. From early triumphs to late-season grit, Team Picnic PostNL continued to grow together. This was our 2025 season.

Part 1: The Men’s program
The 2025 season began the way every team dreams of: with a win. On January 30th, Tobias Lund Andresen sprinted to victory at the Surf Coast Classic, capping off a dominant team performance. From the flag drop, Team Picnic PostNL were in control — sharp in the wind, united in the finale, and precise in the lead-out. “We’ve been working hard all week, and I really felt the full support of the team,” said Lund Andresen at the finish. “To start the season like this — it’s just perfect.”

Tobias Lund Andresen wins the 2025 Surf Coast Classic.

But cycling rarely tells a simple story. In the months that followed, the team faced its share of setbacks to say the least. Romain Bardet and Max Poole were both sidelined by injury on the eve of their spring stage races (Paris-Nice and Tirreno Adriatico), while Fabio Jakobsen’s season was abruptly halted due to iliac-artery flow limitations — a diagnosis that required a long, uncertain recovery. The cobbled classics brought more bad luck, with serious crashes in Ronde van Vlaanderen taking John Degenkolb, Tim Naberman and Alex Edmondson out of action for extended periods.

Still, through the adversity, the team kept pushing. In Nokere Koerse, Nils Eekhoff marked a triumphant return from his own crash earlier in the year at AlUla Tour — a win that spoke volumes about resilience and teamwork. Then came the Giro d’Italia, the final Grand Tour for Bardet, and one of the team’s standout moments of the season. On stage four, Casper van Uden stormed to victory after a perfectly executed lead-out from the team. It was a win born from precision and trust, and the joy at the finish said it all. Van Uden later added another podium and Bardet himself rode to three top ten finishes — including a memorable second place — while Max Poole impressed in his first Grand Tour GC attempt, finishing 11th overall.

Momentum grew. In June, Oscar Onley lit up the Tour de Suisse, taking a brilliant stage win and five podiums across the week to secure third overall. Confidence was back — and it carried straight into July.

The Tour de France 2025 began as a race for stage wins, at least to the outside world, but it quickly became something more. As Onley climbed with the best, belief grew further within the team. Week after week, the young Brit proved he belonged with the sport’s elite. Supported by a squad built largely from within — six of the eight riders having graduated from the Team Picnic PostNL Development program — Onley rode to an incredible fourth place overall in Paris. Along the way, Frank van den Broek, Pavel Bittner and Lund Andresen all nearly won a stage, and the team notched 13 top ten results in total. From sprinting in Lille to surviving the summit finishes of Col de la Loze, the Tour became a symbol of what this team stands for: courage, collective belief, and the power of growing together.

The final months of the year brought yet more challenges though — Poole was sidelined with Epstein-Barr virus, and Jakobsen’s comeback was again cut short by a broken collarbone at the Renewi Tour. Yet even in the closing weeks, there were reasons to smile: long-time absentee and 2023 revelation Matt Dinham pinned on numbers once more after a nearly two season hiatus and Jakobsen returned to racing at the Tour of Holland. On the road, Bittner impressed at Renewi Tour and in the Vuelta a España the team raced aggressively, earning top ten stage finishes with Kevin Vermaerke and Bjorn Koerdt. And as autumn arrived, the two-striped jerseys were once again a fixture at the front of the peloton. In the final classics of the season, Lund Andresen and Eekhoff both powered onto the podium — a fitting reminder of the fighting spirit that defined the team’s year.

As the dust settles on 2025, the win numbers tell one story. But we mustn’t forget the strength this team has shown as we’ve navigated lots of bad luck, injuries to key finishers and close calls together. Despite this, the Men’s program has had a total of 33 second and third place results. We grew stronger as a unit, riders stepped up, and the foundations were laid for the seasons ahead.

Part 2: The Women’s program
Four victories, two national champions, and one unforgettable first win; 2025 was a season of breakthroughs for the Women’s program of Team Picnic PostNL.

The team’s early season was marked by strong teamwork and immediate reward. In February, Juliana Londoño powered to victory at the Colombian National Championships, claiming the road title in dominant style. It was a powerful start to the year and a moment of pride for the entire team.

A few months later came another unforgettable highlight: in May, Mara Roldan took her first professional victory on Stage 2 of the women’s Tour of Britain. After a relentless race and a gutsy solo attack on the final climb to Saltburn-by-the-Sea, the 21-year-old Canadian held off the chasers to win alone — a moment of pure joy and belief, shared by the entire team.  Just one day later, the mood shifted completely. A crash ended Roldan’s season with a fractured femur — a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in this sport. But even in recovery, her fighting spirit continues to inspire.

The team kept pushing forward. In June, Franziska Koch stormed to the German national road title with a perfectly timed solo move. In July, Charlotte Kool powered to victory in Stage one of the Baloise Ladies Tour and at the Tour de France Femmes Nienke Vinke claimed the white jersey for Best Young Rider.

Throughout the season, riders like Megan Jastrab, Pfeiffer Georgi, Rachele Barbieri and Josie Nelson all delivered podium finishes across Europe. While youngster Eleonora Ciabocco had an incredibly strong and consistent season; further taking a step in her development that showcased glimpses of where her talents lie in the future.

As the season draws to a close, the team bids farewell to a few long-standing riders, who we wish the best of luck — and welcomes fresh energy in the form of new talents, as the Women’s Program undergoes a shift, building for the years to come.

Part 3: The Development Program
For our Development program, 2025 was a season that reflected what this team stands for: teamwork and progress. There were standout victories — Johan Dorussen taking a sprint win in the Ronde van de Achterhoek, and Vincent Bodet powering to triumph in the Grand Prix de Honnelles — both the result of smart teamwork and courageous racing. But beyond the wins, it was a year defined by steady improvement, working on the basics and doing it all together.

Across races like the Tour du Rwanda, Giro d’Italia Next Gen and Alpes Isères Tour, the riders fought their way into top tens and general classification battles, showing how far they’ve come. Step by step, they’ve built the foundations, learning to race together, to read the peloton, to adapt and recover, and to turn potential into performance.

The Development program continues to be a pipeline for talent and in 2026 Oliver Peace makes the step up to the Men’s program – the 23rd rider to do so. It’s the perfect reflection of what that squad is all about: racing to learn, learning to grow, and growing to one day compete at the highest level of the sport.

One Team, One Season
From the Men’s, Women’s and Development programs alike, 2025 was a year of growth, resilience and teamwork. From breakthrough victories to inspiring comebacks and powerful collective rides, every result told the same story — a team that continues to evolve together, step by step. As we close the chapter on this season, one thing is clear: the ambition burns brighter than ever. The lessons learned, the bonds built, and the progress made will fuel everything that comes next.

Keep Challenging, always.

Here’s the team’s news:

Following the announcement in the middle of the year of its intention to acquire a majority stake in the UCI WorldTour Team Lidl-Trek, the two partners, Lidl and Trek Bicycle, now announce the successful conclusion of the contract. The expansion of this joint partnership, in which Trek Bicycle will retain a significant stake, contributes to achieving the long-term goal of becoming the most successful team in international road cycling, underpinned by a shared culture and firm values.

Lidl Trek rider Mattias Skjelmose after winning the Amstel Gold Race. Sirotti photo

Last Friday (October 24, 2025), the new ownership structure was officially signed, just in time for the conclusion of the annual Lidl-Trek October Camp. For the first time, the team camp took place at the Lidl Germany headquarters in Bad Wimpfen. Over 160 Lidl-Trek employees, including the riders of the men’s, women’s, and development teams, gathered there for the official start of the 2026 season preparations.

The decision to host the event at the company’s headquarters underscores the deep connection of the Lidl-Trek team to #teamlidl. Furthermore, a part of the Lidl Germany headquarters in Bad Wimpfen will serve as the team’s new home in the future, symbolizing a commitment to shared infrastructure. A new logistics center, which will include the team’s organization, and a dedicated performance area are planned. The latter is intended to support the Lidl-Trek team in achieving its own goals in the long term, while at the same time increasing its attractiveness to young, up-and-coming talent.

The team camp, which ran from October 20-24, is the first gathering for Lidl-Trek’s new roster, including athletes who will represent the team for the first time in January. Key activities focused on laying the foundation for an ambitious 2026 season.

Roger Gierhart, Vice President of Trek Bicycle, said: “Expanding the partnership between Trek and Lidl is the perfect way to cap off an incredible season on the road for Lidl-Trek. Together, we have the resources, tools and expertise to take this team to the very top of the sport.”

The new ownership structure ensures the stability and the necessary resources to recruit  and retain top talent, to invest in a state-of-the-art performance center and to use the technological expertise of Schwarz Digits, the digital powerhouse of the Schwarz Group.

Thomas Rohregger, Head of Brand Partnerships and Head of Cycling at Lidl, said: “The signing of this contract marks a monumental moment for Lidl-Trek. We approached this project with immense respect for the legacy that Lidl-Trek has built, and we are now formally and jointly committing to the next chapter. The partnership is based on the strategic goal of transferring Lidl’s organizational excellence to Lidl-Trek and combining the expertise of both co-owners to achieve our ambitious goals. The combined resources and expertise are intended to accelerate the team’s performance development in the coming seasons.”

Trek Bicycle remains a committed co-owner and the technical partner, continuing its legacy of innovation and deep connection to the sport. The team will continue to race with the same culture, spirit, and dedication that fans around the world have come to know and love.

Here’s the news from Team XDS Astana:

Kazakh rider Anton Kuzmin has extended his contract with the UCI WorldTour team XDS Astana Team for one more season (2026).

The 28-year-old rider from Kazakhstan is well known as a strong and reliable domestique who always supports the team’s leaders. This year, Kuzmin performed at a high level in the Giro d’Italia, where he supported Lorenzo Fortunato, as well as in the Tour of Qinghai Lake, helping Henok Mulubrhan take the overall victory, and in the Tour de Langkawi and Tour of Taihu Lake, where XDS Astana Team achieved numerous wins.

Anton Kuzmin

Riding for the Kazakhstan National Team, Anton Kuzmin became Asian Champion in the mixed relay and won two medals at the National Championships – silver in the road race and bronze in the time trial.

“This season was quite challenging for our team, but also very successful, and I’m happy that I could contribute to our overall achievements. It was my first year riding a Grand Tour – I made my debut at the Giro d’Italia. It wasn’t easy, but I’m proud I completed the race and helped my teammates as much as I could. The second half of the season, starting from the National Championships, went very well – our leaders won many races, and I gave my best to help the team stay at the front and fight for victories. I’m glad to continue with XDS Astana Team, and next season I’ll keep giving my all both for the team and for the Kazakhstan National Team”, – said Anton Kuzmin.

“Anton had a strong second part of the season; he was one of the key helpers for our leaders in the Asian races, where we achieved great results. He also completed his first Giro, which I believe will give him a big step forward for the future. Every team needs strong leaders, but victories are impossible without reliable teammates. Anton Kuzmin is exactly such a rider, and I’m happy that we’ve extended his contract”, – said Alexandr Vinokurov, General Manager of XDS Astana Team.

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary