Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday August 21, 2026
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Current racing:
- August 18 - 21: Tour du Limousin-Périgord
- August 19 - 23: Renewi Tour
Upcoming racing:
- August 22 - Sept 13: Vuelta a España
- August 25 - 28: Tour Poitou-Charentes en Nouvelle Aquitaine
Latest completed racing:
- August 13 - 18: Arctic Race of Norway
- August 16: Cyclassics Hamburg
- August 16: La Polynormande
- 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
We posted the report from Tim Merlier's Team Soudal Quick Step with the results.
Here's the Renewi Tour report from Matteo Milan's Team Groupama-FDJ United:
Although the first two stages of the Renewi Tour were far from straightforward on Wednesday and Thursday, both ultimately came down to a bunch sprint. In the opening stage, Thibaud Gruel mixed it up with the fast men and secured 14th place, while his Italian teammate Matteo Milan claimed a very strong fourth place in the second round. It was his second WorldTour top-five finish of the season. The peloton is now about to face the traditional bergs stage.
Jasper Philipsen wins the Renewi Tour's second stage.
For the first time since April, the WorldTour calendar brought the riders back to Belgium on Wednesday for the 2026 edition of the Renewi Tour. The action got underway around Diest, with a 191-kilometre route featuring no major climbs but made tougher by the weather conditions. “It was by no means an easy day because of the bad weather,” confirmed Frédéric Guesdon. “The guys hadn’t ridden in the rain for a long time, and on these narrow roads, with cobbled sections and a climb to tackle several times, it wasn’t easy to find their bearings again. We struggled a little to be present as a team throughout the day, and Matteo wasn’t able to be there for the final sprint.”
The sprint almost failed to happen, in fact, as the day’s five-man breakaway held off the peloton until the final two kilometres. Thibaud Gruel eventually fought his way into the bunch sprint, finishing 14th. “He was in the mix, but he came up against riders who were stronger than him in the sprint,” Frédéric continued. “This was perhaps the stage that suited us least this week, but we avoided any crashes and were still on track in the overall classification, so it remained a decent day.”
After this demanding opening stage, Thibaud Gruel, Axel Huens, Clément Russo, Johan Jacobs and Kevin Geniets were still in the same time as the race leader Jonathan Milan, excluding time bonuses. On paper, the second stage to Ardooie presented even fewer obstacles than the first, with less than 500 metres of elevation gain. Once again, however, the race proved tougher than expected. “Everyone was nervous because we were starting by the coast and there was a lot of wind,” Frédéric explained. “On top of that, the start was delayed because of a crash during the neutralized section. The stage was shortened to 155 kilometres, and it turned into quite a difficult day because of the wind and all the changes of direction.”
Three riders went clear during the opening part of the race, before a major mass crash caused some confusion with around 70 kilometres remaining. “It was a pretty exhausting stage mentally,” Frédéric admitted. “There was a real battle between the teams without sprinters and those who had one. With the wind and the fatigue from the previous day, some teams thought they could put the sprinter teams under pressure. That made for a very dynamic race all the way until 20 kilometres from the finish, when the sprinter teams finally won that battle.”
Despite the constant attacks, with Groupama-FDJ United remaining vigilant throughout, the day ultimately ended in a sprint involving around 100 riders. “Johan and Clément were there to position Matteo as well as possible, and they did a very good job,” said Frédéric. “After that, Matteo didn’t really make any mistakes. He timed his move back into position well and got onto Philipsen’s wheel just as he launched his sprint. He finished fourth, beaten by stronger riders and just a few centimeters short of third place.” Active in the closing metres, the Italian powered his way to his second WorldTour top-five finish of the season, following his third place at the UAE Tour. “It’s even more satisfying because the field of sprinters here is very strong,” Frédéric said. “It’s a good result for him. Physically, he still has room for improvement, but he is already capable of competing at the highest level. It’s a good sign for what’s to come.”
Sprint opportunities are likely to be limited during the remainder of the Renewi Tour, which enters the heart of the race on Friday with the bergs stage, including the iconic Muur van Geraardsbergen. “That is normally where the overall classification is decided, but it could be very open, and we’ll have to remain vigilant during the first part of the race, make sure we don’t miss the right move and race smartly,” Frédéric concluded. “I’m quite optimistic because we have highly motivated and fit riders like Thibaud and Axel, who can aim for a very good result both on the stage and in the overall classification.”
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Here's the Renewi Tour report from Niklas Behrens' Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Team Visma | Lease a Bike once again opted for the offensive in the second stage of the Renewi Tour. Niklas Behrens was part of the early breakaway, but was caught well before the finish. Jasper Philipsen sprinted to victory in Ardooie.
After Timo Kielich animated the opening stage of the Belgian stage race, Behrens went on the attack today. The German was part of a breakaway alongside Mikkel Bjerg and Michiel Lambrecht, but the gap never grew beyond a minute and a half. The strong winds played a major role, keeping the pace high in the peloton and everyone alert to the possibility of echelons.
With around 80 kilometers to go, Behrens and his breakaway companions were caught, and a nervous peloton entered the finale. Filippo Fiorelli picked up a bonus second at the Green Kilometer and was guided toward the front by his teammates in the closing stages. The Italian was boxed in, however, and ultimately finished eleventh.
Niklas Behrens in an undated photo.
"It was a chaotic day", sports director Marc Reef reflected. "Because of a slippery railroad crossing on the course, the race was temporarily neutralized. Shortly after the official restart, Niklas rode away together with Mikkel Bjerg and Michiel Lambrecht. They were caught on the local circuits as the pressure in the peloton increased because of the wind."
"In the finale, the guys tried to position Filippo for the sprint, but it didn’t quite work out. Unfortunately, Filippo got boxed in and wasn’t able to compete for the top spots", Reef said. He was nevertheless pleased to see an aggressive team. "We tried to get involved in the race in several ways and made sure we were represented at the front. Tomorrow, the toughest stage awaits through the Flemish Ardennes. We hope to go for a strong result with Owain and Filippo."
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
Oscar Onley will lead a versatile, balanced Netcompany INEOS squad at the 2026 La Vuelta a España which gets underway in Monaco on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Scot will be supported by a strong and experienced group featuring Carlos Rodríguez, Jack Haig, Lucas Hamilton and La Vuelta debutant Embret Svestad-Bårdseng.
Fast finisher Axel Laurance will also make his race debut, alongside Ben Turner, who claimed his maiden Grand Tour stage victory at La Vuelta in 2025.
Time trial specialist Josh Tarling completes the line-up, returning to the race after making his debut in 2024 and recently completing his first Tour de France.
Geraint Thomas, Director of Racing, said: “La Vuelta is a big opportunity for us to finish the Grand Tour season strongly. I’m confident in the team we’re taking and their ability to adapt to whatever the race throws at us over the next three weeks. It’ll be a tough race, because La Vuelta always is, but the team is united and looking forward to taking it on.
Oscar Onley on his way to start the first stage of the 2025 Tour of Switzerland. Sirotti photo
“This is Oscar's first Grand Tour riding for us and he is ambitious, excited and wants to get racing. He has had some setbacks this season, but his win in Burgos showed that he has recovered well and has good legs. We know what he is capable of so we are giving him the freedom to just go and race, and enjoy it.
“It also goes without saying that, as a Team, we all fully support Josh in his decision to take part in the race.
“Overall, we've made positive strides forward this year. There have been ups and downs as there always are, but the Vuelta is an opportunity to continue to build on the progress we have made over the whole season.”
Oscar Onley said: “I’m really excited to be lining up for La Vuelta and my first Grand Tour with the team. We’ve got a good mix of riders giving us a lot of opportunities throughout the race. Personally I’m feeling really good just now and looking forward to testing myself in the coming weeks!”
The Netcompany INEOS roster is:
Jack Haig, 32, Australia. A proven Grand Tour performer, Haig finished third overall at La Vuelta a España in 2021 and brings racing and climbing experience to the group.
Lucas Hamilton, 30, Australia. A rider who excels on climbs as well as flat stages, Hamilton’s all-round ability and experience across three weeks of racing will be invaluable.
Axel Laurance, 25, France. A versatile and combative racer, Laurance is capable of animating breakaways and playing a key role for the team on the hillier stages.
Oscar Onley, 23, Great Britain. One of the most exciting young climbers in the sport, Onley took his first win in Netcompany INEOS colours at the Vuelta a Burgos and arrives in Monaco ready to lead a Grand Tour team for the first time.
Carlos Rodríguez, 25, Spain. A rider with genuine Grand Tour pedigree, Rodriguez will be one to watch in the mountains as he looks to make his mark on home roads at La Vuelta a España.
Embret Svestad-Bårdseng, 23, Norway. A gifted young climber signed for his GC potential, Svestad-Bårdseng brings fresh legs to his first Vuelta a España having already ridden the Giro d’Italia this year.
Ben Turner, 27, Great Britain. A powerful and versatile rider, Turner adds strength on the flatter stages and in crosswinds.
Joshua Tarling, 22, Great Britain. One of the most powerful time triallists in the world and a former European and national champion against the clock, Tarling adds firepower for the individual time trial and support across the mountains.
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Here’s the team’s news:
Steffen De Schuyteneer has chosen to continue in the familiar environment of Lotto-Intermarché for the coming years. The 21-year-old Belgian has extended his contract until the end of 2029, continuing a journey that began within the team’s development structure.
This season, De Schuyteneer once again confirmed his potential with several strong performances in the spring. He recorded six top-ten finishes, including an impressive second place at the GP Marseillaise and fourth place at the Bredene Koksijde Classic. “I’m very happy to be able to extend my contract with the team until 2029,” he says. “It feels like the right environment and I feel great here. I joined the team as a first-year U23 rider and have been able to take some very nice steps forward since then. That is a very positive sign for me and shows that I’m in the right place here.”
Steffen De Schuyteneer
One of his next major challenges awaits him soon in Spain. De Schuyteneer will make his debut in the Vuelta a España, giving him his first opportunity to race at the highest level for three weeks. “I’m very happy to get this opportunity. I’m looking forward to everything you experience over three weeks like that, but of course also to the sprint opportunities that will come. It will be a great experience and I hope to get as much out of it as possible.”
De Schuyteneer also knows exactly where he wants to improve further in the coming years. “Above all, I want to keep developing and continue learning, especially in the sprints and the classics. I believe Lotto-Intermarché is the right environment for me to continue growing in those areas.”
Kurt Van de Wouwer, Sports manager Lotto-Intermarché: “Steffen has made great progress within our structure over the past few years. He has speed and also the qualities to hold his own in demanding races. His performances in the spring show that he has a lot of potential, but we will have to continue working hard together to further develop those qualities. The Vuelta will therefore be an important step in his career to build his engine, and we are convinced that he can make further significant progress in the coming years. That is why we are delighted that we can continue building his future together until 2029.”
Jean-François Bourlart, General manager Lotto-Intermarché: “Steffen is a rider who fits perfectly into our vision for talent development. By now, we know his qualities and personality inside out and strongly believe in his potential. It is therefore great that we can continue this journey together until 2029.”