
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare. - Sun Tzu
Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, 2021: The Little Cannibal Dominates is available in both Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
Upcoming racing:
Latest completed racing:
We posted the report from the race organizer with the results.
Here's the report from second-place Florian Lipowitz's Team Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe:
Stage 5 of Itzulia Basque Country delivered another demanding day in the hills around Eibar, with eight classified climbs across 176.2 kilometres. For Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe, the stage brought a strong performance from Florian Lipowitz, who finished second after an aggressive ride, while Primož Roglič remained in the fight for the overall podium and Haimar Etxeberria yet again featured in the breakaway.

Paul Seixas beats Florian Lipowitz to the finish line in stage five.
After a fast and aggressive opening, it took around 20 kilometres of attacks before a large front group of around 30 riders finally went clear. Etxeberria was part of that move, giving Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe a presence at the front, as the race settled into its rhythm on the queen stage.
The race began to change on the climb to Krabelin. As the pace increased behind, Lipowitz launched an attack that immediately forced a reaction from race leader Paul Seixas. The move quickly reduced the group of favourites, and as Lipowitz and Seixas began to bridge across riders from the break, Etxeberria was able to contribute at the front, helping his teammate maintain a strong and steady rhythm on the climb.
Lipowitz continued to test the race from there, also trying to make a difference on the descent, but the main favourites gradually came back together behind the leading riders. With the stage still wide open, more moves followed in the run-in to the final climbs, but the decisive selection came on Izua.
There, the pace rose sharply once more. As the group thinned out, only Lipowitz, Roglič and Izagirre were initially able to follow Seixas. Lipowitz then accelerated again, drawing Seixas with him and opening a gap. Roglič stayed in contention just behind as the race split further on the climb.
Before the summit, Lipowitz and Seixas were alone at the head of the race. The gap remained narrow deep into the final part of the stage, and there was still no certainty over the outcome as the two leaders headed onto the last climb and the run-in to Eibar. Even on the descent, where Seixas pushed hard, Lipowitz was able to hold the wheel and stay with him all the way to the finish.
In the final kilometre, Lipowitz tried to anticipate the sprint with an acceleration from distance, but Seixas was able to respond and came around in the closing metres to take the stage win. Lipowitz crossed the line in second after a strong ride, while Roglič finished 12th after a hard chase behind.
With one stage remaining, Lipowitz moves into second place overall, with Roglič now third on general classification.
Here’s the Itzulia Basque Country Tour stage five report from fourth-place Kevin Vauquelin’s Team INEOS Grenadiers:
Kevin Vauquelin delivered a resilient performance to secure fourth place on stage five of Itzulia Basque Country.
The stage ignited early on the opening category one climb, where the peloton split under pressure. A leading group of around 30 riders formed, with Vauquelin well represented at the front. The Frenchman remained active throughout, responding to a series of attacks as riders attempted to break clear in solo moves and small groups, though none were able to establish a decisive advantage.

Kevin Vauquelin racing in stage 8 of the 2025 Tour of Switzerland. Sirotti photo
Behind, Victor Langellotti found himself in the second part of the peloton with 75km to go as the race continued to fragment.
Sensing an opportunity, Vauquelin launched a strong acceleration as the front chasing group caught a breakaway, committing to a solo move with 70km remaining. His effort forced a reaction from behind, and he was eventually brought back with 60km to go, but crucially remained in a reduced and highly competitive front group.
The race reached its decisive phase on the category one climb of Izua, where the pace ramped up once more. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe) and Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) managed to forge clear at the front, creating the move that would ultimately shape the outcome of the stage.
Behind, Vauquelin dug deep to stay in contention, positioning himself well for the run-in to Eibar. In a strong sprint from the chasing group, he powered to fourth place on the stage, capping off an impressive and combative ride.
Earlier in the day, the team was reduced by the absence of Axel Laurance, who did not start stage five due to a saddle sore issue. We wish him a speedy recovery.
And here's the Tour of the Basque Country stage five report from Team Soudal Quick-Step:
Deemed the queen stage of this year’s edition, the fifth leg of Itzulia Basque Country had everything: eight ranked climbs – many of them boasting some incredibly steep gradients – almost 4000 vertical meters, and some technical descents. This made for a selective day of racing, one that widened the gaps between the general classification contenders.
Once again, there was a huge interest in making it in the breakaway, and after more than 50 kilometers, a sizable group managed to get away. Just like Thursday, Steff Cras and Mauri Vansevenant were in the front group for Soudal Quick-Step, helping the breakaway establish a four-minute margin. Initially, it appeared they would succeed, but a rapid increase of pace in the peloton led to the group being overhauled more than 50 kilometers from the finish.

Mauri Vansevenant finishing stage 12 of the 2024 Vuelta a España. Sirotti photo
Vansevenant did his best, making it into one of the numerous chasing groups, and once again finished the stage – won by Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) – as the highest-ranked rider of our team, moving up a place in the overall standings.
Here's the post from Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
On Sunday, the third monument of the cycling calendar, Paris–Roubaix, is on the calendar. Team Visma | Lease a Bike will line up with a strong squad for the Hell of the North. A preview with Wout van Aert, Per Strand Hagenes, and Head of Racing Grischa Niermann.
Van Aert is one of the leaders of the seven-man Team Visma | Lease a Bike selection. The 31-year-old Belgian finished fourth in the recent Tour of Flanders and hopes to carry his good form onto the cobbles of northern France. The 123rd edition of the French classic is nearly 260 kilometers long, including 55 kilometers over cobblestones.
“I still feel a huge drive heading into this race,” says Van Aert, who has already finished on the podium twice in Roubaix. “It will be my seventh participation, but this race remains special. The nervousness and unpredictability make Paris–Roubaix so beautiful. Since the Italian races, I’ve been feeling good, and I was able to carry that into the Flemish classics. Now I’m determined to seize my last opportunity for a win this spring.”

Wout van Aert on the Arenberg cobble sector in the 2025 Paris-Roubaix. Sirotti photo
Hagenes will make his third appearance in Paris–Roubaix. The 22-year-old Norwegian has already impressed this spring in Le Samyn, GP de Denain, and the E3 Saxo Classic, where he finished second. Next Sunday, he hopes to show himself again.
“My goal is to play a role in the finale,” says Hagenes. “I’ll do everything I can to stay in the front as long as possible and support Wout. I believe he can compete with the other favorites. He’s shown a lot of good things in recent weeks. In Roubaix, the race often explodes from far out nowadays, so I’m preparing for a long, tough battle.”
“Paris–Roubaix is one of those races where luck plays a role,” adds Head of Racing Niermann. “In the past weeks, it became clear who we’ll have to watch. Pogačar and Van der Poel are without a doubt the top favorites, but on this terrain the differences between riders will be smaller than in recent races. Our strength lies in the collective. Alongside Wout, Christophe Laporte and Per Strand Hagenes can also play important roles in how the race unfolds. Both have already proven in the past that they are strong in the cobbled classics. Winning Roubaix remains a big dream for the team, and we are ready to do everything we can to make that dream come true.”
Here’s the Paris-Roubaix news from Teams Team Jayco AlUla and Liv AlUla Jayco:
Team Jayco AlUla and Liv AlUla Jayco will roll into Paris-Roubaix on Sunday aiming to end the cobbled classic campaign on a high note.
After a tough Tour of Flanders, Team Jayco AlUla will be aiming to bounce back under the guidance of former Paris-Roubaix winner Mat Hayman. The bulk of the team that lined up in Antwerp will again take to the start line on the outskirts of Paris this weekend, with the seven riders hoping for more luck on the French cobbles.
The team packs plenty of experience with Australian Luke Durbridge set to start his 11th Hell of the North, Jasha Sütterlin taking on his 10th, while young-gun Bob Donaldson finished runner-up in the Espiors edition in 2024.

Luke Durbridge racing in stage 18 of the 2026 Tour de France. Sirotti photo
After crashing out of Scheldeprijs on Wednesday, Luka Mezgec will be replaced by first-year pro Hamish McKenzie.
Team Jayco AlUla:
Dries De Pooter (BEL)
Bob Donaldson (GBR)
Kell O’Brien (AUS)
Jasha Sutterlin (GER)
Luke Durbridge (AUS)
Dries De Bondt (BEL)
Hamish McKenzie (AUS)
Luke Durbridge:
“Paris-Roubaix is truly a special race, one-of-a-kind, there’s no other race I think on the calendar like this one. We do many Flanders classics that lead us up to the Tour of Flanders, but we don’t really do any races that really lead us into Roubaix.
"After getting out on the stones this week, she’s just a brutal race. It’s a race that I’ve always loved and sometimes had some good races and sometimes had some bad. I’m just really looking forward to Sunday and getting out there with the boys and the team and giving it my everything to see what will be.
"It’s obviously great to have Mat Hayman in the car, a previous winner, and also Tristan Hoffman, who has also been right up there many times, so we’ve got great experience here and we’re very lucky to have that as well.”
Mat Hayman (Sport Director – Team Jayco AlUla):
“We finished the recon yesterday and the guys are really motivated and super excited. This race brings the cobbled classics to a bit of an end and everyone knows they’ve got one last chance to roll the dice, and this is a big one to go after a result.
"We’ve got a mixture of experience and some youth in the team and we’re looking forward to a great race on Sunday. It’s going to be a quick one and the guys are ready, it’s a special race for us, even for the old boys in the team car!”
Liv AlUla Jayco will take on Roubaix with a slightly altered squad as Noä Jansen and Georgia Baker come into the mix to complete the six-rider squad.
The experienced Jeanne Korevaar has started each of the last three editions and is the only rider in the team to have raced the inaugural edition back in 2021. Ruby Roseman-Gannon returns after last taking on the Queen of the Classic in 2022, while Jansen and Australian champion Mackenzie Coupland will get their first taste in 2026.
Liv AlUla Jayco:
Jeanne Korevaar (NED)
Noä Jansen (NED)
Quinty Ton (NED)
Ruby Roseman-Gannon (AUS)
Mackenzie Coupland (AUS)
Georgia Baker (AUS)
Jeanne Korevaar:
“Paris-Roubaix is of course a super iconic race for all the cobble sectors. This makes it a super hard race from start all the way to the finish, and a real fight for the body. The finish line in the velodrome is quite nostalgic and a true prospect.”
Wim Stroetinga (Sport Director – Liv AlUla Jayco):
“Paris-Roubaix is a great race, and it is one that can go in many different directions. As outsiders, you can suddenly find yourself racing for the win.
"We are very strong in depth, which is a big advantage in this kind of race. If someone has bad luck, we usually still have another rider there. It’s difficult to predict, but it is definitely a race where we can perform very well.”
And here’s the Paris-Roubaix news from Huub Artz’s and Julie Brouwers’ Team Lotto-Intermarché:
With dust, cobbles and history awaiting, our Intermarché-Lotto WorldTour and Ladies team head into the ‘Hell of the Nord’ full of determination. “After many recons, I feel prepared for the mythical cobbles”, Huub Artz says.
Paris-Roubaix is more than a race - it’s a battle against the terrain, constantly testing the limits of endurance. It’s a race where anything can happen. With two committed squads, we are ready to embrace the chaos and give it our all.

Arnaud De lie (shown at the start of 2025 Tour de France stage 17) will be on the start line for Paris-Roubaix.
Lining up for the men’s race are Toon Aerts, Huub Artz, Cedric Beullens, Arnaud De Lie, Joshua Giddings, Matys Grisel, and Jonas Rutsch.
From the opening kilometers to the decisive cobbled sectors, the team aims to stay sharp and united, ready to anticipate moves and seize opportunities. With the unpredictable nature of Paris-Roubaix, adaptability and strength will be key.
Huub Artz shares his excitement ahead of the race: "Paris-Roubaix is the most special one day race of the year for me. It’s a race that I have been looking forward to for a very long time. After many recons, I feel prepared for the mythical cobbles. If I have a good day, I’m convinced that I will be able to make it into the finale with a select group of riders. I hope to play an important role for the team, hopefully being paid off by a nice result!"
Embracing the challenge
Our Intermarché-Lotto Ladies line-up, consisting of: Ilken Seynaeve, Julie Brouwers, Katrijn De Clercq, Lea Lin Teutenberg, Linda Riedmann and Sterre Vervloet, heads into Paris-Roubaix with determination.
For this young and driven group, the race is a chance to test themselves against one of the toughest courses in the sport. The focus will be on racing together, supporting each other through the demanding sectors, and making the most of every opportunity.
For Julie Brouwers, Paris-Roubaix will be her first race with our team. "A while ago, Grace asked me if I would like to ride Paris-Roubaix. At that moment I was still enjoying some time off the bike after my cyclocross season had ended. But I didn’t hesitate a second! Maybe it’s a bit early for me, since I could only train for 4 weeks properly to prepare myself. But I am extremely motivated and eager to start the iconic Paris-Roubaix race. We’ll see what it brings but I am really looking forward to all the experience that I will gain”, Brouwers looks ahead motivated.