thecyclingdane

We’re looking back at all the major racing from the past week, with plenty to discuss across the Vuelta a España, Renewi Tour, Lidl Deutschland Tour and Tour de l’Avenir.

We break down Tadej Pogačar’s latest performance at the Vuelta, Jasper Philipsen’s sprinting dominance at the Renewi Tour and the continuing rise of Isaac del Toro. We also look at the incredible performance of Lorenzo Finn at the Tour de l’Avenir and what it could mean for his future in the professional ranks.

From GC battles and explosive climbs to sprint finishes and the next generation of cycling stars, we review all the biggest moments from the racing and ask which riders are making the biggest statements heading into the rest of the season.

Stage 2 of the Vuelta a España 2026 delivered an explosive finale as Wout van Aert attacked on the final climb with his eyes on the red jersey — only for Tadej Pogačar to immediately respond.

We break down the incredible battle between Pogačar and Van Aert, Matthew Brennan's breakthrough Grand Tour victory, the tactics in the closing kilometres and what the result means for the fight for the red jersey.

Pogačar holds the overall lead, Van Aert is just nine seconds behind, and the Vuelta is already heating up.

Tadej Pogačar has started his Vuelta a España 2026 campaign in spectacular fashion, winning the opening time trial in Monaco by just 0.09 seconds!

In this race analysis, we break down Pogačar’s incredible Stage 1 performance, the brutal Monaco course, his battle against the clock and the riders who came closest to taking the first red jersey of the Vuelta.

We also have an exclusive interview clip with Tadej Pogačar immediately after his victory, as he reflects on the time trial, the incredibly close finish and winning in Monaco.

Was this just a perfect start for Pogačar — or an early warning to the rest of the GC contenders?

The 2027 transfer window is heating up, and there are some HUGE moves to talk about. In this episode of Pro Cycling Transfer Talk, we dive into the latest rumours and confirmed transfers across the peloton, including Richard Carapaz and the rumours surrounding his future at EF Education-EasyPost, whether Primož Roglič could end up at Lotto-Intermarché, and the continued shopping spree of Pinarello Q36.5 as they build an increasingly exciting squad for 2027.

We also discuss the confirmed move of Arnaud De Lie and what it could mean for his career and Tudor Pro Cycling. Plus, we look at the wider transfer market and which teams could still make major moves before the window closes. Who has had the best transfer window so far, and which team could surprise everyone in 2027? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and subscribe for more pro cycling news, rumours and transfer talk.

In this episode, we're ranking every team at the 2026 Vuelta a España from S-Tier contenders to the squads most likely to struggle over three weeks. With Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates-XRG arriving as the overwhelming favourites, the big question is whether any team can realistically challenge cycling's current superpower. Pogačar returns to the Vuelta for the first time since 2019 as he chases the only Grand Tour missing from his palmarès.

We break down all 23 teams, including Visma | Lease a Bike, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, Decathlon CMA CGM, NetCompany INEOS, Movistar, Lidl-Trek, Soudal Quick-Step, and the wildcard teams hoping to make an impact throughout the race.

Which team has brought the strongest mountain train? Which squad has the best chance of upsetting UAE? And which teams are simply here to chase stage wins?

Let us know your own tier list in the comments and tell us which team you think will leave Granada with the red jersey.

The Renewi Tour returns with another stacked field and plenty of questions to answer. Defending champion Arnaud De Lie starts as the man to beat after his victory twelve months ago, but the Belgian faces a serious challenge from Laurence Pithie, who looks perfectly suited to the race's mix of crosswinds, punchy terrain and technical finishes.

While there is no Tim Wellens this year, the race is far from lacking star power. The sprint stages are set to feature some of the fastest riders in the world, including Jonathan Milan, Tim Merlier, Olav Kooij, Jasper Philipsen, Biniam Girmay, Kaden Groves and Sam Welsford, ensuring every flat finish will be fiercely contested.

Can De Lie successfully defend his crown? Will Pithie take the next step and claim the biggest stage race victory of his career? Or will one of the sprint superstars use the bonus seconds and chaotic racing to fight for the overall title?

In this preview, we break down the route, analyse the key stages, discuss the favourites for both the general classification and stage wins, and give our predictions for who will leave Belgium and the Netherlands wearing the winner's jersey.

#Cycling #RenewiTour #ArnaudDeLie #LaurencePithie #JonathanMilan #TimMerlier #OlavKooij #JasperPhilipsen #BiniamGirmay

Finlay Tarling Go Fund me: https://www.gofundme.com/f/for-fin-s2u87

This week on the podcast, we discuss the tragic passing of young British rider Finlay Tarling during the Volta a Portugal and reflect on the impact his loss has had across the cycling world.

We also break down the biggest racing stories of the week, including Andrew August's impressive overall victory at the Czech Tour, the action from the Hamburg Cyclassics, and the latest transfer news as Fabio Jakobsen secures a move for the 2027 season.

Plus, we look at Thomas Silva's breakthrough triumph at the Arctic Tour of Norway, examine what it means for his future, and discuss the riders and teams making headlines as the season moves towards its final Grand Tours and World Championship preparations.

The final Grand Tour of the season is here, and all eyes are on Tadej Pogačar. After another dominant year and a fifth Tour de France title, the Slovenian arrives at La Vuelta as the overwhelming favourite to win the only Grand Tour missing from his palmarès. Returning to the race for the first time since his breakthrough ride in 2019, Pogačar has the chance to complete cycling's ultimate set and add yet another chapter to his already legendary career.

But if anyone can challenge him, there are no shortage of contenders. Felix Gall comes in as one of the most dangerous climbers in the peloton and will be targeting the biggest result of his career. Mattias Skjelmose has continued his rise among cycling's elite and possesses the all-round ability needed to survive the brutal mountains and time trials. Meanwhile, four-time Vuelta winner Primož Roglič remains a major question mark. If he starts, and if he finds his best form, few riders understand how to win this race better than the Slovenian veteran. Recent rumours have also linked Florian Lipowitz with a possible appearance, potentially adding another exciting GC contender to the mix.

Beyond the battle for the red jersey, the points classification could provide one of the most entertaining rivalries of the race. Mads Pedersen and Wout van Aert are expected to go head-to-head across sprints, reduced bunch finishes and even some of the tougher stages. Both riders can score points almost anywhere, setting up a fascinating duel that could last all the way to Granada.

With a demanding route featuring major mountain stages, steep summit finishes and crucial time trials, the 2026 Vuelta a España promises three weeks of drama. Can anyone stop Pogačar from completing his Grand Tour collection, or will a new challenger emerge to deny cycling's biggest star?

One of the biggest questions is the future of Paul Seixas. Will the French prodigy stay with Decathlon CMA CGM, or could he make a move to one of cycling’s biggest superteams? UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Visma | Lease a Bike and Q36.5 have all been linked with the young star.Follow us @thecyclingdane YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/thecyclingdane/

Tadej Pogačar has officially been confirmed for the 2026 Vuelta a España, setting up one of the most exciting Grand Tours in recent years. After another incredible season, the Slovenian superstar will now turn his attention to Spain as he looks to add another Grand Tour title to his ever-growing list of achievements.

In this video, we break down what Pogačar's participation means for the race, who his biggest rivals are, how the route suits his strengths, and whether anyone can stop the UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader from claiming another Grand Tour victory.