Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, April 18, 2026

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Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. - Saint Augustine

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Les Woodland's book Cycling's 50 Triumphs and Tragedies: The rise and fall of bicycle racing's champions is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Current racing:

• April 14 - 18: O Gran Camiño
• April 15 - 19: Tour of Hainan

Upcoming racing:

• April 19: Amstel Gold Race
• April 20 - 24: Tour of the Alps
• April 22: La Flèche Wallonne
• April 26: Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Latest completed racing:

• April 17: De Brabantse Pijl
• April 19: Tour du Doubs race cancelled
• April 12: Paris-Roubaix
• April 6 - 11: Itzulia Basque Country (Tour of the Basque Country)
• April 7 - 10: Région Pays de la Loire Tour
• April 8: Scheldeprijs
• April 5: Ronde van Vlaanderen
• April 4: GP Miguel Indurain
• April 4: NXT Classic
• April 3: Classic Adélie de Vitré
• April 1: Dwars door Vlaanderen

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De Brabantse Pijl reports

We posted the race organizer's report with the results.

Here's the report from race winner Anders Foldager's Team Jayco AlUla:

Anders Foldager has soared to victory at De Brabanste Pijl after a stunning and powerful sprint finish in Overijse.

The Dane timed his run for the finish line to perfection as he raced away from his rivals to take the biggest win of his career.

Anders Foldager wins the 2026 Brabantse Pijl. Sirotti photo

It was touch-and-go whether or not a strong late breakaway would be able to fend off the peloton in the closing kilometres, but a powerful pull from Swiss champion Mauro Schmid eventually spelled the end for the dangerous group.

With the attackers caught inside the final two kilometres, attentions quickly turned to the sprint finish. Foldager rode smartly and bided his time while others around him moved to shut down a flurry of late attempts to escape.

As the line approached, the 24-year-old launched his devastating sprint, with nobody able to hold his wheel. The victory marks biggest of Foldager’s career and just his second as a pro as the focus now switches to the upcoming Ardennes week.

Anders Foldager:
“I knew that I had the level to do this and it was the perfect race for me, but it is by far my biggest win, so I also surprised myself a little bit. It’s a really punchy, hard race, not too long also, and an uphill finish like this is good for me.

"I was maybe a little bit too far back at the bottom of the climb. Mauro Schmid did a perfect run-in, closing down the breakaway and then I had to go really long because it opened up full from the bottom of the climb. As soon as I hit the front, there was nothing to do apart from put the head down and sprint.

"It means a lot, like I said, it is by far my biggest victory. It proves both to the team and myself that I have the level to be at the top in these races, like I hoped I could.”

Here's the Brabantse Pijl report from Team Lotto-Intermarché:

Luca Van Boven delivered a strong performance to finish 7th at today’s Brabantse Pijl, turning a toug race into a well-earned top-10 result, backed by a motivated and committed team. ”Top-10 finish was a big goal for me, so I’m really happy with this result”, Van Boven says.

From the start, the team showed they meant business: riding attentively, staying well-positioned, and approaching the race with a clear plan. As the race hit the local laps, the intensity ramped up significantly, forcing us to manage our efforts carefully over repeated climbs and constant accelerations.

The peloton late in the race. Sirotti photo

“The race was really hard and intense on the local laps. It was important for us to dose our efforts well so we could still stick to our plan”, Van Boven explained.

During the first two local laps, Jenno (Berckmoes) and Toon (Aerts) took responsibility at the front, riding strongly to keep the team in contention. Their work helped shape the race, even as it demanded a high energy cost. The key moment came in the approach to the Moskesstraat, where positioning without overextending was crucial. Sticking to the pre-race plan, Van Boven timed his effort carefully, ensuring he still had the legs for the decisive phase that followed.

Crossing the line in 7th place, Van Boven looks back highly satisfied: “This race suits me really well. I’ve already shown great things here. A top-10 finish was a big goal for me, so I’m really happy with this result.”

And here's the Brabantse Pijl report from Team Soudal Quick-Step:

For the first time in 34 years, Brabantse Pijl came down to a mass gallop, a surprising conclusion for a race where usually the winner comes after a late attack or from a small group. This year, despite numerous attacks, including one of Louis Vervaeke on the local circuit with around 70 kilometers to go, a large peloton arrived at the bottom of the S-Bocht Overijse, the climb that so many times has been decisive in the final outcome.

Team Soudal Quick-Step at the pre-race teams presentation ceremony. Sirotti photo

With seven kilometers to go, seven riders were at the front and had a lead of around 20 seconds, but the chasers worked really well together and by the time they started the last hill of the day, they managed to overhaul the attackers. Under the flamme rouge, another rider tried to go clear, only for the others to react and keep the group as one. In the sprint, Anders Foldager (Jayco-AlUla) emerged as the fastest and took the victory.

Maximilian Schachmann, a debutant at Brabantse Pijl, was our first rider home, just three places outside the top ten. For the German, who is aiming for a solid outing in the Ardennes, it’s an encouraging result ahead of Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race, an event where he finished third five years ago.

O Gran Camiño stage four reports

We posted the report from stage winner and new GC leader Adam Yates' UAE Team Emirates-XRG with the results.

Here's the report from Alessandro Pinarello's NSN Cycling Team:

Alessandro Pinarello may have relinquished the yellow jersey in the queen stage of O Gran Camiño on Friday, but the Italian’s gritty performance on Alto Cabeza de Meda means his podium chances remain intact with just one day of the Spanish race remaining.

Adam Yates wins O Gran Camiño stage four.

Pinarello finished third on the category one finishing climb, which followed on from two other ascents in the final 45 kilometers on a day that packed in 2,934 meters of elevation.

The 22-year-old sits third on GC going into Saturday’s finale, which finishes with a 3.6km climb to Monte Trega archaeological site, with a 35-second advantage over his nearest rival.

Pinarello has already impressed in stage races this season – he finished 10th in Tirreno Adriatico last month and 12th in February’s Volta ao Algarve – and his second top-three stage finish in as many days this afternoon further outlined his week-long credentials.

And here's the report from O Gran Camiño stage four second-place Jørgen Nordhagen's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:

Jørgen Nordhagen has once again shown his best form in O Gran Camiño. The 21-year-old Norwegian crossed the line second at the summit of Alto Cabeza de Meda, beaten only by Adam Yates. He remains in second place in the general classification.

Nordhagen started the gruelling fourth stage of the Spanish stage race at the same time as GC leader Alessandro Pinarello. Team Visma | Lease a Bike took control halfway through the first ascent of the Alto Cabeza de Meda and helped ensure the breakaway group was reeled in early on.

With twenty kilometres to go, Anton Schiffer and George Bennett launched an attack. The pair built up a maximum lead of thirty seconds, but were caught on the steep slopes of the second and final ascent of the Alto Cabeza de Meda. Yates accelerated here and slowly but surely pulled away from his rivals.

Jørgen Nordhagen

Nordhagen rode up at his own pace and stayed within about ten seconds for a long time. In the final kilometre, the young Norwegian conceded more and more time and fought his way to the finish. Ultimately, Nordhagen crossed the line three-quarters of a minute behind Yates. "Adam was the strongest today and deserved to win. That’s the honest story."

"I can’t blame myself for anything. On the final climb, I decided not to go full throttle straight away, because I knew I might burn myself out. I rode up at my own pace and tried to find my way into the climb. I think I can be satisfied with how I handled it."

Sports director Robert Wagner is left with a sense of pride after the penultimate stage. "Of course we wanted to win today and take the yellow jersey, but we also knew Adam would be a worthy opponent. He deserved to win today. I’m proud of the way we approached the race. We made a plan this morning and executed it from start to finish. Some of the lads are really coming into their own here. It’s fantastic to see."

With one stage remaining, Nordhagen trails Yates by 34 seconds. The Norwegian knows that anything is still possible in the final stage. "I’ve got nothing to lose tomorrow. I’m going to ride aggressively and try to make things as difficult as possible for Adam. Adam has shown himself to be very strong, so I know it will be difficult to beat him. Nevertheless, I’m going to do my absolute best to win."