thecyclingdane

The 2026 Tour de France is set to begin with a Grand Départ in Barcelona, marking a historic return of the race to the Catalan capital. The opening stage will feature a team time trial, followed by a hilly second stage from Tarragona back to Barcelona, offering an early test for the general classification contenders.

This will be the second Spanish Grand Départ in just three years, following Bilbao in 2023, and only the fourth time in history that the Tour has started in Spain. Barcelona itself last hosted the Tour in 2009, when Thor Hushovd won a sprint stage on the city’s streets.

The 2026 edition also looks set to revisit some of the race’s most iconic climbs, with La Planche des Belles Filles and Alpe d’Huez rumoured to return to the route. These legendary summits have been the scenes of unforgettable battles — from Chris Froome’s breakthrough victory in 2012 at La Planche to the dramatic duels on the slopes of Alpe d’Huez that have defined entire generations of the Tour.

The full route will be unveiled on Thursday, October 23, promising new surprises and the continuation of cycling’s greatest summer drama.

Tadej Pogačar has done it again. The Slovenian superstar claimed his fifth Il Lombardia title in 2025, etching his name alongside the legendary Fausto Coppi as the joint record-holder for the most wins in cycling’s “Race of the Falling Leaves.” In a masterful display of strength and control, Pogačar distanced Remco Evenepoel on the final climb, leaving the Belgian to settle for second place in what was his farewell race with Soudal–Quick-Step before a much-anticipated transfer.

In this episode, we break down how Pogačar once again conquered the brutal climbs of Lombardy, what this historic victory means for his legacy, and how Evenepoel’s performance closed a defining chapter of his career. We’ll also look at how the race unfolded tactically, the key moments that decided it, and why this year’s Il Lombardia might go down as one of the most symbolic editions in modern cycling history.

The 2025 Il Lombardia could be the edition where Tadej Pogacar equals the all time winng record of the great Fausto Coppi but a few riders are bidding to end the 100% record the Slovenian has including Tom Pidcock, Paul Seixas Remco Evenepoel or even his own team mate Isaac del Toro.

In the French countryside, it was almost a copy and paste from the Rwanda World Championship with Tadej Pogacar attacking from afar with no response from any but Remco Evenepoel; however, Tadej Pogacar had no match and won the race, becoming the first World Champion to do so since Peter Sagan in 2015.

2025 UEC Road European Championships – Men’s Road Race FavouritesAfter the drama of the World Championships in Rwanda, the focus now turns to France for the 2025 UEC Road European Championships. Five days of racing in the regions of Drôme and Ardèche will culminate on Sunday, 5 October, with the 202.5km men’s road race from Privas to Guilherand-Granges.The final day brings together the sport’s biggest stars in what promises to be one of the most explosive battles of the season. The course, the timing, and the form riders are carrying into the race set the stage for a showdown that could rival anything seen this year.With the rainbow jersey fresh from Kigali, the European crown is now the prize at stake. The peloton is stacked with champions, grand tour winners, and specialists perfectly suited to this demanding route. Some will aim to dominate from a distance, others will wait for a sprint, but all will have their eyes fixed firmly on continental glory.

00:00 Intro00:20 Previous Favourite Editions02:00 European Road Race 2025 Route04:16 Can Tadej Pogacar Finally Become European Champion?11:15 Is Jonas Vingegaard a Favourite for the Title?14:38 Will Remco Evenepoel Complete the European Double?18:13 What can Juan Ayuso Do In Drome?20:26 Other Favourites27:20 Predictions

Transfer season never sleeps, and this week’s episode is packed with big names and bigger rumours. We kick things off with the latest confirmed moves before diving into the headlines making waves in the peloton. Is Egan Bernal really on Visma’s radar as he looks to rebuild his career? Biniam Girmay has seemingly shut down talk of Israel-Premier Tech for 2026, so where could the Eritrean star land next? And in a surprising twist, an Italian pundit claims Jonas Vingegaard could one day line up in the colours of Uno-X.We break down what’s real, what’s smoke, and what these potential moves would mean for the balance of power in the WorldTour.

0:00 Intro 00:20 Transfer Confirmations06:59 Egan Bernal to Visma Lease A Bike?13:54 Did Biniam Girmay Deny Israel Premier Tech?19:12 Mads Wurtz On the World Tour Again?22:54 Could Jonas Vingegaard Ride For Uno-X?

It’s official—Juan Ayuso is leaving UAE Team Emirates after the Vuelta a España, and his next destination is none other than Lidl–Trek. In this episode, we break down the long-rumored transfer that’s finally been confirmed. What does this move mean for Ayuso’s career trajectory? How will Lidl–Trek build around one of cycling’s brightest young talents? And what ripple effects will this have on the WorldTour landscape? Join us as we dig into the timing, the strategy, and the potential battles that lie ahead.

The 2025 UCI Road World Championships head to Rwanda for the very first time, and the men’s elite road race promises to be one of the most explosive in recent history. On a course packed with brutal climbs, relentless heat, and a passionate African crowd, the rainbow jersey will be decided in a showdown tailor-made for the sport’s biggest stars.

In this episode, we break down the route, the key contenders, and the tactical battles that could define the race. Can Tadej Pogačar add another rainbow jersey to his palmarès? Will Remco Evenepoel repeat his world title heroics and prove once again that he’s the king of one-day destruction? Or will an outsider seize the day on Rwandan roads and upset the cycling hierarchy?

We dive deep into the strategies, national team dynamics, and the wider significance of a World Championships in Africa.

The World Time Trial Championships arrive in Kigali, Rwanda, and all eyes are on two of the sport’s biggest stars. Remco Evenepoel comes in as the benchmark, a rider who has built his reputation on demolishing courses against the clock. Across from him stands Tadej Pogačar, the all-round phenomenon chasing yet another piece of history, hoping to prove he can beat the world’s best in cycling’s purest test of power. High altitude, rolling roads, and the unforgiving Rwandan heat will decide the rainbow jersey, but the storylines are clear: Evenepoel versus Pogačar. The stopwatch won’t lie.

In this episode, we break down and rank every team’s performance at the 2025 Vuelta a España — from the powerhouse rides of Team Visma | Lease a Bike all the way down to the struggles of Burgos-BH. Who lived up to expectations, who surprised us, and who fell short? Tune in for the full rundown.