Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, October 2, 2026
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Current racing:
- Sept 27 - Oct 4: Le Tour de Langkawi
Upcoming racing:
- Oct 3: Giro dell'Emilia
- Oct 3: Sparkassen Münsterland Giro
- Oct 3 - 7: Elite European Road Championships
- Oct 4: Coppa Agostoni
Latest completed racing:
- September 20 - 27: World Road Championships
- September 16 - 20: Tour de Luxembourg
- September 19: Flandrian 0.0 Classic
- September 18: Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen
- September 15 - 18: Giro d'Abruzzo
- September 16: GP de Wallonie
- August 22 - Sept 13: Vuelta a España
- September 13: GP de Montréal
- September 13: GP de Fourmies
- September 13: Trofeo Matteotti
- September 12: Memorial Marco Pantani
- September 11: GP de Québec
- September 10: Coppa Sabatini
Here’s the news from McNulty’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG:
UAE Team Emirates-XRG is delighted to confirm that Brandon McNulty will make his debut as the reigning world champion in Italy. There, the American will proudly display his new rainbow jersey for the first time at the Giro dell’Emilia on Saturday, 3 October.
Over the coming week, McNulty will line up for UAE Team Emirates-XRG at the Giro dell’Emilia, Coppa Agostoni, and Tre Valli Varesine.
It is the first time that the 28-year-old will ride the late-season Italian Classics since 2021, his second year as a WorldTour professional with the Emirati squad. Five years on, McNulty will return sporting the rainbow jersey as the newly crowned UCI World Road Race Champion.
The American won the honour in last Sunday’s race in Montréal, Canada.
Brandon McNulty just after winning the world championships. Sirotti photo
In what has widely been described as one of the most thrilling World Championships of the 21st century, McNulty took a flyer more than 30km out from the finish and rode alone to the line in Mount Royal. Holding off an elite group of chasers, the American rider brought home his country’s first title in the men’s race for more than three decades.
The crowning moment of McNulty’s career sees the 28-year-old succeed his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate Tadej Pogačar in the rainbow jersey. At the Giro dell’Emilia, he will have his first opportunity to pin a number on the hallowed prize.
The world champion is raring to go.
McNulty: “I’m really excited to make my debut in the rainbow jersey this Saturday. The win in Montreal has definitely been something massive for me and I am still coming to terms with it a bit and letting it sink in.
“I still have a lot of racing left this season and I’m excited for it. We have a strong group for these races, and we’ll be aggressive as always.
“While I’m honored to wear the rainbow jersey, it doesn’t change my approach. We’ll continue to race as we always do. Whether that’s attacking or helping my teammates – I know my role pretty well, and we have a great understanding of what works, so we’ll keep it that way.”
Over the coming week, UAE Team Emirates-XRG will line up at the Giro dell’Emilia, Coppa Agostoni, Coppa Bernocchi, and Tre Valli Varesine.
The Giro dell’Emilia is up first, on Saturday 3 October, and McNulty will be joined on the start line by his teammates Igor Arrieta, Filippo Baroncini, Felix Großschartner, Jhonatan Narváez, Tim Wellens, and Adam Yates.
The Sports Directors for UAE Team Emirates-XRG will be compatriots Fabio Baldato and Marco Marzano, who will each bring their years of experience to their national roads.
For the Emirati squad, the Giro dell’Emilia holds fond memories, with the team winning the past two editions through Isaac del Toro (2025) and Pogačar, respectively. Indeed, there has only been one edition in the past six that UAE Team Emirates-XRG has not placed a rider on the final podium.
A new start in Ferrara awaits the peloton on Saturday, before the traditional finish on the San Luca climb in Bologna. Before this picturesque and often grandstand finish, the riders will tackle a new 1.5km-long climb at Pianoro, with an average gradient of 11%, before tackling the San Luca ascent on five occasions.
It will be at the end of this fifth and final ascent that this year’s winner is crowned, having mastered the eye-watering slopes that linger between 15% and 20%.
There is a race every day during this next block for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, with the Coppa Agostoni following the Giro dell’Emilia on Sunday, 4 October. There, the Emirati squad has in fact won the last three editions, through Adam Yates (2025), Marc Hirschi (2024) and Davide Formolo (2023).
Yates will return as the defending champion and be joined on the start line in Lissone by teammates Igor Arrieta, Benoît Cosnefroy, Luca Giaimi, Felix Großschartner, Brandon McNulty, and Jhonatan Narváez.
Last year, Yates won the race with an imperious 17.5km-long solo effort, and the British climber showed good form in the recent Canadian one-day races. There will certainly be enough climbing for the 34-year-old and his UAE Team Emirates-XRG to make the racing hard on Sunday afternoon.
Starting out from Lissone, the Coppa Agostoni will feature more than 3,000m of climbing, the vast majority of which is contained in the 28km Lissolo circuit. The peloton will ride this circuit for four laps, and each lap contains three climbs: Sirtori (1.5km at 4.9%), Colle Brianza (3.8km at 6%), and Lissolo (5.4km at 4.3%).
With this succession of climbs in the legs, the riders will leave the circuit some 35km before the finish. From here to the line in Lissone is mostly flat terrain, where tension and drama will prevail as various groups look to move themselves into a winning position.
On Monday, 5 October, it will be the 107th edition of the Coppa Bernocchi. Last season’s race was the only edition in UAE Team Emirates-XRG history in which the Emirati squad did not place a rider inside the top 10, so no doubt the team will be out to set things right this time out.
Fabio Baldato and Marco Marzano will continue to give directions from the Sports Directors’ team car, whilst the seven-man squad will contain Igor Arrieta, Filippo Baroncini, Luca Giaimi, Jhonatan Narváez, Tim Wellens, Adam Yates and Gen Z talent Ugo Fabries.
Raced to and from Legnano, the Coppa Bernocchi is a somewhat easier route with a little under 2,000 of climbing spread across 178.3km.
A flat first 35km of racing will bring the peloton onto the Valle Olona circuit, which will be raced seven times before a flat final 25km that takes the bunch into Legnano for the finish.
Each lap of the circuit will feature the climbs of San Pancrazio, Piccolo Stelvio and Caramamma, and it will have to be on these laps that the climbers of the peloton make the difference. The approach into Legnano is straightforward and pan-flat.
To continue the Italian campaign, Tre Valli Varesine will run its 105th edition on Tuesday, 6 October. Last year’s race was memorable for a sparkling Tadej Pogačar victory, with the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider making good on his promise to return to the race after a curtailed 2024 instalment.
That was Pogačar’s second title at Tre Valli Varesine, but it will be up to his teammates to defend his crown this season. Brandon McNulty will be in attendance as the freshly crowned world champion, with the American joined by Filippo Baroncini, Benoît Cosnefroy, Luca Giaimi, Jhonatan Narváez, Pavel Sivakov and Tim Wellens.
Starting out in Busto Arsizio, Tre Valli Varesine charts a course of 198.3km to Varese, and once more it is a city circuit that will come to define the day.
Tre Valli Varesine is a far hillier affair than Coppa Bernocchi, with a little under 3,000m of climbing to be tackled by the peloton. Included on the route is the traditional Ronchi climb, alongside tough tests such as Cinque Piante, Luvinate and Casciago.
The race will come to a close after six laps of a circuit, with the winner to be crowned on the Via Sacco in the centre of Varese.
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This came from Team Bahrain Victorious:
Bahrain Victorious is aware of the provisional suspension concerning Alberto Bruttomesso following an anti-doping control conducted by NADO Italia.
The team fully supports Alberto throughout the ongoing process and will cooperate fully with the relevant anti-doping authorities as the matter is investigated.
While the case remains ongoing, Alberto will be suspended from all team activities pending a clear and definitive outcome from the relevant anti-doping authorities and the completion of the applicable testing and review procedures.
Bahrain Victorious remains committed to the highest standards of integrity and to respecting the established anti-doping process. Until that process has concluded, the team will make no further comment.
Here’s the team’s announcement:
NSN Cycling Team is pleased to announce the contract extensions of New Zealanders Corbin Strong, Dion Smith, and George Bennett, securing the Kiwi trio for the coming seasons.
Strong has signed a new three-year contract with the team through to 2029, while Smith has committed for a further two years and Bennett will continue for another season.
The three riders bring different qualities and experience to the team, with Strong continuing his development as one of New Zealand’s leading talents, Smith providing versatility and reliability across a wide range of races, and Bennett adding considerable experience and climbing strength to the squad.
NSN Cycling Team General Manager Kjell Carlström says the Kiwis have become an integral part of the team.
“Corbin Strong, Dion Smith, and George Bennett all bring different qualities to the team but what unites them is how well all three fit into our team culture,” says Carlström. “Corbin is one of our leaders and having spent all five years of his pro career with us, we are thrilled to add another three years to our collaboration. We have no doubt that Corbin will continue to develop and add more victories to his palmarès.
“Dion joined us this year and quickly proved his value as a teammate. He supported several of our leaders in a variety of races, so it was an easy decision to renew his contract and continue our collaboration. Likewise for George Bennett, one of the team’s stalwart road captains. George’s experience is invaluable for the team and will prove crucial in 2027 with our increased General Classification focus.”
For Strong, the three-year agreement represents a long-term commitment as the 26-year-old continues to pursue his ambitions.
“I’m really excited to re-sign with the team,” adds Strong. “I’ve been here for five years already, and it’s been really cool to be part of the journey and see how much the team has grown and improved over that time. I really enjoy the environment within the team and have built some great relationships with the riders and staff, which was a big part of wanting to stay.
“I feel like we’re continuing to get better every year, and I’m excited to play my part in that. Over the next three years I hope to keep progressing personally, help the team continue to grow, and see us become more and more prominent in the biggest races in the world.”
Corbin Strong
Smith may have only spent the best part of a year in NSN colors but it was an easy choice for the 33-year-old to renew his contract.
“I didn’t have to think twice about staying with NSN,” adds Smith. “It was the perfect environment for me this year. I had clear goals mainly helping our leaders, which the team trusted in my abilities to do so, and this gave me a new sense of motivation. I look forward to continuing to do my best for the team in the coming two years and being surrounded by good people on and off the bike.”
2027 will mark Bennett’s 16th year as a pro and with the likes of Santiago Buitrago and Lennert Van Eetvelt joining the team in 2027, the 36-year-old will play a key General Classification support role.
“I’ve found a real nice home here in the team,” explains Bennett. “I feel like the team is really building towards the future and has a lot of ambition and I’m able to contribute towards that progression. I’m excited to play my part and continue in the great environment we have in the team. We are surrounded by great people and it’s nice to have a taste of home with a good Kiwi presence in the team.”
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Here’s the team’s news:
Mikel Landa, Andrea Raccagni and Filippo Zana will all be in action for The Wolfpack at the Trittico Lombardo.
October brings a number of one-day races on Italian soil for our team in some of the most picturesque and history-filled regions of the country that is known for its culture, gastronomy, and fantastic cycling rivalries that have defined the sport.
Just twenty-four hours after the Giro dell’Emilia, the race that marks Mikel Landa’s first outing since winning the penultimate stage of the Vuelta a España, The Wolfpack will be at the start of Coppa Agostoni, whose hilly course is open to all kinds of scenarios. The route comprising a dozen climbs and 3000 vertical meters is perfect for the attackers to make the difference, but the last 38 kilometers - which are more or less flat - could work in favor of the peloton, who can hope of bringing back the escapees for a reduced bunch sprint.
Mikel Landa wins stage 20 of the 2026 Vuelta a España. Sirotti photo
Soudal Quick-Step will tackle the 79th edition of Coppa Agostoni with Steff Cras, Gianmarco Garofoli, Gil Gelders, Pepijn Reinderink, Martin Svrcek, Mauri Vansevenant, and Filippo Zana.
On Monday, Gianmarco, Gil, Pepijn and Martin will be joined by Andrea Raccagni, Gauthier Sevranckx, and Erazem Valjavec for Coppa Bernocchi, a race where our team has triumphed on two occasions. The riders are set to face a demanding terrain, with the Piccolo Stelvio as the main difficulty of the day, a climb that can easily fragment the peloton and leave a small group in contention by the time they reach Legnano, the site of the famous battle fought between the Lombard League and the imperial army of Frederick Barbarossa.
Three years ago, Ilan Van Wilder took a spectacular solo victory at Tre Valli Varesine that will long live in memory. Even though the Belgian won’t be present at the start of the race which is scheduled just a few days after the European Championships where he’ll be in action with the Belgian National Team, that doesn’t mean our squad will be short of options on Tuesday. Steff Cras, Gianmarco Garofoli, Mikel Landa, Andrea Raccagni, Mauri Vansevenant, Filippo Zana, and Soudal Quick-Devo’s Henrique Bravo will be the riders ready to give their best for a good result in the last Italian appointment before Il Lombardia.
“The Italian one-day races taking place just before the end of the season always have something special, that’s why we are glad to be in action there again. It’s three consecutive days of racing on some challenging terrain where we can go on the offensive and show our Wolfpack spirit and mentality, three races which we will start with plenty of motivation and desire to get a good result and an important confidence-boost before Lombardia”, said sports director Davide Bramati.
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
24-year-old Tommaso Dati will step up to the WorldTour next season after signing a two-year agreement with XDS Astana Team for 2027 and 2028.
Despite the Continental status of his current team, Tommaso Dati has achieved a number of significant results in professional races during the 2026 season. This year, he won a stage of the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali, a stage of the Tour of the Alps, the road race at the Mediterranean Games and a silver medal in the road race of the Italian National Championships. In addition, Dati won the General Classification of the Tour de Gyeongnam and several stages at races including the Tour of Japan and the Giro della Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia.
Tommaso Dati wins stage one of the 2026 Tour of the Alps.
“For me, moving to the professional level, and especially to the WorldTour, is a dream becoming reality. I think it is fair to say that my real career is only beginning with this move to the WorldTour. I am very happy to take this step with XDS Astana Team. It was important for me to see the team’s interest, and to feel their support and trust. I am confident that I have made the right choice. I believe XDS Astana Team is an ideal fit for riders with my style, with a strong focus on both sprinting and one-day races. The team is making serious progress, and that is exciting. I feel that I will have every opportunity to grow together with the team. I will do everything I can to repay the trust with strong results”, – said Tommaso Dati.
“We have been following Tommaso Dati with great interest, and his progress over the past few seasons has been impressive. First, he achieved excellent results at national level, then at Continental level, and even in professional races. His move to the WorldTour is a completely logical step, and I am happy that it will happen with our team. I think we can be proud of the results, and the progress XDS Astana Team has made over the past two seasons. If last year we were one of the surprises of the WorldTour, this season we have established ourselves among the leading teams, both in the UCI World Ranking and in terms of results. Alongside our focus on experience, we are also paying a great deal of attention to young riders and their development, and, as we can see, all of this is translating into significant achievements. Of course, the support of our sponsors plays an essential role in this, especially Samruk-Kazyna and the SportQory Sports Support Fund, and we never tire of thanking them”, – said Alexandr Vinokurov, General Manager of XDS Astana Team.
Here’s the team’s announcement:
From next season onwards, Halvor Dolven will be part of Lotto-Intermarché’s WorldTour team. After three seasons with the development team, the 22-year-old Norwegian will take the next step in his career and extend his contract until the end of 2028. “I’m very happy to make the move to the WorldTour team.”
Dolven is therefore choosing to continue in the familiar environment of Lotto-Intermarché. “I feel at home here. I already know the coaches, sports directors and riders well. After a few years in the youth ranks where I was with several different teams, it’s nice to have some stability and to build further on what I’ve developed with the Devo Team.”
Halvor Dolven wins stage five of the 2025 Tour d'Alsace.
Dolven has enjoyed a strong season. He claimed a victory in the second stage of the Tour de Bretagne and also gained experience in several races with the professional team. “The main thing I take away from my time with the Devo Team is the feeling of being a family. We really work together. We had a great season with a lot of strong riders, so it was really nice to be part of it. I hope I can carry that feeling into the WorldTour team.”
The promotion is particularly special for Dolven, as he only took up cycling at a later stage. “When I was younger, I did cross-country skiing and, of course, I never thought I could reach the WorldTour in cycling. When I switched to cycling, it naturally became something you dream about. You never think it’s actually possible, and then suddenly you’re there. I’m very happy about it.”
“I’m looking forward to racing some big races, discovering new places and racing in front of bigger crowds. Most of all, I want to experience what it means to be a professional cyclist,” Dolven concludes.
Kurt Van de Wouwer, Sports manager Lotto-Intermarché: “Halvor has made great progress over the past few years within our development team. Both in U23 races and in the races he has ridden with the professional team, he has shown that he can be an added value to our WorldTour team. He has qualities as a lead-out rider and can also hold his own in the classics. With Halvor, four riders will now make the step from our development team to the WorldTour team after this season, following Kamiel Eeman, Victor Vaneeckhoutte and Milan Donie. That is a great confirmation of the work being done within our Devo Team. We are therefore very happy to give Halvor the opportunity to continue developing within our WorldTour team.”