It’s Halloween and what’s more frightening than ghosts and ghouls? Running out of money.
Here’s a look at plucky underdogs Intermarché-Wanty and their latest set of scary accounts.
2025 Tour de France Femmes Route
A closer look at the 2025 Tour de France Femmes by Zwift route. There’s a full traverse of France, an extra day of racing and some famous climbs
2025 Tour de France Route
The 2025 Tour de France route has been unveiled and while it’s a return to tradition, think of a remake rather than a replica. There are some surprises too.
Lost Serendipity
Next summer will be the last when the Tour de France will be shown free-to-air in Britain, from then it will be for Eurosport subscribers only. It marks the end of five decades of free coverage in the UK.
It’s a headache for cycling fans in Britain but also an issue for pro cycling which losses pan-European mass market coverage. And if you live somewhere with free coverage don’t assume it’ll always be that way.
UCI World Tour Promotion and Relegation
With two seasons done and one left before the next cut for promotion and relegation, a look at the standings. Things look lively for 2025 with Astana and Arkéa already below the line for relegation but would one or both sign up today for relegation if they could have the guarantee their team stayed afloat for 2026 and beyond? Meanwhile Uno-X are on the up and Cofidis and DSM Firmenich-PostNL have reasons to be nervous.
Happy New Year
Happy New Year, or Bonne Année as they say at the UCI HQ in Aigle, Switzerland*. A new year has rung in but don’t worry if you missed the party last night although it’s safe to say a share of the peloton will have sunk some beers after the finish of races in Nanning, Utsunomiya and Bassano del Grappa yesterday.
Officially the 2025 professional road cycling season starts today. It’s anecdotal for the most part but there’s one big fix to be done.
Friday Shorts
The Tour of Guangxi is on and it’s a parade of sprint finishes on massive boulevards so far. Tomorrow sees the summit finish stage so look out for that to determine the GC.
The Moment Il Lombardia Was Won
The inevitable result, achieved through the most probable tactics: Tadej Pogačar wins Il Lombardia with an attack on the Colma di Sormano with 48km to go. The lack of surprise extended to his nearest rivals who did not dare to follow him, as if they’d decided to settle for second place already.
Lombardia Preview
Tadej Pogačar is putting previewers out of business. He’s won the last three editions of this race and his late season form seems so good so he can ride into the history books this Saturday and swap comparisons with Eddy Merckx for one with Fausto Coppi who won this race four times in a row (1946-1949)… but also took a fifth win in 1954.
It’s hard to write about the other contenders because how to get ahead of Pogačar? Still it might be fun to see them try.
Engineering Ideas
Any good at design and engineering? If so then here are some problems you might be able to help solve. There might even be a prize from a team or two if you can make it happen.