Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, August, 14, 2026
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Bill & Carol McGann’s book The Story of the Tour de France, 2022: The Fastest Tour Ever is available in both Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- August 13 - 18: Arctic Race of Norway
Upcoming racing:
- August 16: Cyclassics Hamburg
- August 16: La Polynormande
- August 18 - 21: Tour du Limousin-Périgord
- August 19 - 23: Renewi Tour
- August 22 - Sept 13: Vuelta a España
Latest completed racing:
- August 3 - 9: Tour of Poland
- August 4 - 8: Vuelta a Burgos
- July 29 - August 2: Tour of Denmark
- August 2: Circuito de Getxo
- August 1: Clasica San Sebastian
- July 28 - 30: Tour de l'Ain
- July 4 - 26: Tour de France
- July 26: Vuelta a Castilla y Leon
- July 8 - 12: Tour of Austria
- June 24 - 28: National Championshps
- June 17 - 21: Tour de Suisse
- June 17 - 21: Baloise Belgium Tour
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Here’s the team’s news:
Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe strengthens its roster with the signing of Georg Steinhauser. The 24-year-old signed a multi-year contract and will join the German UCI WorldTeam from next season onwards.
Georg Steinhauser has spent his WorldTour career to date with EF Education – EasyPost. He will now return to his home country to begin the next chapter of his career with Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe. There, he will reunite with Florian Lipowitz after the pair raced ogether for two years before either rider turned professional.
Georg Steinhauser after 2024 Giro d'Italia stage 17. Sirotti photo
This season, Georg Steinhauser once again underlined his qualities. Third place overall and the White Jersey at Paris–Nice demonstrated his versatility. The attacking climber attracted attention with his spectacular solo stage victory at the 2024 Giro d’Italia and has since established himself as one of Germany’s most exciting riders.
“Georg combines climbing ability, race intelligence and an attacking mindset. He has earned his success through hard work over the past few years, and we believe he is still far from reaching his full potential. Together, we want to continue supporting his development and provide the best possible environment for him to take the next step in his career,” says Zak Dempster, Chief of Sports at Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe.
Georg Steinhauser says: “I am really excited about the next years with Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe! When I was young, I was always a fan of this team and have been impressed by how they kept reaching one goal after another. Joining a German team with a very professional and international approach will certainly be a good platform for me to progress. I hope to be able to add to the team’s success with my aggressive style, but also in a strong support role. I’m ready to create lasting memories in the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe kit!”
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The team posted this:
One of the most open one-day races of the calendar, an event that suits both the sprinters and the attackers, the ADAC Cyclassics is back this Sunday. Starting in Buxtehude and running through the districts of Harburg and Pinneberg into the center of Hamburg - the city that co-founded the Hanseatic League in the 12th century - this 29th edition will once again revolve around the famous Waseberg climb.
Just 700 meters in length but with slopes that reach 16%, it’s the ideal terrain for those who are determined to drop the sprinters and make it to the finish alone or together with a small group. The last of these five ascents comes just 16 kilometers from the line, meaning that the attackers have a solid chance of going all the way to the line, but at the same time, giving the chasers the opportunity to come back and fight for victory on the famous Mönckebergstraße.
Last year, at his debut here, Paul Magnier finished a solid third, and the Frenchman will look to be again among the key players in Hamburg, where he will be supported by a strong Soudal Quick-Step team consisting of Ayco Bastiaens, Yves Lampaert, Andrea Raccagni, Jasper Stuyven, Fabio Van den Bossche, and Dries Van Gestel.
Just after the 2025 edition: Jasper Philipsen (4th) & Paul Magnier (3rd). Sirotti photo
“The goal is to do better than last year in what will be a nervous race on the local laps. Waseberg isn’t really hard, but being close to the finish and with some tailwind and rain predicted for Sunday, it won’t be easy to bring back the attackers. Despite this, we are confident in our chances of getting a good result”, said sports director Iljo Keisse.
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We posted the race organizer's report with the results.
Here's the report from stage winner Giovanni Lonardi's Team Polti-VisitMalta:
Team Polti VisitMalta’s debut at the Arctic Race of Norway, and it’s an immediate win. The first of the season for Giovanni Lonardi, the ninth of his career (the fifth with Ivan Basso and the Contador brothers’ ProTeam) and the squad’s fifth victory of 2026!
The world’s northernmost race opened with a flat course: a five-man breakaway was kept under control by the peloton, which swept it up with surgical precision three kilometres from the finish. There, the Polti VisitMalta lead-out train went to work with equal precision: captain Maestri delivered his sprinter to perfection, riding at the front while shielded behind a Uno-X rider.
Giovanni Lonardi wins stage one.
When the moment came to leave the wheel and launch his own sprint, Lonardi chose the left side of the road — the clearest line — to unleash his power and his roar of joy: “I’m absolutely delighted, I’ve been chasing a win all year and getting it is a real release! My teammates, every single one who pulled, did an exceptional job and I’m thrilled to have made the most of it. I had come very close to the podium in Denmark, today the form was there to win and tomorrow there’s a stage where I can try again…”
Sports director Francesco Gavazzi: “A day to remember. Maybe we don’t win often, but when we do we do it in style. The guys worked impeccably, as they often do, and in the finale Mirco Maestri and Andrea Pietrobon were extraordinary. As for our Lona, he just had to believe in himself and eventually the right burst would come. We started with a bang and we’ll keep adding meaning to this trip.”