Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future. - John F. Kennedy
Les Woodland's book Cycling Heroes: The Golden Years is available in the print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Upcoming racing:
- December 14: World Cup Namur
- December 23: Superprestige Heusden-Zolder
- December 26: World Cup Gavere
- December 29: Trofee Loenhout-Azencross
- December 30: Superprestige Diegem
- January 1: GP Sven Nys
Latest completed racing:
- November 16: Trofee Hamme-Flandriencross
- November 1: Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
- October 26: Superprestige Overijse-Vlaamse Druivencross
- October 14 - 19: Tour of Guangxi
- October 14 - 19: Tour of Holland
- October 19: Veneto Classic
- October 19: Japan Cup
- October 19: Chrono des Nations
- October 15: Giro del Veneto
- October 12: Paris-Tours
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Here’s the post from Chaves’ Team EF Education-EasyPost:
For 16 years, Esteban fulfilled his boyhood ambition to be a pro cyclist. Five grand tour stages, the 2016 Il Lombardia and general classification podiums at the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España crown his list of accomplishments.
Esteban Chaves wins the 2016 Il Lombardia ahead of Diego Rosa. Sirotti photo
A constant threat in the world’s greatest bike races, Esteban always competed with his trademark smile on his face. As he fought for grand tour victories and won stages on the hardest days in those races, he never forgot the humble values and work ethic that he had learned as a boy in Colombia. He came back from a life-threatening crash in 2013 and continued to pursue his dream, becoming the cycling superstar that he is today.
Every time he pinned on a number, he wanted to encourage the people of Colombia to keep dreaming and to show them that they could make their dreams come true too. Esteban’s greatest cycling dream was to become his country’s national champion, a feat he achieved in 2023. His proudest moment was becoming a father. His daughter Lucia was born this summer. The 2025 Vuelta a España was Esteban’s final race.
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“The decision is the right one,” Esteban said of his retirement.
“I am very happy. I am very proud of the sporting career I have had. I’m very happy to close this chapter in the way we are closing it. Who am I without my bike? Without the bike, I am Esteban. I am a son, I am a brother, I am a husband, I am a father. I am a human being who dreams of setting an example, who dreams of being at peace, who dreams of having a lot of contact with nature. I am a human being who learns.”
Esteban will learn a lot about himself in the years ahead. He will face every challenge that comes his way with a smile and continue to inspire his family at home and his fans all around the world. His cycling career has come to an end, but Esteban Chaves is still dreaming - and still smiling.
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Champoussin’s Team XDS Astana posted this:
This is your first full season with the team. What are your impressions of your debut? How do you feel within the group – with the riders, responsibilities, and management?
Honestly, I feel very good in the team. I was welcomed warmly, and the integration went naturally and smoothly. It was important for me that from the very start of the season everything worked out well – I quickly found common ground with the coaches, sports directors and teammates. I am satisfied with how I performed in the first half of the year. In the second part of the season things became a little more difficult, I felt the fatigue building up, but I switched my focus to helping the team. Overall, I can consider the whole season a success.
Clément Champoussin finishes ninth in 2025 Tour de Suisse stage seven. Sirotti photo
You started the year with very strong results. What do you think allowed for such progress?
First of all, it was the first season in a long time when I didn’t get sick and was able to complete full and high-quality preparation. I felt the difference in everything: I became more confident in racing and more consistent overall. Last year my results were uneven, but this season I felt that I could perform at a high level for a long period of time.
In which area was the progress the most noticeable – physically, tactically or mentally?
I would say, above all, physically. We worked very professionally as a team, and this applied to every race, even those where we didn’t have a clear leader on paper. In the decisive parts of the races there were almost always two or three of us able to compete, and that makes a huge difference. When you are not alone but part of a strong and well-organized group, it becomes easier and calmer to work. It gives you confidence and allows you to grow tactically and mentally.
Was there a particular race this season that you are especially proud of?
Yes, first of all, Paris–Nice. I live in Nice, and this race is personally very special for me. It is a home event that I love, and I managed to perform very well – to show myself on every stage, deliver strong results in the mountains and finish high in the general classification. The final stage in Nice was especially emotional for me – moments like that are very motivating and stay with you for a long time.
Looking ahead to next season, do you already have specific goals? Where would you like to improve and on which races would you like to focus?
It’s still too early to say anything concrete – the race calendar will be defined later. But I would really like to ride Paris–Nice again because I have a special connection with this race. As for the Grand Tour – we’ll see what the team decides, and the final choice is still to be made. I want to continue progressing, working even harder and striving for higher results in the races that suit me best. Speaking about Paris–Nice, of course, fighting for overall victory is very difficult – the level of competition is incredibly high, but I would like to finish in the top-5 and fight for a stage win. I think these goals are realistic if I keep moving forward the way I am now.
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