EUROTRASH: Vanthourenhout Leads Pre-Van der Poel World Cup Standings

Our heading-into-winter cycling news roundup, checking in on the cyclocross season as it lurches towards an inflection point: Mathieu van der Poel starting his first race. We also share the Women’s Giro course description, tell you just how much Pogačar’s bike sold for, and offer key team updates, including Ineos’s maintain-the-status-quo strategy.

TOP STORY: 

• Yet Another New Winner: Vanthourenhout’s Sardinia Victory Vaults Him into World Cup Lead

RACE NEWS

RIDER ANDTEAM NEWS

• Pogi’s Bike Sells for Staggering Sum at Auction
• Premier Tech Stays in the Game with Title Sponsorship Alongside Alpecin
• INEOS Grenardiers Confirms Key Contract Extensions
• De Marchi Sticks with Jayco AlUla — as Sports Director

Yet Another New Winner: Vanthourenhout’s Sardinia Victory Vaults Him into World Cup Lead

Michael Vanthourenhout delivered a perfectly timed final-lap attack to claim victory in Sunday’s UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Terralba, Sardinia, outsprinting Joris Nieuwenhuis and Laurens Sweeck in a thrilling five-rider showdown.

Notwithstanding PEZ’ suggestion that Thibau Nys would break the parity that has defined this year’s cyclocross racing, Vanthourenhout’s win maintained the level-playing-field paradigm. While Nys opened the World Cup campaign with back-to-back victories in Tábor and Flamanville, his absence from Sardinia—along with that of several other top riders skipping the Italian trip—opened the door for others. A range of riders have claimed wins this winter, demonstrating the competitive parity that has defined the early season.

Vanthourenhout’s decisive move came on the final lap, as he used his sand skills to break clear of the compact group that had stayed together for eight of nine laps. The Belgian crossed the line just one second ahead of Nieuwenhuis, with Sweeck taking third.

The win places the veteran Vanthourenhout in the World Cup lead, with Nys in second position, followed by Toon Aerts, Niels Vandeputte and Laurens Sweeck — demonstrating that in a series-style competition, consistency and simply showing up count.

Even so, those standings could shift dramatically when Mathieu van der Poel enters the fray. The reigning world champion is scheduled to begin his season at the Namur World Cup on December 14, with his primary goal being an unprecedented eighth world title in February. Van der Poel’s arrival — and that of his rival Wout van Aert — typically transform the cyclocross landscape. We look forward to learning whether this year is any different.

RACE NEWS

Brand’s Relentless Form Continues in Terralba

Lucinda Brand further cemented her status as cyclocross’s dominant force with an emotional solo victory in Sunday’s UCI World Cup race in Terralba, Sardinia—her ninth win from 11 starts this season.

The Dutch veteran attacked on the second lap and never looked back, gradually extending her advantage over the pursuing field. Her victory marked a record-breaking 52nd consecutive podium finish, an extraordinary streak that underscores her remarkable consistency at the sport’s highest level.

Aniek van Alphen defended her World Cup leader’s jersey with a strong second-place finish, while Shirin van Anrooij secured third—her first World Cup podium in over two years following a lengthy injury recovery. Van Anrooij’s progression from 16th in her season debut to the podium in Terralba represents a significant breakthrough for the 23-year-old Dutch rider.

Brand’s dominance has been the defining story of the women’s season. After missing the Flamanville round, she returned with a commanding performance on the Sardinian coast, making especially good use of the technical sand sections that characterized the fast 3.2km course. Brand spoke vaguely after the win of troubles “at home”; we PEZers hope that these troubles, whatever they may be, resolve quickly.

With van Alphen leading the overall standings and Brand positioning herself as the rider to beat, the women’s field continues to showcase the depth of Dutch talent at the top of the sport.

2025 Men’s Difference-Maker Colle della Finestre to Define Women’s Giro

The 2026 women’s Corsa Rosa will start in Cesenatico on May 30 and finish in Saluzzo on June 7 after nine stages, 1,153.7 km and a total elevation gain of 12.500 metres. Two summit finishes are scheduled: Nevegal and Sestriere, at the end of a truly “monster” stage which will include, for the first time in race history, the ascent of the Colle delle Finestre — the ascent where Simon Yates captured the 2025 men’s version from Isaac del Toro.

Check out the route’s video presentation here.

The Route

• 30.05.2026 Stage n. 1 Cesenatico-Ravenna, 139 km
• 31.05.2026 Stage n. 2 Roncade H-Farm-Caorle, 146 km
• 01.06.2026 Stage n. 3 Bibione-Buja, 154 km
• 02.06.2026 Stage n. 4 Belluno-Nevegal Tudor ITT, 12.7 km
• 03.06.2026 Stage n. 5 Longarone-Santo Stefano di Cadore, 138 km
• 04.06.2026 Stage n. 6 Ala-Brescello, 155 km
• 05.06.2026 Stage n. 7 Sorbolo Mezzani-Salice Terme, 165 km
• 06.06.2026 Stage n. 8 Rivoli-Sestriere, 101 km
• 07.06.2026 Stage n. 9 Saluzzo-Saluzzo, 143 km

In addition to the stage to Sestriere, the Corsa Rosa’s other defining stage may well be day four, a climbing time trial finishing in Nevegal. Winning on the ascent-heavy parcours should pose a challenge to two-time winner Elisa Longo Borghini; while the startlist won’t be clear for months, she’ll likely have to withstand competition from climbers like Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Kasia Niewiadoma, Demi Vollering, or even Sarah Gigante, should she recover from injury in time.

Will we see Longo Borghini atop the podium again in 2026?

RIDER & TEAM NEWS

Pogi’s Bike Sells for Staggering Sum at Auction

A custom Colnago Y1Rs ridden by superstar Tadej Pogačar during his historic 2025 season has sold for an astounding €163,000 — or about $190,500 — at a Sotheby’s auction, far exceeding its initial estimate of $15,000-20,000.

The stripped-back black machine, featuring rainbow world champion accents, first appeared on stage 16 of the Tour de France between Montpellier and Mont Ventoux. Pogačar continued riding this same rig throughout the remainder of the 2025 season, using it to secure his fourth Tour de France victory, defend his world championship title in Rwanda, and claim a record fifth consecutive Il Lombardia.

The auction, which concluded Friday afternoon, saw dramatic final-minute bidding. The price had stagnated at $90,000 but increased by another $100,000 in the closing moments, ultimately fetching more than ten times the original estimate.

The Y1Rs features a distinctive raw carbon finish with minimal paint, designed to save weight while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency. Its rainbow striping was applied during a rest day, immediately capturing the attention of the cycling world. This particular bike has become a symbol of modern professional cycling’s evolution, as riders increasingly favor aerodynamic designs even in mountain stages.

The buyer’s identity remains unknown, though the bicycle has been listed as a collector’s item rather than a rideable machine, ensuring this piece of cycling history is preserved.

Premier Tech Stays in the Game with Title Sponsorship Alongside Alpecin

After ceasing its sponsorship of the beleaguered team Israel-Premier Tech, technology firm Premier Tech will join Alpecin as a co-title sponsor of the team of Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen.

Premier Tech has also signed on as a women’s team title sponsor alongside Fenix.

The Canadian firm becomes one of the main partners of the teams’ holding organization, known as Wielerteam Ciclismo Mundial BV, an “ecosystem” with athletes competing in multiple event categories: road cycling, cyclo-cross, gravel, mountain biking and track cycling.

“This partnership reaffirms our ambition to be at the highest level of the sport and confirms our long-term commitment to cycling. We are joining forces with one of the most successful teams, with renowned athletes such as Mathieu van der Poel, Jasper Philipsen, Kaden Groves from the men’s team, as well as Puck Pieterse and Charlotte Kool from the women’s team. The team’s diversity, experience and depth will allow us to accelerate how we build bridges across all levels of the sport while sparking new talent,” said Jean Bélanger, president and chief executive officer of Premier Tech.

We don’t know if MVDP was this delighted with the sponsorship…

INEOS Grenadiers Confirms Key Contract Extensions

The INEOS Grenadiers has confirmed contract extensions for five riders ahead of the 2026 season.

• Michal Kwiatkowski has signed a new three-year deal, extending his successful career with the team into a second decade.
• Ben Swift, another of the team’s longest-serving riders, will continue for another season.
• Lucas Hamilton has signed a two-year extension, reinforcing the team’s climbing and stage-race depth.
• Kim Heiduk has also signed a one-year extension.
• Brandon Rivera has agreed to a one-year extension.

Former world champion Kwiatkowski is the biggest re-signing. Said the Polish rider, “It feels natural to stay,” said Kwiatkowski. “I love the atmosphere, the people and the way we work. I’m not here to stay in my comfort zone, I’m here because this is where I push myself every day. I feel joy when things go well and I feel supported when they don’t.”

Other riders contributed their thoughts:

“This team has been such a big part of my life and to head into an 18th season as a pro is fantastic,” said Swift. “I still love the racing, the camaraderie and the purpose we all share.”

Hamilton said: “I’m really happy to be extending with the team. After a year, it genuinely feels like home — great people and great environment. I believe in the direction the team is heading and I’m excited to be part of that journey.”

Geraint Thomas, Director of Racing, said: “It’s brilliant to have these five lads continue with us. They all bring something a bit different and they’ll be key to what we want to do next season.”

INEOS didn’t only re-sign established riders: They also added Embret Svestad-Bårdseng, a promising 23 year-old they somehow managed to lure away from Uno-X. 

De Marchi Sticks with Jayco AlUla — as Sports Director

After hanging up his race bike at the end of the season, Alessandro De Marchi will remain with Team Jayco AlUla as a sport director from 2026.

The 39-year-old Italian spent more than a decade racing at the top of cycling, becoming one of the most well-respected riders in the peloton. During his time as a professional, De Marchi racked up three Grand Tour stage victories, as well as claiming stage wins at top races such the Critérium du Dauphiné and Tour of the Alps, and at one-day races Giro dell’Emilia and Tre Valli Varesine.

Said De Marchi, “I’ve been waiting a long time for this new position. I’m happy to finally take this step, and above all, I’m happy because I can begin this new journey in an organization I know…I’ll begin to reconstruct myself in this new role, which I’d like to interpret a bit like I did as a rider: with passion and determination for a job I love.”

Watch the PEZ YOUTUBE Channel here

The 2026 Giro promises to pit some of cycling’s top young talent against proven veterans. Relive the 2025 version with Richard as he catches the Stage 9 finish on the iconic final climb into Siena:



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