This cycling news roundup asks just who will hang onto Tadej Pogacar at this weekend’s Tour of Flanders — and answers: No one! Together we also relive some breathless racing at Dwars Van Vlaanderen, begin looking ahead to the Tour de France’s launch in Barcelona, and wonder at the value of Pogačar’s MSR skinsuit — and the utter flatness of Mike’s Ride of the Week.
TOP STORY
- De Ronde Prognostications: Who Can Hang on to Pogačar?
RACE NEWS
- Ganna’s Last-Gasp Glory at DDV
Reusser Outwits Vollering in Dwars door Vlaanderen Sprint
- Excitement Building for Barcelona’s Grand Départ
TEAM, RIDER AND PRO CYCLING NEWS
- Purchase Pogi’s Torn MSR Skinsuit — for Just $40,000!
- Course du Jour: Where to Watch Races — In Your Inbox
- Cycling Canada Confirms 2026 Trade Teams
MIKE’S RIDE OF THE WEEK
- Turlock to Davis: The Central Valley Slog
VIDEO
- Tour of Flanders Preview with Chris Horner
De Ronde Prognostications: Who Can Hang on to Pogačar?
Here I’d drafted this article in full, ready to hit “Publish,” when I saw the news: Remco Evenpoel will ride the Tour of Flanders.
And yet, my answer to the question above is still: Likely no one.
The winner of your second-favorite classic (to watch, in entirety) will still almost certainly be Tadej Pogačar.
The counter-evidence: While RVV may not be his ideal parcours, Remco surely adds firepower. Meanwhile, Wout seems to be back to his old self; Ganna showed admirable determination in chasing him down at DDV Wednesday. Van der Poel remains the most credible threat — though it depends on whether we see the MVDP who fell off on the Poggio, or the one who churned out his best-ever power numbers last week at E3 (if those numbers are to be believed — power meter variations notwithstanding…).
Beyond this Big Four? No real competition. Pidcock’s not on the startlist; Brennan’s not as strong as we thought. Mads has come back from his bilateral fracture remarkably quickly, but won’t be able to keep up on the difference-making climbs.
Maybe, though — just maybe — we’ll see a realization of the cooperative promise that’s appeared in recent races: At times the peloton has gotten over its collective-action issue, worked together, and either very nearly caught escapees — as at Milan-Sanremo and E3 — or in fact reeled them in, as at Gent-Wevelgem. The Scandinavian combo of Andresen and the Uno-X squad are especially adept at putting aside the second-guessing, collaborating, and testing sprinter against sprinter (rather than human against superhuman, futilely chasing Pogačar with one-off attacks). While the second half of de Ronde’s profile is absurdly lumpy, that run-out to the finish is 15 kilometers and mostly flat: Imagine a built-for-purpose TTT assault by Remco, Ganna, Wout and van der Poel.
It would be epic — but I don’t see it happening. There’s just too much that could go awry: Wout still feeling his heroic Dwars effort; Remco just can’t cooperate; Ganna’s big body falls too far back on the steeps of the Paterberg. Meanwhile, Tadej’s formula, of which we’ve seen variations in every race from Flanders and now MSR to the Tour and the World Championships, will prove sound. He’ll ride away on one of the last few climbs, and he’ll hold a measured margin to the finish.
That’s my “will.” My “want”? A proper race — to the finish.
RACE NEWS
Ganna’s Last-Gasp Glory at DDV
What a race! What a finish — unless you’re a Wout fan.
April Fool’s Day in Flanders, just before Easter race weekend, and it was Wout van Aert who ended up with egg on his face — though you’d be a fool to call him anything but bold.
From the moment the flag dropped in Roeselare, the race was contested at full gas. Early attacks flew, crashes disrupted the bunch, and mechanicals added chaos to the carnage. Filippo Ganna himself snapped a front wheel and then broke his handlebars at separate points — enough bad luck to send most riders into the team car for a long sulk.
But the big Roman kept his head.
The race finally cracked apart on the cobbled slopes of the Eikenberg, where van Aert launched a punishing move, bridging across to the leaders before driving a small group clear. On the Nokereberg, the Belgian turned the screws again — dropping Grégoire and eventually riding clear with Larsen as the race entered its decisive phase.
With 30 kilometres to go, van Aert was out front alone, the crowd roaring. It looked like his day. But Ganna, having recovered from his dual mechanicals (thanks in part to hanging on to a water bottle for a little too long) powered through the final kilometers, catching the stunned Belgian in the final 100 meters. Norway’s Søren Wærenskjold came home third.
“This is an amazing victory for me,” said Ganna. “Wout made an impressive performance. To catch him was not easy, but in the end, the legs supported me to the finish line.”
It was bitterly familiar outcome for van Aert — again the man who made the race, again denied victory. He’ll surely have his day soon.
Right?
Top Ten — 80th Dwars Door Vlaanderen (courtesy of ProCyclingStats)
Reusser Outwits Vollering in Dwars door Vlaanderen Sprint
Marlen Reusser claimed victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday, outsprinting Demi Vollering after the pair had broken away together in the closing stages of the 128.8-kilometre race through Flanders.
The Swiss rider and her Dutch companion established a lead of 22 kilometers from the finish after Reusser launched a decisive attack on the Eikenberg, with Vollering quickly bridging across. Despite uneasy cooperation between the two — marked by tactical hesitation and failed attempts to drop one another — they managed to hold off the chasing peloton.
On the final ascent of the Nokereberg, Karlijn Swinkels tried to close the gap but failed. Into the final kilometer, the two leaders began eyeing each other warily, surrendering so much speed that Lieke Nooijen swept past them from behind. It was this move that finally ignited the sprint.
Vollering responded and dragged Reusser along with her. The Swiss rider seized the moment, broke free at just the right time, and edged Vollering at the line. Nooijen, who had forced the action, had to settle for third.
Pre-race favorites Lotte Kopecky and defending champion Elisa Longo Borghini were unable to feature at the decisive moment.
Top Ten — 14th Women’s Dwars door Vlaanderen (courtesy of ProCyclingStats)
Excitement Building for Barcelona’s Grand Départ
One hundred days out, Catalonia turned yellow. From the Sagrada Familia to Casa Batlló, 50 municipalities lit up 130 sites in the colors of the Yellow Jersey, giving the world a preview of the welcome awaiting riders this July.
Five-time Tour winner Miguel Indurain joined the celebrations as a countdown clock was unveiled at the Arc de Triomphe on Passeig Lluis Companys — a city that’s been dreaming of this Grand Départ since 2009.
Race director Thierry Gouvenou promises the opening stages will be anything but easy. The climb up Montjuïc Castle, tackled three times in Stage 2, will force the favorites to show their cards early.
Barcelona isn’t just hosting the Tour. It’s been waiting for it for decades. July can’t come soon enough.
TEAM AND RIDER NEWS
Purchase Pogi’s Torn MSR Skinsuit — for Just $40,000!
Milan-Sanremo wasn’t so long ago; surely you’ll remember that Tadej Pogačar crashed just before the Cipressa, and then heroically climbed back through the peloton, attacked, and held off Tom Pidcock and the chasing pack to claim a remarkable victory.
And surely you’ve seen photos of his jersey: evidence that his crash was legit.
Well you can purchase that skinsuit, replete with dirt, sweat and gaping holes.
Proceeds go to the Tadej Pogačar Foundation — which (I believe) means you can deduct the donation, less the value of the jersey.
Which may well be priceless. You do that math.
The current bid, as of this writing? 35,200 euros — or around $40,000.
You know what’s cool? Buying that skinsuit.
But you know what’s really cool? Buying it and wearing it on your local group ride.
- Place a bid on Tadej’s torn, winning Milan-Sanremo skinsuit here.
Course du Jour: Where to Watch Races — In Your Inbox
We PEZzers have just learned about Course du Jour, and we’ve already subscribed and put it to use.
Following bike racing — especially in North America — is a persistent challenge of tracking time zones and streaming subscriptions (or paying for a VPN…). Course du Jour helps to address at least some of that challenge.
CDJ — as we’re calling it — promises “Today’s pro cycling races with times and where to watch — in your inbox every morning.” They’re translated into your time zone too.
The service is free, though creator David offers the option to “Buy me a coffee.” We’ll take him up on it — CDJ will make our lives easier!
- Check out Course du Jour at coursedujour.com.
Cycling Canada Confirms 2026 Trade Teams
Cycling Canada has announced its confirmed roster of 2026 Trade Teams, the teams that play a central role in Cycling Canada’s athlete‑development pathway. Trade teams are organizations formed by groups of riders in the Junior, U23, or Elite ranks, each team must maintain a roster made up of mostly Canadian riders.
Riders participating on a Trade Team compete under their team banner across all cycling disciplines. For many riders, Trade Teams are a pivotal step in their careers, offering Junior, U23, and Elite athletes the chance to showcase their talent while working with partners for the first time.
As one of Cycling Canada’s longest standing Trade Teams, TaG Cycling Team shared their enthusiasm for the upcoming season, “We are happy to be starting another year of supporting young riders who are driven to take their place on the World Stage. 2025 was a successful year with a highlight being two second place finishes overall at Redlands Classic and Tour of the Gila.” Lesley Tomlinson, Owner TaG Cycling said.
For 2026, Cycling Canada welcomes back a strong group of returning Trade Teams whose continued commitment to athlete development strengthens the national cycling landscape. The returning teams include:
Cycling Canada is also proud to welcome two new teams in 2026:
MIKE’S RIDE OF THE WEEK:
Turlock to Davis: The Central Valley Slog
269 feet gained in 120 miles. I dare you to beat that ratio.
This ride pays tribute to the dads — and moms — who prioritize their families, with cycling not too far behind; to the working folks who will never earn money riding a bike; to everyone who’s ever turned a personal obligation into an opportunity to ride.
When I can I’ll continue to share rides up iconic peaks, with ocean views, as well as fever-pitch group rides — and even the occasional good-cause event. This ride was raw, slogging pragmatism.
Through the heart of California.
I pedaled from my father-in-law’s retirement community in Turlock, in California’s Central Valley, to our home in Davis, about 120 miles away. I’d ridden to visit him before, typically with the northerly, prevailing wind at my back, but this reverse-direction ride put the breeze in my face.
Along the way I saw many attempts at civic beautification. Some were well implemented.
But others…not so much.
I followed Strava’s suggested route, which kept me mostly on wide-shouldered roads and bike paths; I was grateful for the relative safety, but not for the lack of scenery.
A bike path along the canal was…pleasant?
Sometimes you just need to put in the miles.
This weeks Video was recorded in 2024, but most of what Chris Horner and Pez talk about is a timeless reminder of what makes the Tour of Flanders so great – check it out:
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