As we get ready for the first Flemish races in the ‘Opening Weekend’, we have the first stage of the O Gran Camiño – The Historical Route with video, race report, result and rider’s thoughts.
TOP STORY:
- European Parliament calls for cancellation of World championships in Rwanda
Rider news:
- Wout van Aert feeling fitter before the opening weekend
- Remco Evenepoel on the Omloop team reconnaissance with a new look
- Laurens De Plus emotional after performance in Algarve
- Søren Kragh Andersen out of for a long time after the removal of a benign tumour
- Cofidis rider, Nicolas Debeaumarché, feared for his life after crash in the Tour of Poland
- Michael Gogl misses spring Classics due to protracted injury
- Ex-teammate sees many similarities between Jonas Vingegaard and Lance Armstrong
- Egan Bernal back on his bike
- Wout van Aert might still ride two hilly Classics
Team news:
- A new chapter in a shared history: Rabobank becomes partner of Team Visma | Lease a Bike
- Disappointed Daniele Bennati has to leave Italian national coach job
- CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto – Belgium beckons: The classics begin
- UAE Team Emirates-XRG confirm squads for Opening Weekend Classics
- Q36.5 Line-ups: Opening weekend and Drome/Ardèche Classics
Race news:
- Paris-Nice: Vingegaard’s cogent plan
- FENIX new title partner of the Omloop van het Hageland
- E3 Saxo Classic course, teams and poster
- Grand Départ Barcelone 2026 Conquering Montjuïc
- Trofeo Alfredo Binda – Municipality of Cittiglio and Piccolo Trofeo Binda – Valli del Verbano
Plus: Piet van Katwijk passed away at 74.
TOP STORY: European Parliament Calls for Cancellation of World Championships in Rwanda
The next World road championships in Rwanda are coming under increasing pressure. UCI chairman David Lappartient is not thinking about moving the event, but the European Parliament is calling in a motion to cancel the World championships in the African country.
Last Thursday, the European Parliament asked the European Union to suspend the co-operation agreement between the European Commission and Rwanda on trade in raw materials. This is because the African country supports the M23 militia insurrection in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Among the various requests is also the call to cancel the cycling World championships, which will take place in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, in September, according to Tuttobiciweb.
Recent developments in and around Rwanda have caused the World championships in the African country to be under pressure. There are rumours that the UCI would possibly move the event to Switzerland. The motion can count on broad support in Brussels. 443 members of parliament voted for the motion, compared to only 4 against. Europe is almost unanimous about the next steps against Rwanda, but the question is whether this will actually result in the next World championships in African not happening.
Big crowds are promised in Rwanda for the Worlds:
UCI boss David Lappartient: “There is no plan B”
There are rumours that the UCI would possibly move the event to Switzerland, but according to David Lappartient, none of that is true. In an exclusive interview with Cyclingnews, the chairman of the UCI leaves no misunderstanding: “There is no plan B. The World championships are incredibly special for us this year. It will be a unique moment, as the UCI celebrates its 125th anniversary. That’s why we also decided to go to Africa this year for the World champs. That was my dream, my goal, when I was elected president of the UCI. I am proud to say: here we are,” Lappartient said from Rwanda, where he was attending the Tour de Rwanda (23 February – 2 March).
Due to recent developments in and around Rwanda, the World championships in the African country is under heavy pressure. There are even rumours that the UCI is considering possibly moving the championship to Switzerland. The UCI previously firmly denied this: “We want to make it clear that at this time we do not plan to move the World championships from Rwanda to Switzerland or any country.”
There is much discussion, not only about the political and military unrest in the country, but also about the high costs of the trip to Rwanda. Several federations struggle with the financial aspect. It is a reason for some countries (Netherlands and Denmark) to travel to Rwanda with smaller teams. “Because we know it is more expensive to travel to Central Africa, we are also working with the Rwandan government to deploy some more RwandAir flights and even arrange some charters,” says Lappartient. “To be able to bring more athletes and reduce the final cost for them.”
Lappartient wants the Worlds in Rwanda:
O Gran Camiño – The Historical Route 2025
Magnus Cort Nielsen (Uno-X Mobility) won the First Stage of O Gran Camiño on Wednesday. After a flat stage of 190 kilometres, the Uno-X Mobility rider sprinted to the stage win and the first leader’s jersey in Matosinhos. Santiago Mesa (Efapel Cycling) and Giovanni Lonardi (Polti VisitMalta) were second and third.
O Gran Camiño doesn’t have as strong a start-list in 2025 as in previous years. This was mainly due to the absence of the Visma | Lease a Bike team. Jonas Vingegaard chose to start his season here in 2023 and 2024, but opened his 2025 season in Algarve. Without Vingegaard at the start, the race promised to be a lot more open. The first stage on Wednesday always looked like it would be for the sprinters, although the finale was still exciting.
There was an early break with Artem Nych and Mauricio Moreira, but they were caught with 40 kilometres to go. The excitement came from Martin Marcellusi, Jan Castellon and Alvaro Sagrado, who attacked in the last hour of the race and had a lead of 1 minute. Marcellusi was caught in the final kilometres due to Soudal Quick-Step and Uno-X Mobility, after which a bunch sprint was guaranteed. In the sprint Warlop was unable to finish the work of his Soudal Quick-Step teammates. The Belgian had to come from too far back to compete for the stage win. Cort was in just the right place to take the win. The Dane started hi sprint with 300 metres to go and was only matched by the Colombian, Santiago Mesas. One hundred meters from the finish line, Mesas ran out of steam and Cort took his first victory of the season and the overall lead.
Stage winner and overall leader, Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility): “It’s difficult for me to comment on today, I don’t know what happened. Of course, the speed is going up now, we’re getting better with equipment and also with training and nutrition, so the speed is going up. Maybe the roads are getting more dangerous. They’re getting safer for cars, but that doesn’t make them good for bike racing. You have a lot of small holes here that can be hard to see from a bike in the middle of a peloton. It’s very dangerous to race on roads like that with a bike. I think that in the long term, safety is a big issue in cycling. If you crash at high speed and hit something that’s really stationary, that’s when people die, and I don’t know if in 30 years it will be acceptable that people sometimes die. But to get rid of that, you would need changes, because I don’t really see how it’s possible. You would need a totally different way of approaching a race, which isn’t possible when you’re racing from A to B on normal roads.”
3rd on the stage and 4th overall, Giovanni Lonardi (Polti VisitMalta): “We were looking for the victory with determination, I think we planned the finish well. But it was a bit long, Mirco started the final 600 metres from the finish and it was difficult to hold on. Cort Nielsen was ahead of us, but we’re happy with the result, although it’s always better to win. Now it’s time to help Piganzoli to fight for the overall.”
4th on the stage and 6th overall, Daniel Cavia (Burgos Burpellet BH): “The race went as planned. Oka entered the breakaway and took the mountains, so that was great. Behind us it was a very long day, with little movement. I was very well supported by the team all day. With 40 kilometres to go we caught the breakaway on the hardest climb of the day and that’s when the group stretched out. The team helped me a lot towards the end, to always be in a good position. My legs were good, so in the last kilometres I looked for the right spot and was able to sprint.”
6th on the stage and 8th overall, Francisco Peñuela (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA): “It was a very fast sprint, in which it was hard to gain positions once I got going. Of course, I have to thank my teammates, who positioned me very well in the last metres. I got a bit trapped in the final part and, although I could have passed someone, that’s how it was. In any case, I’m happy with how the first stage went.”
O Gran Camiño – The Historical Route Stage 1 Result:
1. Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Uno-X Mobility in 4:18:49
2. Santiago Mesa Pietralunga (Col) Efapel Cycling
3. Giovanni Lonardi (Ita) Team Polti VisitMalta
4. Daniel Cavia Sanz (Spa) Burgos Burpellet BH
5. Jordi Warlop (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step
6. Francisco Juel Penuela (Ven) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
7. Cesar Macias Estrada (Mex) Petrolike
8. Carlos Canal Blanco (Spa) Movistar
9. José Juan Prieto De Luna (Mex) Petrolike
10. Filippo Magli (Ita) VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè.
O Gran Camiño – The Historical Route Overall After Stage 1:
1. Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Uno-X Mobility in 4:18:39
2. Santiago Mesa Pietralunga (Col) Efapel Cycling at 0:04
3. Ander Okamika (Spa) Burgos Burpellet BH at 0:05
4. Giovanni Lonardi (Ita) Team Polti VisitMalta at 0:06
5. Filippo Turconi (Ita) VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè at 0:07
6. Daniel Cavia Sanz (Spa) Burgos Burpellet BH at 0:10
7. Jordi Warlop (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step
8. Francisco Juel Penuela (Ven) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
9. Cesar Macias Estrada (Mex) Petrolike
10. Carlos Canal Blanco (Spa) Movistar.
O Gran Camiño’25 stage 1:
Wout van Aert Feeling Fitter Before the Opening Weekend
Wout van Aert finished the Volta ao Algarve on Sunday with a second place in the final time trial stage. For the Belgian, proof that he has made progress during the five-day race in the run-up to the Flemish Opening weekend. “I felt better here in Portugal day after day,” he told Het Nieuwsblad.
“We were also looking for that extra percentage that I could get by racing instead of training and I think it worked,” continued Van Aert, who started his season last Monday with a disappointing performance at the Clásica Jaén. He started there as top favourite, but didn’t have the legs. Van Aert worked for the team and finished 39th, 6 minutes after winner Michał Kwiatkowski.
“I really feel the difference with the Clasica Jaén last Monday. I would almost say: a world of difference. The first race is sometimes a shock to the system and in Jaén that was certainly the case with that gravel. Let me drive the Tour of the Algarve first and two days later Jaén and you would have had a much more realistic picture of how good I was. I am convinced that I have taken a step forward.”
In the time trial, teammate Jonas Vingegaard beat him and in the sprints he finished 7th twice. “I know my sprint comes into its own much better in heavier races. Saturday was my best chance on paper, but both the course and the competition conditions were easier than I expected. If I have to sprint against men like Meeus, De Lie, Fretin or Dainese, it must have been either very hard or everything really has to be. I don’t have the top speed of those pure sprinters.”
It was good for Van Aert to race on the road again. “I also needed it to throw myself in again and enjoy it,” referring to his crash in last year’s Vuelta where he suffered a serious knee injury. How is that now? “It hardly bothers me anymore, but unfortunately it is an extra point of attention that we have to work on every day. More than before, my right leg is now my least strong leg. Let’s say I certainly didn’t get better from that fall. But in the spring it should no longer be an excuse.”
Van Aert feeling fitter:
Remco Evenepoel on the Omloop Team Reconnaissance with a New Look
Remco Evenepoel’s first race of the season is still some time away, but the Belgian is back on his bike. The 25-year-old is currently at home in Belgium and had the opportunity to train with his teammates on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad route.
Evenepoel now has a moustache and beard and decided to accompany his teammates on Tuesday on a reconnaissance of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad course. Evenepoel will not be racing in the Flemish Opening Classic on Saturday, but he did complete the entire reconnaissance to Ninove. “From there it’s not that far home, right?” he told Het Nieuwsblad.
Evenepoel spoke briefly with the press before the reconnaissance. He was asked about his rehabilitation. How far along is he in his recovery process? “I can’t really say anything about that. It’s a matter of waiting and taking it day by day, but it will all work out.” Evenepoel’s rehabilitation is a long one. The Belgian rider crashed into a van door in early December and suffered multiple broken bones, and was unable to ride his bike for a very long time. His first outdoor bike ride was not until February 2nd, but things have been going well in recent weeks.
Earlier this month, he reached the 100 kilometre mark for the first time during training, and now the intensity of his training is also increasing. Evenepoel completed a training session of 136 kilometres last week. The day before, he rode a good 134 kilometres. The Soudal Quick-Step rider seems to be making great strides in his rehabilitation. “The first stimuli,” Evenepoel added.
The double Olympic champion will make his comeback in the Brabantse Pijl, if all goes well. Then the Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and possibly the Tour de Romandie. After a short rest Evenepoel will then start preparing for his main goal of 2025: The Tour de France.
New face hair for Evenepoel:
Laurens De Plus Emotional After his Performance in Algarve
Laurens De Plus was very happy on Sunday afternoon after the Volta ao Algarve. The 29-year-old Belgian was on the podium for the first time since his final victory in the BinckBank Tour 2019. “This means a lot to me”, said to De Plus to Het Nieuwsblad.
“I worked hard in the winter. In November I broke my ankle, so I thought it was going to be a difficult start to the season, but nothing could be further from the truth,” said the INEOS Grenadiers rider. “This is also really good for the team. This week we lost Bernal and Rodriguez with a clavicle fracture, so this is really good for the team and myself.”
De Plus finished third in the mountain stage to the Alto da Foia on Thursday, and so he moved up to third place overall. He did not give up that position thanks to an 8th place in the closing time trial. “During the time trial I had contact with my coach in the car, and I even got emotional for a while. We have come a long way together, and that struck me a bit.”
The last few years have sometimes been difficult for De Plus, he said. “I did’t have an easy period with the team, but I still take new steps every year. I worked hard every day. It is not easy in our team to move up. There is a lot of competition, but I took the opportunity with two hands. I hope I can do it again in Tirreno-Adriatico.”
De Plus happy with his form:
Cofidis Rider, Nicolas Debeaumarché, Feared for his Life After Crash in the Tour of Poland
Nicolas Debeaumarché had a hard crash during the third stage of the Tour of Poland last year. The Cofidis rider was in such bad shape that he had to fear for his life. “The chance that I would die was 50%,” Debeaumarché stated.
On August 14, 2024, things went horribly wrong for Debeaumarché. The Frenchman made it into the early break in the third stage of the Tour of Poland, but he ended up on the verge and hit a stone wall at high speed. The badly injured Debeaumarché remained motionless on the ground. In the race communication, his crash went unnoticed. It also took a while before the rider could be helped. He was eventually taken to hospital with a broken vertebra, but the actual damage only came to light later. “I was unlucky enough to crash into a concrete wall at high speed. I immediately realised that it was serious. I was admitted to hospital in Poland, after which we quickly decided to have the operation in France. I underwent surgery on the four vertebrae that I had broken at thoracic (chest height) level,” he said via Cofidis media.
Not only was his career as a cyclist hanging by a thread, there were even fears for his life for a while. “The chance of permanent paralysis was no less than 90% and there was even a 50% chance that I would die. When I was finally told that I belonged to the 10%, I really saw that as a sign.” Debeaumarché started a long and difficult rehabilitation, but his team showed a lot of understanding. “That was really crucial. The recovery took a very long time. I also lost a lot of weight and muscle mass during that period. It is a long process, but the team really gives me time to fully recover. The support of the staff members and my teammates is incredibly important.”
The 27-year-old rider can now train outside again and hopes to be in action and even race this spring. “The fact that I can now cycle outside again is great. I like watching cycling races, but participating myself is even more fun. I miss the race and can’t wait to pin on a race number again,” said a very motivated Debeaumarché.
After Nicolas Debeaumarché’s crash, there was discussion about safety in races. Richard Plugge called on the UCI to stop the ban on radios during the Tour of Poland. The team boss of Visma | Lease a Bike expressed his dissatisfaction via X (Twitter). The international cycling association tested limiting the use of earphones during the Polish tour. “It was chaos today,” Plugge started his Tweet. According to the team boss, it is unacceptable that riders can’t contact the team car for basic assistance, as we also saw during the Olympic Games. Plugge believes that the UCI cannot continue with this radio ban. It will endanger the safety of the riders.
Nicolas Debeaumarché feared for his life:
Søren Kragh Andersen Out of for a Long Time After the Removal of a Benign Tumour
Søren Kragh Andersen has not yet made his debut for Lidl-Trek and the Dane will not be in action for a while. The Classic specialist recently underwent surgery to remove a benign tumour.
The procedure was successful, his team said in a press release. “Søren recently underwent a successful minor operation to remove a benign pseudotumor (a rare benign tumour) in his scrotum. Although he is currently unable to train on the bike, he has now started swimming, running and strength training while preparing to be able to train regularly on the bike again. Søren will probably miss the cobbled classics, but his postponed debut for Lidl-Trek is expected to take place in April.
It is a big disappointment that I can’t be with the team for this important first part of the season, but the priority was solving this medical problem,” the rider himself said in the press release. “There is still a lot of work to do to prepare for my debut for Lidl-Trek, but I am extremely motivated to get back in top shape and support the team for the rest of the season.”
Kragh Andersen raced for Alpecin-Deceuninck for the past two seasons, but signed a contract with Lidl-Trek in September 2024. Kragh Andersen was an important helper of Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen, but signed with Lidl-Trek until the end of 2026.
Søren Kragh Andersen out for a while:
Michael Gogl Misses Spring Classics Due to Protracted Injury
Michael Gogl is still struggling with a knee injury and will not be able race the spring Classics. “Michael Gogl continues to struggle with his knee and will unfortunately have to skip the spring classics,” Alpecin-Deceuninck announced. “After conservative treatment did not bring relief, he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee on Monday. The procedure, performed by doctor Steven Claes in Herentals, focused on the inflammation at his right kneecap. His recovery will take several weeks, starting with physiotherapy and light training under the supervision of our medical staff and coaches. His return to competition will depend on his progress. The estimated rehabilitation period at this stage is six to eight weeks.”
It is not the first time Gogl has struggled with physical problems. In 2022, he broke his pelvis and collarbone in a hard crash in the cobbled stage of the Tour de France and suffered damage to his lung. Last year he was also in the sick-house for a while with a knee injury. Gogl missing the upcoming Classics is a big loss for Alpecin-Deceuninck and leaders Van der Poel and Philipsen. The Belgian team also lost Søren Kragh Andersen to Lidl-Trek and Axel Laurance to INEOS Grenadiers over the winter.
Michael Gogl still injured:
Ex-Teammate Sees Many Similarities Between Jonas Vingegaard and Lance Armstrong
Jonas Vingegaard won the Volta ao Algarve on Sunday with his ride in the final time trial. Former rider Tom Danielson drew some conclusions from the Dane’s race against the clock. He finds Vingegaard very similar in style to his former teammate, Lance Armstrong.
“Great to see Vingegaard race so hard to win the time trial and take the final standings,” writes Danielson, who was a professional from 2004 to 2015, on X. The now 46-year-old American was a teammate of Lance Armstrong for one year: in 2005, at Discovery Channel. He sees similarities between his former leader and Vingegaard.
“I must say that it resembles a miniature version of Lance Armstrong the time trial bike with its position, body and style,” Danielson said. “His cadence also seemed excellent: quite high and adapting well to the terrain changes (and there were many of them!).”
Danielson also had another observation. “This performance of Vingegaard in the time trial shows that he, although he is far from 100 percent, has put a lot of work into improving his time trial. A smart strategy, if you ask me. Especially on paper, as Tadej (Pogačar) focuses on the classics in the first part of the season.”
Vingegaard’s TT like Armstrong:
Egan Bernal Back on His Bike
Will Egan Bernal return to racing faster than expected? The Colombian champion broke his collarbone last week in a crash during the Clásica Jaén. However, the 28-year-old climber has already been spotted on the bike. The INEOS Grenadiers appears fit enough to ride up the Col d’Èze.
It is still unclear when Bernal will be on a start line, but that he can train again may mean that he can return to competition in the fairly short term. Bernal could participate in the Strade Bianche (March 8) and Tirreno-Adriatico (March 10-16) next month. It is still questionable whether these races are feasible for the Colombian champion, but a return in Italy certainly can’t be ruled out now.
Bernal started the European road season with a lot of ambition after his Colombian championships wins. The 28-year-old rider of INEOS Grenadiers also pushed hard on the Clásica Jaén on the gravel and climbs. Bernal worked for his teammate and winner Michal Kwiatkowski in the chasing group. Twelve kilometres from the finish, Bernal suddenly disappeared. It turned out that he crashed. The Tour and Giro winner lost control on a corner and ended up in a bush on the side of the road, with a broken collarbone and was taken to the hospital.
Bernal training already:
Wout van Aert Might Still Ride Two Hilly Classics
Wout van Aert may start Brabantse Pijl and the Amstel Gold Race this year, Visma | Lease a Bike confirmed to Sporza. The decision will be made after Paris-Roubaix.
Van Aert was to end his spring with Paris-Roubaix, so that he could then prepare for the Giro d’Italia, so he would miss the hilly Classics. But Mathieu Heijboer, performance manager at Visma | Lease a Bike, said in the Wielerorakel podcast that the Belgian is also riding Brabantse Pijl. “That is the intention,” said the Dutchman. “And then the Amstel Gold Race.”
However, Van Aert’s participation in Brabantse Pijl and the Amstel Gold Race is not yet completely certain. “We will only make the decision over the Brabantse Pijl and Amstel after Roubaix,” Visma | Lease a Bike told Sporza.
Van Aert might be back in the Amstel Gold Race:
A new chapter in a shared history: Rabobank becomes partner of Team Visma | Lease a Bike
We are proud to announce that, as of July 1, 2025, Rabobank will officially become a partner of Team Visma | Lease a Bike. The partnership will be sealed today (Thursday) at Rabobank’s headquarters in Utrecht. This collaboration marks a significant step: Rabobank is returning to the world of cycling, driven by a shared vision of talent development, sports participation, and a healthy society. The partnership will begin with the Tour de France and will run for at least 3.5 years.
Rabobank has a long history in cycling. Over the years, the bank has closely followed the sport and our team, admiring its growth, professionalization, and the way we have strengthened and further developed cycling as a team. Now, we are taking a new step together, focusing on developing the next generation of cycling talents and promoting an active, healthy lifestyle.
A shared vision on Talent Development and a Healthy Society
Rabobank is a Dutch bank with a strong social commitment and a great passion for sports. For many years, the bank has been dedicated to Dutch elite sports and talent development. This partnership seamlessly aligns with our shared ambition to make sports accessible and to foster young talent.
A key element of this collaboration is the joint effort to nurture new Dutch cycling talent. Rabobank will become a strategic partner of our Ready2Race program, which introduces young children to cycling in an accessible way. In addition to partnering with Team Visma | Lease a Bike, Rabobank will also become a partner of TeamNL.
Richard Plugge, CEO of Team Visma | Lease a Bike: “This is a special moment. Rabobank has a deep-rooted cycling heritage. In 2012, they gave us the opportunity with Blanco to rebuild cycling and return it to the fans. Their decision to rejoin us as a partner is a great compliment. It shows how much cycling has evolved in recent years and how our team has become synonymous with professionalism, integrity, and success. Through this partnership, we continue building the future of the sport and inspire the next generation of cycling talents. We are proud of this collaboration and excited about what we can achieve together.”
“Rabobank has been supporting sports in the Netherlands for many years—ranging from enthusiastic amateur basketball players to ambitious hockey talents, and from young athletes with Olympic and Paralympic dreams to now, once again, professional cyclists. With the addition of Team Visma | Lease a Bike to our sports partnerships, we are returning to our old love: cycling. As the jersey sponsor of both the men’s and women’s teams, as well as the Development Team, we look forward to supporting the next generation of cycling talent together,” says Stefaan Decraene, Chairman of the Managing Board of Rabobank.
Disappointed Daniele Bennati has to Leave Italian National Coach Job
Daniele Bennati is no longer national coach of the Italian men’s national team. The former top rider was the successor to Davide Cassani and has been at the helm since November 2021, but now, to his own disappointment, he has to leave the job.
For Bennati, national coach was his first major position within cycling since his retirement as a rider in 2019. The 44-year-old Italian was a professional for almost 20 years and was one of the better sprinters in the peloton. The Tuscan won more than fifty races during his career, including stage victories in the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España.
Bennati was on the short-list for the job four years ago, along with Gianni Bugno, Filippo Pozzato, Davide Bramati and Maurizio Fondriest. Cordiano Dagnoni, federal chairman of the Italian cycling federation, decided to put Bennati forward as Cassani’s successor. The wins didn’t come and the Italian cycling federation were forced to intervene and Bennati has to leave. “I end with the same words as I started in November 2021. For me, leading the Italian cycling team was a wonderful dream. First with eyes closed, then with eyes open. I want to thank everyone who made me experience this, including the Italian (cycling) union”, he wrote on X (Twitter).
“Every time I wake up, I regret that the dream is over. In my case, this stems from the fact that I have not had the opportunity to complete a project that – given the current state of Italian cycling – requires more time. Out of respect for all fans of this wonderful sport, I think it is fair and correct to say that my disappointment is also due to the ‘dismissal arrangement’ that was reserved for me. I first read in the most important national sports newspapers that my appointment would be extended, but then that someone else would take my place instead. First I was assured that I could stay, but then I did not receive a message about not renewing the collaboration.”
“I believe that whoever makes the decision on behalf of the cycling association has the full right not to renew my contract and to appoint another national coach. But he has no right to behave towards me in this way. That while I – out of love for Italian cycling, my position and the blue shirt – have done nothing with various other features and offers,” Bennati added.
The Italian cycling association has approached Marco Velo, the former Mercatone Uno, Fassa Bortolo and Quick-Step-Innergetic rider, in its search for a new national coach. The 50-year-old Velo has been national coach of the Italian women’s team for years and will combine this with coaching the men’s national team, according to Tuttobiciweb.
Bennati out of a job:
CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto – Belgium Beckons: The Classics Begin
We’ve been training and racing in Australia, UAE and Spain, but for purists, the season doesn’t truly begin until the flag drops in Belgium.
Omloop Nieuwsblad traditionally marks the official start of the cycling season proper, and this year is no different. Lining up for this highly anticipated Flemish classics opener are Chiara Consonni, Tiffany Cromwell, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, Soraya Paladin, Alice Towers, and Maike van der Duin – an exciting and dynamic squad ready to get amongst the frenzied cycling fanfare.
Last year, Kasia placed 7th, finishing in the second group of four on the road after being distanced on the decisive, cobbled slopes of the hallowed Muur van Geraardsbergen. She returns with an abundance of enthusiasm and motivation after starting her season last week at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana. “I love classic racing! The quicker I can start them, the better I can get for my target races. Nieuwsblad is very hard, especially in the last two hours. It is just all out on every sector and climb, and you only have the descents to recover. This kind of racing forces you to switch into the fighting mindset needed for the whole spring.”
“I always want to do my best and with that there are some ambitions associated! From past editions, you can see that the winner is decided on the Muur, so I want to get over it in the front – powering through and not just holding onto the nearest wheel for dear life.”
“It was an adjustment to go from winter training into full gas efforts at the start of stage one in Valenciana, but I was getting better with each day. Having two weeks between the last stage and Nieuwsblad has allowed me to fine-tune all the little details that needed more attention.”
After finishing within the top 10 in 2023, Soraya is also eager to be back on the cobbles once more.
“It’s a good race because it’s open to different scenarios – it can be a sprint but it can also be raced really aggressively. I really like the passage on the Muur. We have a strong team here, so I hope to be a part of the games when the real racing starts. If we arrive to a sprint, I hope to also be helpful for our sprinter. Like every race now, I expect it to be very nervous and chaotic, especially because positioning is very important here. Racing as a team and being in the right place at the right time will be crucial.”
The course largely follows the well worn tyre tracks of previous years, starting from the iconic ‘t Kuipke Velodrome where team presentations take on a rousing rockstar atmosphere. The finish in Ninove will also be thrilling – just in a different sort of way. This year, minor deviations allow for the inclusion of the frequently raced Paddestraat cobbles at kilometre 33, and the tough Holleweg immediately after the Wolvenberg at kilometre 85. These adjustments extend the course from 127.1 km to 137.9 km.
Otherwise, the race includes many of the usual Flandrien suspects: the Molenberg, Berendries, and the final one-two punch of the Muur and the short yet mighty Bosberg. From the top of the Bosberg cobbles, just 15 minutes of fast, tactical racing remain – twisting Belgian concrete slab roads and wide straights leading to the finish.
Tiffany will start her 12th Nieuwsblad this year, as the women’s race celebrates its 20th anniversary. “The race has changed a lot since 2013. The course has evolved into almost a mini Tour of Flanders. It used to be a race that started at kilometre 50. There was a block of climbs, both cobbled and tarmac, before finishing with three long, flat cobbled sectors and a flat run-in to the line. Now, the cobbles and climbs are spread throughout, using the old Flanders finale with the Muur and Bosberg before a shorter dash to the finish.”
“It also used to truly be the opening race weekend of the season so there were more unknowns about everyone’s form. Now, we’ve had a month and a half of racing, and people have already had a chance to show themselves.”
As always, it’s destined to be a race that hypes up spectators, both near and afar, setting the racing tone for the spring to come.
Kasia Niewiadoma in Belgium at the weekend:
UAE Team Emirates-XRG confirm squads for Opening Weekend Classics
Jhonatan Narváez to make European debut on Opening Weekend, with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne paired alongside the Faun semi-Classics
UAE Team Emirates-XRG is pleased to announce its lineup for four must-see one-day Classics across France and Belgium, with the traditional ‘Opening Weekend’ welcoming in this year’s spring Classics.
In Belgium, the Emirati squad will tackle Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday, 1 March, before turning tact to Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday, 2 March. Jhonatan Narváez will make his European season debut as the Ecuadorian national champion, whilst Tim Wellens will hope to continue his good form from the Vuelta a Andalucía.
Clocking in at a little under 200km in length, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is one of the most hotly-anticipated races of the season, with fans getting their first opportunity to see the Classics stars going head to head on the cobbles. With a finale that includes both the Muur van Geraardsbergen and the Bosberg – reminiscent of the old Tour of Flanders route – Omloop often provides one of the most exciting contests of the spring.
Last year was no different, with UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s Nil Politt attacking within the final 10km and making it to the finish alongside eventual winner Jan Tratnik. Politt’s bravery on the day preceded a fine spring Classics campaign in which the German also scored seventh at the E3 Saxo Classic, third at the Tour of Flanders and fourth at Paris-Roubaix.
Looking forward to his 10th appearance on Opening Weekend, Politt was in high spirits to take on Omloop and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
Politt: “For Opening Weekend there is always a special feeling and a special atmosphere in Flanders. I think we have a really strong team and I think we can perform as good as last year where we had two podiums. If you look at our team I think you have many guys who can be present in the finals of these races which makes a big difference for the results and we will aim to be fighting for podiums.”
Politt will be joined on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad start line by teammate Wellens, who finished third at this race in 2019. The two rouleurs will form a strong UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad for the race alongside the following riders:
Mikkel Bjerg (Den)
Rune Herregodts (Bel)
António Morgado (Por)
Jhonatan Narváez (Ecu)
Nils Politt (Ger)
Florian Vermeersch (Bel)
Tim Wellens (Bel)
As for Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday, the course is significantly flatter and should provide the usual melee that sees the sprinters pitted against the opportunists. Most of the day’s climbing falls within the middle of the parcours, before the Kluisberg marks the final high point with some 58km left to ride. From here to the finish, there is often a drag race between those who have attacked off the front, and the sprinters who are desperate to make up ground.
At the head of the race once more, UAE Team Emirates-XRG played a pivotal role in the 2024 edition, with Tim Wellens going clear alongside Wout van Aert and Oier Lazkano on the Côte de Trieu. Their three-up move would last until the finish, where Wellens sprinted to second behind Van Aert.
As with Politt, Opening Weekend marked just the beginning of a strong spring campaign for Wellens in 2024, with the Belgian also taking fourth at the E3 Saxo Classic and third at De Brabantse Pijl.
Fifth in the 2023 Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and runner-up last time out, Wellens is keen to leave his mark on the first spring tests once more.
Wellens: “Being from Belgium this period of the season is always very special and exciting for me. I believe our classics team continues to evolve year on year and I think we go into the races with a very strong team with the possibility to do great things. This year we will be one of the main favourites in these races compared to other years. We’ve had a very strong start to the year and the atmosphere is very good so we’ll hope to keep that going. The weather is also looking to be favourable, so that’s always a nice bonus for the opening weekend.”
Joining Wellens on the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne start line will be Narváez, a rider who is no stranger to animating the Belgian one-day. Back in 2021, the Ecuadorian delivered a breakout display in a long-range attack alongside Mathieu van der Poel. Although the pair were caught in the finale, the experience gave Narváez both the confidence to target the Classics, and a love for the unpredictability of these races.
“I think that if you don’t enjoy the chaos of the Classics, you just don’t enjoy cycling. You have to enjoy the adrenaline to be a cyclist,” he told the team earlier this year.
Ready to attack the race once again, Narváez will be part the following UAE Team Emirates-XRG roster for Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne:
Mikkel Bjerg (Den)
Rune Herregodts (Bel)
Jhonatan Narváez (Ecu)
Rui Oliveira (Por)
Nils Politt (Ger)
Florian Vermeersch (Bel)
Tim Wellens (Bel)
Meanwhile, away from the cobbles of Belgium, some of UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s finest climbers will be testing their legs on a French double-header. With the Faun-Ardèche Classic on Saturday, 1 March, and the Faun Drome Classic quick on the heels on Sunday, 2 March, there will be plenty of room reserved for exciting racing across the border.
First up on Saturday, UAE Team Emirates-XRG will hope to retain their title from the 2024 edition, with last year’s winner of the Faun-Ardèche Classic, Juan Ayuso, on the start line once again.
Ayuso: “It’s been a great winter of training so far and I can’t wait to get the racing started. Last year I was flying at these races but obviously my main objectives this year come a bit later in the season. These first races will be more of a test of the legs and return to the rhythm of racing for the first main objective of the season which will be Tirreno-Adriatico. Given the strength of the team we’ll have many cards to play so I’m excited to get back in the team environment and race with the guys again.”
The Spaniard will be making his season debut on Saturday, as he looks to build his campaign towards the Giro d’Italia in May. Ayuso is not the only former winner on the start-list for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, with the American Brandon McNulty ready to build on his strong start to the 2025 campaign.
The 26-year-old won this race with a spectacular solo attack in 2022 and with fifth place in February’s Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, McNulty began this season in good stead. With recent Volta ao Algarve stage winner Jan Christen, and 10th-placed finisher at last year’s Faun-Ardèche Classic, Igor Arrieta, also in the UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad, the Emirati side is well placed for the French hills.
Faun-Ardèche Classic is the slightly tougher test, with the riders tasked with 3,000m of climbing across less than 170km, but the Faun Drome Classic packs a punch in its own right and saw UAE Team Emirates-XRG score first and second across the line last season. With Marc Hirschi the winner, Ayuso backed up his Faun-Ardèche Classic victory with second place.
The Spaniard will make up a powerful UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad for the two French one-days alongside the following:
Igor Arrieta (Spa)
Juan Ayuso (Spa)
Jan Christen (Swi)
Isaac Del Toro (Mex)
Julius Johansen (Den)
Brandon McNulty (USA)
Matthias Schwarzbacher (Gen Z) (SLK)
The full schedule in France and Belgium is as follows:
Saturday 1 March – Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (1.UWT)
Saturday 1 March – Faun-Ardèche Classic (1.Pro) / Sunday 2 March – Faun Drome Classic (1.Pro)
Sunday 2 March – Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne (1.Pro)
Q36.5 Line-ups: Opening Weekend and Drome/Ardèche Classics
It feels like yesterday we started the off-season and here we are at the eve of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. It’s the start of the exciting Classics period in Belgium, France and the Netherlands where we will be present in all major World Tour Classics thanks to the wildcards Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team received.
Lining up for the Omloop, the iconic race between Gent and Ninove on Saturday, is a team with seven nationalities: Rory Townsend (IRL), Jannik Steimle (GER), Frederik Frison (BEL), Nick Zukowsky (CAN), Kamil Małecki (POL), Fabio Christen (SUI) and Tom Pidcock (GBR).
Tom Pidcock already has four wins this season. He finished in the top ten of the Omloop in 2023 and 2024 and looks forward to race in Belgium again. He said: “Omloop Nieuwsblad is always an interesting race. It’s the first one day race where everyone can really gauge how they came out the winter. I’ve never been on the podium in the Omloop. If I could manage that I would be very happy because I don’t think it suits me perfectly. However, I know my shape is good and it’s important to keep building on the momentum I have created with the team.”
The day after the Omloop, Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team will travel to Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne with a team of fast men: Matteo Mochetti, Giacomo Nizzolo, Nicoló Parisini, Rory Townsend, Frederik Frison, Kamil Małecki and Jannik Steimle.
Another team will travel to France for the two one-day races in the Drome and Ardèche regions in the south of the country. These two classics are known for their challenging courses with lots of small climbs and technical descents. It’s the region where the European Road Championships will be held in September.
Xabier Mikel Azparren, Matteo Badilatti, Walter Calzoni, Sjoerd Bax, Marcel Camprubí, Milan Vader and Harm Vanhoucke represent Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team in both the Ardèche and Drome Classic on Saturday and Sunday.
Matteo Badilatti said: “The Drome and Ardèche Classics are new races to me. The profiles look very challenging with all the climbs in quick succession. Racing in the French Cup is always aggressive which should be very exciting. I returned from Tour of Oman with good form and really look forward to continue my season in Europe.”
Tom Pidcock ready for Belgium:
Paris-Nice: Vingegaard’s Cogent Plan
Key points:
- The 83rd edition of Paris-Nice is the first pivotal race on European soil. And Jonas Vingegaard has chosen it to continue his 2025 season ramp-up, which has already started with a victorious start in Portugal. However, the Visma-Lease a Bike leader will let his American teammate Matteo Jorgenson, winner in 2024, have the privilege of wearing the number 1 race bib.
- The Danish favourite in the event, third in 2023, will try to win the Race to the Sun for the first time but will have no room for error given the presence of rivals such as Brandon McNulty, Joao Almeida, Santiago Buitrago, Aleksandr Vlasov, Ben O’Connor, Felix Gall, Romain Bardet and Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet.
- Among the sprinters, the clash will likely be between two men in form at the start of the season, Mads Pedersen and Tim Merlier.
Indeed, the plan is well conceived, as this is how Jonas Vingegaard likes to work. His goal of returning to the top of the Tour de France hierarchy hinges on a programme that began in Portugal with a victory in the Tour of the Algarve after a time trial that he won hands down. The Danish cyclist’s theoretical runway now takes to the roads of Paris-Nice, a race he competed in during his incredibly successful 2023 campaign. However, he wasn’t as formidable as he was in July. That year, he came third in the Race to the Sun behind Tadej Pogačar and David Gaudu, who are not participating this year, which does not mean the road is clear for Vingegaard. Firstly, the title holder, Matteo Jorgenson, could benefit from his Visma-Lease a Bike team leader’s generosity, provided he performs at the same level as last year. And above all, it is because top-class contenders are lining up to take on the two-time Tour de France winner.
The first decisive moment should sort out the contenders in the team time trial in Nevers (stage 3), where riders such as Brandon McNulty, who briefly wore the yellow and white jersey and finished third in the general classification last year, Aleksandr Vlasov, runner-up in 2021 and winner in 2024 at the Madone d’Utelle, but also Max Schachmann, twice winner of the Race to the Sun and recently fifth in Algarve, will have an opportunity to make their mark. The list could be confirmed and, above all, extended the very next day, as the climb to the Loge des Gardes, which Vingegaard failed to tame two years ago, will certainly suit climbers such as Santiago Buitrago, winner of the Tour of Valencia just over two weeks ago, just ahead of João Almeida, who will also be in contention in the French department of Allier (stage 4). The terrain will also lend itself to a resounding attack by a puncher like Julian Alaphilippe, who will ride in his debut race in France for his new team and will also have his sights set on the finish in La Côte Saint-André (stage 5).The weekend’s programme will feature higher peaks with the finish in Auron (stage 7), undoubtedly conducive to a demonstration by Vingegaard if he can drop other mountain aces such as 2024 Vuelta runner-up Ben O’ Connor, Dutchman Thymen Arensman, whose mission will be to restore Ineos Grenadiers to the success it enjoyed in the 2010s, Frenchman Romain Bardet in his final appearance in the event and Lenny Martinez in his first. The Cannes native could also find himself competing for the white jersey with Spaniard Ivan Romeo, who was also born in the summer of 2003 and was fourth in the UAE Tour last week.
They may not be concerned with the outcome of the final weekend of Paris-Nice, but the sprinters will also get their chances throughout the week, especially near Bellegarde (stage 2) and then Berre l’Étang (stage 6). Mads Pedersen, a regular on the French roads at the start of the season and this year’s winner of the Tour de la Provence, will be on familiar ground but will have to battle hard with European champion Tim Merlier, who has already raised his arms four times in the Middle-East. Both will have to keep an eye on other contenders for the sprints, such as Arnaud Démare, Alexander Kristoff, Alberto Dainese and Soren Waerenskjold, whose burst of speed wreaked havoc on the Etoile de Bessèges.
22 Teams – The Leading Entrants:
Australia
Team Jayco AlUla: O’Connor, Matthews (Aus)
Bahrain
Bahrain Victorious: Buitrago (Col), Haig (Aus), Martinez (Fra)
Belgium
Soudal Quick-Step: Merlier, Van Wilder (Bel), Schachmann (Ger)
Intermarché-Wanty: Page, Petit (Fra), Zimmermann (Ger)
Alpecin-Deceuninck: Del Grosso (Ned)
France
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team: Gall (Aut), Bisseger (Swi), A.Paret-Peintre (Fra)
Cofidis: Perez (Fra)
Groupama-FDJ: Martin-Guyonnet, Cavagna (Fra), Küng (Swi)
TotalEnergies: Burgaudeau, Turgis (Fra), Cras (Bel)
Arkea-B&B Hotels: Démare, Costiou, Sénéchal (Fra)
Germany
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe: Adria (Spa), Welsford (Aus), Vlasov
Kazakhstan
XDS Astana Team: Tejada (Col), Champoussin (Fra)
Netherlands
Team Visma Lease a Bike: Vingegaard (Den), Jorgenson (Usa), Zingle (Fra)
Team Picnic PostNL: Bardet, Barguil (Fra), Degenkolb (Ger), Jakobsen (Ned)
Norway
Uno-X Mobility: Kristoff, Kulset, Waerenskjold (Nor)
Spain
Movistar Team: Romeo (Spa), Rubio (Col)
Caja Rural-Seguros RGA: Barcelo, Leitao (Spa)
Switzerland
Tudor Pro Cycling Team: Alaphilippe (Fra), Brenner (Ger), Trentin, Dainese (Ita)
United Arab Emirates
UAE Team Emirates XRG: Almeida (Por), McNulty (Usa), Sivakov (Fra)
United Kingdom
Ineos Grenadiers : Arensman (Ned), Sheffield (Usa), Tarling (Gbr)
United States
EF Education-Easypost: Asgreen (Den), Powless (Usa)
Lidl-Trek: Skjelmose, Pedersen (Den), Bernard (Fra)
FENIX New Title Partner of the Omloop van het Hageland
Omloop van het Hageland is getting a new name: the FENIX Omloop van het Hageland. With FENIX as the title sponsor, an innovative and international brand is now associated with this renewed semi-classic in women’s cycling.
Through this partnership, FENIX reaffirms its commitment to sports, and women’s cycling in particular. “This partnership confirms our dedication to the growth of the sport and the continuity of high-level races in women’s cycling. We share the values of the organisation, and we truly believe this is a next step in creating equal opportunities for women in sports,” says Sandro Marini, Corporate Communications Manager at parent company Arpa Industriale.
The FENIX Omloop van het Hageland remains a fixture on the cycling calendar and will once again welcome the world’s best female riders in 2025. The challenging course, marked by cobblestones and steep climbs, makes it a true test for riders with a ‘classics’ profile. Thanks to this partnership with FENIX, the race gains an additional boost and further strengthens its international reputation.
“With FENIX, we share a passion for innovation, perseverance, and aesthetics,” says the race organisation. “These values align perfectly with our ambition and vision for organising and continuing the Omloop van het Hageland. We are proud that a brand like FENIX—a well-established name in the cycling world—wants to support our organisation and believes in our plans. Organising a race at this level is no small feat, but this partnership provides us with additional strength. Specifically, it enables us to put together a strong 2025 edition while also looking ahead to the future.”
Alison Jackson in the 2023 Omloop van het Hageland 2023:
E3 Saxo Classic Route, Teams and Poster
The organisers of the E3 Saxo Classic has announced the course for the next edition (Friday, March 28). The Eikenberg returns, but otherwise the route is the same as in 2024. The participating teams and the poster for 2025 were also revealed at the press announcement. On the poster, this year’s slogan is:
The E3 Saxo Classic starts and finishes again this year in Harelbeke. The race is over 208 kilometres with 13 kilometres of cobblestones and 17 climbs with 2,800 metres of climbing. Most of the climbing is in the second part of the race, because there are 16 climbs in the last 100 kilometres. In addition, the Paterberg, Oude Kwaremont and Tiegemberg are hard leg breakers. The Eikenberg, which was replaced by the Ellestraat in 2024, returns to the route.
“We would like to maintain our individuality,” assistant course director Johan Wastyn explained to Het Laatste Nieuws. “This race was run for the first time in 2016 and has since proven successful. Something that is good should not be changed. There are so many possible scenarios to write on this course.”
Climbs:
1. Katteberg (750m to 6%)
2. La Houppe (1,880m to 4.8%)
3. Canary mountain (1,050m to 7.7%)
4. Old Kruisberg (800m at 4.8%)
5. Knokteberg (1,260m to 7%)
6. Hotondberg (1,200m to 4%)
7. Short seas (1,000m at 6.4%)
8. Taaienberg (700m to 6.3%)
9. Berg ten Stene (1,300m to 5.2%)
10. Boigneberg (1,000m at 5.2%)
11. Eikenberg (1,250m to 6.2%)
12. Stationberg (700m to 3.2%)
13. Chapel (750m at 7.1%)
14. Paterberg (400m to 12.9%)
15. Oude Kwaremont (2,200m to 4%)
16. Karnemelkbeekstraat, E3 Col (1,530m to 4.9%)
17. Tiegemberg (750m to 5.6%)
On March 28, the eighteen WorldTeams will be at the start. Past winners, Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogačar and Wout van Aert will probably ride. In addition to the WorldTeams, Lotto, Uno-X Mobility and Israel-Premier Tech also received an automatic invitation, as the best ProTeams of 2024. The four wildcards went to Flanders-Baloise, TotalEnergies, Q36.5 and Tudor. Q36.5 is the team of Tom Pidcock and Tudor has Julian Alaphilippe and Marc Hirschi.
The organisers of the E3 Saxo Classic, formerly known as the E3 Prize Flanders and the E3 Harelbeke, has caused a stir with their posters several times in the past. In 2019 there was a poster with two body-painted race girls. At the time, the UCI indicated that it regretted the organiser’s choice and strongly disapproved of it because of the nature of the poster. The controversial poster was withdrawn.
This year the poster may cause less problems, but the organisers have chosen a playful image. On the poster there are four baby water bottles with the names of the last climbs of the race. In addition, a bottle of champagne is for the winner. “Harelbeke, not for papcoureurs”, is the headline.
“Every year it becomes more difficult to design a banner,” organiser Jacques Coessens told HLN. “Since the banner with the hand of Sagan, which squeezed a woman’s buttocks, there has been some controversy. BVs still like to cooperate, but a while later we still get people from the entourage on the line who cancel it. That’s why we made the choice to play the banner completely on our race this year. It is the most beautiful route in Flanders and the three tenors will fight each other here for the first time this year. But I want to say above all that we never want to shock with our poster. Just playfully warming up towards the race itself.”
Not for Papcoureurs:
Grand Départ Barcelone 2026 Conquering Montjuïc
Key points :
- The third start of the du Tour de France in Spain, following San Sebastian (in 1992) and Bilbao (in 2023), will be the first welcomed by Barcelona, to kick off the 113th edition of the race.
- The Catalan capital, which has already welcomed the Tour de France for stages on three occasions (in 1957, 1965 and 2009), shares a long history with cycling, especially on the roads of Montjuïc hill, which has hosted stages of the Vuelta a España and Volta a Catalunya as well as races at the World Championships and Olympic Games.
- The main site of the 1992 Olympics will also be at the heart of the programme on the first two stages on 4th and 5th July 2026, because the finishes of the inaugural team time-trial (19.7 km) and the following day’s stage (178 km) will both take place on Montjuïc hill in front of the Olympic stadium, with, from the outset, a possible showdown between the big favourites for the race.
Travellers who choose the Costa Brava or Costa Dorada as a destination generally enjoy a very leisurely break between beaches, museums and tapas bars. This, however, is certainly not the programme conjured up for the riders on the Tour de France 2026, whose first two stages promise a lively start to the race. In Barcelona, the Montjuïc district is steeped in the memories of all the major sporting events that have taken place here, whether they be the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix in the 1970s or, of course, the 1992 Olympic Games, for which this promontory was the nerve centre. In cycling terms, the place is not unfamiliar to the pack, because stage finishes on the Tour de France, Vuelta a España or Volta a Catalunya have taken place here over time, won (not necessarily in chronological order) by elite riders such as Miguel Poblet, Federico Bahamontes, Jacques Anquetil, Felice Gimondi, Bernard Hinault, Thor Hushovd, Philippe Gilbert, or more recently Remco Evenepoel and Tadej Pogačar.
The battle on the Tour in 2026 will begin with the 50th team time-trial in its history, a custom borrowed from the Vuelta but a first for the Tour, this time adding a subtlety experimented since 2023 on Paris-Nice. On the collective race against the clock, individual times will be taken into account, meaning the battle between the favourites will begin on the very first day of the race. It will not begin in earnest on the first section, where the groups of riders still pedalling one behind another may perhaps have the time to catch a glimpse of the Sagrada Familia, which has just been completed to celebrate the centenary of the death of its creator Antoni Gaudi. Instead, on leaving the long straight lines and entering the more winding roads on Montjuïc hill, the teams are likely to start losing elements in the last four kilometres. Race director, Thierry Gouvenou, even thinks that there are likely to be two points at which some riders fall behind before reaching the finishing line at the foot of the Olympic stadium. The first Yellow Jersey will almost certainly go to the leader of one of the most prominent teams.
The start of the following stage will take place in Tarragona, which will become the southernmost point visited in the history of the Tour. It is on returning to the Catalan capital after travelling along the coast that the racing scenario will be set to turn into a pitched battle. Two tough slopes will have to be tackled by the riders on a twelve-kilometre long final circuit: the Montjuïc Castle slope, which is a 1.6-km wall-like ascent with an average gradient of 9.3%, should serve, on the third climb up it, as a springboard for the last pretenders for victory, who will do battle on the 600 metres of the Olympic Stadium slope. “There are many roads in this district and as a result plenty of possibilities for drawing up a circuit. I think we have managed to find the most difficult combination possible,” said Thierry Gouvenou, who compared the route with the many races that have previously come to a conclusion on the site. For the third stage, the pack will head towards the French border for a destination which has not yet been unveiled, after leaving Granollers, which is just as famous for its handball club as for its F1 Moto GP race circuit.
The stages for the Grand Départ from Barcelona
Saturday 4th July, stage 1: Barcelona > Barcelona (team time-trial, 19.7 km)
Sunday 5th July, stage 2: Tarragona > Barcelona (178 km)
Monday 6th July, stage 3: Granollers > ???
Trofeo Alfredo Binda – Municipality of Cittiglio and Piccolo Trofeo Binda – Valli del Verbano
All the news: the race will start in Luino and finish in Cittiglio; a tougher route; the best line-up ever; a new date; the Italian Regions’ Cup; projects for kids; live TV coverage in Italy and Europe.
The twenty-sixth edition of the Trofeo Alfredo Binda – Municipality of Cittiglio, a race on the elite women’s World Tour calendar, and the twelfth Piccolo Trofeo Binda – Valli del Verbano, a stage of the junior women’s Nations Cup, promise to be the best ever. There will be 24 teams at the start of the elite race; among them the top 15 teams in the world. Eight national teams will participate in the junior race, including the English battleship that won the last two editions, and the best foreign and Italian club teams. The route has changed, becoming more challenging both in terms of altitude and distance. New, above all, is the starting location of the two races: Luino, on Lake Maggiore while the finish is, as usual, in Viale Valcuvia, Cittiglio, having passed through a total of 25 municipalities of the Alto Verbano, all in the province of Varese.
The TV programming is also new, moving from RAISPORT to RAI 2 with a live broadcast that will involve Eurosport and its over 80 connected countries. Finally, the calendar placement of the double event is new: Sunday 16 March, a week earlier than usual to allow for the development and growth of the world calendar that, over three weekends in Italy, will offer the three most important events of the women’s world calendar.
On Saturday evening in Luino, in the splendid Art Nouveau setting of Palazzo Verbania, Cycling Sport Promotion presented all these new features of the two races to the many authorities who literally crowded the main hall of the beautiful structure that directly overlooks the waters of Lake Maggiore.
Mario Minervino, president of Cycling Sport Promotion that organises the double event: “Thanks to all of you present, an increasingly numerous and qualified audience. In particular, I would like to thank Elisa Balsamo and Davide Plebani for accepting our invitation. When we began organising this event, the race had little appeal but with my collaborators we have managed to achieve the success and notoriety that it enjoys today in the world, first of all with the International Cycling Union and in recent months with the Cycling League. The Trofeo Alfredo Binda is the only trophy in Italy entirely dedicated to women’s cycling, a true jewel in the crown of the territory. We decided to bring the race forward by a week to allow the entry of a new race in Italy that will now enjoy a period of great worldwide appeal. The Trofeo Binda has a feature that makes it a truly unique event: it begins with a training project in schools and this year we involved three municipalities and almost 300 fourth and fifth graders. For the first time we also talked about children’s nutrition. In Cittiglio, together with the Municipal Administration, we will inaugurate a “Green Kilometre” dedicated to children, with columns and messages for sustainable mobility and respect for the environment. Here in Luino, the day before the race will be filled with events, again for the kids, from Luino and the neighbouring municipalities. As many as 29 structures and about 1,500 people will overnight in the area during the days of the two races that will involve about 25 municipalities. Thanks to all the sponsors for their precious support. I would like to underline another important aspect: safety, always central to our thoughts; with SPM Sport we have increased the number and quality of protections on the route along which about 500 Civil Protection volunteers will operate. Finally, I wish to thank the Police, the Institutions, the media, RAI and Eurosport who are increasingly available to work with us”.
Squadre iscritte:
Trofeo Alfredo Binda – Comune di Cittiglio
01 AGS AG INSURANCE – SOUDAL TEAM
02 CSR CANYON//SRAM RACING
03 CTC CERATIZIT PRO CYCLING TEAM
04 TFS FDJ-SUEZ
05 FDC FENIX-DECEUNINCK
06 HPH HUMAN POWERED HEALTH
07 LTK LIDL – TREK
08 LIV LIV-ALULA-JAYCO
09 MOV MOVISTAR TEAM
10 CGS ROLAND
11 DFP TEAM PICNIC POSTNL
12 SDW TEAM SD WORX – PROTIME
13 TVL TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE
14 UAD UAE TEAM ADQ
15 UXM UNO-X MOBILITY
16 EFO EF EDUCATION – OATLY
17 LKF LABORAL KUTXA – FUNDACION EUSKADI
18 CWT COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM
19 MDS TEAM MENDELSPECK
20 BZB BORN TO WIN BTC CITY LJUBLJANA ZHIR
21 SBT ISOLMANT – PREMAC – VITTORIA
22 VAI AROMITALIA 3T VAIANO
23 TOP TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO
24 BPK BEPINK – IMATRA – BONGIOANNI
Piccolo trofeo Binda – Valli del Verbano
01 GREAT BRITAIN
02 FRANCE
03 SPAIN
04 POLAND
05 GERMANY
06 SLOVENIA
07 SWITZERLAND
08 DENMARK
09 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Team
10 Watersley R&D Cycling Road Team
11 NXTG
12 Tofauti Everyone Active Majaco
13 Wallonie-Bruxelles Ladies
14 Restore Cycling Team
15 Team RYTGER
16 Atom.Deweloper.team
17 Team Mendelspeck
18 Biesse – Carrera
19 Libertas Ceresetto
20 Breganze Millenium
21 Burzoni – VO2 Team Pink
22 Club Ciclistico Canturino 1902 asd
23 ASD Team Di Federico
24 Team Zhiraf Pagliaccia
25 GS Gauss
26 UC Conscio Pedale del Sile
27 Breganze Cicloclub 96 Team Wilier
28 ASD Team Lady Zuliani
29 MX SCV BIKE CADORAGO – CLUB CORR.
Piet van Katwijk Passed Away at 74
Former cyclist Piet van Katwijk passed away on Monday evening, the 24th of February, three days before his 75th birthday. The fast man form Brabant was a professional cyclist for eight years, racing for the TI-Raleigh team for five years and taking some big victories. Van Katwijk had been seriously ill for some time, but always remained optimistic.
Van Katwijk competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics and finished in eleventh place in the road race. He won the British Milk Race in 1973 and the 1974 Acht van Chaam as well as several stages of the Olympia’s Tour in 1970, 1971 and 1972, the Tour de Suisse in 1976, Tour of Belgium in 1976, Ronde van Nederland 1977 and Tour de Luxembourg in 1977.
His brothers Jan and Fons and nephew Alain were also professional cyclists.
RIP Piet van Katwijk:
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