Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2025 Tour de France | 2025 Giro d'Italia
To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour. – William Blake
Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, 2020: The Tour During Covid-19, Better Late Than Never is available in both Kindle eBook and Audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing
- March 19: GP de Denain
Upcoming racing:
- March 20: Bredene Koksijde Classic
- March 21: Milano-Sanremo
- March 23 - 29: Volta a Catalunya
Latest completed racing:
- March 18: Danilith Nokere Koerse
- March 18: Milano-Torino
- 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
Content continues below the ads
We posted the report from the race organizer with the results.
Here's the report from winner Tom Pidcock's Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team:
Tom Pidcock delivered a superb victory at Milano–Torino, producing a measured and decisive performance on the iconic slopes of Superga to take a commanding solo win for Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.
In the oldest race on the cycling calendar, the British rider showed composure, control and class throughout the decisive phases of the day. After staying attentive on the first ascent of Superga, Pidcock made his move count on the final climb, attacking inside the final 600 metres and immediately opening a gap that no one could close.
"I’m very happy, I felt a little bit strange today, it almost felt like my first race of the year again. But yeah, I’m super happy. The first climb was a long way to go, I didn’t really want to go in. But with 300 to 500 metres to the top I knew I had to close it myself." - Tom Pidcock
Tom Pidcock wins Milano-Torino. Sirotti photo
The victory was built on both patience and tactical clarity. On the first time up Superga, Pidcock chose not to overcommit too early, before taking responsibility when it mattered most.
The team played a central role in shaping the race, controlling the key moments and setting up the final perfectly.
"Our plan was to take control of the race and try to keep it together on the first climb. The team all day controlled the race and made it a good race for the win. Milano–Sanremo is very different, being in good shape doesn’t mean everything. It’s one of my favourite races, but if you make one mistake, it costs you everything. It’s a special race,” Pidcock said. Every win is a nice one, and winning today in this edition of this race was really good." - Tom Pidcock
Pidcock’s acceleration on the final ascent was a clear statement of intent just days ahead of Milano–Sanremo. While the result underlines his strong condition, the Briton remains fully focused on what comes next.
Milano–Torino, first held in 1876, remains one of the sport’s most historic races, and on Wednesday Pidcock added his name to its roll of honour with an authoritative display on one of Italian cycling’s most recognisable climbs.
With confidence building and momentum growing, Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team heads towards the weekend with ambition and with Tom Pidcock ready to race at the front.
Content continues below the ads
We posted the report from fifth-place Milan Menten's Team Lotto-Intermarché with the results.
Here's the report from eighth-place Paul Penhoët's Team Groupama-FDJ United:
As expected, the opening round of the three-day racing between France and Belgium concluded with a tough sprint this Wednesday at the Nokere Koerse. After a controlled race—despite a near-successful solo attack in the final—the victory was decided in an uphill sprint, where Jasper Philipsen came out on top, while Paul Penhoët fought his way to eighth place. Attention now turns to the Grand Prix de Denain.
Jasper Philipsen won the Nokere Koerse.
A year after moving its finish line, previously located at the summit of the famous Nokereberg, the Nokere Koerse returned this Wednesday to a course similar to its last edition, featuring some twenty cobbled sectors followed and a final kilometre averaging a 4% gradient. “The first goal was to avoid getting caught out at the start, which wasn’t too difficult today as four riders went clear early,” explained Frédéric Guesdon. “Then we know that weather and wind play a major role on this circuit. So we needed to be well positioned approaching the climbs and cobbles, which the guys handled quite well.”
The finishing circuit, covered three times in the last 80 kilometres, did not cause any real damage within the peloton. “It would speed up, then ease off, and that happened three times,” Frédéric said. “I thought there would be more racing in the final lap and that it would split more. It stretched out, but never broke. The conditions weren’t perfect for an aggressive race. All the teams were thinking about waiting for the final lap, not making useless efforts beforehand, and many also had a sprint option.” Despite a few accelerations, there was no real selection in the bunch. The early breakaway was caught with twenty kilometres to go, but Alec Segaert still threatened the sprinters’ plans with an attack fifteen kilometres from the line.
The Belgian rider even started the final uphill kilometre with a twenty-second lead, but the peloton inevitably closed the gap. “We kept Paul for a sprint scenario, but Thibaud and Axel could also have had their chance,” Frédéric explained. “In such a hectic, hard sprint, it was useful to have several options. Cyril did a good job positioning Thibaud at the bottom; Thibaud was on Molano’s wheel with 300 metres to go, but he faded. Paul managed to move up, coming from behind, and was well placed with 200 metres to go. He got passed by two or three riders just before the line, but we don’t have too many regrets. We were simply beaten by stronger riders.”
At the finish, favorite Jasper Philipsen took the win, while the Groupama-FDJ United sprinter secured eighth place. “It’s coming back well for Paul,” added Frédéric. “It was definitely a tough sprinters’ finish—you needed strong legs! He just needs to keep going like this. Of course, we always hope for better results, but it’s still a solid day to start this three-day racing. Paul is back in the mix, and as a team, we were there. Bastien also made his return to racing. He needed to stay alert at the start, then worked for the team. He’s improving and is satisfied with his day. We’re on the right track. Tomorrow, I think we have riders capable of performing at the Grand Prix de Denain, especially Axel, who loves cobbles, and Thibaud, who is discovering them but is going well.
Content continues below the ads
And here's the Nokere Koerse report from Team Soudal Quick-Step:
The 80th edition of Nokere Koerse was scheduled Wednesday, and Soudal Quick-Step was one of the 22 squads at the start of this race whose course featured a nice combination of short climbs and cobblestones.
Our team tried to animate the race on several occasions, Gil Gelders being one of the most prominent riders as attacked hoping to open a gap, but the peloton reacted each time and kept things together behind the original breakaway. Eventually, one rider went clear inside 15 kilometers to go and arrived under the flamme rouge with almost 20 seconds in hand.
Yves Lampaert was one of the riders who pulled hard as soon as the road tilted upwards, reducing the leader’s gap by a couple of seconds in a flash and bringing the peloton closer to him, despite the strong headwind. The catch was made just after a crash split the peloton, with 100 meters to go, and Alberto Dainese was there, ready to fight for a good result, but unfortunately for the Italian, we had to break after being boxed in and lost any chance of a top ten finish.
The same Soudal Quick-Step riders will be in action two days from now at Bredene Koksijde Classic, the second Belgian one-day race of the week.
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary