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Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

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The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding. - Leonardo da Vinci

Les Woodland's book Paris-Roubaix: The Inside Story - All the bumps of cycling's cobbled classic is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Current racing:

• June 7 - 14: Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Upcoming racing:

• June 10: Circuit Franco-Belge
• June 14: Copenhagen Sprint
• June 14: GP Gippingen/Canton Aargau

Latest completed racing:

• June 7: Brussels Cycling Classic
• June 1 - 5: Ethias-Tour de Wallone
• May 8 - 31: Giro d'Italia
• May 28 - 31: Tour of Norway
• May 20 - 24: 4 Jours de Dunkerque
• May 23: Veenendaal - Veenendaal
• May 19: Classique Dunkerque
• May 17: Rund um Köln
• May 16: Tour du Finistère
• May 10: Tro-Bro Léon
• April 26 - May 3: Tour of Turkey
• April 28 - May 3: Tour de Romandie
• May 1: Eschborn-Frankfurt

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

Here's the report from stage two third-place Vlad Van Mechelen's Team Bahrain Victorious:

Bahrain Victorious continued its strong momentum at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, where Vlad Van Mechelen sprinted to third place from the breakaway on Stage 2 (Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux – Le Puy-en-Velay, 237.3 km).

Henri-Francois Renard-Haquin (on right) & Vlad Van Mechelen finish second and third. The Movistar rider behind them is fourth-place Raúl García. Sirotti photo

On the longest stage of the eight-day French race, the 22-year-old Belgian was part of the day’s decisive breakaway on a demanding route featuring five classified climbs and 3,685 metres of elevation gain. While less selective than some of the mountain stages to come, the parcours offered an ideal opportunity for the attackers to fight for the stage victory.

As expected, a group of ten riders, including Van Mechelen, established itself at the front during the opening climbs and built an advantage of up to six minutes. Behind, the team of race leader Alex Baudin, EF Education-EasyPost, controlled the gap to ensure the breakaway would not become a threat to the general classification.

The race came alive with 46 kilometres remaining when Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarché) attacked alongside Braz Afonso (Groupama-FDJ), who later attempted to continue solo. On the undulating terrain that followed, Van Mechelen remained active in a group of five riders from the original breakaway and successfully bridged across to the leaders. At the 27-kilometres-to-go mark, Van Mechelen found himself at the front of the race alongside Garcia Pierna (Movistar) and Braz Afonso (Groupama-FDJ), with the trio maintaining a small advantage for around six kilometres.

The decisive moment arrived on the final classified climb of the day, around ten kilometres from the finish, when Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Mobility) accelerated clear of his companions and rode away to victory. Behind, Van Mechelen fought for the remaining podium places and crossed the line in third, 41 seconds behind the winner, with Henri-François Renard (Team Picnic PostNL) taking second place.

Van Mechelen reflected on his performance:
“It was a really hard day. To be honest, I regretted choosing this stage for the breakaway at some points because it was incredibly long and we spent almost the entire day out front. We had everything: heat, rain, cold, technical roads and a very strong group of riders in the breakaway.

"In the final, I felt there were many riders with similar strengths. Maybe I wasn’t the strongest, or maybe the course was just a little too hard for me, so I quickly shifted my focus to surviving and getting the maximum out of the day. I think I came very close to doing that.

"When Raul attacked and I followed, I thought that move could decide the race, but the others managed to come back, which was impressive. From that point it became a matter of racing smart and conserving energy.

"Maybe second place was possible today, but I don’t think much more was. I’m happy with how my shape is progressing after coming back from the injury, and I hope this is only the beginning.”

Sports Director Michal Gołaś was pleased with the team’s performance:
“We are happy with Vlad’s third place. The objective was to have Matej Mohorič in the breakaway, but Vlad was our second option, and he showed his strength today.

"The decisive break formed at a difficult moment in the race, and Vlad was there in the final. He followed the right moves and was fully in contention. On the last climb he missed a little bit, but overall he was in the game and delivered a very strong performance.

"Behind, Matej and Santiago Buitrago finished safely in the reduced peloton without any issues, so overall it was a positive day for us.”

Tomorrow, Stage 3 features a 28.4-kilometre team time trial around Perreux, a stage that could provide the first major shake-up in the general classification.

Fifth-place Clément Braz Afonso's Team Groupama-FDJ United posted this report:

He did try everything, but it ultimately was not enough. Back at the front of the race on Monday at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, just one day after his breakaway towards Saint-Ismier, Clément Braz Afonso boldly took his chance on Stage 2. More than forty kilometres from the finish, the 26-year-old first tried to anticipate with another man before launching a solo move, only to see several rivals bridge back. Twenty kilometres later, he was just a few metres short of reaching the final climb alongside Anthon Charmig. Still in contention for a podium finish until the closing metres, he eventually had to settle for a bittersweet fifth place.

Following an unusually demanding opening stage, the peloton faced a very long stage on Monday during the second day of racing at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. More than 230 kilometres were on the menu towards Le Puy-en-Velay, featuring no fewer than 3,600 metres of elevation gain. That pointed towards one likely scenario. “We knew the breakaway had a strong chance of making it to the finish because it was a long and difficult stage, the day before an important team time trial,” explained Thierry Bricaud. “We expected very few teams to be willing to control the race, so the plan was to be up the road.”

The peloton halfway into the stage. ASO photo

The fight for the break lasted more than twenty kilometres, and it was only on the Col du Chatain, the first climb of the day, that the peloton finally allowed ten riders to go clear : among them was Clément Braz Afonso, already on the attack the day before. “I wasn’t feeling great at the start, but I stayed patient,” he said. “When a counterattack went in the climb, I followed with a slight delay but managed to make it across.” The attackers quickly built a five-minute advantage. “We soon realised the breakaway had every chance of fighting for the stage win, which was our sole objective for the day,” added Thierry. “It was all about the stage,” confirmed Clément, the highest-placed rider in the breakaway on general classification but with no interest in chasing the yellow jersey.

With little pressure coming from the peloton, the breakaway managed its effort accordingly and still held more than four and a half minutes heading into the final forty kilometres and the penultimate climb of the day : Côte des Baraques (4.2 km at 6.6%). “We especially didn’t want to get caught out far from the finish,” said Thierry. “Clément was therefore opportunistic when Veistroffer attacked.” Forty-five kilometres from the line, the Groupama-FDJ United rider used a first bullett. “I was at the back of the group when I saw Baptiste attack,” he explained. “I thought it could be a good idea to get a head start. I took my chance, hoping the chase behind wouldn’t be too organised, but in the end they worked together quite well. Looking back, I don’t think it was the best idea because he really put me under pressure on the flat, and I got to the climbs a bit exhausted.”

Nevertheless, the pair started the Côte des Baraques with a fifteen-second advantage, and halfway up the climb, Clément Braz Afonso dropped his companion and opened a twenty-second gap over the chasers. “On paper, it was a very smart move,” said Thierry. “But there were still thirty kilometres left. He never truly got clear, everyone hung on, and eventually they came back.”

The breakaway was still reduced to seven riders. After first being joined by two competitors, Clément Braz Afonso saw four more riders return following an intense chase. The group then reached the foot of the Côte de Saint-Vidal (2 km at 6.8%), the final climb of the day, together with fourteen kilometres remaining. Alert and well positioned from the bottom, the young man matched the pace set by Anthon Charmig, but near the summit the Frenchman was forced to concede a few metres following a decisive acceleration from the Dane. “That was a bit of a blow mentally,” he admitted. “The energy I spent earlier may have been what I lacked to stay with him. I was still climbing well, but on the flat sections I just couldn’t push a big gear anymore.” “He was only missing a little something to fight for the win, but we were also up against a very strong rider,” said Thierry. “It’s frustrating, but there were no mistakes. At the end of a day like this, everyone is riding on courage and exhaustion.”

Although he reached the summit only five seconds behind Charmig, Clément Braz Afonso was unable to close the gap on the descending false flat. He was first caught by Raúl García Pierna and then by two more riders, while the Scandinavian rider rode away to victory.

The podium, however, remained within reach. “I tried to attack with 500 metres to go because I could feel the cramps coming,” said Clément. “If they had started looking at each other, it might have worked, but they didn’t. Once the sprint started, it was over.” He therefore had to settle for fifth place despite an aggressive and generous ride.“It’s a poor reward for the day he had, but what mattered was trying to win,” said Thierry. “Of course, second is better than fifth, but that’s not the main thing. What matters is the mindset he showed throughout the day. He raced to win the stage, and it came down to very little. To win races at this level, everything has to fall into place. He was missing a little something today, but these are also the kinds of days that will make him stronger and help him learn for the future. If he keeps racing this way, his time will come. He hasn’t often found himself in this position before, but today he was there, and it will happen more and more often. Success also comes through setbacks. He will grow from this experience and eventually raise his arms in victory. It was still a great day for him and for the team, and that’s the mindset we need to keep.”

While the stage result did not fully reflect his performance, Clément Braz Afonso was rewarded with the combativity award and the mountains classification jersey. “It’s a small consolation,” he said in conclusion. “I have mixed feelings. It’s great when I think about where I’ve come from and the fact that this is only my second WorldTour season, but it’s also disappointing because the race didn’t unfold the way I had hoped. Maybe I spent too much energy, but sometimes anticipating is what pays off. I tried something today, and it turned out not to be the right strategy, but experience comes little by little. I’m already proud that I managed to be up front again today.” Two minutes behind him, Quentin Pacher crossed the line in 17th place in a peloton that also included Rudy Molard, Clément Berthet, Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet and Maxime Decomble. On Tuesday, the riders will face a 28-kilometre team time trial around Perreux.

Here's the report from eighth-place Nadav Raisberg's NSN Cycling Team:

A breakthrough day in Nadav Raisberg’s career. The reigning Israeli TT champion recorded the biggest result of his career to date and moved into the lead in the points classification after a day-long breakaway on stage 2 of the Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes.

Raisberg finished eighth in Le Puy-en-Velay having been part of a 10-rider group that broke clear shortly after KM0 in the longest stage, a sizeable 234.3 kilometers.

Nadav Raisberg finishes eighth. Sirotti photo

“I don’t think I’ve ever gone that deep – I’ve never, ever felt that,” he says. “I couldn’t pedal on the finish line.

“But in the last 5km, I realized what was possible. On the last climb, I knew I had to give everything. I was super empty already but I believed in myself and having that green jersey in the back of my mind helped me a lot.”

Raisberg started his path to the green jersey in Sunday’s opening stage when he found himself in a short-lived breakaway, which allowed him to take maximum points at the day’s intermediate sprint, located inside the first 25 kilometers.

By the time he crossed the line first in today’s sprint at Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid, ahead of his nine breakaway companions, he had been at the head of the race for 140 kilometers.

The 25-year-old was distanced on the Côte des Baraques with 30 kilometers remaining, but managed to finish ahead of the peloton to take 10 more crucial points, giving him a five-point advantage over stage winner Anthon Charmig in the standings ahead of tomorrow’s team time trial.

He adds: “Nothing compares to taking the green jersey in a race like this – it’s something you dream of, and that dream came true.

“I didn’t expect to be in the breakaway today – I was trying to help Marco [Frigo] get in the move. But 230km in the break, all day in the wind, I don’t think I’ve ever suffered in this way before.

“But I knew the green jersey was on the table, so I did everything I could to get it. I’m super happy to get it, and a top-10 in a WorldTour race, I can be super proud of myself. Thanks to the team for the opportunity.”

Here's the Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes stage two report from Team Soudal Quick-Step:

One of the longest stages of the whole cycling season took place on Monday, when the Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes bunch embarked on a 235km trek from Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux to Le Puy-en-Velay. Once the peloton left behind a long neutral zone, an elevation gain of almost 3700 awaited, the lumpy parcours comprising five classified climbs being perfect for a group of riders to roll the dice.

Team Soudal Quick-Step before the stage start. Sirotti photo

Martin Svrcek was among those who attacked in the first hour of the race, quickly gaining 20 seconds on the bunch, but the breakaway was a long way from being formed and they were soon brought back. It took several more skirmishes for a group to ride away, and this time not only was the peloton fine with this move, they also allowed them to open a huge six-minute gap.

As a result, for the second day in a row, the breakaway made it, only this time it was Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Mobility) who took the victory. Mauri Vansevenant was Soudal Quick-Step’s top finisher, just outside the top ten, but also Valentin Paret-Peintre came home together with the GC favorites and remains well-placed in the general classification ahead of Tuesday’s team time trial, which promises to give the overall standings a meaning full shake-up.

Here's the report from Wout Van Aert's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:

The second stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes passed without incident for Team Visma | Lease a Bike. The riders of the yellow-and-black squad reached the finish safely. The stage victory went to Anthon Charmig.

At 234 kilometers, the second stage of the French stage race was by far the longest of the week. After the start in Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux, the riders faced a rolling course featuring several categorized climbs. Early in the race, a group of ten riders successfully formed the day's breakaway. The leaders quickly built a large gap. 

A bandaged Wout Van Aert heads to the stage start. Sirotti photo

As the race entered its final phase, the breakaway's lead gradually shrank, but their chances of contesting the stage win were never seriously threatened. The escapees battled among themselves for victory in Le Puy-en-Velay, with the Danish rider Charmig ultimately proving the strongest. The peloton crossed the finish line more than three minutes behind the winner. In the general classification, Ben Tulett now sits fifth, 32 seconds behind leader Alex Baudin. 

Sports director Maarten Wynants reflected on the stage afterward: “This stage could have unfolded in several ways, but in the end it made sense that the early breakaway stayed away today. With tomorrow’s team time trial on the horizon, few teams were interested in taking responsibility for the chase. It wasn’t our place to sacrifice riders in the peloton. This approach allowed us to conserve energy for tomorrow.” 

A crucial team time trial is scheduled for tomorrow. The teams will face off over 28.4 kilometers on a rolling course that includes two climbs along the way. French national time trial champion Bruno Armirail is already looking ahead. 

“We’re at the start here with several riders who will also be racing the Tour de France, so tomorrow’s time trial is definitely a good test,” he said. “You could see it as a rehearsal, but the most important thing is to deliver a strong performance tomorrow. We’re aiming for a top result. On paper, this course should suit me well, but we also have several strong climbers on the team. It’s going to be demanding, but I’ll do everything I can to stay with them on the climbs and contribute to the team effort.”

And here's the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes report from Kevin Vauquelin's Team Netcompany INEOS:

Kevin Vauquelin and Oscar Onley moved up the General Classification to seventh and eighth overall on a transitional second stage at the Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes.

The peloton races across southern France. Sirotti photo

The race's longest stage since 2003 played out across 234.3 undulating kilometres on a day which fell into the hands of the breakaway.

With a lot of attention on Wednesday's upcoming team time trial, the scene was set for the break to contest stage honours - with Anthon Charmig (UnoX-Mobility) taking the solo win into Le Puy-en-Velay.

Netcompany INEOS worked well to both protect their leaders and conserve energy where possible ahead of key tests to come.

Vauquelin and Onley both moved up two places on the GC, but remained 32 seconds behind overnight race leader Alex Baudin (EF Education - Easypost).