Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, October 10, 2026
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Current racing:
- Oct 10: Il Lombardia
Upcoming racing:
- Oct 11: Paris-Tours
- Oct 13 - 18: Tour of Guangxi
- Oct 13 - 18: Tour of Holland
- Oct 14: Giro del Veneto
- Oct 18: Chrono des Nations
- Oct 18: Veneto Classic
- Oct 18: Japan Cup road Race
Latest completed racing:
- Oct 8: Gran Piemonte
- Oct 3 - 7: Elite European Road Championships
- Oct 6: Tre Valli Varesine
- Oct 6: Binche-Chimay-Binche
- Oct 5: Coppa Bernocchi
- Sept 27 - Oct 4: Le Tour de Langkawi
- Oct 4: Coppa Agostoni
- Oct 3: Giro dell'Emilia
- Oct 3: Sparkassen Münsterland Giro
- September 20 - 27: World Road Championships
This is from Bilbao’s Team Bahrain Victorious:
The final Monument of the 2026 European season, Il Lombardia, will bring Bahrain Victorious’ Italian campaign to a close on Saturday, 10 October. The 120th edition of the Race of the Falling Leaves will start in Bergamo and finish in Como after 239 kilometres, nine climbs and approximately 4,600 metres of elevation gain.
Traditionally regarded as the toughest of the five Monuments, Il Lombardia once again offers a route designed for the strongest climbers. After leaving Bergamo, the peloton will immediately face a demanding opening section through Val Seriana, featuring the Colle dei Pasta, with the summit at Bocche di Gavarno, followed by Selvino, Colle di Berbenno and Valpiana.
After a flatter section, the race will enter the rolling roads of Alta Brianza, where the riders will tackle the new Giovenzana approach to Colle Brianza before the iconic Ghisallo, which reaches gradients of up to 14%.
The finale will feature two ascents of San Fermo della Battaglia, as well as the decisive Civiglio climb. At 4.2 kilometres in length and averaging 9.7%, with ramps of up to 14%, Civiglio could provide the launchpad for the winning move. The final ascent of San Fermo della Battaglia — 2.7 kilometres at 7.2% — comes inside a 22-kilometre finishing circuit in Como.
Roman Kreuziger, Bahrain Victorious Sports Director:
“We want to exit from the last Monument without any regret. Yesterday at Gran Piemonte, the team put in a strong performance approaching the finale, but unfortunately, we couldn’t deliver the podium we would have loved to celebrate on Damiano Caruso’s final race, with Afonso Eulálio finishing seventh.
“Achieving a podium with the strong field we have at Il Lombardia would be difficult, but a top-ten result could be great anyway. We will try to achieve it with Lenny Martinez, alongside Pello Bilbao, our road captain at his last race of his career. We hope he can enjoy the last Monument, knowing that we can rely on his motivation and very good shape.
Pello Bilbao at the 2026 Vuelta a España's starting ceremony. Sirotti photo
“We have a strong squad, including some talented climbers such as Buitrago, Tiberi, Zambanini and the young Omrzel, who will be making his Il Lombardia debut. We have a very tough start through the first 90 kilometres and they will be ready to join a big break.
“Fran Miholjevic is also making his debut at Il Lombardia and he will be precious in supporting in the bunch. In the second part, it will all be about the legs, and positioning on the key climbs will be crucial, as will keeping a good position on the descents.
“Let’s do our best to honour the last Monument of the season and the final Classics race for a rider like Bilbao.”
Just days after the team celebrated Damiano Caruso’s final professional race at Gran Piemonte, Bahrain Victorious will see another of its experienced riders take his final professional pedal stroke at Il Lombardia.
Pello Bilbao announced earlier this season that he would retire from professional cycling, and now he is making Il Lombardia the final chapter of a distinguished career.
For the 36-year-old Basque rider, the race will be a final opportunity to compete on some of the most demanding roads in professional cycling and to close his career at one of the sport’s most prestigious Classics.
Pello Bilbao ahead of his last dance at Lombardia:
“And so, the final day has arrived. Several months have passed since I made the decision to retire and announced it at Itzulia, my home race, in front of my fans. During that time, I’ve been able to savour every moment on the bike with greater awareness and appreciation.
“I’ve also enjoyed some sporting highlights along the way. My sixth place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, fourth place at Eschborn-Frankfurt and a top-five finish at San Sebastián, not to mention the Vuelta, where we achieved some excellent results as a team, will make the memories of my final year as a professional even more special.
“That was exactly what I wanted: to end my career with a year in which I could remain competitive and play a leading role. And that’s how I’ll approach Il Lombardia tomorrow. It’s a Classic that suits me well, and I won’t hold anything back. I want to finish on a high.”
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
Australian sprinter Sam Welsford will be racing in the colours of Team Jayco AlUla next season after signing a two-year contract with the squad.
The 30-year-old from Perth has 13 professional victories to his name, including seven at the Tour Down Under. He is also an Olympic gold medallist on the track, winning the Team Pursuit in Paris alongside soon-to-be trade teammates Kell O’Brien, and Oliver Bleddyn.
Welsford joins a long list of top Aussie sprinters that have raced for GreenEDGE Cycling since its inception in 2012 and will be hoping to add more victories to his palmares having only stepping up into the WorldTour peloton in 2022.
The GreenEDGE Cycling management look forward to welcoming Welsford to the squad and seeing his further development as a sprinter. He joins fellow fast finisher Pascal Ackermann on the roster, boosting the team’s options in the fast sprint finishes.
Sam Welsford after stage two of the 2025 Tour Down Under. Sirotti photo
Sam Welsford:
“I’m really excited to be joining Team Jayco AlUla next season. After five years racing at the highest level, it feels like the right time to come home and be part of an Australian team with such a strong history in the sport. I’m looking forward to bringing my experience, continuing to develop and, most importantly, racing for something that feels very close to home. I’m really motivated to see what we can achieve together and proud to represent Australia on the world stage.”
Gene Bates – Head of Performance:
“Sam is a late transfer from Netcompany-INEOS this year. We have come very close to having Sam on our team in the past and it is really great that we have been able to finalise this deal and have him on our roster for the next two seasons.
"Sam is well known to the team staff and riders, having raced for Australia for a number of years on the track, particularly at the Paris Olympics, where he was a key contributor in the men’s team pursuit winning gold and setting a new world record. We are really looking forward to working with Sam and his abilities on the road. He is really focussing on road racing now and in the sprints. He will add a great deal of motivation to the group and having him allows us to focus on some big projects for 2027 and 2028.”
Sam Welsford
Age: 30
Nationality: Australian
Contract: 2027 & 2028
Key Results:
1st Tour Down Under, stage 3 (2026)
1st Tour Down Under, x3 stages (2025)
1st Tour Down Under, x3 stages (2024)
1st Tour de Hongrie, stage 1 (2024)
1st Renewi Tour, stage 4 (2023)
1st Vuelta a San Juan, x2 stages (2023)
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
The 29-year-old Harol Tejada , who will significantly strengthen the team's climbing capabilities and stage-racing depth, arrives with extensive WorldTour experience and a proven record at the highest level.
He punctuated that with an impressive stage victory at Paris-Nice earlier this year along with finishing 4th overall at the UAE Tour and 10th at this year’s Vuelta a Espana.
Harold Tejada weins 2026 Paris-Nice stage six. Sirotti photo
Harold Tejada said: “I’m very excited about this new chapter with Netcompany INEOS. Since I started cycling, I have always seen this team as a benchmark in the sport. I remember watching riders such as Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Egan Bernal, Rigoberto Urán and Sergio Henao with great admiration.
“This is a team with an incredible history, strong values and enormous respect within the peloton. Becoming part of that history is a special opportunity and a huge motivation to keep giving my best.
“I’m grateful for the trust the team has placed in me. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow as a cyclist, learning from the people around me and working every day to help us achieve our goals. I’m ready to give it everything I have.”
Geraint Thomas, Director of Racing, added: “Harold is a strong, solid climber with plenty of experience. He’s been consistently up there over the last few years, and he’ll be a great support to our GC riders.
“He adds depth to our climbing group and gives us more options in the mountains, so he’ll be really a valuable addition to the squad and we’re very excited to get working with him."
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Here’s the team’s news:
Paul Magnier targets the sprints as The Wolfpack prepares for a first appearance in Hong Kong and the final World Tour stage race of the season.
Soudal Quick-Step’s odyssey to the Far East kicks off this weekend with the Hong Kong Cyclothon on Sunday 11 October, which will be followed by six days of racing at the Tour of Guangxi, from 13–18 October.
Our first participation in Hong Kong offers an exciting opportunity to discover the city and race against the backdrop of its spectacular skyline. Starting in the West Kowloon Cultural District, the 100-kilometre course takes the peloton through tunnels and across Stonecutters Bridge, with Paul Magnier ready to lead our challenge in an anticipated sprint finish.
Paul Magnier wins stage five of the 2025 Tour of Guangxi.
The Frenchman then returns to Guangxi with fond memories of last year’s race, where he dominated the sprint stages to take five victories from six days. Fresh from his win at Binche-Chimay-Binche, Paul will look to continue his strong form on the roads of southern China.
The final World Tour stage race of the season begins in Chongzuo and offers several opportunities for the fast men before concluding with the demanding summit finish at Nongla. With the toughest test coming on the last day, the battle for the overall standings should remain open until the final kilometres.
Ilan Van Wilder, who narrowly missed a medal when finishing fourth at this week’s European Time Trial Championships, and Steff Cras, ninth overall at the recent CRO Race, will give Soudal Quick-Step options for the general classification.
Joining Magnier, Van Wilder and Cras for both races will be Ayco Bastiaens, Laurenz Rex, Dries Van Gestel and Warre Vangheluwe, forming a squad ready to support our ambitions in the sprints and on the climbs.