Remco Evenepoel's commanding victory in the time trial on stage 16 of the Tour de France was the his second stage win on the bounce, confirming his status as the best rider at the race not called Tadej Pogačar.

Despite taking 28 seconds off the race leader on the 26.1km course between Évian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains, Evenepoel effectively acknowledged that, bar a major mishap, the Slovenian UAE Team Emirates XRG rider had an unassailable lead in the general classification.

While he might not be aiming for yellow any more, Evenepoel has now won two stages back-to-back, after his victory on the Plateau du Solaison on Sunday's stage 15.

"Today was another planet," he said in his winner's press conference. "Now I'm focused on the second place overall, and I will do everything to defend it. That's my goal."

Today, though, showed that catastrophic mishaps are never too far away in elite bike racing, because it was a "bittersweet" day for Evenepoel and the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team. Evenepoel didn't know until he had finished, but behind him on the course, teammate Florian Lipowitz dramatically crashed and was forced to abandon the race with a broken collarbone, having started the day in fifth place in the GC.

The world time trial champion, Evenepoel has now won time trial stages at the Tour in three consecutive editions, and was the favourite on the stage today. He put in a stunning climb, but admitted there were moments of high jeopardy afterwards.

"You arrive a bit on the limit on the top of the climb, and then you need to find some recovery as quick as possible to go into that tricky descent," he recounted. "I just try to stay calm, to focus and trust my descending skills. I really wanted to take the decent as a bit of recovery without going over the limit in terms of taking risks.

"For me personally, the last 5km were more tricky and dangerous than the descent because it was like proper 90-degree corners with white lines on the roads, pretty slippery asphalt. It was a very beautiful TT, but also a very tricky one to manage."

Despite coming second today, however, Pogačar has never looked like slipping since he donned the yellow jersey. But, even while conceding that he would have to settle for second, Evenepoel was adamant that the Slovenian's dominance of the sport is not making the Tour dull.

"I don't see it as boring," he said. "I see it as being super impressive. The performances that he's putting out... I'm looking up to that, you know. I try to learn from that and I try to reach that level as well... I mean, he's a superstar.

"He's the best rider ever. So I don't think people should consider it as boring. For us, it's a challenge. It's a big honour to race against a champion like that. It's exciting to see it from very close by.

"You should not forget, we are witnessing history. Maybe he's going for a fifth Tour de France, which is going to be equal to the record. So, you should not consider that as boring at all."

Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz will co-lead Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe at the Tour de France, the team confirmed on Friday morning.

The news was expected, but still significant, as Red Bull will line up with the two third-placed riders from the last two editions. They will be joined by Jai Hindley, Maxim Van Gils, Mattia Cattaneo, Jan Tratnik, Nico Denz and Tim van Dijke.

"The Tour is no longer won by an exceptional rider alone, but by an exceptional team," Zak Dempster, chief of sports at Red Bull, said. "We believe we are bringing one of the most complete squads to the start. With Remco and Florian, we have two leaders who have already proven they can stand on the Tour podium. Their different strengths give us tactical options that could prove decisive."

The team have already expressed that the road will decide who is the out-and-out leader at the Tour, but going in with two solid GC options will allow them to challenge other teams in a different way.

In fact, while he is competing as a super domestique, Jai Hindley is another GC options, having finished third at the Giro d'Italia already this season.

"Remco is still the team leader and Florian Lipowitz is a bit of the second man but in terms of sporting performance, they are on equal footing," team boss Ralph Denk told Het Laatste Nieuws and Het Nieuwsblad this week.

"Eventually, there will come a day when one or the other feels better. Then they will have to fight it out between themselves on the road. I am convinced that this can work."

Lipowitz has had the better season in general classification terms, finishing on the podium at the Tour de Romandie, Itzulia Basque Country and the Volta a Catalunya, and winning the Tour of Slovenia while Evenepoel won Valenciana and finished fifth at Catalunya.

Evenepoel finished third at the 2024 Tour de France, but faded after winning the individual time trial at last year's race, eventually leaving the race on stage 14. He hasn't raced since Liège-Bastogne-Liège, preferring to train away from competition.

Lipowtiz, meanwhile, impressed on his way to third overall last year. That might have been 11 minutes behind winner Tadej Pogačar, and over six minutes behind Jonas Vingegaard, but it showed promise.

"The strength of this roster goes far beyond Remco and Florian," sports director Patxi Vila said.

"We have experienced climbers, strong all-rounders and riders capable of taking responsibility in every race situation. Every Tour develops its own dynamic, and with this team we have an answer to almost every possible scenario."

As far as closely guarded digits go, the power data of top professional riders ranks up there with the Fort Knox door code or the King's phone number. So Cycling Weekly was as surprised as any when Remco Evenepoel revealed his functional threshold power (FTP) on his YouTube channel this week.

Surprised not only because such things are so often kept hush-hush; in addition to that, the figure was very much in the bracket marked 'jaw-slackening'. How about this: 425 watts.

It's even higher than Tadej Pogačar's reported, but unverified, 415 watts number.

The figures were revealed in a conversation the Olympic champion had with coach Dan Lorang on a windswept Mount Teide in Tenerife. In the middle of a series of efforts and in-between painful looking blood-draws to measure lactate, Lorang tells him: "It's that fine line: 420, we are under threshold; 425 we are somewhere there…"

Extrapolated using Evenepoel's 63kg frame, that works out at a full 6.75 watts per kilo – just a shade under the fabled 6.8kg that, in theory, was guaranteed to the win the Tour de France.

For those unfamiliar with functional threshold power – usually just known as FTP, it's a key power training metric approximately equivalent to the effort a rider can maintain for an hour, and can be used to set lower and higher zones.

In the video, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe coach Dan Lorang, who leaves the team after the Tour de France, explains the protocol: "Today we have a threshold day," he says. "That means several efforts where we do a steady pace. It should be a preparation for longer climbs also in the race. We start here with smaller intervals; further in the camp we do a little bit longer intervals."

Having already done a long warm-up effort at a trifling 350 watts, Evenepoel's ready to grit his teeth, and selects some tunes to match. "Now we're starting with some harder music," he tells the videographer as he scrolls through his phone, "because it will be painful."

If various reports are to be believed, the Belgian's numbers – both outright power and w/kg – are also higher than Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG). The Slovenian's FTP has been estimated at 415 watts which, for his 66 kilos of weight, add up to 6.29w/kg. These figures were not disproved when Pogačar revealed his wattages, apparently unwittingly, on a Strava training file earlier this year.

Evenepoel's 22-minute video is an insightful look at a two-day training camp on Tenerife that peeks into not only his power data but his calories too, as well as the day to day of being on training camp at altitude.

When it comes to anticipation, it doesn't come much higher than the wait for Specialized's new elite-level race bike, the Tarmac SL9. But now, finally, it appears we might have stolen a glimpse of it – or something like it.

Seen on the roof of a Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe car during a Spanish altitude training camp, the bike painted in Specialized's usual stealthy pre-production 'Project Black' livery, was there for all the world to see in the team's social media images from the training camp in the Sierra Nevada.

It comes in the same month that a new version of another benchmark Specialized bike – the Crux – was apparently spotted winning the Gralloch gravel event in Scotland.

The most obvious difference between the current SL8, which was introduced in 2023, and the bike in the Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe image, is greater attention to frameset aerodynamics in the fork, seat tube and seatpost.

This tallies exactly with expectations that the SL9 would build on the ever-growing aerodynamic properties of the SL line – originally conceived as a lightweight climbing bike but, with the discontinuation of the Venge in 2020, has morphed into a balanced machine designed to be very fast in all situations.

The fork on the bike on the Red Bull car is obviously more built-out than on the SL8 edition, with a chunkier crown and deeper blades. Equally, the seat tube features more material that allows it to hug the rear wheel more closely than before, with the join between seat tube and seat stay built into an aero-looking junction. Above that, the seatpost has also become more aerodynamic, with the top two-thirds forming a deep-section blade.

The lower portion is partially obscured by what looks to be a new Hammerhead rear-facing radar unit.

Cycling Weekly contacted Specialized about the image, who would not be drawn. It said: "Specialized relies on feedback from professional athletes in both developing and testing advanced pre-production products in real-world applications. With this top-level feedback, some of these design elements and products eventually show up in future retail product offerings. We call this Project Black."

However close (or not) the 'leaked' bike is to the finished product we may not have to wait long to find out. The new Tarmac SL9 could be released to the world very soon. An exact date has yet to be set but it could even be some time this side of the Tour de France.

The hype around Remco Evenepoel riding the Tour of Flanders is very real. The Belgian press has gone into overdrive, with sports behemoth Sporza dedicating a whole section of their website to news about the dramatic debut. The biggest male Belgian cyclist at the moment is finally riding the biggest Belgian race of them all. It is a big deal.

The announcement came, quite oddly, before midday on April Fools' Day, leading multiple people to doubt its veracity, even hours after it was fully confirmed by Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe. However, this is no joke, and it does make sense; Evenepoel is a former world champion, the Olympic road race champion and a two-time winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, hardly a novice when it comes to one-day racing.

The plan did not come from nowhere, although it was repeatedly denied by Red Bull that Evenepoel would be taking part in Flanders.

"The connection between Remco and the Tour of Flanders is deep and emotional," team boss Ralph Denk said in a statement. "A plan like this does not come together overnight. We deliberately kept it under the radar to create a special moment for the fans – revealing it as a surprise on April 1. The fact that we were able to keep this internal for more than 100 days speaks to the cohesion and unity of this team."

Under the radar, though, in this sense, was more about denying the plan than keeping it completely secret. And it worked – even this week, different Belgian media outlets had opposing views on whether Evenepoel would be riding or not.

This is why it has been such a surprise for fans, for journalists, and the riders at Flanders too. The script might not be ripped up completely, but it will definitely need to be adjusted in order to account for the Belgian. Like Tadej Pogačar, he is someone who can attack from a long way out and solo to victory, and every move will need to be marked.

It is of course possible that Evenepoel could win on debut, with his skills suiting one-day racing much more than stage racing, and the Flemish bergs provide perfect launchpads for a long-range attack. However, he will be coming up against not just riders with similar skillsets, in Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel, both of whom are theoretically better on short, sharp, climbs, but riders who have raced Flanders before, who have won Flanders before, who know where they need to be positioned before and during each sector.

Before he lined up at Flanders for the first time in 2022, Pogačar sought experience at Dwars door Vlaanderen, and days later went on to finished fourth in the Monument, having somehow messed up a two-up sprint with Van der Poel. Evenepoel has never raced a cobbled Classic at professional level, expectations should be mollified.

Of course, the Belgian does have to race Flanders for the first time at some point, so why not now? It is fantastic that one of the best races of the season will now have another star added to it, one that could shake the race up. It's conceivable that Evenepoel has even been training specifically for this race – perhaps that's why he dropped away in the mountains at the Volta a Catalunya? – which only adds to the hype. Let's hope he delivers.

Remco Evenepoel has said he is "good" to continue at the Volta a Catalunya despite his pothole crash on Wednesday.

The Belgian crashed at the end of stage three of the Volta a Catalunya due to an unmarked hole, he claimed.

However, despite saying he had "pain everywhere", on Thursday morning he said: "Good news all is good. It stopped me yesterday, but not for the week."

The Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe rider was ahead of the peloton with Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) on stage three, when he fell on the approach to a roundabout.

The incident was initially inexplicable, with Vingegaard telling reporters that he didn't know what happened: "He just went over the handlebars."

Vingegaard sat up, allowing the peloton to catch him, which meant the stage finished in a sprint, won by Dorian Godon of Ineos Grenadiers. Evenepoel lost no time overall due to the incident being within the final 5km of the race.

"I wanted to move to the drops and at that moment there was a hole in the road that I didn’t see, and it wasn’t marked. Then I lost my handlebars," Evenepoel told Sporza later on Wednesday.

Potholes, then, are an issue beyond the UK. The Olympic champion crashed hard, which could have an impact beyond taking him out of the race on Wednesday.

"I have pain everywhere," Evenepoel explained of his injuries. "My elbow is open [cut or grazed], my back is open and my hips are open," he said. "My elbow is quite badly hit, so we have to see what is possible and what is not."

The Belgian received immediate attention following the fall, and managed to remount his bike and finish the stage, and is still second on general classification.

"Now I need to let my body recover a bit and then we will see this evening and especially tomorrow morning what it says," Evenepoel added. Stage four finishes up an hors categorie climb to Vallter, 11.4km at 7.5%.

Evenepoel and Vingegaard escaped in crosswinds with just under 30km to go on stage three, with the former escaping first, and the latter following. However, cooperation did not always seem smooth between the pair, with Evenepoel visibly remonstrating with his break companion.

"What others do tactically is not my concern," Evenepoel said. "That’s their problem. It was clear who wanted to ride for the win and who didn’t."

For his part, Vingegaard explained: "At some points he wasn't really happy with me, but that's how it is, it's cycling, we have our tactics."

Remco Evenepoel clutched defeat from the jaws of victory on stage three of the Volta a Catalunya as he crashed in a chaotic finale.

The Belgian Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe rider came down around 500m from the finish line while out front with Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), ahead of the on-rushing peloton, as the pair approached a roundabout.

It was not immediately apparent what caused the crash, which might have been a touch of wheels, but it took all the impetus from the attack, with Vingegaard sitting up as a result.

Evenepoel was checked by his team and the race doctor before remounting to ride on and cross the finish line, seemingly escaping serious injury.

Dorian Godon (Ineos Grenadiers) took his second stage win of the race, sprinting to victory ahead of Ethan Vernon (NSN Cycling) and Noah Hobbs (EF Education-EasyPost).

"To be honest I don't know, he just went over the handlebars and I just hope he's ok," Vingegaard said when asked what happened post-race on TNT Sports. "It looked really crazy, and I hope he's ok.

"I didn't want to take advantage of a situation like that so I decided at that moment to just wait for the bunch. I hope he's ok, and he can continue tomorrow."

Evenepoel and Vingegaard had escaped in crosswinds with just under 30km to go on stage three, with the former escaping first, and the latter following. Their advantage went over 25 seconds at times, before coming down below 10 inside the final 5km. However, inside the final kilometre, the pair still had a few seconds advantage, and victory looked to be on the cards. The roundabout crash put paid to that.

"I didn't expect it like this, I expected it more to be a bigger group," Vingegaard continued. "He went, I jumped across to him, and he was very strong on the flat, he's very aero obviously. Very strong at the moment. I'm happy I could jump across and work a bit with him.

Asked about the cooperation between the pair the Dane added: "At some points he wasn't really happy with me, but that's how it is, it's cycling, we have our tactics."

It was Godon's second stage win of the race, and third WorldTour victory of the year for Ineos Grenadiers, who he signed for this season.

"Today I wanted to win again, it was not so hard at the beginning..." the French champion said. "Then it was a lot of stress and tension, then I saw Remco full alone with Vingegaard. All the riders on the team did an amazing job to catch them, Oscar and Bob did a leadout for me, so it was amazing.

"I was fully concentrating on the sprint, that's it," he said of Evenepoel's crash. "For me, we caught them and I went for the win."

Godon remains in the race lead, 11 seconds ahead of Evenepoel, with Tom Pidcock (Pinarello Q36.5) in third. Vingegaard moved up to fourth overall due to bonus seconds gained.

Belgian rider Maxim Van Gils has said there is "no need to be mad with [Jan] Christen" despite breaking his shoulder and pelvis in a crash at the Clásica Jaén on Monday, which Christen caused.

The Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe rider came down in the final meters of the Spanish one-day race, as he opened his sprint for second place against Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) and Christen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG). Christen was later disqualified by the commissaires, having appeared to deviate to the left, veering towards the barriers and across Van Gils's line.

The UAE Emirates-XRG rider later apologised to Van Gils for causing the incident, which means Van Gils will be out for "months", according to his team. The injured party revealed Christen had also reached out to apologise.

"When the three of us came onto the home straight, nobody really wanted to make the first move because there was a bit of a tailwind and it was also slightly downhill," Van Gils said in an interview released by his team this week. "So you really needed the perfect moment. Then Pidcock tried it on the left. I reacted. Christen then came from the right and maybe a bit closer than he needed. But that's the way it is in cycling. Things like that happen. Especially when you've been riding on gravel for four hours.

"Everyone wanted to get to the finish line as quickly as possible and the barrier was getting closer and closer. At that moment, I got a little knock from Christen on my handlebars. I tipped into the barrier, which probably broke my bike and then I flew off over the handlebars.

"Of course, that was extremely disappointing. I remember waiting at the race doctor's car for ten minutes afterwards because the doctors were discussing the situation with the team. I thought at that moment that I would probably be a bit stiff for the next few days, but that I could still build up a good form for Strade [Bianche], Tirreno [-Adriatico] and [Milan-] San Remo. And then someone from the team came to me and said that my hip was broken."

"The clocks stopped ticking for a moment," he continued. "But the situation couldn't be changed. There's no need to be mad with Christen either. He wants to win races just as much as I do, he was very motivated. I know the feeling of coming into the final and fighting for the podium. That's what we train for every day.

"The night after the incident, he sent me a message on social media. I replied to him and it was okay with that. I think he felt bad too and didn't want something like that to happen."

As for his recovery and the season: "It's only just begun. I can't do much for four to six weeks now. But it's almost like the winter break. I took a break in November, didn't do anything. And then: December, January - two and a half months later I'm already close to top shape again. I still have plenty of time, there are still many beautiful races to come."

The King of the Belgians stands ready. They have booked out the Grand Place in Brussels for 1 August, the week after the Tour de France. Whoever are the most famous Belgian musicians of the moment, let's say it's still Gotye, have been scheduled.

This will all be needed, of course, for Remco Evenepoel's victory celebration after the 26-year-old returns home with his maillot jaune, fresh from winning the Tour, the first Belgian champion since Lucien Van Impe in 1976. Three wins from three for his new team, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, and the hype train is very much on the rails.

If this is a touch hyperbolic, remember how much weight and expectation there is on his slender, aerodynamic shoulders, as the first Belgian Grand Tour winner for generations, and one of a select bunch of feasible winners of the Tour this summer.

At a new team, backed by the might of Red Bull, a new level has been unlocked for Evenepoel, which was never quite there at Soudal Quick-Step. The super-domestiques, the sport science, the organisation, and the co-leader in Florian Lipowitz. This, combined with his natural talent, will likely mean more is to come, perhaps more consistency.

The new edge already seems to be there. Three races, three wins is Evenepoel's record for 2026 to date. Of course, this is qualified by the fact they came at Challenge Mallorca, which could be seen as a cross between a warm-up and serious racing, but they are still elite events. He has won everything put in front of him so far, what more could he do?

Bigger challenges will come this week, at the Volta Comunitat Valenciana stage race, and then the UAE Tour later in February. If the momentum continues there, then the hype will too. It's easy to think that life would be easier for him if he was another nationality, rather than the superstar he automatically is in Belgium.

Of course, none of this means he will win the Tour de France this summer. There is the TTT and an individual time trial, but an obstacle called Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) stands in the way, as well as Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), who will be coming off the Giro d'Italia. Even if he rides a perfect race, the pair have in the past seemed like a step above. It isn't too much of a stretch, though, to picture the Red Bull rider on the second step.

The Tour is still the "dream", he told Eurosport this week.

"When I was little, the only races I watched were [Tour of] Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, and the Tour de France," he said. "It was one of the only races I knew.

"I won the Vuelta a España, and I was in a good position to win the Giro d'Italia. There are signs that it's possible to win the Tour one day.

"It's my dream, I will do everything to achieve it, to win it. I'll make many sacrifices."

Evenepoel is still just 26, and appears to be growing, discovering more about himself as a rider. Now finally at a super-team, things could click for him, and allow him to find a new level. Two years younger than Pogačar, three than Vingegaard, there is still time for him to reach the very top.

I do think, perhaps not controversially, that if someone not called Tadej Pogačar is to win the Tour de France this summer, it will be Evenepoel, not Vingegaard. The latter has a distraction in the Giro, something the former does not.

2025's race might not have gone the way he dreamed, however, on the small moments that bike races spin, it's plausible that Evenepoel could benefit; it can't always be Pogačar. Obviously, the Slovenian remains the favourite, but there's an understudy ready to shine in the wings.

"I hope one day to be able to compete alongside him, and maybe even one day be at the front," Evenepoel said modestly this week.

Three wins in January do not make a season, you only have to look at those who have struggled to convert Tour Down Under success to European glory in recent years, but it is a statement of intent.

Perhaps it's worth putting down a deposit on the Grand Place, just in case. Even if it isn't the yellow jersey, big things are on the horizon for Red Bull's Belgian star. We should believe the hype.

This piece is part of The Leadout, the offering of newsletters from Cycling Weekly and Cyclingnews. To get this in your inbox, subscribe here.

If you want to get in touch with Adam, email adam.becket@futurenet.com.

Remco Evenepoel stormed to victory for the second consecutive day on Friday, winning the Trofeo Selva – Santuari de Lluc at Challenge Mallorca.

The Belgian won on Thursday at the Trofeo Ses Salines team time trial with his new Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe team, and won again in his first road race for the squad.

Evenepoel attacked on the Coll de Sóller with around 56km to go, and ended up leaving everyone else behind. He took Adrìa Pericas (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Pablo Castrillo (Movistar) with him initially, but then dropped the pair on the descent, having sped past the day's break.

In the sprint for second, António Morgado (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) won, almost two minutes behind the victor, ahead of Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana Team) in third.

"I'm very happy with this second victory," Evenepoel said on TV post-race. "It's great to start like this with a new team."

"It was a beautiful day and I'm glad I was able to execute the plan we discussed this morning."

"[It's] good for morale," he continued. "This gives a lot of motivation to the whole team and to myself too. Things look good for the future. Hopefully we can continue this momentum.

"It was a difficult course. There was a lot of up and down, which left little time to recover. That last climb was also very tough.

"It is a beautiful race and also one that is tough enough to make a difference."

Evenepoel returns to action on Sunday in the Trofeo Andratx-Pollença, after three races in Mallorca: "We'll see how my legs feel then. Three out of three would be nice. It's definitely a team goal to win again. We'll do our best."

"It's the new cycling," Scaroni said post-race. "When Tadej [Pogačar] or Remco are in the race, you never expect where they can attack. When he attacked, I was a bit behind, I tried to reply, I was really close to close the gap, but he was too strong for me."

Remco Evenepoel won on his Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe debut on Thursday, as the team were victorious in the team time trial at the Trofeo Ses Salines.

The seven-man squad, which included Florian Lipowitz as well, were the penultimate team off, and despite being behind Jayco AlUla and Movistar at the intermediate checkpoint, beat both at the finish. Movistar were second, 3.7 seconds behind, with Jayco a further 13 seconds back.

Red Bull completed the 23.8km at an average speed of 59.7km/h. The one-day race, part of the Challenge Mallorca, was made a TTT in preparation for stage one of this year's Tour de France in Barcelona, which will also be a TTT. Alongside Evenepoel and Lipowitz, the team was made up of Nico Denz, Maxim Van Gils, Gianni Moscon, Lorenzo Finn and Mattia Cattaneo.

The result was a good sign for that first opportunity for the yellow jersey at the Tour. One of the other big contenders for that opening day TTT, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, finished fourth, 19 seconds behind Red Bull.

"It was pretty good," Evenepoel, who joined Red Bull from Soudal Quick-Step over the winter, said. "It was not a hard course in terms of elevation, but a TTT is always pretty tough, pretty hard. We had a pretty structured plan and it turned out well, so I think we have to be happy. We knew the way back was going to be most important with the headwind and the small kicker, at 3km to go, so we knew we wanted to make a big difference there, and I think we did. We're very happy with it, and it's nice to start the new season with a win, and also with a new team, it's good for morale.

"Everybody knew that we were going to go really paced until that u-turn, and then we had about 13km to go so we knew we had to go flat out until the climb and then on the climb. Well, false flat. We just went as fast as possible and winning is winning. It was a really fast TTT and I think we did it perfect.

"Every parcours is different so it's always difficult to say what we could improve on. I think what we did today was close to perfection for this TTT, I think we handled the critical situation well. Nico Denz was on a strong day, he did some strong pulls, and I think everyone did what they did. For today it was close to perfect."

Last year, Red Bull's head of engineering, Dan Bigham, told CW: "We haven’t mastered it yet, but there’s plenty of work to be done, and I think we will improve him. I hope we’ll improve him."

While the working week might be wrapping up, the Tour Down Under is in full swing, with the final stage on Sunday. For those not racing on the other side of the world, training season is underway. It's flat whites and workouts for Lorena Wiebes and a new kind of training for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.

This week on Cycling Weekly, we've covered how Mattie Dodd bagged a place on the Ineos Grenadiers new development team, compiled a list of our soundest winter riding advice and interviewed Pete Tong?! But without further ado, here is a week in cycling's social media.

1. XDS Astana who? These three are the season’s latest rockstars. One word: dapper.

2. FDJ United-SUEZ are working hard. So hard, their bodies have gone awry. “We really surfed so hard today that even our bodies turned its back on us…” wrote Demi Vollering under the post.

3. Lorena Wiebes’ January is off to a great start: freshly made flat whites and home workouts galore.

4. It’s ten years since Vic Williamson fractured her neck and back, dislocated her pelvis and slipped a disc before the Rio Olympics in 2016. The 32-year-old is now retiring from cycling and her second love, bobsleigh.

5. Alison Jackson is missing something for her maple leaf bike…

6. Floortje Mackaij has picked up more than a tan at the Tour Down Under after coming 32nd in the Australian race.

7. It’s a whole new world for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe as they adapt to life down under: left-side rules, kangaroos and lots of marmite.

8. Matt Stephens returns to his policing roots on the lanes of Cheshire, with a tour of Dame Laura Kenny’s life in the latest Sigma Sports Cafe Ride.

9. This sends a shiver down my spine. Riding in the mud is the best fun? Though that pizza does look delicious.

Remco Evenepoel’s transfer from Soudal-QuickStep to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe was one of the biggest talking points of late last season, but it wasn’t surprising given the ongoing tension and public disagreements with team owner Patrick Lefevere. Evenepoel left his former team one year ahead of schedule at the end of 2025 but was only recently able to show off his new team colours and bike due to contract obligations that terminated at the end of December.

For Evenepoel, 2025 was a season to forget, marked by a series of injury setbacks that culminated in a premature exit from the Tour de France. While there were some glimmers of form, including his time-trial win on stage 5 around Caen, he struggled in the high mountains and subsequently abandoned the race.

Of all the riders in the peloton, Evenpoel's bike has always stood out as a veritable head-turner, a celebration of winning both the road race and time trial at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. As tradition dictates, and as Richard Carapaz and Greg van Avermaet before him, the Olympic champion’s bike will always feature a golden theme running throughout the design. While Evenpoel’s Soudal-QuickStep bike was a pure gold number, his new whip is a far more refined one and represents more of a subtle homage to his achievements.

As has become the theme for Specialized-sponsored teams, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe turned to Lumarcolors to customise Remco’s bike, and they’ve done an exquisite job. It still adheres to the team’s design DNA but uses gold more subtly than before. As a result, there’s some beautiful gold leaf applied to the main Red Bull logo on the headtube with smaller accents around the seatpost, saddle shell, and lower fork, not to mention the SRAM decals, chain, and cassette.

Closer inspection also reveals some golden keyline wordmarks on the frame, applied as a water transfer. It looks superb, very classy. The tyre tanwalls also align with the gold theme and complement the overall aesthetics.

The big change for Remco this season comes from the groupset, which is supplied by SRAM, rather than Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, as with Soudal-QuickStep. As a result, his S-Works Tarmac SL8 is built around a SRAM Red AXS groupset, complete with 165mm cranks and 52/39T, 10-33T gearset. The balance of the build features the usual Specialized and Roval bits, including a set of Roval Rapide CLX III wheels wrapped in 28mm Specialized Turbo Cotton TLR, a Specialized S-Works Power Evo with Mirror saddle, and a K-Edge computer mount.

• Frameset: S-Works Tarmac SL8 Fact 12r Carbon
• Fork: S-Works Fact 12r Carbon
• Cockpit: Roval Rapide
• Seatpost: S-Works Tarmac SL8 Carbon
• Groupset: SRAM Red AXS 52/39T, 10-33T
• Wheelset: Roval Rapide CLX III
• Tyres: Specialized Turbo Cotton TLR 28mm
• Saddle: Specialzied S-Works Power Evo with Mirror

Specialized has today launched a new race kit in partnership with Red Bull–Bora–hansgrohe, and both claim to have gone further than most brands in the pursuit of performance gains.

Rather than simply tweaking colours and logos, it says it's completely reengineered the kit from the ground up. The headline result? According to Specialized, it’s some 25 watts faster.

Taken at face value, that’s astonishing. It’s also a hell of a press release number – the kind that makes you sit up, spit out your coffee, and read on. Which, of course, is exactly what it’s designed to do. Big wattage claims are marketing gold in cycling, but they’re also worth a little gentle interrogation.

To put that 25-watt figure into context, last year Cyclingnews put the Cervélo S5 in the wind tunnel. It was the fastest aero bike the site has ever tested with a rider onboard, and it was found to be some 27.6 watts faster than the baseline bike. That baseline, it should be noted, was a ten-year-old rim-brake road bike they happened to have lying around. In other words: about as aerodynamic as my Christmas belly is today, after ten days of mince pies and round-the-clock snacking.

The idea that a jersey alone could deliver 25 watts of savings is, by any reasonable measure, impressive.

Now, before you sprint to the nearest Specialized concept store, it’s worth clarifying what’s actually being claimed. The 25-watt figure applies when comparing the new team race jersey to Specialized’s SL jersey, not to last year’s team kit. If you currently ride in a 2025 pro issue team jersey, you’re likely saving around five watts on the ride home wearing the new version.

Still, in a sea of recent pro team kit launches where many have opted for just new colours or a new supplier altogether, five watts is not to be sniffed at. In fact, taken on its own, it’s a genuinely impressive and far more relevant claim.

The claimed performance gains come courtesy of Specialized’s proprietary SlipLayer aero fabric, which they say is custom-woven for maximum aerodynamic performance and arranged in a “kinetic pattern that moves like a second skin”. We’ve also spotted some clever trips on the sleeves, seemingly designed to work with the rider in position rather than simply running parallel to the arms.

A reduction in panels and seams suggests the fabric’s ability to conform closely to the rider’s shape has been improved and, therefore, further exploited than in the outgoing version.

Taken together, these details add up. This is the modern approach to aerodynamics: marginal gains delivered through incremental changes to cut, fabric, seam placement, and surface texture that combine into something far more meaningful overall. We’ve seen the same philosophy play out in frame design over the last season or two – notwithstanding Factor’s more revolutionary design in their One platform – and it’s encouraging to see that level of detail and incremental work applied to clothing.

Coming full circle to that original headline claim, what’s genuinely interesting here is the broader implication. Fit, cut, seams, fabric choice, and sleeve treatment clearly have a huge impact on aero performance.

The SL jersey – the one against which the big numbers in the headline are measured – is a decent balance of forgiving-ish fit, practicality and high performance for most of us, and is actually similar to the “standard fit” jerseys many riders will already own. If you’re interested in big aero gains, maybe you’ve even shelled out on an aero bike or deep-section wheels, but you’re still riding a versatile jersey like the SL, this may well be the nudge you need to grab something specialist and dump some serious watts.

There is another caveat, however. Specialized also understands that not all of us are honed, 60kg racing snakes. That’s very important in this slippery context.

That doesn’t mean there’s no fun to be had. Some riders simply want the look, especially when the race version may not fit – or function – particularly well in the real world.

With that in mind, Specialized has also launched a replica version for the full-kit fan. It’s nearly as technical and shares the same performance aims, so you can expect a close fit, though it makes no aero-performance claims of its own. It features a knowingly stretch-fitted front panel, a breathable back, and an extra pocket for your phone or spare tube, bringing the total to three. It also offers SPF30 sun protection, which the pro-race version notably does not.

So yes: the race version - that the team wore when it launched a glider in a publicity stunt last year - is definitely faster than your old baked-bean-era jerseys, and Specialized says it’s 25 watts faster than the already excellent SL jersey, so there’s big gains to be made there. If you’re lucky enough to fit it.

If you are already running the outgoing team kit and want to upgrade to the latest design to match Remco Evenepoel's exact kit, we expect the new one to be around 5 watts faster.

The main takeaway? Team kits are loads of fun, and if you’re chasing aerodynamic gains, a closely fitting, aero optimised race jersey may well be a bigger upgrade than an aero bike, and at a fraction of the cost.

It was only five months ago that Primož Roglič was wearing ankle socks at the Tour de France and allegedly telling the rest of the peloton that he didn’t care.

In that same race, his much younger Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe teammate Florian Lipowitz outperformed him to secure the final spot on the podium, and a week after the race ended it was announced that Roglič’s long-time rival Remco Evenepoel would be joining Red Bull for the 2026 season.

Roglič’s days as a Tour de France contender appear to be over – and next season the only Grand Tour he is set to ride will be the Vuelta a España.

It has led to many assuming that Roglič, who turned 36 in October, is preparing for his final year in the peloton. But the Slovenian has insisted that despite his blasé comments and his incredibly relaxed demeanour, he has no plans to retire in a year’s time.

Speaking at Red Bull’s 2026 launch event in Mallorca, Roglič quipped that he was hoping that the team boss Ralph Denk would announce a new contract extension for him on stage, as he did with Lipowitz, Giulio Pellizzari, and Lorenzo Finn.

“I was not mentioned before by Ralph with the extensions – I was maybe hoping a bit that he would but he didn’t say my name,” Roglič chuckled.

“I want to race at this moment for 10 more years. As long as I will feel that hunger, or as long as it will make me happy at the end – because I have to be happy and I have to enjoy it – I will continue.

“Do you want it or not? It’s somehow connected with the results that you are achieving, but it’s not everything. We will see. I have to go day by day, and year by year.

“[Hunger] is the thing that probably all winners have inside them. It’s hard to say that you are born with it, but somehow you grow up and you have it. When you’re 10-years-old or whatever, competitiveness and drive are all the things you need [to succeed], and it’s still inside me. You wake up and you want to do everything to be the best.”

Though Red Bull rarely announce the length of a rider’s contract, it is widely believed that Roglič’s deal with the team will expire at the end of the 2026 season. Would he drop to a lower-ranked team in order to continue his career?

“I don’t want to think about that,” he said. “I need the hunger and the will to still compete with the best ones to be the best. So in this case you shouldn’t look down but up.”

With Lipowitz and Evenepoel preparing to lead Red Bull’s two-pronged attack at next year’s Tour, there is no space for Roglič. Instead, he will head to the Vuelta to attempt to win a record-breaking fifth title.

“You can suggest that [he was surprised not be in the Tour squad],” he said. “If I could choose one race to win, I would sign for the Tour de France. It’s not a secret. But the reality is different.

“The level that I was finishing [last year’s Tour] was different. The first point to consider about myself is that you know how to find the way to be competitive, to compete for the victory.

“If I’m second in the GC of the Tour or winning the Vuelta, I know what I choose. I win the Vuelta. It’s simple. It’s easy to so say it, but to do it… even trying to win a stage in [February’s Volta a] Valencia is hard.”

That all said, Roglič isn’t ruling out the possibility of him making an appearance in either the Tour or the Giro d’Italia next season. “If I’ve learned something over the years, it’s that there are always some chances.

“The fact is you need to put something in the plan. You need to have some planning because there are a lot of people around and we cannot all be freelancers.

“But if you are capable of achieving good results, it’s normally not a problem to go to the race, But it’s more the first one to get to the level [required] that can achieve that.”

Red Bull, it appears, does indeed give you wings; provided the Red Bull in question isn’t an energy drink, but rather nine of the world’s best cyclists from Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe.

In a history-making event, the WorldTour team launched a piloted glider plane into the air, using only the power in their legs.

The achievement, revealed today but plotted over more than a year, came as part of a team building exercise in Mallorca, Spain, and involved nine riders charging in “husky format” down a runway, explained Dan Bigham, the team's head of engineering.

“We’ve done something momentous,” Bigham said. “The project was the culmination of a lot of experienced engineers and aerodynamicists, and obviously some pretty amazing athletes at the same time.”

After two trials in Austria, nine of the team's riders were selected to take on the stunt in Mallorca: Adrien Boichis, Nico Denz, Davide Donati, Florian Lipowitz, Jordi Meeus, Laurence Pithie, Gijs Schoonvelde, Callum Thornley, and Tim van Dijke.

The riders’ bikes were connected with a harness, which in turn attached to the plane by a 150m cord – akin to the reindeers pulling Santa’s sleigh.

In his calculations, Bigham analysed the lift and drag of the plane, taking into account the air speed, weather conditions and power requirements of the riders.

The minimum speed to get the plane off the ground, he worked out, was around 45-50kph, “and then really it’s a question of how much energy we can put into it. About 500-550 [watts, per rider] will get the plane airborne, and then anything we can stick above into that plane is going to get it higher and higher and higher. It’s really simple maths.”

In the end, the nine riders peaked at a combined total of 6,500 watts – around 722 watts per person – averaging 650 watts each over the 90-second effort. The plane, piloted by Andy Hediger, reached 100 vertical metres.

“[It proves] that our maths, our science that we use to optimise time trial, team time trial, road race performance can also be used to optimise something that’s absolutely history-making in pulling a plane into the air,” Bigham said.

“Projects like this, firstly we’ve made history, but secondly they are game-changing, they completely change the paradigm of sport. Sport is entertainment when it comes down to it, and this is some of the purest, most unique entertainment that you will ever come across.”

Among those who powered the take-off was 22-year-old Brit Thornley, who will turn pro with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe in 2026.

“It’s a bit mental, to be honest,” Thornley said after the effort. “When they first presented the project, we were all together as a team and they showed us this powerpoint, and it seemed a bit impossible, it just looked too good to be true.”

Thornley’s team-mate Pithie said he first heard about the idea a year ago. “It was a super-cool project,” the New Zealander said. “Teamwork makes the dream work and we made the dream work today.”

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.

“Have you had the laser safety briefing?” a man in a hi-vis vest asks me. Having arrived late and flustered, I’m certain I’ve misheard, so I ask him to repeat the question. “The laser safety briefing,” he says, the words clear as day. “Follow me.”

We walk across a concrete floor into an office, where he hands me a document in a plastic sleeve. Immediately, my eyes are drawn to the blood red warning symbols, and a set of very important instructions; the laser I will come across today is a ‘level four’, and I absolutely must not look at it without tinted, wraparound glasses, a pair of which has just been thrust into my hands.

“It’s so strong it could light a cigarette,” I overhear someone say. Where am I? What have I gotten myself in for? The fear only subsides half an hour later, as I watch Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe’s chief engineer Dan Bigham hurtle burn-free through a green laser beam on his bike, again and again and again. Maybe I’ll be fine, after all.

I’ve come to the Catesby Tunnel, a 2.7km-long stretch of abandoned railway buried beneath the Northamptonshire countryside in England's Midlands. Built in 1897, the tunnel was cast aside in the 1960s, and now hasn’t seen a train in almost 60 years. Its entrance today is a boxy, metal warehouse, accessible by two roller shutter doors that make the state-of-the-art aero testing facility inside look like the back of a Sainsbury’s supermarket.

Grasping my safety glasses, I’m led to another office, this time by Ben Thompson, who works here at the tunnel. Sensing my impatience to see inside, Thompson offers me a peek at the CCTV footage, pointing at a small black-and-white tile of Bigham’s silhouette moving in the shadows. It’s a spooky image, made even more so by the mention of a bat colony that lives at the far end of the tunnel. Sightings, I’m told, are rare. Of the 10 people who have ever worked here, only two reckon they’ve seen a bat.

The safety briefing continues. Thompson hands me a hi-vis jacket of my own, and deals me a few more warnings; the tunnel will be dark, damp and cold – it’s kept at a constant 10.5°C – and I am not to wander off by myself once I go in. I nod along like a schoolboy nervous of being told off. A small van then arrives to take me through the portal. I clamber into the front seat, inhale deeply through my nose, and we roll slowly into the darkness.

For years, the Catesby Tunnel has welcomed cars much faster than this one. Its capacity as a testing site, thanks to its controlled environment and smooth, arrow-straight road, was first twigged by the motorsport industry, who have been coming here since it opened in 2021. The fastest speed recorded by a vehicle in the tunnel since then is apparently over 200mph. I notice a cluster of large blue barrels, each filled with gravel, placed at the end of the road – a barricade in case something goes wrong.

Fortunately, there’s no such danger for Bigham today. When we pull up to see him, a few hundred metres into the tunnel, he’s standing beside his bike and talking with the two laser engineers. Bigham’s first time here was four years ago, when he rode into the wall and broke four metatarsal bones in his foot. “I held it up, though,” he smiles. As he remounts his bike, I make sure to stand on the road’s gravel shoulder, well out of the way. The sun is shining outside, but it’s so damp in the tunnel I can hear water running down the walls.

Today’s test is both fairly straightforward and potentially ground-breaking. Bigham and his team are measuring real-life computational fluid dynamics (CFD), a digital method for tracking airflow over an object, in this case a rider and his bike. To do this in real life, they’re using particle imaging velocimetry (PIV), beaming a laser onto a screen of bubbles – yes, bubbles – and capturing with eight cameras the way they dance in the wake of Bigham riding through them. They’ll then compare the findings to the digital model, and iron out any creases to make their CFD calculations more reliable. “We’re sharpening our tools,” Bigham explains. This, in turn, will allow the team to carry out accurate CFD tests on their riders all season, without the need for them to be there in person.

“CFD is an arbitrary environment – it’s maths and a computer,” Bigham says. “What [being here] enables us to do is get that correlation, and it’s not really ever been done in the world of cycling, as far as I’m aware.”

Of course, everything’s a lot more technical and detailed than at first glimpse. Take, for example, the bubbles; the ones Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe are using are filled with helium, have a soapy film, and are released from 12 ‘free-standing wings’ (see: bubble machines) that form each bubble at exactly 0.3mm diameter. When Bigham rides through them, their movement is measured in a similar way to Hollywood cinema motion tracking, just with hundreds of thousands more dots. The budgets must be similar to Hollywood, too; I count around 25 litres of industrial bubble fluid, which surely can’t come cheap.

So why have Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe come to Catesby to do this? Aren’t wind tunnels and velodromes enough for this sort of thing? Bigham, a former motorsport engineer, now an Olympic silver medallist, sees all these facilities as part of a wider picture of testing. The tunnel, he explains, is a “really, really good tool”, one he expects only his team is using.

“We’re always trading off between realism and measurement precision,” Bigham says. “The more real you get, like field testing out in the open world, the less precision of measurement you have. And as you walk all the way to CFD, you can be incredibly precise with your measurement, but it’s not real, it’s on a computer. Everything blends that spectrum.”

The Catesby Tunnel, he adds, “sits high” on both the measurement precision and realism metrics. Here, testing guinea pigs like Bigham can ride naturally on their bikes, while also controlling variables like road surface, gradient, and yaw angle. As the space is enclosed, there are also no crosswinds; ask Jai Hindley or Florian Lipowitz, both of whom have been here this year on previous visits. “It’s a bit contrived,” Bigham says of the setting, and I gather that’s a good thing for this type of repeat testing.

There’s no time wasted in gathering the data today. Dressed in a skinsuit with Slovenian trim – property, I assume, of Primož Roglič – Bigham will do around 100 runs through the laser-lit screen of bubbles. His safety, too, has been considered; he wears a bug-eyed pair of welder’s goggles that make him look like a blue bottle fly.

I’m amazed he can see at all. It’s so dark that I can barely see beyond the shimmering green hue of the laser. A call of “incoming!” gives me a three-second warning before Bigham barrels through, enough time to get out of the way and hug the side of the tunnel. “Don’t touch the walls,” one of the engineers calls across. Too late. A streak of 100-year-old soot stains the skin of my palm.

The mess is nothing compared to Bigham, though. In the name of science, he brought two cans of black chalk spray to the tunnel this morning; one has since been emptied over his shiny Specialized S-Works time trial bike, and he seems to be wearing the contents of the other – it looks as if he’s ridden through a coal mine. I begin to ask about the damage to the bike, but I’m reassured it will all wash off easily. Good news for Finn Fisher-Black, then, whose name is stickered on the frame.

As Bigham returns to testing, riding up and down the same 100m stretch, blasting through the bubbles, I ask Specialized aerodynamicist Lionello Bardina, who flew in specially from California, about the chalk spray. To make the testing reliable, he explains, you can’t have any glossy surfaces. He offers me an analogy: “If you take a picture with your phone camera of, let’s say, a car, you see yourself in the reflection, right? We don’t want the data to be the reflection.

“By changing the surfaces to be as non-reflective as possible, that gives you a lot more confidence that you're not capturing reflections, you’re capturing the true data.”

Craving natural light, I leave Catesby after six hours with Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe. In that time, Bigham has completed most of his 100 test runs, undergone a full-body 3D scan for standardisation, and fuelled on a lunch of chicken tikka sandwiches and tuna paninis, supplied by the team’s technical performance manager, Jonny Wale.

A month later, I log onto a Zoom call to get the debrief from Bigham. Did the testing match up with his existing calculations? “It definitely correlates,” he says. “Everything makes sense, but it’s in the finer details.”

Those details won’t be combed through until January or February, before the new season starts. The pursuit of gains won’t stall in the meantime, though. Between now and then, Red Bull Bora-hansgrohe will undergo up to 10 days of testing a month, including bringing Lipowitz back to Catesby, and fine-tuning rider positions on the velodrome in Mallorca.

Bigham has also just spent a week in California, where, for 12 hours a day, he sat inside Specialized’s wind tunnel – the brand calls it their ‘win tunnel’ – welcoming rider after rider, among them marquee new signing Remco Evenepoel.

“Riders are becoming harder and harder to get hold of,” Bigham says. “They all want to go to altitude camps and train. They don’t want to come to wind tunnels.

“CFD is incredibly powerful in that respect, in that we can run as many different runs as we want on one rider’s actual body position [on a computer], but we need to just have absolute trust in that tool first.”

The laser test, he says, marked a big step in finding that trust. “I know it will help us. It’s taken a lot of work to just sit here today and get to this point, and there’s a lot of work still to come on the entire project, just to be sure, but it’ll bring performance, and I think that’s the kind of things that we’re willing to tackle within Red Bull.”

After a day of lasers and bubbles, I wonder where the cycling world will turn next in its quest for performance. What if there’s another tunnel, or the remains of a Stone Age velodrome, hiding beneath the hills of Northamptonshire, a testing Atlantis waiting to be discovered? No doubt Bigham will be the first to find it. And whatever it is, I look forward to reading the safety briefing.

Former Spanish champion Oier Lazkano has been suspended by the UCI over "unexplained abnormalities" in his biological passport, and will leave Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe as a result.

The 25-year-old, who joined the German team from Movistar at the beginning of 2025, did not race again after Paris-Roubaix in mid-April this season. The abnormalities were found during his time at his previous team, according to the UCI.

In a press release on Thursday afternoon, a spokesperson for cycling's governing body said: "Spanish rider Oier Lazkano Lopez has been provisionally suspended in accordance with the UCI Anti-Doping Rules, due to unexplained abnormalities in his Athlete Biological Passport in 2022, 2023 and 2024."

Following this, a Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe spokesperson announced that Lazkano would leave the squad.

They said: "We confirm that Oier Lazkano will no longer be part of our team. This follows the decision of the UCI to provisionally suspend him. The matter concerns the seasons 2022-2024 – a time before he joined our team."

The biological passport is a record of each rider's anti-doping tests, which are then monitored for discrepancies.

Lazkano's lengthy absence from racing had caused speculation over the Basque rider's situation; he was signed by Red Bull as a key man for the Classics, but in a disappointing campaign, his best result was 108th at Scheldeprijs. He failed to finish the Tour of Flanders, the E3 Saxo Classic, and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.

In the previous two seasons, Lazkano had marked himself out as one to watch in one-day races and long breakaways. He won the Clásica Jaén Paraiso Interior in 2024, finished second at Dwars door Vlaanderen in 2023 having been in the breakaway for 166km, and then went on to finish third at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne in 2024. He also won the Spanish National Championships road race in 2023.

At Grand Tours, of which he has raced five, the man from Vitoria-Gasteiz had twice finished fifth on stages, including 2024 stage of the Tour de France won by Victor Campenaerts.

Lazkano has not posted publicly on social media since April. Then, he wrote on Instagram: "It hasn't been the classic season we wanted and planned, but I'm taking quite a few notes on the list. Thank you all for the support these months. Now, a little rest and back to the heights to prepare for the summer season."

The UCI defines the biological passport as "an individual electronic record for each rider, in which the results of all doping tests collected as part of the ABP programme over a given period are collated."

The UCI continues: "The International Testing Agency (ITA), the independent entity to which the UCI delegated its anti-doping programme while retaining responsibility for the management of results and the prosecution of anti-doping rule violations, manages the ABP programme in collaboration with the Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU) of Lausanne, Switzerland (the APMU of Lausanne is associated with the World Anti-Doping Agency accredited Laboratory of Lausanne).

"Athlete Biological cases are prosecuted based on the opinion of an independent Expert Panel of the APMU."

How do you make the best even better? That’s the conundrum Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe face as they prepare to welcome Remco Evenepoel for next season. And they’re confident they’ll succeed.

On Wednesday, the Belgian dominated the time trial at the European Road Championships, adding a fourth major title to the national, world and Olympic honours he already owns. If the golden helmet and rainbow jersey aren’t telling enough of the 25-year-old’s stronghold in the discipline, then his one-minute winning margins are clear as day.

Still, tasked with making Evenepoel faster, and turning him into a Tour de France contender, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe's performance team say there are gains to be found.

>>>> The Friday Cycling Quiz: 10 questions on cycling's transfer market

“Obviously he’s not joined the team yet, but you get ideas of why he’s coming, and he’s coming to challenge himself, and us by association,” Jonny Wale, the team’s technical performance manager, told Cycling Weekly.

“He wants to improve, he doesn’t want to stay where he is. He’s going to buy in, hopefully, to our philosophy of continual development, because that’s what he sees in his future. He’s an aspirational guy, and he knows that he’s not at the level he wants to be now, but hopefully, with our processes, we can bring him up.”

At the head of Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe’s engineering team is Dan Bigham, an aerodynamics expert and Olympic silver medallist. Both Bigham and Wale previously worked together at Ineos Grenadiers, where they helped lead Filippo Ganna's bid to shelf the UCI Hour Record.

Their next project revolves around Evenepoel, who spent the last seven years with Soudal Quick-Step, and will join the pair in the wind tunnel this off-season.

“I think it’s scary,” said Bigham, “to bring in the Olympic champion, a three-time world champion… where do you go from there? But it comes back to trusting everything about the process.

“Just because he’s achieved performance doesn’t mean everything’s perfect, and I think you have to accept that. That has to be your base premise: he is flawed in how he’s done things – everybody is, we’re definitely not near perfection yet. Therefore there is more performance to be found.

“We haven’t mastered it yet, but there’s plenty of work to be done, and I think we will improve him. I hope we’ll improve him. It’s a scary thing, for sure, but I think we can’t be afraid of changing some aspects of what he does, or how he does things, because as long as you trust everything about your models, your process, then it’s completely justified. Hopefully we make him even more outrageous than he already is.”

It’s the same approach that Bigham and Wale, now heading into their second season with Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, apply to all the riders they test.

“You don’t treat Remco any differently than you treat anybody else,” said Wale. “Maybe he’s going to probably get more financial resources put into his project, which is deserved, but how we work and how we want to work going forwards is the same from the U19s all the way up to your Remcos. We’re a team. What we do isn’t just for one guy.”

“We want to win with everybody,” Bigham stressed. “We want do podium lockouts, stack the top 10s, just be dominant.” Evenepoel is one piece, albeit a big one, of that puzzle.

Ineos Grenadiers have lost two of their key management staff to Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe as Remco Evenepoel's arrival at the latter team nears.

Zak Dempster and Oli Cookson join Red Bull as chief of sports and head of racing, respectively, and will oversee a team of 11 sports directors across the WorldTour and development squads.

Dempster joins after three years at Ineos Grenadiers, during which time he was a lead DS at Grand Tours, including the Tour de France. He spent a few seasons at what is now Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe when it was a Pro Conti team between 2013-16.

"Zak knows our team like very few others. He played an important role in shaping our history, and despite his young age, he already brings extensive international leadership experience," Ralph Denk, the team's CEO, said.

"I am convinced that his fresh ideas, clear leadership style, and fearlessness will help us write the next chapter in our sporting evolution."

"For me, this feels like coming home. I share so many formative moments of my career with this team, and I am excited to now contribute to its future in a new role," Dempster said.

"I know Ralph as an ambitious team manager, and with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe he has created the most exciting project in our sport. Now it’s about realising this enormous potential together."

Dempster and Cookson effectively replace Rolf Aldag, who left Red Bull at the end of July. From 2026, Remco Evenepoel will join the team after breaking his contract with Soudal Quick-Step early, which represents a new frontier for the team.

Cookson has been a DS at Ineos Grenadiers since 2018. The other confirmed WorldTour DSes at Red Bull for 2026 are: Shane Archbold, Tony Gallopin, Roger Hammond, Klaas Lodewyck, Enrico Poitschke, Christian Pömer, Sven Vanthourenhout and Patxi Villa.

This season, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe finished third at the Tour de France through Florian Lipowitz, won the Volta a Catalunya through Primož Roglič, and finished in the top 10 of the Giro d'Italia with Giulio Pellizzari. Pellizzari and Jai Hindley also finished in the top 10 of the Vuelta a España, and Roglič finished eighth at the Tour.

Meanwhile, Ineos Grenadiers won six Grand Tour stages, including two at the Tour through Thymen Arensman, but haven't won a WorldTour stage race.

Cookson and Dempster's arrival will likely usher in a reshuffle in the management team at Ineos for the third season in a row, with Geraint Thomas expected to take a role post-retirement.

Primož Roglič has welcomed the signing of Remco Evenepoel to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, saying he hopes the pair can “achieve great things together”.

It was announced earlier this month that Evenepoel will leave Soudal Quick-Step after seven seasons with the squad, and join Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe from 2026.

The move led to questions about Grand Tour leadership within the German team, after Roglič and Florian Lipowitz finished eighth and third respectively at July’s Tour de France.

Roglič has now spoken for the first time since the signing was unveiled, telling the Dutch press he is “happy” with the arrival of Evenepoel.

“He’s special,” the Slovenian told Nieuwsblad and In de Leiderstrui at a post-Tour criterium in the Netherlands. “Remco has already won quite a few races, so I hope we can achieve great things together."

A world and Olympic champion in both the time trial and road race, Evenepoel has focused his efforts on Grand Tour glory in recent years, finishing third on debut at last year’s Tour, but withdrawing on stage 14 this year due to fatigue.

Between them, he and Roglič have won six Grand Tours across their careers; the Slovenian has won four Vuelta a España titles and a Giro d’Italia, while Evenepoel won the Vuelta in 2022.

Asked if the two can convert their potential into a Tour de France yellow jersey, Roglič said: “The Tour is still a long way off. The last one only just finished, and it's not yet certain whether I can actually ride it next year. But of course, we will work hard to achieve the best together.

“We still need to make progress, and hopefully we can improve together,” he continued. “The team is growing, but there's still a gap with Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard.”

Reigning Tour champion Pogačar and two-time winner Vingegaard have shared the last six yellow jerseys between them.

In a team statement released at the time of Evenepoel's signing, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe hailed the Belgian's arrival as a “clear signal” for the team, which hopes to become “one of the most attractive focrsed on the international cycling stage.”

“[Evenepoel] brings not only exceptional athletic talent, but also a remarkable mindset,” team CEO Ralph Denk said. “His determination, professionalism, and relentless drive to succeed are truly inspiring.”

It’s finally over, the most drawn out transfer saga in recent times is concluded. Remco Evenepoel’s time at Soudal Quick-Step, the team where he turned professional in 2019, is finished and he will ride for Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe from 2026 onwards. Despite consistent denials from all parties that a transfer was imminent, Evenepoel’s move to the German team has been the worst kept secret within the WorldTour for months. Whispers were abound that it was finally done and contracts were ready for much of the recent Tour de France.

But where now for Evenepoel? Where does this leave him after a difficult ending to the Tour? It was already clear on the eve of the race in Lille that something was amiss. The double Olympic champion is typically calm, collected and measured in his words, although he appeared spiky and on edge when he met the media before the team presentation, stating that he will “never crack under pressure”.

That same pressure will be amplified tenfold by signing for Red Bull and is only set to increase next year when the Tour arrives once more. At the time of Primož Roglič’s arrival at the German team, its then head sports director, Rolf Aldag, said that it had forced the group to recalibrate its goals completely. Evenepoel signing means that those same goals must be recalibrated to a stratospheric level; the stakes could never have been greater.

With his departure confirmed, the mood amongst the camp at Soudal Quick-Step will be one of sadness and regret, even if their outward messaging suggests a stoic, resilient atmosphere and a positive outlook towards the future. The team reshaped itself in order to pursue GC ambitions in all of cycling’s three Grand Tours – with Evenepoel at the forefront of that – although it appears they will now return to the Classics identity of old. An identity they must return to without their most prized possession.

Patrick Lefevere, and his successor, Jurgen Foré, fought with tooth and nail to keep their most prized asset at the team in recent years, but more and more has pointed to the fact that Evenepoel simply wanted out, and he felt that he could progress no further at Quick-Step. This isn't the first time the prospect of the Belgian leaving has been raised, with Ineos Grenadiers a notable previous suitor, but this is final.

Do Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe even need a rider of his standing? The team already possess one of the brightest talents amongst the men’s WorldTour: Florian Lipowitz. The young German proved his durability and underlined his credentials as a future GC leader with a hugely impressive ride to third overall at the Tour, winning the white jersey in the process. Lipowitz has not yet made public comment regarding the arrival of his new teammate, although he could now be completely sidelined by the move for a rider just one year his senior.

Lipowitz was, until this week, Red Bull's golden boy, but might already have been usurped. The young German, at a German team, is seemingly a better climber and a better GC option right now than Evenepoel is, based on results this year. However, the team have gone and signed something shinier – a rider with a golden helmet.

The presence of Roglič will also be interesting, with the Slovenian seemingly not caring at the recent Tour, but with one more year on his contract. There will be a tricky balancing act of egos between three riders who are not at too dissimilar levels when it comes to GC racing.

But if the team gels successfully, could the move work? Evenepoel is heading to a team that is set up to perform much deeper in the high mountains, with help from Jai Hindley, Aleksandr Vlasov, Giulio Pellizzari and Dani Martínez. He will also stay aboard Specialized bikes, a brand he has a personal connection to, and be surrounded by staff he knows and trusts with former Belgian national coach Sven Vanthourenhout and Quick-Step DS Klaas Lodewyck expected to move with him.

Evenepoel could now find that all of this change could be a fast track closing the gap between himself and Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar - but that gap is more than just a bike length. Evenepoel now has increased financial clout behind him, as well as a greater calibre of riders to call upon as teammates, but Pogačar has been unstoppable yet again this calendar year. Retirement is likely to be the only thing that ends his insurmountable control of the top level of the sport.

Nevertheless, Evenepoel knows what it takes to perform and win big on the grandest of stages: his two Olympic golds stand as testament to that. He has long been seen as the only rider capable of truly going head to head with the Tour’s two best riders and standing a chance of coming out on top. With the right support, and some more fine tuning, this move could be exactly what the Belgian needs. Just don't ask Florian Lipowitz what he thinks.

Remco Evenepoel is to leave Soudal Quick-Step after mutual agreement, breaking his contract early, and will join Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe for 2026.

The move, announced by Soudal Quick-Step on Tuesday afternoon, comes after weeks of speculation regarding the 25-year-old's future, which dogged him throughout the recent Tour de France.

A short press release from Quick-Step confirmed that Evenepoel's contract will be terminated, bringing an end to their relationship of more than six years. Evenepoel turned professional with the team, formerly managed by Patrick Lefevere, in 2019.

Minutes later, a press release from Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe confirmed the arrival of the double Olympic champion.

“Representatives of Remco informed the team’s management that he did not wish to discuss an extension of his current agreement, which expires at the end of 2026," the statement from Quick-Step read.

"After taking some time to consult with our sponsors and partners, the team’s ownership and management have decided that it is in best interest of everyone to agree that Remco can move at the end of the current 2025 season," it continued.

"Since its inception in 2003, our team has seen many iterations and changes, while continuing to develop into one of the most successful teams in the history of professional cycling and recently became the first professional cycling team to reach 1000 UCI wins.

"While we regret Remco’s decision to leave, we will foster the memories that we have made and will continue to strive together to achieve some significant results for the rest of the season.”

“Remco stands for ambition. He doesn’t just want to ride – he wants to shape cycling,” Ralph Denk, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe CEO said. “He brings not only exceptional athletic talent, but also a remarkable mindset. His determination, professionalism, and relentless drive to succeed are truly inspiring.”

The Red Bull statement says: "Remco Evenepoel’s arrival marks more than just a milestone for Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe – it is a clear signal. With renewed confidence and bold ambition, the team is setting its course to become one of the most attractive forces on the international cycling stage in the years to come.

As well as winning the Vuelta a España while riding for Quick-Step, Evenepoel won several other major races in the blue and white of the Belgian team; including two editions of Liège–Bastogne–Liège.

At the Tour de France, Soudal Quick-Step’s CEO Jurgen Foré said that he would discuss Evenepoel's future once the race was over, while Evenepoel played down reports of a move imminently happening.

In the build up to his exit, Evenepoel endured a difficult ending to his final race with Quick-Step, abandoning the Tour midway through stage 14 in the Pyrenees on the road to Superbagnères. Tom Steels, the team's lead sports director at the race, said at the time that the 25-year-old had withdrawn in order to protect his goals later in the season.

Evenepoel won the stage 5 time trial around Caen, but appeared out of sorts when the race hit the high mountains.

After abandoning the race, he revealed in a social media post that he had rushed to be fit in time for the Tour, and that he had raced with a broken rib.

A move to Red Bull looked likely to be confirmed soon when the German team, announced last week that their head sports director, Rolf Aldag, had departed the project. The former Belgian national team coach, Sven Vanthourenhout, then told Sporza that he would be joining Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe.

Sources have told Cycling Weekly that Quick-Step DS Klaas Lodewyck will also make the move with Evenepoel and suggested that Aldag was asked to leave to make way for Evenepoel's entourage.

Any transfer would need to have been ratified by Soudal Quick-Step, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, and Evenepoel himself, with approval from the UCI also requested as part of the process. Due to the contract being broken early early, reports have also suggested that the Belgian will need to pay his former team €5 million in compensation, with Red Bull adding €2 million.

Little is known about Evenepoel's racing schedule towards the end of the season, although he is expected to return to competition and lead Belgium at the road World Championships in Rwanda in September.

Happy new year! All transfers should be more or less done, but there are still a few trickling through...

From 1 August teams and riders can officially announce transfers. It means rumours can finally be proved or dispelled, and you can start to think about what it might mean for next year.

Rather than announcing each transfer individually, we will collect together all the transfers in the men's and women's WorldTour pelotons here, as and when they are officially revealed.

Officially, August 1 is the opening of the first registration period – 1 to 15 August – in which riders can switch teams, with another registration period from October to the end of the year, but in practice, it is the start of announcements for 2026.

The news does not need to be confirmed until 31 December, unless they're a free agent, but those canny marketing departments at teams know when to let things be made public. This page will be updated throughout the rest of the year, as more is confirmed. We will write more about the bigger moves, and list the rest down below.

Now the WorldTour teams for 2026-2028 have been confirmed, and names made official, we will put them in our list too.

Big moves

Louis Barré finds a spot at Visma

One of the victims of the Lotto-Intermarché merger, Louis Barré, has found a lifeboat in Visma-Lease a Bike. The 25-year-old finished sixth at both the Amstel Gold Race and the GP de Montréal in 2025.

"Louis caught our eye during the tougher one-day races," Grischa Niermann, Visma's head of racing, said. "He achieved some great results there, and he also showed himself in the Dauphiné. He is still relatively young and has good potential for growth. We believe he can continue to develop within our team and see him as a strong addition to our lineup for the demanding hilly classics."

Oscar Onley joins Ineos Grenadiers

Oscar Onley was the subject of fierce transfer speculation in recent months, with the 23-year-old himself revealing that "probably 15" teams had reached out.

Picnic PostNL confirmed that a deal had been agreed for Onley to leave the team. Ineos Grenadiers then revealed they had signed the Scot following his "standout" fourth place at this year's Tour de France.

Lotto-Intermarché merger results

Eight former Intermarché-Wanty riders have moved to Lotto-Intermarché after the merger with Lotto; effectively, Intermarché has ceased to exist. Those lucky to get in the lifeboat are: Huub Artz, Vito Braet, Lorenza Rota, Jonas Rutsch, Luca Van Boven, Taco van der Hoorn, and Roel van Sintmaartensijk.

Jack Haig joins Ineos Grenadiers

After five years with Bahrain-Victorious, which included a third place at the Vuelta a España in 2021, Jack Haig is to ride for Ineos Grenadiers.

"I raced wheel to wheel against Jack for many years and he’s always impressed me," Ineos' director of racing, Geraint Thomas, said of the Australian. "He’s a fighter and a grafter, and he knows what it takes to stand on the podium at a Grand Tour. I’m sure he’ll be a big part of what we’re going after in the next few years."

Michael Leonard joins EF Education-EasyPost

After three years with Ineos Grenadiers, Canadian time trial champion Michael Leonard has joined EF Education-EasyPost.

"This team has a unique identity," the 21-year-old said in a team press release. "Even growing up, watching the sport, it seemed like a team with an exciting culture. It is a team that you always see on the attack, being opportunistic, and giving riders the space to express themselves and race in ways that suit them, so they can take the best advantage of situations on the road. It's a team that definitely gets the best out of its riders. You see riders who might not fit in other places perform really strongly on this team."

Leonard has signed a three-year deal with EF that is expected keep him with the team until the end of 2028.

Pascal Ackermann swaps Israel-Premier Tech for Jayco AlUla

Three-time Giro d'Italia stage winner Pascal Ackermann will join Jayco AlUla on a two-year deal from January 2026.

The 31-year-old sprinter spent the last two seasons with Israel-Premier Tech, and previously rode for UAE Team Emirates and Bora-Hansgrohe.

Commenting on his latest transfer, Ackermann said: "Team Jayco AlUla is a team with a great history, and one that I was already looking up to when I was younger.

"It has always been a dream to join the team, so I am excited for this opportunity! For me, it’s definitely the best team to continue to chase my dream of winning races! Let’s get into 2026 and get back to the top.”

Luke Lamperti joins EF Education-EasyPost

Young American star Luke Lamperti will ride for EF Education-EasyPost next year, after leaving Soudal Quick-Step.

"I am really excited to join the team," he said. "I already know quite a lot of the guys and am looking forward to joining a nice group and seeing what the next years bring. It feels like I am coming home. It’s an American team.

"Obviously, cycling isn't massive in the US, so it is pretty special to be able to join an American WorldTour team as an American rider."

Sam Bennett moves to Q36.5 Pro Cycling

Irish sprinter Sam Bennett is to ride for Q36.5 Pro Cycling next season, leaving Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale after two seasons.

The 35-year-old, who has won stages at all three Grand Tours, will be linking up with Kurt Bogaerts, who helped launch his career.

"As a sprinter, my career has been shaped by hunting for wins and I've been really fortunate to have been given lots of great opportunities to perform, and win, at all 3 Grand Tours," Bennett said. "By joining this team, not only do I sense an immense opportunity to perform at my best level but equally to guide younger riders to achieve great things within our sport"

Alison Jackson leaves EF for St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93

Canadian national champion Alison Jackson will leave EF Education-Oatly for St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93 in a surprising move.

It means the 2023 Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift winner will not be a Women's WorldTour rider next year, remaining on a ProTeam.

"I am really looking forward to contributing to the building of a strong and respected team, competitive at the highest level of the peloton," Jackson said in an Instagram post.

"My ambition is to continue excelling in the major races and, in particular, to aim once again for victory in prestigious Classics like Paris-Roubaix. I also want to specifically prepare for races such as the Tour of Flanders and other important Classics in order to play a key role in the finales."

Embret Svestad-Bårdseng joins Ineos Grenadiers

Ineos Grenadiers have made their third move of the transfer window official, with Embret Svestad-Bårdseng joining from Arkéa-B&B Hotels.

The 23-year-old Norwegian is a climber by trade, who has spent just one year at WorldTour level. With Arkéa folding, Ineos offered him a spot for next year; he has signed a three-year contract.

Picnic PostNL sign Robyn Clay

Robyn Clay, the winner of the British National Road and Circuit Series in 2025, will ride for Picnic PostNL next year.

The 21-year-old said: "I’m excited to learn from the riders and staff around me, to find my place in the WorldTour peloton, and to keep growing, not just as a rider, but also as a teammate and a person.

"Having some fun along the way would be pretty cool too! I’d describe myself as determined and not afraid of tough days or rough conditions. I like to keep the team spirit high, even when the going gets hard.

"My aim is simple: to get the best out of myself and help those around me do the same. On and off the bike, I bring resilience and a sense of humour when the time is right."

Kévin Vauquelin to ride for Ineos Grenadiers

French rider Kévin Vauquelin is to join Ineos Grenadiers from next season on a three-year deal. The 24-year-old finished seventh at this year's Tour de France, and he won a stage at the race in 2024. He's also twice runner-up at La Flèche Wallonne.

"I’m really excited to discover a new environment, new teammates, new equipment and a new way of working with the staff group," he said. "For me, it’s the logical next step in my career to continue my progression and explore new horizons."

Sir Dave Brailsford said: "We believe his best years are ahead of him and we’re excited to help him realise his potential."

Owain Doull signs for Visma-Lease a Bike

Visma-Lease a Bike have bolstered their Classics squad with the signing of Owain Doull from EF Education-EasyPost.

The 32-year Welshman, who began his pro career with Team Sky, has ridden 17 Monuments, and said he's "highly motivated" to be joining "one of the best teams in the world".

"I’m looking forward to supporting Matthew Brennan in the flat sprints, playing a role in his lead-out and in the classics," Doull said.

"At the same time, I also want to discover how much room for growth I still have myself. Physically, I’m still getting stronger, even after nine years in the WorldTour. Last season was my best so far, and I expect that I can take another step forward with this team."

Juan Ayuso to ride for Lidl-Trek in 2026

After leaving his UAE Team Emirates-XRG contract early, Juan Ayuso is to ride for Lidl-Trek from next year. The Spanish 23-year-old has signed a five-year deal with his new team after creative differences caused him to leave his former employers.

Tom Gloag leaves Visma-Lease a Bike for Q36.5 Pro Cycling

After Tom Pidcock, Fred Wright, Eddie Dunbar and more, Tom Gloag has become the latest WorldTour rider to join Q36.5 Pro Cycling. After three and a bit years with Visma-Lease a Bike, 24-year-old Gloag will ride for the ProTeam next season.

"Fred grew up a mile from me in London so it’s nice to be on the same team again," Gloag said in a team press release. "The last time was at VC Londres when we were kids. I also look forward to working with Kurt [Bogaerts] again. He has been a great influence in my first U23 year and we always stayed in touch. In that first U23 year with Trinity I also raced with Tom so it will be a reunion for all of us."

There will now be five Brits on the Swiss team next year, with Mark Donovan and Joey Pidcock added, as well as at least one Irishman in Dunbar.

Matthew Riccitello leaves Israel-Premier Tech for Decathlon

The winner of the Vuelta a España's best young rider classification, Matthew Riccitello, will join Decathlon CMA CGM in 2026.

The 23-year-old American has ridden for Israel-Premier Tech for the last three seasons, and will now make the step up to WorldTour level.

"I'm really excited to join DECATHLON CMA CGM in 2026," said Riccitello, who placed fifth at September's Vuelta.

"I admire the team's ambition and progression in the last few years. I'm looking to continue progressing as a rider in stage races and Grand Tours, and I believe this team will push me to reach my potential. I'm motivated to make the most of this new chapter and confident this is the right environment for me to keep growing as both a rider and a person."

Decathlon's sports director Sébastien Joly described Riccitello as an "excellent climber" who will be a "real asset" for the team.

>>>> The Friday Cycling Quiz: Test your knowledge of cycling's transfer season

Alice Towers pens deal with EF Education-Oatly

Former British national champion Alice Towers will join EF Education-Oatly next season, after three years with Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto.

The 22-year-old won the National Championships at only 19, but is yet to win a race since.

“I want to be a rider who competes in the final for a win,” Towers said in a press release shared by EF Eduaction-Oatly.

“I’ve been missing the opportunity to go for the win. I’d like to win a race next year, that’s my goal. I don’t mind what level, if it’s WorldTour or if it’s a .1, I’d just like to be competing for the win. And looking beyond 2026, I’d love to win a stage at a grand tour, like the Giro or the Tour or the Vuelta. If not one of those, then an Ardennes classic is the absolute dream.”

Olav Kooij and Tiesj Benoot sign for Decathlon CMA GGM

After four seasons with Visma-Lease a Bike, Classics and Tour de France mainstay Tiesj Benoot is to ride for the rebranded Decathlon CMA CGM from next year.

The 31-year-old Belgian has signed a three year contract.

"This marks a new chapter in my career, within an ambitious team where I can continue to progress," Benoot said. "The vision of the project and the trust placed in me give me great motivation to achieve strong results and play an important role in the Classics and in supporting the team."

Also following him from Visma to Decathlon will be sprinter Olav Kooij. The 23-year-old has won 46 races in yellow over the past few years, including three stages at the recent Tour of Britain Men.

The pair are joined with a sprint train: Cees Bol, Daan Hoole, Tobias Lund Andresen and Robbe Ghys.

Lauren Dickson to join FDJ United-SUEZ from Handsling Alba Development

Standout domestic star Lauren Dickson is to ride for the team of Demi Vollering, FDJ United-SUEZ, next year. The 25-year-old only started her semi-professional career in July 2024 after joining Handsling Alba Development, but will now step up to the Women's WorldTour next year.

The Scot won the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix this season before mixing it with WorldTour riders at the Tour of Norway and placing third overall.

"When I signed for Alba, Bob [Lyons, the team's manager] said the team focuses on developing riders," Dickson said. "I’m very excited and honoured to confirm that I’ve signed a two-year contract with the world’s number one team FDJ-Suez, a dream becomes reality. Stepping up from club level and progressing to WorldTour in 18 months is, I believe, a testament to Alba’s development pathway.

"Looking forwards, I endeavour to give my all and continue learning and progressing with FDJ-Suez. My long-term ambitions are to race the Grand Tours, but next year I want to focus on perfecting race craft and doing my best for our leaders."

"Her future is very bright indeed and we will be hearing her name a lot in the coming years," Lyons said. "The team was set up to create a platform for development, with the team’s major focus being the rider and getting the best out of them. It is pleasing to see that the implementation of a somewhat different strategy is bearing fruit."

Noah Hobbs moves up to EF's senior team

After a year with EF's development team, EF Education-Aevolo, 21-year-old Noah Hobbs will join WorldTour team EF Education-EasyPost in 2026.

The British sprinter has had a successful season, most recently winning a stage of the Tour de l'Avenir. EF Pro Cycling CEO Jonathan Vaughters called him the "best U23 sprinter in the world right now".

Stefan Küng leaves WorldTour for Tudor

Stefan Küng will ride for Swiss team Tudor Pro Cycling from 2026, departing Groupama-FDJ after seven years.

The Swiss rouleur is an ever-present in the Classics, but is also a WorldTour winner, and will add experience to the ProTeam Tudor.

Dorian Godon signs for Ineos Grenadiers

French national road race champion Dorian Godon will ride for Ineos Grenadiers next season, in the team's first announced move of the summer.

The 29-year-old joins from Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, whom he raced for since 2019. The man from the Paris suburbs won Brabantse Pijl and the Giro del Veneto in 2023.

"This feels like the start of an exciting new chapter in my career, and I’m ready to make the most of it," Godon said in a statement. "I want to make the French champion’s jersey - and the moustache - shine. The past few months I’ve watched the team racing with strength and unity in the bunch, and that’s really inspired me. I can’t wait to be a part of that."

Ricarda Bauernfeind to join Lidl-Trek

Former Tour de France Femmes stage winner Ricarda Bauernfeind is to join Lidl-Trek next season from Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto, where she started her pro career.

The 25-year-old has finished in the top ten in three Grand Tours, but has had a disappointing 2025 by her standards, but said she hopes to be back to her best at the new team.

Chris Harper, Xandro Meurisse and Fred Wright to move to Q36.5 Pro Cycling

Q36.5 Pro Cycling have continued their activity in the transfer market. signing Giro d'Italia stage winner Chris Harper and Belgian Classics rider Xandro Meurisse. The pair follow Fred Wright in the door.

After six seasons with Bahrain Victorious, Wright is to join Q36.5 for at least three years. The ProTeam has brought the Londoner onboard to strengthen its Classics squad, and help him achieve his first non-National Championships victory.

Full story here.

Lewis Askey to depart Groupama-FDJ for NSN Cycling

After a season in which he won his first professional bike races, Lewis Askey is to leave Groupama-FDJ for NSN Cycling from 2026.

The Englishman, 24, won Boucles de l'Aulne and a stage of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque in May, and later took part in his first Tour de France.

"I need some new motivation, new faces, new style, fresh air, and new ways of thinking," Askey explained. "I’m at a point in my career where I should be coming into my best years, and I feel like moving somewhere else will give me the extra gear, the motivation to step up and try new things."

Visma-Lease a Bike sign former triathlete Anton Schiffer

Triathlete-turned-cyclist Anton Schiffer has joined Visma-Lease a Bike, being part of the team from 1 October, and is expected to ride for the squad this season.

The 25-year-old German has ridden for Continental Team Bike Aid since 2023, but will now move to the WorldTour for Visma. This season, he finished second overall at the Tour of Hellas and won a stage at the Sibiu Tour, as well as finishing third in the road race at the German National Championships.

"This step may come as a surprise to the outside world, but given how this season has progressed, it doesn’t surprise me as much," Schiffer said.

Eddie Dunbar departs Jayco AlUla for Q36.5

Eddie Dunbar has left the WorldTour to join ProTeam Q36.5 Pro Cycling, as the squad broadens its horizons from Tom Pidcock.

The 28-year-old Irishman won two Vuelta a España stages last year, and will aim to spearhead the team's climbing ambitions.

"They are really competitive in the races, take it on even if they don’t win and create a good racing atmosphere riding as one," Dunbar said. "When Kurt Bogaerts - who I know well from my time at Ineos -joined, my interest was sparked even more. I know how he works. I also spoke to Doug Ryder on how the team is going and what they expect.

"In Tom they have a clear leader which is always good for any team so it seems like a good moment now to join with my knowledge and experience."

Charlotte Kool makes mid-season switch

Charlotte Kool has changed Women's WorldTour teams mid-season, departing Picnic PostNL for Fenix-Deceuninck. The 26-year-old, a two-time Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift stage winner, can race for her new team immediately.

The Dutchwoman will ride for the Belgian team until at least 2028.

"I am ready for a new chapter in my career," Kool said. "From the very first conversation with the team I had an immediate and genuinely good feeling about their mentality, and the trust they placed in me. Of course, making a move halfway the season comes with its challenges, but it feels right.

"I've been welcomed with open arms and I can't wait to race in my new colours. This new environment gives me a lot of extra motivation."

Mid-season transfers are rare, and require an agreement to be ratified by the UCI after the rider and both teams reach a deal.

Fenix-Deceuninck's management said: "We would like to thank Charlotte's management as well as her former team Picnic PostNL for the smooth and constructive cooperation that made this transfer possible."

Soudal Quick-Step sign Belgian duo

Steff Cras and Fabio Van den Bossche are the fifth and sixth riders to sign for Soudal Quick-Step for 2026, as the Belgian team continues its signing spree. They join Alberto Dainese in being announced this week.

Cras is a climber, who has joined the team to boost their Grand Tour output, and Van den Bossche is more of a man for the Classics.

Filippo Conca rides for Jayco AlUla immediately

After winning the Italian National Championships for a club team, Filippo Conca has been swept up by Jayco AlUla. The 26-year-old is no stranger to the professional peloton, having ridden for Lotto Soudal and Q36.5 Pro Cycling in the past, but was left without a contract for 2025, meaning he has been riding for Swatt Club.

Conca's first race for Jayco will be the Circuit Franco-Belge on Friday.

Dylan van Baarle heads to Soudal Quick-Step

Remco Evenepoel might be leaving Quick-Step, but the team have signed two Monument winners for 2026. The first was Jasper Stuyven, and now Dylan van Baarle has been revealed as a member of the Belgian team.

The 33-year-old won Paris-Roubaix when riding for Ineos Grenadiers in 2022, before he moved to Visma-Lease a Bike, with whom he won Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2023. The Dutchman is therefore a man for the Classics, but has also emerged as a key domestique for Grand Tours, too.

Remco Evenepoel leaves Soudal Quick-Step, bound for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe

In potentially the biggest move of the summer, Remco Evenepoel is to leave Soudal Quick-Step after mutual agreement, breaking his contract early, and will join Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe for 2026.

The move, announced by Soudal Quick-Step at the beginning of August, came after weeks of speculation regarding the 25-year-old's future, which dogged him throughout the recent Tour de France.

Dylan Groenewegen and Elmar Reinders leave Jayco AlUla

ProTeam Unibet Tietema Rockets have landed a coup by signing Dylan Groenewegen and Elmar Reinders from Jayco AlUla. The Dutch pair will seek to put the second-division team on the map.

Groenewegen has 77 career victories, including 16 at WorldTour level, with five Tour de France stage wins. Reinders, meanwhile, has never won at a professional level, but adds WorldTour experience to the squad.

Unibet Tietema Rockets emerged out of Dutch former pro cyclist Bas Tietema's YouTube channel, Tour de Tietema, and became a ProTeam in 2024.

Attila Valter signs for Bahrain Victorious

After three years at Visma-Lease a Bike, Attila Valter will switch to Bahrain Victorious for the next three years, with the Hungarian adding to the team's stage racing pool.

The 27-year-old is a three time Hungarian champion, and spent time in pink at the 2021 Giro d'Italia.

"The team’s goals are perfectly matching with my personal ones," he said. "This gives me a lot of confidence and I’m excited to start this journey together with them!"

Jasper Stuyven joins Soudal Quick-Step

Milan-San Remo winner and chocolatier Jasper Stuyven has signed a three-year deal with Soudal Quick-Step, after spending his whole professional career at Lidl-Trek to date.

In 12 years at Trek, the 33-year-old won San Remo, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, and proved himself as one to watch in the Classics, as well as being a useful foil for Mads Pedersen.

Men's WorldTour transfers

Alpecin-Premier Tech

In: Florian Sénéchal (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Gerben Thijssen and Francesco Busatto (Intermarché-Wanty), Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech), Maurice Ballerstedt, Lindsay De Vylder and Jonas Geens (Flanders-Baloise), Tim Marsman (VolkerWessels Cycling), Sente Sentjens, Senna Remijn, Aaron Dockx, Lennert Belmans (Alpecin-Deceuninck Development)

Out: Fabio Van den Bossche (Soudal Quick-Step), Xandro Meurisse (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Quinten Hermans (Q36.5 Pro Cycling), Gianni Vermeersch (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), Robbe Ghys (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Timo Kielich (Visma-Lease a Bike), Stan Van Trickt (Soudal Quick-Step Devo)

Bahrain Victorious

In: Attila Valter (Visma-Lease a Bike), Alec Segaert (Lotto), Pau Miquel (Equipo Kern Pharma), Jakob Ormrzel (Bahrain Victorious Development), Alessandro Borgo (Bahrain Victorious Development)

Out: Fred Wright (Q36.5 Pro Cycling), Jack Haig (Ineos Grenadiers), Torstein Træen (Uno-X Mobility), Finlay Pickering (Jayco AlUla), Nicolò Buratti (MBH Bank CSB Ballan), Sergio Tu (Astemo Utsunomiya Blitzen)

Decathlon CMA CGM

In: Antoine L'Hote (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Development), Tiesj Benoot (Visma-Lease a Bike), Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike), Daan Hoole (Lidl-Trek), Cees Bol (XDS Astana), Robbe Ghys (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech), Gregor Mühlberger (Movistar), Tobias Lund Andersen (Picnic PostNL)

Out: Dries De Bondt (Jayco AlUla), Bastien Tronchon (Groupama-FDJ United), Dorian Godon (Ineos Grenadiers), Andrea Vendrame (Jayco AlUla), Bruno Armirail (Visma-Lease a Bike), Sam Bennett (Q36.5 Pro Cycling), Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Victor Lafay (Unibet Rose Rockets), Clément Berthet (Groupama-FDJ United), Geoffrey Bouchard (TotalEnergies)

EF Education-EasyPost

In: Noah Hobbs (EF Education-Aevolo), Mattia Agostinacchio (Ciclistica Trevigliese), Luke Lamperti (Soudal Quick-Step), Michael Leonard (Ineos Grenadiers), Matthias Schwarzbacher (UAE Team Emirates Gen Z)

Out: Owain Doull (Visma-Lease a Bike), Yuhi Todome (Aisan Racing)

Groupama-FDJ United

In: Matteo Milan (Lidl-Trek Future Racing), Bastien Tronchon and Clément Berthet (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Macime Decomble and Titouan Fontaine (Groupama-FDJ Continentale), Josh Kench (Li Ning Star), Ewen Costiou (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Axel Huens (Unibet Tietema Rockets)

Out: Sven Erik Bystrøm (Uno-X Mobility), Lewis Askey (NSN Cycling), Stefan Küng (Tudor Pro Cycling)

Ineos Grenadiers

In: Dorian Godon (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Kévin Vaquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Embret Svestad-Bårdseng (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Jack Haig (Bahrain-Victorious), Sam Welsford (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL)

Out: Michael Leonard (EF Education-EasyPost)

Jayco AlUla

In: Filippo Conca (Swatt Club), Dries De Bondt (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Alessandro Covi (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Andrea Vendrame (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Amaury Capiot (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Pascal Ackermann (NSN Cycling), Dries De Pooter (Intermarché-Wanty), Rudy Porter, Finlay Pickering (Bahrain-Victorious)

Out: Dylan Groenewegen and Elmar Reinders (both Unibet Tietema Rockets), Eddie Dunbar and Chris Harper (both Q36.5 Pro Cycling), Filippo Zana (Soudal Quick-Step), Max Walscheid (Lidl-Trek)

Lotto-Intermarché

In: Huub Artz, Vito Braet, Lorenza Rota, Jonas Rutsch, Luca Van Boven, Taco van der Hoorn, and Roel van Sintmaartensijk (all Intermarché-Wanty), Jarno Widar, Matys Grisel and Mathieu Kockelmann (Lotto Development), Simone Gualdi and Felix Ørn-Kristoff (Wanty-Nippo-ReUz), Matthew Fox (Veloce Club Rouen 76)

Out: Eduardo Sepúlveda (Li Ning Star), Brent Van Moer (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling), Alec Segaert (Bahrain Victorious), Arjen Livyns (XDS Astana), Henri Vandenabeele (Flanders-Baloise), Jarrad Drizners (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), Lorenz Van De Wynkele (Lotto-Groupe Wanty)

Lidl-Trek

In: Mathias Norsgaard (Movistar), Max Walscheid (Jayco AlUla), Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Matteo Sobrero (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), Jakob Söderqvist (Lidl-Trek Future Racing)

Out: Jasper Stuyven (Soudal Quick-Step), Alex Kirsch (Cofidis), Daan Hoole (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Juan Pedro López (Movistar)

Movistar

In: Juan Pedro López (Lidl-Trek), Roger Adrià (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), Raúl García Pierna (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Pavel Novák (MBH Bank Ballan CSB), Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma-Lease a Bike)

Out: Mathias Norsgaard (Lidl-Trek), Will Barta (Tudor Pro Cycling), Gregor Mühlberger (Decathlon CMA CGM), Fernando Gaviria (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)

NSN Cycling

In: Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ), Ryan Mullen (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), Brady Gilmore and Pau Martí (Israel Premier Tech Academy), Alessandro Pinarello (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè)

Out: Pascal Ackermann (Jayco AlUla), Hugo Houle (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Matthew Ricitello (Decathlon CMA CGM), Riley Pickrell (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling)

Picnic PostNL

In: Dillon Corkery (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), Oliver Peace (Picnic PostNL Development), James Knox (Soudal Quick-Step), Milan De Ceuster (Picnic PostNL Development), Timo de Jong (VolkerWessels Cycling), Mattia Gaffuri (Swatt Club), Frits Biesterbos (BEAT Cycling Club), Henri-François Renard-Haquin (Wagner Bazin WB), Alexy Faure Prost (Intermarché-Wanty), Mees Vlot (Picnic PostNL Development)

Out: Kevin Vermaerke (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Tobias Lund Andersen (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Enzo Leijnse (Anicolor-Tien 21), Oscar Onley (Ineos Grenadiers)

Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe

In: Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step), Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Mattia Cattaneo (Soudal Quick-Step), Callum Thornley, Adrien Boichis and Luke Tuckwell (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe Rookies), Jarrad Drizners (Lotto), Arne Marit (Intermarché-Wanty), Haimar Etxeberria (Kern Pharma), Lorenzo Finn (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe Rookies)

Out: Roger Adrià (Movistar), Ryan Mullen (NSN Cycling), Matteo Sobrero (Lidl-Trek), Sam Welsford (Ineos Grenadiers)

Soudal Quick-Step

In: Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek), Dylan van Baarle (Visma-Lease a Bike), Alberto Dainese (Tudor Pro Cyling), Steff Cras (TotalEnergies), Fabio Van den Bossche (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Ceriel Desal (Soudal Quick-Step Devo), Filippo Zana (Jayco AlUla), Laurenz Rex (Intermarché-Wanty), Jonathan Vervenne (Soudal Quick-Step Devo)

Out: Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), Mattia Cattaneo (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), James Knox (Picnic PostNL), Luke Lamperti (EF Education-EasyPost), Josef Černý (Elkov-Kasper)

UAE Team Emirates-XRG

In: Adrià Pericas (UAE Team Emirates Gen Z), Kevin Vermaerke (Picnic PostNL), Benoît Cosnefroy (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale)

Out: Alessandro Covi (Jayco AlUla), Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek)

Uno-X Mobility

In: Sven Erik Bystrøm (Groupama-FDJ), Alexander Kamp (Intermarché-Wanty), Torstein Træen (Bahrain Victorious), Anthon Charmig (XDS Astana), Martin Tjøtta (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Storm Ingebrigtsen (Coop-Repsol), Tobias Svarre (ColoQuick)

Out: Rasmus Bøgh Wallin (Cranks/PAS)

Visma-Lease a Bike

In: Tim Rex (Visma-Lease a Bike Development), Anton Schiffer (Bike Aid), Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Timo Kielich (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Davide Piganzoli (Polti VisitMalta), Owain Doull (EF Education-EasyPost), Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè). Pietro Mattio and Tim Rex (Visma-Lease a Bike Devlopment), Louis Barré (Intermarché-Wanty)

Out: Attila Valter (Bahrain Victorious), Dylan van Baarle (Soudal Quick-Step), Tiesj Benoot (Decathlon CMA CGM), Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM), Tom Gloag (Q36.5 Pro Cycling), Cian Uijtdebroeks (Movistar)

XDS Astana

In: Marco Schrettl (Tirol KTM Cycling), Arjen Livyns (Lotto), Cristián Rodríguez (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Guillermo Thomas Silva (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Gleb Syritsa (XDS Astana Development), Lev Gonov (XDS Astana Development)

Out: Fausto Masnada (MBH Bank Ballan CSB), Cees Bol (Decathlon CMA CGM), Wout Poels (Unibet Tietema Rockets), Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Mobility), Michele Gazzoli (Team Solution Tech-Vini Fantini)

Women's WorldTour transfers

AG Insurance-Soudal

In: Letizia Borghesi (EF Education-Oatly)

Out: Gaia Masetti (Picnic PostNL)

Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto

Out: Ricarda Bauernfeind (Lidl-Trek), Alice Towers (EF Education-Oatly)

EF Education-Oatly

In: Alexis Magner (Cynisca Cycling), Alice Towers (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto), Solbjørk Minke Anderson (Uno-X Mobility), Stina Kagevi (Coop-Repsol), Caoimhe O'Brien (Cynisca Cycling), Auke De Buysser (NXTG Racing U19 Development)

FDJ United-SUEZ

In: Lauren Dickson (Handsling Alba Development), Franziska Koch (Picnic PostNL), Sofia Bertizzolo (UAE Team ADQ), Eva van Agt (Visma-Lease a Bike)

Out: Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek), Alessia Vigilia (Uno-X Mobility), Nina Buijsman (Human Powered Health)

Fenix-Premier Tech

In: Lotte Claes (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Mylène de Zoete (CERATIZIT), Fien Van Eynde (Fenix-Deceuninck Development), Xaydee Van Sinaey (Fenix-Deceuninck Development)

Out: Pauliena Rooijakers (UAE Team ADQ), Cecilia van Zuthem (Smurfit Westrock Cycling)

Human Powered Health

In: Marta Jaskulska (CERATIZIT Pro Cycling), Petra Stiasny (Roland Le Dévoluy), Titia Ryo (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Nina Buijsman (FDJ-SUEZ), Jente Koops (NXTG Racing U19 Development Team)

Lidl-Trek

In: Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto), Loes Adegeest (FDJ-SUEZ), Margot Vanpachtenbeke (VolkerWessels Cycling), Marine Lenehan (Dan Morissey Primor by Pissei)

Out: Izzy Sharp (Handsling Alba Development)

Liv AlUla Jayco

In: Erin Boothman (Liv AlUla Jayco Continental), Noä Janesen, Mackzenie Coupland and Matilde Vitillo (all Liv AlUla Jayco Continental), Nadia Gontova (Winspace Orange Seal)

Out: Amber van der Hulst (VolkerWessels), Mavi García (UAE Team ADQ)

Movistar

In: Francesca Barale (Picnic PostNL)

Out: Jelena Erić (Uno-X Mobility), Paula Patiño (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi)

Picnic PostNL

In: Megan Arens (Grouwels-Watersley R&D Road Team), Daniela Hezinová (Grouwels-Watersley R&D Road Team), Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson), Lucie Fityus (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), Mia Griffin (Roland Le Dévoluy), Dilyxine Miermont (CERATIZIT), Gaia Masetti (AG Insurance-Soudal), Audrey De Keersmaeker (Lotto)

Out: Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ), Esmée Peperkamp (VolkerWessels), Megan Jastrab (UAE Team ADQ), Nienke Vinke (SD Worx-Protime)

SD Worx-Protime

In: Nienke Vinke (Picnic PostNL), Valentina Cavallar (Arkéa-B&B Hotels)

UAE Team ADQ

In: Megan Jastrab (Picnic PostNL), Pauliena Rooijakers (Fenix-Deceuninck), Federica Venturelli (UAE Development), Mavi García (Liv Jayco AlUla), Febe Jooris (UAE Development)

Out: Sofia Bertizzolo (FDJ United-SUEZ), Safia Alsayegh (UAE Development)

Uno-X Mobility

In: Alessia Vigilia (FDJ-SUEZ), Laura Tomasi (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi), Francesca Pellegrini (UAE Development), Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset (Coop-Repsol)

Out: Simone Boilard (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93), Solbjørk Minke Anderson (EF Education-Oatly)

Visma-Lease a Bike

In: Daniek Hengeveld (CERATIZIT Pro Cycling), Sarah Van Dam (CERATIZIT Pro Cycling), Sophie von Berswordt (VolkerWessels), Katharina Sadnik (unattached)

Out: Eva van Agt (FDJ United-SUEZ), Mijntje Geurts (Cofidis), Linda Ridemann (Lotto-Intermarché)

After rounding out the podium at the Critérium du Dauphiné, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe rider Florian Lipowitz finds himself in esteemed company at the Tour de France, yet again behind none other than Pogačar and Vingegaard. The young German has had a breakthrough season and is currently the custodian of the white jersey – and also ahead of his team leader, Primož Roglič, in third place on the general classification.

It appears as though a background in alpine sports is a secret sauce on the team. Not only did Roglič have a successful career as a ski jumper, but Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe Rookies rider Lennart Jasch is also a former German speed skater. To commemorate leading the white-jersey competition, the team, together with Lumarcolors, has created a one-off, special-edition Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8.

At 1.81m tall, Lipowitz rides a 54cm S-Works Tarmac SL8 frame, set up with a 135mm stem and 40cm Roval Rapide integrated handlebars, well within the UCI's proposed new rules. Bike weight has been the talk of the town in recent days, what with Pogačar's stripped-back Colnago Y1RS dominating the headlines, but Lipowitz and the Red Bull–Bora-hansgrohe team have been tight-lipped when it comes to gram counting.

While we can't confirm whether his Maillot Blanc-flavoured paint job was applied to a bare carbon canvas, a video released by Lumarcolors suggests that the checkered graphics were masked on a white base and sprayed with metallic silver, which superbly contrasts with his teammate's darker-hued bikes.

Component-wise, the S-Works SL8 retains the same SRAM groupset and build of his original bike. In this case, a SRAM Red AXS 12-speed groupset complete with 172.5mm cranks that drive a 56/43T chainring and a 10-33T cassette. While Mont Ventoux presents the opportunity to fit shallower wheels, the build features Roval Rapide CLX Sprint hoops (63/58mm front/rear) shod in Specialized Turbo Cotton TLR 28C tyres.

The finishing kit comprises a 3D-printed S-Works Power with Mirror saddle, black/white bar tape and a colour-coded white Garmin cycling computer, taped up with a decal kit.

Other details include what appears to be a 3D-printed titanium derailleur hanger by Silca (a component we've seen employed ad nauseam on team bikes), and said to improve shifting over the stock hanger.

Unless you knew it was there, you probably wouldn’t spot the abandoned Catesby Tunnel.

Its entrance is shrouded by trees, buried in the Northamptonshire countryside, while its 2.7km-long body cuts beneath the grassy hills, in the middle of England. Built in 1897, the tunnel was later cast aside by the railway network, and hasn’t seen a train in almost 60 years. Today, however, it enjoys a new life as a state-of-the-art aero testing facility, and this month, it welcomed a series of visits from WorldTour team Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.

The idea to go to the site came from Dan Bigham, the squad’s head of engineering. An Olympic silver medallist on the track, the Brit has dedicated his career to the pursuit of speed. He saw a unique opportunity in Catesby.

“The tunnel is a great one for having the realism of riding a bike, but with very well controlled variables, like speed, yaw angle and road surface,” Bigham told Cycling Weekly.

The facility is arrow-straight, unaffected by wind or extreme changes in climate. Previously used for testing cars, Catesby's conditions make it similar to a real-life wind tunnel, where riders can experiment on moving bikes as in a race, rather than static ones.

“You can be really, really precise and confident in what you’re measuring,” Bigham said.

Earlier this month, Florian Lipowitz became the first WorldTour rider to test inside the tunnel. He then went on to place fifth in the time trial at the Critérium du Dauphiné, and third overall, behind Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike).

“I don’t think I can proclaim that one single test has turned [Lipowitz] into the animal that he is today,” said Bigham, “but I guess it’s part of the reason.”

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s visits to the tunnel have come as part of a research and development project, which involves testing new clothing, such as skinsuits and overshoes, as well as improving riders’ positions on the bike. Last week, Jai Hindley and Nico Denz also travelled to Northamptonshire, becoming the second and third WorldTour riders inside the facility.

“It wasn’t, ‘Let’s go there and test for the fun of it’,” said Bigham. “It’s part of a bigger project to really understand all our test systems and to get correlations, so that we’re confident when we bring gains from one place to the real world, we’re going to actually see those gains manifest themselves.”

Already, he added, “we’ve made some big improvements – it gave us some really interesting data.”

“When I was trying to push things forward on the track, towards the Olympics and Worlds, I would find half a per cent gain and be like, ‘Amazing!’. Here, we’re leaving with like whole percentage point changes, which is really, really satisfying.”

Bigham and the team now hope that those gains will come to the fore as early as next month’s Tour de France, which starts in Lille on 5 July. The team will go to the race with Primož Roglič as leader, flanked by the promising Lipowitz.

“It’d be nice to really fight on the podium, not just leave Tadej and Jonas to fight on the road,” Bigham said. Any result will no doubt have been crafted on years of training and racing experience – with a small supporting role from an disused UK rail tunnel.

Nico Denz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) soloed to victory on stage 18 of the Giro d’Italia after attacking from a reduced group on the finishing circuit in Cesano Maderno.

The 31-year-old German rider, a former two-time stage winner at the Giro, took Red Bull’s first victory of the race after distancing a group containing Dylan van Baarle (Visma-Lease a Bike) and America’s Larry Warbasse (Tudor Pro Cycling), among others, in the closing kilometres.

An initial 35 man breakaway went clear earlier on in the stage - including Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike)and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) - although the group lost any cohesion as the finish approached. After the move split, Denz capitalised on the hesitation and time-trialled away to salvage Red Bull’s Giro after the German team lost Primož Roglič to injury on stage 16.

There was no change at the top of the general classification after Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) all finished safely together in the peloton.

"This was probably the most emotional one after losing Jai [Hindley] early on and then Primož," Denz said afterwards on TNT Sports. "We invested a lot, everybody in the whole team, not only the riders. We had this one big goal to win the Giro with Primož Roglič, we were at altitude for two months. It’s now been three months since I was last at home, I didn't see my wife, my children.

"In the end, if you lose a rider like Primož then you're also losing a dream. It feels like all this hard work is for nothing, but luckily we turned it around and could motivate ourselves again. Giulio [Pellizzari] is doing a fantastic job at this Giro, and then winning here for me today, on Father's Day, is pretty special."

Before Roglič abandoned, Red Bull lost Jai Hindley on stage six after a huge crash briefly neutralised the race. Denz, and Red Bull, were forced to reset.

He said: "After Primož left the Giro, I went through the road book and between Mortirolo and the Colle de Finestre on Saturday there was only this stage that could possibly be for me. I had to plan, I also got the freedom to go for it, and then when I got in the break I was just following my instincts. In the final everyone stopped collaborating in the front group, so I just thought I’d give it a shot and managed to get the gap."

How it happened

A huge breakaway got clear almost straight from the flag drop on what was set to be a transitional stage at the Giro. Starting in Morbegno to the north of Lake Como, the race then headed south to Cesano Maderno where the riders would face two laps of a finishing circuit which, on paper, appeared to favour a sprinter.

Three categorised climbs came in the first half of the 144 kilometre stage, with the peloton seemingly happy to sit back and allow the breakaway to fight it out for the stage win.

Several high-profile names were in the 30-rider strong lead group. Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Christian Scaroni (XDS-Astana) were all present in the move; the trio had already won stages during this year’s edition of the race. Van Aert and Pedersen both had teammates alongside them: Dylan van Baarle (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek).

The breakaway soon had a gap of more than ten minutes; three men jumped out of the group on the last uphill section of the stage. Rémy Rochas (Groupama-FDJ) and two VF Bardiani riders, Martin Marcellusi and Manuele Tarozzi, briefly held a slim advantage before they were swallowed up by the Pedersen led chase group.

With 34 kilometres to go, the leaders were into the finishing circuit in Cesano Maderno as their advantage rose to upwards of eleven minutes. Eight riders went clear from the breakaway as the circuit began, including Van Baarle and Daan Hoole (Lidl-Trek). The group soon had more than a minute on the rest of the leaders.

As the rest of the group began to watch one another, Nico Denz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) opened up a large gap after putting in a powerful seated acceleration. The German rider, a former Giro stage winner, then pushed on and built up a significant advantage. Meanwhile, behind Denz, the chasers began to attack one another, allowing him to push on and take Red Bull’s first stage win of the race.

Results

Giro d’Italia 2025, stage 18: Morbegno > Cesano Maderno (144 km)

1. Nico Denz (Ger) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, in 3:12:07
2. Mirco Maestri (Ita) Polti-VisitMalta, +1:01
3. Edward Planckaert (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
4. Filippo Magli (Ita) VF Group-Bardiani
5. Alex Edmondson (Aus) Picnic-PostNL
6. Dries de Bondt (Bel) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale
7. Daan Hoole (Ned) Lidl-Trek
8. Davide de Pretto (Ita) Jayco-AlUla
9. Nicola Conci (Ita) XDS-Astana
10. Larry Warbasse (USA) Tudor Pro Cycling, all at same time

General classification after stage 18

1. Isaac Del Toro (Mex) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, in 68:56:32
2. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) EF Education-EasyPost, +41s
3. Simon Yates (GBr) Visma-Lease a Bike, +51s
4. Derek Gee (Can) Israel-Premier Tech, +1:57
5. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain Victorious +3:06
6. Egan Bernal (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, +4:43
7. Giulio Pellizzari (Ita) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, +5:02
8. Einer Rubio (Col) Movistar, +6:09
9. Adam Yates (GBr) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, +7:45
10. Michael Storer (Aus) Tudor Pro Cycling, +7:46

Lennard Kämna has said that he initially felt "uncomfortable" when being overtaken by vehicles during his return to training after making his comeback from injuries caused by being struck by a car driver in Tenerife last April.

The 28-year-old German was in hospital for two months after the incident and says he was left with multiple broken bones. He moved to Lidl-Trek in the off-season from Red-Bull-Bora Hansgrohe and competed for the first time since the collision at the Volta a Catalunya last week.

In a recent interview with The Cycling Podcast, Kämna described feeling anxious on his return to training on the roads and says being hit by the driver has left him with a heightened awareness of the unpredictability of traffic and other road users.

"For the first one or two weeks, the noise of a lot of cars made me uncomfortable," he said. "The first time I went out it felt super natural, I was just a bit more cautious that’s for sure and I’d say now I feel completely normal in traffic again.

"But for sure I have a bigger eye on cars now that are coming from the front or coming out of somewhere. I always have a feeling that I’m looking a lot more now right and left at what they’re doing, have they seen me, have they not seen me."

“In the end it was a super lucky outcome that I’m able to sit here and that I’m able to do pro sport again, it’s just incredible," he added.

Kämna explained that he has no memory of the collision and that waking up in hospital, where he underwent surgery, was a major shock at the time.

"I didn’t know why I was in the hospital," he said. "All of a sudden I was there and it took me a really long time to understand what had happened and really realise that it was not a dream or whatever, it was reality. I think I broke 11 or 12 bones in the end. I broke seven or eight ribs, my shoulder blade, my scapula, one bone in my face and that was basically it.

"I spent four weeks in a hospital in Tenerife and then another four weeks in a hospital in Hamburg in Germany. It was not really a nice time, that’s for sure. I had never been overnight in a hospital before so everything was new to me. I was just hoping to get out of there as quickly as I could."

The 28-year-old Wedel native said that he had to rely on the testimonies of witnesses to piece together what exactly happened in Tenerife in the build up to the driver hitting him.

"I don’t have any memories [of the crash] at all," he explained. "I was descending and then a car came up and just overlooked me and went into a parking spot or a road, I actually don’t know and I also don’t know where exactly it happened. The car then went in front of me and I hit it.

"I always say how long does it take for a car to cross a road, maybe one or two seconds, so this is also the time I had to do something or not. It’s basically no time at all. When I think about it there was not a lot I could have done, I was just unlucky."

Kämna is set to continue his comeback at the Tour of the Alps in April, a race which has previously provided him with success including two stage wins in 2022 and 2023.

Remco Evenepoel has put an end to the endless transfer speculation linking him with a move away from Soudal Quick-Step at the end of the 2024 season. 

Evenepoel has been regularly connected to a possible switch to the German team Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, which is also sponsored by Specialized, Evenepoel's bike sponsors. However, Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported late on Thursday that any possible move was dead in the water. 

Speaking ahead of the elite men’s road race at the UCI Road World Championships in Zurich, Evenepoel confirmed himself that he will stay with Quick-Step next year and brushed away suggestions that a switch was genuinely on the cards. 

"I'll stay where I am, that's pretty clear," he said. "No transfers."

Evenepoel is tied to Patrick Lefevere’s team until 2026, although his constant stream of high-profile results has meant that he has constantly been linked with moves elsewhere. 

Ineos Grenadiers attempted to sign Evenepoel as a junior and were said to be exploring ways to acquire the Belgian’s services in the autumn of 2022. Formal meetings to explore a possible transfer were reported to have taken place between Evenepoel, his father who acts as his agent, and team representatives. But Ineos failed in their attempts to entice the now double Olympic champion away from his current team. 

The Ineos links continued in 2023 with Evenepoel being forced to brush away questions regarding his future at the Glasgow worlds last August. Red Bull coming on board at Bora-Hansgrohe earlier this year meant that the German WorldTour giants were the next team to be heavily linked with Evenepoel moving into 2025. 

According to a report from Cyclingnews, Evenepoel dismissed the links on Friday and re emphasised his commitment to Soudal Quick-Step.  

"I think some information was more than I knew myself, which was pretty funny to hear, but nothing changes," Evenepoel said.

"I'll stay with my [Soudal Quick-Step] teammates. We'll work and fight for the biggest goal, that is to one day win the Tour de France."

Evenepoel made his debut at the Tour de France this summer, securing third overall, a stage win and the best young rider’s classification. 

Much of the discourse prior to Sunday’s worlds road race has centred on Tadej Pogačar’s attempt to become only the third man to claim cycling’s triple-crown - the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and road world title in the same season. Only Eddy Merckx and Stephen Roche have claimed the hallowed prize before him. 

The Slovenian dominated the recent Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, his final race before heading to Zurich, and is the outright favourite to claim the rainbow jersey, but Evenepoel is not too far behind.

Pogačar now stands on the cusp of history, although Evenepoel has his own monumental achievement within reach. He won the road world title in 2022 in Australia, but if he reclaims the rainbow jersey on Sunday he could become the first man to complete a historic Olympic and World Championships quadruple in the same season. 

He has already successfully defended the time trial world title that he won in Scotland and has two Olympic medals in his collection. Another gold medal on Sunday would complete a hugely successful and historic year for the 24-year-old Belgian. 

Dan Bigham has been appointed as Head of Engineering at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe after his recent departure from Ineos Grenadiers.

According to a press release from the German WorldTour giants, Bigham will work alongside the team's partners, and other Red Bull entities, with the aim of "optimising all aspects of performance and the integration of new and innovative technologies into cycling."

It was also revealed by the team that they had created the new Head of Engineering position solely for the recently crowned Olympic silver medallist.

As well as his recent achievement at the Paris Olympics, Bigham is a former World Hour record holder, World Champion and became European Champion in the individual pursuit in January.

"For the past decade, I have balanced the life of an elite athlete with my passion for advancing the sport of cycling through engineering," Bigham said in the release from Red Bull. "Having achieved nearly everything I dreamed of on the bike, I am now ready to fully dedicate myself to supporting the next generation of winners.

"The opportunity ahead of me at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe is immense. No other team can match this level of combined knowledge, capability, and expertise across its network, and I am eager to leverage it to the fullest."

Jonny Wale, Ineos' Performance Scientist is also leaving the team and will join Bigham in the new engineering setup at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. As well as working together at Ineos, the duo have collaborated on various projects in recent years, including Bigham’s HUUB Wattbike track team and World Hour record attempt in 2022.

"With Dan and Jonny, we have absolute experts in the combination of cycling and engineering know-how," Red Bull team boss Rolf Aldag added. "At Red Bull- Bora-Hansgrohe, our new engineering unit meet the top know-how of our partners like Specialized on the one hand and the innovative technology entities of Red Bull on the other. This combination is unique in cycling and promises enormous potential."

Bigham worked as a performance engineer at Ineos and joined the team in 2022. But the 32-year-old told The Telegraph at the Olympics that he would be moving on from his role due to becoming disillusioned with the setup under the new Ineos management team.

Ineos underwent a senior management overhaul late last year following on from the resignation of Rod Ellingworth. Dr Scott Drawer joined as performance director and John Allert was appointed as CEO.

"It’s not particularly a me versus Scott thing at all," Bigham told The Telegraph. "It’s more just how I see performance. How I want to do performance is not particularly aligned with how Ineos wanted to go about it. I wanted more autonomy, more ability to action my ideas. And I wasn’t really getting that at Ineos."

"I feel that a lot of performance we’re leaving on the table and that frustrates me because it’s clear as day we should be doing things a lot better," he added. "Let’s be honest, Ineos are not where they want to be, not where they need to be and the gap is not small."

In response, a spokesperson for Ineos Grenadiers told The Telegraph: "We’re very proud of the support we’ve given Dan, the access we’ve provided to our performance network and the freedom, time and encouragement we’ve given him to pursue a number of his personal athletic goals."

They added: "Our performance support team is world class, and although we’ll miss Dan, the strength and depth we have in that area across a number of talented individuals means our programme should be unaffected."

Primož Roglič says he is still feeling pain relating to back injuries suffered in a crash at the Tour de France as he gets set to begin the Vuelta a España on Saturday. 

Roglič went into the Tour in July with the aim of overall victory or a place on the podium, but saw that ambition go up in smoke after he fractured his back in a crash on stage 12 of the race and was forced to abandon. 

Speaking ahead of the Vuelta getting underway in Lisbon on Saturday, the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider, who has won the race three times, said it was difficult to clearly outline his targets for the race due to his form and fitness still being in doubt. 

"I mean definitely I still feel it, especially with my back," he told reporters. "It will still be some time, probably that I won't feel it… The fact is that every week it is a bit better. But these things are never just good over a night or over one to three weeks. 

"It really takes time that you don't really feel it. I was definitely good enough to do my rides [in training] because that's why I also come here. If I cannot ride then for sure, I won't come. But still with the racing, I didn't do any racing ever since so we have to see day by day with those changes of rhythms and just see how it will go, how the pain will be. 

"But I'm optimistic, and for sure as every day passes, it will be better."

"I mean it was for sure really hard," he added as he reflected on his recovery. "You put so much work into it. At the end it's not only me, it's my wife, the whole family actually, sacrificing all the time to make me able to do what I do. But in life you always have challenges and things to overcome, things to fight and yes, I was happy that I could get the support so I could somehow refocus and try to prepare myself for this Vuelta."

Despite going into the Vuelta with no racing minutes in his legs since the crash at the Tour, the Slovenian is still being widely considered as a potential podium finisher in Madrid in three weeks time, being a former winner.

Roglič will face last year’s winner, Visma-Lease a Bike’s Sepp Kuss, in the battle for the overall win, and joked that after many years of racing together as teammates, he very nearly endured an embarrassing mishap at the race’s team presentation. 

"It's a bit strange [racing against Kuss] I mean yesterday I almost joined them [Visma-Lease a Bike] on the presentation going onto the podium," the three-time former Vuelta winner said. "It feels strange, definitely. I mean, being together for so many years racing together. 

"But on the other hand, when we go out there, we will try to achieve the best results. And it will definitely be a nice challenge to race against each other."

Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe's Primož Roglič is currently one of the biggest names in the men's WorldTour peloton, and has 22 stage victories across all three Grand Tours to his name.

The Slovenian has won the Vuelta a España on four occasions, and has won a plethora of stage races across his hugely successful career, including at Tirreno-Adriatico, Paris-Nice and the Volta a Catalunya.

In 2023, he claimed his second Grand Tour, adding the Giro d'Italia to his palmarès with a dramatic victory in the penultimate day time trial.

He moved to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe at the beginning of 2024, as the team's marquee rider. In 2026 he is targeting a fifth Vuelta crown.

1. He attended an economics school in Kranj, Slovenia before attending the faculty of Organisational Sciences. Although Roglič never finished his diploma.

2. Did you know that before beginning his cycling career, Roglič was a professional ski jumper? Of course you did! But did you know he was Junior World Team event champion in 2007?

3. OK, so you maybe also knew that last one but what about this? The Slovenian also has two continental cup wins, the second highest level of international ski jumping, and his best ever distance was 185 metres at a competition in Planica, Slovenia.

4. Roglič suffered a nasty crash while ski jumping in 2007, and would retire from the sport four years later for good.

5. He has previously been skiing at Monte Lussari, the site of the mountain time trial in the third week of the 2023 Giro.

6. Roglič was fairly late to professional cycling, only turning pro with Adria Mobil in 2013 aged 23.

7. His first professional win as a cyclist came in 2014 at the Tour d'Azerbaïdjan.

8. One of his first coaches was former Slovenian professional rider Andrej Hauptman.

9. In 2017, Roglič became the first ever Slovenian to win a stage of the Tour de France.

10. He then set another record two years later, becoming the first Slovenian to win one of cycling's Grand Tour's when he took his first Vuelta a España victory.

11. He was also the first Slovenian to wear the yellow jersey of the race leader at the Tour, finishing second to compatriot Tadej Pogačar.

12. In recent years, the Slovenian has been seen on podiums across the sport demonstrating his now famous Telemark celebration. It pays homage to his ski jumping days, and is when ski jumpers land with one foot in front of the other with knees slightly bent, mimicking the style of Telemark skiing from Norway.

13. In 2016, the Jumbo-Visma rider won stage nine of the Giro d'Italia, an individual time trial, on his spare bike. His main time trial bike at the time failed to meet UCI requirements.

14. On that same Giro stage nine, he was forced to rely on instinct after not managing to quickly attach his bike computer to his spare bike for the stage.

15. The Slovenian has his own charitable foundation, the Primož Roglič Foundation, which has been involved in a variety of cycling related projects.

16. The foundation provided urgent assistance to young Ukrainian cyclists forced to flee their home country due to the Russian invasion.

17. Roglič has become infamous for stealing wins from under the noses of other riders, right at the final moment on the finish line. The move has become known as "Roglification".

18. Roglič and his wife welcomed a second child, Aleks, to the family in January 2023. The couple already has one son, Lev Roglič.

19. While he has won five Grand Tours - of the 16 he has started - he has also failed to finish five too, including the most recent Giro d'Italia.

20. The Slovenian is a basketball fan, and follows the Chicago Bulls.

21. After suffering a major crash at the 2022 Vuelta, Roglič publicly blamed Fred Wright for the incident.