Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
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Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. - Thomas Jefferson
Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Giro d'Italia, A Year-by-Year History of the Tour of Italy, Vol 1: 1909 - 1970 is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Upcoming racing:
- Nov 1: Trofee Oudenaarde - Koppenbergcross
- Nov 7 & 8 European Cyclocross Championships
- 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:
- 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
- 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 announcement:
UAE Team Emirates-XRG are pleased to announce the contract renewal of Jay Vine, with the Australian rider committing his future to the team through to the end of the 2029 season.
Since joining the Emirati squad in 2023, Vine has established himself as one of the team’s most versatile and valuable riders, combining his climbing ability and strength against the clock with an important role in supporting the team at the biggest races.
The 30-year-old Australian has enjoyed considerable success in UAE Team Emirates-XRG colours, with his time at the team marked by both individual achievements and important contributions to some of the squad’s biggest victories.
Jay Vine in the GC leader's jersey after stage 4 of the 2026 Tour Down Under. He won the 2023 & 2026 Tours Down Under. Sirotti photo
Jay Vine: “I’m really happy to be continuing with the team until 2029. I couldn’t imagine a better fit, and I’m incredibly grateful for the trust and support I’ve been shown here, both in the good times and the more difficult ones. That support means a lot to me and is something I really value about this team.
“I’m already building towards the 2027 season and can’t wait to get started. There’s still so much I want to achieve, and I’m excited to keep working alongside some genuine friends, and see what we can accomplish together over the coming years.”
Among his standout results are two overall victories at the Tour Down Under, including a memorable triumph on home roads in 2026, alongside Australian national time trial titles and multiple stage victories at the Vuelta a España.
Vine finished off the 2026 season with an impressive second place at the Chrono des Nations in France, finishing behind world time trial champion Remco Evenepoel.
Beyond his results, Vine has become an important figure within the team, bringing experience, professionalism and a strong commitment to the collective goals of the squad. His renewal provides further continuity as UAE Team Emirates-XRG builds towards the coming seasons.
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
China’s strongest rider in 2026 and the reigning Chinese road race champion, Haoyu Su, has extended his contract with XDS Astana Team for another two seasons, through 2027 and 2028.
The current season has been a breakthrough year for the 26-year-old Chinese rider. In February, Su won the silver medal in the road race at the Asian Championships, where he also claimed bronze in the Mixed relay with the Chinese national team. In the summer, Haoyu Su became the first WorldTour team rider in history to win the Chinese national road race championship, and in September he took an impressive fifth place at the Asian Games.
Haoyu Su
“XDS Astana Team is one big, close-knit family, and I am very happy to be part of it. These two years with the team have given me a huge boost forward – I have gained invaluable experience, achieved a number of results, and most importantly, my dream of becoming a WorldTour professional rider has come true. New seasons, new goals and a lot of work lie ahead. I am ready for it”, – said Haoyu Su.
“In just two years with our team, Haoyu Su has developed into China’s strongest rider and one of the best riders in Asia. His work ethic and motivation deserve great respect. Of course, racing in Europe is not easy for Su, but nevertheless, we can see progress here as well. All he needs is experience and time, and he will be able to reach a level that will allow him to perform very strongly in European races as well. Two more years of work lie ahead. We will see what we can achieve together”, – said Alexandr Vinokurov, General Manager of XDS Astana Team.
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
GreenEDGE Cycling is delighted to announce the contract extensions of five key riders for both Team Jayco AlUla and Liv AlUla Jayco, including Felix Engelhardt, Josie Talbot, and Alan Hatherly.
Important domestiques Patrick Gamper and Jeanne Korevaar, who both provide extensive experience and power to the core of the team, join Talbot, Engelhardt, and Hatherly in re-signing with the Australian squad.
Engelhardt already had a contract for 2027, but this extension sees him stay with the team until at least 2028. The 26-year-old has enjoyed another strong season, capped off by winning his first German national road race title and a debut at the Tour de France.
Felix Engelhardt at the start of 2026 Tour de France stage 17. Sirotti phnoto
Australian Talbot stepped into the WorldTour with the squad at the start of last season and has continued to grow as a rider since, claiming her first WorldTour stage win at the Tour of Chongming Island.
In his second season on the road with Team Jayco AlUla, former double cross country mountain bike world champion Hatherly has continued his progression as a rider. He took an impressive third place overall at the Coppi e Bartali in March and went on to make his Grand Tour debut at the Giro d’Italia.
Korevaar is one of the most respected and experienced riders in the peloton with 14 seasons already under her belt, aged just 29, and is the team’s road captain. Gamper has also made an impression with the team since joining last year, becoming an important part of the engine room on the road.
Felix Engelhardt:
“I’m really happy to extend with Team Jayco AlUla and that the team gave me the opportunity to do so. It was the team’s initiative. The role they see me in and want me to grow into is something I’m really looking forward to. They want me to take more responsibility and go for results, and to have the backing from the team is a privilege and it’s a big step forward for next year and I’m really excited to get this project going long-term as well.”
Josie Talbot:
“After two years with GreenEDGE, it really feels like home here at the team, so I’m delighted that I will be staying for another two years. We’ve just finished the 2026 races but I’m very motivated for next season already. I can’t wait to start in Australia.”
Felix Engelhardt
Age: 26 years old
Nationality: German
Contract: 2027 & 2028
Key results:
1st Per Sempre Alfredo (2023)
1st Vuelta a Castilla y León – stage 1 (2023)
1st Okolo Slovenska – stage 5 (2024)
1st German Road Race Championships (2026)
2nd Vuelta a Castilla y Léon – overall classification (2023)
2nd Japan Cup (2023)
3rd Okolo Slovenska – overall classification (2024)
4th Tour of Austria – overall classification (2025)
4th Okolo Slovenska – overall classification (2025)
4th Arctic Race of Norway – overall classification (2026)
Josie Talbot
Age: 30 years old
Nationality: Australian
Contract: 2027 & 2028
Key Results:
1st Oceania Continental Championships Road Race (2022)
1st Tour de Feminin International des Pyrénéés – stage 3 (2004)
1st Tour of Chongming Island – stage 3 (2025)
2nd Tour de Feminin International des Pyrénéés – stage 1 (2004)
2nd Australian Criterium Championships (2022)
2nd La Picto en Nouvelle-Aquitaine (2026)
3rd reVolta (2023)
3rd Australian Time Trial Championships (2026)
3rd Australian Criterium Championships (2026)
Alan Hatherly
Age: 30 years old
Nationality: South African
Contract: 2027 & 2028
Key Results:
Road:
1st South African Time Trial Championships (2025)
2nd AlUla Tour – stage 4 (2025)
2nd place South African Time Trial Championships (2023, 2024)
3rd AlUla Tour – stage 2 (2025)
3rd Coppi e Bartali – stage 5 (2026)
3rd Coppi e Bartali – overall classification (2026)
3rd South African Time Trial Championships (2026)
6th Tirreno-Adriatico – stage 1 (2026)
MTB:
1st UCI XC World Champion (2024, 2025
1st UCI XC World Cup Champion (2024)
1st UCI XCO World Cup – Lenzerheide (2025)
1st UCI XCC World Cup – Les Gets (2024)
1st UCI XCO World Cup – Mont-Sainte-Anne (2024)
1st UCI XCC World Cup – Petropolis (2022)
3rd Olympic Cross-Country Mountain Bike (2024)
Jeanne Korevaar
Age: 30 years old
Nationality: Dutch
Contract: 2027 & 2028
Key results
1st Lotto Belgium Tour – stage 2 (2018)
1st Women’s Herald Sun Tour – Youth Classification (2018)
2nd Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l’Ardèche – stage 7 (2021)
4th EasyToys Bloeizone Fryslân Tour – Youth Classification (2018)
6th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (2019)
6th Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l’Ardèche – GC (2021)
8th Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne (2018)
7th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (2018)
7th Binche Chimay Binche pour Dames (2022)
10th GC Simac Ladies Tour (2021)
Patrick Gamper
Age: 29 years old
Nationality: Austrian
Contract: 2027 & 2028
Key Results:
1st Gran Premio Industrie del Marmo (2019)
1st Austrian Time Trial Championships (2023)
1st Stage win Giro della Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia (2019)
1st Stage win Tour de Serbie (2016)
1st Overall Tour de Cap (2024)
2nd National Championship Austria ITT (2025)
2nd Tour of the Alps – stage 2 (2024)
2nd Austrian Road Race Championships (2023, 2022)
2nd Austrian Time Trial Championships (2024, 2020)
2nd Trofej Poreč – Poreč Trophy (2019)
3rd stage Int. Österreich-Rundfahrt (2019)
3rd place Austrian Road Race Championships (2021)
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Here’s the team’s post:
Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe’s Chief of Sports reflects on a season of progress, standout performances and a stronger team spirit – and sets his sights on Grand Tour and Monument victories in 2027.
If you had to describe the season in three words, what would they be?
Zak Dempster: Hard work, hope and progress.
Why those words?
Zak Dempster: Progress because, if you look at the statistics, we’ve made progress. That’s what we have to focus on now, and I hope it fuels our hunger for what’s next.
We’re sharper now. People are more open, happier to be challenged and happy to challenge others. I think we’re in a position where we can really take things to the next level.
What are you most proud of, and what gives you confidence for the future?
Zak Dempster: I’m most proud of the way the whole team has worked together: how we’ve planned seasons, supported riders returning from injury and been decisive when faced with really difficult decisions. Seeing how everyone has interacted, worked hard and fought back from situations that haven’t been ideal makes me proud and gives me confidence for the future.
How closely did reality match the expectations you had before the season?
Zak Dempster: You never really know how a season will unfold. It’s a season we can be proud of, but there were challenging situations along the way.
Which challenges stand out?
Zak Dempster: The Giro team was hit hard by health problems, like so many other teams. The Classics were another major challenge heading into the season. The team had been clear about how they wanted to race and what they wanted people to say about them. In the end, they went out and did it. Tim’s second place got the ball rolling, and seeing the Classics become such a happy place was really cool.
Jai Hindley had a long road back to a Grand Tour podium, and he did it. Then there was Maxim returning to the Tour. Giulio won six races this year, and Laurence won six. There are so many examples.
Jai Hindley finishing 2026 Giro d'Italia stage 7. Sirotti photo
The Giro was also a learning experience for Giulio. How did he respond?
Zak Dempster: He got through it and came back stronger. He was right up there with Florian in Slovenia and went on to win again. There’s been huge progress and so much to take confidence from. Now we have to focus on putting good plans in place and doing the hard work.
Which rider surprised you the most?
Zak Dempster: Giulio. I knew how good he was, but seeing him deliver wins so consistently, whilst also going through that learning experience at the Giro, was really cool. It’s not that I was surprised — I knew he had it in him — but it was great to see him actually do it.
Laurence also made a strong comeback after a difficult previous season. Who else stood out?
Zak Dempster: Definitely. There are quite a few examples. Think of Luke finishing second at the Dauphiné in his first year, or what Callum achieved throughout the season. Then there’s Lorenzo Finn and the season he put together, and Alessio Magagnotti. We had two riders who weren’t even in the WorldTour team beat Magnier, one of the best sprinters in the world. There’s a lot to be said across the board, and it’s really hard to single out just one rider.
How much has the team’s mindset changed?
Zak Dempster: Ultimately, it comes down to how people work together. If people feel they’re part of putting good plans in place, and that others are working just as hard and are just as committed, you’re going to get positive results more often than not. Sometimes you won’t, but you have to maintain stability and keep working at it.
It’s about people following through on what we said we would do and being committed. You can definitely feel that change.
Whose contribution was particularly important, even if it wasn’t fully reflected in the results?
Zak Dempster: Gianni Vermeersch is a really good example because of his presence in the Classics group. Both he and Gianni Moscon bring an intensity that helps bring the team together. Gianni Vermeersch’s toughness in the peloton has had a really positive effect on the group.
What is the next step for 2027?
Zak Dempster: We’ve made progress and we should celebrate that, but we should also be honest about wanting more. We still need to discuss and agree on what we feel are exciting and realistic goals. Personally, I believe we can win a Grand Tour next year. I believe we can win a Monument. And I believe we can become the most successful version of this team in terms of race wins.
I hope we can reach that milestone before the final race of the season, so we can set a new goal. Those are the three big ones for me: turning podium finishes into victories at the highest level.