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Saturday, June 27, 2026

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Tour de France team news

Team Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe sent me the TDF update:

Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz will lead Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at the 2026 Tour de France as co-leaders. For the German WorldTeam, it marks the team’s 13th appearance at the biggest race.

The Belgian and the German bring together an impressive statistic: both riders won the Best Young Rider classification and finished third overall in each of the last two editions of the Tour de France. Now, they will line up together for the first time as a leadership duo.

Remco Evenepoel in the Best Young Rider's white jersey after stage seven of the 2025 Tour de France. Sirotti photo

Their strengths complement each other perfectly. Evenepoel is one of the most explosive and versatile riders in the peloton, while Lipowitz has established himself as one of the most consistent stage racers. The combination of their different skill sets gives Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe a level of tactical flexibility that few teams can match.

For Evenepoel, it will be his third consecutive Tour de France appearance, while Lipowitz is set for his second start. Both riders have built their seasons around July and have spent the past weeks preparing specifically for the demands of cycling’s most prestigious Grand Tour. Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe heads into the race with clear ambitions of playing a major role in the battle for the general classification.

“The Tour is no longer won by an exceptional rider alone, but by an exceptional team. We believe we are bringing one of the most complete squads to the start. With Remco and Florian, we have two leaders who have already proven they can stand on the Tour podium. Their different strengths give us tactical options that could prove decisive,” says Zak Dempster, Chief of Sports at Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe.

With Evenepoel, Lipowitz and Jai Hindley, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe brings three riders who have already stood on a Grand Tour podium. As a result, the team ranks among the deepest squads in the fight for the general classification. At the same time, Maxim Van Gils, Mattia Cattaneo, Jan Tratnik, Nico Denz and Tim van Dijke provide the necessary balance between climbing strength and control on the flat stages.

Patxi Vila, Sports Director for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at the Tour de France, says: “The strength of this roster goes far beyond Remco and Florian. We have experienced climbers, strong all-rounders and riders capable of taking responsibility in every race situation. Every Tour develops its own dynamic, and with this team we have an answer to almost every possible scenario.”

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Team Jayco AlUla sent me this Tour de France update:

Team Jayco AlUla will head to the Tour de France Grand Depart in Barcelona with a core of Australian talent ready to do battle on all fronts.

The squad will have a distinct Aussie flavour with five riders from Down Under making up the eight-rider roster as GreenEDGE Cycling takes on its 15th ‘La Grande Boucle’, starting on July 4th.

Tour de France stage winners Michael Matthews and Ben O’Connor will lead the line-up, with the duo out to add to their win tally in Le Tour.

Team Jayco AlUla at the 2026 Tour de France:
Pascal Ackermann (GER) – 3rd appearance
Luke Durbridge (AUS) -12th appearance
Felix Engelhardt (GER) – Debut
Kelland O’Brien (AUS) – Debut
Ben O’Connor (AUS) – 5th appearance
Michael Matthews (AUS) – 9th appearance
Luke Plapp (AUS) – 2nd appearance
Mauro Schmid (SUI) – 2nd appearance

Australian Core:
Former green jersey winner Matthews has four Tour de France stage wins to his name and the 35-year-old will be hungrier than ever in 2026 after missing last year’s edition through illness.

Michael Matthews before the start of stage one of the our Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes. Sirotti photo

O’Connor triumphed on the queen stage in 2025, and the Western Australian has proven his pedigree in the biggest race on the calendar with two stage wins and a fourth place overall on his palmarès.

Giro d’Italia stage winner Luke Plapp will be hoping to add a Tour de France stage win to his resume, with the 25-year-old returning to the race after his debut last year.

Aggressive Riding:
The ever-aggressive Mauro Schmid will look to continue his successful season and finally grab that elusive Tour stage victory that he narrowly missed on stage 11 last year.

The multiple Swiss champion has had an impressive first half to the year with three wins and the overall title at the Coppi e Bartali, as well as a host of podium performances. The 26-year-old will be back for more with his trademark attacking racing style in 2026.

Debutants:
Alongside the experienced roster, the team names two Tour de France debutants in Olympic gold medallist Kell O’Brien and versatile German Felix Engelhardt. Both riders have Grand Tour experience with numerous starts at La Vuelta and the Giro between them, and this year the duo have earned themselves a spot on the Tour team.

Engelhardt has proven to be a rider for all terrains after a standout ride in the mountains at the recent Tour Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes, and the 25-year-old also packs a dangerous kick in reduced bunch finishes.

O’Brien will bring serious power to the squad, with the team pursuit gold medallist set to play a key role in the team time trial on the opening stage in Barcelona.

Experienced Campaigners:
As well as boasting attacking options, sprinter Pascal Ackermann will give the team opportunities in the fast finishes. The German has five victories across seven Grand Tour starts and will lead the team in the bunch sprints.

Rounding out the team will be road captain Luke Durbridge, lining up for his 12th and final Tour de France. A key member of the ‘engine room’, the 35-year-old will be valuable in guiding his teammates through the three weeks of racing as well in the TTT on day one.

Michael Matthews:
“If you’d told me three months ago that I would be lining up for the Tour de France, I don’t think I would have believed you. I’ve worked really hard to get back together with the team in time for the Tour and I’m really looking forward being back.

"After missing last year with my illness and then with my crash earlier this year, it’s given me even more motivation and hunger. The Tour is the biggest race of the year and even though this will be my 9th time racing, making the squad is always huge for any rider.

"I think we have a really strong team and now I can’t wait to line up with the boys in Barcelona. Starting with a team time trial is a special way to start a Grand Tour, hopefully we can start well and build the momentum as we get deeper into the race.”

Mat Hayman (Sport Director):
“We have a very strong, well-rounded team for this year’s Tour de France. We have Pascal there for the sprints and then a lot of rouleurs looking for stage opportunities, whether that’s in the medium or high mountains.

"It’s pretty exciting to have a couple of riders who are starting their first Tour de France with Kell and Felix, it’s a massive step for them in their careers. Then on the other side you have Luke Durbridge who will be returning for his 12th Tour, a real stalwart of the team and someone we can always rely on.

"There’s a strong Australian theme with Ben returning off a stage win last. Michael Matthews has fought back from injury to be ready to take on the Tour which has been really impressive. Then we have Plapp, who’s won a stage in the Giro and would love to add one in the Tour de France.

"Rounding out the team we have Mauro Schmid, it’s yet to be seen whether he will be back in his Swiss champions colours or maybe he’s flying under the radar this year!”

Gene Bates (Head of Performance):
“We’re really excited about the team we have put together for the Tour de France this year. This line-up has riders capable of competing on every stage over the three weeks, from the flat sprint stages through to the high mountains.

"It’s always a challenge to put together a team for the biggest race on the calendar, you have to make some big calls, but we believe between the performance team and the sport directors we have selected a truly competitive squad.

"As an Australian team, having a strong Australian core amongst the eight riders is also something we are proud of as we line-up for our 15th Tour de France as an organisation.”

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Rémi Cavagna wins the French time trial championships

Here’s the report from Cavagna’s Team Groupama-FDJ United:

Without the French national time trial jersey for the past three years, Rémi Cavagna put an end to that unusual drought on Thursday, and he did so in style. On the rolling course around La Tour-du-Pin, the Auvergne rider was clearly in a class of his own during the French National Time Trial Championships. He indeed led at every intermediate checkpoint before posting the fastest time at the finish, nearly fifty seconds ahead of Bruno Armirail. A convincing victory, further confirming his return to the highest level. After battling for second place throughout most of the race, Ewen Costiou ultimately secured a fine bronze medal, while Maxime Decomble (4th) and Thibaud Gruel (6th) capped a superb day for Groupama-FDJ United.

Rémi Cavagna before the start of stage three of the 2025 Tour de Romandie. Sirotti photo

Expected to be contested in extreme heat, the 2026 French National Championships got underway on Thursday in La Tour-du-Pin. As usual, the first blue-white-red jersey was awarded in the individual time trial. After finishing just off the podium in the last two editions, Rémi Cavagna came with a point to prove and the ambition of returning to the top step, despite the presence of defending champion Bruno Armirail and a somewhat disrupted preparation. “We didn’t come into the race full of confidence after his abandon and heatstroke at the Tour de Suisse,” explained his coach, Joseph Berlin-Sémon. “The plan was to assess his condition and gain confidence in the time trial there, but the opposite happened. We had some doubts, but in the end he was able to return home, rest, recharge, and work well at the start of the week. He got back on track, and Monday’s training reassured us. The only remaining question mark was how he would handle the heat on race day.” “Heat is a bit of an enemy for me,” confirmed Rémi. “These are conditions I don’t particularly enjoy. I even briefly considered not racing because of it, but I refocused and reminded myself that I had to be here given the form I’d shown since the start of the season.”

The Clermont-Ferrand native was indeed on the start line in Aoste on Thursday for the 30-kilometre rolling course, featuring around 400 metres of elevation gain. Managing the heat was therefore a major focus. “We had to handle the warm-up carefully to avoid overheating and keep his body temperature as low as possible before the start,” said Joseph. “The staff did a tremendous job in that regard, and there were several feeding points along the course. The final key element was pacing. The idea was really to stay out of the red zone, manage the effort properly, and maintain the most even pacing possible.”

Starting second-to-last, Cavagna executed the plan perfectly. “I didn’t start too fast, but I felt really good from the beginning,” he explained. “I was pushing well on the pedals and genuinely enjoying myself.” That proved more than enough to show his dominance in the race immediately. After 8.5 kilometres, he was six seconds ahead of teammate Ewen Costiou and twenty seconds clear of Bruno Armirail. At the halfway point, his advantage had grown to twenty-two seconds over the Breton rider and nearly thirty-five seconds over the Visma–Lease a Bike competitor. “I could see right away that he was on pace and had the legs to fight for the title,” said Joseph. “Nothing was moving, either on the flat sections or on the climbs. The climbs were relatively fast, allowing him to stay in his time-trial position throughout.”

In the second half of the course, the trend never changed. The French powerhouse continued to extend his advantage over his rivals. “I was in control throughout the entire time trial,” he said. “The effort was very consistent, exactly how I wanted it. It’s the same approach I’ve had since the beginning of the season. That’s very satisfying.” The rider from Auvergne avoided any late-race suspense and pressure. With five kilometres remaining, he held a 47-second advantage over Armirail, who had moved into provisional second place.

“Joseph really motivated me and before the final descent he told me I had a bit of an advantage and could start enjoying it,” recalled Rémi. “It’s a great feeling to know you’re going to win while there’s still a rider behind you. I was able to enjoy those final two or three kilometres.” At the finish, Cavagna crossed the line 1 minute and 4 seconds faster than Ewen Costiou, who had been the provisional leader, while his main rival Armirail eventually finished 49 seconds behind. Cavagna could then officially celebrate his third national time trial title and his first in Groupama-FDJ United colours. “It’s a relief because it had been a long time since I’d worn this jersey,” he said. “It’s very satisfying, and it’s always special to wear the national champion’s jersey in a discipline that I love. It also continues the momentum of what has been a strong start to the season in time trials for me. I know that when I’m performing well against the clock, I’m mentally in a better place too.”

The victory also validates Cavagna’s return to the forefront, a year and a half after joining the team. “We had a two-year plan,” Joseph explained. “The first year was about rebuilding and getting back on track. This second year was about returning to his best level and delivering on key objectives. After the UAE Tour time trial, the Giro time trial, and now the French Championship time trial, Rémi has achieved all three goals. He’s very happy, and so are we. It’s a tremendous reward both for the team, which hadn’t won the national time trial title for several years, and for Rémi, who had made this jersey his major target.” “I’m really happy for Rémi,” added Ewen Costiou. “He deserves it. He hasn’t had much luck recently, so this is a great reward for both him and the team.” Ewen Costiou himself secured the bronze medal after spending much of the day fighting for silver: “I faded a little over the final ten kilometres, probably because of the heat, but I had good legs and felt strong on the climbs. Overall, it was still a very good time trial. When I found out I’d missed second place by fifteen seconds, I was obviously a little disappointed, but I have no regrets. It’s my first medal at a national championship and I’m really happy.”

Groupama-FDJ United’s collective performance extended well beyond the podium, with Maxime Decomble finishing fourth and Thibaud Gruel sixth. “We have a very strong time-trial squad again,” said Joseph. “That’s no coincidence and it reflects all the investment made over the past few years. We have a talented group that is performing well, in great shape, and had prepared perfectly for this event. It’s excellent for the team.” The hunt for French national jerseys is now off to the perfect start. “Rémi has shown the way, now it’s up to the others on Sunday,” Joseph smiled. The day’s winner concluded: “We’ll try to win the jersey in the road race as well, and we absolutely need to bring it back to the team! We have the resources to achieve great things, and I hope to enjoy myself out there. In any case, it feels great to finish the first half of the season with this title before attacking the second half with some exciting goals.”

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Ryan Mullen wins eighth Irish Time Trial Championship

Mullen’s NSN Cycling Team posted this report:

Ryan Mullen wrote more Irish cycling history on Thursday, as he won a record eighth time trial title in Swinford, County Mayo.

Mullen started the day holding more victories in the men’s race than anybody else, but his latest victory – the first time he has claimed consecutive victories since 2019 – takes him two clear of David McCann.

The 31-year-old had a 22-second lead at the halfway mark, and went on to beat his nearest challenger by 47 seconds. Mullen averaged 51.2kph for his ride.

Ryan Mullen

“I was happy to execute a decent performance – shout out to Simon Clarke for helping me with my new position, which helped today,” he says.

“I recced the course today, and annoyingly, the wind completely flipped direction by the time I started, so I had to rethink my pacing. But I invested in the places where I had to invest and carried as much speed as I could into the easier sections.

“There was no hiding on this course, which is what I like. I can get into a rhythm, get my head down, and push.

“I suffered in the final few KMs. I didn’t get any time checks – I just did my ride, and I’m happy with how it went.”

Across the Irish Sea, NSN Devo Team rider Fin Tarling finished third in the British U23 TT Championships.

The Welshman was just three seconds off taking second in his home country of Wales, with the race being won by Ben Wiggins, son of 2012 Tour de France champion Bradley.

Ethan Vernon, who returned to action following a nasty crash in the Giro d’Italia, placed fourth in the elite race.

Canadian rider Pier-André Côté was on the podium in his country’s race, matching the third-place finish he achieved 12 months ago, in Saint-Georges. Compatriot Ben Morin finished fourth in the U23 race.

“I’ve had a lot of training disturbances over the past couple of months, I just haven’t been able to get consistency in training because of illnesses and everything,” says Côté.

“I was hoping for a miracle, but this weekend was all about adjusting my usual expectations from showing up here to go for the titles to trying to maximize what I can get with the legs I have.

“I actually felt pretty good about the ride itself in the first half – I was hitting my numbers, staying aero, and I felt ready to open up. Then I came apart slowly; it became a slow burn on the way back. I got away with a 20, 25-minute effort, but there was nowhere to hide over 40 minutes. The lack of preparation showed itself over the second half.”

There was also a medal for Dawid Lewandowski, another NSN Devo Team rider, who placed second in the Polish U23 event in Rasząg. The 20-year-old will defend his U23 road race title on Friday.

Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,

Saturday, June 27, 2026

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