Search our site:

Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,

Thursday, July 9, 2026

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

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. - Henry David Thoreau

Bill McGann’s book Why Your Bike Is Made in Asia: My career in bicycles as I watched two continents squander an industry is available in print, Kindle eBook & Audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Current racing:

July 4 - 26: Tour de France
July 8 - 12: Tour of Austria

Upcoming racing:

July 26: Vuelta a Castilla y Leon

Latest completed racing:

Tour de France stage five reports

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

Here's the report from third-place Tim Merlier's Team Soudal Quick-Step:

Tim Merlier delivered our team’s first podium at this year’s edition of the Tour de France, after a chaotic finale at the end of the otherwise quiet stage five, one of the shortest of this race.

Soudal Quick-Step controlled the stage from the very beginning, setting a steady tempo behind the lone breakaway rider of the day and making sure Tim would make it without burning too much energy over the string of small climbs stacked in the last 40 kilometers. A dangerous attack just 25 kilometers from home was countered by Valentin Paret-Peintre, before our team again took the reins in the bunch.

Unfortunately for Merlier’s hopes, a crash in the last five kilometers left him alone in a reduced peloton, without Jasper Stuyven and Bert Van Lerberghe. The 33-year-old Belgian had to surf wheels in the hectic finale of Wednesday’s stage, but even in these conditions he impressed with the way he came from a way long back in the closing 500 meters to take his eighth top-three of the season.

Olav Kooij wins the stage five sprint. Sirotti photo

"After losing both Bert and Jasper, I was alone and had to find a way to get into position for the sprint and still fight for a good result. I thought I had found an opening at one point, but was forced almost immediately to come around and that was that. I hope that in the next stages, luck will be on our side”, Tim explained.

Jasper Stuyven, who was one of the riders involved in the crash, explained what happened: “Bert was pushed to one side, bounced up on the barriers, and from there it was unavoidable, as I got catapulted to the ground. It was really hectic. Everything seems ok for now, but I’m going to go straight to the hotel and get checked.”

Here's the Tour de France report from Jonas Vingegaard's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:

Team Visma | Lease a Bike came through the fifth stage of the Tour de France without major damage. In the hectic finale, the peloton split into pieces, but team leader Jonas Vingegaard finished in the same time as his main opponents for the general classification.

After four tough days through Spain and France, the fast men saw their opportunity today. The sprint teams controlled the race throughout the stage, after which the riders sprinted for victory in the well-known finish town of Pau. After a hectic finale, Olav Kooij was the fastest rider from the peloton.

Vingegaard was well protected by his teammates throughout the day during another very warm stage. Due to several crashes in the closing stages, the Dane crossed the finish line a few seconds behind, but ultimately did not lose any time to his biggest opponents for the overall victory.

Jonas Vingegaard at the teams presentation ceremony before the Tour's start. Sirotti photo

"Jonas had to change bikes in the finale, after which he reached the finish on Victor's bike," team director Marc Reef reflects on the hectic finale. "Fortunately, the team suffered little damage in the end and Jonas finished in the same time as his opponents."

Reef is now looking ahead to tomorrow, when the first real mountain stage awaits. "We are heading into tomorrow's stage with a good feeling. Jonas is in a good position in the general classification and feels strong. We are heading into tomorrow's stage with confidence."

And here's the Tour de France stage five report from Dorian Godon's Team Netcompany INEOS:

Dorian Godon sprinted to 15th place after a technical, fast finish on stage five of the Tour de France.

The flat 158km stage had an early solo break from Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarche), who spent much of the stage on his own, before being caught in the final 14km.

Stage five gets started. Sirotti photo

Godon was well looked after, with big efforts from Tobias Foss and Filippo Ganna, before a stellar lead out from Michal Kwiatkowski dropped off the Frenchman with 1.6km to go.

It was a technical finish, with a tight turn into the final kilometre, before a gradual uphill sprint greeted the front of the peloton. Godon sprinted hard, but in tight circumstances, was boxed in for the finish, crossing the line in 15th place.

Tomorrow will see the peloton return to the mountains, with five categorised climbs on the cards.

Tour of Austria stage one reports

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

Here's the Tour of Austria report from second-place Kevin Vermaerke's UAE Team Emriates-XRG:

On the first stage of the Tour of Austria, Kevin Vermaerke produced a battling display to take second place for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. The American rider began the race in fine form, and put those legs to good use by being among an elite group of riders which battled it out for the stage victory in Gamlitz.

Crossing the line just 11 seconds down on the stage winner, Gregor Mühlberger (Austria), Vermaerke is well placed in second overall. If it wasn’t for a superb solo display from the Austrian, it could have been even more for the man from UAE Team Emirates-XRG.

Gregor Mühlberger wins Tour of Austria stage one.

Earlier in the day, a large breakaway had gone up the road from the start in Graz. Thanks to this assortment of riders, UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Netcompany Ineos had to work hard in unison to bring their advantage under control before setting up their leaders to contend for the day’s honours.

As Vermaerke tracked the important moves, the race split apart inside the final 30km, with the battle well and truly on. Ultimately, the decisive move came from Mühlberger with a little over 11km to ride, and as his competitors hesitated, the Austrian made it count on home roads.

Vermaerke, meanwhile, soldiered on to try to make the catch. By the finish, only 11 seconds separated the American from a chance at victory, but he could be pleased with his and his team’s efforts on the day. Their pursuit of a stage win will rumble on into Thursday and beyond, with plenty of opportunities to leave their mark.

Vermaerke: “It was a big, punchy stage to start the race. We knew the last 30km would be pretty key, and in the end the breakaway had a pretty big gap in the last 50km. Our guys did a really good job of closing it in the last 50km, with the help of Ineos – nobody else wanted to contribute.

“It was a really strong ride from us. In the last part, I just followed the moves and tried to be present, and I found myself with pretty good timing. I hesitated a bit when Mühlberger went, and in hindsight, I should have gone with him. But in the end, I won the sprint for second, and we’ll look forward to the next days to try and do one better!”

Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,

Thursday, July 9, 2026

Home

Racing Results & Archives

Bicycles & Cycling Lifestyle

Cycling History

Site Information