Our biking information roundup begins with a roundup of outcomes from the various cyclocross nationwide championship races throughout Europe final weekend, from Thibau Nys’ nail-biting win to Lucinda Model’s disappointing third place. Then we sit up for the street season, together with a few upstart races, plus a checkin on Fabio Jakobsen as he mounts yet one more comeback. Take pleasure in!
TOP STORY:
- PEZ’ Roundup of Cyclocross Nationwide Championships
RACE NEWS
- One other Crack within the Armor? Alvarado Bests Model at Dutch ‘Cross Champs
- Greece Welcomes World Biking Elite for 2026 Tour of Hellas
- Muscat Traditional and Tour of Oman Elevated to ProSeries Calendar in 2026
RIDER, TEAM AND CYCLING NEWS
- Fabio Jakobsen Mounts But One other Return to Kind
- It’s New Equipment Season, and Q36.5 Releases…a Dogma
- EF Unveils 2026 Males’s and Girls’s Rosters — and an Aggressive Race Plan
- Fashionable Journey Professional Biking Unveils 21-Rider Roster for Debut Season
- Fiorelli on his First Months at Visma: “I Eat an Absurd Quantity.”
eTrashMike sez: Truthfully, whereas I’ve adopted cyclocross — from a distance — for years, I’m simply now getting a really feel for the season’s rhythm. Seems that on the second weekend of January, earlier than the ultimate runup to Worlds, European nations (which is to say, the locations the place ‘cross was birthed and bred and now burgeons) maintain their nationwide championship races. Right here’s our rundown of the lads’s races — multi function spot, only for you!
Belgium — Dealing with frigid temperatures and snow, and never his dreaded sand, Thibau Nys simply outlasted a chasing Emiel Verstrynge. A few minute behind was Michael Vanthourenhout.
Verstrynge wasn’t far behind!
The Netherlands — With Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel sitting out his nationwide occasion, this race developed equally to Belgium’s, in equally chilly circumstances, although the signature characteristic right here was a precipitously steep, barely-walkable hill. Tibor del Grosso recovered from a mid-race slip and simply held off a closing Lars van der Haar. Additionally equally, Pim Ronhaar adopted about 45 seconds behind.
Del Grosso adopted for a lot of the race.
Britain — 1. Predictably, Cam Mason; 2. Tobey Barnes (simply :21 behind!); 3. Ben Askey
France — 1. Joris Delbove; 2. Martin Groslambert; 3. Timothé Gabriel
Germany — 1. Marcel Meisen; 2. Fabian Eder; 3. Hannes Degenkolb (The youthful cousin of Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix winner John Degenkolb)
Italy — 1. Filippo Fontana; 2. Federico Ceolini; 3. Gioele Bertolini; EF’s not too long ago signed up-and-comer Filippo Agostinacchio completed fifth
Spain — 1. World Cup fan favourite Felipe Oorts Lloret; 2. Kevin Suarez Fernandez; 3. Mario Junquera San Millan
Switzerland — 1. Common UCI top-tenner Kevin Kuhn; 2. Dario Lillo; 3. Loris Rouiller
RACE NEWS
One other Crack within the Armor? Alvarado Bests Model at Dutch ‘Cross Champs
In ladies’s cyclocross, the Netherlands’ nationwide championships virtually double because the World Championships. Since Lucinda Model dominates on the UCI stage, it was assumed she would win on the Dutch one as nicely — however Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado had completely different concepts.
From the opening lap, Alvarado attacked together with her once-characteristic aggression, forcing Model onto the defensive. The technical sections, slick with mud from in a single day rain, turned the decisive battleground the place Alvarado’s bike dealing with prowess shone brightest.
Model, looking for her fourth consecutive nationwide title, struggled to match Alvarado’s tempo by means of the off-camber turns, in addition to the identical punishing run-up that the lads confronted. By the midway level, Alvarado had opened a niche that might show insurmountable. She rode with managed fury, extending her lead lap by lap whereas Model might solely restrict her losses.
The truth is, it was Puck Pieterse who introduced Alvarado with the fiercer problem, although after a short stint within the lead, might solely chase the previous World Champ.
Alvarado’s victory, her third nationwide championship, alerts that this cyclocross season’s story remains to be but to be written. Whereas Model continues her outstanding World Cup marketing campaign, she has shone vulnerability in current weeks — although will certainly come to Worlds together with her A+ sport.
Greece Welcomes World Biking Elite for 2026 Tour of Hellas
The 2026 UCI Tour of Hellas returns from 6-10 Might, providing biking followers a novel mix of world-class racing and historical historical past. This five-day stage race takes skilled groups throughout the Greek mainland, passing by means of a few of classical civilization’s most important websites earlier than ending in Athens.
Hellas, the native Greek time period for Greece, lends its title to a race that actually showcases the nation’s wealthy heritage. The route consists of beautiful levels just like the opening Ioannina-Agrinio leg and a second stage ending in Larissa, often known as Greece’s espresso capital—a becoming vacation spot for biking lovers.
Initially launched in 1968 because the ‘Tour of Historical Monuments’, the race joined the UCI Europe Tour in 2005. After a hiatus, it was relaunched in 2022 as a UCI 2.1 race, rapidly attracting high European groups.
Sponsored by ΔΕΗ Energy, the 2026 version will characteristic group occasions in host cities, selling biking tradition and creating lasting legacy. For racing followers and biking vacationers alike, the Tour of Hellas provides an unparalleled alternative to expertise the place sport, tradition, and historical past converge on two wheels.
Muscat Traditional and Tour of Oman Elevated to ProSeries Calendar in 2026
The Sultanate of Oman will as soon as once more welcome the worldwide peloton in February 2026, with each the Muscat Traditional and Tour of Oman now featured on the celebrated ProSeries calendar. The fourth version of the Muscat Traditional takes place on February sixth, serving as a prelude to the five-stage Tour of Oman (February 7-11), which has been a fixture {of professional} biking since 2010.
The elevated standing brings elevated status and UCI factors to each occasions, with 18 groups confirmed to compete—together with 11 WorldTeams, two greater than in 2025. 4 of the highest 5 groups from the 2025 UCI world rankings are anticipated to take part, led by UAE Staff Emirates-XRG, alongside six ProTeams and the Omani nationwide crew.
The Muscat Traditional presents a dynamic 174km course from Al Mouj to Al Bustan, that includes the decisive climb of Al Jissah (1.4km at 9%) simply 5km from the end. Final yr’s version noticed contrasting ways succeed, with Finn Fisher-Black attacking to victory in 2024, whereas Rick Pluimers relied on his dash pace in 2025.
The Tour of Oman provides various challenges throughout its 5 levels, from wind-exposed coastal sprints at Bimmah Sink Gap and Sohar to punishing climbs. Stage 2’s Yitti Hills and Stage 3’s Japanese Mountain (3.4km at 8%) will check the puncheurs, whereas the race culminates with the long-lasting ascent of Jabal Al Akhdhar—Inexperienced Mountain—a brutal 5.7km at 10.5% that may decide the general champion. The query stays: who will succeed 2025 winners Valentin Paret-Peintre and Adam Yates atop Oman’s most demanding peak?
Paret-Peintre edges Yates within the 2025 model.
RIDER AND TEAM NEWS
Fabio Jakobsen Mounts But One other Return to Kind
Fabio Jakobsen’s story is likely one of the saddest in biking’s current years: a horrific crash derails a promising profession — after which a collection of extra setbacks derail a promising comeback.
After two days in intensive care following his 2020 Poland crash, Jakobsen has confronted practically insurmountable obstacles. His two years at Picnic PostNL have been marked by distress and horrible performances, main him to query whether or not retirement was inevitable.
The reply got here 9 months in the past: a narrowed pelvic artery had been limiting blood move for as much as two and a half years. At prognosis, blood stress in his ankles measured 38-42% decrease than in his elbows. Jakobsen confronted an agonizing alternative—retire instantly or bear surgical procedure and hope for restoration. He selected surgical procedure.
The process seems profitable. Six months post-operation, his blood stress differential has dropped to simply 2-4%, inside regular vary. Coaching blocks that might have left him struggling final yr now really feel “comparatively simple.” He can full eight-minute efforts at 400 watts adopted by sprints—beforehand not possible.
A damaged collarbone in the course of the Renewi Tour difficult his restoration, however Jakobsen stays characteristically optimistic. His 2026 objective is modest but significant: be related in dash finales once more, have positioning choices, rediscover his ending pace.
Together with his contract expiring at yr’s finish, the 28-year-old is aware of what’s at stake. He should show he deserves to stay skilled, competing in opposition to new-generation sprinters like Olav Kooij and Paul Magnier. “These guys aren’t unbeatable,” he says with a smile, hope nonetheless flickering.
Because of Wielerflits for this content material.
It’s New Equipment Season, and Q36.5 Releases…a Dogma 
Let the drooling start!
At a time when most groups are revealing their new kits, starting from mostly-the-same to gasp-inducing (We’re you, INEOS), Q36.5 has given us…a brand new bike.
I — Mike — recall considering that there was one thing like bike parity throughout the WorldTour groups; each rider at that stage, I figured, is driving a lust-worthy rig.
Seems I used to be mistaken. Even amongst Europe-based professionals, there’s a motorbike hierarchy, and Pinarello sits on the high.
By some means upstart crew Q36.5 will get to trip Pinarello’s top-of-the-line mannequin, the DOGMA F. The squad revealed the most recent model — and, sure, their 2026 race package — “marking the beginning of a daring new period outlined by precision, readability and efficiency.”
The bike encompasses a distinctive blue and gold livery, complimenting the package. Whereas neither INEOS orange or EF pink, the ensemble ought to show distinctive within the peloton.
Fausto Pinarello, President of Cicli Pinarello, mentioned: “The blue and gold livery represents a daring and chic expression of our racing DNA. This challenge is about translating efficiency values into design, creating a motorbike and package mixture that’s instantly recognisable, refined and true to Pinarello’s identification.”
A premium reproduction model of the brand new Pinarello Q36.5 Professional Biking Staff DOGMA F can even be out there to buy in restricted portions. Preserve your eye on PEZ to learn how to purchase your personal — if you happen to’re lucky sufficient to have the ability to afford it!
EF Unveils 2026 Males’s and Girls’s Rosters — and an Aggressive Race Plan
EF Professional Biking has outlined an aggressive strategy for the 2026 season, prioritizing attacking ways over conservative racing throughout its males’s, ladies’s, and growth squads.
The crew enters the season following notable 2025 performances, together with Magdeleine Vallieres’ world championship victory in Kigali and Ben Healy’s breakthrough on the Tour de France, the place he gained a stage and spent two days within the yellow jersey. Vallieres has prolonged her contract by means of 2028.
EF Schooling-Oatly normal supervisor Esra Tromp mentioned the crew will race aggressively moderately than accept mid-pack finishes. “We’ll go all in and see if we are able to win races,” Tromp said, including that conservative approaches leading to fifth or sixth place aren’t the crew’s precedence.
Staff director Jonathan Vaughters described the squad’s philosophy as profitable by means of tactical innovation, looking for to take advantage of strategic alternatives throughout races.
The crew has recruited a number of younger riders, together with Auke De Buysser and Mattia Agostinacchio from junior ranks. Tromp emphasised the group’s give attention to athlete well-being, together with psychological help and vitamin applications applied over the previous two years.
Established riders Richard Carapaz, Kristen Faulkner, Neilson Powless, and Cédrine Kerbaol will present management because the crew competes in main occasions together with the Excursions de France, Giro d’Italia, and basic monuments.
Fashionable Journey Professional Biking Unveils 21-Rider Roster for Debut Season
Fashionable Journey Professional Biking has introduced its full 2026 roster, that includes 21 riders from six nations dedicated to constructing “America’s Staff” with integrity and long-term imaginative and prescient. The lineup balances youth and expertise, with 9 riders aged 23 or youthful racing alongside seasoned professionals.
Main the operation is legend George Hincapie, who competed in 17 Excursions de France and now focuses on creating the game’s subsequent era. Former Olympic silver medalist Bobby Julich serves as Efficiency Director, supported by a employees of achieved former professionals together with administrators Alex Howes, Joey Rosskopf, and Ty Magner.
The crew launches its season on the five-day AlUla Tour earlier than tackling a mixed American and European calendar from its Girona base. Title sponsor Fashionable Journey, an award-winning US journey firm, heads a powerful associate lineup together with Issue Bikes, SRAM, Hincapie Sportswear, and EKOI.
With backing from More durable Mechanical Contractors CEO Dustin More durable and a roster emphasizing storytelling alongside efficiency, Fashionable Journey goals to encourage biking’s subsequent era whereas competing on the highest stage of the game.
Fashionable Journey’s Absolutely 2026 Roster:
Samuel Boardman (USA / 30)
Robin Carpenter (USA / 33)
Ezra Caudell (USA / 19)
Sean Christian (USA / 23)
Stefan De Bod (RSA / 29)
Samuel Flórez (COL / 20)
Kieran Haug (USA / 23)
Leo Hayter (GBR / 24)
Cole Kessler (USA / 22)
Harry Lasker (USA / 18)
Ian López de San Roman (USA / 22)
Brody McDonald (USA / 23)
Scott McGill (USA / 27)
Byron Munton (RSA / 27)
Ben Oliver (NZ / 29)
Riley Pickrell (CAN / 24)
Hugo Scala Jr (USA / 27)
Mark Stewart (GBR / 30)
Tyler Stites (USA / 27)
Lucas Towers (GBR / 22)
Paul Wright (NZ / 27)
Fiorelli on his First Months at Visma: “I Eat an Absurd Quantity.”
We chosen this one only for our PEZ readers: After his preliminary ramp-up interval with Visma | Lease-A-Bike, Italian rider Filippo Fiorelli has associated one key message: He’s consuming a lot: “I eat till I burst, it’s absurd,” he instructed Bici.professional.
In an interview with the Italian media outlet Bici.professional, Fiorelli defined that he at all times struggled together with his weight. “Up to now, I might achieve weight if I ate one additional lettuce leaf. My weight has usually been an issue all through my profession. Not as a result of I wasn’t allowed to eat sure issues or dessert, however due to the portions. If I ate just a little an excessive amount of, I gained weight.”
But at Visma | Lease-A-Bike, Fiorelli isn’t gaining weight. He defined: “Everybody right here has their very own food plan, which is personalised by means of the FoodCoach app. There are at all times two scales on the buffet so the riders can weigh the prescribed quantities. I eat till I burst right here, actually.”
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With Wout van Aert’s restoration image nonetheless muddy, we’re sharing Wealthy’s footage of his victory in Siena in stage 9 of the 2025 Giro.
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