2026-11-06T14:55:50+01:00 Laminas_Feed_Writer https://www.domestiquecycling.com Editorial team team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en

2026-11-06T13:15:00+01:00 2026-11-06T13:27:49+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/q-isaac-del-toro-and-paul-seixas-back-in-action-at-the-tour-de-france-singapore-criterium/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ Isaac del Toro and Paul Seixas will be back in action at the weekend as the headline riders of the fifth edition of the Tour de France EFGH Singapore Criterium in South East Asia. While most riders are enjoying the off-season, the two biggest future Grand Tour talents in the sport will race for 25 laps of the 2.45-kilometre circuit in the city centre, with Jasper Philipsen and Biniam Girmay also on the start list along with other riders from several WorldTour teams and local riders. The headline riders are believed to receive significant fees for racing in Asia. The criterium is more of an exhibition event than a race but helps promote the Tour de France and pro cycling in Asia, with a weekend of fan events and rides. Mark Cavendish, who celebrated his retirement with a final victory in Singapore in 2024, returns as an ambassador. A similar event will be held in Saitama, Japan, on Sunday, November 15, where Seixas will again be the star rider, alongside world champion Brandon McNulty, Michael Matthews and Oscar Onley. Seixas and Del Toro fought for the white jersey at the Tour and then for victory at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, with the Mexican taking both. Seixas got revenge with a solo victory at Il Lombardia, as Del Toro was hampered by a knee problem. Seixas has not raced since winning Il Lombardia and taking part in the Roc d'Azur mountain bike event, enjoying a few quiet weeks off the bike. He has still to decide his long-term future when his contract with Decathlon CMA CGM ends in 2027 and if his race programme will be centred on the Tour de France or Giro d'Italia. The Tour de France criterium circuit passes Singapore's landmarks and skyline, including the Padang, Anderson Bridge, Esplanade on the streets of Marina Bay. A team presentation and a social session with the riders will be held on Saturday, with a time trial on Sunday, followed by the criterium at 4:30pm local time. The criterium will be broadcast by Eurosport and other Tour de France broadcasters, starting at 9:20 CET.

2026-11-06T10:30:00+01:00 2026-11-06T14:13:09+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/visma-lease-complete-2027-roster-with-20-year-old-scottish-talent-elliot-rowe/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ Visma | Lease a Bike have completed their 2027 roster by promoting 20-year-old Scottish rider Elliot Rowe from their development team, as first reported by Wielerflits and confirmed to Domestique by the team. Visma held talks with Primož Roglič about his return to the team and considered other pro rider options but ultimately decided to promote Rowe. Jonas Vingegaard, Wout Van Aert, Matthew Brennan and Matteo Jorgenson will again lead the Visma team in 2027, with Brennan pushing for a place in the Tour de France squad. The 2027 roster also includes Christophe Laporte, Sepp Kuss, Victor Campenaerts and Davide Piganzoli, who is likely to lead the team at the Giro d'Italia. Richard Plugge's team are yet to confirm a major new title sponsor to replace Visma in 2027 and so far they have only signed Mark Donovan from Pinarello Q36.5 and promoted Matisse Van Kerckhove from the development team. Simon Yates retired before the start of the 2026 season, with Steven Kruijswijk retiring at the end of the campaign. Fabio Jakobsen joined the team during the 2026 season after terminating his contract with Picnic PostNL. Visma considered fast tracking the career of Ashlin Barry after he won the Under 23 world title but the American is still only 19 and has only raced one year with the Visma development team. Rowe, who is from Scotland and not a relation of former Team Sky rider Luke Rowe, is a year older and has shown his stage race talents with sixth place at the Tour of Britain and the Giro d'Italia Next Gen. He won a stage at the Tour de L'Avenir in 2025 and was second at the under-23 Il Lombardia.

2026-11-05T19:00:00+01:00 2026-11-05T19:09:19+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/features/i-hope-everything-ive-been-through-is-useful-in-2027-pellizzari-draws-lessons-from-giro-suffering/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ Giulio Pellizzari started the 2026 Giro d'Italia as Italy's next great hope, but illness ruined his challenge and the subsequent disappointment and widespread criticism hit him hard. What had looked like a breakthrough season turned into a series of lessons about life and pro racing. "I hope that everything I've been through this year is useful in 2027," Pellizzari told Domestique as the 2026 season ended. "It was a fundamental season for my development. I've learnt a lot. It was great to win some races but I learnt far more from when things went wrong." Pellizzari started the year with high expectations after a fine first season with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe in 2025 that included a stage victory and sixth overall at the Vuelta a España after he had already finished sixth at the Giro. In 2023, Pellizzari finished second overall at the Tour of the L'Avenir behind Isaac del Toro, with Davide Piganzoli third, as the three friends and rivals showed their Grand Tour potential. Del Toro swiftly demonstrated his quality with UAE Team Emirates-XRG, placing second overall at the 2025 Giro and third in this year's Tour de France, while Piganzoli fulfilled a vital role in Jonas Vingegaard's Giro victory this season before also securing a place in the Visma | Lease a Bike squad for the Tour. At first, 2026 looked like it would also be Pellizzari's turn to step up. His early results and exuberant character accelerated the hype train that he was the coming man of Italian cycling. Pellizzari wore the leader's jersey for a day at Tirreno-Adiratico and stage 6 finished in his home town of Camerino in the Le Marche region, with his friends and family cheering him on. He was in pain due to a tendon problem but fought to finish third overall, again behind Del Toro, and he was quickly compared to Vincenzo Nibali. A dominant victory at the Tour of the Alps, the first since Nibali in 2013, only increased the pre-Giro expectations. Red Bull named Pellizzari and Jai Hindley as joint team leaders for the Giro after the two trained together at altitude. Back in 2024, while riding for Bardiani-CSF, Pellizzari spontaneously asked Tadej Pogačar for his maglia rosa for his younger brother after he was caught on Monte Pana. Now he was suddenly riding for his own pink jersey. The first week of the Giro went well for Pellizzari. He went with Vingegaard on a late stage 2 attack in Bulgaria and then was the last rider to be dropped by the Dane on the climb to Blockhaus. His effort ultimately cost him and he was passed by Felix Gall and Hindley, but the Italian tifosi loved his show of ambition. "I followed him, I over did it, and that was it," Pellizzari said post-stage. "I think everybody saw that I tried too much, but I mean, when you’re there, it’s not easy when you are at 180 heart rate, so it’s not easy to think, but I had to try." Pellizzari paid for his effort and fell ill in the days that followed. He suffered in the Viareggio time trial and never recovered, with the criticism hurting him as much as the virus that spread through the Red Bull team and much of the Giro peloton. He eventually cracked on the stage mountain finish to Carì in Switzerland, where Vingegaard won alone as Pellizzari lost 18 minutes. "The show's over," he said beyond the finish line. Pellizzari stayed in the Giro to help Hindley finish third overall but he was happy simply to make it to Rome. There was little to celebrate in Rome but lots to learn from. "The Giro taught me lots of different things," Pellizzari told Domestique last month. "It taught me how to handle Grand Tours and various situations. It taught me to stay calm, how to isolate myself, stay in my world and not worry about what people say." As his friends and San Marino neighbours Piganzoli and Del Toro faced their own lessons about Grand Tour racing at the Tour, Pellizzari rested-up and recovered, licking his wounds. "The Giro was humiliating in lots of ways. I went from staying with Vingegaard to being dropped on climbs with sprinters like Jonathan Milan," Pellizzari told the Triciclo podcast in late summer. "It was crazy that some people thought I wasn't ill and just an excuse for a poor performance. People were insinuating that my level on the climbs was the same as a sprinter. "I was one of the youngest riders to finish in the top ten in two Grand Tours in the same season, then people decided that I wasn't a Grand Tour rider. Even former pros question my ability. That hurt and I wanted to even reach out to them and ask why they were so critical." Pellizzari trained hard in July as the media spotlight was on the Tour. He won the final mountain stage at the Vuelta a Burgos in August, another at the Deutschland Tour and then added the Giro della Toscana one-day race. However, he never reached a peak of form that allowed him to be competitive at WorldTour level. He was selected for the World Championships but struggled to fulfill his domestique role in the Italian team. Pellizzari and Red Bull were happy to end the season at Il Lombardia and try to learn the lessons from a rollercoaster season. "With Giulio, in the end I think you learn more from the bad things or the races where you don’t hit the goals, than when you go top five or podium," Red Bull Chief of Sports Zak Dempster told Domestique . "We’ve definitely learned things, but at the same time, he’s won six bike races this year, which is pretty incredible. So even without the GC in the Giro, I think he’s made huge steps. We’re really excited to see him back in the Grand Tours next year." Pellizzari is expected to return to the Giro in 2027 and again have a leadership role. At the race presentation earlier this week, Nibali was among those to back the idea: "Pellizzari has time and the talent to make up for a disappointing season."

2026-11-05T13:00:00+01:00 2026-11-05T13:01:34+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/2027-giro-ditalia-remains-free-to-watch-but-fans-could-be-limited-on-major-climbs/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ The 2027 Giro d'Italia will not oblige fans to pay to watch the team presentation or key stages, but access to some mountain stages could be limited for safety reasons. Speaking to Bicisport , new race director Luca Guercilena also revealed that the Giro and all of RCS Sport's other races such as Strade Bianche and Milan-Sanremo, could introduce paid hospitality areas and fan zones in the future. Fans will be obliged to pay to see the best moment of the team presentation at the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départ in Scotland because it has been combined with the Military Tattoo inside Edinburgh castle. The huge crowds on the stage to L'Alpe d'Huez in this year's race sparked debate about rider safety and charging fans to see the race from the roadside at key points. "At the moment the idea is to keep everything free for the fans," Guercilena told Bicisport after the presentation of the 2027 Giro route in Rome. "If we have plans to consider charging a fee in certain places, we've got to guarantee we offer the fans and the client something special. When you offer a service, it's got to be good enough to match any payment. "At the moment at least, our cycling is still free to watch. Then of course, if there are special moments or events that are created, we'll consider things." Access to the stage finish on the Misano Adriatico and Mugello motor racing circuits during the 2027 Giro will be free to access, but Guercilena confirmed that crowd numbers could be limited on certain climbs for safety reasons. At Il Lombardia, RCS Sport created a fan zone at the foot of the San Fermo della Battaglia climb, which was covered twice. It was free via registration but access to the climb was limited. Bicisport asked if similar limits would be imposed on the Monte Zoncolan, the final climb of the 2027 Giro. Access and hospitality areas could also be created at key points of Strade Bianche on the dirt roads of Tuscany and perhaps even Milan-San Remo. "At Il Lombardia we limited the access on the San Fermo climb to give the fans the best possibility to see the race and to ensure the riders could race safely on the climb," Guercilena said. "We're considering limiting the space for fans in all our races. It's not easy but something we will work on for sure."

2026-11-04T13:20:00+01:00 2026-11-05T08:43:31+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/if-i-was-paul-seixas-id-have-no-doubts-and-choose-to-ride-vincenzo-nibali-calls-on-frenchman-to-target-victory-at-the-2027-giro-ditalia/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ Vincenzo Nibali has called on Paul Seixas to target the Giro d'Italia, believing the French super talent is ready to win a Grand Tour in 2027. Nibali was one of the best Grand Tour riders of his generation and won the Giro d'Italia in 2013 and 2016, the 2014 Tour de France and the 2010 Vuelta a España. He rode 27 Grand Tours during his career, securing seven other podium finishes before retiring in 2022. "It's a fantastic Giro route, there's been a step-up," Nibali told La Gazzetta dello Sport the day after the 2027 route was revealed in Rome. "The best climber will win. If I was Paul Seixas I'd have no doubts and choose to ride." Nibali suggested Tadej Pogačar would be a natural favourite if he opted to return to the Giro after his 2024 victory but also called on other Grand Tour contenders to consider the Giro rather than focusing on the 2027 Tour de France. "If Pogačar rode the Giro, he'd be the clear favourite. I think the route suits Vingegaard and it'd also be a great challenge for Evenepoel to take on," Nibali said. "Seixas was fourth on his Tour debut and so I think he'd be ready to fight for victory. I saw him up close at Il Lombardia and he was impressive. He's a great climber and good in time trials too. I read he's interested in riding the Giro and that's not by chance." Nibali remains the last Italian to have won the Giro but sees several possible contenders for 2027, as a new generation of Italian Grand Tour riders emerge and develop. "The Giro route offers plenty of opportunities for riders like Pellizzari, Piganzoli, Ciccone," Nibali suggested. "Pellizzari has time and the talent to make up for a disappointing season, Piganzoli is developing really well and Ciccone will be motivated after changing teams. They've got to believe they can be contenders at the Giro." Lorenzo Finn will step up to WorldTour level in 2027 and won the Giro d'Italia Next Gen in 2026. Nibali turned professional in 2005 when he was still only 20 and made his Grand Tour debut at the Giro in 2007, but warned against putting too much pressure on Finn despite him dueling with Seixas in the junior ranks. "Lets see what races he rides in his first season but the worst thing would be to put too much pressure on his shoulders," Nibali said. "He's not yet 20, let's not compare him to Seixas for now, let him grow at his own pace." Nibali likes the 2027 Giro route. The three-week race includes 50,250 metres of altitude gain and eight summit finishes but there is no triple header of late mountain stages, with the big days on the Mortirolo, to Madonna di Campiglio and on the Monte Zoncolan finish divided by easier stages. "It's modern and innovative without losing the links to the traditions of the past," Nibali suggested. "The triplete of tough mountain stages is no longer but the hard days are there and spread out carefully. That's a good thing. "The early stages in Friuli aren't easy and there are some early mountain finishes, so whoever wants to win in Rome can't ride into form."

2026-11-04T11:30:00+01:00 2026-11-04T11:49:59+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/jayco-alula-refresh-roster-for-2027-with-welsford-and-array-of-young-talent/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ Jayco AlUla are preparing for their 16th season in the WorldTour, with Michael Matthews, Sam Welsford and Luke Plapp to lead the team following the departure of Ben O'Connor and Tour de France stage winner Mauro Schmid. With an average age of 27, the Australian squad will have its youngest roster in more than a decade as several young riders make their debut at WorldTour level. Ben Wiggins, Jed Smithson, Wil Holmes and Adam Rafferty step up from the Hagens Berman Jayco development squad, and Jayco have also signed France's Ugo Fabries from the UAE Gen Z development team. Other new signings include Alessandro Fancellu from MBH Bank and Mikkel Honoré from EF Education-EasyPost. "It’s an exciting and refreshed roster for the 2027 season," Head of Performance Gene Bates said. "Although we will lose some experience and leadership with guys like Luke Durbridge and Luka Mezgec retiring, I am sure others will step up, and we will see some fresh new faces making their mark on the season." In contrast to the wave of new young riders, Matthews will start his 17th season at the highest level of professional cycling, and his 11th with the Australian team. He turned 36 in September but appears rejuvenated after recovering from a terrible crash and double wrist fractures in the spring. He fought to finish second in the Montreal world championships and is expected to target Milan-San Remo in 2027 after going close to victory many times. Welsford is the biggest new signing for 2027 and joins from Netcompany Ineos. He will share the sprinting responsibilities with Pascal Ackermann. Welsford has seven Tour Down Under stages in his palmares and is likely to lead Jayco's ambitions at home in January. Luke Durbridge will say his final goodbye to the team in January, competing for the team for the last time at the Australian national championships in his hometown of Perth. Britain's Paul Double will look to continue his progression as a GC rider in weeklong races, with Felix Engelhardt, Bob Donaldson, and Anders Foldager all expected to develop in 2027. "Having Welsford joining the team will add another element of excitement and create some new goals for the squad in 2027," Bates said. "It will also be great to see what riders like Michael Matthews, Andrea Vendrame, Amaury Capiot and Mikkel Honoré can do, being back to full health, with a new season and unfulfilled goals to chase. "We had our first camp of the 2027 season last month in Northern Italy, and the vibe in the group is certainly a good one. The guys will go away now to start preparing well, with the Australian racing in January as our first hunting ground for 2027."

2026-11-03T18:15:00+01:00 2026-11-03T18:24:34+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/itll-be-a-close-gc-battle-between-the-time-trialists-and-the-climbers-pozzovivo-uses-his-18-years-of-giro-experience-to-analyse-the-2027-route/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ The route of the 2027 Giro d'Italia was widely praised for its balance and flow, with the 56.9km of time trialing countered by iconic mountain stages, including the steep Mortirolo, the Gavia and Monte Zoncolan. The three-week Italian Grand Tours could appeal to pure climbers like 2026 winner Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) and also Grand Tour time trialists like Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and even world champion Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates). Few riders have committed to riding the 2027 Corsa Rosa so far and even fewer were present in Rome for the presentation as they enjoyed their end of season holidays. Domenico Pozzovivo turns 44 at the end of November but is eyeing a return to the Giro in 2027 with Solution Tech NIPPO Rali after coming out of retirement in the spring of 2026. Pozzovivo has ridden the Giro 18 times and won a mountain stage way back in 2012. He has three University degrees and also works as a coach and consultant, giving him the qualifications to talk about the 2027 Giro route. "It's going to be a close GC battle between the time trialists and the climbers," he told Bicisport in Rome after the presentation. "The mountain time trial gives the specialists a chance to gain time but then there are some really tough summit finishes." Even after a first look, Pozzovivo identified the key points of each week of the Giro. "The start is nasty because the opening three stages aren't for the sprinters. There's a nice stage to remember Michele Scarponi with the road to Sassotetto a real climb," he said. "The mountain time trial is also interesting. It falls mid-way between something for the TT for the specialists and the climbers. "The last week has some really iconic climbs in it. The double climb of the Mortirolo from the Mazzo side, plus the Gavia is special, as the final showdown on the Zoncolan. "It's a different Giro to what we're used to but there's a nice balance to the route."

2026-11-03T15:20:00+01:00 2026-11-03T15:41:51+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/2027-giro-ditalia-includes-motor-racing-track-finishes-to-boost-sprint-safety/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ The 2027 Giro d’Italia will feature two finishes on motor racing circuits as race organiser RCS Sport looks to improve rider safety, particularly during high-speed sprint stages. This year’s sprint finish in the centre of Naples ended in a major crash, with a late U-turn, slippery cobblestones and riders taking risks all contributing to the chaos. Of the five likely sprint opportunities in 2027, stage 4 finishes on the Marco Simoncelli circuit in Misano Adriatico near Rimini, while stage 11 concludes on the Mugello circuit north of Florence. Stage 15 will also feature a motor racing venue, with the individual time trial starting on the Monza circuit. "The idea of finishing on the motor racing circuits came after we listened to the riders and the teams about improving safety, especially for sprint finishes," Guercilena said during the presentation of the routes of the 2027 Giro and Giro d'Italia Women in Rome. "Motor racing circuits have very wide roads and that helps everyone carry out their role in a sprint and race safely." Motor racing circuits have been used in major pro races in the past but do not eliminate all the risk of high-speed crashes. There is no traffic furniture, roundabouts and rough roads on the often rolling circuits, but the wide roads make it easier for riders and teams to move-up and so take risks at high speed. A stage of the 2023 Tour de France finished on the Circuit de Nogaro, but riders crashed as they fought for position. Guercilena also highlighted a second reason for the motor racing circuit finishes. The number of young cyclists in Italy is falling due to safety concerns and the dangers of training on open roads. He hopes the Giro can open some doors, so young riders and families can ride on the numerous motor racing circuits in Italy. "It's also a matter of trying to help young children train in safety," Guercilena said. "The Giro can set an example for the sport and try to push the motor racing circuits to open up and allow children and families to ride on them."

2026-11-03T13:30:00+01:00 2026-11-04T14:03:59+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/giro-ditalia-2027-route-revealed-two-time-trials-and-the-return-of-the-mighty-zoncolan/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ From Saturday, May 8 to Sunday, May 30 From Trieste to Rome over 3,418.9km 2 individual time trials for a total of 56.9km 6 sprint stages, 6 hilly stages, 7 mountain stages 8 summit finishes 50,250 metres of elevation gain in total The 2027 Giro d'Italia route includes two time trials, eight summit finishes, five probable sprint stages and seven hilly finishes, as race organiser RCS Sport looks to attract some big-name pink jersey contenders and inspire aggressive racing throughout the three weeks. The 110th edition of the corsa rosa starts in Trieste on Saturday, May 8 and ends on Sunday, May 30 in Rome, with a total of 3,418km of racing and 50,250 metres of altitude gain across the 21 stages. The routes of the men's Giro and the Giro d'Italia Women were revealed in Rome by new race director Luca Guercilena, RCS Sport management and RCS Media Group owner Urbano Cairo. "We wanted to create a Giro route for 'real' riders, with iconic climbs, with legendary climbs," Guercilena said of the men's route. "Some stages pass over the same climbs or same points, to help people see the race more often and make it more entertaining." Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) won the 2026 Giro but it remains to be seen if he will defend his maglia rosa , or if two time trials will be enough to tempt Remco Evenepoel, Paul Seixas or any of the other big-name Grand Tour contenders. Vingegaard was not present in Rome but a highlights reel recalled his dominant 2026 victory and the moment he celebrated victory in the Italian capital last May. As the many leaks and spoilers reported, the 110th edition of the Corsa Rosa will start in Trieste, in the very north-east of Italy. The Friuli-Venezia Giulia region was due to host the 2025 Giro Grande Partenza but was out-bid by Albania. RCS Sport reportedly secured a reported near €10 million deal by including the final mountain stage to the Zoncolan. Friuli-Venezia Giulia spread the costs of the Grande Partenza by including a loop into Slovenia on stage 1, with stage 2 between the capital Ljubljana and Koper south of Trieste. Stage 3 also starts in Friuli-Venezia Giulia and heads to Possagno, before stage 4 turns south to Misano Adriatico for a fast finish on the Marco Simoncelli motor racing circuit. After late climbs testing the sprinters for three days, stage 4 should finally be a high-speed sprint finish. The first summit finish comes the day after, with stage 5 starting in Michele Scarponi's home town of Filottrano and including numerous steep 'muri' climbs before the 13.1km, 7.4% climb to the finish at Sassotetto, that is often climbed during Tirreno-Adriatico. It will be the first major 'GC day' of the 2027 Giro, with 3,300 metres of climbing in just 139km of racing. The route will head further south into Abruzzo for a finish in Lanciano before the return of the cronoscalata with a mountain time trial on stage 7. The 19.6km time trial starts on the high plain of Sulmona and then climbs gradually along an Apennine valley road for 7km. The gradient steepens after some hairpins and heads up to the Campo di Giove ski resort summit finish but is often closer to 4.4% than the steepest point at 9%. It is a time trial for GC specialists like Evenepoel rather than pure climbers like Vingegaard, with riders needing to climb in an aero tuck position even as the road climbs gradually. The Giro route crosses to the Tyrrhenian coast and reaches its southernmost point in Naples on stage 8. The finish avoids the slick cobbles of central Piazza del Plebiscito and finishes with a short climb to the line. Once again, the sprinters will have to suffer for their success. The first week of the 2027 Giro officially ends with a mountain finish on Monte Livata, overlooking Rome. The final climb is 13.9km long, with the first three kilometres at 10% and then the remaining 10km at a more gradual 5.8%. It should be another GC day, with another possible change in race leadership. The second week of the Giro rides north via Umbria and Tuscany, with the motor racing circuit finish theme continuing with a stage and a probable sprint finish on the Mugello track in the hills above Florence. In theory, RCS Sport could charge fans to access the three closed circuits next May and offer them far better hospitality and services. It will be interesting to see if Guercilena dares to try such a move to monetise the tifosi . Stage 12 starts in Montecatini Terme and climbs into the Apennines via the Garfagnana valley north of Lucca. The summit finish at Zum Zeri is 8.4km long at 8.7%, with the final 2.4km at over 10%, another chance for the climbers to pull back some time. Stage 13 to Reggio Emilia is a day for the sprinters before a transfer north for stage 14 to the little-known Piani di Bobbio climb north of Bergamo. The 187km stage includes 4,900 metres of climbing and is like a mini Il Lombardia, including an early visit to the Madonna del Ghisallo. There are three categorised climbs before the 10km, 9% ride to the summit finish. The central 8km are at 10.2%. The second week of the Giro ends with the second time trial from Monza to central Milan, giving the city a stage to celebrate after losing the traditional finish to Rome in recent years. The 37.3km route is on flat, fast and largely straight roads, making it a day for the pure time trialists and the GC contenders looking to gain time on their rivals before the decisive mountain stages. Week three of the Giro starts with the hardest, most mountainous stage, a 192km five-star leg from Sondrio to Aprica. The 5,700 metres of altitude gain include the double climb of the Passo del Mortirolo, with the Passo del Gavia the meat in the middle of the tasty Giro focaccia. At 2,618m, the Gavia is the highest point of the 2027 Giro, with RCS Sport taking a bet that any snow will be cleared and that bad weather does not spark a rider protest and a last-minute route change. The Mortirolo is climbed after 32km and again with just 45km to race. It will be an ideal spot for thousands of tifosi to watch the race twice as the riders suffer on the 12% gradients. The GC battle will be intense. RCS Sport lists the stage as a mountain finish but the ride to Aprica is a gradual valley road, which once saw Ivan Basso and Gilberto Simoni argue about the stage victory, secret payments and honesty. Stage 17 is a transfer ride east from Chiari near Brescia to Vo', where two late climbs will again test the sprinters and their lead-outs. The mountains return on stage 18 to Madonna di Campiglio, with five major categorised climbs making it an ideal breakaway stage for riders chasing the mountains classification. The finish in Madonna di Campiglio will surely evoke memories of the 1999 Giro when Marco Pantani failed a haematocrit test in his hotel and was disqualified from the Giro while leading the race, sparking one of the biggest scandals in the history of the Giro. A flat stage takes the race back to the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region on stage 19 with a sprint opportunity in Sacile, before the final mountain stage up to Monte Zoncolan. Much of stage 20 is on the plains, with the Passo Duron and the Sella Valcalda climbs as warm-ups for the final showdown. The Zoncolan is climbed from the traditional Ovaro side, rising from 530 metres to 1,730 metres in just 10.1km, with a wicked average gradient of 11.9%. The summit finish is in the natural amphitheatre that opens after a late tunnel and will surely be packed with thousands of tifosi. This side of the Zoncolan was last raced in the Giro in 2018, when Chris Froome won alone and went on to win the Giro. The time trials will mean the pure climbers perhaps start the stage with time still to pull back but they could ascend into the maglia rosa in the final kilometres of the final mountain stage of the 2027 Giro. Whoever pulls on the maglia rosa atop the Zoncolan will then be crowned as the 2027 winner 24 hours later in Rome on Sunday, May 30 after the circuit stage around the Colosseum and Circo Massimo.

2026-11-03T08:30:00+01:00 2026-11-03T13:40:17+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/features/a-mountain-time-trial-the-mortirolo-twice-and-a-return-to-the-zoncolan-what-we-know-ahead-of-the-2027-giro-ditalia-route-presentation/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ The route of the 2027 Giro d'Italia will be presented in Rome on Tuesday, November 3 but just like with the recent 2027 Tour de France route or for a new Apple iPhone, some details have already emerged in several Italian media , helping us to understand the difficulties and key moments of next year's race. The 110th edition of the Corsa Rosa is expected to start in Trieste, with two stages in the north-east of Italy, before heading south via the Adriatic coast. A sprint finish in Naples is expected to be the southern-most point in the three-week race route, with a return north via Umbria, Tuscany, Liguria and into Lombardy. The high mountains will feature in the third week with reports of a double climb of the Mortirolo before a ride east to visit Austria, with the Queen stage finishing on the mighty Zoncolan. A new deal with the Rome city council means the riders will transfer 600 km south to the capital after stage 20 for a final sunset stage around the Roman ruins and the Colosseum on Sunday May 30. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) won the 2026 Giro but it remains to be seen if he will defend his maglia rosa, or if two time trials will be enough to tempt Remco Evenepoel or any of the other big-name Grand Tour contenders. Nothing is confirmed and a contract might not even have been signed even just a week before the official presentation, but the 2027 Giro is expected to start in Trieste on Saturday, May 8. Trieste, once at the centre of a post-war territorial dispute between Italy and Yugoslavia, was due to host the Grande Partenza of the 2025 Giro but lost out to Albania. A reported deal worth nearly €10 million with the Friuli-Venezia Giulia regional government will see the region host three stages, including the Grande Partenza and the final mountain stage. According to journalist Antonio Simeoli of Il Messaggero Veneto , stage 1 will start and finish in Trieste with a short loop into Slovenia that will suit the sprinters and perhaps even tempt Tadej Pogacar to make an appearance. Stage 2 will finish in Pordenone, the Italian capital of culture in 2027 and offer the sprinters a second chance of victory. The Giro race route could jump south, passing Venice and the Po river delta during week one but RCS Sport and new race director Luca Guercilena are keen to limit the stage transfer to keep the riders and teams happy. A stage in Romagna, not far from Marco Pantani's birthplace, is likely followed by a hilly stage to Sassotetto in Le Marche to honour the memory of Michele Scarponi. The route will head further south into Abruzzo for a finish in Lanciano before the return of a 'cronoscalata' - a mountain time trial, from Sulmona to Campo di Giove on Friday, May 14. The Naples stage, with a finish on the wide Viale Caracciolo seafront promenade instead of the greasy, crash-prone cobbles of Piazza del Plebiscito is expected to mark the turning point of the race. Week two of the Giro sees the riders turn north and ride through Lazio, Umbria and then Tuscany with a finish at the Zum Zeri ski resort in the Apennines that divide Tuscany from Liguria. Before then a sprint stage could finish in Subiaco inland from Rome, with another fast finish on stage 12 on the Mugello motor racing circuit just north of Florence. The mountain finish to Zum Zeri comes before heading to Emilia Romagna on Friday May 21, before a possible short visit to Piemonte and then a finish on the little known Piani di Bobbio climb north of Bergamo, with the last eight kilometres at close to 10%. The second week is likely to end with a flat and fast time trial that finishes on the Monza motor racing circuit, with the second rest day in the Milan area. The length of the time trial could have been extended in recent weeks to tempt the time trialists and so offer a more balanced route like the 2027 Tour. The hardest and most decisive mountain stages seem to be packed into the final week. The Mortirolo will be back as the race heads north and east on stage 16, with contrasting reports and suggestions about the difficulty of the stage. The stage is likely to start in Sondrio and end in Aprica, with reports suggesting that the Giro will return to the Passo del Gavia before a possible double assault of the Passo del Mortirolo resulting in 6,000 metres of climbing. Stage 17 offers a respite between mountain stages, with a finish expected in Negrar, near Verona, in the heart of the Valpolicella wine region. The mountains return with a stage to Madonna di Campiglio in Trentino, where Pantani famously failed a blood haematocrit test and was disqualified from the 1999 Giro. A hilly road stage finishing in Vicenza, in the Veneto region, is likely to follow instead of a previously reported time trial. The final three stages will begin with a mountain stage to Lienz in Austria. The 2027 Giro 'tappone' or Queen stage is expected on Saturday May 29, with a finish atop the Monte Zoncolan. The stage could climb the Zoncolan from the Ovaro side, which ends with the natural amphitheatre finish packed with thousands of tifosi. This climb was last raced in the Giro in 2018, when Chris Froome won alone and went on to win the Giro. Whoever pulls on the maglia rosa atop the Zoncolan will surely be crowned as the 2027 Giro winner 24 hours later in Rome on Sunday May 30.

2026-11-02T16:35:00+01:00 2026-11-02T16:35:44+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/more-change-at-ef-education-as-senior-sports-director-charly-wegelius-leaves-for-tudor-pro-cycling/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ Major changes at EF Education-Easypost continue for 2027, with senior sports director Charly Wegelius leaving the team for a head sports director role at Tudor Pro Cycling. Last week EF named Matt White as a sports director, soon after he was let go by Movistar. Domestique understands that Wegelius had already decided to leave EF for Tudor after making a personal decision about his future. Other sports director changes at EF are expected after Tejay van Garderen left the team and Matti Breschel moved to Lidl-Trek. EF are looking for a new title sponsor to boost their ambitions but rising costs forced the US-registered team to let Richard Carapaz leave for NSN, with team manager Jonathan Vaughters admitting to Escape Collective that they are operating with around 15 per cent less to spend in 2027. “It was a little bit of a sad situation where our economic resources were stretched to the point that we needed to make some hard decisions,” Vaughters told Escape Collective . EF have signed Tao Geoghegan Hart and 2022 junior world champion Emil Herzog, changing around a third of their 30-rider roster. Ben Healy, Neilson Powless, Luke Lamperti remain as leaders, with riders to watch including former junior cyclocross world champion Mattia Agostinacchio of Italy, British sprinter Noah Hobbs and the USA's Sean Quinn. EF announced Wegelius' departure with a short message and video montage on Instagram during the weekend. Daniel Benson posted on social media that Wegelius is heading to Tudor and a trusted source confirmed the news to Domestique. Wegelius refused to comment about his move to Tudor when contacted by Domestique but spoke emotionally about his time at EF. He was often in the EF team car during the biggest success alongside fellow sports directors Tom Southam and Andreas Klier, including when Ben Healy took the yellow jersey at the 2025 Tour de France. "I spent 15 years with the team, there were a lot of ups and downs, a lot of good times but also hard times. I'm leaving behind a lot of true friends, people that mean an awful lot to me," Wegelius told Domestique. "I'm proud to have been part of what the team has achieved and I wish them all the best for the future. I'll always be a fan of the EF team. "A chapter is closing but that happens in life and in sport. I feel ready for a new challenge and I'm looking forward to the future and the next chapter in my working life."

2026-11-02T13:00:00+01:00 2026-11-02T13:04:45+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/i-feel-100-per-cent-ready-to-take-the-next-step-lorenzo-finn-confirmed-for-2027-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe-worldtour-squad/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have confirmed that Lorenzo Finn will be part of their 2027 WorldTour roster after rising through every level of the team’s development structure. Finn was junior world champion in 2024, Under 23 world champion in 2025 and won the Giro d'Italia Next Gen and the Tour de l'Avenir this year, the first rider in 53 years to win both stage races in the same season. As a junior Finn dueled with France's Paul Seixas. Many consider him equally as talented and potentially Italy's next Grand Tour winner. Finn will turn 20 on December 19 and joins Remco Evenepoel, Florian Lipowitz, Jai Hindley, Luke Tuckwell and Giulio Pellizzari in the team's stage race group. He is the first Red Bull rider to rise to the World tour squad from their Grenke-Auto Eder junior team and the Red Bull Rookies Under 23 team. "Developing our own riders is a central part of our strategy. "Our goal is to provide young athletes with a clear pathway to the WorldTour," Head of Sports Zak Dempster said. "Lorenzo is the first rider to have followed that pathway from the junior ranks onwards. It confirms that our concept works. At the same time, it sends a clear message to the best young talents around the world: if you want to develop over the long term, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe offers the right environment to do so." Finn is Anglo-italian, with his father moving from Britain to Genoa, in northern Italy. Finn was born and grew-up in Italy and opted to race for Italy. He preferred to race in the Under 23 ranks in 2026 but spent almost half of his racing days competing alongside the professionals. He won the Sibiu Tour in Romania, was part of the Red Bull squad that won the early-season Trofeo Ses Salines TTT and rode the elite men's road race at the Montreal world championships. Finn has been courted by other WorldTour teams but has always stayed loyal to Red Bull, who helped him develop and offered him a long-term professional career path. He has already joined his Red Bull WorldTour teammates for winter medical checks and will attend the team's December camp in Mallorca. "Becoming a professional cyclist is a dream that is now coming true," Finn said. "You have to take a moment to pause and tell yourself: I haven’t reached my ultimate goal yet, but I’ve made it as a pro. It’s something I’ve wanted since I was a child. "Now I must not put too much pressure on myself. First, I need to get used to the level. "I don’t have any specific expectations for my first year as a pro. I want to keep developing throughout the season and help the team. I still have time. I’m a long way from reaching my full potential. But I’ve reached a level where I can be confident in myself. Now I feel 100 per cent ready to take the next step."

2026-11-02T11:50:00+01:00 2026-11-02T13:02:15+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/primoz-roglics-future-could-be-decided-this-week-before-he-headlines-the-taiwan-masters-ride/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ Primož Roglič will travel to Taiwan later this week for an end of season event, perhaps having decided his team for 2027 or preferring to retire from professional cycling. Roglič is the special guest for the Taiwan Masters Ride on Monday November 9. He will ride with Kern Pharma rider Yen Yi Ho and hundreds of other Taiwanese riders on a hilly route south of the capital Taipei. It could be his final ride as a pro cyclist. Roglič celebrated his 37th birthday last week while enjoying a family holiday and considering his plans for the future. He was seriously considering retirement during the summer but then his second place at the Vuelta a España and time trial victory in the European Championships showed he was still competitive. His agent Mattia Galli apparently contacted a number of teams and several showed genuine interest but Roglič admitted that Il Lombardia could have been his last race as he said farewell to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. "You never know when is the last one, like everything in life, so it can be a bit emotional," Roglič said. Last week it emerged that Visma | Lease a Bike held talks with Roglič about the Slovenian returning to the team but ultimately opted against the idea, preferring to add a younger rider to their roster for 2027. Unibet Rose Rockets revealed they had discussions with Roglič ahead of the Vuelta and Lotto-Intermarché reportedly made a formal offer which was initially refused. Roglič was also linked to Pinarello-Q36.5 and Tudor Pro Cycling. Teams soon face a UCI deadline to register riders and contracts for 2027, forcing Roglič to make a decision. Roglič's plans for the future depend on more than just the salary involved, with his race programme and opportunities fare more important. Roglič would have faced limited leadership opportunities at Visma but could be a Grand Tour leader at other teams. He has won the Vuelta four times and the Giro once and any offers for a final season or final two seasons are likely to include a ride at the Tour de France. Roglič perhaps has several offers and options to consider but if none of them satisfy and motivate him, he could ultimately decide to bring down the curtain on his successful career.

2026-10-29T17:00:00+01:00 2026-10-29T17:06:41+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/how-euskatel-secured-a-grand-tour-wild-card-for-2027-with-a-global-chase-for-uci-ranking-points/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ Euskaltel Euskadi jumped past their ProTeam rivals in the final two weeks of the 2026 season to finish in the top 30 of the UCI rankings to ensure they are eligible for Grand Tour wild cards in 2027. The Basque team moved past Bardiani CSF 7 Saber and MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort after strategically targeting ranking points and racing around the world in the final months of the season. They placed three riders in the top five at the Gran Prix de Chiriquí in Panama and secured their place in the top 30 with other final points hauls, racing hard to the very end of the season. Euskaltel finished 28th in the official 2026 UCI team ranking and can now hope to ride the Vuelta a España next season, with new signing Mikel Landa as team leader. "It's a miracle," sports director Pablo Urtasun told AS . "At one point we were almost 500 points behind. It seemed impossible but little by little we started to gain points." Landa signed a contract in the summer and that inspired the team. The sports directors came up with a cunning plan to chase every possible ranking point, travelling around the world, their plans often coming together at the last minute. “In the summer, the directors met for a day and we said: 'The only way to break into the top 30 is to add more races." Urtasun said. "We looked at the international calendar and saw what was available. We had already committed to racing in Hong Kong, then we saw we could go to places like Algeria and Panama. At first, it seemed crazy, but it was the only thing we could do. "In Algeria we earned more than 200 points and we also picked up points in the final classics in France. Our enthusiasm was through the roof, and from Hong Kong, we went straight to Panama. "Some people are saying we were sneaking into the races to avoid giving anything away. The truth is, we did everything at the last minute. We got our visas for Algeria the same day we flew. "Our main rival, Bardiani, couldn't have imagined anything like this. It was almost impossible for us, and the satisfaction of achieving it was amazing." Landa turns 37 in December but seems to be rejuvenated by his move to Euskaltel and a final chance to ride a Grand Tour. He went deep to win the final mountain stage of the Vuelta and that victory could seal the deal to see the Basque team back at the Spanish Grand Tour. There has even been suggestions that Euskaltel has a chance for a Tour de France wild card. “The truth is, without signing Mikel, I don't think we would have made this effort," Urtasun told AS. "The budget is limited but Mikel brings visibility and great results, which can change a lot of things. Achieving a victory at the Vuelta, like the one he won this year on the queen stage, could be a turning point for us.

2026-10-29T15:00:00+01:00 2026-10-30T08:01:10+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/zwift-launches-premium-subscription-tier-with-ai-coaching-and-real-world-video-routes/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ Zwift have launched an optional new subscription tier called Zwift Plus that includes personalised coaching advice and high-definition video routes such as the Col du Galibier in the Alps, Sa Calobra on Mallorca and gravel rides in Dolores, Colorado. The new premium tier marks a major development for the platform as the weather in the northern hemisphere worsens and people begin to ride more indoors. Zwift Plus is available for $29.99/€29.99/£26.99 per month, more than the standard subscription, but Zwift believes the additional features offer extra value to indoor riders. All new subscribers receive a 14-day trial of Zwift Plus, while existing members can opt in for a free one-month upgrade for a limited time to try the coaching features and video routes. The company has also announced a range of improvements for existing subscribers, including a cleaner and simpler home screen, more wearable connections and an 18km extension of Watopia. Zwift have always offered training plans and workouts, but Zwift Coach takes personalisation a step further. Beginner and recreational riders are the fastest-growing group among Zwift's one million riders. According to the platform's data, the majority of Zwifters (63%) participate in a variety of activities, while just 13% focus on structured workouts. Zwift believes 'the best workout is the one you actually do' and that consistency and regular riding help build fitness. The Zwift Coach training model combines peer-reviewed sports science with anonymised power and heart rate data from 65 million rides recorded on Zwift in 2025. Riders then answer a few simple questions about their goals, fitness levels and preferred intensity to create a personalised training plan. Zwift uses the data to build the training plan and then AI turns it into clear, personal coaching that adapts and updates due to missed sessions or work and family commitments. Wearable data, runs and outdoor rides are all considered. The coaching system draws on Zwift’s library of thousands of workouts, routes, RoboPacers and events to create tailor-made training plans that combine endurance rides with more intense sessions. Plans can be personalised in the Zwift Companion app and adjusted to account for outdoor rides or demanding indoor workouts. A new coach analysis tab in the post-ride activity report provides immediate feedback, alongside daily guidance and weekly ride planning. Riders can also earn rewards for completing workouts. Zwift says the new high-definition video routes included in Zwift Plus offer a new way to experience indoor cycling. The company acquired Rouvy, a platform known for its real-world video routes, in the spring of 2026, but Zwift Video has been developed independently. It retains the same riding characteristics as Zwift’s graphics-based worlds, combining smooth high-definition playback with familiar features such as PowerUps, Segment Leaderboards, HoloReplays, Drops and Zwift's visual elements. Zwift Plus members can ride any route at any time alongside other riders, with organised events and MeetUps set to launch soon. Zwift Video launches with 21 routes across six countries, covering a total of 385km. These include famous climbs such as the Col du Galibier and Sa Calobra, alongside lesser-known destinations like the Lofoten Islands in Norway. The routes were filmed multiple times to capture the best conditions, with new routes and destinations set to be added regularly in 2027. All Zwift Video routes, ranging from 6.2km to 29km, can be ridden as repeated laps, allowing workouts to be adapted to different distances, including with HoloReplay. Zwift has also launched a Globetrotter Challenge, offering a special Globetrotter kit and bonus XP to riders who complete all 10 routes by February 1. The French Alps: Col du Galibier (Lautaret), Cime de la Bonette, Upper Bonette Mallorca: Sa Calobra, Coll de Femenia Tenerife: Teide Plateau Western Cape: Chapmans Peak, Clarence Drive, Bain’s Kloof Pass, Du Toitskloof Pass Lofoten Islands: The Midnight Sun Road, Eggum Coastal, Nappvang Glow Southern Utah: The Hogsback, Arches National Park, Glen Canyon, Colorado River Sunrise Colorado: Dolores Dirt The Scottish Highlands: Glen Etive, Quinag Highlands, Glen Garry Wilds Zwift Plus is available now for $29.99/€29.99/£26.99 per month. For further details, head to www.zwift.com/zwift-plus

2026-10-29T12:15:00+01:00 2026-10-29T12:19:35+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/i-dont-see-myself-as-the-saviour-of-cyclocross-thibau-nys-warns-he-cannot-replace-mathieu-van-der-poel-and-wout-van-aert/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ Thibau Nys makes his cyclocross debut at Sunday's Koppenbergcross race, elevating the winter sport to a new level, but don't expect Nys to 'save' cyclocross. In the absence of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, Nys is considered the standout star of the sport, the best Belgian, whose talents span from WorldTour road racing with Lidl-Trek to winning on the Flemish cobbles and mud of the Koppenberg. Van Aert has hinted he will race cyclocross, probably during the Christmas racing period, but van der Poel will become a father in January and so could decide to focus fully on his 2027 road season. For now Nys has to carry the burden as cyclocross's biggest star, even if he doesn't want to. "I don’t see myself as the saviour of cyclocross,” Nys told several Flemish media during an open training session as he tapered for his cyclocross debut at the weekend. "It is something I want to stand for and fight for, but I’m certainly not going to solve it alone." The 23-year-old Nys is part of the new generation of cyclocross riders. His career is rooted in the sport thanks to the legacy and support of his father Sven. Interest in cyclocross is falling, as van der Poel and van Aert race less and less but Nys offers some glamour and bling, attracting younger fans because of his pedigree, his style of racing and his lifestyle so often shared on social media. "We have seen exciting races so far, but we are looking for personalities a bit, aren’t we? Just like Mathieu and Wout, Eli Iserbyt used to be. Men who have a story that can give cyclocross extra cachet," Sven Nys told Het Laatste Nieuws. Nys is arguably the only rider who can take on van der Poel and Van Aert if and when they race. “That offers perspective for the future," Sven Nys suggested. "No one can predict that, and I won’t try either. But ultimately, the goal is to be able to go into a duel at some point and really fight such a battle to the finish line." Nys will make his season debut at the Koppenbergcross and has been selected for the Belgian squad for the European Championships the week after in the Netherlands. Last year he won the Koppenbergcross after a nine-week block of cyclocross training. This year he had just three weeks after riding for Belgium at the Montreal World Championships and 12 days off the bike and a holiday in Japan. Nys rode for just 30 days with Lidl-Trek. A knee injury delayed his debut and meant he missed the Giro d'Italia. He finished the Vuelta a España and was third on two stages but did not win a race in 2026. "A year ago I had a lot of self-confidence. I knew everything was going to be fine. That is completely different now, but it was also factored in. I am where I wanted to be given the circumstances and am satisfied with my form" Nys explained, able to build on the base the Vuelta gave him. "Because everything had to be crammed into three weeks, I was unable to do quite a few important training sessions. We’ll just have to make do with it and hope it’s enough." Nys has already won the Koppenbergcross twice and seems suited to the race that climbs the famous cobbled lane used in the Tour of Flanders and other Classics. "On the Koppenberg, I cannot be happy with a podium finish," he said, true to character and the reason why the cyclocross season is about to step up a level.

2026-10-28T12:00:00+01:00 2026-10-28T12:12:17+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/giro-ditalia-2027-20km-mountain-time-trial-in-the-apennines-and-confirmed-for-first-week/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ The route of the 2027 Giro d'Italia and the 2027 Giro d'Italia Women will be revealed in Rome on November 3 but key details of the route have emerged, with the first week set to include a 20km mountain time trial. The 110th edition of the men's Corsa Rosa will reportedly start in Trieste, in the north-east of Italy on Saturday May 8 and head south during the first week, with the turning point in the Abruzzo mountains and Naples. According to local newspaper Il Centro , the mountain time trial or 'cronoscalata' will be held on Friday May 14. After the Tour de France announced two time trials in the 2027 route , for a total of 71km against the clock, the Giro is also expected to increase the number and distance of time trial in the 2027 race, perhaps to tempt the likes of Remco Evenepoel and Paul Seixas. A second time trial stage in the 2027 Giro is expected to finish on the Monza motor racing circuit later in the three-week race. The mountain time trial will start in the plateau town of Sulmona in the Abruzzo Apennines and climb up to the low-level Campo di Giove ski station, at the foot of the Majella mountain. The stage distance will be close to 20km, with an altitude gain of 650 metres. Much of the time trial is along a gradual valley road out of Sulmona. The final five kilometres from Cansano to Campo di Giove climb at an average of 4.3%, with a maximum gradient of 5.7%. The gradients mean it is not a pure mountain time trial like we saw most recently at the 2025 Tour de France from Loudenvielle to Peyragudes or the decisive mountain time trial to Monte Lussari in the 2023 Giro when Primoz Roglic snatched the maglia rosa from Geraint Thomas. However it will shake-up the GC standings and favour GC time trialists like Evenepoel. The day before the mountain time trial, the Giro will reportedly finish in Lanciano after a ride down the coast or in the Abruzzo hills. Stage 8 is expected to start in Trasacco and finish in central Naples, on the wide Viale Caracciolo seafront promenade instead of the greasy, crash-prone cobbles of Piazza del Plebiscito. Sunday's ninth stage will see the Giro head north to near Rome, with a mountain finish atop Monte Livata. In 2026 Lorenzo Finn won alone on the climb to set-up overall victory in the Giro d'Italia Next Gen. The Giro peloton will enjoy a rest day on Monday, May 17 before the route continues north via Umbria, Tuscany and Liguria. All the details of the 2027 Giro route will be revealed on Tuesday November 3.

2026-10-27T14:40:00+01:00 2026-10-27T14:42:56+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/totalenergies-switch-to-pardus-bikes-for-2027-as-more-chinese-brands-expand-into-pro-team-sponsorship/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ The TotalEnergies team will race on Pardus bikes in 2027, becoming the latest team to strike a deal with a Chinese brand looking to expand in Europe. XDS invested in the Astana team in 2024, Euskaltel-Euskadi switched to Quick Pro in 2026 and Winspace provided bikes to the women's Mayenne Monbana My Pie ProTeam. Pardus is owned by the Taishan Sports Industry Group and has its own factory in Shandong, south of Beijing, which makes products for other major bike brands. TotalEnergies have still to confirm a new title sponsor and will have a different name in 2027 but have applied for ProTeam status and are confident they will again secure a wild card invitation to the Tour de France and other major races. "As part of Pardus’s development in the European market, we are particularly proud to begin the journey with Jean-René Bernaudeau and his iconic team," Terry Gong, Vice-general manager of Pardus said. "We have developed a deep understanding of professional riders’ expectations through our support of the Chinese national team since the Rio Olympic Games. This partnership is a great opportunity to share our technical expertise, improve our products through rider feedback, and strengthen Pardus’s presence in European cycling. TotalEnergies used Enve bikes until 2025 and Cube in 2026. Pardus sponsored Team Vini Fantini in 2025 but have stepped-up their investment for 2027. The riders will use the Pardus SPK EVO G4 aero bike and Robin EVO G3 climbing bike, as well as the Gomera EVO TT bike. As part of the deal, Pardus will also supply bikes to the Under 23 Vendée U-Primeo Energie team and the Junior team. Pardus already has a dealer network in France and across Europe, creating a European office in Italy. "This partnership will also allow us to work closely with their technical team, sharing feedback from our riders and performance staff to help improve the equipment throughout the season," the French team manager Stéphane Heulot said. "For Pardus, this is an important step onto the international stage. For us, it is a chance to support a growing brand and help develop its products. We have confidence this partnership will be a powerful force for progress, driving us to new heights and achieving great things together on the international stage."

2026-10-27T13:30:00+01:00 2026-10-27T18:00:49+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/90-of-races-are-not-making-money-former-pro-fabian-wegmann-warns-the-costs-of-improving-race-safety-could-see-races-disappear/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ Former pro rider turned organiser Fabian Wegmann has joined the debate about race safety, warning that higher safety standards and increased costs could lead to races disappearing. "You can create standards, and the races have to listen to that standard. But, and now I’m talking from the eyes of the organiser, it’s fucking expensive, right?" Wegmann told Road.cc in their latest podcast. "90% of races are not making money. If you put the standard that high then you’ll have no races anymore. That doesn't work." Wegmann was a pro for 15 years and is involved with the organisation of the Deutschland Tour with Tour de France organiser ASO and organises the Münsterland Giro race. Riders highlighted the need for better race safety by organising a protest before the start of the recent Il Lombardia. A few days before at the Tre Valli Varesine race, a police motorcyclist reportedly travelled against the direction of the race, causing the Pinarello-Q36.5 riders to crash. The tragic death of Finlay Tarling at the Volta a Portugal in August, especially raised riders' fears. "We cannot keep accepting the fact that guys are getting injured and are literally dying while doing what we like the most," Remco Evenepoel said during the Il Lombardia protest. Wegmann spoke after Road.cc had also interviewed Tour de France route designer and official Safety Manager Thierry Gouvenou. “No race organiser can ever guarantee that an incident will not occur during their event. The true nature of cycling is that it takes place in an open environment, not within a stadium,” Gouvenou suggested. "We invest a significant amount of money into safety, yet maintaining the financial balance of these events remains extremely difficult. After all, you cannot station a police officer in front of every single house or on every corner. People, humanity in general, are becoming less and less respectful of the rules." The Tour de France has fully closed roads, with thousands of French police stationed along the road to stop traffic entering the route. That is simply not possible in other nations and at smaller races. "In the past at the Deutschland Tour, we had 40 police motorbikes, and now we have maybe 20. It’s getting less and less because the police said ‘it’s not their job to make races safe,'" Wegmann explained. "At the Tour de France, they have 30,000 policemen working on the event. If you have to pay them, it will never work. "In every country it’s different. Even if the UCI said ‘we need it, want it like this’, the countries are the owners of the streets." “It’s also a question of cost. One of the races I do is Munsterland Giro and we have 1200 people standing there, and they all get money for it. So you can imagine how expensive it is to secure a race." As a former pro, Wegmann understands the riders and called on everyone in the sport to learn from any safety problems. "From every crash we have to learn. We all make mistakes, but we have to learn from these mistakes and get better. Some things we can never change," he said. "For me, as an organiser of a race, I always want to have a race where I think I did everything I could to make it safe."

2026-10-27T11:30:00+01:00 2026-10-27T11:34:51+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/theres-still-so-much-i-want-to-achieve-jay-vine-extends-with-uae-team-emirates-xrg-until-2029/ Stephen Farrand team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/stephen-farrand/ Jay Vine has extended his contract with UAE Team Emirates-XRG until the end of 2029 and is already working towards the 2027 season, where he could again lead the team at the Tour Down Under or work for Tadej Pogacar if he decides to begin his season in Australia . Vine is one of the core stage race riders for UAE. He often rides in support of Tadej Pogacar but also gets opportunities in other stage races such as the Tour Down Under, which he won for a second time in 2026. "I’m really happy to be continuing with the team until 2029. I couldn’t imagine a better fit," Vine said, as the UAE riders prepare to gather in Abu Dhabi for their winter team camp. "I’m incredibly grateful for the trust and support I’ve been shown here, both in the good times and the more difficult ones. That support means a lot to me and is something I really value about this team. "I’m already building towards the 2027 season and can’t wait to get started. There’s still so much I want to achieve, and I’m excited to keep working alongside some genuine friends and see what we can accomplish together over the coming years." UAE have made just four changes for 2027, signing Abel Balderstone (from Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Marco Frigo (NSN) and Pierre Gautherat (Decathlon CMA CGM), while Davide Stella steps up from the UAE Team Emirates Gen Z development team. Pavel Sivakov has moved to Decathlon, Igor Arrieta to Lidl-Trek, Juan Sebastián Molano to Lotto Intermarché and Rune Herregodts is set to move to Movistar. "Beyond his results, Vine has become an important figure within the team, bringing experience, professionalism and a strong commitment to the collective goals of the squad. His renewal provides further continuity as UAE Team Emirates-XRG builds towards the coming seasons," the UAE team said of Vine. The 30-year-old from Queensland took an unconventional route to the WorldTour, winning the 2002 Esports world title and securing his first professional contract via the Zwift Academy programme. Vine won the Tour Down Under in 2023 and 2026, and has won four stages at the Vuelta a España. Crashes and injuries have disrupted Vine's career, but he remains a talented time trialist. Vine was caught in the high-speed crash on stage 2 of the Giro d'Italia, suffering concussion and an elbow fracture. He fell sick during the Vuelta and did not start stage 12. That ruled him out of the World Championships in Canada but he ended his 2026 season with second place at the Chrono des Nations in France behind Remco Evenepoel.