Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. - Vince Lombardi
Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, 2021: The Little Cannibal Dominates is available in both Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Upcoming racing:
Latest completed racing:
- 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
- Oct 11: Paris-Tours
- Oct 10: Il Lombardia
- Oct 8: Gran Piemonte
The rest of the year's completed races are here.
Here’s the team’s news:
Emil Herzog, the 2022 junior world champion from Weiler-Simmerberg, Germany, will join our squad starting in 2027. Emil is excited to take on the biggest races with his new teammates and prove he is a winner. He loves our team's free-flowing, aggressive style and wants to make the most of every chance that he and the squad can create.
"I really like to race offensively, and that's EF Education-EasyPost's style too," Emil said.
"I want to start winning. That's my main goal – to win again, in breakaways, racing aggressively. I'm not a guy who likes to sit in the bunch all day and wait for the last climb. Watching the Tour de France this year, the team was really good, and I want to contribute to that. I'm still young, and I think I have some talent; I showed it in the juniors. I think I'll get more opportunities here. I'm really looking forward to it."
Emil Herzog wins the 2022 Junior Men's World Championship Road Race. Sirotti photo
Emil is a punchy rider who can get over hard climbs and leave his rivals behind in the final kilometer of tough races. He likes the Ardennes and flat-out days over difficult terrain in stage races. When others tire, he keeps his kick. Emil has a mean turn of speed.
“Emil is a huge talent,” EF Pro Cycling founder and CEO Jonathan Vaughters said. “He was junior world champion and, at 22, already has three years of WorldTour racing in his legs. He was knocking on the door of his first professional win this season. I think he is going to flourish in the years ahead. He is an aggressive racer who really fits into our team’s style. We’re going to give him every opportunity to show his skills and strength.”
Emil really comes into his own in the hardest races.
"For me it's good when it's difficult," he said. "In the juniors, I was more of a sprinter, a bit more of a classics rider, but I've turned a bit more into a climber type – hard one-day races suit me, and stage races with a tough climb at the finish. But my goal should be to get back that explosiveness, because I love going in breakaways, and if I'm in a group that comes to the finish, I'd love to be able to win the sprint out of it. My fatigue resistance is quite good, so it's good for me when we have to push the whole day."
Some of that strength was honed on snow. Until he was 18, Emil didn't know if he wanted to be a cyclist or a cross-country skier. He did both. He grew up in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, near the Bodensee, by the border with Switzerland and Austria. His winters were spent on skis; his summers, on mountain bikes.
"In my village, there's a club that does cross-country skiing in winter and mountain biking in summer, and my father was kind of the coach, the guy who went along with the kids," Emil said. "It all came from there. I did a lot of cross-country ski racing when I was younger – until I was 16 or 17. For a while I wasn't sure whether I wanted to become a skier or a cyclist, but with less and less snow, cross-country skiing got more complicated. With the bike, you just go out and train – even if the weather's bad you can still ride. When I was 13 or 14, a friend who also did mountain biking asked me to come to the road club, so I started doing both — though I didn't ride much on the road until the juniors."
Emil's first road years were a great success. In 2021, he won the German junior time trial title and finished second at the Course de la Paix and third at Aubel-Thimister-Stavelot, among other excellent results. Then, in 2022, he won 12 races, including the junior world road race championship, the Course de la Paix, and the German junior road race title.
As a pro, Emil proved that he can be a consistent WorldTour teammate, and recent results, like his second on Stage 5 of the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana and fourth at the Bretagne Classic, hint at big professional victories to come.
Emil is going to get after them in his own style. He doesn't thrive in a rigid environment. He is a mountain man who still likes to go ski touring high in his home Alps, and he just took up paragliding. Last year, he added a trip to Unbound Gravel to his calendar and finished eighth at the great American dirt race. He also won the German gravel championship in the Eifel. He still rides mountain bikes when he can and would love to do more off-road racing in the future if it fits with his racing schedule.
"I really enjoy the variation of not only riding the road," Emil said. "Don't get me wrong, I love riding my bike, but for my head it's easier if I can change things up sometimes. If I can train on a gravel bike, and race on gravel now and then, I get some freshness in my head, and I think I benefit in both disciplines. I hope I can do some gravel races next year – that would be really cool and motivating."
This winter, Emil will train hard to get into winning shape on his home roads near the Bodensee. He is still finding new routes.
"I really like to explore," he said. "I don't need it to be somewhere far – a place two hours from my home can be just as beautiful as Canada. I love finding a nice road and just seeing everything, even near home, where I still find roads I've never ridden. And of course, if you're in really good shape and you feel you can be up there, that's cool too. You have to remember what you're doing it for. Cycling can be really hard, but it can also be the nicest thing on earth."
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Here’s the team’s news:
Lotto-Intermarché welcomes Mauri Vansevenant, adding an experienced Belgian climber to its roster. The 27-year-old rider from West Flanders has signed a two-year contract and will enter his eighth season as a professional. For Vansevenant, joining Lotto-Intermarché is a carefully considered decision, driven not only by his sporting ambitions but also by the feeling he has about the team.
Mauri Vansevenant finishes sixth in 2024 Vuelta a España stage four. Sirotti photo
Mauri Vansevenant describes his move to Lotto-Intermarché as a decision made “with the heart”. The fact that his father Wim also raced in Lotto colours, from 2003 to 2008, was not the deciding factor, according to Vansevenant, but it does add a nostalgic touch to his story. “Lotto-Intermarché is a team with so much history. Over the years, so many talented riders and team leaders have come through its ranks. For me, that is the best proof that the team is doing things right,” says Mauri Vansevenant. “And I want to be part of that. This is where I see my future. I believe just as strongly in the team's character as I do in the project itself. It's not about being part of a huge organisation, but about that family atmosphere. I could already see during the season that there is a great atmosphere within the team, and I know that is when I can get the best out of myself.”
After seven seasons with Soudal Quick-Step, Mauri Vansevenant is ready to start a new chapter in his career. A new training approach and a new environment will mark the beginning of his eighth season as a professional. The Belgian climber, who has made his mark in the Ardennes Classics and demanding stage races over the past few years, believes that a change of scenery will do him good.
“A renewed desire to prove yourself is always a good thing during a career. I've been around for quite a while now,” he explains. “I still believe that winning a stage in a Grand Tour is within my reach. And of course, the Ardennes Classics remain a priority for me. The Amstel Gold Race, Liège-Bastogne-Liège… Along with the Tour of the Basque Country and other races at that level. Those are races where I still hope to achieve strong results. At the same time, after seven years at the highest level, I'm more than happy to support the younger generation within Lotto-Intermarché. I know how to position myself and how races unfold. I'm happy to pass on that knowledge. I think that's how we can make each other stronger.”
Lotto-Intermarché CEO Jean-François Bourlart is particularly pleased with the arrival of Mauri Vansevenant: “Mauri's attacking style of racing makes him a perfect fit for our team. He will be an important addition to our roster, especially for the Ardennes Classics. He has already proven his qualities in those races over the past few years. We are convinced that he can take further steps forward and achieve strong results within our team. At the same time, he brings a wealth of experience to our young group of climbers. We don't just develop young talents; we also surround them with riders who can help them take the next step. Mauri will play an important role in that process.”
Here’s the team’s news:
Team Jayco AlUla is pleased to confirm its final signing for the 2027 season with the exciting addition of Danish climber Mikkel Honoré.
The versatile 29-year-old is set to bolster the squad’s strength in hilly one-day races for the coming season. A stager winner at Itzulia Basque Country, Honoré is set to bringing a wealth of experience having raced for more than eight years in the WorldTour peloton.
2023 Tour Down Under: Mikkel Honoré wins the Mountains Classification. Sirotti photo
With a consistent palmarès, that includes impressive podium finishes in the hardest of races such as Klasikoa San Sebastian and Bretagne Classic, Honoré adds depth to the team. His knowledge of the biggest races will also aid the squad’s young up-and-coming talent.
Earlier this season the Dane suffered an unfortunate crash which saw him spend time in intensive care. After suffering from broken ribs, a broken collarbone and fractured vertebrae, Honoré demonstrated great strength and determination to return to racing and even finished on the podium at Memorial Marco Pantani alongside a host of other impressive top 10 results.
Mikkel Honoré:
“I am super excited to join the team next year, it means a lot to me, and it is a big point in my career to have such a change and join the mentality and philosophy of Team Jayco AlUla. Regarding the crash that I had earlier this season, it gave me a completely different perspective on life and cycling. In general I feel much more privileged to be able to do what I love. I think I am enjoying the racing a lot more now than before. I still feel like I have a lot to give with all of my experienced and my own ambitions and I am really looking forward to being part of Team Jayco AlUla and trying to achieve great thing together in the future.”
Gene Bates – Head of Performance:
“We are extremely happy and pleased to have Mikkel Honoré join the team for 2027 and 2028. Obviously, he is a really important rider, very experienced, very well credentialled, and we are looking forward to him joining the team and bolstering our one-day classics group. It is something that we have done well in this year working with that group of riders with the likes of Schmid, Matthews, Vendrame, Covi and others. That is where we have been our strongest and it will be great to have Mikkel boost that group even further and bring an extra level of expertise. It has been inspiring to see Mikkel have such a strong recovery after what was a very serious accident earlier in the season and bounce back to some of his best form with a strong world championships amongst other races over the past two months. Mikkel will join us direct from the Tour of Guangxi at our 2027 team camp in northern Italy this week and we look forward to welcoming him into the GreenEDGE family.”
Mikkel Honoré:
Age: 29
Nationality: Danish
Contract: 2027 & 2028
Key Results:
1st Itzulia Basque Country stage 5 (2021)
1st Coppi e Bartali stage (2021)
2nd Coppi e Bartali GC (2021)
3rd Klasikoa San Sebastian (2021)
3rd Bretagne Classic (2021)
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Here’s the team’s announcement that it is changing from Specialized to Merida bikes, among other changes:
Ed: Not noted in the press release below is that the team's 2027 name will be Soudal Safety Jogger.
Soudal Quick-Step and AG Insurance - Soudal are pleased to announce a number of new technical partnerships for 2027, as part of the teams’ continued drive to provide our riders with the highest level of equipment and technical support.
The new partnerships are the result of an extensive research and evaluation process undertaken by the teams’ management and performance staff, with the technical assessment led by Head of Technical & Development Nicolas Coosemans and Head Coach Koen Pelgrim. Attention was paid not only to the quality and performance of each product, but also to how it complements the equipment and expertise provided by our existing partners such as Castelli and Shimano, and how proposed partners would help the team reach its sporting goals.
Specialized bikes are out, Merida Bikes are in. Here's Ethan Hayter riding to second place in stage one of the 2026 Vuelta a España. Sirotti photo
Products were extensively tested and assessed in controlled environments, including wind-tunnel testing, as well as in real-world ‘on the road’ conditions. This rigorous approach ensures that every element of the teams’ technical package has been selected to help our riders perform at the highest level.
The new line-up is led by Merida, who will provide the team with their bikes for the next four years, with an option to extend beyond 2030. Founded in 1972, Merida has grown from its roots in Taiwan to become one of the world’s leading bicycle manufacturers, combining more than five decades of experience in bicycle production with a strong focus on innovation and performance. With racing in their DNA and highly developed bikes like the test- and award-winning REACTO and the air-slicing TIME-WARP at the ready, their team is all set to support our endeavour with their sophisticated products and wealth of expertise. Today, Merida’s approach brings together research, design and development in Germany with extensive engineering and manufacturing expertise in Taiwan.
At the heart of Merida’s philosophy is a commitment to research and development, with performance driven by extensive testing and continual refinement. Its engineers work across areas including aerodynamics, weight, stiffness, handling and rider comfort, looking not simply at individual components but at how the complete bicycle can help a rider perform more efficiently. This approach has produced race-winning bikes at the highest level of professional cycling and an established record of using feedback from professional riders and teams to drive further development. From 2027, we will work closely with Merida, combining their technical expertise with feedback from our riders and performance staff, with a focus on providing our riders with world-class equipment.
The Merida’s bikes will be built around components from the teams’ long-term partner, SHIMANO. Close collaboration with our teams has helped SHIMANO develop and refine its products at the highest level of professional cycling. We will continue to use SHIMANO DURA-ACE drivetrains and pedals. The partnership will also enter a new phase as they begin racing on the latest DURA-ACE C36, C50, C60, C99, and Disc wheelsets, providing a full suite of options for all racing conditions.
These wheels will be fitted with tyres from Continental, who also join the team from the start of 2027. Often a byword for quality, Continental have been making pneumatic bicycle tyres since 1892 and have led the market in terms of research and development ever since. The team at Continental have also played an integral part in our product testing and have developed a range of products that will help our riders perform to their maximum in all conditions.
Also joining the teams’ technical partner portfolio in 2027 will be Prologo. Founded in Milan in 2006, the Italian saddle manufacturer has built its reputation around innovation, research and close collaboration with professional riders, allowing us to provide our athletes with equipment tailored to their individual performance and comfort requirements.
The teams’ rider equipment will be further strengthened by the arrival of Sidi and Lazer. With more than 60 years of experience producing high-performance footwear, Sidi brings a longstanding reputation for innovation and quality.
Belgian helmet manufacturer Lazer joins the team as official helmet partner. With over a century of experience, their commitment to performance-driven product development and rider safety makes them an ideal partner as we continue to pursue excellence at the highest level of the sport.
Completing the teams’ new technical package will be a partnership with Wolf Performance. Combining extensive bike-fitting experience with the latest technology, Wolf Performance will work with our riders and performance staff to optimise individual positions and equipment setups, helping ensure that each rider can get the maximum performance from the equipment available to them.
Speaking of the new partnerships, CEO Jurgen Foré said, “We have been working on this project for more than one year, because decisions around technical partners have a direct impact on the performance of our riders. We wanted to look at every element of our equipment package and understand where we could make improvements, while also building on the strong relationships that we already have.
“What excites me most is not simply the individual products that our riders will use, but the expertise that each of these companies brings our teams. We want our technical partners to work closely with our riders and performance staff, sharing knowledge, data and ideas so that we can continue to develop together.
“We are very grateful to all our new partners for the confidence they show in our teams. We look forward to beginning these new partnerships and being able to show you exactly what we have been working so hard to deliver.”
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The team sent me this announcement:
Addy Engels and Joey van Rhee will join Team Visma | Lease a Bike as race coaches. With Engels, the team brings back a highly experienced coach who is already familiar with the organization, while Van Rhee joins as a young and ambitious coach with a strong desire to develop within the team.
The arrival of Engels and Van Rhee reflects the team’s approach to combining experience with continuous development. Engels’ knowledge of the organization and the sport provides a strong foundation, while Van Rhee’s ambition and willingness to develop bring a fresh perspective. Together, they will strengthen the coaching group with a balance that fits the team’s culture and supports its ambition to keep improving.
From the 2015 Tour Down Under: Team Giant-Shimano sports director Addy Engels gives the day's instructions to the team. Sirotti photo
In their roles as race coach, Engels and Van Rhee will work closely with the riders and the other members of the coaching group. Together, they will contribute to the sporting development of the team and the riders, while helping to ensure that the team’s way of working and long-term goals remain central to its sporting approach.
Marc Reef, Head of Racing: “With Joey, we welcome a young race coach who is ambitious, involved and motivated to grow. His ambition and mindset fit very well with the way we want to work as a team. We believe Joey will be a very good fit with our vision as a team. Next to that, the connection between Addy and our team has always been special. Over the years, we have built a strong relationship and he has always fitted perfectly within our way of working. With Addy, we bring in a very experienced race coach. He knows our team inside out, is familiar with our culture and way of working, and knows both the staff and the riders well. That knowledge and familiarity are a great added value. With the arrival of Addy and Joey, we strengthen our coaching group in a very balanced way. Together, they bring a strong combination of experience, ambition and new energy to the team. That balance provides the necessary stability, while at the same time bringing new impulses and challenges that help us continue to grow as a team.”
Engels returns to Team Visma | Lease a Bike after one year away from the team. Having previously worked within the organization, he knows the team, way of working and people well. His experience and knowledge will provide continuity and stability within the team.
Addy Engels: “It feels good to return to Team Visma | Lease a Bike. At the same time, it also feels very familiar to be part of this team again. I am very happy that this opportunity came up and that I can return to the team. What has always appealed to me within the team is the strong trust that exists between people. That was an important reason for me to return. After a year away, I am really looking forward to working with all these familiar faces again and contributing to the team’s ambitions and objectives for the coming seasons.”
Van Rhee joins Team Visma | Lease a Bike with the ambition to continue developing as a race coach. His arrival also reflects the team’s commitment to developing people within its organization and giving them the opportunity to grow.
Joey van Rhee: “I am looking forward to developing myself and to working together with the riders on their growth, helping them step by step to get the best out of themselves, both on and off the bike. What particularly appeals to me is the scientific way of working within the team. From performance and training to nutrition, knowledge is brought together in all areas to support the riders as well as possible. I hope that at Team Visma | Lease a Bike I can not only get the best out of myself, but also contribute to the development of the riders and the team as a whole. I strongly believe in the way of working within this team and in what we can achieve together. It is great to feel that mutual trust.”