BikeRaceInfo: Current and historical race results, plus interviews, bikes, travel, and cycling historyBikeRaceInfo: Current and historical race results, plus interviews, bikes, travel, and cycling history
Search our site:
Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Sign up for our Email Newsletter

Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2025 Tour de France | 2025 Giro d'Italia

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. - Confucius


TDF volume 1

Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, Vol 1: 1903 - 1975 is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Current racing:

Upcoming racing:

Latest completed racing:


Tour of Oman stage three reports

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

Here's the report from stage winner and new GC leader Mauro Schmid's Team Jayco-AlUla:

Mauro Schmid claimed his second victory in the space of a week, storming to the win on stage three of the Tour of Oman and taking first place in the overall standings as well.

The Swiss champion capitalised on a huge effort from his Team Jayco AlUla teammate Paul Double up the final climb, using his powerful finish to overwhelm his rivals on the tough gradients of Eastern Mountain.

Mauro Schmid wins Tour of Oman stage three. ASO photo

Stage three featured a long breakaway of six attackers, who were caught only in the final kilometres of the race. The finale was further complicated by two crashes in the bunch, the last of which happened close to the foot of the key climb, but fortunately both Schmid and Double avoided them.

The British rider played a decisive role on the final steep climb leading to the finish line, first closing in on an attack from Nairo Quintana and then paving the way for the Zurich rider’s sprint. His final burst surprised the few riders still following him, and Schmid was alone at the difficult East Mountain finish line.

With two stages remaining, one of which is the formidable Green Mountain, Schmid holds a four-second lead in the overall classification.

Mauro Schmid:
“This victory is for the team; without the help of my teammates, I couldn’t have won. It was a much tougher race than I thought, with a strong and well-organized breakaway. The team’s work was crucial and they protected me very well in the final part of the race. I was also very lucky to avoid two crashes in the finale, and then on the final climb, Paul was superb.”

Paul Double:
“We worked all day, first to control the breakaway and then to narrow the gap on the final climb. My job was to set the pace for Mauro and try to close in on Quintana, who had attacked in the finale. It goes without saying that Mauro is in great shape, and we’ll all work hard to try and secure the overall victory.”

Valerio Piva (Sport Director):
“The finale suited Mauro’s characteristics well, so we controlled the race all day, being careful not to give the six attackers too much of an advantage. We did a good job of keeping calm and making selections on the final climb. Mauro did the rest and demonstrated once again that he is a rider of great strength and talent.”

find us on Facebook See our youtube channel

The Story of the Tour de France, vol.2 South Salem Cycleworks frames Melanoma: It Started With a Freckle The Story of the Giro d’Italia, vol.2 Shade Vise sunglass holder Paris-Roubaix: The Inside Store Advertise with us!


Content continues below the ads

The Story of the Tour de France, vol.1 South Salem Cycleworks frames Melanoma: It Started With a Freckle

Here's the Tour of Oman stage three report from Team Groupama-FDJ United:

Without its strongest cards for the general classification, the Groupama-FDJ United cycling team tried to make its mark in a different way on Monday, as the first summit finish of the Tour of Oman was on the menu. In this third stage, Quentin Pacher joined the day’s breakaway before being reeled back in the final hour of racing. At the top of Eastern Mountain, Rémy Rochas took 25th place.

Already down to six riders after the withdrawal of Brieuc Rolland on Sunday morning, the Groupama-FDJ cycling team set off, as expected, with only five men on Monday for the first decisive stage of the Tour of Oman. After suffering a heavy crash towards Yitti Hills twenty-four hours earlier, Josh Kench couldn’t start due to a broken rib. As a result, the French squad had to change its approach.

“There was a possibility that a strong breakaway could go far today, so we focused on that goal while trying not to get caught out at the start,” explained Thierry Bricaud. “The guys did that very well, because there were a lot of attacks right from the beginning, twenty-three riders got away and we had Thibaud and Quentin there. A bit later, seven riders came out of that breakaway, with Quentin.” At the front, the French puncheur was joined by Alex Baudin, Rui Oliveira, Jensen Plowright, and also the previous day’s winner and overall leader, Baptiste Veistroffer.

Quentin Pacher before the start of 2025 Tour Down Under stage four. Sirotti photo

Their lead almost reached four minutes at one point but was halved as they entered the final fifty kilometres. Shortly afterwards, Quentin Pacher was forced to drop back. “They didn’t hold anything back at the front, it was full gas,” said Thierry. “Towards the end, Quentin was a bit cooked. Still, it’s a day that will be useful for him going forward.”

The last members of the breakaway managed to hold off the peloton until the first slopes of the final climb of Eastern Mountain (3.4 km at 8%). “As expected, it came down to that last climb for the general classification,” Thierry added. “The goal was for Rémy and Thibaud to ride the climb properly to test themselves and put in some effort. Before that, there were several crashes in the final because of the road conditions. The guys got through them but were caught behind the splits and came back just before the climb. Rémy hung on at the foot, but he didn’t have the legs to compete with the very best.” The French climber reached the finish line just over a minute behind the winner, Mauro Schmid. On Tuesday, the peloton will return to completely flat terrain for the second bunch sprint of the race.


Content continues below the ads

The Story of the Giro d’Italia, vol.1 Shade Vise sunglass holder Paris-Roubaix: The Inside Store

And here’s the Tour of Oman stage three report from Valentin Paret-Peintre’s Team Soudal Quick-Step:

Valentin Paret-Peintre was one of the riders to watch on the third stage of the Tour of Oman, which returned to the Eastern Mountain, one of the hardest climbs in the early part of the season. After all, the Frenchman finished fourth last year on this very climb and had high hopes again, especially as this was going to be an important test for the general classification, where the gaps were still small after two days.

Valentin Paret-Peintre racing in stage 19 of the 2025 Tour de France. Sirotti photo

Unfortunately for him and his ambitions, a crash that took place ten kilometers from the finish ruined everything. The 24-year-old quickly returned on his bike, and with the help of his Soudal Quick-Step teammates, joined the depleted bunch, but just as the 3.4km ascent averaging 8% started, he needed a bike change that took him out of contention on Monday.

Fortunately for Valentin and Mauri Vansevenant, our other rider involved in that incident, there were no serious injuries following the crash and they’ll both be able to continue the Tour of Oman, which on Tuesday schedules a stage for the fast men.


Content continues below the ads

Advertise with us!

Egan Bernal crowned Colombian road race champion

Here's the report from Bernal's Team INEOS Grenadiers:

Egan Bernal was crowned the Colombian national road race champion for a second year in a row.

Bernal tackled the punchy 207km course in his home of Zipaquirá in style. Bernal and teammate Brandon Rivera - who won the time trial championships earlier in the week - worked well together throughout the race.

With 35km remaining, Rivera and Bernal were in the chasing group, 1:30 back on a solo leader, before Rivera managed to escape with two others.

On the short but steep Via de Pacho climb, Bernal was able to claw back time and overtook Rivera.

Bernal went off the front with Iva Sosa (Kern Pharma), Javier Jamaica (Nu Colombia) and Robinson Lopez (Erce-Sportfitness), before Sosa pushed on alone.

Soon after, Bernal demonstrated his strength and caught Sosa, with the pair working together.

Rising to the finish, Bernal kicked and easily outsprinted Sosa, giving him time to raise his arms and claim the title for the second year in a row.

Egan Bernal wins 2025 Vuelta a España stage 16. Sirotti photo

Rivera came home in 25th place.

Speaking afterwards, Bernal said:
“The emotion of racing here, in front of my people, is truly impressive.

“I have lots of mixed feelings today, Zipaquirá is my home, my origins, and competing here, riding several times through the climbs we did when we were children and watching all the people from Zipaquirá supporting me, cheering not only me but all riders, is something very beautiful and really tells a lot about Zipaquirá and Cundinamarca here at the Salt Cathedral.

“It’s going to be a great honour [to wear the jersey] again, a big responsibility and I will try to give my best.

“It was a very well fought race. At some point, I thought I wasn’t doing well, I felt everybody was very strong, everyone from the WorldTour was super strong.”

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