It’s our Thursday biking information roundup, that includes Visma | Lease-a-Bike’s 2026 marketing campaign — together with Jonas Vingegaard’s doubling down on Grand Excursions. Plus plans for teammates WVA, Matthew Brennan and Matteo Jorgenson — and extra information as we close to the kickoff to Highway Racing 2026!
TOP STORY:
- Visma’s ’26 Plan: Vingegaard to the Tour, Vuelta for Brennan – and Sure, Classics for Wout
RACE NEWS
- UAE Staff Emirates-XRG Confirmed for 2026 Volta ao Algarve
RIDER, TEAM AND CYCLING NEWS
- Jorgenson: Alas — No Flemish Classics in 2026
- Cinelli Debuts Candy New Frames in Help of MBH Financial institution Staff Sponsorship
- Rapha to Shut Clubhouses in UK, US
- Arkansas World Biking Accelerator Opens Purposes for 2026 Cohort
Visma’s ’26 Plan: Vingegaard to the Tour, Vuelta for Brennan – and Sure, Classics for Wout
Unable to conquer Tadej Pogačar on the Tour de France over the past two years, Jonas Vingegaard has nonetheless set a fair loftier goal for 2026: the Giro/Tour double.
So revealed his Visma | Lease-a-Bike crew in saying the squad’s “lengthy lists” for this 12 months’s Grand Excursions and different key races.
Having misplaced Simon Yates to sudden retirement, the crew has few actual GC contenders, and can primarily hunt for stage wins within the Vuelta, the Grand Tour the place Vingegaard received’t compete: up-and-coming Brit Matthew Brennan will tag-team with Wout van Aert in Spain. Vingegaard, in the meantime, could have the crew’s full backing, together with help from Victor Campenaerts, who acknowledged that he has subordinated his private podium goals to deal with his crew chief’s Grand Tour probabilities.
However his ankle fracture simply 10 days in the past, Van Aert’s season plans stay formidable: After posting his first outside trip final Monday (and an absurdly cute Fb publish earlier than that), the Belgian stated, “This spring, I wish to be at my finest, from Omloop Het Nieuwsblad to Paris-Roubaix….Not like earlier seasons, I’ll as soon as once more be at first of the Italian classics Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo. After my victory in Siena through the latest Giro d’Italia, I spotted that Strade Bianche…nonetheless fits my strengths. I believe Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo are among the many finest races of the season, so I completely don’t wish to miss them subsequent 12 months.”
We haven’t examined the code to see if it’s actual!
Brennan, in the meantime, hedged barely about his personal ambitions: “This 12 months I’m specializing in the large classics, like Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, and the Tour of Flanders . I hope to play a major function there and achieve expertise in such robust races.”
With Vingegaard chasing each pink and yellow, which Grand Tour is his high precedence? The 2-time Tour winner has been evasive, stating each that he would somewhat win his first Giro than his third Tour — but additionally that the Tour is “clearly the most important objective.”
Additionally revealed: new, well-fed teammate Filippo Fiorelli will help Vingegaard on the Giro, and Brennan and van Aert on the Vuelta.
Visma will hope to help Jonas this properly in Italy.
RACE NEWS
UAE Staff Emirates-XRG Confirmed for 2026 Volta ao Algarve
UAE Staff Emirates-XRG will return to Portugal’s Algarve area from February 18-22, 2026, as the primary confirmed participant within the 51st version of the Volta ao Algarve biking race.
The Emirates-based squad might be making its thirteenth look on the Portuguese stage race. The crew’s historical past with the occasion features a memorable total victory in 2019, when Tadej Pogačar claimed each his first skilled stage win and the overall classification.
UAE Staff Emirates-XRG has constantly carried out properly on the race, with notable finishes together with Rui Costa’s third place in 2014 and runner-up positions from Brandon McNulty in 2022 and João Almeida in 2025. Final 12 months, the crew got here agonizingly near victory, ending simply 15 seconds behind winner Jonas Vingegaard.
The crew has additionally collected 4 stage victories over time via Alberto Loddo (2003), Sacha Modolo (2014), Pogačar (2019), and Jan Christen (2024).
For 2026, the squad is predicted to subject 4 Portuguese riders: António Morgado, João Almeida, Ivo Oliveira, and Rui Oliveira, making it some of the Portuguese-represented groups within the worldwide peloton.
Christen’s 2024 win.
RIDER AND TEAM NEWS
Jorgenson: Alas — No Flemish Classics in 2026
Matteo Jorgenson is taking a barely totally different method in 2026: The American has been a fixture within the Flemish classics lately, however this 12 months he’s specializing in the Walloon one-day races. What’s the explanation? “It’s necessary to maintain issues diversified,” he stated throughout his crew Visma | Lease a Bike ‘s media day.
Jorgenson continued: “Life is all about selection. It’s tough to be in form for each the Flemish and Walloon classics. That’s the place it’s a little bit of a battle. I’d additionally actually prefer to race the Flemish classics. But when the objective is to actually carry out properly in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, then it’s higher to schedule an altitude coaching camp beforehand, to be really prepared for Liège.”
So we received’t see Jorgenson this 12 months in races just like the E3 Saxo Basic , Dwars door Vlaanderen, or the Tour of Flanders . “After all, it’s a little bit of a disgrace, however I’m certain I’ll be again. It’s not like I’ve ridden my final Flemish classics but. It’s only a matter of setting priorities and experimenting a bit.”
Visma | Lease a Bike hasn’t targeted on the Ardennes Classics lately; as an alternative, the crew hopes to make a splash at Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and Jorgenson looks like the perfect man to take action. Does that give the American further confidence? “After all. It was extra my thought, as I really feel these races are tailored for me.”
Due to Wielerflits for this content material.
Cinelli Debuts Candy New Frames in Help of MBH Financial institution Staff Sponsorship
Italian bike builder Cinelli will step as much as the UCI ProTeam degree for the primary time, in help of the newly named MBH Financial institution CSB Telecom Fort Professional Staff.
Cinelli will equip the crew with a full fleet of high-performance race bikes, led by the all-new Aeroscoop alongside the confirmed Strain II, a mannequin that has delivered quite a few victories in latest seasons.
The transfer from Continental to ProTeam degree represents a major step ahead for each Cinelli and the crew, opening the door to competitors at a number of the world’s most prestigious races. To mark the crew’s elevation, riders will race on customized Staff Version Aeroscoop frames. Designed with a deal with effectivity and pace, the Aeroscoop has earned a popularity as some of the aggressive aero street platforms in its class.
For 2026, Cinelli pairs that efficiency with a daring new aesthetic. The Staff Version design attracts inspiration from an iconic Cinelli mountain bike of the previous, identified for its hanging optical paintwork. The vivid pink distinction graphics originated from an sudden second within the paint course of, when a decal provider didn’t peel away leading to a particular look that’s indicative of Cinelli’s creativity.
In a phrase: Dayummm…
Rapha to Shut Clubhouses in UK, US
Biking attire model Rapha is closing 5 clubhouses as a part of a strategic shift to deal with flagship areas and on-line experiences. The Manchester clubhouse will shut on January 18, with US areas in Boulder, Chicago, Miami, and Seattle following by April 2026.
CEO Fran Millar described the choice as “actually robust” however crucial for the model’s long-term success. “Closing these Clubhouses means we will deal with richer buyer experiences at flagship areas, regional rides and occasions, and on-line worldwide,” Millar acknowledged.
The closures come amid important monetary challenges. Rapha’s valuation was not too long ago slashed from £169m to £67m following eight consecutive years of losses. Final 12 months, turnover dropped from £110m to £96m, leading to a £15.6m web loss.
Regardless of the clubhouse closures, Rapha plans to keep up a presence in affected cities via trip packages, retail partnerships, and companion cafés. The model not too long ago opened a brand new Shanghai clubhouse in partnership with Issue, signaling continued enlargement in China.
Millar emphasised that the corporate is one 12 months right into a multi-year turnaround plan targeted on returning to profitability.
Arkansas World Biking Accelerator Opens Purposes for 2026 Cohort
The Arkansas World Biking Accelerator (AGCA) is now accepting purposes for its 2026 cohort, searching for 10 modern firms to disrupt the biking business. Following a profitable inaugural 12 months the place individuals like Blubrake secured €12 million in Sequence A funding and others shaped strategic partnerships, the accelerator is positioned as a number one drive in biking innovation.
The 2026 program launches in early April with weekly digital periods, culminating in an intensive in-person week in Bentonville, Arkansas, throughout early June. This coincides with Bentonville Bike Fest and the Nationwide Bicycle Sellers Affiliation Summit (June 8-14, 2026).
AGCA gives cohort firms entry to skilled business mentors, strategic networks, and sources to speed up product improvement and market entry. Whereas this system doesn’t take fairness or present direct funding, it connects individuals with enterprise capital networks and program companions. Earlier individuals praised the accelerator for compressing years of networking into months of targeted entry.
Purposes are open now at www.cyclingaccelerator.com, with rolling interviews via February eighth. Last alternatives might be introduced by March sixth. This system is supported by a $125,000 grant from the Arkansas Financial Improvement Fee and matching funds from the Walton Household Basis.
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It’s time to start out planning your membership’s new package for 2026 – and in case you ever questioned how a lot work goes into making high shelf jerseys and bib shorts – watch my tour of the Ale Bike Put on manufacturing facility in Italy, and see the way it’s achieved proper…
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