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Saturday, February 21, 2026
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2025 Tour de France | 2025 Giro d'Italia
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. - Bertrand Russell
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Current racing:
- February 21: Classic Var
- February 16 - 22: UAE Tour
- February 18 - 22: Volta ao Algarve
- February 18 - 22: Vuelta a Andalucia - Ruta Ciclista del Sol
Upcoming racing:
- February 22: Tour des Alpes Maritimes
- February 25 - March 1: Giro di Sardegna
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
We posted the race organizer's report with the results.
Here's the report from stage winner Jonathan Milan's Team Lidl-Trek:
Confirming his status as the man to beat, Jonathan Milan powered through a chaotic finish to secure a brilliant win on the Dubai stage.
Today’s fifth stage was a masterclass in team tactics as the peloton wound its way through the urban streets of Dubai before heading out for a lap of the Al Qudra Cycle Track. Lidl-Trek took full responsibility at the front of the pack, riding to ensure the day’s breakaway never gained enough ground to threaten the finish. By keeping the escapees on a tight leash, rarely letting the gap stretch beyond a manageable two minutes, they set the stage for a grand finale.
As the race hit the closing kilometres and the finish line at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University loomed, the plan came together perfectly. Max Walscheid utilised his massive frame and immense power to provide a textbook leadout, winding up the pace and delivering Jonny into the final 200 meters with perfect timing. From there, Milan’s explosive acceleration did the rest, as he surged past his rivals to secure an emphatic victory.
Jonathan Milan wins stage five.
This latest triumph completes a spectacular back-to-back double for Milan, who also dominated the sprint to take the win on Stage 4 just 24 hours earlier. With these consecutive wins, he now takes over as leader of the points classification with two days left of racing.
What Jonny had to say..
"Last year I finished second on this stage so I knew how important it was to take these last corners in the first few positions. It was really well controlled by my teammates all day, even at the end when it got a bit chaotic. We still managed to stay together and they were able to position me so I could find a good line to sprint.
"After a big effort from the guys all day, you have to find a way to bring home a result. I can't just sit there and watch the other sprinters go so I want to deliver the best result I can for them. I'm really happy with this victory and I have another opportunity on the final stage so I will for sure go all in again on Sunday.
Here’s the UAE Tour report from third-place Matteo Malucelli’s Team XDS Astana:
Stage 5 of the UAE Tour concluded with a bunch sprint, where XDS Astana Team rider Matteo Malucelli secured third place. On the two previous sprint stages, Malucelli had finished 4th and 6th.
Matteo Malucelli winning stage four of the 2025 Tour de Langkawi. Sirotti photo
“Today we had a very good stage. The team was always at the front, even though it wasn’t easy, and my teammates did a fantastic job. I felt their support at every moment of the race. In the finale, Alessandro Romele and Gleb Syritsa were simply perfect and executed the plan 100%. I started my sprint from Jonathan Milan’s wheel, just as planned, but once I hit the wind, I realized it wouldn’t be enough this time. Milan was the strongest today. In any case, I’m really happy with how the team performed and with how the sprint unfolded overall. Yes, it’s third place today, but let’s see what happens on Sunday”, – said Matteo Malucelli.
There were no changes in the General Classification of the UAE Tour: XDS Astana Team rider Harold Tejada remains third overall. Tomorrow features the decisive mountain stage with the climb to Jebel Hafeet.
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We posted the report from stage winner Milan Fretin's Team Cofidis with the results.
Here's the update from stage three second-place Paul Penhoët's Team Groupama-FDJ United:
In his first sprint of the season, Paul Penhoët nearly pulled it off. On Friday, the young Frenchman finally had the chance to showcase his speed in a demanding finish in Lopera, at the end of Stage 3 of the Vuelta a Andalucia. Despite a superb effort over the final 200 metres, he fell just short, beaten by a few centimetres by Milan Fretin. With his first podium of the year secured, he will aim one step higher on Saturday on another stage suited to the sprinters.
Milan Fretin wins the stage. Paul Penhoët is on the far right.
Far from being flat and straightforward, with 2,000 metres of elevation gain, Stage 3 of the Tour of Andalusia still appeared a bit easier than the previous two, due to the absence of major climbs. As a result, the race proved far less animated than it had been since the start of the 2026 Ruta del Sol. “We knew it would probably be a stage for the sprinters, although we had to stay attentive after two tough days for the peloton,” explained William Green. “Some teams really wanted to seize the sprint opportunity and took control, which was good for us. There were bonus seconds after thirty kilometres, but right from the start all the WorldTour teams wanted to let a small break go. The general classification wasn’t at stake today and we were fully focused on the sprint. It was a bit stressful throughout the day because of the narrow roads and the road surface. There was a little bit of wind on some sections, but we stayed in control as a team.”
Four riders formed the day’s breakaway, which the peloton eventually reeled in just before the final ten kilometres. “We knew the wind would be coming from the right in the last eight kilometres, so it was crucial to be well positioned and together from the top of the climb at thirteen kilometres,” William added. “It was a particularly physical final that really started quite far from the finish line, but we managed the situation very well, and Clément and Paul were both ideally placed heading into the final eight kilometres.”
The Groupama-FDJ United duo followed the Visma-Lease a Bike train at the head of the peloton for a long time, before the final two kilometres brought some confusion. “There was a big fight on an uphill section at 900 metres to go, just before a key corner, and Paul lost Clément’s wheel,” William continued. “He managed to recover well on the following descent, but then he had to launch his sprint from quite far back, especially in a finish like this.”
Sitting eighth with 150 metres to go on a 5% gradient, the French rider opened up his effort shortly after, found space on the left-hand side of the road, and found himself shoulder to shoulder with Christophe Laporte and Milan Fretin towards the line. He managed to edge out his compatriot but was beaten by the narrowest of margins by the Belgian rider.
“For sure he was the most powerful guy, but the positioning wasn’t good enough to take the win today,” William added. “If he had been on Clément’s wheel, he would have won… It’s second place, but it’s a big confidence boost, especially physically. After his crash in Almería and two tough stages with 20-kilometre climbs, to deliver a sprint like that in such a demanding finish is a very good sign. Tomorrow should be an even better opportunity for Paul, so we’re extremely motivated, especially after what he showed today.”
And here's the Ruta del Sol report from third-place Christophe Laporte's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Christophe Laporte secured a podium finish in the third stage of the Ruta del Sol after an exciting sprint. The 33-year-old rider fell just short at the line, with Milan Fretin proving the strongest. Laporte moves up to third place in the general classification.
Christophe Laporte in the points' leader's green jersey after stage three. Sirotti photo
In the third stage of the Spanish stage race, four riders quickly launched an early attack. However, thanks to the controlling work of Team Visma | Lease a Bike in the peloton, the breakaway had no chance of success this time.
A large peloton then approached the finale, which featured a rising final kilometer. The yellow-and-black team took the lead in the last ten kilometers, and Laporte was well-positioned for the sprint in the final kilometer. At the line, the Frenchman narrowly missed out and finished third.
“We rode a very good race,” reflects team director Marc Reef. “Will Smith did strong work in chasing down the breakaway. In the finale, we executed well and took control of the race. Unfortunately, Christophe was ultimately beaten at the line. But we can look back on a good day.”
Team Visma | Lease a Bike will carry that confidence into tomorrow, Reef adds: “Tomorrow should offer another opportunity for the sprinters. The start is relatively challenging, but the flat finish will likely result in a sprint. We aim to be in contention for the win again.
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We posted the race organizer's report with the results:
Here's the report from stage winner Filippo Ganna's Team INEOS Grenadiers:
Filippo Ganna kicked off his 2026 campaign in style with victory in the stage three time trial at the Volta ao Algarve.
The Italian champion laid down a winning marker of 21 minutes and 53 seconds in the early going, and his benchmark would hold firm until the finish in Vilamoura.
Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) caused a nervous finale after going one second quicker through the intermediate time check, but over the line the new race leader would have to settle for second, five seconds back on Ganna.
Filippo Ganna on his way to winning the stage. Pnoto: Getty Sport
There were more strong rides as the Grenadiers placed two more GC contenders in the top six times, with Thymen Arensman (fifth) and Kevin Vauquelin (sixth) putting in solid efforts.
Those exploits saw both men climb the overall leaderboard, with Vauquelin now fourth (+57) and Arensman fifth (+1:01). Oscar Onley joins them in seventh on the GC (+1:17).
The race continues into the weekend, with a likely sprint stage on Saturday, followed by a hilly GC finale on Sunday.
On his victory, Filippo Ganna said: "[The course] was a little bit technical. But we are at the start of the season, the shape is not the best, but I tried to defend myself. I followed the plan from the team and I followed the numbers. In the end we keep this amazing victory. I want to say thank you to the team and everyone who supports me. It was a little bit of a hard winter, where I started a bit more conservatively the preparation for this season. But the legs start to spin well and it can be a good motivation for the next races.
"In the final I felt faster. The first part was a little bit technical and I tried to not take too many risks. It's an important race today but one of my biggest goals is in less than a month. We cross the fingers now and we'll see in the next days - maybe we can look at a breakaway."
And here's the Algarve report from Maximilian Schachmann's Team Soudal Quick-Step:
Maximilian Schachmann remains Soudal Quick-Step’s best placed rider on the general classification of the five-day race following a consistent ride on the stage three individual time trial, which took place over a 19.5km course around Vilamoura.
The German Champion of the discipline, Max was the last rider of our team to roll down the ramp and he managed to put together a good effort on the flat parcours of this stage against the clock won by Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers), which he concluded just behind teammate Jonathan Vervenne. This helped Schachmann gain a position in the standings, where he now sits just nine seconds from entering the top ten for the second year in a row.
Maximilian Schachmann time trialing at the 2025 Pais Vasco stage race.
This opportunity will come Sunday, on Alto do Malhão, but before that rendez-vous with the steep gradients of Algarve’s most famous climb, our squad will target another good result with Paul Magnier on the penultimate stage of the competition, when it’s very likely to see another bunch sprint, in Lagos.
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Here’s the team’s news:
Bahrain Victorious returns to the south of France for the Classic Var and the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes, following last year’s debut appearance, when the team featured prominently on the final podium with Santiago Buitrago finishing second and Lenny Martinez third, also claiming the Best Young Rider classification, while Bahrain Victorious was awarded Best Team.
The 2025 Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Haut Var GC podium, from left: (2nd) Santiago Buitrago, (1st) Christian Scaroni & (3rd) Lenny Martinez.
In 2026, however, both races adopt a different format. The Tour des Alpes-Maritimes becomes a one-day race, aiming for a more dynamic spectacle while retaining its climbing identity. Meanwhile, the Classic Var course is expected to favour the fast men rather than the pure climbers.
For this reason, French star Lenny Martinez will not start the 3rd Classic Var 1.1 (La Garde–Brignoles, 176.6 km), where the team’s focus will be on sprinter Phil Bauhaus, as Sports Director Roman Kreuziger explains:
“Classic Var will be a completely different race compared to previous years, with a profile more suited to the sprinters. That’s why we have selected this roster, with Phil Bauhaus standing out after the good shape he already showed in Almería. I expect a similar scenario here.
Our boys, especially Ermakov, will have to protect him in the first part. The mission is clear: protect Phil in the opening 30 kilometres, where there is one longer climb, and then manage the rolling terrain with some technical sections. The final is very fast and should suit him well. I expect a strong bunch sprint.
Phil will be supported in the lead-out by Eržen, Van Mechelen and Segaert, plus Dunwoody, who has already raced with us. He is a Development Team rider, but he has shown good quality and we are happy to have him in the final lead-out.
Regarding Pau, who is coming down from altitude, like Vlad and Alec, he will be our joker — an option in case the race ends with a reduced group of attackers.”
On Sunday, 22 February, the 58th Tour des Alpes-Maritimes (1.1) will take place in its new one-day format, designed by the organisers to make the race more dynamic. The 154 km course from Villefranche-sur-Mer to Biot features approximately 3,000 metres of elevation gain, including Col d’Èze (7.4 km at 4.8%), Col de Châteauneuf (6.8 km at 6.4%), Col de Carros (5.6 km at 5.1%), before the final ascent to Gourdon (11.8 km at 4.6%).
The race will mark the seasonal debut of Lenny Martinez, who will lead the team on his home roads, replacing Phil Bauhaus as the only change from the previous day’s lineup.
Kreuziger shared his expectations for Sunday’s race:
“The course is similar to what we raced last year — in a beautiful place but with a very tough first 85 kilometres, featuring climbs that we will also face later in the season at Paris-Nice. We know what to expect: it will be aggressive and fireworks from the start and throughout the day.
We hope Pau responds well after the altitude camp, and of course Lenny, who makes his season debut. From the data we can see he is in good shape and highly motivated — and that makes a big difference when it comes to performance. Let’s hope we can deliver a strong weekend.”
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