It’s our bike racing roundup, because you want bike racing — and PEZ delivers! So. Much. Racing. The UAE Tour is front and center, with Remco, Del Toro, and…Tiberi? squaring off, even as much of the WorldTour builds into the meat of the season in Iberia. It’s chilly here in the U.S., but the pro peloton is enjoying sunshine — and we’re enjoying some gripping racing. Already!
TOP STORY
- Update UAE Stages 1-3 (aka Checking on Mike’s Picks)
RACE NEWS
- Tim Wellens Wins Clásica Jaén with Stunning Solo Ride
- Laporte Delivers a Win for Visma | Lease A Bike
- Magnier Gets Soudal Quick-Step off the Dime
- La Vuelta Feminina by Carrefour.ed to Start in Galicia
TEAM, RIDER AND CYCLING NEWS
- Cannondale Launches New Fleet in Partnership with EF Pro Cycling
UCI Launches Consultation on the Future of Professional Road Cycling
- And…Your Feedback on Lance and the Upcoming Biopic
MIKE’S RIDE OF THE WEEK
- Gibraltar Road (Santa Barbara, CA)
Update UAE Stages 1-3 (aka Checking on Mike’s Picks)
As evidenced by the inaccuracy of my predictions, there’s much about the UAE Tour — thus far — that has surprised me. Beyond the stage results, the racing has been bracing: Already we’re seeing some solid plotlines emerge, and the GC remains very much up in the air with four stages yet to be ridden.
Stage 1: The race organizers, rattled by howling desert winds, chopped the route from 144 kilometres down to 118 — sensible, sure, but it effected a greater level of frenzy. Jonathan Milan, the man who’d won here last year (and my pick to win the stage), came down at a roundabout inside the final two kilometers. Just like that, the Italian was gone from contention, though fortunately he would remount his bike, finish the stage and contend the ensuing stages. But without last year’s Tour Green Jersey winner vying for the win, one Isaac del Toro, the 21-year-old Mexican wonder kid, went early on what proved to be a nasty grind to the finish at Liwa Palace.
It was the kind of finishing drag that calls on a range of strengths: sprinting, climbing — and conserving energy in the leadup — and we thus saw a range of riders atop the results: Del Toro, then…Cees Bol and Antonio Tiberi? Remco, meanwhile, chilled in the peloton, finishing 20th. (Nice to see Modern Adventure’s Riley Pickrell up there: 7th position at the finish.)
Stage 2: It’s finally clear to me: Never bet against Remco Evenepoel in a time trial. Short or long, technical or arrow-straight, he’s money in the bank (not counting climbing TTs; see below). My pick Tarling did come second, five seconds back, while Del Toro conceded a rather massive 41 seconds, thanks in part to a frustrating headwind that had kicked up by the time he went off. The win netted Remco the leader’s Red Jersey — and considering his strength leading into the UAE Tour, he was starting to look like the GC favorite.
Stage 3: Or maybe not. Just as Remco is a sure thing in time trials, he consistently fails to keep pace when the road kicks up. Chalk it up to body composition, or lack of targeted preparation, or — as some have suggested — a mental block, but as we say here in the U.S., now it’s a thing.
He gave up a much more massive margin: nearly two minutes to Del Toro, and more to Tiberi. Tiberi! That’s one I did see coming. He’s been around for awhile, but the quality of his palmarès are steadily ratcheting up, and he’s now a legit Grand Tour GC contender.
So I’m 0-for-3 — or 4 so far, considering that I predicted we’d all be longing for European racing after the UAE Tour. Maybe that’s not the case: The racing has been thrilling — if a race can thrill when it’s contended in front of no fans whatsoever.
Maybe the next few stages will see some crowds. Maybe Remco will rally on the shallower stage 6 climb. And maybe Tiberi will play spoiler and hang onto the lead.
I’ll admittedly be watching — not yet a desert racing fan, but…I’m curious.
RACE NEWS
Tim Wellens Wins Clásica Jaén with Stunning Solo Ride
Tim Wellens delivered a commanding performance at the Clásica Jaén on Monday, February 16, winning the Spanish one-day race with a breathtaking solo effort of over fifty kilometers. Tom Pidcock finished second, with Benoît Cosnefroy rounding out the podium in third.
The 169-kilometer race, held on gravel roads reminiscent of Strade Bianche, featured 33 kilometers of unpaved terrain and 2,600 meters of elevation gain. After an animated opening phase, Wellens launched his decisive attack with more than sixty kilometers remaining, initially alongside Britain’s Mark Donovan. On the demanding Mar de Olivos gravel section, Wellens dropped Donovan and pressed on alone.
Despite Pinarello-Q36.5 driving hard at the front of the peloton in service of Pidcock, Wellens only extended his advantage, building a lead of over ninety seconds with forty kilometers to go. A nervy moment on a gravel descent aside, the 34-year-old Belgian remained composed throughout, resisting late pressure from Pidcock and Maxim Van Gils to claim a well-deserved victory.
The win marks the eleventh seasonal victory for UAE Emirates XRG and echoes teammate Tadej Pogačar’s triumph at the same race three years prior.
Laporte Delivers a Win for Visma | Lease A Bike
Christophe Laporte missed much of 2025 due to a virus, but on his first day of racing in 2026, he won the opening stage of the Ruta del Sol. — aka Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol.
“It’s fantastic to start the season this way,” the Frenchman said on the Visma | Lease a Bike website.
“I really wanted to ride a few races before the Classics season starts,” said Laporte. “I’ve had a good winter and was looking forward to starting my season today. During the stage, I felt strong and could easily match the pace of the guys on the climbs. We were in control all day, and one of us was always in the front group.”
“In the final, the team did an excellent job bringing me forward,” the 33-year-old rider continued. “In the sprint, I took the lead a bit too early, so I decided to slow down a bit. I followed the wheel of the riders ahead of me and started the sprint about two hundred meters out. I went all out to the finish and saw that I crossed the line with a considerable lead. It’s great to be able to finish off my teammates’ work like that.”
Laporte’s victory brings Visma | Lease a Bike ‘s 2026 victory tally to two; Matthew Brennan previously won a stage of the Santos Tour Down Under. Not exactly UAE numbers, but…they’ll take them.
Thanks to Wielerflits for this content.
Magnier Gets Soudal Quick-Step Off the Dime
Paul Magnier ended Soudal Quick-Step’s winless start to 2026 in emphatic fashion, claiming the opening stage of the Volta ao Algarve with a powerful bunch sprint finish in Tavira.
The 184-kilometer stage from Vila Real de Santo António featured two notable climbs mid-race, a golden kilometer offering bonus seconds, and a slightly uphill finale that suited all but the purest of sprinters. A nine-rider breakaway formed early but never built a lead of more than two minutes, with Soudal Quick-Step and Alpecin-Premier Tech keeping the peloton under control throughout.
During the golden kilometer, Juan Ayuso made his presence felt, picking up three bonus seconds for Lidl-Trek — a detail that could yet prove significant in the overall standings.
As the stage reached its climax, Soudal Quick-Step delivered Magnier perfectly into the final straight. Alpecin-Premier Tech’s Kaden Groves launched his lead-out, but Jasper Philipsen was poorly positioned. Magnier, with pace to spare, surged through and crossed the line first. Jordi Meeus took second, Pavel Bittner third, and Philipsen had to settle for fourth.
For Soudal Quick-Step, the result was a welcome and long-awaited first win of the season.
La Vuelta Feminina by Carrefour.ed to Start in Galicia
Galicia will serve as the starting point for La Vuelta Femenina 26 by Carrefour.es, with the race getting underway on May 3. The Spanish region takes over from Barcelona as host of the Official Start, marking the fourth edition of the prestigious women’s cycling event.
Galicia has a strong history with the race, having previously welcomed the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta in 2021, when all four stages were held entirely within the region.
Cycling fans won’t have to wait long to learn the full details of the route. The organization will reveal the complete race itinerary on March 9 at 7:00 PM during a ceremony at the Auditorio Municipal de Ribeira in A Coruña. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be broadcast on RTVE and across La Vuelta Femenina’s official digital channels.
TEAM, RIDER AND CYCLING NEWS
Cannondale Launches New Fleet in Partnership with EF Pro Cycling
Cannondale has released the SuperSix EVO LAB71 Gen 5 and SuperSlice LAB71 Gen 3, employing a wind tunnel-tested, EF Pro Cycling-influenced design.
The EVO LAB71 Gen 5 Carbon machine blends low weight with aerodynamic efficiency. Cannondale promises that “paired with key components like the SRAM Force AXS drivetrain, Vision Metron RS carbon wheels, Vittoria Corsa Pro tires and Fizik saddle and grips, it offers a one-of-a-kind performance.”
The frame and fork are Cannondale’s lightest ever and allow riders to follow tight lines while climbing, descending, and attacking. The LAB71 SuperSix EVO reduces drag thanks to aero-optimized tubes, redefined again and again based on wind tunnel results.
Meanwhile, the SuperSlice blends innovative aerodynamics with a lightweight frame without compromising handling ability. Combined with components from industry leaders SRAM, Vision, Vittoria, and Fizik, the updated SuperSlice is designed to dominate time trials.
Cannondale LAB71 SuperSix EVO specs:
Frame/Fork: LAB71 SuperSix EVO, Gen 5, Ultralight Series 0 Carbon
Drivetrain: SRAM Red AXS
Rims: Vision Metron RS
Tires: Vittoria Corsa Pro
Bar and stem: Cannondale integrated SystemBar Road, ultralight, full carbon
Saddle: Fizik
Pedals: Wahoo Speedplay
UCI Launches “Consultation on the Future of Professional Road Cycling”
The UCI has launched a consultation process aimed at reshaping the organizational model for men’s and women’s road cycling, with the goal of strengthening the sport’s long-term appeal.
The initiative, approved at the UCI Management Committee meeting on 29–30 January 2026, invites key stakeholders to submit their views by April 30. Topics under review include the economic model, race calendar, participation rules, fan engagement, safety, and the integrity of sporting results.
UCI President David Lappartient emphasized that while road cycling enjoys global popularity across five continents, its media coverage and commercial revenues have yet to fully reflect that reach. “It is only together, under the auspices of the UCI, that we will take our sport to the next level,” he said.
The consultation builds on recent reforms, including the growth of women’s cycling and the sport’s increasing internationalization. Once the feedback phase concludes, the UCI will enter in-depth discussions with stakeholders to develop a stronger, more sustainable model for professional road cycling’s future.
And…Your Feedback on Lance and the Upcoming Biopic
We asked; you responded!
Several of you shared your thoughts on the recently announced Lance Armstrong biopic (starring dreamy Austin Butler!).
(I’m not seeing it, but then, I didn’t see him in Elvis, or Jeremy Allen White in Springsteen. Fault me for lack of imagination.)
Most of your responses had a cynical feel to them, along the lines of Please…no…more…Lance.
But some of you acknowledged that here in PEZ-world, our views may be a bit more steeped in Lance-lore than among the civilian public. You suggested that his story may still be worth telling.
A few notable quotes:
- “Lance will go down as surpassing P.T. Barnum as a genius in perpetrating long lasting and widespread fraud. It’s a fascinating story no doubt. But it is not worth my time and especially not my money…” — Dennis in California
- “Lance won the Tour seven times. (Period). Yes, he was doping, but so was everyone else in those days. Look at the official results. How can you have a race with no winner? …Yes, he was (probably still is) an @$$hole…[but] Despite his (failures? Misdeeds? Mistakes? Whatever…), Lance was a HUGE boon to cycling in this country for many years. I think he still deserves coverage in the cycling press. — Mike in St. Charles, IL
“As a 47-year cyclist who was drawn to the Tour de France…just to watch the battles between Lance and Jan and Ivan, among others, the only reason I would watch this new movie is if it actually told the story of the doping and how it was done, pictures, IV’s and all that…If there is any thankfulness from me, it would only be that his then celebrity in the United States got me to these races and they were experiences you can only dream about.” — Leonard in Salt Lake City, UT
Thanks to all who submitted your thoughts! We’ll cover accordingly: skeptical, eyes wide open. And…feel free to send thoughts about Lance, this new movie — or (much) better yet, the Spring Classics, the Tour, who will finally take down Tadej, and all things road cycling to mike@pezcyclingnews.com.
MIKE’S RIDE OF THE WEEK
We’re moving this feature to Thursdays; we figure Mondays serve up all the weekend’s racing.
This week’s ride is Gibraltar Road, a classic climb outside Santa Barbara, CA. I Everested on Gibraltar in 2020, and it nearly killed me; hence this ride’s title: “Just Once this Time.”
I don’t think I’ll be cracking the top of the leaderboard anytime soon; Santa Barbara used to be a jumping-off point for pro teams’ winter camps, and a Tour of California stage finished atop Gibraltar at least once.
It’s a steady, sweeping climb with payoff views. Strong recommend.
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