Our Monday cycling news roundup, bridging the winding-down cyclocross season with the just-starting World Tour: From van der Poel’s most dominant ‘cross win so far (and Brand’s return to the top step) to the Tour Down Under and the 2027 Tour de France, we serve up an atypically sunny wintertime EuroTrash. Don your shades: it’s summer in January!
TOP STORY:
- Van der Poel Cruises, Oorts Lloret Rises to Occasion in Benidorm
RACE NEWS
- It’s World Tour Time! Men’s TDU Starts Tuesday
- Wollaston Doubles Up at Women’s Tour Down Under
- Brand Claims Benidorm Victory, Seals World Cup Title
- Looking Ahead: UK Host Sites Revealed for 2027 TDF & TDFFAZ
RIDER, TEAM AND CYCLING NEWS
- Pidcock & Pinarello-Q36.5 Share “Spring Vision”
- EF Riders Dish Heading into TDU
- USA Cycling and Rapha Unveil New National Team Kit
- Mavic, De Gendt Team to form POWERPLUS Gravel Team
- UCI Open for Applications: Cycling for All & Sustainability Awards
Van der Poel Cruises, Orts Lloret Rises to Occasion in Benidorm
For cyclocross rivals looking for fissures in Mathieu van der Poel’s armor, a last-minute decision to leave training camp and race in Benidorm, Spain was a glimmer of hope.
Any hopes, however, were dashed just minutes into the race. We’re now accustomed to the Dutch rider’s wins; undefeated this season, he’s occasionally tested, but somewhere between the fourth and final laps, he attacks and rolls to victory. But there was no test in Benidorm: Teammate Tibor del Grosso hung with van der Poel for but one lap, and then lost contact on the paved rise through the start/finish zone.
That was it. The race was over. The commentators turned their attention to the race behind, occasionally mentioning van der Poel’s smooth, easy progress ahead.
But it was a race-for-the-podium worth commenting on! Because hometown hero — and fan favorite on virtually every course — Felipe Orts Lloret jumped on lap five, and likely even to his own surprise, opened a gap. Thibau Nys closed that gap and soon came around the Spaniard, at one point tapping his rear end, suggesting that Orts Lloret should follow. A bobble by Nys on an S-bend nearly imperiled the pair’s margin to a chasing pack, but the two managed to stay away; Orts Lloret struggled to stay close over the final half lap, but seemed overjoyed with his third-place finish, waving to the crowd and mustering a halfhearted wheelie as he crossed the line.
Orts Lloret was thrilled with his third-place finish.
Chalk it up to sunny skies and warm weather, or to Spanish fans’ hearty support, but virtually every racer seemed to be having fun in Benidorm: Van der Poel high-fived fans along the finishing straight, and then produced a proper, Sagan-esque one-handed wheelie; notwithstanding any frustration in losing to MVDP again, Nys launched a “whip” over one of the course’s bumps, to the crowd’s delight.
Two weeks out from the World Championships in Hulst (where weather is likely to be very different), we’re chuckling about the “parity” of which we wrote earlier in the season. Any sense of an even finishing field dissolved once van der Poel showed up, and we have little reason to believe that his final race this season, at home in the Netherlands, will be any different.
RACE NEWS
It’s World Tour Time! Men’s TDU Starts Tuesday
Cycling’s not like American sports, with off-seasons that last at least four months; I — eTrashMike — feel like I just flew home from Rwanda yesterday.
With the cyclocross season closing that small gap, cycling has practically become a year-round sport. As my wife says when she hears the British-accent audio from some ‘cross race rebroadcast on a winter Saturday morning: “So…much…cycling.”
And yet…we can’t wait for the World Tour to kick off — which it does Tuesday, with the Tour Down Under! Hardly a showcase of the sport’s top talents, the WorldTour opener nonetheless annually serves up exciting racing, with the Aussies often showing up in summertime, midseason form — this year over the toughest route the TDU has offered.
Huge surprise here: UAE Team Emirates arrives as the team to beat — led not by Tadej Pogačar (or João Almeida, or Isaac del Toro, or Adam Yates), but by defending champion Jhonatan Narváez. The Ecuadorian excels in both sprinting and climbing the race’s punchy ascents, making him a versatile threat. Still, you ask me, we’ll see 2023 champ Jay Vine on the top step of the podium. Maybe I’m biased after sharing the economy section with him on the Kigali-Doha flight, but he seems like he’s chomping at the bit for this victory.
The race features a unique prologue in Adelaide, using road bikes rather than traditional time trial equipment, setting an early race leader before the action kicks up. Stage two to Uraidla presents the first major test for overall contenders with serious climbing, while sprinters will battle for stage wins on flatter days. My bets on those days: Visma’s Matthew Brennan, with American Luke Lamperti stepping on the podium at least once.
With fierce Australian heat adding another layer of difficulty, the Tour Down Under promises thrilling racing as the peloton shakes off the cobwebs and launches into another season of competition. Follow PEZ for results, news — and cheeky commentary!
Wollaston Doubles Up at Women’s Tour Down Under
The racing at the Women’s TDU is hot!
New Zealand’s Ally Wollaston has seized control of the 2026 Women’s Tour Down Under with back-to-back victories in the opening two stages.
Stage one from Brighton to Willunga nearly produced a stunning upset when Alessia Vigilia attacked early and built a lead exceeding three minutes over 100 kilometers. The Italian swept up all available Queen of the Mountains points, but FDJ United-Suez refused to repeat last year’s tactical miscalculation. The team chased relentlessly, and Wollaston caught Vigilia in the final 50 meters to claim victory ahead of Josie Nelson and Femke Gerritse.
Stage two proved even more brutal. The 130.7-kilometer route from Magill to Paracombe featured over 2,400 meters of climbing in searing 37-degree heat. The peloton splintered immediately on the opening Ashton climb, with constant attacks throughout the day. Despite admitting she suffered significantly in the conditions, Wollaston found the strength when it mattered most, sprinting to victory ahead of defending champion Noemi Rüegg and Nelson.
Heading into the final stage from Norwood to Campbelltown, Wollaston holds the ochre leader’s jersey. The 126.5-kilometer route features two ascents of the steep Corkscrew climb, which will determine whether she can convert her stage success into overall victory. With all 14 UCI WorldTeams competing for the first time, the race has firmly established itself as a premier season-opener.
Brand Claims Benidorm Victory, Seals World Cup Title
Lucinda Brand secured her eighth UCI Cyclocross World Cup victory of the season in Benidorm on Sunday, returning to the top step of the podium after a recent rare loss. The Dutch rider attacked with three laps remaining, breaking clear from a select group to finish 10 seconds ahead of compatriot Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado, with France’s Amandine Fouquenet completing the podium.
Brand executed her race plan perfectly after observing early hesitation in the field, deciding to make the race difficult in the second half. The 36-year-old demonstrated superior strength on the diagonal sections of the fast, partially muddy course.
The victory carried additional significance as Brand mathematically clinched her fourth overall World Cup title, setting a new record. With a 110-point lead over Aniek Van Alphen and only 80 points available in the remaining two rounds, Brand’s dominance is insurmountable with two races still to go.
Alvarado’s fought tirelessly for the second podium spot, first bridging from a third group to the closest chaser, and then, after losing ground, powering through the course’s sandy and uphill sections. Taking advantage of a hiccup by Fouquenet on the final lap, Alvarado opened a margin of a few seconds — a margin that was nearly erased in the final straightaway, as the French pair of Fouquenet and Célia Gery finished just two seconds behind.
This triumph marked Brand’s 18th win of the season and extended her remarkable podium streak to 63 consecutive races. Her first-ever Benidorm victory caps an exceptional campaign that has seen her dominate cyclocross throughout the winter.
Looking Ahead: UK Host Sites Revealed for 2027 TDF & TDFFAZ
The start and finish locations for the 2027 Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift were unveiled as ten host cities and towns across the UK were illuminated simultaneously in yellow light.
The men’s Tour de France will begin in Edinburgh on Friday 2 July 2027, with an opening stage to Carlisle, before visiting Keswick, Liverpool and Welshpool, finishing the UK leg in Cardiff.
The women’s race will start in Leeds on Friday 30 July 2027, crossing the Pennines to Manchester, then returning to Sheffield via the Peak District climbs before concluding in London.
Organizers launched Joy, a social impact program aimed at tackling inactivity, improving mental wellbeing, and supporting communities across Britain. Six core programs will be rolled out across the home nations, including opportunities for young people to develop skills and initiatives to break down barriers for girls in sport.
British Cycling will recruit more than 7,000 volunteers to support delivery of what is expected to be the largest free-to-watch sporting event in British history. This marks the first time both the men’s and women’s races will start in the UK together.
The first three stages of the Tour de France 2027
TEAM AND RIDER NEWS
Pidcock & Pinarello Q36.5 Share “Spring Vision”
The Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team has outlined a strategic vision behind Tom Pidcock’s 2026 spring road season, a campaign “built around intent, progression, and clearly defined objectives rather than calendar volume.”
Pidcock will open his season in February at the Vuelta Ciclista a la Región de Murcia, followed by Clásica Jaén, the Vuelta a Andalucía, and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on 28 February.
March will see a gradual shift toward longer and more selective races: Pidcock is scheduled to line up at Strade Bianche on 7 March, followed by Milano–Torino, Milano–San Remo, and Volta Ciclista a Catalunya.
The final phase of Pidcock’s spring campaign will focus on the Ardennes Classics. He is set to race De Brabantse Pijl on 17 April, followed by the Amstel Gold Race (19 April) and La Flèche Wallonne (22 April), before targeting Liège–Bastogne–Liège on 26 April as the key objective of his spring program.
Said Pidcock, “My schedule stays quite similar to previous years. But adding in some new races to keep things fresh. But also to give time to training blocks and periodization to make sure I am ready for the races that matter most!”
EF Riders Dish Heading into TDU
After months of preparation, the 2026 racing season is finally about to begin — for EF Education’s men’s and women’s teams, and for the entire pro peloton.
The EF Education-Oatly women’s team is keen to support Noemi Rüegg’s quest to defend her 2025 title, while the EF Education-EasyPost men’s squad is ready for stage hunting and aggressive racing. Members of both teams shared their thoughts heading into the year’s first race.
Alice Towers
It’s my first race in pink! I was really excited to get together with everyone. I feel like you really bond well once you’ve raced so I’m really excited to get this first race under the belt as well. We’ve got a really strong team here which is even more exciting because it means we can really go in with a bit of pressure but I guess we can also enjoy that and be confident with it.
Magdeleine Vallieres (2025 World Champion)
We’re coming back with the reigning champ so we have to try to get the title again this year. I think it will be an exciting one. It’s racing and you always want to do well so we have big goals for the team. For sure it comes with a lot of pressure and I’m already feeling it a bit but I’m also excited to race with this team. I think we have a good group. We’ll make it less pressure just by being in a good group and a good atmosphere. I’m excited.
Noemi Rüegg
All the memories are coming up again. It feels very familiar to be back here. I recognize everything: the race village and the roads we were training on, and just the vibe is so nice. Just relaxed and I’m super happy to be back…It’s the first time I will actually wear bib number one so that’s really special. To defend something will be a new situation for me but I try to take it as I did last year…In the end, I cannot do more than just racing my bike and we have a super strong team that I can trust. It will be good.
Alexander Cepeda
I’m really pleased to be starting the season early here in good weather, in the heat – it’s just like at home. The time change is a little difficult but I’m happy to be here in Australia for my first time…I usually start my season in February so it feels a little odd to be racing so early but I’m happy. In the end, the national championships in Ecuador are in June so I’m happy to be in Australia and to enjoy it.
Harry Sweeny
I haven’t changed anything for Tour Down Under in my preparations as the biggest goals of the season are coming in the spring. I’ll still be racing TDU with everything I’ve got, but this will be a few percent less than my peak…It would be nice to take home a stage with one of our fast men. There are a lot of stages that should be to our advantage, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do.
Luke Lamperti
I’m sprinting here and I’ll also do that in the two one-day races after. There aren’t too many sprints at Down Under, I think maybe the first day and the last day, but I’m feeling optimistic. I’ve had a decent winter.
This is a race that’s super early in the season so it’s always difficult as far as knowing where everybody’s at but at the same time it’s always nice to hit the ground running…Just to have that confidence which makes everything easier going towards UAE, the classics, and the rest of the year so I think it’s a good opportunity to get everybody together and enjoy the time and keep it relaxed but at the same time go for results.
Michael Leonard
It’s really nice so far being in Australia. The weather’s been perfect, the travel wasn’t all that bad, and the roads are good for riding. It’s really nice being here…This will be my first time actually wearing the pink jersey. I couldn’t wear it before because the weather was so cold in Europe so it’s been nice training in real team colors. It’s a really good environment in the team so I’m really motivated to start racing.
USA Cycling and Rapha Unveil New National Team Kit
Notwithstanding the recent news about shutting down local cafe-stores, Rapha shared some good news this week, releasing a new kit for Team USA.
The cycling clothing company has joined with USA Cycling to create “the most transformative era in American cycling—pursuing record medals, expanding participation, and growing the sport’s fanbase globally.”
The new National Team kit pays homage to the legendary Los Angeles 1984 Olympic team while looking ahead to the 2028 Games. The design features the innovative Lightspeed pattern, expressing motion through stripes—a nod to both Rapha’s heritage and cycling tradition.
“Working with Rapha goes far beyond aesthetics,” said Jim Miller, USA Cycling’s Chief of Sports Performance. “Their technical expertise and collaboration with our athletes will give our riders real confidence. At the highest level, the smallest details matter.”
The predominantly light-colored kit responds to athletes’ requests for hot-weather performance while incorporating stars, stripes, and red, white, and blue in a contemporary yet retrospective style. Collegiate-inspired USA Lightspeed typography ensures instant rider identification, while star-detailed sleeves and contrasting navy bib shorts create a sense of speed.
“Pulling on this jersey represents both an opportunity and a responsibility,” said mountain bike world champion Kate Courtney. “It’s an honor to race for your country.”
The partnership runs through 2029, with replica kits and merchandise available next month for fans.
More Team USA: Squad Set for World Cyclocross Championships
USA Cycling has announced the roster for the 2026 UCI Cyclocross World Championships, taking place in Hulst, Netherlands, from January 30 to February 1.
The cyclocross season once again delivered a full slate of high-level racing, beginning with Continental and National Championships in the United States before shifting to an intense European racing block over the holidays. It will culminate with the World Championships in Hulst.
In November, the Pan American Cyclocross Championships were held in Washington, D.C., where Americans claimed top honors in their respective categories. Andrew Strohmeyer (Mount Airy, Md.; CXD / Trek Bikes), Lizzy Gunsalus (Dudley, Mass.; CCB Racing p/b Levine Law Group), Henry Coote (Manchester, Mass.; Comp Edge Racing), Mia Aseltine(Littleton, Colo.; Comp Edge Racing), Noah Scholnick (Williamsport, Pa.; FinKraft Junior Cycling Team), and Aida Linton(Missoula, Mont.; Bear National CX) all rode to Pan American titles.
Gunsalus and Coote carried that momentum into December, backing up their Pan American victories with wins at the USA Cycling National Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. Ethan Brown (Fishers, Ind.; Midwest NXT) and Kira Mullins (Littleton, Colo.; Bear National CX) also earned national titles in the junior categories, proudly racing in the Stars and Stripes throughout their European campaigns.
Vida Lopez de San Roman (Sebastopol, Calif.; Trinity Racing) has focused her season on European racing where she’s delivered career-best performances, highlighted by a 13th-place finish at the World Cup in Gavere, where she was also the fourth U23 rider across the line.
The Team USA roster is as follows:
Elite Men: Andrew Strohmeyer (Mount Airy, Md.; CXD / Trek Bikes)
Elite Women: Lizzy Gunsalus (Dudley, Mass.; CCB Racing p/b Levine Law Group), Anna Megale (Boise, Idaho; Comp Edge Racing)
U23 Men: Calvin Conaway (Zionsville, Ind.; Midwest NXT), Henry Coote (Manchester, Mass.; Comp Edge Racing), Ryan Drummond (Moore, Okla.; Comp Edge Racing)
U23 Women: Mia Aseltine (Littleton, Colo.; Comp Edge Racing), Lidia Cusack (Chevy Chase, Md.; CXD / Trek Bikes), Vida Lopez de San Roman (Sebastopol, Calif.; Trinity Racing), Kaya Musgrave (Littleton, Colo.; Pure Energy Drink / Haro Bikes by Corego), Alyssa Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; CXD / Trek Bikes), Katherine Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; CXD / Trek Bikes), Lyllie Sonnemann (Madison, Wisc.; CXD / Trek Bikes)
Junior Men: Ethan Brown (Fishers, Ind.; Midwest NXT), Matthew Crabbe (Buford, Ga.; FinKraft Junior Cycling Team), Jacob Hines (Catonsville, Md.; FinKraft Junior Cycling Team), Porter Melvin (Missoula, Mont.; Forward Endurance), Noah Scholnick (Williamsport, Penn.; FinKraft Junior Cycling Team)
Junior Women: Tessa Beebe (Boise, Idaho; Byrds Cycling), Graden Daume (Missoula, Mont.; Team Stampede/Five Valley Velo), Aida Linton (Missoula, Mont.; Bear National CX), Kira Mullins (Littleton, Colo.; Bear National CX), Ada Watson (Carrboro, N.C.; CXD / Trek Bikes)
Mavic, De Gendt Team to form PowerPlus Gravel Team
Mavic has announced its partnership with the new PowerPlus Gravel Team, launched and managed by former pro road cyclist Thomas De Gendt. This collaboration brings together performance, reliability, and race-proven engineering at gravel racing’s highest level.
The two-year partnership welcomes riders Arnaud Van Den Broeck and Thomas De Gendt to the Mavic family, racing on Allroad SL Carbon wheels and wearing Comete SL MIPS and Comete Ultimate II MIPS helmets.
This alliance is built on continuous development through real-world testing. Direct race feedback from PowerPlus Gravel Team helps refine Mavic’s gravel technology to meet modern racing demands. Thomas De Gendt will also join Mavic’s ambassador squad, representing the brand, testing new road wheels and helmets, and creating engaging content.
“As team manager and rider, my goal is having competitive equipment for the most challenging gravel races,” says De Gendt. “We chose Mavic for their performance, professionalism, and development collaboration. Our 2026 ambitions include the Gravel Earth Series overall victory, Unbound, Traka 360, and UCI World Series events.”
With Van Den Broeck targeting wins and top-10 finishes, and De Gendt in a supporting role, the team aims to compete at the highest level while creating memorable content for fans and sponsors.
UCI Open for Applications: Cycling for All & Sustainability Awards
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has launched a call for applications for the third UCI Cycling for All & Sustainability Awards. Candidates have until March 17 to apply for one of the 2026 awards.
First organized in 2024, these awards recognize and highlight outstanding initiatives implemented by members of the greater cycling community that have positive social and environmental impact, promote active mobility and encourage everyday cycling.
In June 2025, the UCI rewarded the four following organizations for their inspirational projects:
UCI Cycling for All Award: British Cycling – Limitless
UCI Climate Action Award: Flanders Classics – Sustainability Plan and review of the 2024 UEC Road European Championships
UCI Bike City Award: Wollongong – UCI Bike City Bike City Community Partners Program
UCI Rainbow Award: Abu Dhabi – My Whoosh Ramadan Cycling Championship
In 2026, Awards will again be presented in the four established categories:
UCI Cycling for All award: for a cycling initiative with significant social impact
UCI Climate Action award: for a cycling initiative with positive environmental impact
UCI Bike City award: for the most innovative project submitted by UCI Bike Cities and Regions
UCI Rainbow award: a special discretionary award selected by the UCI out of all submissions.
Further details regarding the awards, including application criteria and links to the online application forms, are available on the UCI website. Applicants are requested to fill in the relevant online questionnaire(s) by March 17, 2026. An expert jury will then select the winners in the four categories.
The UCI will announce the award winners during the 2026 UCI Mobility & Bike City Forum on May 10-11 in Athens, Greece. For any additional information, candidates may contact the UCI at cyclingforall@uci.ch.
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