EUROTRASH: Who’s Headed The place? Prime Riders’ 2026 Grand Tour Plans

Our biking information abstract, previewing 2026’s Grand Excursions by letting who’s using which race, from the GC faves to the rookies. Plus we preserve you up with the winter biking information — each ‘cross and street, new riders and new kits. Take pleasure in!

TOP STORY:

Grand Tour Plans for (Virtually) All of the Prime Riders

RACE NEWS

Brunner, Gunsalus Win Elite USA Cyclocross
Paris-Good 2026 Route Unveiled with Historic Finale Change

RIDER, TEAM AND GENERAL ROAD CYCLING NEWS

Australian Sprinter Welsford Heading to INEOS Grenadiers
Skjelmose Re-Ups with Lidl-Trek
INEOS & Gobik Unveil 2026 Equipment
Ferreira Sanctioned for Organic Passport Abnormalities

Grand Tour Plans for (Virtually) All of the Prime Riders

Right here at PEZ, we seen rider after rider dropping their 2026 race plans — together with their Grand Tour intentions. So we assembled them right here; begin scheduling your summer time viewing now! (N.B., these are very a lot preliminary…watch this PEZ area as they evolve.)

GC Contenders and Aspirants

João Almeida will check UAE-Group Emirates’ capacity to rally round a frontrunner not named Tadej at each the Giro and the Vuelta.

Juan Ayuso will probably be Lidl-Trek’s GC chief on the Tour, although admits that the crew will probably be using primarily for Mads Pedersen’s stage wins and Inexperienced Jersey probabilities.
Giulio Ciccone will journey on his house soil within the Giro.
Isaac del Toro gained’t return to the Italian scene of his slaying by the hands of Simon Yates (who’s aspiring to return to the Giro); he’ll be UAE-Group Emirates’ second card/super-duper domestique on the Tour de France.
Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz will share Crimson Bull-BORA-hansgrohe management on the Tour; Remco was evidently not drawn in by the Giro’s very long time trial, and Lipo is unquestionably chomping on the bit after his stunningly stunning podium exhibiting in France.
Feels like Felix Gall will face the lesser competitors by pursuing a Giro-Vuelta double.

Jai Hindley is tentative for the Giro, the location of his most marked victory.
The shortage of descending finishes however, Tom Pidcock is probably going headed again to the Tour.
Tadej Pogačar is concentrating on solely the Tour de France, evidently together with his eye in any other case on his not-yet-won Classics.
Crimson Bull-BORA-hansgrohe is holding Primoz Roglic for the Vuelta, the place he’ll hope to win a record-setting fifth time.

Jonas Vingegaard is being cagey. He’ll possible present up in Italy, hoping to finish his Grand Tour triple crown — however his Visma | Lease-A-Bike crew wants him on the Tour.

Inexperienced Jersey Pursuers & Sprinters

Teammates Jonathan Milan and Mads Pedersen will swap Grand Excursions, with Mad Mads beginning the Tour and ’25 Inexperienced Jersey winner Milan taking on on the Giro.
Jasper Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel will once more serve up the wickedest leadout/dash within the Tour de France (assuming they will each stay upright and wholesome…).

Wout van Aert will possible be the Tour’s different super-duper domestique.

Children & Different Riders of Curiosity

Oscar Onley’s Grand Tour plan is…unclear, pending finalization of his rumored transfer to INEOS. Little question the breakout star will request returning to the Tour de France.
Thibau Nys will see his Grand Tour debut on the Giro. (Hopefully by then he’ll have gotten over his loss to MVDP final weekend…)
Giulio Pellizzari will race at house, on the Giro.
You simply know that Matthew Riccitello is jonesing to characterize his French crew on the Tour after his stellar Vuelta efficiency (after almost not being included in IPT’s squad in any respect!).

And with teammate Gall headed to the non-French Grand Excursions, possibly — simply possibly — we’ll see Paul Seixas on house turf within the Tour.

eTrashMike’s Takeaways: Wherefore the Vuelta? I thought of making a desk with these listings, however it might have been embarrassingly lopsided. Possibly Tadej will tack it on — a lot to poor Primoz’ chagrin.

And it seems just like the Giro’s comparatively novel course has certainly drawn some expertise — however not the expertise it needed, as Tadej’s sticking with the Tour, as is big-fan draw Remco .

However what I’d actually prefer to see this 12 months — assuming {that a} aggressive Tour continues to be a few years away — is a heated Inexperienced Jersey battle in France, the place Mads, Wout, and MVDP get after it, all squaring off in opposition to their pure-sprinter rivals (and teammates). Received’t occur, I do know — however what if that competitors got here all the way down to the ultimate, now-Traditional-like stage in Paris?

Brunner, Gunsalus Win Elite USA Cyclocross

The 2025 USA Biking Cyclocross Nationwide Championships p/b The Meteor concluded on Sunday with the ultimate junior and masters races within the morning, with the marquee elite occasions within the afternoon. Temperatures dropped in a single day into the one digits and froze the bottom.

Elite Males

With defending champion Andrew Strohmeyer (Mount Ethereal, Md.; CXD Trek Bikes), opting to remain in Europe, the elite race was huge open. The 28 rider discipline featured prime names together with former Nationwide Champion Eric Brunner (Boulder, Colo.; Aggressive Edge Racing), Males’s Collegiate Varsity winner Ivan Sippy (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa College), three-time Nationwide Champion Todd Wells (Durango, Colo.; TWL), and Kerry Werner (Vinton, Va.; Velo Mafia Racing p/b Bikeflights), who will retire after immediately’s race.

The racing was aggressive from the inexperienced gentle, with Dylan Zakrajsek (Grand Junction, Colo.; Aggressive Edge Racing) taking the holeshot. Race favourite Brunner had a tough begin however shortly discovered the entrance midway by means of the opening lap and attacked. Sippy and Brody McDonald (Escondido, Calif.; Milligan College) stored Brunner inside eyeshot for a pair laps, with Werner just a few seconds again from the chasing collegiate duo. Brunner was untouchablethough and rode solo to the end to reclaim the nationwide title. Sippy and McDonald traded strikes within the struggle for second, earlier than Sippy attacked heading into the ultimate lap and held on for silver. McDonald rounded out the rostrum.

After the race, Brunner went on to say, “It felt nice on the course immediately. My objective was to exit quick and was in a position to rise up to the entrance shortly. I simply needed to scare everyone from the start, and I used to be in a position to do it!”

Outcomes:

Eric Brunner (Boulder, Colo.; Aggressive Edge Racing),
Ivan Sippy (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa College)
Brody McDonald(Escondido, Calif.; Milligan College)

Elite Ladies

After taking a win at Pan Ams earlier within the 12 months, and within the Collegiate Varsity race on Thursday, Lizzy Gunsalus (Ashland, Mass.; CCB p/b Levine Legislation Group) was one of many favorites going into immediately’s elite race.

From the beginning, Gunsalus set the tempo with Lauren Zoerner (Chapel Hill, N.C.; Aggressive Edge Racing) following shut behind. Zoerner, Cassidy Hickey (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa College), and Alyssa Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; CXD Trek Bikes) examined Gunsalus with a number of early assaults. Katherine Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; CXD Trek Bikes) bridged as much as the entrance group, forming a lead group of 5. The lead modified fingers a number of occasions over the primary half of the race as each rider within the group was hungry for the win. The repeated assaults proved an excessive amount of for Zoerner, who dropped from the lead group with three laps to go.

Because the laps ticked down, the 4 leaders have been glued collectively, and the race was nonetheless huge open. Gunsalus put the stress on going into the ultimate lap and opened a sizeable hole. The Sarkisov sisters labored laborious to convey Gunsalus again, however they ran out of room. Gunsalus held on to take the win and her first elite Stars and Stripes Jersey. Katherine Sarkisov claimed silver, solely a motorbike size behind, together with her sister Alyssa using in for third.

“It’s unreal, I did three races this week and gained three nationwide titles,” mentioned Gunsalus. “It’s my first elite nationwide title, and I couldn’t be happier!”

Outcomes:

Lizzy Gunsalus (Ashland, Mass.; CCB p/b Levine Legislation Group)
Katherine Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; CXD Trek Bikes)
Alyssa Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; CXD Trek Bikes)

Different Outcomes

Junior Males 17-18

Ethan Brown(Fishers, Ind.; Midwest NXT)
Matthew Crabbe (Buford, Ga.; Finkraft Junior Biking Group)
Noah Scholnick(Williamsport, Penn.; Finkraft Junior Biking Group)

Masters Males 45-49

Daniel Miller(Saint Louis, Mo.; Pastaria Massive Shark Racing)
Corey Stelljes(Madison, Wis.; Neff Cycle Service)
Nick Van Winkle(Atlanta, Ga.; The Paceline Venture p/b LC Meals)

Masters Males 50-54

Steven Stefko (Fort Collins, Colo.; Miiflo Biking Group)
Adam Myerson (Boston, Mass.; Cycle-Sensible/ShiftGear)
Eneas Freyre (Redding, Conn.; TTEndurance)

Junior Males 13-14

Chase O’Donnell(Delmar, N.Y.; Aggressive Edge Racing)
Quincy Grotenhuis(Lakeville, Minn.; MNJRC)
William Lawler(Glenview, In poor health.; The Pony Store)

Junior Males 15-16

Severin McCarter (Lawrence, Kan.; Steve Tilford Basis)
Luke Johnson (Waukesha, Wis.; Finkraft Junior Biking Group)
Paxton Summers (Baltimore, Md.; Finkraft Junior Biking Group)

The 84th version of Paris-Good will launch March eighth from Achères, marking a historic departure from custom. As a consequence of municipal elections, the race will conclude at Good’s Riviera stadium on March fifteenth reasonably than the enduring Promenade des Anglais.

Defending champion Matteo Jorgenson faces fierce competitors from contenders together with Simon Yates, João Almeida, and Juan Ayuso. The difficult route options crosswinds by means of Gâtinais plains, a crew time trial rehearsing Barcelona’s Tour de France format, and climbs by means of the Morvan area.

The race intensifies throughout the closing weekend, with Stage 7 departing from the Promenade des Anglais towards Auron, adopted by a decisive finale that includes the brutal Côte du Linguador. Twenty-two groups will compete, together with all WorldTour squads and specially-invited TotalEnergies.

Dash specialists Mads Pedersen, Olav Kooij, and Michael Matthews goal to assert stage victories on acquainted terrain throughout this sun-drenched French traditional.

RIDER, TEAM AND GENERAL CYCLING NEWS

Australian Sprinter Welsford Heading to INEOS Grenadiers

Welsford triumphant on house soil

Quick-finishing Sam Welsford has signed with INEOS Grenadiers for 2026.

Welsford will work intently with lately retired sprinter and a number of observe world champion Elia Viviani, now a Sport Director, alongside the crew’s wider efficiency group.

Welsford’s explosive pace, observe pedigree and tactical nous make him a formidable addition to the Grenadiers’ ambitions for race wins in 2026.

Welsford mentioned: “I’m actually excited to develop into a Grenadier. I’ve at all times admired the crew’s professionalism and the way in which they commit absolutely to a objective.

“I really feel like that is the precise proper atmosphere for me to maintain progressing as a sprinter and to chase huge outcomes. I’m very hungry to contribute, to be taught and to race with the sort of intent that this crew is famend for.”

Geraint Thomas, Director of Racing, added: “Having been given an early perception into what he’s able to bodily, we imagine there’s nonetheless lots to unlock with Sam…He’s obtained an incredible observe pedigree – Olympic and a number of world champion within the crew pursuit – so the way in which he’s used to working there’ll match proper into our crew atmosphere as nicely. I’m tremendous excited to see him get caught in.”

Skjelmose Re-Ups with Lidl-Trek

Lidl-Trek has introduced Amstel Gold Race winner Mattias Skjelmose — one of many solely riders to finest Tadej Pogačar in 2025 — has signed a contract extension that can see him stay with the Group by means of 2028.

Skjelmose joined Lidl-Trek in 2021 as his first skilled crew and has since traveled a steadily rising trajectory, delivering a breakthrough efficiency on the 2024 Vuelta a España, claiming the White Jersey and a top-five total end.

In 2025, Skjelmose turned his focus to the Ardennes Classics, races that completely go well with his punchy accelerations and climbing energy. His victory on the Amstel Gold Race stood out as one of many defining moments of the season, edging Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel in an exhilarating three-up dash. Regardless of harm challenges later within the 12 months, Skjelmose confirmed resilience and maturity in his return to kind, underlined by a powerful fourth-place end on the World Championships in Rwanda.

“Extending my contract with Lidl-Trek means every thing to me,” mentioned Mattias Skjelmose. “I’ve mentioned it plenty of occasions earlier than, and I’ll in all probability say it many extra occasions sooner or later. This Group is my household, I discover myself at house, and I couldn’t see myself using anyplace else.”

INEOS & Gobik Unveil 2026 Equipment

INEOS Grenadiers and Gobik have launched the crew’s 2026 race package, and it’s…ORANGE.

A hue largely lacking from the professional peloton, orange is certainly the noticeable characteristic of INEOS’ 2026 package. The crew and Gobik said that the design “locations orange at its core for the primary time – chosen to maximise visibility and stand out within the WorldTour peloton. Set in opposition to a light-weight base, it delivers distinction, power and a daring look.”

Mentioned Alberto García, CEO of Gobik, “The 2026 INEOS Grenadiers package is designed to face out within the peloton like by no means earlier than. Developed in shut collaboration with the crew, it combines excessive visibility with a contemporary, performance-led aesthetic.”

Ferreira Sanctioned for Organic Passport Abnormalities

Per the UCI’s announcement: The UCI has introduced that the Portuguese rider António Carvalho Ferreira has been sanctioned with a four-year interval of ineligibility following an Anti-Doping Rule Violation to be used of a prohibited substance and/or a prohibited methodology because of unexplained abnormalities in his Athlete Organic Passport in 2018, 2023 and 2024.

In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and the UCI Anti-Doping Guidelines (UCI ADR), the interval of ineligibility began on 4 November 2025 and is efficient till 3 November 2029.

The case has been resolved by the use of an acceptance of penalties as offered for by the Code and the UCI ADR.

The UCI is not going to remark any additional.

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