Our cycling news roundup starts with a roundup of results from the many cyclocross national championship races across Europe last weekend, from Thibau Nys’ nail-biting win to Lucinda Brand’s disappointing third place. Then we look ahead to the road season, including a couple of upstart races, plus a checkin on Fabio Jakobsen as he mounts yet another comeback. Enjoy!
TOP STORY:
- PEZ’ Roundup of Cyclocross National Championships
RACE NEWS
- Another Crack in the Armor? Alvarado Bests Brand at Dutch ‘Cross Champs
- Greece Welcomes World Cycling Elite for 2026 Tour of Hellas
- Muscat Classic and Tour of Oman Elevated to ProSeries Calendar in 2026
RIDER, TEAM AND CYCLING NEWS
- Fabio Jakobsen Mounts Yet Another Return to Form
- It’s New Kit Season, and Q36.5 Releases…a Dogma
- EF Unveils 2026 Men’s and Women’s Rosters — and an Aggressive Race Plan
- Modern Adventure Pro Cycling Unveils 21-Rider Roster for Debut Season
- Fiorelli on his First Months at Visma: “I Eat an Absurd Amount.”
eTrashMike sez: Honestly, while I’ve followed cyclocross — from a distance — for years, I’m just now getting a feel for the season’s rhythm. Turns out that on the second weekend of January, before the final runup to Worlds, European nations (which is to say, the places where ‘cross was birthed and bred and now burgeons) hold their national championship races. Here’s our rundown of the men’s races — all in one spot, just for you!
Belgium — Facing frigid temperatures and snow, and not his dreaded sand, Thibau Nys just outlasted a chasing Emiel Verstrynge. About a minute behind was Michael Vanthourenhout.
Verstrynge wasn’t far behind!
The Netherlands — With Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel sitting out his national event, this race evolved similarly to Belgium’s, in similarly chilly conditions, though the signature feature here was a precipitously steep, barely-walkable hill. Tibor del Grosso recovered from a mid-race slip and just held off a closing Lars van der Haar. Also similarly, Pim Ronhaar followed about 45 seconds behind.
Del Grosso followed for much of the race.
Britain — 1. Predictably, Cam Mason; 2. Tobey Barnes (just :21 behind!); 3. Ben Askey
France — 1. Joris Delbove; 2. Martin Groslambert; 3. Timothé Gabriel
Germany — 1. Marcel Meisen; 2. Fabian Eder; 3. Hannes Degenkolb (The younger cousin of Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix winner John Degenkolb)
Italy — 1. Filippo Fontana; 2. Federico Ceolini; 3. Gioele Bertolini; EF’s recently signed up-and-comer Filippo Agostinacchio finished 5th
Spain — 1. World Cup fan favorite Felipe Oorts Lloret; 2. Kevin Suarez Fernandez; 3. Mario Junquera San Millan
Switzerland — 1. Regular UCI top-tenner Kevin Kuhn; 2. Dario Lillo; 3. Loris Rouiller
RACE NEWS
Another Crack in the Armor? Alvarado Bests Brand at Dutch ‘Cross Champs
In women’s cyclocross, the Netherlands’ national championships practically double as the World Championships. Since Lucinda Brand dominates on the UCI stage, it was assumed she would win on the Dutch one as well — but Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado had different ideas.
From the opening lap, Alvarado attacked with her once-characteristic aggression, forcing Brand onto the defensive. The technical sections, slick with mud from overnight rain, became the decisive battleground where Alvarado’s bike handling prowess shone brightest.
Brand, seeking her fourth consecutive national title, struggled to match Alvarado’s pace through the off-camber turns, as well as the same punishing run-up that the men faced. By the halfway point, Alvarado had opened a gap that would prove insurmountable. She rode with controlled fury, extending her lead lap by lap while Brand could only limit her losses.
In fact, it was Puck Pieterse who presented Alvarado with the fiercer challenge, though after a brief stint in the lead, could only chase the former World Champ.
Alvarado’s victory, her third national championship, signals that this cyclocross season’s story is still yet to be written. While Brand continues her remarkable World Cup campaign, she has shone vulnerability in recent weeks — though will surely come to Worlds with her A+ game.
Greece Welcomes World Cycling Elite for 2026 Tour of Hellas
The 2026 UCI Tour of Hellas returns from 6-10 May, offering cycling fans a unique blend of world-class racing and ancient history. This five-day stage race takes professional teams across the Greek mainland, passing through some of classical civilization’s most significant sites before finishing in Athens.
Hellas, the native Greek term for Greece, lends its name to a race that truly showcases the country’s rich heritage. The route includes stunning stages like the opening Ioannina-Agrinio leg and a second stage finishing in Larissa, known as Greece’s coffee capital—a fitting destination for cycling enthusiasts.
Originally launched in 1968 as the ‘Tour of Ancient Monuments’, the race joined the UCI Europe Tour in 2005. After a hiatus, it was relaunched in 2022 as a UCI 2.1 race, quickly attracting top European teams.
Sponsored by ΔΕΗ Power, the 2026 edition will feature community events in host cities, promoting cycling culture and creating lasting legacy. For racing fans and cycling tourists alike, the Tour of Hellas offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience where sport, culture, and history converge on two wheels.
Muscat Classic and Tour of Oman Elevated to ProSeries Calendar in 2026
The Sultanate of Oman will once again welcome the international peloton in February 2026, with both the Muscat Classic and Tour of Oman now featured on the prestigious ProSeries calendar. The fourth edition of the Muscat Classic takes place on February 6th, serving as a prelude to the five-stage Tour of Oman (February 7-11), which has been a fixture of professional cycling since 2010.
The elevated status brings increased prestige and UCI points to both events, with 18 teams confirmed to compete—including 11 WorldTeams, two more than in 2025. Four of the top five teams from the 2025 UCI world rankings are expected to participate, led by UAE Team Emirates-XRG, alongside six ProTeams and the Omani national team.
The Muscat Classic presents a dynamic 174km course from Al Mouj to Al Bustan, featuring the decisive climb of Al Jissah (1.4km at 9%) just 5km from the finish. Last year’s edition saw contrasting tactics succeed, with Finn Fisher-Black attacking to victory in 2024, while Rick Pluimers relied on his sprint speed in 2025.
The Tour of Oman offers diverse challenges across its five stages, from wind-exposed coastal sprints at Bimmah Sink Hole and Sohar to punishing climbs. Stage 2’s Yitti Hills and Stage 3’s Eastern Mountain (3.4km at 8%) will test the puncheurs, while the race culminates with the iconic ascent of Jabal Al Akhdhar—Green Mountain—a brutal 5.7km at 10.5% that will determine the overall champion. The question remains: who will succeed 2025 winners Valentin Paret-Peintre and Adam Yates atop Oman’s most demanding peak?
Paret-Peintre edges Yates in the 2025 version.
RIDER AND TEAM NEWS
Fabio Jakobsen Mounts Yet Another Return to Form
Fabio Jakobsen’s story is one of the saddest in cycling’s recent years: a horrific crash derails a promising career — and then a series of additional setbacks derail a promising comeback.
After two days in intensive care following his 2020 Poland crash, Jakobsen has faced nearly insurmountable obstacles. His two years at Picnic PostNL were marked by misery and terrible performances, leading him to question whether retirement was inevitable.
The answer came nine months ago: a narrowed pelvic artery had been restricting blood flow for up to two and a half years. At diagnosis, blood pressure in his ankles measured 38-42% lower than in his elbows. Jakobsen faced an agonizing choice—retire immediately or undergo surgery and hope for recovery. He chose surgery.
The procedure appears successful. Six months post-operation, his blood pressure differential has dropped to just 2-4%, within normal range. Training blocks that would have left him struggling last year now feel “relatively easy.” He can complete eight-minute efforts at 400 watts followed by sprints—previously impossible.
A broken collarbone during the Renewi Tour complicated his recovery, but Jakobsen remains characteristically optimistic. His 2026 goal is modest yet meaningful: be relevant in sprint finales again, have positioning options, rediscover his finishing speed.
With his contract expiring at year’s end, the 28-year-old knows what’s at stake. He must prove he deserves to remain professional, competing against new-generation sprinters like Olav Kooij and Paul Magnier. “Those guys aren’t unbeatable,” he says with a grin, hope still flickering.
Thanks to Wielerflits for this content.
It’s New Kit Season, and Q36.5 Releases…a Dogma 
Let the drooling begin!
At a time when most teams are revealing their new kits, ranging from mostly-the-same to gasp-inducing (We’re looking at you, INEOS), Q36.5 has given us…a new bike.
I — Mike — recall thinking that there was something like bike parity across the WorldTour teams; every rider at that level, I figured, is riding a lust-worthy rig.
Turns out I was wrong. Even among Europe-based pros, there’s a bike hierarchy, and Pinarello sits at the top.
Somehow upstart team Q36.5 gets to ride Pinarello’s top-of-the-line model, the DOGMA F. The squad revealed the newest version — and, yes, their 2026 race kit — “marking the start of a bold new era defined by precision, clarity and performance.”
The bike features a distinctive blue and gold livery, complimenting the kit. While neither INEOS orange or EF pink, the ensemble should prove distinctive in the peloton.
Fausto Pinarello, President of Cicli Pinarello, said: “The blue and gold livery represents a bold and elegant expression of our racing DNA. This project is about translating performance values into design, creating a bike and kit combination that is immediately recognisable, refined and true to Pinarello’s identity.”
A premium replica version of the new Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team DOGMA F will also be available to purchase in limited quantities. Keep your eye on PEZ to find out how to buy your own — if you’re fortunate enough to be able to afford it!
EF Unveils 2026 Men’s and Women’s Rosters — and an Aggressive Race Plan
EF Pro Cycling has outlined an aggressive approach for the 2026 season, prioritizing attacking tactics over conservative racing across its men’s, women’s, and development squads.
The team enters the season following notable 2025 performances, including Magdeleine Vallieres’ world championship victory in Kigali and Ben Healy’s breakthrough at the Tour de France, where he won a stage and spent two days in the yellow jersey. Vallieres has extended her contract through 2028.
EF Education-Oatly general manager Esra Tromp said the team will race aggressively rather than settle for mid-pack finishes. “We will go all in and see if we can win races,” Tromp stated, adding that conservative approaches resulting in fifth or sixth place are not the team’s priority.
Team director Jonathan Vaughters described the squad’s philosophy as winning through tactical innovation, seeking to exploit strategic opportunities during races.
The team has recruited several young riders, including Auke De Buysser and Mattia Agostinacchio from junior ranks. Tromp emphasized the organization’s focus on athlete well-being, including psychological support and nutrition programs implemented over the past two years.
Established riders Richard Carapaz, Kristen Faulkner, Neilson Powless, and Cédrine Kerbaol will provide leadership as the team competes in major events including the Tours de France, Giro d’Italia, and classic monuments.
Modern Adventure Pro Cycling Unveils 21-Rider Roster for Debut Season
Modern Adventure Pro Cycling has announced its complete 2026 roster, featuring 21 riders from six nations committed to building “America’s Team” with integrity and long-term vision. The lineup balances youth and experience, with nine riders aged 23 or younger racing alongside seasoned professionals.
Leading the operation is legend George Hincapie, who competed in 17 Tours de France and now focuses on developing the sport’s next generation. Former Olympic silver medalist Bobby Julich serves as Performance Director, supported by a staff of accomplished former professionals including directors Alex Howes, Joey Rosskopf, and Ty Magner.
The team launches its season at the five-day AlUla Tour before tackling a combined American and European calendar from its Girona base. Title sponsor Modern Adventure, an award-winning US travel company, heads an impressive partner lineup including Factor Bikes, SRAM, Hincapie Sportswear, and EKOI.
With backing from Harder Mechanical Contractors CEO Dustin Harder and a roster emphasizing storytelling alongside performance, Modern Adventure aims to inspire cycling’s next generation while competing at the highest level of the sport.
Modern Adventure’s Fully 2026 Roster:
Samuel Boardman (USA / 30)
Robin Carpenter (USA / 33)
Ezra Caudell (USA / 19)
Sean Christian (USA / 23)
Stefan De Bod (RSA / 29)
Samuel Flórez (COL / 20)
Kieran Haug (USA / 23)
Leo Hayter (GBR / 24)
Cole Kessler (USA / 22)
Harry Lasker (USA / 18)
Ian López de San Roman (USA / 22)
Brody McDonald (USA / 23)
Scott McGill (USA / 27)
Byron Munton (RSA / 27)
Ben Oliver (NZ / 29)
Riley Pickrell (CAN / 24)
Hugo Scala Jr (USA / 27)
Mark Stewart (GBR / 30)
Tyler Stites (USA / 27)
Lucas Towers (GBR / 22)
Paul Wright (NZ / 27)
Fiorelli on his First Months at Visma: “I Eat an Absurd Amount.”
We selected this one just for our PEZ readers: After his initial ramp-up period with Visma | Lease-A-Bike, Italian rider Filippo Fiorelli has related one key message: He’s eating a lot: “I eat until I burst, it’s absurd,” he told Bici.pro.
In an interview with the Italian media outlet Bici.pro, Fiorelli explained that he always struggled with his weight. “In the past, I would gain weight if I ate one extra lettuce leaf. My weight has often been a problem throughout my career. Not because I wasn’t allowed to eat certain things or dessert, but because of the quantities. If I ate a little too much, I gained weight.”
Yet at Visma | Lease-A-Bike, Fiorelli isn’t gaining weight. He explained: “Everyone here has their own diet, which is personalized through the FoodCoach app. There are always two scales at the buffet so the riders can weigh the prescribed amounts. I eat until I burst here, honestly.”
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With Wout van Aert’s recovery picture still muddy, we’re sharing Rich’s footage of his victory in Siena in stage 9 of the 2025 Giro.
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