As we look forward to the Tour de France, we have the Tour de Suisse and the Baloise Belgium Tour in a very full EUROTRASH Thursday – All the videos, race reports, results and the rider quotes.
TOP STORY:
- ‘The Cannibal’ spoke about the present generation on his 80th birthday
Rider news:
- The peloton honoured Romain Bardet
- Remco Evenepoel: “Hope pollen levels will be lower in the Tour”
- Soudal Quick-Step tackles Remco Evenepoel’s pollen problem: “Better under control in the Tour”
- Mikkel Bjerg not happy UAE teammate: “Too bad he doesn’t know how to help us”
- Alexander Kristoff disappointed about not being selected for the Tour
- Stephen Williams to miss the Tour de France
Team news:
- Next races for Team Picnic-PostNL
- Jake Stewart Signs on for Three More Years at IPT
- Lotto Cycling Team and Sanas join forces for optimal recovery
Race news:
- 2025/2026 X2O Badkamers Trofee cyclocross calendar
- Tour de Pologne secures place in 2026 UCI WorldTour
- Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: A vast game board for the new Critérium du Dauphiné
Plus:
- ‘Smile for Ludo’: Ludo Dierckxsens remembered in the Baloise Belgium Tour
Big EUROTRASH Thursday coffee time.
TOP STORY:
‘The Cannibal’ Spoke about the Present Generation on his 80th Birthday
Eddy Merckx celebrated his eightieth birthday on Tuesday. The Belgian said he would have an ‘easy’ day, when he spoke to VTM Nieuws on Monday evening. In the interview, he also answered some questions about the current generation of cyclists.
“I’m doing reasonably well,” said Merckx, who broke his hip in December, while on a bike ride. “I’m recovering from that fracture. It’s taking a bit longer than expected, but it’s slowly starting to get better.”
Merckx then answered questions from viewers: Is Tadej Pogačar the new Merckx, or perhaps even better? “He is without a doubt the greatest of his generation. He wins WorldTour races like he wins stage races, but I also think he has little opposition. Vingegaard, Evenepoel… After that you have to look. You have Del Toro who is coming up and a few Frenchmen. You have Mathieu van der Poel, but he is not a stage racer. But they are great riders, great champions. I have a lot of respect for them.”
Can Remco Evenepoel ever win the Tour de France? “I hope so. It will not be easy in the mountains against men like Vingegaard and Pogačar. He still has to improve a bit in the mountains. I hope for him that he succeeds. It would be great if we had a Belgian winner again after Lucien Van Impe.”
Pogačar, Van der Poel, Evenepoel and others, wished Merckx a happy birthday via a video message. “Eddy, I want to wish you a super happy eightieth birthday, I hope that you will have many more healthy years. By that I also mean that I hope that your health will improve. I hope that we will not have to see each other too often at the physiotherapist (the two met at the physiotherapist in Antwerp after their falls last winter, ed.). That would be very positive. But for now: happy birthday and enjoy it,” said Remco Evenepoel.
Merckx said about his birthday that he was going to ‘take it easy’. “Normally I go and have dinner with family, but it is a working day. There are some who give lessons and my son is at the Baby Giro (Axel Merckx is a DS with Hagens Berman Jayco), so it will be quiet tomorrow. The last few days and weeks have been a lot.”
Happy 80th Eddy Merckx:
Tour de Suisse Men 2025
The Second Stage of the 2025 Tour de Suisse was surprisingly won by Vincenzo Albanese. In Schwarszee, the 28-year-old Italian beat Fabio Christen and Lewis Askey in a sprint from a thinned out peloton. This was Albanese first victory in the WorldTour. Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) held the overall lead.
With just over 2,700 meters of climbing, this was a semi-mountain stage. The main climbs were the Riggisberg (4.5km at 5%), Guggisberg (7.2km at 4.1%), the climb to Heitenried (1.5km at 7.3%) and the uphill finish (4.9km at 3.3%) to Schwarszee.
Three riders escaped early on: Silvan Dillier (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Jonas Rutsch (Intermarché-Wanty) and Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla). The peloton let them go and the lead quickly increased to 2:30. This was also the maximum advantage. Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe had apparently set its sights on the stage victory and certainly didn’t want to give a leading group with three strong riders too much of a lead. Under the leadership of the German team, the difference became smaller and smaller, but the three leaders were not giving up. On the Guggisberg, the difference between the leading group and the peloton was already small, but this was the signal for Rutsch and Schmid to lift the speed. Dillier was unable to go with them and was caught. The two remaining leaders were still off the front, although the lead was limited.
In the peloton, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe rode at the front in the first hours of the race, Tudor then took on the work. The Swiss team had gained confidence after Julian Alaphilippe’s fourth place in the opening stage and they forced the pace. This was necessary, because the advantage of Schmid and Rutsch fluctuated around half a minute. The two leaders crossed the top of the Guggisberg and climb to Heitenried with a lead and were also the first to reach the intermediate sprints, where there were 3, 2 and 1 bonus seconds. Grégoire didn’t need to be told twice, the Frenchman took 1 bonus second in the first sprint and managed to slightly strengthen his leading position overall. At the head of the race, Schmid finally managed to separate himself from Rutsch. This happened on the last categorised climb of the day to Rechthalten (1.6km at 6.1%), but this turned out to be more of a last gasp for the Swiss champion. Schmid was the first to reach the top of this climb, but the peloton was now not far behind. In the next flatter kilometres, the first riders joined him.
These attempts at attacking were short-lived and the expected attacks also failed to materialise in the uphill kilometres to Schwarszee. Several teams were keen on a group sprint and so we had to look mainly at the fast-men still present. Arnaud De Lie was still there. The Belgian champion seemed to be the big favourite for the victory. However, a surprise attack by Jan Christen split the sprint preparations. The Swiss rider made a gap and looked to be on his way to victory, but was caught in the last kilometre by Quinn Simmons, only three riders were able to follow the American champion. One of them was Vincenzo Albanese. The Italian started his sprint at the right time and the EF Education-EasyPost rider beat Fabio Christen and Lewis Askey to second and third. Simmons came in fourth, just ahead of Danny van Poppel. De Lie was no match for him in the final sprint. For winner Albanese, it is only the third professional victory of his career and his first at WorldTour level.
Stage winner, Vincenzo Albanese (EF Education-EasyPost): “It’s my first victory in the WorldTour, and in this fantastic race in Switzerland. I’m very happy and I’d like to thank all my team. It was a fantastic job from all of them in the final kilometres. I’m very, very happy. I felt good from the start. My role today was to lead out Madis, but in the last kilometres Quinn Simmons and some other guys attacked, and I followed. Then I saw that it was 200 meters from the finish and I went full towards the line. This is my first WorldTour victory and we’ll see what happens in the next few days.”
Overall leader, Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ): “It went well even if it must have seemed easier on TV than it was on the bike. It was not a day of rest, because there was a little tension and the climbs wore out the legs. I would have liked to play a little more in front but I didn’t manage to make my way as I wanted in the last two kilometres. Fortunately Lewis was there and he answered present. We fulfilled the two objectives of the day by playing the stage with a beautiful podium for Lewis and keeping the jersey.”
2nd on the stage, Fabio Christen (Q36.5): “I looked forward to today. This was a stage I had done a recon of one month ago and knew what was coming. It was all in my head. I knew there would be attacks. It was my brother who attacked but I knew I had to wait because attacks would probably not make it on this finish. I think I launched my sprint at the right moment but Albanese chose the same time. He took the shorter line and I didn’t have time to go around him. The team did a great job keeping me at the front in the final 10 kilometres. My dream is to win a stage here in Switzerland. The legs are obviously good and the team is strong. That gives morale so we will keep trying.”
Tour de Suisse Men Stage 2 Result:
1. Vincenzo Albanese (Ita) EF Education-EasyPost in 3:55:57
2. Fabio Christen (Sui) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
3. Lewis Askey (GB) Groupama-FDJ
4. Quinn Simmons (USA) Lidl-Trek
5. Danny van Poppel (Ned) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe
6. Paul Lapeira (Fra) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale
7. Pello Bilbao Lopez de Armentia (Spa) Bahrain Victorious
8. Nicolo’ Buratti (Ita) Bahrain Victorious
9. Gal Glivar (Slo) Alpecin-Deceuninck
10. Fabio Van Den Bossche (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck.
Tour de Suisse Men Overall After Stage 2:
1. Romain Gregoire (Fra) Groupama-FDJ in 6:46:01
2. Kévin Vauquelin (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Hotels at 0:25
3. Bart Lemmen (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike at 0:27
4. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Tudor
5. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Jayco AlUla at 1:18
6. Felix Grossschartner (Aust) UAE Emirates XRG
7. Lennard Kämna (Ger) Lidl-Trek
8. Pablo Castrillo Zapater (Spa) Movistar
9. Rainer Kepplinger (Aust) Bahrain Victorious
10. Ben Swift (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 1:33.
Suisse’25 stage 2:
Quinn Simmons, the American champion of Lidl-Trek was part of an early break on Stage 3 and seemed at one point to have no chance of victory, but managed to hold off the favourites group. João Almeida (UAE Emirates XRG) and Oscar Onley) Team Picnic PostNL) brought in the bunch 18 seconds later.
After stage victories by Romain Grégoire and Vincenzo Albanese, the third stage of the Tour of Switzerland also looked to be one for the fast.men in the peloton. The riders were again faced with almost 3,000 meters of altitude. Most of the climbing is in the last 60 kilometres, although there were only two climbs that counted for the mountain classification. After the passage through the town of Will there were hardly any easy points. It was up and down all the time, but the sting was in the tail with the climb to Knolhusen (5.2km at 6%), the climb towards Büriswilen (2km at 6.8%) and to Heiden (3.4km at 5.3%), where the finish line was also drawn.
On the way to this difficult final, a leading group of 6 riders quickly formed. Mauri Vansevenant (Soudal Quick-Step), Brent Van Moer (Lotto), Nans Peters (Decathlon AG2R), Samuele Battistella & Max Walker (EF Education-EasyPost) and American champion Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek). The peloton let them go, but the escapees didn’t get much of a lead. In the peloton, FDJ-SUEZ for leader Grégoire and Tudor started to work. Both teams set their sights on the stage win and kept the difference within limits. In the run-up to the first categorised climb, Geraint Thomas crashed on a bend. The British rider, who is in his last months in the peloton, remained on the ground for a long time, but eventually got back on his bike. Thomas had three teammates with him, but getting back on proved to be hard. In the peloton, the chase for the remaining leaders had started, Walker and Peters had been dropped.
The pace increased, causing the lead to drop on the flatter kilometres to Knolhusen. At the foot of the 5 kilometre climb, the difference between the leading group and the peloton was only 20 seconds. A regrouping seemed imminent, but Simmons wasn’t finished The American had no intention of giving up without a fight. The Lidl-Trek rider had to give it his everything. The former junior World champion rode away from the other escapees to start an ambitious solo, and managed to extend his lead. The peloton decided to ease off a bit and this played into Simmons’ hands. At the top of the climb, the difference had increased 45 seconds. The solo leader still had to survive the climb to Büriswilen (2km at 6.8%). On the climb, Jan Christen and Juan Pedro López tried to cross to Simmons, but they were quickly nipped in the bud. Simmons held his ground exceptionally well.
At the foot of the final climb of over 3 kilometres at an average of 5.3%, his lead was still half a minute on Neilson Powless, who had ridden away from the considerably thinned out peloton, which was almost 50 seconds behind. This gap could not be bridged and so Simmons took the win after an impressive ride. The sprint for second place was won by João Almeida, who took 6 bonus seconds ahead of Oscar Onley and Grégoire. The Frenchman just missed out on the bonuses, but is still comfortably in the overall lead. The 24-year-old Simmons took his third victory of the season. Earlier this year he won a stage in the Tour of Catalonia and recently took back the American champion’s jersey.
Stage winner, Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek): “It’s tough to be here. I was incredibly motivated. I was really determined to win yesterday, exactly two years after the dramatic accident with Gino. I wanted to dedicate the victory to him, but now I can do it one day later. It’s tough to be here, especially because I saw Gino’s mother before the start of the stage. Now I can honour him. After yesterday’s stage, I had extra motivation to finish it off today. This is a reference to my American champion’s jersey. The last time I was American champion, I couldn’t win a race and I had a really dramatic season. I really wanted to win in this jersey. To win a WorldTour race in my champion’s jersey, that’s really amazing.”
Overall leader and 4th on the stage, Romain Gregoire (Groupama-FDJ): “It was a tough day. We tried to control the race to win the stage, so I’m disappointed I couldn’t reward the team’s work, but in the end, I didn’t even finish second by winning the sprint. Two stronger riders passed me, and Simmons did a great job at the front, so I have no regrets. My legs were key; the last three kilometres were quite tough. There were two technical corners where I had to stay well positioned, but it was my legs that did the talking after such a tough stage. We’ll see how it goes; it’ll be a completely different story. I think the older riders will want to try to make up ground right away, so I’m expecting a tough day. Although there are 40 kilometres of descent to the finish, I’m expecting a tough day.”
2nd on the stage, Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates XRG): “I decided to sprint for the bonus seconds in the final. Six seconds is nothing when you are already three minutes behind in the standings, but I did my best. The team worked well too. It was a good moment to go. Am I disappointed? Well, not really. It is what it is.”
Crash victim, Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers): “I hit the road. It’s my fault, but then my foot sort of caught on the back and twisted my knee and hamstring. It was a dead leg. I struggled to bend my knee for the first minute. Once I got back on the bike and started riding, it loosened up a bit, but I’m a little sore. The muscles are a little tight. But everything’s fine.”
Tour de Suisse Men Stage 3 Result:
1. Quinn Simmons (USA) Lidl-Trek in 4:39:42
2. João Almeida (Por) UAE Emirates XRG at 0:18
3. Oscar Onley (GB) Team Picnic PostNL
4. Romain Gregoire (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
5. Kévin Vauquelin (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Hotels
6. Jan Christen (Sui) UAE Emirates XRG
7. Fabio Christen (Sui) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
8. Pello Bilbao Lopez de Armentia (Spa) Bahrain Victorious
9. Felix Gall (Aust) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale
10. Clément Champoussin (Fra) XDS Astana.
Tour de Suisse Men Overall After Stage 3:
1. Romain Gregoire (Fra) Groupama-FDJ in 11:26:01
2. Kévin Vauquelin (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Hotels at 0:25
3. Bart Lemmen (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike at 0:27
4. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Tudor
5. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Jayco AlUla at 1:18
6. Felix Grossschartner (Aust) UAE Emirates XRG
7. Lennard Kämna (Ger) Lidl-Trek
8. Pablo Castrillo Zapater (Spa) Movistar
9. William Barta (USA) Movistar at 1:37
10. Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita) XDS Astana.
Suisse’25 stage 3:
Joao Almeida won the Fourth Stage of the Tour de Suisse, taking time out of everyone. The Portuguese UAE Emirates XRG rider attacked on the Splügenpass and crossed the finish line solo in Piuro. Oscar Onley (Team Picnic PostNL) was second at 40 seconds and Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla) was third at 42 seconds. Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) held onto the leader’s jersey.
The fourth stage in Switzerland was dominated by the first serious climb of the race. After 110 kilometres, the riders started the climb of the Splügenpass (8.8km at 7.3%), which took the peloton to an altitude of more than 2,000 metres.
Many riders saw an excellent opportunity to go for the stage win on Wednesday, as there were still a good forty kilometres to be ridden after the top of the Splügenpass. However, the peloton was restless on Wednesday and after a good 65 kilometres there was still no breakaway. Shortly afterwards we saw the first serious breakaway, with Neilson Powless, Andrew August, Georg Zimmermann, Quinn Simmons, Thomas Gloag, Sébastien Grignard, Marius Mayrhofer and Larry Warbasse, who nevertheless rode away from the peloton for 3 minutes. On the Splügenpass, which started much earlier than was stated, there were more than 1,600 metres of elevation to be covered. The leading group split up and August, Powless, Gloag and Simmons rode away. With such a limited lead, they had no chance of winning the stage and were caught with 54 kilometres to go.
Almeida decided to seize that moment to attack. Oscar Onley and Felix Gall were able to keep up with the Portuguese rider for a short while, but had to let go 2 kilometres from the top of the Splügenpass. The UAE Emirates XRG rider then started a long solo, but saw that classification leader Grégoire was in the second chasing group and Vauquelin in the first chase group, didn’t lose that much time either. Bart Lemmen was in trouble and lost time. After the top, Almeida initially extended his lead, but towards the final his lead shrank again. In the end, he took the stage victory, but he must have hoped for a bigger lead. The chasers, including Ilan Van Wilder, Ben O’Connor, Grégoire and Vauquelin, finished less than a minute behind the Portuguese rider.
Stage winner and 7th overall, João Almeida (UAE Emirates XRG): “I gave a lot, it was a hard effort with a lot of team work and it was nice to finish it off. There is still a long way to go and a lot of time to claw back but I’m happy with the stage win and I’m going to enjoy this one. We’ll try again tomorrow, it’s a hard stage, but overall I’m very happy with the shape and especially with the Tour de France not far away.”
Overall Leader and 5th on the stage, Romain Grégoire /Groupama-FDJ): “The goal was to keep the yellow jersey, so mission accomplished. It was really tough and I’m completely knackered. Luckily I had Julian with me, who really helped me out after the summit. I think I owe him a drink tonight. I’m super happy with how the day ended. I knew there would be attacks. I decided to focus mainly on the riders closest to me in the GC, so Kevin Vauquelin in particular. He got a bit angry with me, but that was the best I could do. The fact that Onley and O’Connor took some time back from me, is just the way it is. (Will Thursday be harder?) I really have no idea. I’m just thinking about resting now, because I’m really knackered.”
2nd overall and 4th on the stage, Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels): “I’m second overall, so I can’t do much more. The bad thing about being in such a good position is that I can’t make the kind of moves that Ben O’Connor and Oscar Onley did, which is a shame.”
Tour de Suisse Men Stage 4 Result:
1. João Almeida (Por) UAE Emirates XRG in 4:10:19
2. Oscar Onley (GB) Team Picnic PostNL at 0:40
3. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Jayco AlUla at 0:42
4. Kévin Vauquelin (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Hotels at 1:00
5. Romain Gregoire (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
6. Felix Gall (Aust) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale
7. Ilan Van Wilder (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step at 1:02
8. Clément Champoussin (Fra) XDS Astana
9. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Tudor
10. Lennard Kämna (Ger) Lidl-Trek.
Tour de Suisse Men Overall After Stage 4:
1. Romain Gregoire (Fra) Groupama-FDJ in 15:37:20
2. Kévin Vauquelin (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Hotels at 0:25
3. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Tudor at 0:29
4. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Jayco AlUla at 0:56
5. Lennard Kämna (Ger) Lidl-Trek at 1:20
6. Pablo Castrillo Zapater (Spa) Movistar
7. João Almeida (Por) UAE Emirates XRG at 2:07
8. Oscar Onley (GB) Team Picnic PostNL at 2:53
9. Felix Gall (Aust) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale at 3:23
10. Clément Champoussin (Fra) XDS Astana at 3:25.
Suisse’25 stage 4:
Baloise Belgium Tour 2025
Tim Merlier won the Stage 1 of the Baloise Belgium Tour on Wednesday. The Soudal Quick-Step rider sprinted to victory in Knokke-Heist ahead of Juan Sebastian Molano and is the first overall leader. Casper van Uden and Jasper Philipsen both had problems and couldn’t compete for the victory.
After a minute silence for Ludo Dierckxsens, who passed away last month, the Baloise Belgium Tour started with a near 200 kilometre long sprinter’s stage to the coastal town of Knokke-Heist.
In the opening hours, three Belgians (Yorben Lauryssen, Dylan Vandenstorme, Gianni Marchand), two Dutchmen (Frits Biesterbos, Victor Broex) and a Frenchman (Quentin Bezza) escaped the peloton and take a lead of 3 minutes. The peloton planning to catch up with the six at the front before the Golden Kilometre, which would make some differences on the overall at the end of the stage. At the Golden Kilometre at 26 kilometres from the finish, the favourites battled for the nine maximum bonus seconds. Thibau Nys, Jonas Abrahamsen, Ben Turner and Jenno Berckmoes won the first sprints, which earned them three bonus seconds.
After that, the focus was on the bunch sprint finish. An attack by Stijn Appel didn’t work. In the peloton, the nervousness slowly increased, which resulted in a hard fall by Abrahamsen 9 kilometres from the finish. The Norwegian immediately grabbed his wrist and thus lost sight of a good final ranking a few minutes after his golden case in the Golden Kilometre. In the final kilometres before the sprint, several teams took control, but in the end it was Picnic PostNL that delivered sprinter Van Uden the best lead-out, but he pulled his foot out of his pedal. The same happened to Jasper Philipsen a little later. Tim Merlier didn’t see any of this and was by far the fastest to take the stage and overall.
Stage winner, Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step): “I started the sprint a bit too early, but I had the power to keep it until the finish line. It’s my ninth win of the season and it makes me happy, also because we can enjoy this perfect start to the Tour of Belgium. It’s a good result for the confidence and we’ll continue to work in the same direction in the coming stages, because there will be some more opportunities to leave our mark on the race and we are looking forward to it.”
8th on the stage, Casper van Uden (Team Picnic PostNL): “Actually, I haven’t changed much. I’m still the same, and the people around me are too. It was a nice and fun experience, and of course a win would have been good for morale too. Apart from that, there haven’t been many changes. I’m feeling good again, but after the Giro, I was very tired at the beginning. It was quite tough, and it took me a while to feel good again. But after the Giro, I had a quiet week first, and a few days ago, I had my first training session again, and I felt good. I hope my legs are good here and we can try to sprint.”
Baloise Belgium Tour Stage 1 Result:
1. Tim Merlier (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step in 3:23:43
2. Sebastian Molano (Col) UAE Emirates XRG
3. Ethan Vernon (GB) Israel-Premier Tech
4. Fernando Gaviria Rendon (Col) Movistar
5. Alberto Dainese (Ita) Tudor
6. Jason Tesson (Fra) TotalEnergies
7. Tim Torn Teutenberg (Ger) Lidl-Trek
8. Casper van Uden (Ned) Team Picnic PostNL
9. Leander Van Hautegem (Bel) Wagner Bazin WB
10. Luca Van Boven (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty.
Baloise Belgium Tour Overall After Stage 1:
1. Tim Merlier (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step in 4:23:33
2. Sebastian Molano (Col) UAE Emirates XRG at 0:04
3. Ethan Vernon (GB) Israel-Premier Tech at 0:06
4. Ben Turner (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 0:07
5. Jenno Berckmoes (Bel) Lotto
6. Søren Kragh Andersen (Den) Lidl-Trek
7. Ådne Holter (Nor) Uno-X Mobility at 0:08
8. Filippo Ganna (Ita) INEOS Grenadiers ,,
9. Florian Vermeersch (Bel) UAE Team Emirates XRG at 0:09
10. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck.
Belgium’25 stage 1:
The Peloton Honoured Romain Bardet
In stage 8 of the Critérium du Dauphiné, Romain Bardet ended his professional career on Sunday. Before the stage, the peloton formed a guard of honour for the 34-year-old Frenchman. “It was hard to control my emotions,” he said after the stage on the Team Picnic-PostNL website.
“Although I didn’t have much time to think about it,” Bardet continued, who crossed the finish line in 43rd place on the Plateau du Mont-Cenis in the final stage of the Dauphiné. “There were a lot of emotions at the start, but to be honest, the pace during the race was really high. I am happy to have ended my career in a place I know well; the scenery is beautiful, in the middle of the mountains. I am very happy to end this with all my friends, and that we can ride down the mountain together one more time.”
Romain Bardet started his professional career in 2012 with AG2R La Mondiale, where he quickly emerged as one of the best French climbers of his generation. His big breakthrough came with a stage win in the 2015 Tour de France and a second place in the general classification in 2016. A year later, he was third in Paris and won another stage. In 2018, he took silver at the World championships in Innsbruck. Later, victories followed in the Tour of the Alps and a stage in the Vuelta.
After eight years with AG2R, Bardet moved to Team DSM, now Picnic PostNL, in 2021. With the Dutch team, he won the opening stage of the Tour de France in Rimini in 2024 – after a duo time trial with Frank van den Broek – and wore the yellow jersey for one day. This year, he came close to a stage win in the Giro d’Italia, but he failed to complete the trilogy, a stage win in all three major tours. In stage seventeen of the Giro, he was defeated by the pink jersey wearer Isaac Del Toro.
Bardet said goodbye in the Dauphiné, because he comes from the region. The third stage started in his hometown of Brioude. He looks back on his farewell week with a good feeling. “Riders came to talk to me all week, even young people I had never spoken to before,” he said on Sunday to CyclismActu. “I am leaving without regrets.”
Goodbye Romain:
Remco Evenepoel: “Hope Pollen Levels Will be Lower in the Tour”
Remco Evenepoel showed his power in the time trial of the Critérium du Dauphiné, but he did not do so well in the mountains. According to him, this had to do with his pollen allergy. He hopes that the conditions in the Tour de France will be better.
“I have been bothered by pollen since I was little,” he said after the final stage of the Dauphiné to Het Laatste Nieuws. “As a child I even had severe asthma attacks. I have medication for that, but it has been the second year in a row that I have been bothered by it in the Dauphiné. It starts with the nose, then it goes down to the airways. You get mucus everywhere, everything gets a bit stuck.”
“We have also had a lot of hotels with carpets, which didn’t help either. I hope that pollen levels will be lower in the Tour,” said Evenepoel, who also crashed last Thursday. That too may have played a role in his poor performance in the mountain stages. “I may have underestimated that crash. In combination with the pollen it meant that I was not at one hundred percent.”
Evenepoel suffering in the Dauphine:
Soudal Quick-Step Tackles Remco Evenepoel’s Pollen Problem: “Better Under Control in the Tour”
Remco Evenepoel delivered an impressive time trial in the Critérium du Dauphiné, but in the mountain stages he was no match for Jonas Vingegaard and especially Tadej Pogačar. Soudal Quick-Step is not worried. “He is still building up to the Tour,” CEO Jurgen Foré told Het Nieuwsblad.
“Last year Remco faced a bigger catch-up race,” Foré points out that Evenepoel only finished seventh in the Dauphiné last year, while he now finished the French stage race in fourth place. “The time trial is sublime, there is still a bit of work to be done uphill. I think Remco can rightly have confidence and that he can now maintain that confidence.”
His climbing legs were not yet at their best in the Dauphiné, but according to Foré there are three possible explanations for this. The team manager mentions Evenepoel’s disrupted winter, where he had to rehabilitate for a long time due to a training crash, his pollen allergy and the crash on stage five. “When you looked back at the images, it seemed like a reasonable impact”, says Foré. “Every fall is a shock for the body. And if that happens the night before a tough mountain stage, then that is far from ideal.”
The pollen allergy also remains a point of attention, although Foré thinks that this will become more manageable towards the Tour. “We should have that pollen allergy under control better during the Tour. The pollen season is now at its peak, in the Tour it is often a bit less. We are also working on it. Remco takes medication for it and in the Tour we have air purifiers for the hotel rooms of all the riders.”
What was also noticeable in the Dauphiné was that Evenepoel sometimes quickly became isolated on the hills. That has to change in July, Foré also realises. “Without wanting to put those guys down, I’m always going to support our team, but this is not the scenario we have in mind for the Tour,” said Foré, who stressed that the Tour selection will only be finalised after the Tour de Suisse. “Everyone is looking at the Dauphiné team now, but we have a long-list of twelve riders for the Tour. All twelve know that they have to be ready for the Tour.”
Remco will be better in July:
Mikkel Bjerg Not Happy UAE Teammate: “Too Bad he Doesn’t Know How to Help Us”
Jan Christen tried his luck with a late attack in the second stage of the Tour de Suisse on Monday. The 20-year-old rider of UAE Emirates XRG created a nice gap, but in the end didn’t make it. Afterwards, Mikkel Bjerg appeared surprised by his young teammate’s action. The Dane criticised Christen.
“I was very surprised that he attacked,” Bjerg said after the stage on Danish TV2. “But it’s nice to see that he has good legs. A bit of a shame that he doesn’t know how to help us.”
Christen attacked about 2.5 kilometres from the finish in Schwarzsee, but in the last kilometre the peloton sprinted past him. In the end, the victory went to Vincenzo Albanese of EF Education-EasyPost. The first rider of UAE Emirates XRG was António Morgado in nineteenth place. Christian finished 52nd.
Bjerg not happy:
Alexander Kristoff Disappointed About Not Being Selected for the Tour
Uno-X Mobility was the first team to announce its selection for the 2025 Tour de France on Monday. One notable name that was missing is Alexander Kristoff. The now 37-year-old Norwegian, who is in his farewell year, is disappointed about not being selected, but can understand why.
Kristoff has been successful in the Tour de France in the past. In the 2014 Tour he won two stages and in 2018 and 2020 there was also stage success for the strong Norwegian. His victory in 2018 in particular is one for the history books: that year Kristoff was the fastest in the final stage with a finish on the cobbles of the Champs-Élysées. Kristoff also wore the yellow jersey for one day in 2020 after his stage victory.
The winner of Milan-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders will not be seen in the Tour de France in his farewell year. And that hurts the experienced Norwegian. “I feel that I have done and proven enough for a place in the Tour selection, but we have a strong team, with many talented riders”, Kristoff told the Norwegian TV2. “It is not a very favourable Tour for sprinters. Many stages are too tough for me, but also for Søren Wærenskjöld.” The latter can prepare for the Tour de France, however. Although Kristoff is disappointed with this decision by the team management of Uno-X Mobility, he can also accept it. “I had a good conversation with Thor Hushovd (team manager) and I do not hold a grudge. I understand that they are also looking to the future, although it is disappointing that I am not allowed to participate in the Tour in my farewell year.”
No Tour for Kristoff:
Stephen Williams to Miss the Tour de France
Stephen Williams will not be in the Tour de France this year. The 29-year-old British rider was hoping to compete in La Grande Boucle again, but is still struggling with a knee injury. He announced this via Israel-Premier Tech’s social media.
“The 2025 season hasn’t gone as planned so far, so I’d like to give a quick update on why I haven’t been able to race for a while,” Williams, who has been out of action since he didn’t finish the Eschborn-Frankfurt (1 May). “Since the start of the season in Australia, I’ve been having problems with my right knee, a quadriceps tendonitis, which is very difficult to treat and unfortunately hasn’t been resolved yet. I was able to return to the Giro d’Abruzzo and the Ardennes classics, but it’s still not completely right.”
“Unfortunately this means I won’t be able to compete in the national championships in Wales or the Tour de France. I’m really disappointed to miss these races, especially the national championships in front of a home crowd,” said the Welshman. “But I’m working really hard on my recovery, with the support of the team, and I hope to be back on the grid soon. As a cyclist, you only want one thing and that’s to race – so this season has been incredibly frustrating so far. But I also know that with injuries like this, you can’t push yourself.”
No Tour for Williams:
The Next Races for Team Picnic-PostNL
Copenhagen Sprint – JUNE 21
Asbjørn Kragh Andersen – Team Picnic PostNL coach: “We’re excited to take part in the very first edition of Copenhagen Sprint, and even more so to race WorldTour in the heart of the Danish capital. With Charlotte as our finisher, we have a strong card to play and we’re coming in with full commitment. This race may be new on the calendar, but we’re motivated to help shape it from the front and race with intention from the first pedal stroke.”
Line-up:
Silje Bader (NLD)
Rachele Barbieri (ITA)
Pfeiffer Georgi (GBR)
Megan Jastrab (USA)
Charlotte Kool (NLD)
Josie Nelson (GBR).
Copenhagen Sprint – JUNE 22
Asbjørn Kragh Andersen – Team Picnic PostNL coach: “It’s a special moment to line up for the inaugural Copenhagen Sprint, and we’re proud to represent our team in this new WorldTour event. With Tobias as our finisher, we have the speed and the form to be in the mix. It’s a new race, but we approach it with the same ambition as any classic sprint day — to race smart, stay sharp, and go all-in for the result.”
Line-up
Tobias Lund Andresen (DNK)
Julius van den Berg (NLD)
Romain Combaud (FRA)
Bjorn Koerdt (GBR)
Enzo Leijnse (NLD)
Niklas Märkl (DEU)
Bram Welten (NLD).
Pfeiffer Georgi for the Copenhagen Sprint:
Jake Stewart Signs on for Three More Years at IPT
With a maiden WorldTour win to his name, Jake Stewart is embarking on a new chapter in his career, one that will see him stay with Israel – Premier Tech through to 2028 having signed a three-year contract extension.
Stewart stormed to victory in the bunch sprint on stage 5 of the Critérium du Dauphiné last week, after a near-miss on stage 1, just weeks after securing his first win in IPT colours at the 4 Jours de Dunkerque in May.
Despite only joining IPT last year, the 25-year-old Brit from Coventry quickly became an asset to the team explains General Manager Kjell Carlström. “Jake joined us in 2024 as a key support rider for the team’s sprint leaders but we knew he had what it took to become a leader in his own right, both on and off the road,” says Carlström. “Jake settled into the team immediately and established himself as one of the team’s MVPs – a rider all of his teammates want by their side at the start line. We knew we wanted Jake in the team long term, and we were happy to put pen to paper earlier this year to make that happen. The fact that Jake has secured two victories since then is a testament to his determination and hard work, and extremely well-deserved. Jake has a bright future ahead of him and we’re thrilled that he will continue his development as a rider in IPT colours.”
For Stewart, the decision to renew his contract with IPT comes down to team culture. “It was a no-brainer to renew with the team and it was something that was already on my mind at the end of last year,” explains Stewart. “Having been part of a team that’s been so successful and a part of so many wins in the team, especially last year with Tour of Britain, Flèche Wallonne, and Tour of Guangxi, it allowed me to re-find my love for training and racing and being a bike rider. That’s massively down to the team, the support and professionalism here and, just generally, the environment in the team has allowed me to begin to fulfil my potential. I always knew what I was capable of doing, but for whatever reasons in the past, I’d not fulfilled the opportunities I was given. That’s certainly evident in the last month or so with the two wins which show that with the right support, the right team, and being in an environment where I’m happy and relaxed, the success is a by-product of that.”
Stewart may still be on a high after his first WorldTour win, but he remains focused on his role in the IPT sprint train. With that attitude and selflessness, it’s little wonder Stewart is such a valued teammate.
“It feels like I’m turning a new page in my career,” adds Stewart. “The goal for the future remains the same with IPT; developing me into a world-class lead-out rider, and that’s something I’m really keen to do personally. But obviously, I also get my own opportunities and I try to make the most of them. I’m really looking forward to the next three years with IPT, four years including this year, and I’m really excited for the future and seeing what we can build as a team.”
IPT owner Sylvan Adams echoes Stewart’s emphasis on team culture, acknowledging the integral role Stewart has taken on within the team. “Since joining IPT, Jake has become one of our leaders, as he typifies our team culture. This was on full display last week at the Critérium du Dauphiné, where Jake was assigned lead out duties for our sprinter, Pascal Ackermann. When Pascal unfortunately crashed out, Jake put on a master class for all the other sprinters and their teams, by winning the stage himself. Jake is a fearless winner and adds to a winning culture on our team. I am delighted that Jake will be with us for the next three years, and beyond!”
Three more years for Jake Stewart:
Lotto Cycling Team and Sanas Join Forces for Optimal Recovery
The Lotto Cycling Team is supporting the launch of Sanas’ new Cherry Juice Gummies, an innovative and scientifically backed supplement focused on rapid muscle recovery, a strong immune system, and user convenience.
Every second counts- not only in racing, but also, and perhaps especially, when it comes to recovery. And when that recovery comes in the form of tasty, sweet “candies,” it’s an all-around win. The new Cherry Juice Gummies from Sanas contain anthocyanins, natural antioxidants derived from cherries, which have been scientifically proven to promote muscle recovery, reduce inflammation, and strengthen the immune system.
Nathan Denutte, pharmacist and co-founder of Sanas, explains: “At Sanas, we focus on science—not on hype. We saw a clear demand for a fast, convenient recovery product that didn’t need to be consumed as a drink. Our gummies combine effectiveness, ease of use, and great taste.”
The team has deliberately chosen Cherry Juice Gummies as part of their nutritional strategy. Britt Lambrecht, Head of Nutrition at Lotto Cycling Team, adds: “At Lotto Cycling Team, we constantly aim for innovation and scientifically supported nutrition strategies. Recovery plays a key role in that, especially during intensive training blocks and multi-day races. The new Cherry Juice Gummies are an excellent answer to that need. The gummies contain 100 mg of anthocyanins, whose antioxidant properties contribute to optimal recovery for our riders. On top of that, the gummies also contain carbohydrates to help replenish energy stores after a tough ride. The fact that they also taste great gives our riders something to look forward to at the finish line.”
Each portion of Sanas gummies delivers 20 grams of carbohydrates along with a powerful dose of natural anthocyanins. They are vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free, making them suitable for a wide range of users. Thanks to their compact form, they’re the perfect companion after training or competition.
The Cherry Juice Gummies are available starting today via sanas.be and authorised retailers. A special launch discount is available until June 20, 2025.
2025/2026 X2O Badkamers Trofee Cyclocross Calendar
The cyclocross calendar of the X2O Badkamers Trophy for the winter of 2025/2026 has been released. There is the return of the Azencross in Loenhout, also after 17 years the race in Hofstade returns.
The Sport Vlaanderen in Hofstade will have an international cyclocross race again after almost two decades. Between 2001 and 2008, Hofstade was a regular fixture on the cyclocross calendar, as a separate cross, World Cup and the host of the Belgian championship of 2004.
In 2008, the collaboration with Sport Vlaanderen came to an end due to increasing concerns about possible damage to nature. Now the event can finally return after seventeen years. The race will be part of the X2O Badkamers Trophy from next cyclocross season, as the fourth round of the competition.
The riders will head to the Koppenberg as usual for the opening round, which will take place on 1 November. Then there will be rounds in Lokeren, Hamme and Hofstade. After that, there will be a gap, because the fifth race will not take place until 29 December in Loenhout. The Azencross was part of the Exact Cross in previous seasons, but is now returning to the X20 series.
The last three races of the X2O Badkamers Trophy will take place in Baal, Lille and Brussels next season. The races in Lille and Brussels are traditionally after the World championship.
X2O Badkamers Trophy Program 2025/2026:
1 November 2025 – Koppenbergcross, Oudenaarde
2 November 2025 – Rapencross, Lokeren
16 November 2025 – Flandriencross, Hamme
22 November 2025 – Plage Coss, Hofstade
29 December 2025 – Azencross, Loenhout
1 January 2026 – GP Sven Nys, Baal
8 February 2026 – Krawatencross, Lille
15 February 2026 – Brussels Universities Cross, Brussels.
Back to Baal:
Tour de Pologne Secures Place in 2026 UCI WorldTour
The world’s top teams will return to Poland as the Tour de Pologne continues its WorldTour legacy, having secured a confirmed spot on the 2026 calendar.
Warsaw, 18th June 2025 – The UCI Management Committee has officially confirmed the 2026 UCI WorldTour calendar, with the Tour de Pologne once again featuring among the sport’s most prestigious stage races. Scheduled for 3–9 August 2026, Poland’s flagship race remains one of the top-tier events on the global cycling stage.
First included in the UCI WorldTour (formerly the ProTour) in 2005, the Tour de Pologne has spent the past two decades evolving into a benchmark for professional race organisation. It has become a key summer fixture for WorldTour teams and up-and-coming talents, all of whom compete for the highly sought-after ORLEN yellow jersey representing the GC leader.
“During last week’s UCI Board meeting, the WorldTour calendar was confirmed, including the Tour de Pologne. The race is one of the world’s top 15 stage races, featuring riders from 12 countries. The next Tour de Pologne will take place from 3–9 August. All races must meet certain criteria, and we are very happy that the Tour de Pologne fulfils them and remains on the calendar of the world’s best races,” said Agata Lang-Lelangue, Vice President of the Tour de Pologne and UCI board member.
As the most prestigious stage race in Central and Eastern Europe, the Tour de Pologne remains a vital proving ground for up-and-coming riders and a competitive arena for established names. Its ongoing inclusion in the UCI WorldTour elevates Poland’s profile on the global stage and guarantees the participation of all WorldTour teams, ensuring a world-class peloton year after year.
Before the 83rd edition in 2026, fans can look forward to this year’s race, which takes place from 4–10 August 2025. The route, unveiled last week on TVP Sport, starts in Wrocław and finishes near the Wieliczka Salt Mine, blending Poland’s iconic heritage with elite-level competition.
Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: A Vast Game Board for the New Critérium du Dauphiné
Key points:
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Starting in 2026, the Critérium du Dauphiné will take on a new avatar as the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, reflecting the ever-growing support of the host Region.
The vibrant palette of landscapes of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region has taken the race to a whole new level in recent years. The new name encapsulates its geographical identity, which has been interwoven with the event for over a decade.
The President of the Region, Fabrice Pannekoucke, and Christian Prudhomme announced the partnership at the Regional Council building in Lyon.
New Name, New Colours
Tadej Pogačar emerged victorious from the 2025 edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné, the last before its transformation into the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. This change is the result of a long-standing collaboration between the Region and the event organiser and a logical next step in their enduring partnership. It is also a tribute to a territory that has now brought stages to each of the 12 departments that make it up. By adding the Massif Central and other areas to the mix, the organisers are spoilt for choice when it comes to designing challenging courses for the champions and ensuring that all sorts of riders get their chance to shine.
A Histoic Race in a Region in Love with Cycling
The event has exerted its magnet pull on top cyclists since 1947. Originally, it was limited to the distribution area of Dauphiné Libéré, the regional newspaper that created the race, with legendary passes and Alpine ski resorts as the highlight of the competition, but it later grew to span the whole Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. A litmus test in the run-up to the Tour de France, it has crowned the greatest cyclists of all time, including the five-time winners of the Grande Boucle: Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region has also been the cradle of riders of the calibre of Romain Bardet, who has just hung up his bicycle, as well as Rémi Cavagna from Clermont-Ferrand and Julian Alaphilippe, who cut his teeth at the club in Montluçon.
The incomparable territory of the region is also a haven for amateur riders of all ages, who can live their passion to the fullest and improve their well-being.
Fabrice Pannekoucke, President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region: “A major cycling region, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes hosts legendary races each year that are key to enhancing the visibility of our territory such as the Critérium du Dauphiné, which today becomes the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. This is a great source of pride for us. As one of the most anticipated events on the international calendar, this race is above all a gathering of top champions and the elite of the global peloton, just weeks before the Tour de France. The Region is proud to be the main partner of such a competition, a true flagship of our commitment to supporting cycling.”
Christian Prudhomme, Director of Cycling, ASO: “The Critérium du Dauphiné was created in 1947 by a regional newspaper in love with cycling and has since grown in synch with the roads and slopes that have shaped its history. Buoyed by the steadfast backing of the Region, it will now become the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, taking on a new name that leaves no doubt about the regional roots of the race. As we saw in this edition, the region boasts a vibrant palette of landscapes and attracts the best riders in the world with a challenge that takes their breath away in every sense.”
‘Smile for Ludo’: Ludo Dierckxsens Remembered in the Baloise Belgium Tour
Ludo Dierckxsens was commemorated during the opening stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour on Wednesday. A minute’s silence was held before the start of the stage.
In addition, all the riders had a ‘Smile for Ludo’ sticker on their bikes, in memory of the big smile that Dierckxsens always had.
Dierckxsens passed away last month at the age of 60 during a charity ride in Belgium. He was loved in the peloton both during and after his career. The Belgian’s death caused a great deal of emotion in the cycling world. Wout van Aert called him ‘an inspiration to live life.’
‘Smile for Ludo’:
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