Our breakdown of the latest cycling news, including analysis of the rather oddly routed 2026 Vuelta a España — plus we review two dominant cyclocross performances and look ahead to next year’s racing, teams and kits. Happy Holidays!
TOP STORY:
- Vuelta Route Analysis: Doubling Down on Vert (and Temps)
RACE NEWS
- Van der Poel Dominates, van Aert Disappoints in Weekend ‘Cross Racing
- Women’s ‘Cross: Brand Continues Unstoppable Run, Alvarado Returns to Form
- Muscat Classic Now a ProSeries Race
- Boucles Drôme Ardèche: New Route, 12 UCI WorldTeams, Seixas and Cosnefroy
RIDER, TEAM AND GENERAL ROAD CYCLING NEWS
- INEOS Grenadiers Racing Academy to Launch in 2026
- Soudal Quick-Step 2026 Kit Features Enhanced Visibility
- USA Cycling to Add High School Racing to Collegiate National Championships
Vuelta Route Analysis: Doubling Down on Vert (and Temps)
Just a few weeks ago we wrote that by subtracting a bit of climbing from its profile, the Giro’s organizers had taken a step in the right direction.
Well, it seems that Fernando Escartin and the rest of the Vuelta’s organizers don’t read PEZ.
Not only will 2026 Vuelta riders face around 4,000 more meters of climbing than those who take on the Tour — and 8,000 more than those in the Giro — but they’ll climb those meters in the typically-sweltering heat of southern Spain.
The peloton may suffer even more next year than they did in the ’25 Vuelta.
Indeed, La Vuelta 2026 promises to be one of the most challenging Grand Tours in recent memory, featuring over 58,000 meters of climbing as it winds from Monaco’s glamorous casino to Granada’s historic Alhambra Palace from August 22 to September 11 — with nearly all of of that winding happening south of Madrid.
Perhaps those organizers have embraced a Mediterranean diet? Because the route practically embraces Spain’s southern coast, spending the final ten stages in Andalusia and finishing in Granada.
Escartin seems keenly self-aware, stating “It’s a very tough route!” The race features seven mountain stages including brutal climbs like Valdelinares, Aitana, and the unprecedented Collado del Alguacil, which peaks at gradients of 20%. Andorra alone packs four major climbs into just 104 kilometers.
Seems unlikely Mads will return to Spain after pursuing green at the Tour.
Meanwhile, southern Spain in September can be brutally hot, with temperatures often exceeding 35°C — over 95° to us Americans — adding another layer of suffering to an already punishing route. Our question: who’s going to want to contend this race? Who’s going to want to ride for a podium spot — and even moreso, which sprinters will want to drag themselves over those climbs, in those temperatures, to win cycling’s other green jersey?
Maybe those organizers decided it was worth discouraging riders if they could also ward off protesters.
We know that Primoz will be there, seeking to win a record fifth Ochre Jersey. Otherwise, as we wrote in our last EuroTrash, so far only Almeida and Gall have stated that they intend to take on the Giro.
Primoz is hoping to return to Spanish glory.
It seems that, hoping to draw Tadej Pogačar into contention, the Giro’s designers are betting that he wants the challenge — that he’s even more likely to win an especially challenging version, thereby checking one of his last few boxes. Our prediction: Tadej will decline, opting to give his countryman a sporting chance (and not to take on a route that could set back his chances at a third straight world championship).
RACE NEWS
Van der Poel Dominates, van Aert Disappoints in Weekend ‘Cross Racing
Mathieu van der Poel shook off early-season rust to dominate both Belgian World Cup races this weekend, while Wout van Aert’s long-awaited season debut ended in disappointment.
The highly anticipated first clash between the rivals took place Saturday in Antwerp, but Van der Poel quickly established his superiority. After a brief wobble on the opening lap, the world champion found his rhythm and rode solo to victory, finishing 24 seconds ahead of “Sandman” Laurens Sweeck.
Van Aert showed promise before disaster struck. Fighting for a podium position, the Belgian suffered a puncture on the fifth lap that forced a bike change and dropped him to seventh, 51 seconds back. “The sport is as hard as it always has been,” he reflected afterward.
Sunday’s race in Koksijde’s legendary dunes saw Van der Poel complete the weekend sweep. Van Aert didn’t start, leaving the Dutchman as overwhelming favorite. Though initially challenged by Sweeck and a chase group including Tibor Del Grosso and Toon Aerts, Van der Poel unleashed a decisive acceleration at mid-race that no one could match. He won by seven seconds over Sweeck, with Niels Vandeputte third — though the race was not as close as the margin suggested, as MVDP clearly took his foot off the gas over the course of the final lap.
“I felt already way better than last week,” Van der Poel said after Antwerp. “The legs just felt stronger.” His three consecutive World Cup victories have propelled him to fourth overall despite his late season start, extending his remarkable winning streak to 15 races.
Sweeck’s consistent podium finishes moved him into the World Cup leader’s jersey, three points ahead of Thibau Nys, who struggled badly in Antwerp’s sand, finishing 23rd.
For Van Aert, his puncture was unfortunate timing, though even before the mechanical he appeared to be fighting for podium positions rather than challenging Van der Poel outright. The Belgian is deliberately using cyclocross as preparation for his spring classics campaign rather than as a primary goal this winter.
Brand Continues Unstoppable Run in Weekend World Cup Races
We’re seeing dominance on the women’s side as well: Lucinda Brand extended her remarkable winning streak to eight consecutive victories across this weekend’s Belgian World Cup races, while Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado announced her return from illness with consecutive podium finishes.
Saturday’s race in Antwerp provided Brand’s toughest test of the season. The Dutch champion edged clear on the final lap but nearly lost when she made late mistakes, holding off a resurgent Alvarado by just two seconds in a thrilling finish.
Alvarado, forced to withdraw from Terralba two weeks earlier with flu, matched Brand’s pace through the technical sand sections despite incomplete fitness. “I had a few difficult weeks behind me,” the former world champion reflected. “At the end, she was, of course, the strongest. My candle went out a bit towards the end.”
Sunday’s race at Koksijde’s legendary dunes saw Brand reassert her dominance more convincingly. She took the lead on the opening lap and rode solo to victory, finishing 36 seconds ahead of teammate Shirin van Anrooij. Alvarado again claimed third, backing up her Antwerp performance.
Brand’s double victory weekend marked her 80th career win and 12th from 14 starts this season, while seizing the World Cup leader’s jersey from Aniek van Alphen. Van Alphen finished third in Antwerp but dropped to fourth in Koksijde, now sitting 32 points behind Brand overall.
“Lucinda is just in top form, we can’t ignore that,” Alvarado said. “I’m still improving and hopefully it can only get better.”
With reigning world champion Fem van Empel on hiatus after announcing lost motivation, Brand has asserted complete dominance over the women’s field.
Muscat Classic Now a ProSeries Race
The fourth edition of the Muscat Classic, which will precede the 15th Tour of Oman scheduled for February 7–11, is undergoing a major change this year by moving up to the ProSeries category.
Since 2023, the Muscat Classic has provided an opportunity for punchy riders to battle it out around the capital of the Sultanate of Oman. For the 2026 edition, the race’s promotion to the ProSeries category will give even more prestige to the prize at stake at the finish line. The stars of the spring classics will find this an opportunity to make their mark.
Boucles Drôme Ardèche: New Route, 12 UCI WorldTeams, Seixas and Cosnefroy
Just over two months after successfully staging the UEC Road European Championships, the Boucles Drôme Ardèche Organising Committee unveiled the outline of the 26th edition of the Boucles Drôme Ardèche on Thursday, 18 December, in Saint-Péray.
The routes offer something new: The Faun Drôme Ardèche, scheduled for 28 February, will offer a new parcours of four local circuits around Guilherand-Granges (Ardèche). The Costebelle climb, used during the 2025 UEC European Road Championships, makes its debut on the route. The Mur des Royes and the Val d’Enfer will once again be key sectors of the race, which will total 3,347 metres of elevation gain.
The Faun Drôme Classic, on 1 March, will retain its traditional course, with three circuits around Étoile-sur-Rhône (Drôme) on the menu. The Mur d’Allex, the Col de la Grande Limite and the Côte Chaude are expected to separate the strongest riders of the day.
Following the 2025 victories of Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) and Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates – XRG), the punchy climbers will once again find an ideal terrain to showcase their strengths.
Meanwhile, each of the two races will now award 250 UCI points to the winner, for a combined total of 500 points — equivalent to an overall victory at Paris-Nice or the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
The start list, currently being finalized, already promises top-class racing. A total of 21 teams will line up, including 12 UCI WorldTeams, notably UAE Team Emirates XRG, Team Visma Lease a Bike, Lidl-Trek, INEOS Grenadiers, as well as the two French teams Decathlon CMA CGM Team and Groupama-FDJ United.
Among the riders announced, 19-year-old Paul Seixas (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) will be one to watch, following his impressive bronze medal at the most recent European Championships on the roads of the Faun Ardèche Classic.
Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates) will also be in action with his new team and will be aiming to at least match his third place at the 2022 Faun Drôme Classic.
The Boucles Drôme Ardèche Organising Committee will also organise a women’s race in 2026, building on the legacy of the Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l’Ardèche, the department’s historic women’s event that has been held since 2003 (23 editions).
Further details will be announced soon.
Romain Grégoire took the victory at the 2025 FAUN Ardèche Classic.
RIDER, TEAM AND GENERAL CYCLING NEWS
INEOS Grenadiers Racing Academy to Launch in 2026
INEOS Grenadiers has announced the launch of the INEOS Grenadiers Racing Academy in 2026. It’s intent is to “reinforce the team’s focus on identifying, preparing and developing the next generation of race-ready talent.”
The Racing Academy will serve as the cornerstone of the Grenadiers’ performance pathway, incorporating a UCI Continental team and elite young rider development programs and providing a structured environment that mirrors the standards of the WorldTour.
The inaugural INEOS Grenadiers Racing Academy line-up brings together a group of riders from across the world, each demonstrating a desire to challenge themselves.
- Hugo Boucher (18) – France
- Josh Charlton (22) – Great Britain
- Mattie Dodd (21) – Great Britain
- Davide Frigo (18) – Italy
- Max Hinds (18) – Great Britain
- Milkias Maekele (20) – Eritrea
- Fletcher Medway (18) – Australia
- Nicolas Milesi (21) – Italy
- Dylan Sage (18) – Great Britain
- Max Standen (18) – Great Britain
- Cameron Rogers (21) – Australia
- Theodor Storm (20) – Denmark
Geraint Thomas, Director of Racing, said: “The academy system played a major role in shaping my career. It taught me how to be a pro – looking after myself, staying healthy, being organised and preparing properly….For me, the priority is helping young riders learn what it means to be a professional. Some are living away from home for the first time, some have moved across the world, so there’s a lot for them to take on. It’s about race-craft, understanding their bodies and managing their emotions, and not just hitting numbers. It’s the full package.”
Soudal Quick-Step 2026 Kit Features Enhanced Visibility
Building on the success of its Shine for Safety initiative, Soudal Quick-Step’s new kit is designed to maximize visibility, elevate rider safety, and perform in all conditions.
Designed with team partners Castelli, the new design incorporates a vivid electric-lime element, a deliberate move inspired by the Shine for Safety visibility campaign launched during 2025’s Ardennes Classics.
By boosting on-road visibility during races, training rides, and everyday use, the kit enhances how quickly riders can be seen by other road users and is a simple but meaningful step toward improving safety.
The kit is the result of close collaboration with Castelli’s design and performance experts, who drew on decades of experience to form the perfect balanced design. Alongside the race jersey, Castelli has created a full range of apparel for all conditions, from cold-weather layers to lightweight summer garments ensuring riders maintain visibility and cohesion across the entire season.
eTrashMike sez: I dunno…INEOS’ new orange and white kit looks pretty visible to us…But good for Soudal Quick-Step for leading this charge.
USA Cycling to Add High School Racing to Collegiate National Championships
USA Cycling announced on Thursday that starting in 2026, it will add men’s and women’s high school racing categories to three Collegiate National Championship events: Track, Mountain Bike, and Cyclocross. This move creates a clearer and more welcoming pathway for young athletes moving from high school races into collegiate cycling.
By inviting high school athletes to compete alongside collegiate clubs and varsity programs at select championship venues, USA Cycling aims to boost exposure, expand opportunity, and strengthen the development pipeline that carries riders from youth racing into higher education and beyond.
“Providing high school riders a meaningful introduction to collegiate cycling has been a priority for us,” said Eric Bennett, USA Cycling’s Director of Membership. “By integrating high school categories into our Collegiate National Championships, we’re creating an environment where young athletes can see what’s possible, meet collegiate riders and coaches, and take their first real step toward racing in college.”
To support families and students, each collegiate championship weekend will also include a Collegiate Cycling Fair, designed to connect high school athletes with collegiate programs.
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