Our biking information roundup options early commentary on the 2026 Tour de France route, together with ideas from biking greats previous and current (plus PEZ’ eTrash Mike). Elsewhere, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will conquer Mont Ventoux for the primary time, updates from Observe Worlds — and the way PEZ will put your cyclocross enter to make use of.
TOP STORY:
- Early Evaluation and Commentary on the 2026 Tour Route
RACE NEWS
- Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift to Sort out Mt. Ventoux
- Vuelta ’26 to Open with Monaco TT
RIDER & TEAM NEWS
- Cynisca Launches Pathways Fund to Give Alternative to Promising Cyclists
- American Dygart Claims Pursuit Bronze at Observe Championships
- Biking Canada Pronounces Nationwide Group Roster for UCI Observe World Championships
- EF Schooling-Aevolo Launches Males’s & Ladies’s Cyclocross Program
WHAT ELSE IS COOL IN ROAD CYCLING
- Ballot Outcomes In: You’d Prefer to See ‘Cross on PEZ
Early Evaluation and Commentary on the 2026 Tour Route
eTrashMike sez: It’s turn out to be a truism that any Grand Tour route is right for Tadej Pogačar, as a result of he dominates not simply in excessive mountains, however over virtually each different terrain kind, together with punchy climbs and even mixed-surface programs, like cobbles or Strade Bianche-like gravel. In the meantime, his uber-team protects him on flat levels — and particularly wind-blown routes.
However there’s one kind of parcours the place “Pogi” doesn’t rule: flat, standalone time trials, the place Remco Evenepoel normally has his mark. So to these recommend who there’s nothing route designers can do to “Pog-proof” a Tour route: How a couple of resurrection of the very long time trial — 50 km or extra? In any case, it was simply 11 years in the past {that a} time trial ran 54 km. Put it early within the race, make it flat — see if it leads to a handicap for Tadej to shut over the remaining levels.
Alas — not this 12 months. Right here’s some extra commentary concerning the 2026 Tour route:
- Jan Bakelants, retired rider and analyst/journalist: “Twenty-six kilometers for the person time trial, and it’s hilly? That’s far too quick to place any significant strain on the pure climbers. As soon as once more, the organizers have missed a golden alternative to make the race really balanced. It’s tailor-made for one man…The organizers haven’t constructed a race that offers the underdog a much bigger probability.”
- Johan Bruyneel, retired rider and crew director: “It’s not route for Remco [Evenepoel]… The time trial is simply 26 kilometers, and the primary 10 of these are uphill. It’s a stage for the GC contenders; time trial specialists are undoubtedly not better off right here.”
- Cadel Evans, 2011 Tour de France winner: “You possibly can’t Pog-proof the Tour… Time gaps will likely be large for Tadej Pogacar on the 2026 Tour de France.”
- Thierry Gouvenou, ASO Race Designer: “The Pyrenees being positioned so early is an efficient piece after all design. It would create an thrilling hierarchy with out essentially destroying the entire discipline, permitting for a crescendo of motion proper as much as the ultimate week. That’s good for suspense.”
- Brian Holm, retired Danish rider and directeur sportif: “Alpe d’Huez twice – that’s actually thrilling. However from the again, through the Col de Sarenne – I’ve by no means appreciated that street. I don’t know if I’ve developed vertigo in my previous age, however while you drive there and look down, it’s wild.”
- Tim Merlier, sprinter: “They need pleasure within the Tour, in order that they’re taking out the boring levels.”
- Grischa Niermann, head of racing at Group Visma | Lease-a-Bike: “The mountains are unfold out over the course, nevertheless it’s nonetheless fairly backloaded with a tough final week. It appears to be like like stage 20 would be the large queen stage of the race with a number of lengthy climbs, so hopefully the battle for the yellow jersey will nonetheless be on by then…The Tour de France is at all times a tough a race, and subsequent 12 months would be the similar. It might swimsuit Jonas nicely, however once more, we’ve to look additional into the levels.”
- Richard Plugge, Group Supervisor, Visma | Lease-a-Bike: “The brand new crew time trial format, the place the time is taken on the primary rider, isn’t a crew time trial in any respect—it’s a glorified lead-out for the GC chief. It eliminates the tactical fantastic thing about a real collective effort.”
- PEZ-Man Chris Selden – First hand account of driving the Col de Sarenne when it was first launched to le Tour in 2008; “I’ve ridden and raced in additional than a dozen international locations all over the world together with towards GrandTour winners and classics stars however this seemingly easy recon experience nonetheless ranks as one in all my hardest ever days on a motorbike.”
Chris struggling on the Col de Sarenne.
RACE NEWS
Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift to Sort out Mt. Ventoux
Having taken on a few of France’s iconic climbs since its launch in 2022, from Alpe d’Huez and the Col de la Madeleine to Tremendous Planche des Belles Filles, in 2026 the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will ascend the fearsome “Large of Provence,” Mt. Ventoux.
From August 1 to 9, the ladies’s peloton will battle over the course of 1,175 kilometers, the longest route within the occasion’s historical past. The Grand Départ in Switzerland will set a mountainous tone, although the parcours will options alternatives for sprinters and puncheuses, in addition to a time trial ending in Dijon, all earlier than culminating on the Promenade des Anglais in Good.
Not like the boys’s Tour in recent times, TDFFAZ has seen a distinct champion in every of its 4 editions. This extremely assorted route is certain to deliver out one of the best of this discipline, together with 2025 champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, 2025 winner Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, Demi Vollering, and an entire host of younger, proficient, and bold contenders.
Vuelta ’26 to Open with Monaco TT
We all know the 2026 Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes routes; now we additionally understand how subsequent 12 months’s Vuelta will begin.
Monaco hosted the Gran Salida in 1966, and can once more sixty years later, with a person time trial of almost 10 kilometers, ending on Boulevard Albert I — the location of the end to the annual Monaco Formulation 1 Grand Prix.
“By this sporting occasion, we’ve the chance to indicate the world one other facet of our nation, one that’s dedicated to selling fashionable sport in its noblest sense. Internet hosting La Vuelta is way more than a celebration of sport, its athletes and efficiency in a extremely demanding self-discipline. It’s a image of openness and affect for our nation which, I might remind you, is the World Capital of Sport in 2025,” stated H.S.H. Prince Albert II.
‘Monaco is synonymous with sporting excellence and organisational prowess. A number of the world’s most prestigious occasions happen right here, with the Formulation 1 Grand Prix because the jewel within the crown. Launching La Vuelta on this setting is each an honour and a assure of success for everybody,’ stated Javier Guillén, Director Normal of La Vuelta.
RIDER & TEAM NEWS
Cynisca Launches Pathways Fund to Give Alternative to Promising Cyclists
After constructing one of many world’s main ladies’s continental biking packages, Cynisca Biking is reimagining what it means to help ladies’s pro-cycling by introducing the Pathways Fund, an initiative that gives choose riders with the chance to compete on the highest ranges.
The Pathways Fund gives present sponsors a way to help ladies’s biking in a novel means, whereas for brand spanking new companions, it’s a novel alternative to affix a motion of reinvention and resilience. Watch PEZ for full launch particulars!
Cynisca’s race crew has paused its aggressive schedule, startig its remaining race full crew, ending with the 2025 Maryland Biking Traditional (MCC). Simply because the MCC itself has efficiently returned from hiatus, we’re embracing this second to innovate, make investments, and put together for what’s subsequent.
Cynisca requested us to go this alongside: To our sponsors, supporters, and followers: thanks. Your perception in Cynisca continues to drive every thing we do.
American Dygart Claims Pursuit Bronze at Observe Championships
Chloe Dygert (Canyon/SRAM Racing) delivered a robust experience within the 4k Particular person Pursuit qualifying spherical, stopping the clock at 4:26.127. With two riders nonetheless to race, together with reigning World Champion Anna Morris (GBR), the standings shifted as Morris posted a 4:24.194 to advance to the gold medal remaining alongside teammate Josie Knight (GBR). Dygert was moved down to 3rd general placing her within the bronze medal remaining towards Federica Venturelli (ITA).
Within the remaining, Dygert posted spectacular splits, finally catching her opponent to finish the race early and safe the bronze medal.
Biking Canada Pronounces Nationwide Group Roster for UCI Observe World Championships
Biking Canada has introduced its chosen to compete on the 2025 Tissot UCI Observe World Championships, happening from October 22-26 in Santiago, Chile.
The 2025 Tissot UCI Observe World Championships will likely be held at Santiago’s Velódromo Parque Peñalolén. Nationwide crew athletes will compete throughout dash and endurance disciplines, with a mixture of returning World Championship contenders and rising expertise.
The Canadian crew heading to Santiago brings a confirmed report of worldwide success.
“This World Championship in Chile marks the return to the best degree of a number of of our high athletes following the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games. It additionally represents the start of a brand new cycle, throughout which the subsequent era of riders will look to problem the veterans who’ve shone over the previous few years,” says Franck Durivaux, Nationwide Group Coach and Observe Dash Lead.
2025 TISSOT UCI TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS CANADIAN NATIONAL TEAM
Alexandra Volstad (Calgary, AB)
Ariane Bonhomme (Gatineau, QC)
Campbell Parrish (Vancouver, BC)
Chris Ernst (Kitchener, ON)
Dylan Bibic (Missisauga, ON)
Fiona Majendie (Vancouver, BC)
James Hedgcock (Ancaster, ON)
Lauriane Genest (Lévis, QC)
Lily Plante (Sutton, QC)
Mathias Guillemette (Trois-Rivières, QC)
Ngaire Barraclough (Edmonton, AB)
Nick Wammes (London, ON)
Ryan Dodyk (Edmonton, AB)
Sarah Orban (Calgary, AB)
Sean Richardson (Vancouver, BC)
Tyler Rorke (Baden, ON)
EF Schooling-Aevolo Launches Males’s & Ladies’s Cyclocross Program
Recognized for its street squads, EF-Schooling-Aevolo has introduced that it’s going to pilot a modest, three-rider cyclocross program. The brand new mini-team consists of Nina Berton, a former U23 Luxembourg cyclocross champion, in addition to Filippo Agostinacchio and his youthful brother Mattia Agostinacchio.
Berton is already a member of the EF Schooling-Oatly ladies’s street crew. Mattia Agostinacchio will be part of the boys’s WorldTour crew in 2026, having gained the junior cyclocross world championship. His older brother, Filippo, gained a stage of the Giro d’Italia Subsequent Gen earlier this 12 months, is a two-time U23 Italian cyclocross champion, and is a cyclocross World Cup veteran.
“It is a enjoyable experiment for us, however one which we need to excel at,” stated EF Professional Biking CEO Jonathan Vaughters.
“It is a actually thrilling new crew, and I can’t wait to get began,” Mattia stated. “It’ll be the primary time that I put on the EF Professional Biking package and race on their Cannondale bikes. After all, as a world champion, cyclocross is tremendous vital to me, so I need to give it my all.”
“When the crew first informed me concerning the concept, it was a little bit of a shock, nevertheless it seems like a extremely fulfilling crew,” Nina stated.
WHAT ELSE IS COOL IN ROAD CYCLING
Ballot Outcomes In: You’d Prefer to See ‘Cross on PEZ
Many because of these of you who submitted your responses to our query about masking cyclocross. With notable exceptions, you’d wish to see cyclocross on PEZ’s pages — or “something with a drop bar,” as a number of of you steered.
Right here’s what a number of of you needed to say:
- After all cowl ‘cross. Simply watch one race and you may see how fashionable it’s.
- Sure! Sure! Many instances, sure! It’s one of the best racing, quick and dramatic.
- Cyclocross, sure please; gravel, no thanks.
- I don’t give a rat’s ass about cross, however I’ll at all times stay a subscriber.
- Love cross, tremendous cool, do it PEZ.
So cyclocross will get us all by way of the winter (together with the Tour Down Below, and the UAE Tour…). However please be aware: PEZ will at all times focus our assets on what’s cool in street biking; our ‘cross protection gained’t be as in-depth as what we function within the spring and summer time.
For now, we’ll go away you with this picture of Niels Vandeputte at Superprestige Overijse, an Alpecin rider who doesn’t additionally dominate on the street. (Vandeputte completed fourth, behind an ascendant Michael Vanthourenhout, Pim Ronhaar and Emiel Verstrynge.)
Watch the PEZ YOUTUBE Channel right here
Try The PEZ Interview with Swedish Efficiency coach Yamina Enedahl – very price watching…
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