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Friday, March 13, 2026

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2025 Tour de France | 2025 Giro d'Italia

My doctor told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother. - Wilma Rudolph

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Les Woodland's book Cycling Heroes: The Golden Years is available in the print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Current racing:

• March 8 - March 15: Paris-Nice
• March 9 - 15: Tirreno-Adriatico

Upcoming racing:

• March 18: Danilith Nokere Koerse
• March 18: Milano-Torino
• March 19: GP de Denain
• March 20: Bredene Koksijde Classic
• March 21: Milano-Sanremo

Latest completed racing:

• March 7: Strade Bianche
• March 4: Trofeo Laigueglia
• March 3: Le Samyn Classic
• February 25 - March 1: Giro di Sardegna
• March 1: Faun Drome Classic
• March 1: Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
• February 28: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
• February 28: Faun Ardèche Classic
• February 22: Tour des Alpes Maritimes

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Paris-Nice stage five reports

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

Here's the report from stage winner Jonas Vingegaard's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:

Jonas Vingegaard produced a 20-kilometer solo in stage five to secure his second win in a row. The 29-year-old Dane left everyone behind in the tough finale, further strengthening his lead in the general classification.

“We had absolutely targeted this stage,” Vingegaard said afterwards. “The team rode a fantastic race. A strong breakaway went up the road, but the guys did a great job keeping them within reach. Everyone sacrificed themselves for me, so it’s nice to reward them with another stage victory.” 

No other racers in sight as Jonas Vingegaard solos across the finish line.

The riders were greeted with sunny conditions for stage five. The peloton set off from Cormoranche-sur-Saône for a 206-kilometer route to Colombier-le-Vieux over rolling terrain. The decisive part of the stage came in the finale, where steep climbs followed one another in quick succession. After his heroic stage win on Wednesday, Vingegaard started the day as the new leader of the general classification. 

It took a while before the day’s breakaway formed. Only after more than an hour of racing five riders managed to escape from the peloton. The bunch, led by Team Visma | Lease a Bike, kept the group within reach. Victor Campenaerts then seized his opportunity to bridge across. The 34-year-old Belgian quickly joined the break together with Ivan Romeo and Lorenzo Milesi. 

On the first steep climb in the demanding finale, Campenaerts chose his own pace. Later, he would prove to be of great value in support of his team leader. Meanwhile, Team Visma | Lease a Bike set an impressive tempo in the reduced peloton, steadily closing in on the front of the race. Among others, Bruno Armirail looked tireless. 

At the foot of the steepest climb of the day, the Côte de Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, the last breakaway rider was caught. Not long afterward, Vingegaard accelerated. No one could follow the race leader’s pace. Vingegaard steadily increased his advantage and rode unchallenged to his second consecutive stage victory. In the general classification, his lead over nearest rival Daniel Martínez grew to 3’22”. 

“The Côte de Saint-Jean-de-Muzols was the climb where I wanted to launch my attack,” Vingegaard said. “For a moment it seemed like it wouldn’t happen because the attackers didn’t give up easily, but in the end I was still able to go there. The team positioned me perfectly, after which Victor made one final effort to launch me. I’m happy with this second stage win and my lead in the general classification. Now it’s about staying focused for three more days until Nice.”

Here's the Paris-Nice stage five report from third-place Harold Tejada's Team XDS Astana:

XDS Astana Team rider Harold Tejada finished third on Stage 5 of the Paris–Nice. Tejada won the sprint from the chasing group, which crossed the finish line 2 minutes and 20 seconds behind stage winner Jonas Vingegaard and 18 seconds behind second-placed Valentin Paret-Peintre.

The Paris-Nice peloton at 50 kilometers.

“After yesterday’s difficult day with rain, wind and crashes, today I started the stage aiming to get back into the fight for the Top-10 in the General Classification. There are still several tough stages ahead, and together with the team I’m ready to fight for high positions. Today I can be satisfied with how the stage went. The team rode a good race, the guys supported me throughout the day, so I was able to save energy for the final part. Overall, everything is going according to plan, especially with the big goals of the season like the Tour de France, and the start of the year has been good”, – said Harold Tejada.

After Stage 5, Harold Tejada moved up to 11th place in the General Classification of Paris–Nice.

Here's the Paris-Nice report from GC fourth-place Kevin Vauquelin's Team INEOS Grenadiers:

Kevin Vauquelin dug deep to retain fourth place overall at Paris-Nice following another selective GC day on stage five.

The Frenchman found himself as part of an elite chase group behind solo leader Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) on the run into Colombier-le-Vieux.

Finishing seventh on the stage amid the sprint for third spot, Vauquelin held station on the general classification, sitting 19 seconds back on the podium and Georg Steinhauser (EF Education – EasyPost). A second solo victory for Vingegaard saw the Dane extend his yellow jersey advantage to 3:22.

Oscar Onley also moved back into the top 10 overall after some selfless riding for Vauquelin – initially on the Cote-de-Saint-Jean-de-Muzols as the race split apart, and again in the final kilometres after the Scot was able to regain contact.

Earlier Josh Tarling hit out as part of a strong five-man breakaway.

Kevin Vauquelin (left) on the stage one start line with Jonas Vingegaard.

Reaction:
Kevin Vauquelin: “It was really really fast again and a lot of movement at the start. That allowed us to follow and not do too much work ourselves. We wanted to be well placed at the end as we knew they were really tough climbs. I think we weren’t too far from Jonas (Vingegaard) for a while. There were a few of us in the group and of course we looked [at each other] rather than riding. We had the group with Steinhauser and then Dani Martinez came back which made it difficult. There were a few big attacks at the end, but I think I did the best I could.

“I wasn’t feeling too bad myself but I did feel that we had a big day in the legs after yesterday. I’m feeling really good for this race and I’m still looking to do something in the remaining stages.”

And here’s the Paris-Nice stage five report from second-place Valentin Paret-Peintre’s Team Soudal Quick-Step:

Valentin Paret-Peintre captured his first top-three of the season in Colombier-le-Vieux, where a Paris-Nice stage finished for the first time in history. The 25-year-old explosive climber was the best of the rest Thursday afternoon, taking second behind race leader Jonas Vingegaard for Soudal Quick-Step’s 12th podium since the beginning of the season.

Valentin Paret-Peintre after stage three of the 2025 Tour of Oman in the Best Young Rider's white jersey..

Multiple hills were spread across over the 206 kilometers of the stage five, making for an elevation gain of almost 3000 meters, and the action was ignited more than 30 kilometers from home, when Soudal Quick-Step hit the front of the peloton on the early slopes of Côte de Sécheras. Moments later, Valentin put in a probing attack, but the peloton remained as one until the next climb on the course, also the most difficult of the day.

The yellow jersey wearer took off there, while a fascinating fight for the second spot on the stage podium unfolded behind.  took off there, while a fascinating fight for the second spot on the podium unfolded behind. Valentin accelerated twice, hoping to create a gap, but the others responded to his efforts. However, the third time he went, just before cresting the ascent, nobody could follow, and the Mont Ventoux winner sped down the descent, extending his lead over the chasers with every meter.

On the last hill of the day, Paret-Peintre had to dig deep, but managed to hold onto that advantage, delivering Soudal Quick-Step’s second podium of the week, after the one of Jasper Stuyven in Montargis.

“On paper, this should have been a good opportunity for the breakaway, but the overall leader’s team controlled things and made it really difficult to go up the road. But we believed in our chances and the team put in a great performance, bringing me to the front at the right moment. Second is the best possible result today and I’m glad I could bounce back after Wednesday’s stage. It was hard and fast today, but I did my best and it gives me a lot of confidence to be on the podium behind one of the best climbers in the world. Our race isn’t over yet and we firmly believe we can get some more good results”, Valentin explained after scoring France’s best result so far at this edition of Paris-Nice.

Tirreno Adriatico stage four reports

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

Here's the report from GC leader Giulio Pellizzari's Team Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe:

Giulio Pellizzari delivered an impressive performance on Stage 4 of Tirreno-Adriatico, sprinting to second place in Martinsicuro behind van der Poel after a selective finale and moving into the overall race lead.

The 213-kilometre stage from Tagliacozzo to the Adriatic coast was shaped by a long breakaway before the race came back together ahead of the decisive climb of Tortoreto, 12 kilometres from the finish. From there, a select front group emerged, including Pellizzari as well as Primož Roglič.

Fourteen riders ultimately came together over the top and on the descent, with the stage set for a fast tactical finale into Martinsicuro. Several riders attempted to anticipate the sprint in the final kilometre, but each move was brought back as the group remained intact heading toward the line.

Van der Poel launched his sprint from distance to take the stage victory, but Pellizzari produced an outstanding ride of his own. The Italian climber stayed sheltered in the group before emerging late in the sprint to take second place against some of the fastest riders in the race.

Giulio Pellizzari finishes second to Mathieu van der Poel. Sirotti photo

The result earned Pellizzari six seconds of bonus time at the finish and propelled him into the overall race lead. The 21-year-old now wears the Maglia Azzurra as leader of the general classification and also holds the Maglia Bianca as best young rider.

In the overall standings, Pellizzari leads del Toro by two seconds, while teammate Roglič sits third at 21 seconds.

For Pellizzari, the sprint came as a surprise even to himself after the demanding stage across the Apennines. Yet the result confirmed both his form and composure in a high-level finale, delivering one of the most impressive performances of his young career.

Stage 5 continues the race tomorrow with a demanding route finishing at Mombaroccio, where Pellizzari will defend the blue jersey on home roads in the Marche region.

Speaking at the finish line, he said:
"I didn’t expect to finish second in a sprint like that. In the finale, I was one of the last riders in the group, but I came with a lot of speed and suddenly I was second. It was unexpected and I honestly don’t really know how I did it, but I’m super happy. Tirreno–Adriatico is one of my favourite races, it’s my first time here, and to do it on home roads in Italy makes it really special. It will be hard to defend, but we will do our absolute best, and for now we can also just enjoy the moment."

And here's the Tirreno-Adriatico stage four report from Liam Slock's Team Lotto-Intermarché:

A gamble and a hope, but in any case he helped shape the race of the day: Liam Slock was part of the 188-kilometre breakaway in stage four of Tirreno-Adriatico. Unfortunately, the move did not make it all the way to the finish in Martinsicuro. “Mission accomplished, because I already had this in mind this morning.”

It had been predicted beforehand that stage four of Tirreno-Adriatico could be one for the breakaway riders. And that expectation was fulfilled almost immediately after the flag dropped in the start town of Tagliacozzo. The first attack of the day, right from kilometre zero, was successful and a group of twelve riders managed to break clear. A strong group as well, with Liam Slock among them. “It was Jonas Abrahamsen who made the first move and, just as I had planned this morning, I was able to follow and join that group straight away,” Slock explained while reflecting on his day.

The day's Tirreno-Adriatico break. Sirotti photo

Mission accomplished, then. The breakaway lasted for a very long time. No less than 188 kilometres- in a stage of 213 kilometres in total- the attackers stayed clear. “It worked well right from the start, but we never got a big advantage. Just over three minutes at one point, but it never became more than that. I also knew we would face a difficult finale. So we quickly realised it would be tough to make it. When UAE started to chase, the gap stayed between one and two minutes for quite a while, but I already knew then that it would be over.”

Just before reaching the climb of Tortoreto, the final ascent before the finish, the last of the twelve breakaway riders was caught. “The goal was to survive that climb and then be caught afterwards. That way you might still get over it together with the peloton. But unfortunately most of the breakaway, including myself, had already been caught on the previous climb. There wasn’t much we could do. We showed ourselves and I rode a good race. That’s something to take with us.”

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