Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
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2025 Tour de France | 2025 Giro d'Italia
Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. - Calvin Coolidge
Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Giro d'Italia, A Year-by-Year History of the Tour of Italy, Vol 2: 1971 - 2011 is available in print, Kindle eBook and audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- February 16 - 22: UAE Tour
Upcoming racing:
- February 18 - 22: Volta ao Algarve
- February 18 - 22: Vuelta a Andalucia - Ruta Ciclista del Sol
- February 21: Classic Var
Latest completed racing:
- February 16: Clásica Jaén
- February 13 - 15: Tour de la Provence
- February 15: Clasica de Almeria
- February 13 - 14: Vuelta a la Region de Murcia
- February 7 - 11: Tour of Oman
- February 4 - 8: Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
- February 4 - 8: Etoile de Bessèges
- February 6: Muscat Classic
- January 28 - February 1: Challenge Ciclista Mallorca
- January 31-February 1: Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
- February 1: GP Cycliste de Marseille - La Marseilaise
We posted the report from stage winner Isaac del Toro's UAE Team Emirates with the results.
Here's the report from third-place Antonio Tiberi's Team Bahrain Victorious:
Antonio Tiberi delivered an impressive ride on the opening stage of the UAE Tour, finishing third behind stage winner Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) and Cees Bol (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale).
Originally scheduled as a 144 km stage starting at Madinat Zayed Majlis, the route was shortened to 118 km due to strong winds, with two laps of the circuit removed before the final uphill sprint to Liwa Palace.
While last year’s edition favoured the sprinters, won by Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), this year the general classification contenders came to the fore, with the Italian sprinter also involved in a crash with around 1 km to go.
Del Toro launched his decisive move with 400 metres to go, with Tiberi responding immediately and fighting for victory all the way to the line, ultimately securing a strong third place.
Isaac del Toro wins the stage.
Antonio Tiberi commented:
“I’m really surprised because I didn’t expect to fight for the podium today. The sensations were good right from the start. It was a really fast race with a tailwind from the beginning, and they also shortened the stage slightly.
"In the final, my objective was just to stay as far forward as possible to avoid crashes and potential gaps. In the last kilometre, I saw it was all straight and uphill, which made it really hard. I was in fifth position and my legs felt good, so I decided to go full gas for the stage. Maybe it would have been better to follow Del Toro, but you need a really strong effort in the last 400 metres. In the end, I finished third and I’m super happy.”
UAE Tour eighth-place Lennert Van Eetvelt's Team Lotto-Intermarché posted this report:
Lennert Van Eetvelt kicks off the UAE Tour with a strong eighth place finish on today’s shortened opening stage. “This only gives me more motivation for the upcoming days”, Van Eetvelt concludes.
Extreme wind conditions played a crucial role in today’s opening stage. For safety reasons, the stage was shortened from 144 km to 118 km. The strong crosswinds created constant tension in the peloton, making positioning even more crucial in the final. “Coming into the stage, we knew positioning would be crucial”, Van Eetvelt admits.
Our riders stayed focused and alert throughout the day. Despite the shortened distance, the finale was fast and highly competitive. The team did an excellent job guiding Lennert into position in the closing kilometers, allowing him to contest in the sprint
Crossing the line in eighth place is a strong result, especially considering the demanding circumstances. “Today was a very hectic day. There was a lot of tension in the peloton. The team did a great job in positioning me for what was going to be a thrilling final. In the end I am satisfied with my eighth position in this first stage. I’m feeling good so this only gives me more motivation for the upcoming days”, Van Eetvelt confirms.
With his eighth place in the opening stage, Lennert also begins the UAE Tour with a sixth place in the General Classification. Tomorrow awaits an individual time trial of 12 km through Al Hudayriyat Island.
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Here's the UAE Tour report from eleventh-place Ben Tulett's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Ben Tulett finished eleventh in the opening stage of the UAE Tour. Due to heavy wind gusts, nearly thirty kilometers were removed from the course. Along the way, Tulett picked up two bonus seconds, which puts him in fifth place in the general classification. The stage win went to Isaac Del Toro.
The UAE Tour marked the second WorldTour stage race of the season. The eighth edition of the seven-day race began with a 144-kilometer stage finishing at the Liwa Palace. Because of strong winds, race officials decided during the stage to cut nearly thirty kilometers from the original route. The riders ultimately covered 118 kilometers. The stage was largely held on flat roads, with an uphill final kilometer as the climax.
Racing across the desert in stage one.
The day’s only breakaway attempt came from Silvan Dillier. The Swiss rider’s solo move was caught with about thirty kilometers remaining. Shortly afterward, bonus seconds were available at the intermediate sprint. Tulett joined the fight and crossed the line second, behind Jonathan Milan. The peloton then prepared for a bunch sprint.
In the final kilometers the peloton was shaken by a crash involving, among others, top favorite for the stage win Milan. On the uphill finishing stretch, Del Toro sprinted to the stage victory and the first leader’s jersey. Tulett finished shortly behind him in eleventh place. In the general classification, Tulett sits fifth. The next stage is a twelve-kilometer individual time trial.
“The strong winds caused a lot of nervousness in the peloton,” Tulett said afterward. “During the race, we were informed that the stage was being shortened, so we had to adapt quickly. We did that very well as a team. We took the initiative and were rewarded along the way with two bonus seconds. In the sprint, I went to the front a bit too early, which cost me in the end. A finish like this suits me well, so there was definitely more possible.”
“We can look back positively on this stage,” Tulett continued, also looking ahead to the coming stages. “There are still plenty of challenges in this race. We’re aiming for a strong result in the overall standings. Tomorrow’s time trial will be a first test. We’ve also circled stages three and five in red. I came here highly motivated, so I’m looking forward to fighting for the win together with my teammates.”
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And here's the UAE Tour report from Team Groupama-FDJ United:
After being very calm and also shortened by around thirty kilometres due to weather conditions, the opening stage of the UAE Tour concluded with a thrilling finish in Liwa Palace on Monday. After a final kilometre averaging 6%, Isaac del Toro took victory, while Équipe cycliste Groupama-FDJ United were unable to secure a significant result after trying to anticipate the final sprint. David Gaudu was held up by a crash before being given the same time as the winner.
The stage one start line.
Starting from Madinat Zayed Majlis, the peloton was initially set to cover 144 kilometres towards the explosive uphill finish in Liwa Palace. Plans changed during the stage, however, with the total distance reduced to 118 kilometres after two finishing laps were removed. “We were informed during the stage that the course would be shortened because of the wind and the sand on the cycle path we were supposed to use,” explained Stéphane Goubert. “It didn’t really change the nature of the stage, which remained nervous due to the wind. Our goal was to put David in the best possible position, and if he didn’t have to work, Matteo was an option for the finish.”
Only one rider went clear during the day, but he was caught at the start of the final thirty kilometres. Around their French leader, Groupama-FDJ United then remained firmly positioned at the front of the peloton.
It was only inside the final ten kilometres that the tension truly ramped up, with an intense battle for position all the way to the long, uphill finishing straight. While Axel Huens and Matteo Milan managed to move up along the left-hand side of the road, David Gaudu was hindered at the final roundabout of the day. “Jonathan Milan crashed, which disrupted our organisation, and David was slightly held up,” confirmed Stéphane Goubert. The French climber was therefore unable to contest the sprint, which Axel Huens and Matteo Milan tried to anticipate from around 500 metres out. “Axel did a great job trying to launch an attack and put Matteo in the best possible position, but it didn’t quite work out,” Stéphane added. “We’re still fine-tuning things, but the team spirit and collective effort throughout the day were very positive.”
Isaac del Toro eventually proved strongest over the final 300 metres to take the win and claim the first leader’s jersey. The rest of the peloton, including David Gaudu, was credited with the same time.
On Tuesday, the first real time gaps are expected during the 12-kilometre individual time trial on Hudayriyat Island. “It’s a particular kind of time trial where aerodynamics will be crucial,” Stéphane concluded. “Rémi enjoys this discipline and will give it everything. David will also aim to limit his losses.”
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We posted the report from winner Tim Wellens' UAE Team Emirates-XRG with the results.
Here’s the report from Team Soudal Quick-Step:
Six gravel road sectors, spread over the 154 kilometers of the fifth Clasica Jaen, and countless hills were the main ingredients of the one-day race, where our team made its final appearance of the month on Spanish soil.
Soudal Quick-Step came to the start with a young line-up, comprising several of our Devo riders, and they ended up putting in a brave display Monday afternoon. One by one, Jasper Schoofs, Viktor Soenens – who came here after a series of impressive outings at Volta Comunitat Valenciana – and Erazem Valjavec attacked, trying to snap the elastic and form a breakaway.
Tim Wellens wins the race. Sirotti photo
Around 50 kilometers into the race, all three of them were part of a dangerous move that forced the peloton to react. Despite working well together, those in the lead were brought to heel by a bunch who shortly after exploded. The dirt roads made several selections, to the point only a small group was left at the front just as the rain made an appearance, only adding to the complexity of this race. From that reduced peloton, Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) attacked and soloed to victory in Ubeda, where Casper Pedersen rolled over the line as Soudal Quick-Step’s top finisher.
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