Caja Rural get the last wildcard invite to the Tour de France and the Unibet Rose Rockets are left out. It’s a surprise but once you look at the trend it shouldn’t be a shock.
Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Route
The route of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes has been unveiled and it’s actually a much better Dauphiné route than we’ve had in recent years with a real start in the heart of the ancient Dauphiné province. So the name change will need a while to sink in.
Here’s a stage-by-stage look followed by some notes on the wildcard invites, TV schedules and possible contenders.
Pogacar and Ku Coin
Tadej Pogačar is the new “Global Brand Ambassador” of Ku Coin, a cryptocurrency exchange. He’s not the first or last athlete or celebrity to front for a crypto company.
This company has been on European warning lists, fined in Canada and the US. It’s also been in the news lately after being linked to a massive financial scandal in South-East Asia.
Predictions For 2026
Some predictions for 2026. Yes Pogačar is there, but inside the crystal ball there are foolhardy glimpses of sprinting, TV coverage, scandal and even bidons for the year ahead.
Tour Down Under Preview
This year’s edition is harder than ever with fewer stages for the sprinters and more climbing. Here’s a preview including the likely finish times in case you need to set your alarm clock.
Riders To Watch For 2026
Ten riders to watch in 2026. Some are picked as tips for their raw talent, others to see what paths they will go down and the stories this tells about their teams and the sport.
Neo-Pros To Watch For 2026
Ten neo-pros to introduce and watch for 2026. It’s an unusual year with few riders turning pro but this year’s draft has some big names.
Wednesday Shorts
A New Year, a new season and several news items to sift. We’ll start with Simon Yates and go via the Giro’s uncertain TV rights to Cofidis with more in-between.
Giro Recon Ride Notes
It’s not easy doing recon rides at the moment in Europe. It’s -11°C in Gavarnie and -10°C in Cari right now so those days of the Tour and Giro can wait until spring or even better, summer. But Stage 11 of the Giro was completed last weekend.
The route takes an predictable course along the coast before turning inland for a late climb to spice things up. Finding the exact route for this took a moment and if the climb is tricky, more so the descent.
2026 Pro Cycling Calendar
Happy New Year. Here’s the pro cycling calendar for 2026, free to download for your diary or phone.
It’s packed with all the men’s and women’s pro road races. So whether you’re scouting for some points-rich 1.Pro race or want to plan some sofa time here are all the races in a user-friendly format.