Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,

Friday, July 3, 2026

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Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life. - Immanuel Kant

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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.

Upcoming racing:

• July 4 - 26: Tour de France
• July 8 - 12: Tour of Austria
• July 26: Vuelta a Castilla y Leon

Latest completed racing:

• June 24 - 28: National Championshps
• June 17 - 21: Tour de Suisse
• June 17 - 21: Baloise Belgium Tour
• June 7 - 14: Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
• June 14: Copenhagen Sprint
• June 14: GP Gippingen/Canton Aargau
• June 10: Circuit Franco-Belge
• June 7: Brussels Cycling Classic
• June 1 - 5: Ethias-Tour de Wallone
• May 8 - 31: Giro d'Italia

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Tour de France news

Here's the post from Team Caja Rural-Seguros RGA:

The most anticipated week has arrived. The Tour de France kicks off this Thursday with the official team presentation in a spectacular setting—the area surrounding Barcelona’s Sagrada Família—featuring a parade along Avinguda de Gaudí before the teams pose in front of the façade of Catalan Modernism’s most iconic building.

To mark this historic start, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA has unveiled its lineup in a video that pays tribute to some of France’s most illustrious figures.

It is a moment to savor—unique and special—marking the first step of a dream that truly gets underway two days later with a 19 km team time trial. The route will wind through Barcelona, ​​finishing at the climb to the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium.

Eight riders will represent the "green squad" in their first *Grande Boucle* following a rigorous selection process aimed at fielding a team capable of contending across various types of terrain. Throughout the three-week race, the team will wear a retro kit—used exclusively for this event—paying homage to the earlier iteration of Caja Rural that competed in the 1987 and 1988 Tours.

The eight riders

Balderstone, Abel. Making his Tour de France debut. He was the national time trial champion last year and the top-placed Spaniard in the general classification of his second Vuelta a España (finishing 13th). A versatile rider comfortable on all types of terrain, he has spent his entire professional career with Caja Rural-Seguros RGA after graduating from the team's development squad. Having finished 4th at *O Gran Camiño* this year, the Barcelona native faces a very special debut on home soil.

Berwick, Sebastian. Making his Tour de France debut. Equal parts climber and gritty competitor. He secured Caja Rural-Seguros RGA’s biggest victory of the season, capitalizing on phenomenal teamwork to win the general classification at the Tour of Turkey. The Australian is enjoying a very consistent season, having finished 6th in Oman and 5th in Slovenia just over a week ago, confirming his strong form.

Gaviria, Fernando. His third Tour de France. Winner of two stages in the 2018 edition. The team's sprinter. The Colombian has delivered during the first half of his debut season with the squad, securing high placings and thirteen top-10 finishes, establishing himself as the clear leader for sprints. He came agonizingly close to victory at the Ronde van Limburg and on stages in both Oman and Hungary, finishing 2nd in each instance.

Fernando Gaviria winning stage 4 of the 2023 Vuelta a San Juan.

Molenaar, Alex. Making his Tour de France debut. An all-rounder capable of contributing across a wide variety of terrains. He will support Fernando Gaviria but will also look to feature in breakaways, leveraging his skills on rolling terrain and his impressive finishing speed. This season, he finished 2nd at the Tour du Finistère and 3rd at the Grand Prix de la Marseillaise. Dutch, though raised and currently residing in Catalonia.

Nicolau, Joel. The road captain for Caja Rural-Seguros RGA and the second Catalan in the lineup—specifically from Girona. He is in his seventh season with the team and was named the "Super Combatif" (most aggressive rider) at the last Vuelta a España after featuring in eight breakaways. A fearless rider who, when in top form, can handle challenging terrain—as demonstrated by his 7th-place finish in Slovenia and his silver medal at the recent Spanish National Championships.

Oldani, Stefano. Making his Tour de France debut. The Milan native has adapted quickly to Caja Rural-Seguros RGA; after competing in six editions of the Giro d'Italia—including a stage win—he now faces his first Tour. A dedicated rider, he is expected to assist Fernando Gaviria in the run-up to mass sprints while also playing his own cards on stages better suited to breakaways.

Otruba, Jakub. Making his Tour de France debut. A sensational rouleur who already made his mark at last year's Vuelta a España. He rounds out the support squad for Gaviria but will also have opportunities to shine from breakaways. The Czech rider has meticulously prepared for the French Grand Tour after featuring in breakaways at both La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He was a stage winner last year in Torres Vedras and a double medalist at the most recent Czech national championships.

Parra, José Félix. Making his Tour de France debut. A pure climber, as he recently demonstrated at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes by securing an impressive 9th place in the final general classification. The rider from La Mancha has been one of the most consistent climbers this season and already has experience starting two editions of La Vuelta, finishing 17th in his most recent appearance. He also finished in the top 10 at O ​​Gran Camiño and the Tour of Turkey.

Statement:
José Miguel Fernández (Sports Director): "We are very excited about this great opportunity for the team. Participating in the Tour de France is a source of immense pride, and we want to repay the trust that..."

The Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team posted this:

The Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team has confirmed the eight riders who will represent the team at its first-ever Tour de France, with the Grand Départ set for Barcelona on Saturday.

Three years after the project was launched with the ambition of building a new kind of professional cycling team, reaching the Tour de France marks a defining milestone—not as a destination, but as another step in a long-term journey driven by performance, innovation and the ambition to compete at the very highest level of the sport.

Leading the squad is Tom Pidcock, winner on Alpe d'Huez and one of the most exciting riders in world cycling. Around him, the team has selected a versatile line-up capable of competing across every terrain, combining proven Grand Tour experience with riders who can support the race leader, target breakaways and fight for stage victories throughout the three weeks.

Tom Pidcock winning stage 5 of the 2026 Ruta del Sol.

The roster also includes Fred Wright, who arrives at the Tour in outstanding form after claiming the British National Road Race Championship last Sunday, adding further momentum to the team's preparations for cycling's biggest race.

The Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team roster for the 2026 Tour de France is:

Tom Pidcock (Great Britain)
Xabier Mikel Azparren (Spain)
Chris Harper (Australia)
Quinten Hermans (Belgium)
Damien Howson (Australia)
Xandro Meurisse (Belgium)
Brent Van Moer (Belgium)
Fred Wright (Great Britain)

Douglas Ryder, Team Principal of Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, said:

“From day one, the Tour de France has been a clear objective for this project. To now be on the start line is an important step, but more importantly, it reflects the consistency of the work that’s gone into building this team.

"We come with a group that combines experience, versatility and the mindset we want to race with. Our approach is simple we’ll race proactively, look for opportunities every day and make sure we’re present throughout all three weeks.

"This milestone goes well beyond the eight riders selected. It’s the result of years of commitment from the staff, the belief within the organisation, and the support of our partners Q36.5, Pinarello, UBS and many others who’ve helped create an environment where performance can grow.

"Being here is significant, but for us it’s not an end point. It’s another step in the progression of the team."

Here's the Tour update from Biniam Girmay's NSN Cycling Team:

Ahead of the start of this year’s Tour de France, Biniam Girmay and NSN co-founder Andrés Iniesta met with the media in Barcelona on Thursday evening.

Biniam and local icon Iniesta were speaking at the team’s pre-race press conference, which took place at the ME Hotel in the city

Biniam Girmay:
“I’m super happy and super motivated to start here in Barcelona, to go for stage wins, and chase the green jersey. This has been our main goal since the beginning of this season.

“Actually, there’s not much of a big difference in myself, but I have stronger teammates and a stronger lead-out compared to last year. That’s why my results are better than in 2025. We’ve worked so hard for this event, and we want to achieve what we’ve planned.

“I’ve had enough preparation for this year’s race, especially compared to previous years. We also have everybody more or less in the same shape – that also makes a big difference because, as a team, we need to have everybody at the same level. So I think I would mention that because we already saw this the last couple of days we raced together.

“If you see my best sprint performances, they were in the 2024 Tour, and we had two super hard and hot stages to start in Italy. That’s harder for the others – this is potentially also a benefit for me this year, as I can survive the heat better. We have hot and hard stages to begin after the TTT.”

Biniam Girmay before the start of stage two of the 2025 Tour de France. Sirotti photo

Andrés Iniesta:
“I think it’s special for everyone because it’s Barcelona and because we’re all involved in this wonderful project. There’s been an incredible amount of work, especially from the team itself and everyone involved behind the scenes, and we’re all really excited and looking forward to getting started. As Bini said, what we’re really hoping for is to celebrate a stage win together. That would be something very special. Or, of course, seeing Bini win the green jersey. So I wish the whole team the very best of luck.

“As a fan, the Tour de France is the biggest and most spectacular event, so having the opportunity to be part of it is truly amazing. I’m part of a company that was founded in 2018, with an incredible group of people working across many different areas. In the beginning, our focus was mainly on football, but at the end of the day, we’re all passionate about sport.

“Some time ago, we had the opportunity to become involved in this project. As I mentioned a few months ago, cycling has always meant something special to me. I grew up watching the Tour de France during the summers, especially in the era of [Miguel] Induráin. So being part of this project through my company, and having the chance to work alongside such outstanding professionals, is both a privilege and a great opportunity to keep learning.

“I think anyone who is involved in cycling and understands how a professional cycling team operates can appreciate the incredible attention to detail, the professionalism, and the way everyone works together. It’s truly fascinating. I love teamwork, and if there’s one sport that really embodies the value of teamwork, it’s cycling. That’s what makes this project so special, and I hope it continues for many years to come.

“Everyone is working incredibly hard to make it happen, and of course, the main protagonists, the riders, have our full support so they can be in the best possible condition and achieve their goals.

“I think both football and cycling are very similar, but I would say cycling is even tougher. Everything has to be precise down to the smallest detail, and sometimes just a few seconds can make all the difference. I was really impressed when I attended the Volta a Catalunya. I spent time with the team on the bus and saw how they prepare for every stage of the race. What impressed me the most was their preparation, the way every rider has a clearly defined role, how they plan for everything that could happen during a stage, and the work they do together with the sports directors. Everything is planned down to the smallest detail.

“In cycling, even a single second can completely change the outcome of a race. That’s why, once you get to see the sport from the inside, it’s absolutely fascinating. From the outside, you mostly see the riders, but you don’t see all the strategy and hard work that goes on behind the scenes. That’s what surprised me the most.

“We’ve tried to create values for our team. I think fans can love our team because we are trying to make something special.”

Team Visma | Lease a Bike and Giro extend partnership three years

Here’s the team’s post:

Team Visma | Lease a Bike and Giro have extended their partnership for another three years. The renewed agreement means Giro will remain the official helmet supplier of the men's, women's and development teams through the end of 2029.

Since the start of the partnership in 2024, Team Visma | Lease a Bike has raced in Giro's most advanced helmets, including the Eclipse Pro Spherical, Aries Spherical and Aerohead II. Together, the team and Giro will continue to push the boundaries of performance by testing and developing products at the highest level of the sport.

Jonas Vingegaard time trialing with a very aero Giro helmet at the 2025 Vuelta a España. Sirotti photo

Jasper Saeijs, Chief Business Officer of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, is happy with the extension: "Our partnership with Giro is built on a shared commitment to continuously improve. We've shown that the last few years, with the Aerohead II as a great example. At the highest level, success is often determined by details, so having a partner that is constantly thinking with us to develop the best product is incredibly valuable. We are glad we can continue together and are looking forward to all future developments."

Emily Watts, Giro Global Director of Sports Marketing, looks forward to continuing the collaboration: "At Giro, we're driven by a relentless pursuit of performance, and Team Visma | Lease a Bike shares that same mindset. Extending this partnership allows us to continue testing and developing our products in the most demanding racing environments in the world. The insights gained from working alongside elite athletes help us push the boundaries of design and innovation, ultimately creating better products for everyone who rides."