Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, November 13, 2026
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Upcoming racing:
- Nov 15: Flandriencross
- Dec 6: Superpresitge Ruddervoorde
- Dec 19: Scheldecross
- Dec 23: Azencross-Loenhout
- Dec 25: Heusden Zolder Cross
- Dec 26: Gavere Cyclocross
- Dec 27: Namur Cross
- Dec 30: Diegem Cyclocross
- Jan 1: GP Sven Nys
- Jan 16 - 24: Tour Down Under
Latest completed racing:
- Nov 7 & 8 European Cyclocross Championships
- Nov 1: Trofee Oudenaarde - Koppenbergcross
- Oct 25: Superpresitge Overijse - Vlamse Druivencross
- Oct 13 - 18: Tour of Guangxi
- Oct 13 - 18: Tour of Holland
- Oct 18: Chrono des Nations
- Oct 18: Veneto Classic
- Oct 18: Japan Cup road Race
- Oct 14: Giro del Veneto
The rest of the year's completed races are here.
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Team Soudal Quick-Step posted this:
Two Grand Tours, the ciclamino jersey at the Giro, a podium at the Belgian Championships and an omnium silver at the Worlds – Fabio Van den Bosche's first season with the Wolfpack is one he'll remember for a long time.
For a Flemish rider, pulling on the Soudal Quick-Step jersey is the stuff of childhood dreams, and Fabio admits he couldn't have asked for a better beginning.
"As a Flemish guy, it was always a dream to be in this team one day, so I was happy and curious when I got the chance last year," he says. "I couldn't have dreamed of a better start. I did two Grand Tours, we won three stages and the points jersey at the Giro, and I rode almost all the big Classics. It was really a dream start for me."
Fabio Van den Bosche finishes 15th in 2026 Giro d'Italia stage 17. Sirotti photo
Learning from the best
Fabio arrived with plenty of experience of his own, but joining a team with such deep roots in the Classics and sprinting meant there was still a lot to take in. "The team has so much experience in that part of cycling, and I was able to learn a lot from people like Tom Steels," he explains. "They're always really open-minded and happy to share their experience."
When it came to talking of experience, one name keeps coming up: Jasper Stuyven. The two roomed together during the Giro, and Fabio credits him with helping him take the next step.
"Jasper is a really, really experienced rider in the Classics, and as a person. He's always willing to share. I learned a lot from him this year," he says. "There's a lot more to cycling than just pushing hard on the pedals. There's tactics, there's preparing the races beforehand. I think he was really the guy we needed. He does everything he can to perform at his best and he knows how to prepare every single detail of a race. He's a natural leader, and I think Paul, as a young guy, can learn a lot from him too."
The closest thing to the top
Fabio has quickly become a key part of the lead-out train, and it's a role he clearly relishes.
"In the Classics and especially in the sprints, I have the feeling I can really make a difference and influence the results at the highest level, and that's a really nice feeling," he says. "I know it's difficult to win myself at that level. I can go for a win in smaller races, but at the highest level I really enjoy helping the team. Those lead-outs also come quite close to the essence of track cycling, and I think that's a bit my strength."
A Giro to remember
The Giro d'Italia was the highlight of the year, with Paul Magnier's stage wins and the ciclamino jersey. "The three weeks went so fast, because we won straight away on the first day with Paul," Fabio recalls. "Then Paul was able to win almost every sprint. Sometimes it wasn't for first place, but he was always up there."
The moment that stands out came in the final week, on a stage few expected to end in a bunch sprint.
"There was a steep climb in the last 20 kilometers, so I think it was the least expected victory," he says. "There were still a lot of our guys in the bunch after the climb, we pulled back the breakaway and did a perfect lead-out for Paul, and he won. We secured the ciclamino jersey as well. That was really a team victory – a point where everything came together."
Reading the gaps
Time and again, Fabio popped up in the final kilometers, particularly on the more technical finishes. So what's going through his mind?
"I always keep in mind that there are still at least two guys behind me, so I can't go into every gap there is," he says. "It's also a lot of instinct. You need to trust your gut and the experience you have."
Preparation made a big difference too. "We prepared the sprints with multiple scenarios, so we always went in with a plan, but we were also able to readjust. And we had a lot of trust in each other. It's a lot of things combined."
That trust, he says, is what holds a lead-out together.
"If we stick together through the whole final, we'll always be able to make a move and bring Paul or anyone else into a good position," he explains. "If one guy sees another gap and jumps on it and the others don't follow, then it can go wrong. When you know your teammates will help you 100 percent, that's what makes a team, and the lead-out is stronger. I feel it myself – I can do a lot more when I feel the others trust me."
And what makes Paul such a good rider to work for? "He has a lot of talent. He's super fast, but also super strong," says Fabio. "He can handle a hard final, so you're sure he's strong enough to follow the lead-out to the perfect position and still do a very fast sprint. He has everything to be a super good sprinter, and he can do more than that – he showed some good signs in hard races and in the Classics.
"He's also very likeable off the bike. He's always joking around and involving everybody in the team. That makes him a good leader, and it makes everybody want to work for him and deliver him in the best possible position."
Two disciplines, one rider
Away from the road, Fabio has achieved a huge amount on the track, including an Olympic medal and, most recently, silver in the omnium at the World Championships in Shanghai. The two disciplines, he says, feed each other.
"There are a lot of things from the track that I can take onto the road – the lead-out, feeling the speed, feeling the pace. It really helps me with the technical side on the road," he says. "The efforts I do on the track also really fit the kind of racing that suits me most on the road. But it works the other way around too: the higher the level I can race at on the road, the more prepared I am for the track. If you know how they can help each other and you find a good balance, it's a really nice combination."
That silver in Shanghai came at the end of a long road season – and it only strengthened his belief that he can keep doing both.
"I still feel I'm making progress on the road and on the track, so I don't have the feeling the road is holding me back," he says. "Shanghai was my highest level on the track. It had been a while since I'd raced the omnium at the highest level, so it was a good confirmation of where I am and a good sign towards the Olympics."
So close, and so proud
Earlier in the season, Fabio came agonizingly close to the Belgian national title, finishing third. Looking back, he has mixed feelings.
"It's a bit double," he admits. "It's still a huge disappointment, because it was a real chance to become national champion. But it's also something I can be proud of, because I showed I'm capable of trying to win a race one day. Maybe not at the highest level, but there are a few races where I can go for it. Winning a race these days isn't an easy thing in modern cycling."
Two Grand Tours in one season
Riding both the Giro and the Vuelta wasn't the original plan. "My programme changed a lot at the beginning of the year," Fabio explains. "I wasn't really planned to do the Giro, and then I did, which was really nice. The Vuelta was on my programme from the start, so after everything I'd done, we had a few talks about what we should do.
"We went through some scenarios and came to the conclusion that it wasn't a bad idea to stick to the plan and still go to the Vuelta – but with good preparation, a few weeks at an altitude camp and a really personal approach. In the end I didn't really feel like it was a second Grand Tour. Mentally, it wasn't harder than the Giro."
Racing or training camps, it makes little difference to him. "I enjoy both," he says. "I enjoy racing because there's always a goal within the team, and we always have good leaders to work for. But I like the camps too, because it's nice to be with the team. There's always a good atmosphere and everybody works well together. In the end, whenever I'm with the team, I'm happy and I enjoy riding my bike."
That team spirit was on full show at the Vuelta, when Mikel Landa won the penultimate stage. "The atmosphere was really good, because we hadn't won a stage before that, so it was a big relief to finally win," Fabio says. "I do believe we did a good Vuelta – we were working together and fighting every day, and it was really hard.
"Personally, I was still struggling my way up the last climb. I think I still had half an hour to go when Mikel finished! But it's always nice to hear that you've won, because then the last climb goes a bit faster. It was a special experience to be in the team with Mikel. He's been a super experienced rider for a very long time, and he's a super nice guy. He really deserved it."
The support behind the rider
It's also been a big year for Fabio away from the bike, after getting married, and he's clear about how much that support means.
"It's really important to have someone close to you who supports you and tries to make you stronger, and that's definitely the case with my wife," he says. "She's always there when I need her, she makes me stronger and pushes me towards the goals I want to achieve.
"Sometimes that's more important than the training itself or the form you're in. A big part of cycling is mental. If you really believe in yourself, if you're mentally free to race and don't have other things on your mind, you can go a lot further than with only the physical part. I think it's maybe almost the most important thing."
Looking to 2027
So, after everything this year has brought, what would he most like to build on next season?
"If I'm a little bit selfish, I'd say winning a race on the road. That would be a super nice accomplishment for me," he smiles. "Of course, I'll have a lot of goals with the team and helping the leaders. But in the end, if I could win a race, for me personally that would be the biggest achievement."
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Here’s the team’s news:
The Italian tire brand Pirelli becomes the team's "Tire and Performance Partner", supplying and co-developing tires with one of the world's leading cycling squads.
The partnership between Pirelli and the British WorldTeam combines technological innovation and a shared commitment to performance, driving the development of increasingly advanced road cycling tires.
Pirelli and Netcompany INEOS announce a three-year partnership which, starting on 1 November 2026, will see the Milan-based company become the team’s Tire & Performance Partner, supplying tires to one of the most prestigious teams in professional cycling.
Team Netcompany INEOS, shown riding to second place in stage 3 of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alps. Sirotti photo
The partnership is underpinned by a shared vision: the constant pursuit of performance through innovation, technological advancement and meticulous attention to every detail that can make a difference to the final result.
The partnership will focus on the development and evaluation of technical solutions tailored to the demands of WorldTour cycling, in a setting where efficiency, reliability and performance must go hand in hand across a wide range of conditions, from Grand Tours to the five Monuments.
The technical assessment of two tires from Pirelli’s range was a key step towards establishing the partnership.
The PZERO™ RACE SL-R, a road tire designed with particular attention to aerodynamics and rolling efficiency, is intended for situations in which speed and aerodynamic efficiency are key.
Its design aims to reduce both forms of resistance to forward motion – aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance – to support efficient pedalling. These characteristics are particularly important in situations where maintaining high speeds is crucial. The PZERO RACE RS, meanwhile, has been developed to offer a balance of rolling efficiency, grip, protection and predictable cornering behaviour. This combination is designed to give riders confidence and stability across different road surfaces and in varying racing and weather conditions.
The partnership also reflects the close alignment between Pirelli’s commitment to developing high-performance technologies for cycling and Netcompany INEOS’s approach to preparation and performance.
Aldo Nicotera, Head of Moto & Cycling Business Pirelli, said: “At the highest level of sport, success depends on a constant search for technological solutions that can deliver ever-greater performance. This is an approach we know well and one we are now bringing to our collaboration with Netcompany INEOS. We share the belief that optimising every detail can make a difference and contribute to outstanding results, together with an unwavering focus on innovation, quality and precision. We will have the opportunity to work alongside world-class technical staff and athletes, making the most of this exchange and gathering valuable insights to drive the ongoing development of increasingly advanced tires that meet the needs of both professional riders and cycling enthusiasts.”
The pursuit of marginal gains has been central to Netcompany INEOS’s philosophy since the team’s inception. In this context, the tire is a key component of the rider-and-bike system, where rolling efficiency, grip, aerodynamics and reliability must work together to deliver the best possible results. With the PZERO RACE SL-R, Pirelli has demonstrated that there is still scope for further gains in this area, through the development of proprietary, patented technologies such as PAAS™, which help push the boundaries of tire performance even further.
Finally, technical feedback from Netcompany INEOS riders will play an important role in the development and validation of Pirelli products. Pirelli’s technicians will work closely with the team’s engineers and research and development management, integrating the feedback gathered on the road into the established testing protocols of Pirelli’s Outdoor Testing Department. Insights from real-world conditions will help drive the continuous improvement of tire performance.
Geraint Thomas, Director of Racing, said: “Pirelli bring a huge amount of technical expertise and a real commitment to innovation, so it's exciting to have them working closely with our riders and performance team.
"It's not just about the equipment we race on, but how we can work together to keep developing, so we're really looking forward to building that relationship and seeing what we can achieve together.”
Pirelli tires are scheduled to make their racing debut on Netcompany INEOS’ Pinarello bikes at the Santos Tour Down Under in January 2027.
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
The Luxembourgish time trial champion raced to her first professional road win this summer at the Pointe du Raz Ladies Classic and is looking forward to building her strength and skills with her friends on the squad. With EF Education-Oatly, Nina can be herself as she comes into her own.
“I think most people look at our team and go, ‘that looks like a super fun team – everyone’s happy and racing for each other,’” Nina said. “And I can tell you it’s like that from the inside too. We have a lot of fun and try to keep the vibes high, and in the end you can see it works: if the riders feel comfortable, have fun together, and believe in each other, you can hurt yourself much more for your teammates, and they can for you. That’s the nice thing – we just try to race, and have fun doing it.”
Nina Berton
Racing hard and having fun is paying off. Nina stunned some of the biggest names in the peloton with her long winning sprint at the Pointe du Raz Ladies Classic after a brutal day of racing on the Breton coast. Next year, she will race time trials in her national colors as Luxembourg champion. Over the past two years with EF Education-Oatly, Nina proved herself as a tough, dependable teammate in the hardest races, from her favorite classics to the Tour de France. She is excited to see what’s next.
“I was always a bit of a slow developer,” she said. “The last few years were a lot of patience, waiting and waiting. I was happy that last year it finally clicked and I got my first real professional victory on the road – that was pretty sick. I feel like I’ve progressed a lot in all areas and I’m happy to see there’s still a lot of room to grow, that I’m steadily progressing, and that the team gives me the chance to do it without any rushing, racing the way I like, being aggressive. I think that helps me grow a lot.”
Going into her third season with the squad, Nina is still developing as a racer. She draws lessons every time she crosses a finish line and stays focused on her own road.
“The biggest lesson is to do your own thing and not care too much about what everyone else is doing – not to compare yourself too much to others, because everyone has a different path, different qualities, and needs different things,” she said. “You have to find your own way, and even if other people think what you’re doing is weird, you don’t need to care. Do it with passion and joy, trust the process, and trust the people who care about you. I’m getting stronger every year and making a little step each time. Over the years I’ve learned a lot and become more mature, so I know better when I can be relaxed and when I have to be alert. There’s a lot of mental stuff in a race – feeling when you need to be awake, and trusting your intuition more.”
EF Education-Oatly general manager Esra Tromp is proud of the progress that Nina has made and optimistic about the years ahead.
“Over the past two years with the team, we’ve seen a big shift from Nina,” Esra said. “She joined us really fresh and young, and she’s grown a lot. We know her much better than we did when she arrived, and extending the contract felt like a good decision from both sides – because of all the experience we’ve had with her and how well we know her now. I was really happy to see her win her race last year for the team. That gave everybody a lot of confidence. We’d seen that she could do it in what she produced in training, but doing it in a race was proof, and I hope she takes that with her through the winter and we see it in the spring especially — and of course in some really great classics and grand tours in the seasons to come.”
Nina might not know where her limits lie, but she does know what kind of racer she wants to be.
“I want to be a rider who’s fun to watch – and fun for me to race, too,” she said, “so aggressive, a bit of a breakaway rider, but also good in the hard races, the classics. That’s what I love. I just want to find out where I can go and which races I can win. I want to go as far as possible, show that in the races, and have fun on my bike – and then the results will follow, with the team.”
There is no other squad for whom Nina would rather ride. She is already a linchpin for EF Education-Oatly, and with two more years with the team guaranteed, she is looking forward to a lot more laughs and smiles on the road as well as a lot of hard racing.
“The Tour this year was pretty amazing – I saw how strong the team was together, we had so much fun, and it was just a super epic race. At the other races too: the recons in the classics, the buildup, the RaceTV stuff – the vibe around the races is so relaxed. You know when to be professional and switch your brain on and focus, but you’re not overly focused. It’s just the right balance for your head.”