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Monday, February 23, 2026
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2025 Tour de France | 2025 Giro d'Italia
To be conscious that you are ignorant of the facts is a great step to knowledge. - Benjamin Disraeli
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.
Upcoming racing:
- February 25 - March 1: Giro di Sardegna
- February 28: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
- February 28: Faun Ardèche Classic
- March 1: Faun Drome Classic
- March 1: Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
Latest completed racing:
- February 22: Tour des Alpes Maritimes
- February 16 - 22: UAE Tour
- February 18 - 22: Volta ao Algarve
- February 18 - 22: Vuelta a Andalucia - Ruta Ciclista del Sol
- February 21: Classic Var
- 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 seven third-place Sam Welsford's Team INEOS Grenadiers:
Sam Welsford battled to third as the final stage of the UAE Tour culminated in a sprint finish won by Jonathan Milan (LIDL Trek).
Welsford fought to the line in a tough headwind finish following a rapid day’s racing to seal a top three finish in Abu Dhabi Breakwater.
Jonathan Milan wins stage seven.
The Grenadiers combined well to put the Australian in position in the final kilometres, with Josh Tarling and Ben Swift the last two riders to deliver Welsford and give him the platform to earn his third top three result of the season.
Here's the UAE Tour stage seven report from GC second-place Antonio Tiberi's Team Bahrain Victorious:
Antonio Tiberi secured a superb second place overall at the UAE Tour, narrowly missing out on the red jersey after a week that saw the young Italian write his name into the race’s history books.
The 22-year-old etched his name into history with a sensational solo victory atop Jebel Mobrah, a climb introduced for the first time in this year’s edition of the race. In doing so, Tiberi became the first rider ever to win on the summit of the new ascent. Attacking with conviction, he powered clear of his rivals to claim the stage win and move into the red jersey.
Antonio Tiberi wins UAE Tour stage three.
Holding a 21-second advantage heading into Stage 6, Tiberi faced a decisive showdown on the slopes of Jebel Hafeet. Despite responding bravely to multiple accelerations from Isaac Del Toro of UAE Team Emirates XRG, the Italian was ultimately distanced in the final kilometres, relinquishing the race lead after a determined defence of the jersey.
Nevertheless, Tiberi’s performance across the seven-day WorldTour race confirms his exceptional form, following on from a strong showing at the Volta Valenciana earlier this month. His dominant ride on Jebel Mobrah secured Bahrain Victorious’ first stage win at the UAE Tour and the team’s first victory of the 2026 season. The second-place finish overall also represents the team’s highest-ever general classification result at the race.
With this podium finish, Bahrain Victorious has now placed on the overall podium in four of the last five editions of the UAE Tour, underlining its continued strength in the region.
Antonio Tiberi said:
“The race finished today. With second place overall, I can say that I’m really happy with what the team and I achieved. I think we can be very pleased with this week.
"Yes, it was a really nice victory on Stage 3 — the best win of my career so far. It was especially special as it was also a new climb at the UAE Tour. There were some really hard moments, but I enjoyed every metre. It’s amazing to look back on it now.
"I would definitely like to come back. This is the third time I’ve ridden the UAE Tour, and I really like this race. The location is also quite different from the usual races, and I enjoy racing here.”
Ethan Vernon's NSN Cycling Team posted this UAE Tour final report:
Ethan Vernon capped off a good week of racing for NSN Cycling Team at the UAE Tour as he finished fourth in Sunday’s final stage in Abu Dhabi.
Vernon and his teammates executed their strategy through a twisty and flowing approach to the finish line at Abu Dhabi Breakwater, but the British rider was unable to fully unleash his sprint.
Ethan Vernon earlier this year at the Tour Down Under. Sirotti photo
“It was a bit of a frustrating end again,” he says. “The boys were really good. They set me up really well, but again I didn’t get a chance to fully sprint, which is frustrating. But it has been a consistent week – I think every time we sprinted, we were top 10. I got second, fourth and sixth, so a consistent week.
“The speed is there. We’ve made mistakes but we’ve got a lot of things right also. A lot of guys here will be also coming to the Giro and it’s a start of learning the train and getting it working for that race.”
Vernon finished second in Thursday’s fourth stage and recorded two more top-10s in the Middle East’s leading race, but DS Alex Cataford believes team cohesion in the Emirates was just as important as the results.
He says: “Our main goal here was to help build our sprint train and build how the guys work together, especially looking forward to future races with this group.”
“I think we made improvements since the start of the week. We worked on ourselves and we found ways to be better and more adhesive, and that’s just going to take us closer to the big results.
“We got a second, a fourth, and a sixth on the sprint stages, which, while we were hoping for that win, we had the objective of a podium and we got that.
“I think, overall, we can take a lot from this race. We learned a lot that we’re going to apply going forward, and that’s very positive.”
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And here's the UAE Tour report from Team Lotto-Intermarché:
Under the blazing sun and across the spectacular desert landscapes of the United Arab Emirates, our team delivered a week full of courage and teamwork at the UAE Tour. With a third place finish, two strong top-10 results and a sixth place in the general classification, the foundations laid this week promise plenty for the season ahead. “A win is never easy. But especially with the teamwork that we showed, we can look ahead positively to what is to come”, concludes Sports Director Mario Aerts.
After seven demanding stages against some of the world’s strongest riders, Lennert Van Eetvelt secured a sixth place in the general classification. A result that reflects consistency, resilience and determination throughout the week. The highlight came in stage three, where Lennert powered his way to a very strong third place. "It was a bit unfortunate that I couldn't show my full potential in stage six but I am happy that in stage three I could show that my legs are getting there. It's a promising sign and we learned some great lessons this week", Lennert Van Eetvelt looks back.
Lennert Van Eetvelt finishes stage three of the 2025 UAE Tour.
Sports Director Mario Aerts reflects on the team’s objectives and performance: "We came here with the goal to do well in the general classification so we are happy with a 6th place. Of course we had hoped for a bit more after Lennert's third place in the stage three. But in the end a sixth place is really good. Especially after his crash in Australia, which made us come to the UAE Tour with some question marks."
Alongside the GC battle, Steffen De Schuyteneer also demonstrated his talent with two strong seventh-place finishes. His results highlight not only individual strength but also the structured teamwork that defined our week in the Middle East. The road captains and experienced riders played a key role in guiding the younger talents through stressful sprint finishes, crosswinds and decisive climbs. Every rider contributed — whether protecting the GC position, setting tempo in the mountains, or fighting for stage results. Mario Aerts also emphasized the collective effort: "We've seen some really good team work done by everyone. We should not forget that we were here with a really young team. The experience from Jasper De Buyst was crucial this week. But in general we can be really satisfied with the work done by the team."
Victory is never guaranteed at this level, but presence, teamwork and progress are clear indicators of growth. "A win is never easy, but we should not forget that we did show ourselves off very strongly here. Especially with the teamwork that we showed, we can look ahead positively to what is to come”, Mario Aerts looks ahead positively.
And Luke Plapp's Team Jayco AlUla posted this UAE Tour report:
After leaping onto the podium on the penultimate stage, Luke Plapp stayed firm on the final day to hold onto third overall at the UAE Tour.
It is Plapp’s second time on the general classification podium, after he finished second in the 2023 edition. It continues a strong run of form in the early part of the 2026 season for Plapp, who finished third in the Muscat Classic at the start of February after setting up his Team Jayco AlUla teammate Mauro Schmid for victory.
The seventh and final stage, held on the streets of Abu Dhabi, offered no particular drama and concluded with a group sprint that saw Luka Mezgec finish in eighth place. Meanwhile, Plapp finished within the bunch to hold onto his overall podium.
Luke Plapp racing in the prologue of the 2025 Tour Down Under. Sirotti photo
Aside from Plapp’s podium finish, along with his second-place finish on the queen stage that finished atop Jebel Hafeet, the Team Jayco AlUla was a key player in almost every stage, achieving five top-10 finishes out of seven stages.
Luke Plapp:
“It was an amazing week here in the UAE with the whole team. The boys took care of me all week and I’m super proud and happy to be able to repay them with third in GC. It’s the second time I have been on the podium for GC on this race. So it was very nice to come back here and make even better memories.”
David McPartland (Sport Director):
“It has been a really good week here at the UAE Tour. We came here with a bit of ambitions in the GC and also to give to Luka Mezgec an opportunity to sprint. So, we have had a very busy week with goals everyday and basically we achieved everything we can with Luke Plapp on podium. Plappy showed that he is one of the strongest in the race; on both mountain days and in the time trial he has always been amongst the best and all the boys supported him very well the whole week. In the end, it a good race week and personally I’m very proud of the guys for the work they have all done.”
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We posted the race organizer's report with the results.
Here's the report from stage and GC winner Juan Ayuso's Team Lidl-Trek:
It was a special day at the Volta ao Algarve which saw Juan Ayuso take both the stage victory and overall general classification in Lidl-Trek colours, helped by impressive support and dedication from his teammates
With one stage remaining at the Volta ao Algarve, Juan Ayuso held a lead of just seven seconds on the general classification. 148 kilometers and 2252 metres of elevation gain lay between him and his first stage race victory as part of Lidl-Trek. With such a narrow margin between the Spanish rider and Paul Seixas who sat in second place, the repeated attacks to try and isolate Ayuso were to be expected, and they came as soon as the flag dropped. He and his teammates, however, were astutely alert to the danger, so much so that Ayuso even picked up an additional bonus second during the opening intermediate sprint of the day which came after just seven kilometers.
A strong breakaway was established early in the stage and the race was blown apart on the first time up the Malhão climb, with Ayuso’s rivals aiming to isolate him. However, Héctor Álvarez, Carlos Verona and Lennard Kämna fought hard over the summit to regain contact with the front group on the descent and rode tirelessly in support of Ayuso to bring the breakaway back and set him up for the mountaintop finish on Malhão. From then, it was left to the 23-year-old to climb his way to victory.
Ayuso came to the finish line in a group of just five riders and played a perfect tactical game in the sprint. Staying in the wheel of Oscar Onley until the final 50 metres, Ayuso came out of the slipstream as the finish line approached and lunged in front of the Ineos Grenadiers rider to take both the stage win and the overall victory in the Algarve. The final result was a culmination of hard work and dedication from the entire Lidl-Trek squad and sets the bar high for the rest of the season.
Juan Ayuso (in yellow) wins Algarve stage five.
In Juan’s words:
“From the start to the end, it was a very stressful and tense day. My job was to cover Paul Seixas in the finish and in the sprint. I had to respond when he tried to take some seconds but I’m just super proud of how the team rode all day, other teams put us under pressure from the start but Toms [Skujiņš] really controlled everything. We had groups of 30/40 guys trying to get in the breakaway from all the big teams to put us under pressure and my teammates just controlled it perfectly.
"In the final, it was quite nervous because the other teams tried to isolate me but Lenny [Kämna] did a great job and pulled a crazy amount to put me into the last climb in the perfect position to go for the win. Normally I would be really proud of my performance but today my team won the show and did an amazing job so this win is definitely for them.
"After the climb I was left alone but I had confidence with how strong Hector has been all week, Lenny too, so I knew they’d come back. They asked me if they wanted to close the gap when [Florian] Lipowitz attacked but I said no and that I believed having a steady pace and with the legs they have that they’d be able to bring him back and they showed that we were the strongest team in the race. That’s why I’m just super happy to win and be able to pay them back.”
Here's the Algarve stage five report from points classification winner Paul Magnier's Team Soudal Quick-Step:
Okolo Slovenska, CRO Race, Tour of Guangxi, Volta ao Algarve – Paul Magnier’s last four stage races, and in each of them, the incredible Frenchman won multiple stages and the points jersey. In total, Paul claimed 15 victories in his last 23 days of racing, an outstanding achievement that propelled him into the top ten most successful riders in the history of Soudal Quick-Step, level with Marcel Kittel.
It was a nice week with the team, we had good weather here, and we can be proud of what we achieved.
Paul Magnier wins Algarve stage four.
“I’m happy with my two stage victories and with the excellent job of my teammates, as it was an important race for us and our sprint train. Taking home also the points jersey is a really nice bonus, I’m delighted to win a classification in my first stage race of the season”, said Paul after the podium ceremony.
The race concluded again on the hard slopes of Alto do Malhão, which the bunch had to climb twice Sunday afternoon. Until the last 35 kilometers, Max Schachmann was one of the day’s main animators from the breakaway, but a crash on a tricky descent put an end to any ambitions and forced the German to abandon. After an initial selection the first time up, with around 40 kilometers to go, a dozen riders arrived at the bottom of the last ascent, and from that group Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) took the victory, sealing the general classification.
Dylan van Baarle was our team’s highest-ranked rider at the top of the Malhão, finishing an impressive tenth after a solid display on the climb to bring to a conclusion his first outing with the Wolfpack on a high note.
Here's the Algarve report from GC third-place Joao Almeida's UAE Team Emirates:
João Almeida sealed third place overall at the Volta ao Algarve today after finishing fourth on the decisive final stage to Alto do Malhão, concluding a strong and consistent week of racing for UAE Team Emirates-XRG on his home roads.
The race reached its climax on the iconic double ascent of Alto do Malhão, a steep and explosive climb that traditionally decides the general classification. With the overall standings finely balanced heading into the final day, the tempo was relentless from the base of the climb as Almeida attacked repeatedly on the short but punchy ascent. Led into the bottom by teammate Felix Grossschartner, Almeida left nothing on the road as he ramped up the pace, narrowing the group down to just a handful of rivals.
João Almeida after 2025 Vuelta a España stage nine. Sirotti photo
Ultimately it was Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) who took the spoils as he pipped Oscar Onley (Ineos – Grenadiers) and Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) to take the stage and overall victory.
Joao Almeida: “Today and the other days I maximised what I had. I felt pretty good in the race, maybe I expected a higher pace from the rival teams on the last climb so I went to the front and tried to set a hard pace.
I think everything is on the right track and I feel a bit stronger than last year. I’m leaving this race with confidence in myself and in my shape. Things are in a good place heading into Paris-Nice which will be the next goal.”
And here's the Algarve report from Team Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe:
Five days of intense racing in Portugal are behind the team – and with the Volta ao Algarve, the first stage races of the season come to a close.
At the finale, Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe once again delivered a united and determined team performance, confirming the versatility with which the squad had approached the week.
On the penultimate stage, Jordi Meeus once more demonstrated his strong early-season form. In a fast and hectic finale, the Belgian showed composure and assertiveness, positioned himself perfectly at the decisive moment and powered his way to second place.
Jordi Meeus on the podium after winning stage 6 of the 2025 Tour of Switzerland.
Following his strong performance earlier in the week, it marks his second podium finish of the race – an important signal ahead of the upcoming Classics campaign, which kicks off in just a few days with Opening Weekend.
On the final stage, Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe again took responsibility and actively raced for the outcome. With two riders in the overall Top 10, the team aimed to race offensively and put the favourites under early pressure.
Jan Tratnik first managed to make it into the breakaway of the day. Already on the opening ascent of the Alto do Malhão, Florian Lipowitz showed his attacking intentions. Shortly after, he bridged across to Tratnik and used his teammate’s pace-setting work to extend the lead.
However, the group of favourites responded decisively, and Lipowitz was caught at the foot of the final climb, around three kilometres from the finish. It was a courageous move that shaped the finale and once again demonstrated that his build-up in form is heading in the right direction.
Conclusion: Plenty of positives from the Algarve
The week in the Algarve served as an intense early-season benchmark. Five days featuring sprint finishes, demanding summit finishes and a challenging time trial provided valuable insights.
Two sprint podiums, solid performances against the clock and two riders in the overall Top 10 – the overall assessment is clearly positive and gives confidence heading into the upcoming races.
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We posted the race organizer's report with the results.
Here's the report from Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
For Team Visma | Lease a Bike, the 72nd edition of the Ruta del Sol did not get the desired outcome. Green jersey wearer Christophe Laporte crashed in the final stage and was unable to continue the race. Axel Zingle crossed the finish line in Lucena in tenth place.
Christophe Laporte wins 2026 Ruta del Sol stage two.
In the decisive final stage to Lucena, all eyes were on the double climb of the Alto de la Primera Cruz. Three riders formed the breakaway of the day, but thanks in part to Team Visma | Lease a Bike, their adventure came to an early end. On the first passage of the climb, Laporte managed to climb with the best, but things went wrong on the descent that followed.
Laporte was touched by the rider in front of him and was unable to continue. "He seems to have been able to get away relatively unscathed", sports director Marc Reef said. "Someone in front of him slipped and hit Christophe's front wheel. He had nowhere to go and fell. He immediately indicated that he couldn't continue, but now at the finish it seems to be not too bad."
According to Reef, it’s frustrating that Laporte, who was fourth in the general classification and had a chance for a top finish, could no longer contend for a podium spot. “He was in a strong position, both in the general classification and the points classification. Unfortunately, that all went away in an instant. It’s a shame we couldn’t defend our chances.”
In the lead-up to the second ascent, Victor Campenaerts showed his attacking spirit. The Belgian was joined by Søren Wærenskjold, but the pair were given very little room. On the second passage of the Alto de la Primera Cruz, Tom Pidcock unleashed his power, making the decisive move. He soloed to the stage victory. Zingle finished tenth, just under a minute behind.
"After Christophe was forced to abandon the race, we immediately switched to Axel. He wasn't well positioned at the foot of the climb, which meant he had to move up quite a few places. He fought hard and eventually finished tenth. He did well."
With a stage win and several top ten finishes, Reef looks back on the five-day Spanish race with a good feeling. "We rode to win every day and came close a number of times. We won the first stage and we can be happy with that. For most of the guys, it was their first race of the season and I think everyone has taken a step forward here. I've seen a lot of good things."
And here's the report from Romain Grégoire's Team Groupama-FDJ United:
Groupama-FDJ United and Romain Grégoire were surely expecting more from the Vuelta a Andalucia, especially from its fifth stage, but the Frenchman was simply beaten fair and square in Lucena. After a demanding final, the punchy rider from Besançon claimed third place on the stage, twelve seconds behind Tom Pidcock, eventually slipping to fifth overall. Impressive this Sunday, Clément Braz Afonso secured eighth place on the stage and the same position in the final GC. A week made of solid results, without a victory, but also without regrets.
On paper, the “Ruta del Sol” was still undecided at the start in La Roda de Andalucía this Sunday, as two ascents of Alto de La Primera Cruz (2.8 km at 6%, ramps up to 10%) were scheduled within the final thirty-five kilometers. Enough to potentially reshuffle the general classification, or at least spark some action. While waiting for this hilly final, the day was initially relatively calm, with the peloton controlling the race behind a three-man breakaway.
After 130 kilometres, the escapees still managed to tackle the first of the two climbs with a small advantage, but the peloton upped the pace approaching the summit with a few bonus seconds at stake. The break was caught, a first sprint took place, and then Romain Grégoire showed himself for the first time on the descent. Shortly after, Clément Braz Afonso followed a few attacks, but almost everything came back together before tackling the second ascent of Alto de La Primera Cruz. At the foot of the climb, eight kilometers from the finish, Groupama-FDJ United moved up in numbers at the front. With 1,500 metres to the summit, Clément Braz Afonso raised the tempo ahead of Romain Grégoire and Bastien Tronchon, the peloton stretched out, split apart, and the final battle began.
Tom Pidcock then launched an attack that Romain Grégoire could not follow, while Bastien Tronchon briefly tried to hold the Briton’s wheel before having to give up as well. “We raced the way we were supposed to,” Romain explained. “There are no regrets, Pidcock and Christen were just stronger. I was hoping to feel better than that, but there wasn’t much more to do today.”
The Frenchman went over the top in a group of six alongside his teammate Clément Braz Afonso, around fifteen seconds behind Pidcock and ten behind Christen. “We said the finish was at the top, and indeed the order over the summit was practically the same as at the finish,” said Yvon Caër. “Romain was just missing that tiny bit physically, even though it’s already very good. I want to give special mention to the whole team for carrying out the plan as intended, and an even stronger mention to Clément Braz Afonso, who enabled Romain to take the bonus seconds at the finish.”
After his teammate’s work in the final two kilometres, Romain Grégoire powered his way to third place in the sprint, wrapping up the week with a third stage podium for Groupama-FDJ United. “I don’t think we could have done any better,” Yvon concluded. “We were there when it mattered, the riders committed 100%, and we can simply be pleased to have riders in good condition and with the right mindset.
Romain Grégoire finishes third in Ruta del Sol stage five. Sirotti photo
The week’s results are satisfying, even if it’s not exactly what we came for. We are here to win, but we also see that the level of the peloton is very even and already very high. It’s up to us to step up a level to be able to win soon. I think many of our riders are where they need to be and ready to perform in races of an even higher level as early as next week.” Romain Grégoire is next expected at the Boucles Drôme-Ardèche. “We at least secured fifth place overall,” said the Frenchman. “It’s a good way to start the season, even if there’s still a bit of work to do before the main objectives.”
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