Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
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Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see. - Arthur Schopenhauer
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Current racing:
- August 22 - Sept 13: Vuelta a España
Upcoming racing:
- September 9: Giro della Toscana
- September 10: Coppa Sabatini
- September 11: GP de Québec
- September 12: Memorial Marco pantani
- September 13: GP de Montréal
- September 13: GP de Fourmies
- September 13: Trofeo Matteotti
Latest completed racing:
- September 2 - 6: Tour of Britain
- September 2 - 6: ZLM Tour
- September 6: GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano
- August 30: Bretagne Classic Ouest-France
- August 25 - 28: Tour Poitou-Charentes en Nouvelle Aquitaine
- August 19 - 23: Renewi Tour
- August 18 - 21: Tour du Limousin-Périgord
- August 13 - 18: Arctic Race of Norway
- August 16: Cyclassics Hamburg
- August 16: La Polynormande
- August 3 - 9: Tour of Poland
- August 4 - 8: Vuelta a Burgos
- July 29 - August 2: Tour of Denmark
- August 2: Circuito de Getxo
Here's the team's announcement:
The German rider further strengthens our roster for the coming seasons
Lidl-Trek is pleased to announce the signing of Georg Zimmermann, with the German rider set to join the team from the 2027 season on a contract that will keep him with Lidl-Trek through 2029.
At 28 years old, Zimmermann brings a wealth of WorldTour experience to an ambitious Lidl-Trek squad. The Augsburg-born rider has established himself as a versatile and tenacious presence in the peloton, capable of making an impact across hilly Classics and demanding stage races.
His 2026 season has been a particularly memorable one. Zimmermann claimed the biggest victory of his career at Eschborn-Frankfurt in May, taking an impressive win on home roads. Speaking about his choice to come to Lidl-Trek, Zimmermann said: "First of all, I’m really excited to join Lidl-Trek. The first seven years of my career I was riding in a smaller World Tour team and now making this step to one of the major World Tour teams is a goal that I was looking forward to for a long time.
Georg Zimmermann wins the 2026 Eschborn-Frankfurt race.
"I think the biggest change that I’m looking forward to is that the tactics will change a little bit. The last years we were mostly looking to what the others were doing and adapting to this, but the big teams like Lidl-Trek are actively involved in making the race."
Zimmermann now joins a Lidl-Trek team that continues to build an increasingly deep and versatile roster, with the German rider adding further strength to our Classics and stage-racing ambitions. Known for his resilience, attacking instinct and willingness to race aggressively, Zimmermann has consistently shown that he can be trusted in the most demanding moments of a race.
“I already know a lot of people in the team from the past that I’m looking forward to working together with. Dr Daniele Zaccaria was a doctor in the first year I was professional and I had a really good time with him. Lennard Kämna is also a rider I’m looking forward to racing with.”
With a three-year agreement taking him through the 2029 season, Zimmermann will have the opportunity to become an important part of Lidl-Trek’s next chapter.
“My goal for the time of my contract is to really become the best Georg Zimmerman possible, with the best support. Like, working with the best coaches on the best equipment and with the best nutritionist and so on. To get the most out of the talent I have, and for this goal, Lidl-Trek will be the ideal place to find out my maximum,” he said.
General Manager Andy Schleck is equally as excited about the signing of Zimmermann, explaining:
“Over the past six years in the WorldTour peloton, we’ve had the privilege of watching Georg grow into the talented and versatile rider he is today. His attitude, determination and fearless style of racing have made a lasting impression on all of us, while delivering some truly memorable moments and special victories along the way.
"Most recently he showed his capabilities with victory at this year’s Eschborn-Frankfurt but, we think there is still room for Georg to grow as a rider at Lidl-Trek.”
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The team sent me this news:
Clément Venturini will ride for Lotto-Intermarché for the next two seasons. The 32-year-old Frenchman has signed a contract until the end of 2028 and wants to fully focus on his role as a puncheur again with the team. “My ambition to perform myself is definitely still there. I want to achieve strong results again and score important UCI points for the team, but at the same time, I also want to use my experience to help the young riders within the team.”
Clément Venturini racing in stage one of the 2024 Tour de Romandie. Sirotti phjoto
Clément Venturini joining Lotto-Intermarché is the result of a story that has been unfolding for more than a year. “Jean-François Bourlart and I were already in talks last year,” Venturini explains. “But then the merger between Intermarché-Wanty and Lotto Cycling Team happened and the team turned out to be full. I really thought the story was over, but here we are… We always stayed in touch. The fact that I can now, a year later, still sign for Lotto-Intermarché makes it even more special.”
Venturini is a rider who can perform on a wide range of terrain. As a puncheur, he feels most at home in tough one-day races with hilly finales. “Brabantse Pijl, Amstel Gold Race… that’s my terrain. But I don’t only want to be there at those moments. There are plenty of races throughout the season where I can take my chance. I hadn’t won for a few years, but this season I was able to taste victory again, at La Roue Tourangelle. That gives me confidence and, above all, a lot of motivation to build on that next year. I want to achieve as many strong results as possible again and score important UCI points for the team. My ambition to perform myself is definitely still there, but at the same time, I’m also looking forward to sharing my experience. I’m 32 now and have quite a few seasons in my legs. I’d like to take on that role as an adviser.”
Apart from this season with the Unibet Rose Rockets, Venturini has always raced for French teams. As a Frenchman, he is happy to now join a Belgian team. “I’ve noticed that I really appreciate that international environment,” he says. “I enjoyed the different environment and different way of working last season. And I’ve certainly improved my English a lot (laughs). It also means that I’m now joining Lotto-Intermarché with an open mind. Moreover, with Intermarché, there is still a French side to this team. I think I’ll fit in very well here. I also simply have good memories of this team. I vividly remember Tony Gallopin taking the yellow jersey at the Tour in 2014… That was also in a Lotto jersey (Lotto-Belisol at the time, ed.).”
CEO Jean-François Bourlart is also pleased that, following their earlier talks, Venturini is now making the move to Lotto-Intermarché after all. “Clément is a rider we have wanted to bring to our team for quite some time. He is a very complete and experienced rider who can achieve results himself in tough races, but who can also be extremely valuable to the riders around him. With his experience, race intelligence and profile as a puncheur, he brings qualities that perfectly complement our squad. We are therefore very happy that we can now finally welcome him to Lotto-Intermarché.”
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Onley’s Team Netcompany INEOS posted this interview
As the Vuelta a Espana arrives at its second rest day, we caught up with Oscar Onley to get his thoughts on the race thus far and look ahead to the third week of racing.
Oscar, 15 stages down, six to go - what are you reflections on the race so far?
"I think it's been a bit of an up and down race. I’ve had a couple of setbacks, which is normal in a Grand Tour I think. I'm just focussing on trying to get back to the level that I've had on the previous days in the first week, and I’m in an okay position, but I want more out of the race, and I'm hoping to get more out of it.
All the riders have had to deal with some intense heat thus far in the race, particularly in the last week.
"I enjoy the heat, but I would say this is a different heat to the one I enjoy! It's something I've not had, other than maybe Tour Down Under, I’ve not really experienced something this hot before, but I've not had any problems with it so far. I think the team with the staff and the methods and the protocols they have in place to keep us as cool as possible have been really good and I think over the three weeks it makes a big difference."
Oscar Onley heads to the start of Vuelta stage 15. Sirotti photo
How have the team been working together during the second week?
"To be honest, I think the team have been really good, and everyone's really stepped up. I think a special mention to Lucas (Hamilton) and Axel (Laurance), because they're not climbers, but they've been around me really deep into some of these mountain days and to see them fighting also gives me a lot of energy as well.
"I think the team have been really good this week. We’ve had a few situations that we've had to use guys on the front, which is normal in a Grand Tour when people around me in the GC are trying to get up the road. But also just simple things, like getting bottles and ice when the temperatures are like they are, they've really been good with that."
The final week has a key time trial test on stage 18. Talk about how you'll approach that.
"I think this one's more of a true test, I would say. Obviously, the one in Monaco was quite specialised with all the technical aspects, and the focus for me there was really just to get through it and take no risks. Whereas this one, it’s more on legs and how aero you are, and so I'm hoping that the package the team have for the TTs can help me."
Obviously it wouldn't be the Vuelta without some tough mountain tests in the final week.
"There's two big mountain days left in the race, and the last one [stage 20] I know really well from doing training camp in Sierra Nevada before the Dauphine this year. I think half the peloton also know the roads really well, but it's a really hard day and I think a lot can happen on that day. It could also get quite tactical as well between different GC guys and where everyone stands. I think that it will be an exciting day for the race."
You're sitting fifth overall and in the white jersey. Talk to us about the fight for that in the final week.
"Obviously, you never want to give anyone any time in breakaways, but that's just how it happens sometimes. To be honest, I don't know [Jakob] Omrzel that well but I'm learning about him quite quickly, particularly in the last few days. I think it's going to be quite close between us in this last week. I think that's also another nice battle to have, but ultimately, it's just for the best position on GC rather than the white jersey."
Overall how would you sum up this edition of La Vuelta thus far?
"This Grand Tour has been quite different to the Tour [de France] I experienced last year. Looking back, last year was too easy almost with no setbacks! But I think everyone has setbacks during a Grand Tour and I think the way I and the team have dealt with that has been really good. There really has been some days that I've really struggled and thought that I could lose everything, so to still be sitting fifth on GC is something quite positive. I'm just hoping for a clean, smooth last week, and physically, I'm starting to feel more like myself again, and I'm not too tired at this point."
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Here’s the team’s news:
Michael Matthews will make his 11th appearance at the Canadian one-day races Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal this weekend, a place he has enjoyed plenty of success.
The experienced Australian has a superb record in the pair of races, particularly in Québec where he has won three times, been on the podium a further four times, and never finished outside the top 10. He has also won in Montréal, taking the double victory in 2018.
Michael Matthews wins the 2018 GP de Québec.
While Matthews will take the leadership role in Québec on Friday, Mauro Schmid will head the squad for Sunday’s outing in Montréal. The Swiss rider has had a bumper 2026 season, crowned by his stunning breakaway win at the Tour de France over the summer.
Bob Donaldson, who took a hard-earned second place at the recent Philadelphia Classic, and Anders Foldager will play key support roles for Schmid and Matthews. Forming the engine room of the line-up are Luke Durbridge, Patrick Gamper, and Chris Juul-Jensen.
Team Jayco AlUla for GPs de Québec and Montréal
Bob Donaldson (GBR)
Luke Durbridge (AUS)
Anders Foldager (DEN)
Patrick Gamper (AUT)
Chris Juul-Jensen (DEN)
Michael Matthews (AUS)
Mauro Schmid (SWI)
Michael Matthews:
“Really excited to go back to Canada, it’s always been really nice to me, especially Quebéc but also Montréal. I’m looking forward to going back this year after a difficult season and excited to do the journey back over and race in such a beautiful country and the two circuits suit my characteristics quite well. It’s been a rocky season for me, but Canada is always a place where I can show my real racing form. Everything has gone well lately, in the build up to Canada this year, and hopefully I can do my thing again.”
Mathew Hayman – Sport Director:
“We go back to these races with a strong team. Michael Matthews returns to Québec, which he has won three times in the past and he’s always finished very well. We just missed out on a good result there last year, so we want to make amends there. He’s supported by a strong team, with Mauro Schmid fresh off a stage win at the Tour de France and Bob Donaldson, who just got a podium in Philadelphia, plus Anders Foldager. We’re looking forward to Québec and then Montréal, which is a harder course, and we’ll be backing Mauro Schmid there. After his stage win at the Tour de France, he’ll be looking to get a result there.”
Michael Matthews at GP de Québec
2015 – 2nd
2016 – 5th
2017 – 3rd
2018 – Win (also won Montréal)
2019 – Win
2022 – 2nd
2023 – 3rd
2024 – Win
2025 – 9th