Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
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2025 Tour de France | 2025 Giro d'Italia
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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 8 - March 15: Paris-Nice
- March 9 - 15: Tirreno-Adriatico
- 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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Here's the team's news:
Bahrain Victorious heads to Belgium and northern France this week for two races on the northern European calendar: Nokere Koerse on Wednesday and Grand Prix de Denain the following day.
The team will first line up at Nokere Koerse, one of the traditional midweek races of the Flemish spring calendar. The race starts in Deinze and finishes in Nokere after more than 180 kilometres of racing, with narrow roads, several cobbled sectors and finishing circuits before the final uphill cobbled sprint on the Nokereberg.
For Nokere Koerse, Pau Miquel will be the team’s main sprint option, with Matevž Govekar as co-leader for the sprint and an important part of the lead-out. Around them, Alberto Bruttomesso and Zak Erzen will focus on positioning and guiding the team through the key phases of the race. Alessandro Borgo, Seth Dunwoody and Alec Segaert will provide support and cover moves if the race becomes more selective.
Alex Segaert (shown at the 2024 Renewi Tour) will be on the starting line at the Nokere Koerse.
Pau Miquel said:
“Nokere is a race I’m really looking forward to. The finish there suits me quite well with this uphill sprint. We come with a strong team and a lot of fast guys, so the idea is to arrive in a good position for the final. Maybe if the race becomes a bit selective and we get a reduced sprint it could be good for us, but nowadays the level in the peloton is very high so it’s not easy. We have to stay attentive all day, avoid crashes and dangerous situations, and then try to fight for the win because this is also the goal for the team.”
Sports Director Nikolas Maes added:
“Looking ahead to Nokere, I think we come with a strong group, especially considering how many young riders we have in the team. Many of them have a lot of potential and races like this are important for their development, helping them grow year by year.
"Nokere is always a demanding race, and the weather in Belgium can also play a role with wind or rain, so positioning and attentive racing will be very important throughout the day.
"With Matevž Govekar and Pau Miquel we have two riders who are well suited to the finish in Nokere and who could fight for a strong result if we arrive in the right position in the final kilometres. At the same time, Alec Segaert arrives in good condition and can also play an important role in the race.”
The following day, Bahrain Victorious will continue its northern block at Grand Prix de Denain, a race known for its demanding cobbled sectors and often compared to a smaller version of Paris–Roubaix.
The course includes 13 cobbled sectors, which usually make the race very selective and place a strong emphasis on positioning through the decisive parts of the race.
For Denain, Alec Segaert will be one of the team’s leaders on a course that suits his characteristics well, while Matevž Govekar provides another option if the race comes down to a sprint. Oliver Stockwell, Daniel Skerl and Alberto Bruttomesso will look for opportunities early in the race and support the team through the key sectors, while Zak Erzen and Alessandro Borgo will play an important role as the race approaches the decisive cobbled sections.
Sports Director Nikolas Maes explained:
“Denain is always a very hard race because of the cobbled sectors. There are 13 sectors in total and some of them are similar to what you see in Paris–Roubaix, which is why people often describe it as a small Roubaix. The cobbles start roughly halfway through the race and they are quite demanding, so the race can quickly become selective.
"With Alec Segaert we have a rider who is well suited to this type of course. He has the qualities for these cobbled races and we believe he can be competitive there. Our goal is to fight for a strong result if the race develops in the right way.
"At the same time, Denain is a race where many things can change quickly. One moment you can be in the perfect position and the next you can lose time because of a mechanical or a small incident. That is part of racing on cobbles.
"We come with a young group again, but they have a lot of potential and we see them developing in the right direction. The idea is to race aggressively, stay attentive and take our opportunities if they come.”
Alec Segaert said:
“I’m really looking forward to Denain. It’s a race that should suit me well with the cobbled sectors, which are similar in some ways to Paris–Roubaix. I enjoyed the race last year and I was in the front group, so it’s definitely one I like.
"So far this season has been okay. I had a bit of bad luck in the opening weekends with a crash, but nothing too serious. Since then I’ve had a good block of training and now we start again with Nokere and Denain. We’ll go full gas with the team and I’m ready for it.”
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Here's the team's update:
Created in 1944 and known for its many cobbles, Nokere Koerse is one of the most popular Belgian one-day races of the spring. The 186.4km parcours gives a fair chance to both sprinters and Classics specialists, the latter being favoured by the many cobblestone sectors (27 this year) and small hills that come in quick succession, especially in the final part of the day.
Even if the fast men’s teams manage to keep things together before the flamme rouge, the finale can still bring a nice mix of contenders in the mix, as the last 800 meters average 4.5% – the perfect terrain for the explosive riders to make their move and launch a race-winning attack.
Soudal Quick-Step rider Tim Merlier wins the 2024 Nokere Koerse. Photo: Luc Claessen/Getty Images
Our squad holds the record for the most victories this century at Nokere Koerse (six with five different riders) and will look to fight again for a good result this Wednesday with a seven-man team consisting of Alberto Dainese, Gil Gelders, Yves Lampaert, Warre Vangheluwe, neo-pro Jonathan Vervenne, and Devo riders Ceriel Desal and Stan Van Tricht.
Nokere Koerse has changed significantly in recent years, with a redesigned finale that now includes several cobbled sectors.
“This evolution has slightly shifted the nature of the race, and while it often still ends in a sprint, the tougher finale creates real opportunities for the attackers to avoid a bunch finish.”
“We have a fast finisher in Alberto Dainese, and if the race comes down to a sprint, he gives us a strong option. At the same time, we are also prepared to go on the attack, as our team includes several riders capable of doing this. It will be important to stay attentive in the finale and to take the initiative when the right moment comes”, explained Soudal Quick-Step sports director Kevin Hulsmans.
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Here’s the team’s news:
Team Picnic PostNL are pleased to reveal that they have extended with four riders in their Development program: Jacob Bush, Christiaan van Rees, Thom van der Werff and Mees Vlot. Bush and Van Rees have extended for 2026 while Van der Werff adds another year on top of that through 2027. Vlot will spend one more year with the Development program before making the step-up to the Men’s program for 2027 and 2028.
Jacob Bush
After a strong time as a junior, Bush made the step up to the Continental and U23 ranks with Team Picnic PostNL’s Development program in 2024. A promising start to the season with eighth place at the Ronde van Limburg was the highlight for Bush, while unfortunately the remainder of his opening year with the team was blighted by injury. Thankfully, luck has been on Bush’s side more this year – although he could have taken a pro win this season back at the start of the year in the Tour of Rwanda, but the final stage was neutralised when he was in the lead solo. Since then, he’s been able to complete a long calendar of racing; including some events gaining valuable experience with the Men’s program such as in Türkiye, while also picking up good results such as third at the Wim Hendriks Trofee and an impressive ninth place in the elite road race at the British national championships.
Bush said: “When the opportunity came to extend my contract with Team Picnic PostNL, it was an easy decision. This team has a clear and proven pathway for Development riders to progress towards the WorldTour, and that’s exactly the environment I want to be in. I really value how we get the chance to race alongside the pros while still having a strong U23 calendar. It’s the best of both worlds. 2024 was a challenging year for me with injury setbacks, but the team supported me incredibly well and helped me build back up without pressure. In 2025, the goal was to create a solid foundation and race consistently throughout the season. Now, going into 2026, I really want to take that next step: to be riding for results and see how far I can go. I believe I bring a positive and honest approach to racing, both in my own performance and in how I work with my teammates. That’s something I take a lot of pride in.”
Team Picnic PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna added: “Our collaboration with Jacob has been really positive so far. We’ve already seen great progress, and we believe there’s still more to come. That’s why we’re very happy to continue working with him in our Development program. The main focus will be on his general development, but we also see potential for him to grow further as a GC rider. We’re confident that, step-by-step, he’ll keep moving closer to his full potential.”
Christiaan van Rees
A fresh face to the team in 2025 after joining from Dutch Food Valley Cycling Team, Van Rees has taken on a variety of races with the team in his first year in the Development program; but with a focus on sprints and classics-style races. Starting the year off well with an eighth place at Brussel-Opwijk, he went on to take seventh at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad U23 in early June. Alongside plying his trade in the one-day races with the Development program, Van Rees has also been able to learn from the more experienced riders in the Men’s program as he took part in events such as Brussels Cycling Classic, the Baloise Belgium Tour and the PostNord Tour of Denmark. Recently that culminated with his best result of the 2025 campaign and a fifth place at Ronde van de Achterhoek, where teammate Johan Dorussen took the win, and an end of season trip to Langkawi alongside the Men’s program.
Van Rees expressed: “I wanted to stay with the team because I feel completely at home here, and I’m convinced that we can keep pushing each other forward. We always race as a unit, and living and training together in Sittard creates an environment where everyone lifts one another to a higher level. A great example was the Ronde van de Achterhoek this year. We executed our plan perfectly and came away with the win and multiple top ten results. My big dream is to become a professional cyclist, and I believe this is exactly the place where I can make that happen.”
Team Picnic PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna continued: “Christiaan is clearly on the verge of taking the next step, and that’s why we’re delighted to continue working with him. He’s developing a strong foundation in all areas needed for the WorldTour, and we want to give him the time and guidance to complete that progression. His sprint and potential in the classics are key focus points for the coming seasons. With the work ethic he brings, we’re confident he can make that leap in the near future.”
Thom van der Werff
Van der Werff joined the Development program in 2024 off the back of two good years as a junior rider. His opening campaign at the next level saw Van der Werff find his feet in the early part of the year, before a purple patch of form in June and into July resulted in one win and two podiums at some tricky Dutch national level races, plus eighth in the U23 national championships. His season came to an early end though after a crash in Tour Alsace, but that left him motivated for 2025. Van der Werff began the year in solid form with a fourth place in Tour de Bretagne, but it was once again June that proved to be a great month for him as he finished fourth in the sprint at Paris-Troyes and followed that up with tenth in the elite men’s race at the Dutch national road race championships; a result which saw him secure the U23 title. Since then he took his first pro level top ten with ninth in the sprint on stage one at the Deutschland Tour and has been gaining some valuable experience with the Men’s program at certain races.
Thom van der Werff
Van der Werff said: “After two years with the team, extending my contract was an easy choice. I’ve built a strong connection with the people here, and the trust they showed me, even during the period I was sidelined with injury, and that meant a lot. The family-oriented atmosphere suits me incredibly well, and I’m determined to continue developing within this environment. In the long term, I hope to translate that growth into strong results and ultimately make the step up to the WorldTour.”
Team Picnic PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna explained: “Thom has shown excellent progression, and we’re very pleased with his development over the past seasons. His drive and professionalism stand out every single day. Becoming Dutch champion was an important milestone, but we see even more room to grow, both on the tougher terrain and in the sprint finishes. By extending his contract, we want to help him sharpen those specific areas and continue this upward trajectory. We strongly believe in the rider he is becoming.”
Mees Vlot
Another of the 2024 inductees to the Development program, Vlot has spent a solid two years so far in the U23 category after two promising years as a junior, but he has also battled the expected peaks and troughs of life as a cyclist with injury and illness. In his first year with the Development program Vlot gained some valuable experience riding alongside the Men’s program in races like the Arctic Race of Norway and CRO race, while also producing good performances with tenth overall at Ronde de l’Oise, which included second place on stage three, and fifth in the Dutch U23 time trial championships. 2025 has seen Vlot ride another mixed calendar where he experienced the hectic racing of Belgian classic one-day racing at the pro level; often found helping to set the pace on the front of the bunch and doing good early positioning work, putting his good engine into practice.
Vlot expressed: “Renewing my contract felt like the most natural decision. This team truly feels like family, and I know there’s still a lot of room for me to grow here. What I value most is that Team Picnic PostNL gives you the time to develop and puts the team above everything: we chase our goals together. One of my favourite memories is my second place in the Ronde de l’Oise, a result we earned as a group. In the coming seasons, I hope to take the next steps in my development and work towards being a valuable rider in the WorldTour so we can win races together.”
Team Picnic PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna finalised: “We’re very happy that Mees is staying with us. His commitment, teamwork and motivation are at a consistently high level, and those are qualities we value enormously. We believe there is real long-term potential in him, especially once the next physical steps fall into place. By giving him another development year before moving into our Men’s program, we’re confident we can guide him toward the level required for the WorldTour. He brings the right mindset; now we’ll continue building together.”
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