Antonio Tiberi flew to his first ever WorldTour win on stage three of the UAE Tour on Wednesday, as race leader Remco Evenepoel lost over two minutes on the steep climb of Jebel Mobrah.

As a result, Bahrain Victorious's Tiberi climbed into the red leader's jersey. Stage one winner Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) finished second, but couldn't challenge Tiberi after he attacked with just over four kilometres to go.

After being out of position when the attack happened, Del Toro finished 15 seconds behind the victor, with former UAE Tour winner Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto Intermarché) finishing third, a further 14 seconds back.

As well as Tiberi's first ever WorldTour win, it was also the first glory for Bahrain Victorious in 2026. Evenepoel, meanwhile, showed weakness for the first time this season.

"This is amazing," Tiberi said post-stage. "It's a dream come true. I've been dreaming to this kind of victory since I turned pro. It finally arrived after the beginning of the season was already good from the first race. I was waiting for this day. Only in the last 300 metres I felt the victory coming. But from the bottom of the climb, I was feeling very good.

"When I realised Remco [Evenepoel] was in trouble and Isaac Del Toro wasn't up there either. I wasn't sure if it was a good day for me or if they were waiting for the final. But I tried to do my race. I attacked and I managed to push as hard as possible till the finish. I was hearing that Del Toro was coming back really fast. In the last kilometre, I used all the energy that was remaining in my body and I went full gas till the finish."

"At the foot of the climb, I already had cramps coming on. Something I haven't experienced often. Maybe from yesterday's effort, which I hadn't fully digested," Evenepoel told Het Nieuwsblad after the race.

"When I had to drop, I had a really bad kilometre, but after that, I managed to get through it somewhat. I often have that at the start of the season on climbs like this, where I have a bit of a rough patch. But I didn't feel good in my legs today anyway."

"I definitely kept drinking, so [the heat] can't be the cause. I don't think I digested yesterday's exertion at all. I didn't have the best night either; I woke up from the heat. But ultimately, I can't make excuses."

As we hit January, it is more than the time for pro cycling teams to release their new kits for 2026. For some, this is the best part of the year, before the reality of racing gets involved, when we can just imagine how good the jerseys will look on the road.

Rather than writing up each team individually, we thought it would work better if we collated them together, unless someone does something mad. When all the kits are out, we can do our usual arbitrary evaluation of them too, so do look out for that. In this guide, we will cover all the WorldTour teams, and notable other squads, but not all, otherwise it will get a bit overwhelming, apart from particular exceptions.

If you would rather find out which team riders will be appearing for next year, rather than what they will be wearing, you can find that on our comprehensive transfer guide for 2026 too.

Teams have also changed names – Israel-Premier Tech to NSN Cycling, Alpecin-Deceuninck to Alpecin-Premier Tech, and Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale to Decathlon CMA CGM and more – so that will have an impact on the kits too.

While teams will have tried to keep the fresh designs under wraps, a few have leaked into the public domain. However, this list will only have confirmed designs. So far, those who are fans of garish outfits should be pleased.

So far, we are only certain of a few kits for next season, but more will appear in the coming weeks or days. We'll update this as we go!

Picnic PostNL

If I were to play spot the difference, I would be hard pushed with the 2026 Picnic PostNL kit. It remains navy and orange, with the 'Keep Challenging' stripes, and the name is the same too. There are a couple of new sponsors on there, and this is apparently different, but that's it.

As the press release says: "Clear and vibrant amongst the colourful peloton: fans, commentators and pundits alike won’t have to re-adjust for the 2026 campaign as they can expect to see the two orange stripes from those helicopter shots on even the foggiest of days."

Pinarello-Q36.5

It's a continuation of navy for the renamed Pinarello-Q36.5, but no white sleeves this year. Instead, this smart jersey is fully navy, with fancy gold accents. The bikes don't look bad either...

According to Q36.5's founder, Luigi Bergamo: "The new jersey design evolves the visual language we began developing last season to reflect the Italian values of premium, daring, design that we share with Pinarello.

"The result is a kit that allows our riders to feel, from the very first moment they pull on the kit, that they are part of something special and unique: the only team in the professional peloton founded and powered by Italian technical partners. We can’t wait to see this jersey (and our iconic Dottore bib shorts!) racing sharp at the front of the bunch."

Jayco AlUla and Liv AlUla Jayco

MAAP entered WorldTour cycling with their Jayco AlUla and Liv AlUla Jayco kits, and have stuck to their theme from 2025 with this purple – sorry, "Aurora" – jersey, paired with dark grey shorts.

The new addition is the flame motif, which stretches to the socks, which is a bit of fun.

MAAP's creative director, Misha Glisovic, said: "MAAP has always been driven to push the boundaries. It’s core to who we are and how we see our place in the sport. We want to use design to broaden the appeal of pro cycling, nudging the sport towards something more stylish and aspirational. Ultimately, we want to be true to our values at MAAP, and GreenEDGE shares this vision."

Human Powered Health

Women's WorldTour squad Human Powered Health have partnered with Verge Sport for their new kit. The new design keeps the orange/red/purple that we have become used to for the team, but in a new pattern, which is called 'Tailwind'. It's designed "to embody speed, motion, and momentum".

The press release says the jersey has a "rich, sweeping warm-to-cool colour gradient that represents Human Powered Health’s Pillars of Performance". It'll be paired with black shorts.

Lotto-Intermarché

The newly merged Lotto-Intemarché go with the red of Lotto for 2026. The kit is a dark-ish red, paired with black shorts, and there isn't really too much more to say about it. It's smart!

According to the statement: "In terms of colour, both main sponsors, Intermarché and Lotto, were already allies: their brand colours red and black dominate the design. The meaningful, subtle fingerprint pattern further strengthens the bold look."

Bahrain Victorious

Bahrain Victorious have been red, orange, purple, and white, but never blue. That changes in 2026, when the team, now riding Bianchi bikes, will be in navy blue with teal sleeves.

The press release reveals deeper meanings: "At the heart of the kit sits a deep navy, a colour that has been part of the team’s identity since its foundation. Subtly woven into the design is a faint “X” that crosses the jersey, the Roman numeral representing ten years in the sport.

"On the sleeves of the jersey, Bianchi’s iconic Celeste is distinctly featured, perfectly matching the shallow blue waters and teal tones that represent Bahrain’s two seas."

Visma-Lease a Bike

The men and women of Visma-Lease a Bike will continue in yellow for 2026, wearing a kit made by Nimbl, who are more known for their cycling shoes.

According to Francesco Matrone, graphic designer at Nimbl: "In a WorldTour context, design must be essential, intentional, and instantly recognizable. One of our key goals was to create a visual identity that's identifiable at speed and reflects performance and clarity. It must be unmistakably Visma-Lease a Bike. Every graphic element is functional, integrated, and designed to perform under pressure.”

EF Pro Cycling

EF Education–EasyPost and EF Education–Oatly will remain pink next year, but have switched kit suppliers from Rapha to Assos.

Assos says the 2026 kit reflects a "forward-looking mindset" with a "bold colour palette" that evolves EF Pro Cycling’s unmistakable visual identity while introducing "a new, almost other-worldly energy to the peloton."

The silver bits are fun, and pink is always good to me – I just wonder what's going to happen when the Giro d'Italia comes around.

Alpecin-Premier Tech and Fenix-Premier Tech

It's a brand new name for Alpecin-Premier Tech and Fenix-Premier Tech – no more Deceuninck – but not a completely new kit, with similar vibes for the WorldTour and Women's WorldTour teams. The men's team has a kit made by Kalas, which is the same blue as before, more or less, but with a bit more of a light grading across the chest.

The women's team, meanwhile, wear a kit made by Alé, which is pretty similar to the orange of 2025, and there doesn't seem to be the green and blue options from before.

Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto

Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto are usually found in a bold, colourful kit, and next season is no different. This is Luminous, designed by Mckenzie Sampson and made by Canyon. It takes a dark purple base and merges it with turquoise, pink, coral and red.

Sampson said: "I’ve always found Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto to be an aspiring light within the peloton. They’re a team that gives a unique platform to a diverse set of riders across the globe to get their big break in cycling. To visually illustrate that sense of light and hope, we wanted the kit design to be bold yet convey the right balance of contrasting light, unique patterns, and rich saturated moments of colour."

AG Insurance-Soudal

AG Insurance-Soudal have mostly the same kit as their brother team Soudal Quick-Step, just with different sponsors. There is a new logo, too: Datashift, a Belgian leader in data solutions and strategy.

It's a blue base, with green accents across, with a white band across the chest for AG Insurance.

Ineos Grenadiers

There was rumour and speculation that it might happen, but now it is official... Ineos Grenadiers will be wearing WHITE yes WHITE shorts next season. Well, it's technically 'light grey', but come on.

Orange is the main colour on the jersey for the first time, after various blues and reds, but it is the white that stands out. It's as striking, if not more so, as AG2R's famous brown shorts, and we wonder how the riders are feeling about it...

The press release says: "The design was created with a clear purpose: immediate recognition. The exclusive use of this orange ensures a striking presence in the peloton, while the white panels on the lower sections add balance and clarity, allowing the leading colour to shine with harmonious strength. The result is a sophisticated, functional and memorable kit."

Apparently: "Orange is the new uniqueness. Orange is the new icon." Read our opinion on it here.

Soudal Quick-Step

It's evolution not revolution for Soudal Quick-Step in 2026, who have a similar kit to this season, but green rather than white as the accent colour, along with the classic blue.

According to the team: "The new design incorporates a vivid electric-lime element, a deliberate move inspired by the Shine for Safety visibility campaign launched during this year’s Ardennes Classics."

There is a lot more green on the back, which will help them stand out, apparently. It's a nice wavy pattern. The kit is designed and made by Castelli.

FDJ United-SUEZ

If you're thinking "I've seen this kit before", you would be right. FDJ United-SUEZ will be wearing their 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift kit full-time next year. It's largely black, with an explosion of red and blue on the chest.

The press release says about the Gobik kit: "The jersey reflects the unseen hours of the sport: training sessions before dawn, rides in the rain, the fear and doubts of a jour sans. In contrast, a vivid halo of light rises on the chest, symbolising the inner spark that transforms sacrifice into brilliance at the moment of victory.

Demi Vollering won't be in this kit, given the Dutchwoman is European champion.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG

UAE Team Emirates-XRG rarely mix the colour palette up too much, and 2026 will be no different – it's largely white, with black and red trim, but it definitely has changed since last season.

The Pissei kit, handcrafted at the brand's Italian Custom Lab, has some fun geometric patterns on the stormach of the jersey, with black on the arms too. Don't expect to see Tadej Pogačar in this one, however, considering he is world champion.

Movistar

It's a second year in a row in white for Movistar, who have ditched the navy box across the chest for this cleaner offering. There is the classic M on the front, and some accents across the rest of the front.

Apparently: "Gobik sought a futuristic aesthetic, an evolution that projects innovation and performance on a white base. Technological textures, iridescent graphics and subtle transparencies were combined to create a striking design that reflects the identity and avant-garde spirit of the team." Avant-garde. Right.

Lidl-Trek

Lidl-Trek's kit is different. Definitely. There's less red on the front, more blue, and there's a new sponsor on the front, but it is, essentially, the same as last year. There's nothing wrong with that! It's a good kit! "Our favourite colours" is what the team said. Keep it simple. The men and women use the same kit, which is good.

The team say: "With a fresh twist on a fan-favorite design, Santini have delivered again with the 2026 Lidl-Trek kit. Pairing the ultimate fabrics with playful colours, the latest design delivers looks as well as performance."

Decathlon CMA CGM

Sadly, there's no exciting bumf to go with the new Decathlon CMA CGM kit, but with a new name comes a new colour - red. The brown shorts are sadly still in the dustbin of history, with new sponsors CMA CGM bringing the new colour. One sleeve is still teal (?) while the other is a lot darker, rather than the dark blue it was before.

Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe

Now, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe's kit is yet to be officially announced, but seeing as all the riders in the plane stunt were wearing a new kit, let's assume this is the new one for 2026. It's a lot whiter than before, with royal blue sleeves, and less navy. It is similar to the special kit they used at the Tour de France this season.

SD Worx-Protime

SD Worx-Protime have veered away from the purple and pinks of recent years, and instead will race in this primary colour-heavy jersey which is called "New Dawn"

It's designed by Specialized, and is paired with black shorts. Notably, Lotte Kopecky will be racing in it, no longer being world, European, or Belgian champion, for once.

According to the press release: "The new jersey reflects the team’s and sponsors’ ongoing drive for innovation. Standing still is not an option – continuously reinventing ourselves in every aspect is a core value at SD Worx-Protime. The new design symbolises our rich history through the spark, now multiplied and displayed in various shades. This emphasises the team’s slogan: we spark success."

NSN Cycling

The team formerly known as Israel-Premier Tech have become NSN Cycling, and will be wearing a busy kit next season, with a base of sky blue and orange. The jury is out over whether this will be easy to notice or to lose in the peloton. They're also riding Scott bikes now.

If you want to know why it looks like this, the press release says: "It's designed by Stijn Dossche of stycle.design, is inspired by the Mediterranean city from which the team’s new identity has been forged.

"Its design blends geometry, colour blocks, and patterns reminiscent of contemporary Barcelona - a city that never stands still, where tradition meets modernity, where Mediterranean light becomes art, and movement becomes identity."

Just in time for the Tour de France Grand Départ in July, then – that's in Barça.

Groupama-FDJ United

Another new name, though less dramatic, is Groupama-FDJ United. The French stalwarts are slow to change their kits, normally, and the same is true next year. It's the fetching number they wore at this year's Tour, although it's now made by Bioracer rather than Alé. Essentially, it's royal blue with a red accent sleeve.

Cofidis

Cofidis are another French team barely changing their kit for 2026. The men's and women's teams, now both ProTeams, will use the same red and yellow jersey as this season, although the shades might have been slightly altered, and the sponsors have moved around a bit.

Bahrain-Victorious are to ride Bianchi bikes from 2026, after a "multi-year" agreement was announced on Thursday afternoon.

The possibility of the partnership was made available once Merida had left the squad, which was revealed last week. Bianchi had previously provided bikes to Arkéa-B&B Hotels, with that team ceasing to exist at the end of this season.

Bahrain will use the Oltre RC and the Specialissima RC in road races, the Aquila RC in time trials, and the Impulso RC in gravel. Among the riders using Bianchi next season will be Lenny Martinez, Antonio Tiberi and Matej Mohorič.

"We are extremely proud to become the new partner of Bahrain Victorious, with whom we share values such as heritage, innovation, and the drive to win," Alberto Cavaggioni, CEO of Bianchi, said in a statement. "Bianchi has always been a key protagonist in this captivating sport, and we are ready to write a new chapter in our history with all the energy and passion of our team.

"I would like to thank Salvatore Grimaldi, President of Bianchi, for his trust and for further investing in this new project."

"When we first sat down with Bianchi to explore the possibility of a collaboration, it was immediately clear that we shared the same spirit and goals," Milan Eržen of Bahrain Victorious added. "We saw their ambition to build on their rich heritage and legacy while looking ahead with us – working on advancements, development, and a modern vision for the future of performance cycling.

"We have great respect for Bianchi’s history in the sport, and we are confident that together we will innovate, create new iconic moments, and build the future upon their remarkable heritage."

Bianchi have a long history in pro cycling, and sponsored their own team for much of the 20th century; Fausto Coppi is probably the most famous rider to have used their celeste bike.

Bianchi moving to Bahrain is just the latest in the bike sponsor merry-go round. This week, NSN Cycling revealed they would be using Scott bikes for next season, which leaves Factor without a team. Scott moved to NSN after Q36.5 Pro Cycling took up Pinarello.

After nine years together, Bahrain Victorious and Merida bikes have ended their partnership, it was confirmed on Friday morning.

The WorldTour squad has raced on Merida equipment since their formation in 2017 as Bahrain Merida, but is now expected to ride Bianchi bikes from next season. There has been no official announcement, but it has been widely reported, including by Daniel Benson in June.

In a press release, a spokesperson for the Taiwanese brand said: "Everybody at Merida is grateful to the Kingdom of Bahrain for the opportunity to be part of this exciting project and is immensely proud of the many successes the team has achieved. Over the years, this close partnership between Merida and the Bahrain WorldTour Cycling Team Project has been the foundation for the team’s accomplishments.

"Merida will use the ending of the partnership with the Bahrain WorldTour Cycling Team Project to consolidate and continue working on exciting new WorldTour racing projects going forward."

On the road, Bahrain Victorious have used the Reacto, with the Time Warp employed in time trials. From next year, it's expected that they will be on the Bianchi Oltre RC and Aquila RC.

In the team's own press release, Milan Eržen, the managing director of Bahrain Victorious, said: "Merida are more than just partners – they are lifelong friends. They have been part of the family from the very beginning and played an integral role in all of our success.

"We say goodbye to a great partner who we will be racing against in the near future and who will no doubt continue to find success on the road. From all of us at Bahrain Victorious, it is a huge pleasure and a massive thanks to them."

During their time together, Bahrain Victorious won stages at the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España, and triumphed at Il Lombardia, Milan-San Remo, and Paris-Roubaix.

Bianchi are without a WorldTour team for next season, after Arkéa-Samsic folded; it continues the bike partner merry-go-round, with Scott rumoured to be sponsoring NSN Cycling next year after leaving Q36.5 Pro Cycling (who have become Q36.5-Pinarello), which might leave Factor without a team too. Simple.

Also this month, Bahrain Victorious announced a deal with OMNIYAT, a leading luxury real estate developer in Dubai.

Fred Wright will join Q36.5 Pro Cycling from Bahrain Victorious for 2026, uniting with Tom Pidcock as part of their Classics squad, it was announced on Tuesday.

The Londoner, 26, has spent six years at Bahrain Victorious after turning pro with them in 2020, during which time he has come close to major wins at the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España, with the top spot eluding him. Wright won the British National Championships in 2023, his only elite win to date.

He has also finished in the top 10 of the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and Milan-San Remo, hinting the direction potential future success might come in.

“Fred is an intelligent rider," Q36.5's general manager, Doug Ryder, said in a press release. "He reads the races well and is very versatile. He has already achieved top tens in Monuments like Milan-Sanremo, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, and adding a focused classics block to his season will be a big objective for us together.

"He was close to wins in the Tour de France and Vuelta a España already, and I feel we can offer him the final step to win again. His engine is big and his attacking style is always great to watch. When we were looking for riders to strengthen the Classics team, he was quickly on our radar. He turned pro young and still is only 26, so I am really looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together in the next three years."

Wright's breakout year was 2022, when he finished seventh at Flanders, and then was a constant attacking threat at the Tour de France, finishing second in Saint-Etienne on stage 13. He followed that up with a similar performance at the Vuelta, where he finished second in the points classification.

Since then, he has continued his breakaway action as well as refining his punchy-sprint style; he finished second on stage two of the Critérium du Dauphiné this year.

"I have been part of this team for my entire career so far and without discrediting them and all the opportunities I had here, it’s time for a new environment after six years," Wright said. "Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team feels like a good fit for me. I have known Tom [Pidcock] and Mark [Donovan] for a while and the group they are building for the future feels familiar already."

"I do want to win again, naturally, and feel like a new environment with a fresh focus, new ideas and new people will help me achieve that goal," he continued. "There are opportunities for me in many races and after having done more or less the same race schedule for years, I am looking forward to discover new races too. I am here to help build the team but they are on a great trajectory already. The ambition is there and they will keep growing."

Wright is not the only British rider whose transfer was announced on Tuesday: Lewis Askey will move to Israel-Premier Tech from Groupama-FDJ for 2026. Keep up to date with all the deals through our guide to transfers.

Tadej Pogačar's UAE Team Emirates-XRG will appear at the Tour of Britain Men for the first time this September as part of a 19-team field that will contest the race.

However, the Slovenian is unlikely to be part of the UAE squad for the six-day competition. Pogačar was initially due to race the Vuelta a España after claiming a fourth Tour de France title, although he withdrew from the race earlier this week due to fatigue; he will return to competition at the GPs de Québec and Montréal in Canada before the World Championships.

As well as UAE, eight other WorldTour squads will be on the start line in Suffolk on 2 September: Visma-Lease a Bike, Groupama-FDJ, Bahrain Victorious, Ineos Grenadiers, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, Soudal Quick-Step, Lidl-Trek, and Picnic PostNL. Similarly to UAE, Groupama-FDJ will also debut at the event.

Soudal Quick-Step, Ineos Grenadiers and Visma-Lease a Bike are the three most successful teams in the history of the modern Tour of Britain, having won a total of 64 individual stages between them.

Apart from the presence of Geraint Thomas, no other riders have been confirmed as part of the start list yet. The Welshman is due to retire at the end of the race in his hometown of Cardiff. Ahead of the World Championships, it's possible for riders to attend the Tour of Britain as a warm up race, as Wout van Aert did when he triumphed in 2021 and 2023 and could be part of the Visma team selection once more.

Elsewhere, eight ProTeam level squads are set to take part. Israel-Premier Tech - the team of last year's winner, Stevie Williams - are set to return, as are Uno-X Mobility, Unibet Tietema-Rockets, Kern Pharma, Flanders-Baloise, and Tom Pidcock's Q36.5 Pro Cycling. The third squad making its Tour of Britain debut is Tudor Pro Cycling, the team of the two-time road World Champion Julian Alaphilippe.

After impressing with aggressive riding in last year's event, the Anicolour-Tien 21 squad will return to the race next month. The Portuguese registered team will be the only UCI Continental team included. Great Britain will also field a six-rider strong team as usual.

"This year's line-up of teams for the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men is one of the best that we have ever seen assembled for the race, and shows the status with which the event is held by UCI WorldTour and Pro Teams," said the race's managing director, Jonathan Day. "Excitement is building for September, and what will be a highly competitive Lloyds Tour of Britain Men. We cannot wait to see these teams in action."

The Lloyds Tour of Britain Men gets underway in Woodbridge, Suffolk on 2 September.

It would be easy to look at the first ten stages of the Tour de France and come to the conclusion that it's going to be a subdued affair, a damp squib before the real action in the mountains gets underway, and an opportunity to do something else instead of sitting and watching the race all day. But after studying the route in detail, Bahrain Victorious' Fred Wright says the reality will be the complete opposite as he gets set to travel to Lille next week.

"The first week at the Tour is going to be so exciting," he said. "That's because some of those early stages will really open up the race, I can see Tadej [Pogačar] maybe trying to gain bonus seconds on Jonas [Vingegaard]. That might mean he ends up winning a few of the stages but none of them are hard enough that other guys won't also be in the mix too. That’s what we as a team will probably be hoping for in the first ten days or so too."

"From what I can see in the first ten days, I think it's going to make for some f*****g amazing racing," he added. "I think it's going to be more of a spectacle than everyone thinks with Tadej not just walking all over everyone. I had the exact same initial thought as everyone else; I looked at the roadbook and thought there were a lot of flat, sprint type stages in the first ten days, but it really isn't like that.

"It's going to be much harder than everyone thinks, there's a lot of Classics style, hilly stages in there, a bit like some of the Ardennes Classics."

Wright will head into the Tour fresh off the back of an impressive showing at the Critérium du Dauphiné in which he recorded two top ten stage finishes, most notably finishing second in a bunch sprint in Issiore to Lidl-Trek’s Jonathan Milan. Wright was also on the attack on the opening day and said he intends to approach the Tour in a similar fashion.

"We've got our goals as a team, but personally I've already looked at it and there are a few stages that I've got in mind which will definitely be good days for me to try something in the breakaway," he said. "How I was racing the Dauphiné is how I'll approach the Tour, it's the level I want to be at and how I want to go about searching for opportunities, it's really exciting for me.

"I was really in my element for those first few days at the Dauphiné, so I'm ready for this now and just want to keep building on what I’ve been doing, hopefully I can have a successful Tour."

In stark contrast to Wright, Geraint Thomas is one man who isn't looking forward to the opening week in what is set to be his final lap around France. "It's more the roads, you've got some narrow roads, it could be pretty windy at times," the Ineos Grenadiers rider said on his Watts Occurring podcast on Monday.

"Everyone knows the first week of the Tour is stressful, this is just prime stress levels at ten out of ten… to be honest, I'm not really looking forward to that bit. I would have preferred a couple of hard days like last year, it just settles everyone down then."

You’ll need more than two hands to count the number of British riders turning pro next season.

On the women’s side, there’s Cat Ferguson and Carys Lloyd, who have both joined Movistar, as well as Imogen Wolff, a new recruit for Visma-Lease a Bike. In the men’s ranks, eight young talents have signed their first pro contracts, six of whom with WorldTour teams.

The latest to be announced is Oli Stockwell, 22, who has signed a two-year deal with Bahrain Victorious from 2025. His path to the top level is a well-trodden one for British riders, having spent the last three years overseas, cutting his teeth with a European team.

“I’ve been living in Udine, which is in the Friuli region [of Italy],” Stockwell told Cycling Weekly. “It’s pretty quiet in the team house, but it’s good for riding, and the weather’s nice, so you can’t complain too much, really.”

You'd be forgiven for not having heard Stockwell's name before. Since the start of 2022, he has been part of Cycling Team Friuli (CTF), Bahrain Victorious's development arm, racing mostly in Italy.

During that time, he has been supported by the Rayner Foundation, a charity that helps fund young British riders racing abroad. He’s now one of four fund recipients joining the men’s WorldTour in 2025, alongside Bob Donaldson (Jayco AlUla), Bjoern Koerdt (dsm-firmenich PostNL) and Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike).

“Rayner have been pretty amazing really, I think for all the guys,” Stockwell said. “The advice they give you, you can’t beat it. Also, the cost side, they give a little bit, which for a lot of guys makes the difference. I know for me, when I first got to CTF, that probably made the difference. It meant that I was able to do it.”

Born in Welwyn Garden City, 20 miles north of London, the Brit’s introduction to cycling came when he noticed riders training at the outdoor asphalt velodrome near his home. He began competing himself when he was 10, taking part in local cyclocross events. “It was the first racing that I did,” he said, and ever since, “I’ve always done road and cross”.

Already in his young career, Stockwell has competed in key calendar events, like the World Championships, the Tour de l'Avenir and the Tour of Britain. His pro step-up was originally scheduled for the start of this season, but at the end of 2022, an innocuous leg break during a training camp put a halt to his plans.

“It was a really small crash, just on the flat, really easy riding, and I broke my femur,” he said. The injury left him sidelined for months, and he didn’t return to racing until August 2023.

“[The team] were really good with me, and we kind of decided that it would be better to step back for a minute, to use a bit more time as an under-23 to develop and recover from the injury, and then step up later, which is now,” he said. “I feel like I’ve learned so much in the last three or four years [in the under-23 ranks].”

As he now heads onto the WorldTour, what sort of riding can we expect from Stockwell? “I’d say I’m a climber, but maybe not an out-and-out climber. I feel like the team really want me to be a climber, but I don’t know if I’m fully a climber,” he said. “I feel like I’m still fairly young, so I still need to find out exactly what my strengths are.”

Stockwell’s plan in his first year is to continue developing. “There’s a lot to learn,” he makes clear. It’s the same attitude, no doubt, as the 10 other Brits who are turning pro, some as young as 18, and all looking forward to long careers in cycling.

“I think it will be a big step, but hopefully I’m ready,” Stockwell said. Now, as he prepares for a team camp next month, his last of the season, the overwhelming feeling is excitement. “I’ve used my under-23 years well, I hope,” he said.

“I’ve been waiting a while, so I think I’m ready. I guess I’ll see.”

The Rayner Foundation will be celebrating its riders' successes this season at a charity dinner in Leeds on 23 November. Tickets are on sale until 9pm this Friday, available to buy through the foundation's website.

Rod Ellingworth is to return to the WorldTour after rejoining Bahrain Victorious, the team he was principal at for one season in 2020.

The 52-year-old spent over a decade as part of Team Sky, which became Ineos Grenadiers, before leaving to head up what was Bahrain-McLaren in 2020. However, Ellingworth left after just one pandemic-affected season. He then returned to Ineos, as deputy principal but de facto principal, from 2021 until the end of 2023.

After a year out of the WorldTour, during which time he became race director for the men's and women's Tours of Britain, Ellingworth will now return.

His exact job title is unclear, with the press release from Bahrain Victorious only saying that he will be part of "senior management". Ellingworth has a proven track record in bringing through young riders, helping in the development of Mark Cavendish and Geraint Thomas, along others.

"He will take on a pivotal role in the performance team and work closely on performance projects over the next three seasons," the press release reads. "With a particular focus on Grand Tours and driving the team’s ambitions for a podium finish at the Tour de France."

"We are happy to bring Rod back to us and support our performance team. He will be a key part in guiding our young GC talents, like Buitrago, Martinez and Tiberi, with a focus on the Grand Tours," Milan Erzen, the managing director of Bahrain Victorious, said. "I’ve always maintained a great relationship with Rod — he’s a great guy who is incredibly knowledgeable about cycling. He has great experience achieving the best results in the biggest races. It’s great that he is back in our team."

"It’s great to be back with the team, and I’m looking forward to working on key projects over the next three years," Ellingworth said. "The team has some fantastic young riders with great GC credentials. I look forward to working with them to achieve the team’s ambitions."

The reasons for Ellingworth's departure from Ineos last year were not wholly explained, but he later said that he just needed to do "something new". At the same time, the team underwent a restructure.

"I resigned, I just decided that it was time for me to finish," Ellingworth said in an interview with Cycling Weekly earlier this year. "There were a few things that I wasn’t totally in agreement with and then I felt like life was catching up with me a little bit. My kids are getting older and there are different pressures with that, so then I just thought perhaps it was time to change. Fortunately I’m now in a situation where I got change."

CW understands that there is no immediate change to Ellingworth's role as race director at the ToB. The men's race begins on 3 September.

Rudy Project have officially launched its new aero helmet, the Wingdream, which will be used by Bahrain Victorious at the Giro d'Italia on Friday's stage seven time trial.

It is not actually new, having broken cover at Tirreno-Adriatico and Paris-Nice earlier this season, but it was overshadowed by Visma-Lease a Bike's new offering from Giro, the Aerohead II.

Both proved controversial, with the UCI announcing a review into helmet regulations in light of these extreme examples. However, both the Aerohead and now the Wingdream have seemingly been approved, at least for now; the UCI banned the head sock on the Specialized TT5 almost two years after it made its debut.

On Friday, the Rudy Project Wingdream was officially launched, and therefore has changed colour from the camouflage it was previously in to Bahrain-Victorious white. 

The shape of the helmet, which looks fairly ludicrous, is so air is directed down a rider's shoulders, which enhances aerodynamics, according to the Italian brand.

The press release says that 10 watts is saved compared to the previous model, the Wing, which equates to four seconds every 10km. The helmet comes after two years of development.

This new take on an aero helmet follows other models like Uno-X's Redeemer 2Vi, and the Specialized S-Works TT5 time trial helmet, now without head sock. EF Education-EasyPost's still use the 'duck-bill' POC Tempor TT helmets, too.

"Helmet development is a world akin to Formula One: it requires engineering creativity, 3D studies, prototypes, wind tunnel tests, and athlete testing," Norberto Fava, Rudy Project's head of helmet production and industrialisation, said. "There is a lot of research behind a product like this, which is subjected to continuous checks by the UCI and certification bodies. And, of course, there are significant financial investments. 

"Many models available on the market today do not feature vents. Both Wing and Wingdream, on the other hand, have central vents to ventilate the cranial vault area. Our challenge was precisely to create a helmet that allowed good aerodynamic savings, while also being comfortable. 

"Head temperature management is crucial: cyclists push at speeds exceeding 45 km/h for 40 minutes during a time trial, triathletes even longer. The benefits of aerodynamic penetration are quickly nullified if head overheats."

It might be on the head of Antonio Tiberi and his teammates on Friday, but the helmet will not be on public sale until October. 

This article is part of Cycling Weekly's 'the ride that changed me' series. Our writers hear from a range of professional and ex-professional cyclists about that one day on the bike that changed the trajectory of their career for good. 

When asking a rider to highlight a formative moment in their career, it would be easy for them to circle their first pro win, a solid performance in a prestigious race, or signing for a major WorldTour team. 

Fred Wright is someone that could tick all of the above off any sort of metaphorical career to-do list. The Londoner rides for Bahrain Victorious, is the reigning British national champion and has consistently hit the high notes in the Spring Classics as well as the Tour de France. 

Speaking to Wright outside the Truman Brewery on an autumnal evening in east London - prior to him speaking on stage at Rouleur Live - I assume that when I ask him to talk me through a ride that changed him he’ll maybe pinpoint one of the many days in which he’s shown that a maiden Grand Tour stage win is getting ever closer. 

Although clearly I assumed wrong, as Wright explains. 

“I could say a pro race, or something like that, but actually, I think it was probably when I was 11 or 12 when I went to a youth Omnium track event with my Dad,” he says. “I can't recall exactly when it was but I was completely new to the sport, it was kind of like a regional level race, I had no idea how I was going to do.” 

“I was so nervous,” he adds. “I didn't know what to expect or anything like that. I think the first thing you did was just like a one lap time trial. Basically, I managed to win the one lap time trial. 

“My Dad's got a good memory of me walking over to the results sheet, because they'd always just post them up like where the sign on is and stuff, and realising that I was on the top of the list and 12 year old me being like 's**t! I am actually pretty good at this’ so I’d say that day.” 

"I think I'd say that's probably where this all started"

Wright smiles and remembers that at that point, something clicked, and he was instantly hooked on everything based around competition and two wheels. 

“I think that's kind of when I knew that I wanted to race bikes properly,” he says. “I had no idea how I was going to do, I was about 12 years old, and won my first little race as part of an omnium. I was just like ‘wow’ I think I'd say that's probably where this all started almost.

“I was going to say Flanders but actually, I think in terms of how and where it all started, and what kind of race had the probably biggest impact on what I then went on to do, it probably would have been that back then.”

Wright labels that day as his “oh yeah” moment before turning professional. His teammate, Matej Mohorič, has previously told CW that those early moments before hitting the top level are often the ones that are most pivotal. 

Equally, that “oh yeah” moment can materialise at any point later down the road, as it did for Annemiek van Vleuten. I tell both of the riders about the Dutch superstar’s “ride that changed her” and they both agree that bike racing is full of “oh yeah” moments, even when you least expect them. 

“I'd say, to be honest, the Tour of Flanders, not this year but the year before, was a kind of similar 'oh yeah' moment,” Wright says of his seventh place at the 2022 edition of the iconic race. 

“Although I still think it's probably the bits before being a pro that I'd say are probably more important in terms of being more formative and teaching you how to set yourself up and learn about what you want to do.

“I know that being 12 and winning the regional omnium, of course, in the grand scheme of things, it means nothing.

"But at the time that was like 'wow, I'm really good at cycling’ and got me wanting to cycle more and race more basically.” 

Join us for the next instalment of 'the ride that changed me' in a fortnight's time.

This article is part of Cycling Weekly's 'the ride that changed me' series. Our writers hear from a range of professional and ex-professional cyclists about that one day on the bike that changed the trajectory of their career for good.

From an outside perspective, it would be seemingly impossible to highlight a turning point in the career of Matej Mohorič. The Slovenian is now considered as one of the greatest talents in the men’s WorldTour, and there are simply too many pivotal rides to choose from.

A rider of daring ingenuity, Mohorič is a rider capable of winning from a variety of different situations - be it with powerful, solo efforts from a breakaway at the Tour de France or in a high octane Monument finish from a group containing some of the best riders in the world, as he proved when he slalomed down the Poggio - with the aid of a now infamous dropper seat post - to win Milan-San Remo in 2022. 

As well as San Remo, the Slovenian rider on the Bahrain Victorious team can count stage wins in all three Grand Tours within his rapidly growing pile of accolades. 

For Mohorič, however, it's easy to highlight amongst it all one ride that particularly changed him.

“It was probably the Junior World Championships in 2012,” he tells Cycling Weekly. “Because this was the day that I realised I'm quite good at racing, I think.” 

“I realised at that point that cycling could become my job, my profession,” he adds. “And then winning the World title as a junior was a big change not only for my career but for my life in general.”

Lining up in Limburg, Mohorič remembers that he was buoyed by the fact that he’d already proven that the form was there that summer, he now just needed to deliver. 

“I was physically feeling really good at that point in the year,” he says. “I had won most of the races that I participated in going into September, and then I knew that I had a good chance of doing well. 

“Caleb Ewan was the big favourite to win the road race for Australia. They controlled the race all day and tried to bring everything together for a sprint, which he did win for second place, but I managed to sneak away at the top of the Cauberg and it changed everything.”

“I just remember vividly how focused I was,” he adds. “I was switched on the whole race, fighting for position. I was then able to take advantage of that fight and save quite a bit of energy compared to some of the other competitors and was very efficient, always starting the climbs on the front and finishing in the middle of the pack. Then yeah, I was still feeling pretty good on the last lap of the course.”

As we saw several years later on the Poggio, Mohorič knows that timing is everything in cycling and that was something that became ingrained in him after launching his race winning move in 2012. 

“On the last lap, I knew the most important corner to take going into the Cauberg and fortunately I was the first rider to enter it,” he explains. “And then at that point, I just knew what I had to do. I didn't follow the first move from the bottom of the climb, I waited patiently to go all the way to the top and attack from the 15th wheel or so. 

“Luckily it was then enough to make a difference and I could hold on all the way to the finish. It was then that I really realised that I do want to be a professional cyclist.”

'Everyone has a different story'

Fortunately for Mohorič, he was able to live up to his potential in the years that followed once he turned professional. However, he wisely points out that in the highly pressured and competitive junior environment, early success isn’t the be all and end all for any aspiring professional cyclist. 

“I think everyone has a different story,” he says. “There are some riders that are very successful at a young age and not so successful when they turn professional or later on. 

“Then there are some riders that didn't even do the sport when they were young, like Primož Roglič, he found his own way in coming in from ski jumping, which of course has nothing to do with endurance sport. 

“So there's really no rule,” he adds. “I think each of us writes their own story. It does shape you a little though if you are successful at a young age because the expectations are probably higher and the pressure is greater. 

"But it could be either a good or a bad thing, it doesn't really matter, there's no rule that you need to follow in your career."

Join us for the next instalment of 'the ride that changed me' in a fortnight's time.

Matej Mohorič has said that he isn’t ruling out using a bike fitted with a dropper seatpost as he goes for glory at Strade Bianche on Saturday. 

The Slovenian Classics star took his first Monument victory in sensational style last season, winning Milan-San Remo with a daredevil descent off the Poggio climb aided by the use of a dropper seatpost, which is commonly found in mountain biking. 

Dropper seatposts can be used to allow riders to lower their centre of gravity, in order to take tighter turns on descents with greater speed. Mohorič’s use of the equipment on the Poggio bore obvious results last season, and caught his rivals completely unaware. 

On Friday afternoon, Bahrain Victorious dropped a major hint on social media about the potential setup of the Merida Reacto Mohorič will ride at Strade Bianche, and speaking to Cycling Weekly from Tuscany, the Slovenian  revealed that he is considering using his now famous dropper post once again on the white gravel roads on Saturday. 

“I think I could well use the dropper seatpost tomorrow,” he said. “There are some tricky sections and I feel more secure with it. I never achieved a top ten here before, there was always something that went wrong. I sure hope to get everything right this time.”

Due to the uphill finish on the iconic Via Santa Caterina climb, Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin Deceuninck) are two riders that will start the Italian Classic as out and out favourites for victory. However, Mohorič explained that he believes the race may not necessarily be decided in the streets of Siena.

“I think the main selection will be made in Monte Sante Marie, and then we will see how the final will play out,” Mohorič said. “I don’t necessarily think I need to anticipate the final ramp to Siena, it all depends on how I feel during the day.”

“The big favourite for me is Mathieu van der Poel, he won here in 2021 in spectacular fashion. Alaphilippe also won in 2019, and he won a race already this season. For me those two are the men to beat,” he added. “Surely there will be others.”

Ahead of a return to Milan-San Remo later this month, the Slovenian explained that he’s in a good place and ready to build form. 

“I’m feeling well, I had good legs last weekend in Belgium. I am in a good place with my condition and I want to make the most of it, take every opportunity.”

Michael Matthews lost the battle at the Tour Down Under on Wednesday, but he increased his odds of winning the overall war in a stage one that brought down several riders. 

German sprinter Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) recovered from an earlier fall to pip Caleb Ewan (UniSA-Australia) and Matthews (Jayco Alula) in a bunch sprint in Tanunda, which he timed perfectly, having waited too long in the prelude criterium on the weekend. 

Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost) retained the ochre leader’s jersey. 

“I was a bit unsure because in the start I crashed actually with a big impact, had to change bike, it took a time for me to recover from that, but in the end the team again did really well,” Bauhaus said. 

“And also, Nikias [Arndt], in the last kilometres, he was super calm, looking where I am, making space for me and this time I was thinking with 250-300m [remaining], I just go this time. 

“The last 50-80m I was just full in pain, I was like don’t sit down, just keep going. I knew they were coming in the last metres but I’m super happy I was still in front then.” 

Bauhaus sported a small, light red mark on the side of his forehead from the impact of the crash he was grateful to be wearing a helmet in.

“Jasha [Sutterlin] he waited for me, bring me back,” Bauhaus explained. 

“For me it felt like a classic day because it was windy, everyone wanted to be in front, super nervous. It was a tough day.

“For myself I’m super happy I win but in the end the health of everyone is more important than my stage win.” 

Robert Gesink (Jumbo-Visma) was involved in a crash with about 26km remaining and abandoned the race. He was set to go to hospital for further assessment. 

Briton James Knox (Soudal Quick-Step) appeared frustrated after he lost skin and clothing in a stack, riding to the teams’ paddock alone.

Magnus Sheffield, who is one of three protected young riders at Ineos Grenadiers, also sought medical treatment post-race. 

Patrick Bevin (Team DSM) retired citing injuries from the Schwalbe Classic.

Matthews was forced to employ some expert maneuvering during the 149.9km stage but otherwise avoided the crashes some will surely wake up sore from. 

The Australian was active all day, contesting intermediate primes with the support of his team to shorten the deficit to Bettiol from 14 to six seconds on general classification. Matthews now sits second overall.  Sheffield moved from second to third on general classification, eight seconds adrift of the Italian. 

“It’s pretty obvious what our goal was today, was to try and get as many time bonuses as we could, whether it was through the stage or in the final sprint,” Matthews said.

“Last night [in the prologue] we gave away a bit of time, which we could have made a lot in a TT like that. 

“I think we made up for yesterday today in one stage, so full credit to the team, they were amazing today.” 

Ewan, who is racing for a comparatively inexperienced Australian national composite team after Lotto Dstny decided not to send a squad to Adelaide, also got through the stage unscathed but said he was too far back in the finale. 

“I wasn’t in a position to win, and I’m surprised I got so close,” Ewan said. 

“It’s disappointing but I can’t ask for too much from the team.

“I was in a good position coming down the descent coming into the crosswind section, but I just got stuck,” he continued. 

“When you have no one to sit in the wind for you and you’re fighting for wheels it’s tough. That’s why I ended up where I was, a bit back.”

The tour continues with stage two on Thursday - a 154.8km run from Brighton to Victor Harbor. Matthews is hopeful it'll settle the nerves of the bunch. 

"Obviously first race everyone is a bit nervous, no one knew how strong the wind was going to be out there today," Matthews said. 

"Because it was also an easy race I think everyone was quite fresh and maybe not paying enough attention sometimes and that’s where you overlap the wheel or something and those things [crashes] can happen.

"Hopefully the next stage is a bit harder, a bit hotter and we can actually race and everyone be maybe a bit more focused." 

Tour Down Under stage one results: Tanunda to Tanunda (149.9km)

1. Phil Bauhaus (Deu) Bahrain-Victorious, in 3-37-35
2. Caleb Ewan (Aus) UniSA-Australia, at same time
3. Michael Matthews (Aus) Jayco AlUla
4. Alessandro Covi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
5. Paul Penhoët (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
6. Emīls Liepinš (Lat) Trek-Segafredo
7. Hugo Page (Fra) Intermarché-Circus-Wanty
8. Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Arkéa Samsic
9. Taj Jones (Aus) Israel-Premier Tech
10. Gerben Thijssen (Bel) Intermarché-Circus-Wanty, all at same time

General classification after stage one

1. Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost), in 3-43-53
2. Michael Matthews (Aus) Jayco AlUla, at 6s
3. Magnus Sheffield (USA) Ineos Grenadiers, at 8s
4. Julius Johansen (Den) Intermarché-Circus-Wanty, at 10s
5. Kaden Groves (Aus) Alpecin-Deceuninck, at 11s
6. Samuel Gaze (Aus) Alpecin-Deceuninck, at same time
7. Hugo Page (Fra) Intermarché-Circus-Wanty, at 12s
8. Marius Mayrhofer (Deu) DSM, at 13s
9. Corbin Strong (Aus) Israel-Premier Tech
10. Jannik Steimle (Deu) Soudal Quick-Step, both at same time

This interview originally appeared in Cycling Weekly magazine on 29 December. Subscribe now and don't miss an issue in 2023. 

A new-build housing estate on the outskirts of Manchester is not where you would necessarily expect to find one of the riders of the moment, a man who seemed on fire at times this season, and yet in a modern terrace is where Fred Wright lives, with fellow WorldTour pro Ethan Hayter.

The 23-year-old, the Londoner who became a fan favourite with eye-catching rides at the Tour of Flanders, Tour de France and Vuelta a España, has not quite made the transition to the Girona or Nice bubble.

Neither has he given up his old Vauxhall, which research tells me must be at least ten years old, pulling up to his home just in time for the interview, looking more Inbetweener than pro athlete. For someone who finished second on stages of the Tour and the Vuelta in 2022, it feels a lot like student life rather than that of a top cyclist, one with a deal with Bahrain-Victorious until at least 2025, signed in September off the back of his impressive summer.

Not that this is a negative thing; if anything, it’s a positive, a reminder that the Bahrain-Victorious rider still has his feet on the ground, despite a breakthrough year, even if he hasn’t had that breakthrough win.

Seventh at Flanders back in April was followed by an impressive Tour, where he finished in the top ten three times, and spent three days in race-shaping breaks. His surge as the last remaining rider in front of a rampaging peloton into Lausanne was just the start of an almost-golden summer.

It was the Vuelta, though, where he really came to life, often dynamic in breakaways, and so close to his first pro win in Bilbao, in Cistierna, in Montilla, and in Talavera de la Reina. He finished the race second in the points classification to Mads Pedersen, such was his all-round performance. A win feels not just like it’s coming, but that it’s overdue.

New found fame, sort of

Inside his house in Greater Manchester, where Wright has just made me a flat white, we chat about the ongoing attention he is now getting as British Cycling’s latest bright young thing.

“I've had lots more conversations with the media, it's definitely been more significant this off season, there's that interest in what I'm doing,” he explains. “It's exciting, but it's weird. I do separate myself a little bit from the action. It is a bit of imposter syndrome.

“Fred the guy who just rides his bike, and then the guy who was doing stuff at the Tour and the Vuelta. It's just a slow build now to get the sensations I had in the season again now. I hope I can get back to that pretty soon.”

However, despite his new found profile, one of the favourite people of online cycling fans if my social media timeline is anything to go by, Wright is very keen to stress that he would just like to stay the same, the guy who enjoys racing and is friendly.

“One of the problems has been having the time to talk to people,” Wrights says. “If someone wants to talk to me, I want to talk to them. I do want to come across as down to earth, but there are so many things to reply to now. It takes time to adjust to that.”

“I don't like the idea [of being recognised]. Like Tom Boonen couldn't go anywhere in Belgium. I'm not looking for fame, I'm looking to win bike races, and just riding my bike. I'm not trying to be flash. I like it when people are shocked to recognise me, and say 'are you Fred Wright?'”

Other than the results, one thing that put the Bahrain rider in the public eye was the fallout from Primož Roglič crashing out on stage 17 of the Vuelta, something he blamed on Wright in a statement published on his Jumbo-Visma team’s website.

The piece quoted Roglič saying: “The crash was not caused by a bad road or a lack of safety but by a rider's behaviour. I don't have eyes on my back. Otherwise, I would have run wide. Wright came from behind and rode the handlebars out of my hands before I knew it."

This might have been what Roglič felt had happened; the problem was, it didn’t happen like that. Footage shows the Slovenian making the error, riding into Wright.

Back then, Wright tweeted: “It was really hard to read, and I’m pretty disappointed. I think it’s unfair, the team and I have looked at the footage again tonight, and I honestly don’t believe I did anything wrong - it was just a racing incident.”

“I really want to talk to Roglič about that, cos I don't know what it was about,” Wright tells Cycling Weekly in November. “It worked in my favour actually, because it meant people were saying I'm a nice guy. I want to be the nice guy. Obviously, when people are saying that stuff it's great, even if sometimes it's a bit weird. It's only making my big head a little bigger.”

Disappointments

Despite being a fan favourite, and despite his solid set of results across the year, the fact that he hasn’t actually crossed the line first in a professional race is unavoidable. There were three second places and five more top tens, but no photo of the 23-year-old raising his hands in the air, not yet anyway.

The closest he came was stage seven of the Vuelta, from Camargo to Cistierna, where he was in the leading group for 182km, the fastest finisher out of a final five which was made up of Jesús Herrada, Harry Sweeny, Jimmy Janssens and Samuele Battistella. However, he was seemingly not the only one with this privileged information, so Wright was left to lead the sprint out. In the end, it was too big an ask, and Battistella and ultimately Herrada powered past in the final metres.

“Stage seven of the Vuelta stung the most,” he says. “I know it was that because I've gone back through it. I knew I was the fastest guy there, I just missed the sprint there completely. I can see why I raced the way I did. I think I was too desperate for it, I wanted it too badly. I didn't think about it. I took it from the front, which is not always the bad situation, I just started way too early, and it really wasn't great.

“That was the hardest one to get my head around. The team weren't telling me what to do, but you could see from everyone that they thought it should have been a stage win for us. Compare it to Saint-Étienne, I was really disappointed, but everyone else was saying that was the best I could do. Off the back of the year I had, I can take so much confidence into next year; if I'm in that position again I'm more prepared.”

In Saint-Étienne at the Tour, on stage 13, Wright was once again in the winning move, this time a simple 149km out front, which on that occasion saw him finish behind Mads Pedersen. 

He is getting a reputation for infiltrating winning breaks, something that he knows will only mean he is more watched in the coming season, now people know what he can do. It might make winning a little harder, there is less of the surprise factor now.

“Winning races is not going to come from an early break which I get myself into next year. Unfortunately, I've already played a few of my cards that way,” Wright explains. “At the same time, what I was getting good at was just getting into breaks. When moves go after a long time, it is usually the strongest guys, the guys that end up there are those able to get there.

“When you've been fighting for two hours to get into the break, it's not just luck. Like [Richard] Carapaz at the Vuelta, he was unbelievable, how many times he kept attacking to go up the road. I'll be watched more, but I won't change the way I try to race. I want to keep doing the same. There will be stages that come along where the team might ride for me too. I think I've got a good eye for reading the race. I've messed up in the finalé, but I'm good at getting there in a good position.”

However, despite not winning just yet, he insists that the pressure is not telling on him too much, and insists he is still positive. He is prone to thinking, though, he presents himself as slightly more cerebral than others in the peloton.

“You have to approach this like 'it doesn't matter if I don't win', and it's quite hard to have that mentality if you haven't won, or had that big result. Once I win one, that gets the ball rolling,” Wright says.

“I don't think I put much expectation of what I want out of my career on myself. I'm not like 'I have to win Flanders, or Roubaix'. I don't have a win at all costs mentality, that's not in my nature as a person. Of course, you do put pressure on yourself. It doesn't mean I don't want to win. I overthink afterwards, I go to bed thinking about it.

“I think what comes with the win at all costs mentality, it's easier to switch off maybe. Because you think you will win another time. I am still positive, and I think that's what keeps me going. I will always look to the next race.”

Classics specialist

Although he was probably flashiest in the final Grand Tours of the year, and looks like he has already settled into type as some kind of breakaway whisperer, it is at the Spring Classics where Wright really feels at home.

There is definitely a link between the kind of hard, long day at the Vuelta or Tour and a tough day racing that will always come at a Classic, especially a Monument. This is the kind of race that he thrives on.

It was at the Tour of Flanders in April where Wright looked the most emotional after a result this year. His seventh place there being extra special, as he finished just 11th seconds behind the winner, Mathieu van der Poel, having been in the leading group all day.

“Flanders was emotional because I went into it with loads of confidence, and then being in that select group coming into the final, it was all of the things that I want to be doing in my career,” he says. 

“I want more than seventh, I want to win, but it is such a big race for VCL [Velo Club Londres, Wrights childhood club] among other things. I was there with those guys, and I felt like I should be there: 'I'm definitely good enough to be here'. 

“It was probably a turning point in my career, because before I haven't felt good enough to be in that position. It felt like an honour. For the big one to go so well is great, I took the confidence from that through the rest of the season. Going into the Tour I didn't feel out of place.”

As someone who has been right in the heart of these races, and who loves them so much, Wright is someone with the perfect insight into what riding them is actually like.

“I think people underestimate the chaos of the Classics,” he says. “It's such a mental strain, doing your homework and knowing the course is so important, because you can save so much energy that way. I still have so much to work on with positioning, but that comes with riding it. The more you do it, the more you absorb. I think I'm quite good at that.”

This might be an advantage for someone like the Londoner, who is clever, which sometimes doesn’t help his overthinking.

“At school, I wasn't amazing at forming arguments, but I could tell you all the facts from history,” he says. “It wouldn't take me that long to put them in my brain and repeat them.”

As for the future, he has three more years on his contract with Bahrain, something which gives him security, at a place where he feels at home. It should give him the platform to deliver, starting with Opening Weekend at the end of February.

“I want to be up there in the Classics, fighting for a win in as many as possible,” Wright says. “I think I really can get to that point. I was almost there last year, and I'd really like to win one. I don't think that's out of this world. Like the way [Biniam] Girmay won Gent-Wevelgem. I know that I won't be as strong as [Wout] Van Aert, Van der Poel or [Julian] Alaphilippe, but you can be in the mix, and pick the right move.

“If I could win Flanders or Paris-Roubaix in my career, I'd be very happy.”

He might be down to earth, and he might want to be the nice guy, but his ambition burns bright.

This interview originally appeared in Cycling Weekly magazine on 29 December. Subscribe now and don't miss an issue in 2023. 

In a sport that has well over 100 years of history genuinely new, race altering innovations are hard to come by. But Matej Mohorič found just that when he used a dropper post on his road bike to aid his blistering descent off the Poggio to victory at Milan-San Remo this year.

However speaking to Cycling Weekly the Slovenian superstar explained that it was his mechanic that found it. 

“Filip Tišma is in charge of research and is a committed mountain biker himself, and knows that the dropper post has an advantage in mountain biking," Mohorič recalls. "He was wondering about the advantages on the road and came to me and asked me about the idea. 

“I didn’t know if it would work or not, but I was happy to test it over the winter.” 

The advantages his new weapon gave him soon became clear - a lower centre of gravity allows tighter turns and great speed. With that considered, Milan-San Remo seemed like an obvious choice to put Tišma’s idea to the test for the first time. 

“We had thought about using it before, but then we decided to save it for the big one,” he says. 

Looking back on his win, Mohorič explains that Bahrain Victorious managed to keep their idea firmly under wraps in the build up to San Remo. Only the Slovenian and his coaches knew exactly what aces he had hidden up his sleeve. 

“I don’t think anyone knew before the actual day of San-Remo. Except for my teammates who saw the bike when we met for the race just two days before,” he said. “They were joking  ‘do you really think this makes a difference? Maybe save it for another year? But I knew.” 

Then, once the race was underway and the Poggio arrived, it was all or nothing for Mohorič when Tišma’s weapon was unleashed. 

“I was in a perfect position on the Cipressa. UAE put in a super high pace so that split the group. As soon as we hit the Poggio, Pogačar started to attack. I just focussed on my own race and tried to hang on until the very top,” he recalls. 

"I KNEW THAT IF I HAD A SMALL GAP, I COULD TAKE SOME TIME, ESPECIALLY IF I RISKED EVERYTHING"

After Pogačar was reeled back in, Mohorič got ready to launch his bid for victory, attacking just as the descent began.

“I was maybe a second or two behind the leaders at the top. I knew I could catch and pass the others and then try to force a split behind. Once I attacked I tried to focus on picking the right lines and tried to attack every corner, then sprint out of them with everything I had left,” Mohorič says. 

“I knew that if I had a small gap, I could take some time in the corners if I really risked everything, especially with the dropper seatpost.” 

It’s rare to feel uncomfortable watching a bike race but viewing Mohorič’s descent was terrifying especially when he very nearly came unstuck on two occasions. Looking back, he says that staying upright and avoiding crashing was purely luck. 

“I think it was luck. A reflex from slipping out many times before. I tried to correct my centre of gravity as I lost both wheels at the same time,” he says. “You either have it or you don’t I guess.” 

EASIER TO WIN STAGES AT THE TOUR DE FRANCE THAN TO GRAB A MONUMENT VICTORY

Once he finished the descent from the Poggio and was bursting into San Remo, disaster nearly struck when Mohorič temporarily dropped his chain. 

At that point TotalEnergies rider Anthony Turgis was rapidly bearing down on him but the Slovenian still managed to get the job done.

He recalls, “To have a plan come together like this is probably a once in a lifetime experience.” 

This victory was different from his others. “More people know you for winning stages of the Tour, but from the athletes perspective, it’s probably easier to win two stages of the Tour than to win a monument,” Mohorič explains. “Especially in that way.” 

This interview originally appeared in Cycling Weekly magazine on 15 December. Subscribe now and don't miss an issue in 2023. 

Welcome to Wednesday's Live Blog we'll be keeping you up to date with developments in the world of cycling as they happen.

We'll have all the updates on ongoing developments with B & B Hotels-KTM after it was confirmed the team have now collapsed due to lack of sponsorship.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

- 9:20 -  Primož Roglič shares further details on his return to fitness after shoulder surgery

- 9:52 - Team Uno-X Pro Cycling slammed for their stance towards B & B Hotels-KTM situation

- 9:55 - Bahrain Victorious tease new kit ahead of 2023 season

- 10:52 - Chris Froome warns of the long term dangers of Covid-19 

- 11:02 - Recent cuts in the Strava workforce amount to approximately 15%

- 11:19 - Is Pierre Rolland about to return to TotalEnergies?

- 11:42 - B & B Hotels-KTM, the team expected to sign Mark Cavendish collapse

- 14:50 - Ineos Grenadiers confirm part of Tom Pidcock's cyclo-cross calendar

 PRIMOŽ ROGLIČ SHARES SHOULDER SURGERY DETAILS

Primož Roglič has shared further details of his recent shoulder operation in order to correct the repeat dislocations that he's suffered.

Eight weeks on from the operation, the Slovenian rider is gradually getting back on his bike and returning to fitness. 

In an interview with WielerFlits, the Jumbo-Visma rider explained that if he was a swimmer, the surgery would have had a "much greater impact" and kept him out of action for longer. 

“I hope to gradually pick up my training again. It is now eight weeks after my shoulder surgery. It gets better every week, but such a recovery takes time," Roglič said. "They took part of my bone and added it to the shoulder area. The first period after the operation I could hardly move my arm. Now, I still can't fully straighten my arm.”

“Luckily I'm not a swimmer, because then such an intervention would have a much greater impact."

The Slovenian rider is aiming to be fit enough to travel to the Jumbo-Visma training camp in Denia, Spain on 11 December.

Yesterday, Roglič shared a selfie of him back on his bike with the caption "It will take some time to get my selfie game back. But hey-I'm riding a bike outside and there is snow. Good start, no?"

UNO-X CRITICISED FOR STANCE OVER B&B HOTELS-KTM SITUATION

Former Lotto-Soudal rider Reinardt Janse van Rensburg has slammed Team Uno-X Pro Cycling for their stance towards the ongoing situation with their French counterparts, B & B Hotels-KTM.

In a short post on Twitter in response to a report from Cyclingnews, Janse van Rensburg said: "One team wishing the demise of another, so they can enjoy their time in the sun, sums up pretty much everything that's wrong with the system at the moment."

French Proteam B & B Hotels are on the sad verge of collapse, meaning that it's unlikely they will be included in the 2023 edition of the Tour de France.

If the team were to indeed collapse, there is a chance that Uno-X would arguably stand a good chance of receiving a wildcard invite to the French Grand Tour next year. 

Uno-X management told Norwegian media outlet TV2, that their hopes of securing a place may well depend on the French team's situation.

"If there is not a French Proteam that is in a position to be invited then our chances of being invited go from 'less likely' to 'mostly likely'," team manager Jens Haugland said.

"It is important to clarity that the trouble for B&B Hotels-KTM is not something we are happy about. But I believe we are qualified to take part in the Tour de France,” he added.

BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS TEASE NEW KIT

Bahrain Victorious have shared a teaser of their new team kit for the 2023 season on their Twitter account.

We'll share full details as and when it drops!

Check back for more!

FROOME HIGHLIGHTS THE DANGERS OF COVID-19

Chris Froome has discussed his experiences of Covid-19 and the long-term effects it can have.

He has argued that many top level riders are struggling for months post-infection, and also highlighted the potential risks of contracting the illness to the heart.

Froome picked up the illness for the first time at this year's Tour de France, and it eventually forced him out of the race. He returned to the peloton at the Vuelta a España but largely struggled for form. 

In a video shared on his YouTube account, Froome explained that he after effects of Covid lingered with him for some time.

"I came out of the season not feeling good. I feel I really needed a break, Covid really knocked me for six," he said. "I just wasn't able to come back from that. I never felt like I had lots of energy on the bike. I went to the Vuelta to build through the race but all the way through I felt flat, flat, flat."

According to a report from Cyclingnews, Froome also argued that his VO2max was "definitely affected by Covid." 

Froome has also drawn attention to what he saw as a cardiovascular hit from being infected with Covid, which he said also extended to other "strange heart problems."

Pericarditis has been identified as a potential post Covid issue, with several riders having to take time away from racing for that reason. 

LAYOFFS HIT 15% OF STAFF AT STRAVA

According to Bicycle Retailer and Industry News [BRAIN], recent layoffs at cycling app Strava has affected about 15% of the company's workforce.

The layoffs come at the same time as several other companies in the cycling and tech industries announcing cuts to their staffing levels 

BRAIN has discovered that at least 40 Strava employees including product designers and product managers have been let go which amounts to approximately 15% of the Strava workforce. 

PIERRE ROLLAND ON THE WAY OUT OF B & B HOTELS-KTM?

Pierre Rolland will be joining Peter Sagan in the colours of team TotalEnergies in 2023.

According to WielerFlits, the 36-year-old climber will be imminently moving to pastures new following on from the slow demise of his current team, B & B Hotels-KTM. 

The struggles of the French Proteam have been well documented, and it's understood that B & B team manager Jérôme Pineau will aim for a restart with the team at Continental level.

Pineau recently told his riders that they were free to try to find new teams.

If Rolland does move to the TotalEnergies team, it will mark a return to the squad in which he spent six years of his career. 

In 2015, Rolland won a stage of the Tour de France at Alpe d'Huez in the colours of Europcar, a former guise of the TotalEnergies squad. 

UPDATE

Rolland has now taken to Twitter to clarify his current situation, posting a tweet in response to the reports both on WielerFlits and L'Equipe which suggest he is due to sign for TotalEnergies.

"Surprised to discover where my future will be written in the press, Rolland said. "I will keep you informed in due time on my social networks of what my future will be. In the meantime, take care of yourself."

TEAM PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED TO SIGN MARK CAVENDISH, B & B HOTELS-KTM FINALLY COLLAPSE

B & B Hotels, the team previously heavily linked with signing Mark Cavendish, are no more after their collapse has been confirmed. 

Riders including Cavendish as well as other rumoured new signings will now have a frantic scramble to find new teams, or potentially even face retirement. 

According to French newspaper Le Telegramme, team manager Jerome Pineau finally admitted that the team will cease to exist due to a lack of sponsorship.

“We did our best to save our club but unfortunately we didn't succeed,” he wrote in a message sent to the team’s Whatsapp group late on Tuesday night.

Pineau had planned to at least continue at Continental level, although as that would rule out a wildcard invitation to the Tour de France, sponsors were reportedly no longer interested.

Cycling Weekly will update the live blog with more news on the French team later today

B & B RIDERS SEARCH FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Multiple high profile riders who were due to sign with B & B Hotels-KTM, the team reported to be signing Mark Cavendish, have now dramatically been left searching for new rides in 2023.

Australian rider Chloe Hosking shared an update on her situation on twitter which confirmed she had been caught up in the saga.

"I am one of the riders impacted by the saga that is the collapse of the B&B Hotels team. To say I am caught up the creek without a paddle is an understatement," she said.

"Looking for opportunities for 2023"

L39GION OF LOS ANGELES ANNOUNCE ROSTER FOR 2023

L39ion of Los Angeles has announced its roster for the 2023 season, with US National Road champion Kyle Murphy set to join the Justin Williams led squad.

As the team enters its fifth season, Justin Williams and crew are welcoming Mexican national champion Yarely Salazar, U.S. national road champion Kyle Murphy and Human Power Health’s Robin Carpenter to the team. 

“With this group, 2023 will be our best year yet. Every member brings something unique," said founder Justin Williams in a press release.

"By adding Yarely, Kyle and Robin into the mix we’ll continue to disrupt what the traditional cycling team looks like."

TRO BRO LEON 2023 RACE POSTER RELEASED

The organiser of the Tro Bro Leon race has released a poster advertising the 2023 edition of the race.

Taking place on the farm tracks of Brittany, the best placed local rider wins a pig.

It features Laurent Pichon, a rider with Arkéa-Samsic, wearing a cowboy hat while clutching a pig and wearing yellow sunglasses.

Has there ever been a cooler looking race poster?! We don't think so... 

ULTRA CYCLIST VOWS TO RETURN TO ANTARCTICA AFTER EXPEDITION CUT SHORT

Omar Di Felice, an Italian former professional bike rider, turned ultra cyclist has vowed to return to Antarctica after his initial expedition was cut short.

In a short message shared on Twitter, Di Felice said he was "sad" and "shocked" at having to cut his planned mission short and he vowed to return to Antarctica to finish the job in the future.

The Italian was aiming to take on 60 days alone in Antarctica as he aimed to cycle across the region, becoming the first person to do so in the process.

Speaking to Cycling Weekly before setting out on his mission, Di Felice explained that mental strength would hopefully get him through.

“It’s for sure a mental challenge, and will be the biggest achievement of my life if I manage to reach the South Pole and then the other coast,” he said. “You have to be strong with your mind and try to keep focused every day,” he added. 

BROMPTON BUILDS MILLIONTH FOLDING BIKE

Brompton has built its millionth folding bike at its factory in Greenford, London, 47 years after the iconic folder was invented in 1975.

To celebrate the landmark moment in the British brand’s history, the millionth Brompton has been given a special design treatment inspired by one of its original models, the ‘Mark One’, with a red main frame, silver parts, and a unique ‘million’ decal, ID plate, and aluminium touchpoints. 

The bike has also been signed by founder and inventor Andrew Ritchie and current CEO Will Butler-Adams.

Becky Storrie signs for DSM

Becky Storrie will ride for DSM in 2023, stepping up from CAMS - Basso to the Women's WorldTour. The 24-year-old won the Rapha Lincoln GP back in May, and has been rewarded with her exploits on the domestic scene with her first professional contract.

In a press release, the rider from the Isle of Man said: "They are a team that I have admired since I started cycling and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been offered this opportunity. The team has a real emphasis on development and I am confident that this environment will allow me to maximise my potential as a rider. 

"I am looking forward to working with the team and gaining experience at this level. I believe that together we can achieve great things.”

The announcement was part of DSM confirming all of its lineups across its men's, women's, and U23 teams for next year. Mauro Brenner and Dylan Hicks are recruited to the development program, while Enzo Leijnse will continue with the devo team too.

Hicks, an 18 year old Briton, is currently part of the GB Junior Academy while also riding for Bäckstedt Bike Performance JRT on the road. He won the Junior CiCLE classic in 2022.

INEOS GRENADIERS CONFIRM TOM PIDCOCK'S WINTER CYCLO-CROSS TOUR DATES

Tom Pidcock will ride the Irish round of the cyclo-cross world cup in Dublin on Sunday, his team Ineos Grenadiers have confirmed.

As well as racing in Dublin this weekend, Pidcock will also compete in Mol and Gavere in Belgium in the coming weeks as his programme picks up over the course of the Christmas period. 

Ineos confirmed Pidcock's schedule for December and January on Twitter, but there was no mention of the cyclo-cross world championships in Hoogerheide, the Netherlands on 4 February 2023. 

Pidcock has previously said that he's unsure as to whether he will look to defend his title as world champion next year, with his aim being a good run at the Spring Classics in 2023 on the road.

Pidcock took the cyclo-cross world title earlier this year with a barnstorming performance in Fayetteville, USA.

Last weekend, Pidcock took another resounding victory in his rainbow jersey at the Superprestige Boom race in Belgium. 

NEW STRAVA DATA REVEALS MORE UK CYCLISTS DID 100-MILE RIDES IN 2022 THAN IN 2021

Data published today by exercise tracking application Strava has shown that more UK cyclists took on longer rides in 2022 than last year. 

Compared to 2021 figures, the company saw a 46% increase in the number of British cyclists uploading rides of more than 100 miles (161km) to the platform. 

The data, revealed as part of Strava’s 2022 Year in Sport report, coincides with a general rise in group activities across the platform following Covid lockdowns. 

TEAM PLANTUR-PURA TO BECOME FENIX-DECEUNINCK

Fenix and Deceuninck are to step up to naming partners of the Alpecin-Deceuninck women's team for 2023. 

The team formally known as Plantur-Pura will become Fenix-Deceuninck as of 1 January 2023. 

Team manager Phillip Roodhooft said that the move is in order to give both men and women equal opportunities within cycling. 

"FENIX will remain a partner of the men's team, but will focus on the women from January 1," he said.

"Deceuninck will extend its partnership with the men - as name sponsor-linearly to the women's team. This allows both companies to make a difference as a brand, but they are also important for us in the further expansion of our complete structure, not only the women's team," he added. 

"Also Alpecin, Canyon and Zwift keep engaging in all our ranks. All this allows us to follow the most ideal path, which is to offer women and men the same opportunities at the highest level."

PREVIEW OF THE DUBLIN CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CUP COURSE

The Dublin round of the UCI Cyclo-cross world cup takes place this Sunday 11 December. 

Both Tom Pidcock and Wout van Aert are set to race the event, and are expected to go head to head for the win.

Verge Sport Ireland have shared via YouTube a sneak preview of Sunday's course.

Check out what's in store for the likes of Pidcock this weekend below.

Right.

Time to wrap up the live blog for today. Check back tomorrow for further updates on the B & B Hotels situation when we have it. 

Matej Mohorič says that it’s only a matter of time before his Bahrain Victorious teammate Fred Wright pulls off a big result and lands a major victory.

After a break-out classics season Wright rode both the Tour de France and Vuelta a España this year and was constantly on the attack at both grand tours. The British rider went agonisingly close to a stage win on several occasions only to be caught in the closing stages of several races. 

His teammate Matej Mohorič told Cycling Weekly that after being so close on a number of occasions, he believes a major win is just around the corner for Wright next year. 

Mohorič said:  “I think it’s just a question of time and luck for him to win his first big race. He’s been so close now on so many occasions. It’s so frustrating for him but he’s a winning guy. He’s got a fast sprint and is a super strong rider for classics style parcours. 

“He’s a great rider and I’m really looking forward to racing with him in the classics next year and also at the Tour.” 

At just 28-years-old, Mohorič is already a proven winner at the highest level. The Slovenian has two Tour de France stage victories to his name as well as a stunning win at Milan-San Remo this year to take his first monument title. 

Mohorič explained to CyclingWeekly that he believes Wright has all the credentials to also win a monument himself. 

“I think he’s proved that he could even win a monument in the future. He’s still very young and is going to have many many chances to come,” Mohorič added. 

After his prestigious win at Milan-San Remo, Mohorič explained that he fully intends to return to the race in 2023 to defend the title, and is planning to build his season around the classics. 

“I think I’m on track for next year,” he said. “I think we plan for me to race a similar programme next year to this year. Building around the classics in the spring, going all the way from San Remo through to Flanders, Roubaix and maybe Liège–Bastogne–Liège.” 

“I’ll then stop and have a small break before building for the Tour, but yes, for sure San Remo will be one of the main goals.”  

The Bahrain Victorious cycling team are still in the dark regarding the ongoing anti-doping investigation that has surrounded them since 2021. 

On Friday afternoon, Cycling Weekly revealed that Europol are no longer involved in proceedings against the team and that the case was now “in the hands of the judiciary” in France. 

However, a spokesperson for Bahrain Victorious confirmed to Cycling Weekly this weekend that the team have received no further updates from investigators directly as to the status of the ongoing case. 

“Bahrain Victorious has yet to receive any information regarding the investigation,” the spokesperson said, “and until then, the team will continue cooperating with the prosecutor’s office.” 

The investigation first began at the 2021 Tour de France where the team had their hotel raided in Pau. Bahrain Victorious won three stages of the Tour that year, and recently retired Sonny Colbrelli said at the time that he felt the raid in Pau was sparked by “pure jealousy” of the team’s success. 

Bahrain Victorious celebrated stage victories from Dylan Teuns and Matej Mohorič last year.

At the time of the Pau raid, Mohorič said that the raid made him feel like a "drug dealer." 

Clouds of suspicion continued to hover around the team before the Tour in July this year. 

Prior to the race beginning in Denmark, riders and team staff had their homes searched across Europe with the raids coordinated by Europol. 

However, Europol has now confirmed that “The operational phase of the coordinated action against the use of prohibited substances in cycling races is over,” and that "the case is now in the hands of the judiciary.”

At the time of the searches across the continent, the team released a statement which said they believed the timing of the investigation was aimed at “intentionally damaging the team's reputation.” 

On arrival in Copenhagen for the beginning of the Tour this year, their team hotel was searched by Danish police on behalf of French prosecutors at 5:30am on the day before the race began. 

It was initially understood that nothing untoward had been seized from the team at the time of the raids, although it was later revealed by French prosecutors that electronics and medicines had been seized earlier on. 

Once the curtain fell on the Tour in Paris Bahrain Victorious’ general manager told Cycling Weekly that they had still not received updates from authorities, including Europol, on the situation. Milan Eržen said: “We don't have any answers. I cannot tell you anything because we don't have any information.” 

Despite Europol now confirming that they are no longer involved, there is continued silence from authorities in France. 

Until the team hears from the French prosecutors office the concern remains that the case is far from over. 

The European Union agency for law enforcement cooperation [Europol] has ended its involvement in investigations into alleged doping within the Bahrain Victorious cycling team that took place earlier this year. 

A spokesperson for Europol told Cycling Weekly the agency is no longer involved, the case is now “in the hands of the judiciary” in France.

The team had its hotel in Pau raided by French police at the 2021 Tour de France then prior to this July's Tour several riders and staff members of the state-backed squad had their homes across Europe searched in raids carried out by Europol. 

Then in Denmark at the Tour's Grand Depart the team had their hotel raided in Copenhagen, the night before the race got underway. 

However, Europol confirmed to Cycling Weekly this afternoon that it is no longer involved in the case. Furthermore, it has had “no overview” of any further developments involving the case.

They said: “The operational phase of the coordinated action against the use of prohibited substances in cycling races is over. 

“Europol supported the operational phase by deploying its officers in the participating countries to facilitate the exchange of information and provide forensic support for the seized electronic devices.

"The case is now in the hands of the judiciary.” 

At the time of the pre-Tour de France raids, Bahrain Victorious released a statement that said the searches and timing of the investigations were aimed at “intentionally damaging the team's reputation.” 

Danish police searched the team’s hotel rooms and vehicles at 5:30am, the day before the Tour de France got underway. It was initially understood that no items had been seized from the team at the time of the raids. 

However, a statement from the public prosecutor’s office in Marseille, France given to AFP at the time said that electronics and medicines had been seized earlier on.

Referring to raids carried out across Europe between June 27 and June 30, the statement read: "The operation, coordinated by Eurojust with the help of Europol, allowed the judicial and police authorities of those countries to carry out several searches at the homes of the manager, three riders, the osteopath, and a doctor of the professional cycling team Bahrain Victorious, as well as at the headquarters of WINNING SRL, the team's holding company. 

"Electronic material (phones, computers, hard drives) and medicines - of which the nature and origin remain undetermined, or which require a prescription - have been seized." 

The prosecutor's office statement added: "The items seized will be subject to analysis and further investigation."

SILENCE FROM EUROPOL BROKEN

When the Tour de France concluded in Paris, Bahrain Victorious' general manager Milan Eržen spoke to Cycling Weekly and said that the team had received no further updates from authorities including Europol on the situation.

He said: "We don't have any answers. I cannot tell you anything because we don't have any information. 

"It's really difficult to explain something if you don't have any information.

“When we have something, of course we will say. We are just waiting."

The news that Europol are no longer involved will likely come as a welcome update for the team. When speaking to Cycling Weekly earlier this week star rider and two-time Tour stage winner Matej Mohorič said that he was not aware of any further updates from the authorities on the case.

“For me, it’s in the past,” Mohorič said.

The team also had it's hotel raided by French police at the Tour de France in 2021 when they were staying in Pau.

At the time, now retired Sonny Colbrelli said that he felt the raids were sparked by "pure jealousy" around the teams success that year.

Cycling Weekly has contacted both Bahrain Victorious and the relevant French authorities for comment.

Sonny Colbrelli has stepped back from professional cycling, seven months after suffering an unstable cardiac arrhythmia at the Volta a Catalunya.

The Italian rider collapsed almost immediately after crossing the finish line in second of the first stage of the Volta a Catalunya on March 21, with his  Bahrain-Victorious  team later confirming that he had suffered an unstable cardiac arrhythmia. Medics attended to the Italian within seconds of his collapse, performing CPR and using a defibrillator to treat him.

Colbrelli subsequently spent time in a Girona hospital, before being transferred to the Cardiology Clinic of the University of Padua in Italy on Saturday March 26, a centre extremely adept at diagnosing and treating arrhythmogenic heart muscle diseases. He was later fitted with a subcutaneous defibrillator (ICD), similar to the one footballer Christian Eriksen has.

Cycling's governing body, the UCI, does not have a formal policy on the matter, but Italian law prohibits athletes to compete in elite sport if they have been fitted with a defibrillator. This essentially forced Colbrelli's hand, even if he had wanted to continue in the sport.

The Italian won the Autumn Paris-Roubaix last year, and also won the European Championship road race. In his retirement message, he said he was disappointed to end his career without winning a Grand Tour stage or the Tour of Flanders.

“I say goodbye to cycling and try to do it with a smile for the good it gave me, even if it hurts to say goodbye after a season like last year. That was the best of my career.” Colbrelli said in a team statement, released on Sunday.

“I learned what life offers and what life takes. But it also gives back in a different form. I’m ready to keep trying to be a champion, like on the bike.”

“New challenges await me, and with courage, I prepare to face them with a smile on my face. Continue to rejoice in every ride I will do, even if only for fun and no longer for competition,” he continued.

“A year ago in this period, I spent my days celebrating the most important victory of my career, Paris-Roubaix. I never thought I would find myself a year later to face one of the most challenging moments that life has put me in front of,”

“But it’s my life that I want to be grateful for, a life I risked losing and which gave me a second chance. That of being here today, to remember that I came out of the Hell of the North as a winner, and I did it in a legendary way, which will remain in history and that I will be able to continue to tell my children. It is to them, my family and all the people closest to me that I owe this new life of mine. 

“From them, I am drawing the strength to accept this moment of my sporting career that sees me here today to give up being able to add to my palmarés a victory in a Grand Tour or [the Tour of] Flanders, a lifelong dream.”

Mid-season transfers are unusual in cycling, however, Dylan Teuns has made the move from Bahrain Victorious to Israel-Premier Tech with immediate effect. 

A brief statement published on social media by the state-backed Bahrain Victorious team read: 

“Thank you Dylan Teuns for an unforgettable four years with us and your amazing victories at the Tour de France and La Flèche Wallone. 

"We wish you all the best. With no races planned for Dylan following the Tour de France, it has been agreed that Dylan will race for his new team for the remainder of the year to help transition for the upcoming seasons.”

Not long after the announcement of his departure from Bahrain Victorious, Israel-PremierTech announced the arrival of the 30-year old Belgian with current Israel rider Guy Sagiv leaving the Sylvan Adams-backed team to make room for Teuns. 

Israel-Premier Tech are facing relegation from the WorldTour, and the acquisition of Teuns will provide much needed ammunition in their hope for UCI points in the latter half of the season

Teuns will ride the Vuelta a España and the Italian end of season races later this summer. 

After a successful early-season, Teuns explained that the opportunity to join the team was already in the pipeline. 

He said: “I was already talking to Israel about joining in 2023 but then Sylvan Adams offered me the chance to make the switch now and start my contract immediately, which I am really grateful for.

"I had three and a half great years with Bahrain Victorious where I won my biggest races and I want to thank them for everything. I am really excited for this new chapter and can’t wait to race with Israel–Premier Tech.”

Teuns added: “Israel–Premier Tech is a team that has really stepped up over the last years and it was great to see the team bring home two stage wins at the Tour de France. I think the team is on the way to becoming one of the top teams and this is a great time to join and deliver some more results."

Israel-Premier Tech landed two huge victories, worth 120 points each, at the Tour de France through Australian rider Simon Clarke and Hugo Houle. Although unfortunately the team won’t benefit from points Teuns earned at Bahrain Victorious earlier in the season. Teuns has already landed 1,023 points in 2022 and he’ll now need to score at least 172 or more to be included in the team’s top 10 scorers in order for his points to count at the end of the season. 

On the mid-season transfer, Sylvan Adams said: “Dylan Teuns is a versatile rider and gives Israel–Premier Tech more depth in both the Classics as well as the Grand Tours. He is also a proven winner, which I know will continue as he rides for our team.”

Meanwhile, the team also announced a two year contract extension for Simon Clarke. The Australian won the dramatic cobbled stage in Arenberg at this year’s Tour de France. 

Clarke said, “It has been a huge roller coaster in 2022 for me. Obviously ending the 2021 season with no team and then just chipping away, staying committed nonetheless, then getting a chance with Israel-Premier Tech, and then going on to having what has probably been one of the best seasons of my career.”

He concluded: “It was an easy decision to stick with the people that gave me that chance for the future.”

Bahrain Victorious' general manager Milan Eržen has defended his team in the wake of pre-Tour de France hotel raids by Europol as part of an ongoing investigation into "prohibited substances in cycling races."

The agency searched 14 locations in six countries between June 27 and 30, casting a shadow over the start of the Tour.

Medicines and electronics were seized by police in Denmark at the request of the French authorities, while some staff and riders had their own homes searched. A Europol statement at the time said that the investigation was being led by the French OCLAESP (Central Office against Environmental and Public Health Crime) "to look into possible doping allegations of a cycling team participating in the Tour de France."

The team were not subject to any further interrogations during the Tour, but the story did take a twist when an anonymous French blogger claimed to be behind the investigation, saying that he gave false information to French journalist Theirry Vildary and former Festina member of staff Antoine Vayer in order to discredit them. The claims remain unverified.

Speaking to Cycling Weekly and VeloNews in Paris after the end of the Tour, Eržen suggested that there was little basis for the investigation: "Look, of course it’s frustrating, but from the other side, finally people need to understand that all these results, [the] speed of the races, it’s not that somebody is using something [illegal].

"Guys are working really hard. Material in the last 10 years has changed a lot, [and] the teams invest a lot of money. Researchers [look at] what kind of tyres, what kind of wheels they will use in the races.

"You will always have jealous people who will start thinking that something is wrong. Nothing is wrong. In the last 10 years, anyone who is thinking of using something [illegal] needs to be an idiot. That’s it. They need to be an idiot."

Eržen continued. "I will explain to you that, for example, our budget is €20million, and many of the teams  have a bigger budget than us and they cannot win stages for 10 years at the Tour de France. 

"They expose us, the general manager, who have a big[ger] amount of money, why? Some other teams are winning races with less money, and they [other teams] cannot win the races. What will he answer? We know somebody is saying something behind."

Asked if the team are 100 percent clean, he responded: "We never talk about these things because we are working by the rules. We never broke any rules about that. We will always do it the right way, [and] that means we will prove we are not doing anything wrong."

Europol have not updated the team about the investigation, with Eržen saying: "We don't have any answers. I cannot tell you anything because we don't have any information. 

"It's really difficult to explain something if you don't have any information. When we have something, of course we will say. We are just waiting."

Every day at the Tour de France, a combativity prize is awarded to the most aggressive rider of the stage, decided by a jury. This is not always clear the viewer at home, or the fan on the roadside, but it does mean something. It's not only some time on the podium, or €2000 in prize money, or even red numbers for the next stage; it's some recognition for a big effort.

Some stages this is obvious, like Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) on stage six, when the Belgian was up the road in the yellow jersey for 146km, or when it was the Magnus Cort show for a couple of days. However, other days it is a bit more puzzling, and tends to be awarded to French rider more than others, perhaps just because of their numerical advantage at the race.

Now, imagine spending almost four hours out the front of a bike race, to be the last one to be caught, only to be rewarded with nothing at the end of the day. That is exactly what happened to Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) on stage eight of the Tour, with the young man from London spending 172km up the road from the bunch, only to finish 77th in the end. 

He didn't even get the combativity prize, it being awarded to Mattia Cattaneo (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl), his break colleague for almost all of the day's escape, before Wright dropped him at the end.

Rolling back to the bus almost four minutes after Wout van Aert won the sprint in Lausanne, the 23-year-old seemed reasonably chipper for a man who ended the day with nothing after putting all that work in, apart from being gutted not to get the red dossards for tomorrow.

"I think they must have decided when Cattaneo gave up," he said. I'm a bit disappointed with that to be honest. I kinda thought with 5km to go that at least I'd have the red number, but what can you do, it was a good day out anyway."

Maybe Wright is a big fan of Louis Pasteur, whose 200th birthday was being celebrated by his hometown of Dole on Saturday morning, as this was one as he had marked for a chance. Sadly he didn't comment on his love of germ theory, but who knows.

"I targeted this stage as a day to go for the breakaway," he explained afterwards. "You follow moves, you're there, and you realise there's only three of you. I was a bit gutted. I think there was some people coming across, well I thought people were coming across, but unfortunately not. Once you're there, you're there. It was a long day out but I enjoyed it."

He might be yet to take a professional win, but Wright has impressed at a number of races, especially at the Tour of Flanders this year, where he finished seventh. He has clearly been given some licence by his Bahrain team to try things, along with teammates like Matej Mohorič, Jan Tratnik and Dylan Teuns.

"There's obviously a lot of us here that want to take opportunities," he said. "We still have Damiano for the GC, but there are some more days for me and the other guys to really have a crack and trying to get a stage win....

"It's not just a simple thing of 'oh get yourself in the break'. It was pretty straightforward today, but often there's a big fight for the days the guys want to get in the breakaway. The decision often just makes itself, because Matej [Mohorič] will be trying, Jan [Tratnik] will be trying, I'll be trying. You can all be committed. Sometimes you end up with two guys in a big break."

Wright was in a break at last year's Tour as well, on stage 16 to Saint-Gaudens, where he finished 12th, but this one was different as he was the last one up the road. Also, this year has seen huge crowds on the route in a semi-post-Covid world, a change from last year.

"I can't describe it really, I don't think it has sunk in to be honest," he said. "It's pretty special to be there, and there's plenty more days to come, more breakaways, and I'll hopefully take some more opportunities."

Sadly for the Londoner, and his break companions Cattaneo and Frederik Frison (Lotto Soudal), the peloton always looked like it had the day under control and never let the three men go, although they did try some tactics.

"We had a nice relaxed period, Cattaneo made the call and it was a good one, we chilled for about 10km, and then he drilled it," Wright explained. "I was really on board with that. You gain back time, and then it was flat out to the finish."

In the end, three men were just not enough to keep the might of the peloton at bay, but that won't stop him from trying, especially as he was capable of doing something in a reduced sprint.

"On that finish, I'm not going to beat the likes of Van Aert from the bunch, but from a break I fancy my chances on a day like today," he said. "The break just wasn't big enough, but ah well, what can you do."

You can read more of Fred Wright's thoughts at the Tour de France in his Cycling Weekly diary, out in the magazine every Thursday.

Many climbs have earned their place in cycling folklore across the years. Some have gained their notoriety due to the misfortune of those attempting to conquer them, others due to the scenes of triumph and glory painted by some of the sport's most iconic figures. When you think of Ventoux you think of the late Tom Simpson, the Marmolada in the Giro d’Italia is a climb closely associated with Marco Pantani. Most monoliths of the Dolomites, Alps or Pyrenees are intertwined with an iconic story from a bike race. 

La Super Planche des Belles Filles is just one of those climbs. Buried deep in the Vosges Mountains within eastern France, the mountain has played host to some of the most dramatic moments in recent memory at the Tour de France. In 2012 Chris Froome displayed the signs of what was to come in his career as he famously left the winner that year, Bradley Wiggins, behind in pursuit of a memorable stage win. 

Eight years later, the climb would become synonymous with the suffering inflicted on Primož Roglič by an almighty Tadej Pogačar. That infamous day at the 2020 Tour de France was one of those sporting moments that reminds you just why you fell in love with the race. Dramatic, edge of the seat viewing that will be remembered for years to come. Each turn of Pogačar's pedals that fateful afternoon twisted the knife in Roglič's torment. A day full of glorious memories for the defending champion and one that turned the Tour de France on its head.

The climb itself is a beast of a mountain. By the time the riders reach the summit, they will have climbed more than 1,035 metres from Plancher Les Mines, averaging at a leg-sapping 8.5% gradient. Although the torture inflicted on sore and aching muscles will not end there. On Friday the finish line will be at the end of a short gravel section previously used in the Tour which rockets up to 24%. A gradient that would generate a shudder in even the most fearless of climbers. 

After winning a dramatic stage in 2019 that finished on the mountain gravel, Dylan Teuns (Bahrain Victorious) is a man who knows how difficult the climb is. Teuns told Cycling Weekly that the addition of the gravel section makes it that more challenging.

The Belgian rider said: “It was my first win in the Tour and will always be a special one. It’s a hard climb and then they added the gravel section in. It was the first time they had done that when I won and it made it super special. The gravel section for sure makes it even more difficult, the steepest part is just there at the end.”

Riders who can tackle the short, sharp hills are unlikely to make it to the summit with the favourites, which means we’re likely to potentially see a new polka-dot jersey wearer at the end of the day. Magnus Cort Nielsen (EF-Education EasyPost) took the Polka-Dot jersey over the course of the opening weekend and has held it valiantly all week. Although by the time Saturday morning dawns, it may well have been removed from his shoulders as the Danes time is up. 

‘Plank of the Beautiful Women’ as it’s otherwise known, requires a different breed of bike rider. It requires those riders that possess an ability to go so far into the red that nobody else can follow. That’s meant as no disrespect to Cort Nielsen. He will well know that it’s not a climb for him. It’s where those hoping to not allow Pogačar to canter away to overall glory will need to come into their own. 

Ineos Grenadiers's pair, Adam Yates and Geraint Thomas, are two of those riders. As is Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma). However the main character who has a score to settle here is Primož Roglič. 

In a heavy crash on Wednesdays cobbled stage, Roglic dislocated his shoulder before then putting it back into place himself. Most mere mortals would have packed it up there and then, however Roglič has been there before. He is a purebred warrior who knows exactly how to suffer and still come out fighting. Moments before Tadej Pogačar stormed to victory on stage six, Roglič put in a trademark attack looking to fight back with a stage win and to show he’s not out yet. 

In 2022, ‘La Planche’ will have a key role to play in two races. On July 31 it plays host to the final stage of the inaugural Tour de France Femmes, and could well be the theatre for a huge final battle between the race leaders. 

Featuring at the end of the first week this year in the Tour de France, it may be too early for ‘La Planche’ to play a decisive role like it did so stunningly two years ago. However, once the gravel of the final few meters arrives Primož Roglič will be more than ready to put his demons to bed and show he’s up for the fight all the way to Paris. 

Fred Wright is a young man with a promising future in the sport of cycling. He finished seventh at this year's Tour of Flanders, and is embarking on his second Tour de France. This should be an exciting time for him, proving his mettle for his WorldTour team on the biggest stage in cycling.

And yet. Last Thursday, his Bahrain Victorious team hotel was raided by police the day before the start of the Tour. It followed some of its riders and staff members having had their homes searched by police prior to their departure last week - Wright was not one of them. In 2021, Bahrain also had their Tour hotel searched by police late in the race.

That's two Tours de France, and two experiences of waking up to welcome police into his room.

“It’s a tricky one,” Wright explained to Cycling Weekly and Cycling Tips. “As a 23-year-old rider I don’t think I should have experienced two police raids in my career but that’s the unfortunate truth of it.

“It was a surprise but I saw Jack [Haig] already say the Danish police were really friendly, they were doing what they had to do, it didn’t take very long. 30-45 minutes searching around the room and then they were out of our hair."

The team said in a statement on Thursday morning that "the search was completed within two hours" and that "no items were seized from the team." Reports later that week suggested things were taken, but this might have been in the searches earlier that week.

“In the end it wasn’t that bad,” Wright explained. “They came in the morning, I went back to sleep, it felt like a bit of a bad dream. It is what it is thanks to the history of the sport that we’re in this position."

For now, Bahrain Victorious and Wright are just focusing on the here and now, which is just continuing with the Tour de France.

“If they want to go through these raids just to confirm that everyone’s clean then that’s what they’ve got to do. It’s been really nice that the morale has slowly been creeping up in the team because we’re racing our bikes now, we’re doing our job so happy days.”

The 23-year-old is not thinking of challenging for stage wins just yet, instead focusing on helping out his team.

"We'll see how this first week goes," he said. "I think this first week is really important for us, just to focus on getting our GC leaders out of trouble, unscathed. That's the main goal for the first few days. Then after that, we'll see if the bunch de stresses and everyone gets a bit more relaxed. The focus is on these stressful days."

Europol has revealed the raids on Bahrain-Victorious' hotel rooms at the Tour de France were part of an international operation that saw officials search locations across six countries in an ongoing investigation into "prohibited substances in cycling races".

The agency confirmed its official searched a total of 14 locations in six countries between June 27 and June 30.

Medicines and electronics were seized by Danish Police during the raids on Thursday morning, at the request of the French authorities. Europol also confirmed that the homes of staff members and riders were searched during the coordinated action. 

It said that three people were interrogated,.

"Law enforcement and judicial authorities in France, Belgium, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Poland and Slovenia have carried out a coordinated action against the use of prohibited substances in cycling races," a Europol statement read.

"The investigation was led by the French OCLAESP (Central Office against Environmental and Public Health Crime) under the supervision of the French Public Prosecutor’s Office in Marseille to look into possible doping allegations of a cycling team participating in the Tour de France.

"Three people were interrogated. The investigation is ongoing and the evidence seized is being forensically examined. The properties of several riders and their staff were searched.

"An urgent coordination meeting was hosted by Eurojust on June 16 to facilitate judicial cooperation, including the execution of seven European Investigation Orders in the countries involved, and the preparation of the joint action."

A dozen Europol officers across the six countries were part of the investigation, helping to exchange information and forensically analyse the seized electronic devices. 

Several authorities were  involved in the operation in each country. They included the PPO (Public Prosecutors Office) and PSPE (Public Health and Environment Division) of Marseille; the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office and the Federal Judicial Police of Brussels; the Copenhagen Police.

Also working on the case were the Investigative Court, International Cooperation Section of the Prosecutor's Office and the Judicial Police Unit in Alicante; the County State Attorney’s Office in Rijeka, Croatia; the PPO Brescia and Carabinieri for the Protection of Public Health Units of Brescia, Roma and Ragusa in Italy; the Circuit Prosecutor’s Office and City Police in Łódź, Poland; and the Slovenian District Court and Police. 

Bahrain Victorious refused to answer any questions either about the latest in a series of raids on the team's accommodation or the Tour de France itself in what was one of the shortest pre-Tour de France press conferences in recent memory.

After a tense eight minutes in which the team read a statement, insisted all questions must relate to racing and then declined to answer even those the whole event was abruptly over.

The state-backed team's hotel in Copenhagen was searched by Danish Police this morning at 5:30am, the day before the race gets underway. That followed on from some riders, including Damiano Caruso, and Bahrain Victorious staff having their homes searched prior to arriving in Denmark and a raid on the team's hotel at the 2021 Tour de France.

In the early afternoon, team leaders Jack Haig and Matej Mohoric and performance director Vladimir Miholjević assembled before the world's press. A brief statement on the events of the morning was read out before the floor opened to questions.

One journalist in the room asked: "If we can't talk about the investigation then can I ask this. Could you tell me what the impact will be on having officers in your hotel at 5:30am in the morning?"

There was a pause as Haig and Mohoric stared blankly at the camera broadcasting to a virtual audience. Miholjević said: "As we said we will only be taking racing questions."

A selection of hands shot up. Journalists logging in remotely typed their questions to the riders in the video call's chat facility.

Some were about the raid, others were not. Cycling Weekly attempted to ask Jack Haig how he thought he could beat Primož Roglič and Tadej Pogačar.

But within seconds Miholjević spoke again: "No more questions."

If that eight minutes was indicative then over the next three weeks Bahrain Victorious may spend almost as much energy trying to outrun questions about the events of this morning as they will beating the other 21 teams on the start-line. 

Bahrain Victorious have confirmed that their team hotel in Copenhagen was searched by Danish police on behalf of French prosecutors at 5:30am on Thursday, the day before the Tour de France begins.

It follows riders and staff members having had their homes searched by police prior to their departure for the Tour, which was announced on Monday. Those searches formed part of an investigation that got underway in the wake of the team’s success at last year’s edition of the race

In a strongly worded but brief statement, Bahrain Victorious said that nothing was taken from them in the search of the hotel and the team's vehicles. Riders and staff were subject to the investigation.

"Following the police search into some staff and riders’ homes on Monday, the Team Bahrain Victorious hotel was searched by Danish Police at the request of the French Prosecutors this morning at 5:30 am," the statement said.

"The officers searched all team vehicles, staff and riders’ rooms. The team fully cooperated with all the officers’ requests, and the search was completed within two hours. No items were seized from the team.

"Following the police search, the team is now looking forward to focusing on the world’s biggest and best cycling race, Tour de France.

"The team will make no further comment on the subject."

The Danish news outlet Ekstrabladet was at the team's hotel in Glostrup, just outside Copenhagen, and has images showing the team standing around in the hotel car park while the search was carried out.

They also quoted Copenhagen Police Inspector Dannie Rise, who confirmed the search. "On the basis of a court request from the French police, as part of an ongoing investigation in France, the Copenhagen Police have conducted a search of the hotel in Brøndby," he said. "As this is an investigation being carried out by French police, we must refer to them for further comments."

Following the searches earlier this week across Europe, conducted by Europol, Bahrain Victorious said that they believe the "the timing of this investigation is aimed at intentionally damaging the team’s reputation".

The team were present at the Tour team presentation on Wednesday evening in Copenhagen, and will line up for the opening time trial on Friday afternoon.

Bahrain Victorious this afternoon announced that some of its riders and staff members have had their homes searched by police prior to their departure for the Tour de France.

The searches form part of an investigation that got underway in the wake of the team’s success at last year’s edition of the race. The team released a statement claiming the searches were designed to “intentionally damage the team’s reputation”. 

It said: “The investigation into the members of the team, which started almost a year ago and did not yield any results, continues just before the start of the most important cycling race, the Tour de France, and damages the reputation of individuals and Team Bahrain Victorious. Due to recent investigations, the team feels the timing of this investigation is aimed at intentionally damaging the team’s reputation.”  

The team won three stages at the 2021 Tour de France  and had their team hotel raided in Pau after stage 17.  

Today's statement read: “The house searches experienced today by members from Team Bahrain Victorious represent a continuation of the investigation process that began during the team’s successful performances at last year’s Tour de France. Bahrain Victorious were the only team in the Tour de France under investigation during the race last year. At no time, and so far, have the team been informed of the progress, results or received any feedback about the investigation from the Marseilles Prosecutor’s Office. Bahrain Victorious has repeatedly requested access to the file or acquaintance with the state of investigation but without success.” 

With the Tour de France due to begin in Denmark on Friday, the announcement of the searches will come as bad timing both for Bahrain Victorious and the race organisation [ASO]. 

The statement further added that Bahrain Victorious have “always cooperated completely transparently with all competent institutions and will continue to do so in the future".

It added they hoped for "a sense of the independence of investigators, as well as equal treatment of all teams”. 

Full Bahrain Victorious statement

“Some riders and staff of Team Bahrain Victorious had Police search their homes today before their departure to the Tour de France. 

Team Bahrain Victorious always works based on the highest standards of professionalism in sports,  including the integrity of all professional members and competitors. The team cooperates constructively in all procedures and with all competent institutions. The investigation into the members of the team, which started almost a year ago and did not yield any results, continues just before the start of the most important cycling race, the Tour de France, and damages the reputation of individuals and Team Bahrain Victorious. Due to recent investigations, the team feels the timing of this investigation is aimed at intentionally damaging the team’s reputation. 

The house searches experienced today by members from Team Bahrain Victorious represent a continuation of the investigation process that began during the team’s successful performances at last year’s Tour de France. Bahrain Victorious were the only team in the Tour de France under investigation during the race last year. At no time, and so far, have the team been informed of the progress, results or received any feedback about the investigation from the Marseilles Prosecutor’s Office. Bahrain Victorious has repeatedly requested access to the file or acquaintance with the state of investigation but without success.

Moreover, shortly after the investigation was carried out, the investigators illegally provided information regarding the seized items, on the basis of which an article was published in a professional medical journal. The journal stated that the team did not possess illicit substances. Still, this behaviour of the investigators casts doubt on the investigation’s credibility, given that information about the investigation by the French authorities comes to the media. In contrast, the team does not receive any feedback.

After almost a year of unsuccessful efforts by the team to obtain additional information,  the investigators decided on new investigations just days before the start of the most important cycling race, which undoubtedly casts a shadow of doubt on the purpose of the investigation. 

The team have always cooperated completely transparently with all competent institutions and will continue to do so in the future, with the hope of greater transparency and a sense of the independence of investigators, as well as equal treatment of all teams.”

Welshman Stephen Williams has said every day he can hold onto the lead at the tour de Suisse is "a bonus" after his stage win on day one.

The 26-year-old took an impressive stage win as he outsprinted the likes of Bora-Hansgrohe’s Max Schachmann and backed it up by retaining the jersey on stage two.

On his hopes for the rest of the week-long race, Williams feels that anything else that comes will be an added luxury. “Anything else this week for me personally is a bonus, I’ll continue each day now and see how it goes," he told Cycling Weekly. 

"We’ve come here with Gino (Mäder) for the overall classification which is 100% what we’re going to stick to. In terms of myself and this jersey we’ll take each day as it comes” he said.

The Welshman has long been considered one of Britain's strongest up and coming climbers but spent the early years of his career hampered by a serious knee injury. He announced his return to form when he took a stage win at the Cro Race 2021, beating Simon Yates (BikeExchange-Jayco) in the process. 

However, backing this early promise up with a first World Tour stage win and then retaining the leader's jersey the next day is a step up for Williams. 

“It feels like a bit of weights been lifted off my shoulders and it’s been a long time coming,” said Williams “then at the end of last season to go to Croatia and win I almost felt like I needed to go and win again you know how it is, to back that up.” 

“To go and do it at this level and show what I’m capable of is even more special for me” he added. 

Wearing the leader’s jersey at any World Tour race is a prestigious moment for any rider. “It’s amazing, last night I was full of emotion. After the stage yesterday it hadn’t really sunk in. I got back to my hotel room and phoned my parents and friends, that’s when it really hit me to be honest. I’m over the moon to still hold the jersey.” Williams adds. 

“I’ll just continue to enjoy it and wear the jersey with pride as things like this don’t come around very often. I’ll appreciate every moment I’m in it for now.” 

For much of Tuesday's Tour of the Alps stage, it looked like the breakaway was going to stay away until the finish.

Ten riders went clear on the first climb of the day, which began almost immediately from the stage start in San Martino di Castrozza; the group included big hitters like Pavel Sivakov, Miguel Ángel López, and Michael Storer. Storer and Sivakov, in fact, stayed away until under 10km to go, when they were swept up by the onrushing peloton in the final descent into Lana.

Not that Pello Bilbao, the day's eventual winner, was overly worried. He and his Bahrain-Victorious team knew they had the strength to catch the leaders out front.

"We knew that the stage was going to be more difficult in the beginning than in the end, but we didn’t expect such a big movement in the beginning," Bilbao said post-stage. "We were patient, we were confident in this. Maybe it was difficult to believe that we were going to catch, but we just kept riding at a good pace and every single rider worked their best. 

"From the beginning to the end it was impressive to see four Bahrain Victorious riders finish in such a small group. They still had good legs to put me in a good place for the sprint."

The Basque rider climbed into the leader's jersey as a result. The last two editions have been won by the rider who won stage two of this race; Sivakov in 2019 and Simon Yates in 2021, but Bilbao is not thinking so far ahead.

Instead, he is basking in the enjoyment of a win made all the sweeter by the fact it was delivered by the team.

"We showed strength, but also two days we were spending a lot of energy, and there are still three important days to come," he said. "Every day we will race like a classic, going for the stage victory. 

"Today I am super proud of this victory, I enjoy it in a special way when we demonstrate that cycling is a team sport. It was impossible to arrive here without the team, all six riders."

Asked if whether, aged 32, this is the best Bilbao we have seen so far, the Bahrain rider replied "maybe" it is the best shape he has ever been in.

"I think I’ve progressed steadily over the years, I’ve grown year by year," he said. "Maybe yes this is the best shape I’m ever in."

Bahrain-Victorious have Bilbao and Santiago Buitrago in the top ten on general classification, and Mikel Landa and Herman Pernsteiner just outside it.

"All in all, my team-mates are happy to help and I’m happy to help them too," Bilbao said. "There will come a time when I will be the one to work for the others, and I won’t back down."

As for the future, Bilbao admitted that the maglia rosa, the leader's jersey at the Giro d'Italia, would be a "dream". Rather humbly, he said he was just a "good regular rider".

"I've always taken part in the Giro in the last few years, it’s a race that I’ve loved but haven’t succeeded in," he said, although he has won two stages and finished eighth overall.

"As a rider, I’m not sure it’s going to be that easy because I’m not the strongest against the clock, I’m not the strongest climber. I’m a good regular rider, but I don’t think it would be that easy in the first place. Not easy, but not impossible."

It will be easier with the might of Bahrain-Victorious behind him, and easier to make those dreams come true if Bilbao keeps up his impressive form on mountainous stages, as we saw on Tuesday. For now, though, there is the question of a lot more climbing this week.

"The following three stages will be harder and harder," Bilbao said. "Ineos for sure will be very dangerous, they have shown that they can ride aggressively this season."

Bahrain-Victorious have terminated the contract of one of their riders, Alejandro Osorio, for "multiple contract breaches".

The Colombian had only joined the WorldTour team at the beginning of this year, and raced just eight times. 

The team posted on Twitter: "Bahrain Victorious have terminated their agreement with Alejandro Osorio following multiple contract breaches. The team wishes Alejandro the best for his future."

The squad's manager, Milan Erzen told VeloNews that it was connected to Covid policies, explaining that he put the team in "difficult situations" by going outside the Covid bubble.

Speaking to Telemedellín at the Clásica de Rionegro this week, Osorio said he "didn't feel welcome" at the team. He joined from Caja Rural in the off-season, and his contract was officially ended last week after the appropriate forms were sent to the cycling's governing body, the UCI.

"I prepared really well, trained well, but the truth is I didn't feel welcome," the 23-year-old said. I see a team as a family, but it was work, work, work, I didn't feel support and that's how the problems started."

Ezren said that there were "some things you can't accept" and Osorio had gone too far after warnings had been made.

“He can come out with his explanation and if he wants to talk he can explain,” he said.

“It’s not one thing but from the beginning, he made many wrong things and we can’t accept that. He put riders and staff in difficult situations. Especially about COVID and everything.”

“The letter went to the UCI one week and that’s it. Some things you can’t accept. We have 100 people on our team and the rules are for everyone. We gave him one warning after a couple of things but he made them again. 

"So we decided to terminate the contract. It’s more than during the races; he went outside the COVID bubble. We have all the documents.”

His last race for Bahrain-Victorious was Strade Bianche last month. 

For each article in this long-running WATT WORKS FOR ME series from Cycling Weekly's print edition, we ask a pro rider about their favourite things in training: what has helped them most in getting to where they are today.  The aim is to get to the heart of the beliefs and preferences they hold dear when it comes to building form, maximising fitness and ultimately achieving results. For this edition, we speak to Fred Wright... 

You live near Manchester and share a house with Ethan Hayter and Matt Walls – a good training environment?

It was actually really good in lockdown, having others to train with who could push you on. I don’t think there were many riders who had that situation, so I was quite lucky really. For me, lockdown didn’t seem that bad – compared to some riders not even being allowed to go outside.

Your first race back post-lockdown was Strade Bianche (1 August 2020). How did it go?

To be honest, I was a little bit disappointed [to DNF], it being such a big race. I got a bit unlucky and then I just didn't have anything in the heat. I was cooked really early on, and that was me done for the day. My Garmin recorded 42ºC, and I’d never raced in that kind of heat before – being from the UK doesn’t help sometimes!

How did you get started in cycling?

It was just something my dad recommended for the summer holidays, to fill my time as a nine- or 10-year-old. I was pretty young, but just loved it straight away.

And when did you get more serious about it?

Around the age of 14 or 15, when I got selected for the [British Cycling] Talent Team. When all that started to happen, I was like, ‘Wow, I’m pretty good at this’. From then on, I stayed with British Cycling until last year [upon signing for CCC].

Who was most influential in shaping you as a rider?

Probably older youth riders – [in VC Londres] there was always someone I'd ride with and race against as mates, someone to keep trying to be better than. I was never the top guy, and I think that really helped, as I was always aspiring to be like that person who was a bit older than me. And now it’s me and Ethan [Hayter] and Jacob [Vaughan] who are inspiring the younger guys – it’s an ongoing cycle. Also, my first coach Stuart Blunt was a really important influence. His training was never very specific or super-structured – I didn’t have a power meter as a junior – as it was more about riding according to your own feelings, and that’s something I’ll always keep with me.

Is that the way you still prefer to train?

I guess it depends; what with being in the [Bahrain-Victorious] setup now, there are times when you have to get your really specific hours done and ride to certain powers. But when I have a general ride to do, most of the time I do just ride it on feel – and if the watts are a bit higher than usual, then great, and if not, it doesn’t matter. It annoys me every time I get frustrated that I don’t have my Garmin – I have to remind myself that all I’ve got to do is ride my bike!

RIDER PROFILE: FRED WRIGHT

Age: 22

Height: 6ft 1in

Weight: 75kg

Lives: Manchester

Rides for: Bahrain-Victorious  

Best results: 7th – Tour of Flanders (2022)

1st – Stage 4, Tour de l'Avenir (2019) 

1st – Madison, UK National Track Champs (2019)

Twitter: @fred_wright0

Instagram: fred.w

Sonny Colbrelli had an "unstable cardiac arrhythmia that required defibrillation" at the end of the Volta a Catalunya stage one, his team have said.

Bahrain-Victorious released an update on the Italian on Tuesday afternoon, which said that he was in a "good" situation, despite falling unconscious on Monday.

He collapsed quickly after sprinting to second on the uphill drag in Sant Feliu de Guíxols behind Michael Matthews.

However, the rider will stay in hospital in Girona for a further day in order to have further tests to be performed on him. 

Earlier on Tuesday the team said that Colbrelli is conscious and "feeling okay" in hopsital, and tests show no "signs of concern".

The Italian told media from his own country that he did not remember anything of the incident.

“I’m here in the hospital, resting, I don’t remember anything,” Colbrelli told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Only that I crossed the line, I stopped, I took the water and I collapsed. Then the emptiness, and I woke up in the hospital.”

The updated Bahrain-Victorious statement reads: "Following the end of Stage 1 of Volta a Catalunya, our medical team can confirm that Sonny Colbrelli suffered from an unstable cardiac arrhythmia that required defibrillation. 

"The cause is still to be determined, and the Italian rider will undergo further tests tomorrow at the Hospital Universitari de Girona.

"The team would like to thank Borja Saenz de Cos - Emergency Nurse at Sistema d’Emergencies Mediques (Catalan Emergency Service) – for his prompt assistance at the finish yesterday and for supporting our medical staff in the management of the incident.

"Sonny Colbrelli’s clinical situation is good, and we wish him a prompt recovery."

“Now I’m here, they keep me monitored,” Colbrelli told La Gazzetta. “It was a great scare, but I am already thinking about when I will be able to return to the group. “

Dylan Teuns, one of Colbrelli's teammates at Catalunya, told Cycling Weekly that he had been exchanging text messages with the Italian overnight.

"It was just a stressful moment, the unknown moment of what was happening," Teuns said. "Later on we got updates from more teammates and once we knew he was OK we were a bit more relaxed again. We are now focused on the race again."

Colbrelli has been reposting the messages of support he has received on his social media. Among the riders to be in public contact with the Italian were Remco Evenepoel, Wout Poels and Alessandro De Marchi.

Sonny Colbrelli is conscious and "feeling okay" in hopsital, and tests show no "signs of concern", his team have said after the Italian rider collapsed at the end of the Volta a Catalunya's opening stage on Monday.

Bahrain Victorious released a statement on Tuesday morning, explaining that Colbrelli will undergo further tests to work out what caused the incident.

The European champion received emergency medical treatment metres after the finish line of Monday's stage, and was taken to hospital in Girona shortly after.

He had finished second on the uphill drag in Sant Feliu de Guíxols behind Michael Matthews, but then fell unconscious shortly after. He did not start stage two in L'Escala.

The team said Colbrelli was in a "stable condition" on Monday evening, but their update on Tuesday clarifies that he is conscious.

It reads: "After being admitted to Hospital Universitari de Girona Doctor Josep Trueta, Sonny Colbrelli was conscious and feeling okay. He has since been in touch with family and friends as he recovers at the hospital.

"Colbrelli will undergo further tests today to discover the cause of yesterday’s incident. All cardiac tests carried out last night showed no signs of concern or compromised functions. Further updates will follow."

He withdrew after the opening stage of Paris-Nice earlier this month with suspected bronchitis, which also kept him out of Milan-San Remo on Saturday.

The communique released by the Volta a Catalunya organisers gave more details on the incident, which impacted riders from many teams at the finish line on Monday.

“About 100 meters after crossing the finish line, Colbrelli lost consciousness with seizures and subsequently suffered cardiopulmonary arrest,” the statement read. “Paramedics immediately attended to him and were able to reverse the situation with CPR and the use of a defibrillator.”

Dylan Teuns, one of Colbrelli's teammates at Catalunya, told Cycling Weekly that he had been exchanging "a couple of text messages" with the Italian overnight.

"It was just a stressful moment, the unknown moment of what was happening," Teuns said. "Later on we got updates from more teammates and once we knew he was OK we were a bit more relaxed again. We are now focused on the race again."

Colbrelli has been reposting the messages of support he has received on his social media. Among the riders to be in public contact with the Italian were Remco Evenepoel, Wout Poels and Alessandro De Marchi.

Sonny Colbrelli is in a "stable condition", his team have said, after he collapsed from a suspected cardiac arrest just metres after the finish of stage one of the Volta a Catalunya.

Almost immediately after the finish line and finishing second, the Bahrain-Victorious rider fell to the ground. He was attended to by medics within seconds and was promptly given treatment to attempt to revive him. It is said that he responded positively to the treatment and he is conscious. 

The team released a short statement on Monday evening: "Following the sprint on Stage 1 of Volta a Catalunya, Sonny Colbrelli fell unconscious. Colbrelli underwent further medical assistance, and he was in stable condition upon being taken into an ambulance to Hospital Universitari de Girona to investigate his condition further.

"Team Bahrain Victorious would like to thank the organisers and the medical teams for their support and assistance."

"Further updates will follow."

There was a notable air of eeriness at the finish on the Catalan coast, with one Bahrain-Victorious team official telling Cycling Weekly 10 minutes following the race conclusion that: "We're still waiting for news."

As medics put up blankets around the rider to prevent people taking photos and videos, one rider from a different team was seen crying and remained at the site for a number of minutes in shock.

Colbrelli appeared in good form, as he finished second on the stage, but shortly after fell unconscious. He withdrew early from Paris-Nice earlier this month with suspected bronchitis, which also kept him out of Milan-San Remo on Saturday.

He is the current European road race champion, and was triumphant in Paris-Roubaix in October. He also came second in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad last month.

Among those to send their best wishes to the Italian rider was Team BikeExchange-Jayco, whose rider Michael Matthews won in front of Colbrelli earlier on Monday in Sant Feliu de Guíxols. 

Post-stage, Matthews said: "Firstly, I just want to say, I hope Sonny Colbrelli is ok. I found out after the finish what happened, it’s never nice to hear something like this after your victory and I’m wishing him a good recovery and I’m hoping he’s ok."

The whole team at Cycling Weekly wish Colbrelli well, and hope that he makes a good recovery.

There might not be a win just yet, but Fred Wright can feel one coming. The Bahrain-Victorious rider was up there among the best at Paris-Nice, finishing in the top-10 twice in the opening three stages and impressed in the time trial too, coming 13th.

“I can see it happening hopefully, I don't know when, I don't know where but I'm always going to be pushing,” the 22-year old told Cycling Weekly in a rainy Nice at the end of the eight-day stage race.

>>> Five things we learned from Paris-Nice 2022

Wright finished eighth on the first stage after Jumbo-Visma performed their coup and took the podium away from everyone else; in effect, he was fourth in the sprint behind Mads Pedersen of Trek-Segafredo. On stage three, Wright was again behind the Dane as he won in Dun-le-Palestel, but he was one of the punchier riders who survived on a testing course as other sprinters did not make the finish.

On the stage four time trial, Wright came 13th, ahead of established time triallists like Luke Durbridge and Dylan van Baarle; it was in fact his best time trial result at WorldTour level.

“I'm really happy with the legs, we've got Jack [Haig] up here on GC (he finished sixth overall), but I've been given my own chances, especially since Sonny [Colbrelli] was out at the start of the race,” the Londoner explained.

“It has been a good week and I'm really happy,” Wright explained. “It has been hard racing all the time, but I've been happy to be up there. The gap is smaller than it has been in the past, I can see it happening hopefully, I don't know when, I don't know where but I'm always going to be pushing. 

“I'm settling myself into the team well and I know where I might be given opportunities, especially with the Classics coming up there's so much racing. I'm looking forward to it.”

Next, he will ride Milan-San Remo at the weekend, where he will one of the options Bahrain-Victorious have alongside Matej Mohorič and Sonny Colbrelli, if he recovers from illness.

Wright raced the Monument last year as well, but feels in better shape for it this time around.

“I'm now going to do San Remo next weekend, I wasn't originally going to do it,” he said “I did it last year but it was almost too much with the amount of racing at the start of the season, but actually this year I'm happy with where I'm at and I'm not too tired, and I think it should be good.”

On this form, he might find a way to win sooner rather than later. One other thing he has on his side is luck, being one of the resolute 59 who finished the race in Nice. His team was down to just three riders before the end, and the mass abandonments meant Wright actually ended up finishing 30th overall.

“I was rooming with Gino Mäder and he got the same illness everyone else has got, luckily I seem to have been alright,” he said. “I'm obviously going to have to take it super easy after this race because it has been hard. I think maybe I'm just one of the lucky ones to be honest.

“Maybe the third of the guys that aren't here are just unlucky. Fingers crossed I'll avoid all covid and whatever else this bug is that's going round.”

Ahead of the final stage, Wright was just focusing on keeping warm and staying upright, which was easier said than done on a torrid day on the Côte d’Azur. 

“Staying warm today, that's the priority,” he told Cycling Weekly. “It's going to be easy enough to stay warm on the climbs, but I don't know about when I eventually get dropped and ride into the finish. And stay upright too.”

Fortunately, he managed to finish, coming in just six minutes behind Simon Yates, the stage winner. Now, he will head onto the Classics and hopefully a win that might come soon.

As we all get back to work in 2022, pro riders are doing just the same. However, unlike us in our (slightly tighter than memory...) work from home slacks, many of them are adjusting to new teams - and new kit. 

From 1 January, most pros are permitted to don their new kits, if they have moved teams, meaning we can begin to start memorising the new uniforms of our favourite riders. 

Among those showing off their kits are Elia Viviani, who returns to Ineos Grenadiers after four years away, and João Almeida, who moved from Deceuninck-Quick Step to UAE-Team Emirates.

Viviani is one of a tranche of new signings for Ineos Grenadiers, with Luke Plapp, Ben Tullett and Omar Fraile also appearing in the new Bioracer kit. Almeida, meanwhile, has been joined at UAE by George Bennett, Marc Soler and Pascal Ackermann among others.

Sam Bennett returns to Bora-Hansgrohe after two years away with Deceuninck-Quick Step and has been photographed in the new smart Le Col kit, while Tiesj Benoot is out in his new Jumbo-Visma strip after his move away from Team DSM. He was featured in a post by the team alongside other star signing Christophe Laporte.

Another departing from DSM was Michael Storer, who has been photographed in his Groupama-FDJ kit. The Australian will be hoping to build on his stage win at last year's Vuelta a España.

Astana-Qazaqstan released videos of returning riders Vincenzo Nibali and Miguel Ángel López in their new blue colours, after their transfers from Trek-Segafredo and Movistar respectively. 

QuickStep-AlphaVinyl posted images of their new signings in their Castelli-designed kit,  with Stan Van Tricht, Ilan Van Wilder, Ethan Vernon, and Louis Vervaeke all featuring. Julian Alaphilippe's world champions kit has undergone a slight redesign as well.

TotalEnergies' 2022 kit is yet to be released, but we know it will be made by Sportful and feature white over the shoulders, as per a post from their big new signing Peter Sagan.

Meanwhile, in the women's peloton, Elisa Balsamo has posted photos of her in her new Trek-Segafredo world champion kit, and Lotte Kopecky has been pictured in her SD-Worx Belgian champion kit.

Here are a few highlights from social media of riders looking smart in their new outfits for this season.

Team Bahrain Victorious has announced that Rafael Valls has decided to retire after 11 seasons on the WorldTour, despite still having a contract that runs until the end of 2022. 

The Spanish rider says he came to the decision to retire after carefully weighing up his options, concluding that he can no longer compete at the elite level. 

In a team statement, Valls said: “I’ve decided to stop racing from next season. In the summer, following the Giro, I had agreed to continue in 2022. However, after consideration over the past few weeks, I’ve decided to stop. 

"I always want to compete at my best and perform at my highest level. But, after suffering several crashes over the years, I’ve got to be honest, and I don’t think I’m in the mindset to compete at that level.

"Now I will take time away from cycling and focus on me and my family. I will always be grateful to the management and staff at Team Bahrain Victorious, who have been very supportive over the last two seasons.”

Involved in the Bahrain Victorious squad that picked up two stage wins at the 2021 Giro d'Italia through Gino Mäder and  Damiano Caruso, Valls has subsequently decided that he can't continue as a pro cyclist.

The 34-year-old joined the Bahrain-based team at the beginning of 2020, but in his first race with the team on stage two of the Tour Down Under he suffered a sacral fracture. 

Valls was then involved in a severe crash on the opening stage of the Tour de France that year, where he suffered a broken femur in his fifth and final Tour appearance. With his season ended early in 2020, the Spaniard returned in 2021 with strong performances.

However, these injuries sustained from crashes weren't the first experiences for Valls. In 2017, his season ended early after fracturing his hip in a training ride crash just after the Tour de Pologne. 

Clearly, these incidents have taken a mental and physical toll on Valls, culminating in his decision to retire. 

Valls rode for Vacansoleil, Lotto, Movistar and Lampre in his professional career, before ending up with Bahrain Victorious for the final two seasons. In 2015 he won the Tour of Oman, and in 2010 he narrowly missed out on a stage win at the Tour de France during his first professional season, finishing second on the mountain stage to Station des Rousses.

Jack Haig has been working on his time trialing as he looks to build on a Vuelta a España podium performance in 2021, focusing his 2022 attentions on the overall standings at the Tour de France.

The French Grand Tour has 53km worth of time trial racing next year, with an opening ITT in the Danish capital city of Copenhagen kicking things off before a 40km ride on stage 20 between Lacapelle-Marival and Rocamadour.

The 28-year-old Australian had a superb Vuelta a España in 2021 where he finished third overall behind winner Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) and Spaniard Enric Mas (Movistar) with Haig's team-mate Gino Mäder finishing fifth after original leader, Mikel Landa, faded before abandoning.

>>> Jan Ullrich hospitalised after relapse, according to report

Haig's 2021 Tour wasn't quite so successful, with the climber crashing out of the race on stage three, alongside multiple other favourites such as Roglič, who abandoned later in the race, and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) who went on to finish the race in support of Richard Carapaz.

In a press conference at Bahrain Victorious' training camp, Haig said: "The result in the Vuelta has given me a bit more confidence now to really go into the bigger stage races with confidence that I can do it and I can achieve a good performance over three weeks.

"Whereas going to the Tour de France this year before I had my crash, there was a bit of uncertainty there because it was the first time that I really had been given the opportunity by the team and also had the pressure on myself to build up to such a big race and try to perform at three weeks."

Haig has been at the Bahrain Victorious training camp with the entire team for the 2022 season, including all the new signings.

The team decided that, if Haig wants to go for Grand Tours, he needs to work on his time trialing along with the rest of the roster.

"We have some really strong riders here," he continued. "So we are working super hard during this December training camp and in January on optimising the TT set up and hopefully we can turn the longer TT's - for example in next year's Tour de France at the end - into a bit more of an advantage rather than a disadvantage."

He went on to say how the atmosphere in the ranks back in January was odd with Rod Ellingworth and big name car brand McLaren both leaving the team, but Haig says that by Paris-Nice everything was feeling more organised and "streamlined".

Bahrain Victorious were just that on multiple occasions over 2021 with the team taking 30 wins over 2021 with Paris-Roubaix and the European Championships road race going to Sonny Colbrelli, not to mention five Grand Tour stage wins, including three at the Tour de France.

For the 2022 season, Haig has said that he likely starting his season at the UAE Tour before following a "similar path" to the season just gone, towards the Tour which would include Paris-Nice, Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Tour de Romandie and Critérium du Dauphiné.

British rider Fred Wright took to Twitter to share an x-ray of a broken collarbone he suffered while training with his Bahrain Victorious team-mates in Altea, Spain.

The Bahrain-based team were training in the municipality located in the Alicante province preparing for the 2022 season with a full compliment of riders on their roster. However, the 22-year-old unfortunately broke his right collarbone after crashing on one of the training rides.

Wright said on Twitter: "Fancied a new collarbone plate for Christmas. Still had a great time on camp, guess it's just a few extra easy days over the festive period then back to it in January."

>>> 'I know I'll be back stronger': World Scratch champion undergoes successful heart surgery

The Briton will undergo surgery next week just a couple of days after Christmas, but he expects to be able to join up with Bahrain Victorious as the team's preparations start to ramp up. 

Wright joined Bahrain Victorious for the 2020 season, after a short spell with UCI WorldTeam CCC Team - now Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux - from August 2019 until the end of that year.

The 22-year-old won stage four of the Giro d'Italia Virtual in April 2020, held amid the Covid-19 pandemic. He also raced in the 2020 Vuelta a España, with his best finish coming on the fifteenth stage, where he placed fourth. 

Wright enjoyed a successful 2021 season, winning the National Under-23 Road Championships, while also placing second in the road race at the National Championships and fourth in the time trial. He was also the youngest rider at this year's Tour de France. 

He also finished third on the third stage of the Tour of Hungary, and picked up a notable tenth-place at Eschborn-Frankfurt. 

Team Bahrain Victorious have strengthened their roster for the upcoming season too, bringing in Filip Macijuk, Luis León Sánchez, Johan Price-Pejtersen, Alejandro Osorio, Jasha Sütterlin and Edoardo Zambanini. Meanwhile, Marco Haller is the only departure so far.

The team took five Grand Tour stages in 2021 as well as a podium at the Vuelta with Jack Haig. Not to mention Sonny Colbrelli's Paris-Roubaix, European road race and Benelux overall victories. Bahrain Victorious will head into 2022 full of confidence and optimism. 

Scott Davies has announced he will be retiring from professional cycling at the age of 26.

The Welsh rider said the decision was one he had hoped "wouldn't come so soon," however, referred to his career as a journey he'll be "forever grateful for."

The decision comes following surgery and rehab for a hip injury that halted his 2021 season, culminating in Davies' decision to retire.

Davies is currently on the books of Bahrain Victorious and has been with the team for two years, after two seasons with the now named Qhubeka-NextHash who he joined from Team Wiggins.

>>> Vuelta a España 2022 route: New Asturian summit finish, Sierra Nevada and the return to Madrid

In a statement posted to his social media feeds, Davies said: "After a challenging 18 months with injury, surgery, and rehab, I've had to come to the difficult decision to retire early from professional cycling at the end of the year. A decision I'd hoped wouldn't come so soon, but one that comes at the end of a journey that I'll be forever grateful for.

"My 11-year-old self would have never believed that my passion for cycling would one day become my profession. I am incredibly lucky to have been able to race all over the world and to have met some fantastic people along the way. I have gained experiences and lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

"Life as a professional cyclist has taught me the value of discipline, resilience, commitment, attention to detail and trusting in yourself.

"Thank you to everyone who believed in me, supported me, and gave me the opportunities to succeed. To all of my former teammates and colleagues, it's been a pleasure to work with you all.

"I'm sincerely grateful to all the teams I've been a part of, to Welsh Cycling & Sport Wales who have supported me throughout my career, and in particular to all of those who have been a part of my rehab process this year. I owe a special thank you to my friends and family who have supported me through the highs and lows of professional sport. Last but not least, to my parents and longest supporters, Aled and Tina.

"It's now time for me to reflect before deciding on what my next challenges and opportunities will be."

Whilst Davies didn't manage to achieve a pro victory, he did ride some of the world's biggest races including a Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España, also taking the under 23 national time trial title.

The hip injury reared its head at the Vuelta, where he finished in 111th place. This meant he needed surgery and he didn't race again until the Bretagne Classic on August 29, which he did not finish, likewise at the national championships, his final race.

Davies was a very talented U23 rider, having collected impressive results against now well-established stars of the sport, not to mention a fourth overall in the U23 Giro along the way.

"I will try and answer your questions about everything you want to know," Matej Mohorič says, smiling down the camera lens, once again beamed into the drab offices and home studies of cycling journalists looking for a crumb of a news story on a Sunday afternoon in December.

Luckily, the story of Matej Mohorič's 2021 season is overflowing with all the requisite parts of a good tale. Obstacles, desire, conflict, climax, plot and intrigue.

The year started with an outfoxing by Thomas De Gendt on the run-in to Barcelona during the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, before flirtation with the top 10 at esteemed meetings such as Milan-Sanremo, the Amstel Gold and Liège, before the spectacularly worrying head-over-heels tumble at the Giro d'Italia.

With the Slovenian national champion's jersey on his back, Mohorič arrived at the Tour de France as part of a Bahrain-Victorious squad brimming with confidence. The revelation of Damiano Caruso at the Italian Grand Tour pointed to the squad living up to their name, while Mark Padun's back-to-back stage wins at the Critérium du Dauphiné were met with raised eyebrows.

>>> Mikel Landa not under pressure to perform at Bahrain-Victorious but still aims for a grand tour win

On stage seven Mohorič sealed a solo victory, then followed up by Dylan Teuns a day later before Sonny Colbrelli dispensed with the shackles that usually afflict fast men forced to go uphill, surviving from the breakaway to finish third on the summit finish at Tignes.

Mohorič would take Bahrain's third win of the race on stage 19, his finish line celebration one that will live long in the memory, putting his finger to his lips, trying to quiet the storm surrounding a drugs search of his team hotel. The gesture, intended or not, stoked memories of Lance Armstrong's infamous mouth-zipping.

But before getting down and dirty in the mud, let's deal with the less scurrilous matters.

"My race programme for the next season is more or less drafted," Mohorič says. It's not 100 per cent, but after starting at stage races in Spain and the opening weekend in Belgium, the 27-year-old will aim for glory in Italy at Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-Sanremo. 

Then come the Belgian Classics, which will end with Liège, before another build-up for the Tour de France. After that, the BinckBank Tour (where he finished second overall this year) and the Canadian one-day races could provide a third runway to peaking in time for the World Championships in Wollongong.

"It’s a hard call because I can do well in both one-day races and short stage races," Mohorič says of how his racing guile means choosing specific targets is probably the most difficult task facing him at the moment.

"It’s hard to focus on one single goal. We will try to do it how we always have, try and identify some of the goals for the season and to be as good as we can on that day."

One result of Mohorič successfully achieving his identified goals means his profile has risen enough to put his name to a foundation back in Slovenia. This isn't the start of his charitable efforts but now his name carries the weight to attract more lucrative sponsors, providing financial assistance to homegrown juniors in a pro rider market that is increasingly skewed towards WorldTour squads scooping up young prospects.

Another non-racing aspect of the cause is focused on family participation in events, while also attempting to reverse the trend of a decreasing number of races for the youngest age groups to get their start in cycling.

"I think it was actually probably ever so slightly better in my times because the investment was financially easier," Mohorič says of turning pro as a Slovenian. "It didn't require as much money as it does now. We will try to help them now and they will have the best support they need - we hope to help them grow. 

"It’s definitely changed but society, in general, has changed, it’s become a lot more structured and you need to work much more specifically to turn professional. I already was, when I was 18, but now it’s more normal. It’s become very common because the knowledge is more easily accessible and everyone is training more properly and sooner. Tadej [Pogačar] won the Tour at 21, so everyone is getting stronger."

Currently attending a team training camp, Mohorič says the atmosphere is as you'd expect after the team's most successful year to date.

"We've come here motivated, everyone is confident that what we are doing is good, I think we’re even more focused on details. I must say I enjoy it a lot, I'm looking forward to the next season and have identified a lot of things that can be improved that we’re already working on and these months are the only time when you can work on them.

"I will focus on getting to the Tour in the best possible condition to try and win a stage again," he promises. "I think we’ll go [to the Tour] with a similar goal and plan to last season, not try to change it too much.

"It will be very hard to repeat [our success] but it’s not impossible," he continues. "Of course, I also made some mistakes and there were many second places for me and the team so we will try and do better than that."

While the Tour was a fantastic success for the team, it's unlikely the doubt that lingers following the police raid at that race will subside anytime soon.

As the Zoom call is winding down, Mohorič, who is at ease and articulate throughout, says: "We will wait to see if there are any more questions, if not we will see you at the race."

With reporters instructed to type out questions in the chat rather than the usual taking it in turns to pop up on-screen, disheveled in contrast to the preened athletes they are talking to.

"Matej, nobody from the team management is doing video interviews today, so I ask you this question," asks one reporter.

"The team was searched by the police during the Tour de France and you were involved. Is there any news on the investigation?"

"Ok, no more questions, we will see you at the races, bye, thank you!" Mohorič says. Maybe he didn't see the question pop up (and we've asked the team for clarification) so we'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Bahrain-Victorious say there is no update regarding the investigation, which means this will likely drag on.

As for the medical research paper that revealed three unnamed riders were found to have a muscle relaxant in their system at a major "three-week cyclist race in France", Bahrain-Victorious released a statement at the time saying they had not officially or unofficially been notified about any findings related to tizanidine or other substances. The team has referred back to this statement on the matter.

As well as being quite the bike racer, Mohorič is intelligent, speaks deeply and at length. At the Tour, he was defiant in the wake of the search, saying he has nothing to hide and was made to feel like a criminal.

Undoubtedly, the riders will hope management step up and deal with this episode better than they have done so far, and let the riders get on with racing their bikes. The levelling up that began with Rod Ellingworth in raising the team to the standard of the best in the peloton is still a work in progress.

One thing is for sure, the story isn't over just yet, and the genre and storyline remain undefined. 

Mikel Landa does not feel the pressure from the success of his teammates at Bahrain-Victorious and despite underperforming himself he still hopes for a grand tour win in 2022. 

The Spanish rider has won just one race for Bahrain, the 2021 Vuelta a Burgos, while his team has gone from strength to strength. 

Bahrain-Victorious lived up to the latter part of their name, achieving stage wins in each of the grand tours this year, podiums on general classification at the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España, and winning the rescheduled Paris-Roubaix.

Speaking to the media from a training camp on Sunday, Landa said: “Last season was a great one for Bahrain-Victorious, but I never feel exceptionally under pressure to perform. The more riders there are winning and doing well on GC, the better for the squad."

He was clear that the team wants to build on their breakout year: “This season has been super good, so we have to find continuity and then improve, try to improve year by year.”

Landa’s season was badly affected by a serious crash on stage five of the Giro, during which he sustained a fractured clavicle and ribs. He had to undergo surgery following the accident, which forced him to withdraw from the race.

Following the incident, Landa was largely anonymous at the Vuelta a España until he abandoned on stage 17, while his teammates Jack Haig and Gino Mäder starred. Landa did not avoid the fact that his 2021 was “difficult”. 

However, Bahrain have re-signed him until 2023, putting faith in his GC abilities. In fact, it is the first time that he has spent more than two years with one team since he left Euskaltel - Euskadi in 2013. In that time, he has had two year spells at Astana, Team Sky and then Movistar.

For 2022, his one wish is to have “good health”. 

“I always need a bit of luck, but if I am healthy then I can give my best,” he said. “Last year I had a very difficult season because of the Giro, so my one goal is to be competitive throughout.”

"I still want to be better and better so I have to find that continuity, improve year by year,” he added.

Since joining what was then Bahrain-McLaren ahead of the 2020 season, Landa’s time at the team has been affected by the pandemic and then by injury. His fourth place at the 2020 Tour de France pointed to a consistency that the Basque rider hopes can return, however. 

His big objective for the season is to race the Tour, and he named this as the grand tour he would like to take part in. Meanwhile, the Giro could also suit him with its low volume of time-trialling, at just 26.3km on the planned route. 

Landa explained: “Having so little time trialling makes it [the Giro] a great opportunity. I don't know whether I'll do one or the other, but ideally, I'd like to be in both."

The Spanish rider named a win at a grand tour as his aim next year, despite only finishing on the podium of one once: the Giro in 2015. He has however finished in the top ten of the Giro and the Tour six times.

His preparations for the new season are reasonably lightweight. "I've done a few changes on the TT bike, but nothing more special than that," he explained. "With a training camp now and another in January, it all goes around pretty quickly and hopefully I'm going to be in a good place when it comes to starting the year.

“My off-season has been relaxed like always, some holiday… I think I’m ready to again be in good shape for 2022.”

Sonny Colbrelli says his historic victory at Paris-Roubaix has allowed him to enter 2022 with his eyes firmly set on the Classics.

The European champion has had an exceptional year with Bahrain Victorious, having taken eight wins over the season, including Roubaix, stage and overall at the Benelux Tour and a stage at the Critérium du Dauphiné.

But it's the Roubaix success that the 31-year-old Italian says has inspired a surge in confidence. Colbrelli took the win by beating young Belgian Florian Vermeersch (Lotto-Soudal) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) on his debut at the 'Hell of the North'.

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At his team's training camp in Spain, Colbrelli said: "Winning Paris-Roubaix paid me back for years of sacrifice and hard work and it gives me even more morale for the future. 

"I know that a lot of people will be marking me but I know I'm one of the biggest riders in the Classics now, the world rankings show that. I'm proud of that but it's also an extra responsibility. I hope to stay up there with Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel."

"My outline programme will be much like this year. I'll start with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, then we'll decide if I ride Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico. After that I'll ride all the Classics, starting with Milan-San Remo and ending with Paris-Roubaix,"

Colbrelli is not yet looking towards the other Monuments away from Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders and his title defence at Roubaix. However, he showed at the Tour de France that, on his day, he can climb with the best of them - crossing the line third on stage nine at the ski resort of Tignes. Climbing prowess puts him in line for a stab at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Il Lombardia.

"People say I haven't perhaps realised what I've done but I often watch the race again and I'm happier and prouder to have won than ever before," he continued. 

"But I haven't changed, I'm the same person I was before I won Paris-Roubaix. That's important to me."

One defining victory for Colbrelli was his win at the Italian national championships, where he beat Fausto Masnada (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) from a break. This success gave him the confidence to not just wait for the sprint, thus launching a winning streak.

Colbrelli will be the main man for Bahrain Victorious next season on the flatter terrain, but he remains adamant that he will support his team-mates if needed: "We'll have a strong team and I won't be the only leader.

"I'll have some strong riders alongside me like Matej Mohorič, Heinrich Haussler, Fred Wright and others. They'll be important for the Classics.

"If I'm not at my best, I'll be the first to help my teammates like Matej. We did that in the past at the Benelux Tour and will do it again. We've shown our strengths in the past and that we can be competitive."

“I don’t really want to go into the knee,” Stevie Williams asks. “Every interview I’ve done in the last three years has been based around that. A lot of people are sick of it. The story is out there.”

It’s an understandable request. One of Britain’s strongest natural climbers and a winner of the prestigious U23 race the Ronde de I’Isard in 2018, the Welshman has been plagued by left knee trouble ever since turning professional with Bahrain-Merida in 2019. In many of our previous chats, it’s been hard listening to his deflation and frustration.

But, as he pleads, knee talk will be limited. Because Stevie Williams the cyclist who wins bike races is now the story, the 25-year-old completing a remarkable comeback in October when he won the penultimate stage of the Cro Race that secured him the final GC.  

“At the end of the day, the knee was a major thing,” he says. “But in Croatia it was nice to be able to prove to myself that I am able to do this, that I am recovered.

“I don’t need to be known for this injury. I am known to be a race winner and I can be at the top of the sport.”

It’s been a long road from the Isard to now. Successive knee operations were followed by just eight races day in 2019 and 19 in 2020, before it all came together this season, steadily building form, confidence and enshrining the unwavering belief he had himself.

“Even in those tough years being out with injury, I never said I would never win again,” he says. “I’m at this level for a reason, and I was telling myself that I’d won races before as a younger rider.

“I’d remind myself I can be around this level, that I’ve raced and won against those who are doing so well now.

“At the start of this season I told myself it was essentially my first year as a pro and it was about finding my feet.”

It was at July’s Settimana Ciclistica Italiana, his fourth stage race of the season, that he realised that his name could soon start to populate the top-half of the results. 

He reflects: “I just knew that every race I was going to the leg was getting stronger and better, and the Settimana was a turning point for me in terms of confidence and knowing I could race at this level.

“At the Bretagne Classic, a month later, I surprised myself because it was a race that’s not ridiculously hilly, but I was there racing in the final, trying to seek the right moves. That’s when I thought that I have good legs going into the final part of the season.”

And some legs they were. Even if it was largely against tired opposition coming off the back of a full season, Williams was the standout climber and GC rider in the race. He went head to head with fellow Briton Simon Yates, and came out on top on the Queen stage.

“That was my best shape I’ve had in years. If anything, actually. Ever. I was really proud.”

It was one of those mythical days were everything seemed to come easy. “I just felt like a proper bike rider again,” he says. “When I attacked Yates in the finale I felt like I was on the pedals perfectly. I was never in difficulty. It gave me so much confidence to go and do something.”

It’s refreshing to hear Williams sound so overjoyed - but he’s insistent that this isn’t the comeback story completed. There will be more chapters to be written.

He’s heading into another year with Bahrain-Victorious and demands more of the same. “This is the thing now,” he assesses, “now that I’ve won a race, there comes pressure to do it again in the future. There’s expectation.

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“My main goal moving forward is to kick on from this and try and improving, keep going to bigger and better races, and fight for good results for wins and the team.”

As we finish our conversation, he remembers a key detail. “You know, we have our first training camp starting now in Spain, and it’ll be my first full December training camp since 2017.

“Winter 2017. So long ago. For the first time I can get a good winter base, a solid foundation and hopefully it will add another layer of form onto me. This is the start of building to be in an even better place.”

Gino Mäder completed an astonishing display at the recent Vuelta a España, after he pledged to donate money to charity for each rider he beat at the race.

The Swiss rider has confirmed he will be donating €4529 (£3889.69).

Mäder (Bahrain Victorious) finished a surprising fifth overall as well as taking the best young rider's jersey, which he took off Egan Bernal on the penultimate day of racing.

The 24-year-old asked his fans on Twitter to suggest charities that he should donate to, with the most liked tweet deciding the organisation that would benefit. 

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On the final day of the Vuelta, Mäder decided that he would pay €10 for every rider he beat in the general classification, as well as €1 for every rider he beat on each stage.

He Tweeted after the race saying: "The Vuelta is done and dusted, it was a great experience and a race I’ll remember for a long long time! After going through all the comments, I found that Just Diggit was the most liked comment!

"As said in my previous tweet I’ll add €10 for every rider in GC too! Donation of €4529 will be done today! Thanks to all of you who supported me throughout this Vuelta! Recover and up we go to the next!"

The charity, Just Diggit is an Amsterdam-based organisation that aims to cool down the planet by restoring Africa's green spaces over the next 10 years. 

It has already restored 60,000 hectares and Mäder's donation will likely go some way to help them continue their vital work to save the planet from climate change.

The charity replied to Mäder's Tweet thanking him: "That's amazing, Gino! Congratulations on this outstanding performance and thank you for supporting us and our mission to cool down the planet. Together we can make the earth green and cool again!" 

Mäder has had an extremely successful season with Bahrain Victorious. Not only helping Jack Haig to a podium at the Vuelta and fifth overall himself, as well as the team classification, but he has also taken multiple top 10s and wins.

He burst onto the scene this season after he was pipped to a stage win by Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) in Paris-Nice. The Swiss climber put that behind him and pulled off a stage win at the Giro d'Italia as well as wearing the blue mountain's jersey before abandoning due to injury.

He also won the final stage of the Tour de Suisse where he out-sprinted Canadian star Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation) from a late breakaway.

He is next due to race on Sunday, September 12 for his nation in the European Championships road race in the Trentino region of Italy.

Matej Mohorič claimed another terrific trademark solo victory on stage seven of the Benelux Tour as his teammate Sonny Colbrelli wrapped up the overall title.

The Bahrain-Victorious rider attacked multiple times in the final hour’s racing, and at one point it looked as if he would steal the general classification honours from Colbrelli, the previous day's stage winner.

But the Italian reduced Mohorič's advantage and finished 11 seconds behind the Slovenian, with a fragmented chase group crossing the line shortly after a frantic day's racing in Belgium.

It is only the second GC victory of Colbrelli's career, the 31-year-old who is best known as a sprinter increasing his season win tally to five.

Mohorič, meanwhile, further staked his claim as one of the season's standout riders, the Slovenian national champion having won two stages at the Tour de France and finishing second at both the San Sebastian Classic and the Tour of Poland.

How it happened

It took more than an hour for the breakaway to be formed, but with 70km on the clock, it was a group of 11 who were permitted to hang out front, including Philippe Gilbert (Lotto-Soudal), Casper Pedersen (Team DSM), Toms Skujinš (Trek-Segafredo) and Dries Devenyns (Deceuninck – Quick-Step).

Following the first ascent of the Muur van Geraardsbergen, the peloton reduced the break’s advantage and Mohorič, second on GC, counter-attacked with Victor Campenaerts, himself third. 

They were joined by Kasper Asgreen and Brandon McNulty and the four built a gap of a minute, enough to ascend Mohorič into the virtual leader’s jersey by six seconds.

They lost their advantage shortly after, but Mohorič went again on De Muur, this time bringing with him five other riders. Colbrelli was hyper-sensitive to his teammate's moves, though, and ensured that he was alongside Asgreen and Tim Wellens in chasing Mohorič, an unusual situation given they both ride for the same team. 

Mohorič, however, used his time trialling expertise to build a solo lead and it wasn’t long until Colbrelli opted for damage limitation and joined the larger chasing group that was 30 seconds behind Mohorič.

At six kilometres to go, Mohorič was close to eliminating the deficit he had to Colbrelli, but then the Italian joined Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo-Visma) in attacking from the chase, reducing Mohorič’s advantage to 25 seconds.

Coming into the finishing town of Geraardsbergen, Colbrelli and Dumoulin had sufficiently reduced Mohorič’s lead to ensure that Colbrelli would win the race, but Mohorič crossed the line first to complete another phenomenal performance by the Bahrain-Victorious rider in what has been the greatest season of his career.

Results: Benelux Tour 2021, stage seven: Namur > Geraardsbergen, 178km

1. Matej Mohorič (Slo) Bahrain-Victorious at 3-50.56
2. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Victorious at 11s
3. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Jumbo-Visma, at 15s
4. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, at 22s
5. Fred Wright (GBr) Bahrain-Victorious, at same time
6. Danny van Poppel (Ned) intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux at 24s
7. Tom van Asbroeck (Bel) Israel Start-Up Nation
8. Greg van Avermaet (Bel) AG2R Citroën
9. Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Team DSM
10. Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe, all at same time

General classification after stage seven

1. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Victorious
2. Matej Mohorič (Slo) Bahrain-Victorious