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Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,

Saturday, June 20, 2026

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

We simply don't have the luxury or time to be cynical or complacent. Hope is the essential spark that lights the fire of change. But hope is a choice. Whether or not we speak up is a choice. Voting is a choice. Being a decent human being is a choice. Believing that we still hold the power to build a country that reflects us all is a choice. – Michelle Obama

Les Woodland's book Cycling's 50 Triumphs and Tragedies: The rise and fall of bicycle racing's champions is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Current racing:

• June 17 - 21: Tour de Suisse
• June 17 - 21: Baloise Belgium Tour

Upcoming racing:

• June 24 - 28: National Championshps
• July 4 - 26: Tour de France
• July 7 - 12: Tour of Austria

Latest completed racing:

• 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
• 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

We posted the report from from stage winner Jhonatan Narvarz's UAE Team Emriates-XRG with the results.

Here's the report from King of the Mountains Louis Vervaeke's Team Soudal Quick-Step:

Louis Vervaeke will enter the penultimate stage of the month’s last World Tour race as leader of the KOM classification, after he won the first climb of Friday, Wildhaus. The points he scored at the top from the first breakaway of the day elevated him to the top of the climbers’ competition, which will be decided on Sunday, when a total of four classified ascents will be on the menu.

In the valley, Louis and his companions were caught, which opened the door to another group to ride away. This time, Soudal Quick-Step had Max Schachmann there, but also the former German Champion was reeled in by a peloton keen on having a bunch sprint in Bad Ragaz. Unfortunately for the fast men, two riders managed to stay clear and fight for victory, which went to Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates).

Louis Vervaeke now leads the mountains classification and will wear the classification's green jersey in stage four. Sirotti photo

In the overall standings, Ilan Van Wilder is seventh and will have a chance to cement his position after the 23.7km individual time trial, one of the most important stages of this Tour de Suisse.

“I knew there was a chance to score points on the first climb, as it came early in the stage, so I went with that group. The peloton wasn’t far behind, but we had just enough for me to make it first over the top. It’s nice to have this jersey and wear it for the next two stages. I will see what I can do on Sunday, when there’s a lot of climbing on the menu”, Louis said at the finish.

Here’s the Tour of Switzerland report from Michal Kwiatkowski’s Tean Netcompany INEOS:

Michal Kwiatkowski got through some strong kilometres in the stage three breakaway at Tour de Suisse, with Axel Laurance sprinting to seventh at the finish.

Kwiatkowski had been part of a lead trio during an undulating opening to the 157.4-kilometre stage, but would eventually slip back into a second breakaway group on the road.

Michal Kwiatkowski heads to the start of stage three. Sirotti photo

A tense finale was set up on the run into Bad Ragaz, with the remaining escapees, Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) and Xandro Meurisse (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling), contesting the stage win, despite being caught at the line.

Narvaez edged out his breakaway counterpart, with the peloton crossing the line together after a rain-soaked finale.

Laurance, who had also been active in the early going, took seventh on the day, while the bunch sprint also allowed Tobias Foss and AJ August to retain their GC foothold.

The action continues into the weekend, with a time trial on Saturday before a tough mountain finale on Sunday.

And here's the Swiss Tour report from Team Visma | Lease a Bike:

Matthew Brennan was unable to compete for the stage victory in the third stage of the Tour de Suisse. After a strong performance from the entire team, the peloton just ran out of road to sprint for the stage win.

In the third stage of the Swiss stage race, the yellow-and-black formation was visible at the front of the race from early on. Riding in support of Brennan, Team Visma | Lease a Bike played an active role in the chase of the breakaway riders, who had built up a significant lead.

Despite the team’s hard work, the two escapees narrowly managed to stay out of the peloton’s reach. Jhonatan Narváez won the sprint ahead of fellow breakaway rider Xandro Meurisse. Brennan crossed the line in eleventh place.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike before the start of stage two. Sirotti photo

“Today there were simply two stronger riders,” said sports director Gaëtan Pons in an honest post-race assessment. “It was the most important stage for us this week, so it’s disappointing that we were not able to compete for the win. The guys gave everything in the chase and I can certainly not fault the team. The breakaway riders were just stronger.”

The Luxembourgish sports director now turns his attention to tomorrow’s time trial. “Tomorrow is a very important day for the general classification. Wilco has shown many times that he is capable of a strong time trial, so hopefully he can deliver a good result.”