Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Monday, April 13, 2026

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Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it. - Steve Prefontaine

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James Witherell's book Bicycle History: A Chronological History of People, Races and Technology is available in both print and Kindle eBook formats. To get your copy just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Upcoming racing:

• April 14 - 18: O Gran Camiño
• April 15 - 19: Tour of Hainan
• April 17: De Brabantse Pijl
• April 19: Amstel Gold Race
• April 20 - 24: Tour of the Alps
• April 22: La Flèche Wallonne
• April 26: Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Latest completed racing:

• April 19: Tour du Doubs race cancelled
• April 12: Paris-Roubaix
• April 6 - 11: Itzulia Basque Country (Tour of the Basque Country)
• April 7 - 10: Région Pays de la Loire Tour
• April 8: Scheldeprijs
• April 5: Ronde van Vlaanderen
• April 4: GP Miguel Indurain
• April 4: NXT Classic
• April 3: Classic Adélie de Vitré
• April 1: Dwars door Vlaanderen
• March 31: Paris-Camembert
• March 23 - 29: Volta a Catalunya
• March 25 - 29: Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali
• March 29: Gent-Wevelgem

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Paris-Roubaix reports

We posted the report from the race organizer with the results.

Here's the report from race winner Wout van Aert's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:

Wout van Aert claimed Paris-Roubaix in spectacular fashion. The Belgian rider launched his decisive move with 50 kilometers to go before defeating Tadej Pogacar in a two-man sprint. The Monument victory, Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s first-ever men’s Paris-Roubaix triumph, was the result of outstanding teamwork.

“This victory means everything to me,” an emotional Van Aert said. “There were moments when I thought it might never happen for me, but giving up was never an option. My family, the team and I have been through so much. But we kept going, and I always felt everyone’s support. To me, this victory is the culmination of a lifetime’s work.”

Wout van Aert wins in Roubaix.

Van Aert’s emotions were understandable as he dedicated the victory to Michael Goolaerts. “This one is for Michael Goolaerts, my former teammate. Since his passing, I think about him every time Paris-Roubaix comes around. Losing Michael caused so much pain for everyone, and to be able to win here for him means so much.”

In the 123rd edition of the French cobbled Monument, Team Visma | Lease a Bike showed itself prominently at the front from the outset. On the opening cobbled sector, the Dutch team immediately positioned itself among the leaders, ensuring strong representation in the front group.

With 100 kilometers remaining, the race exploded into life. Van Aert was the first rider into the Forest of Wallers, where the race split apart and only seven riders remained in contention, including Christophe Laporte. Misfortune then struck Van Aert, forcing the Belgian into chase mode. He fought his way back impressively and rejoined the front of the race with 60 kilometers to go.

Not long after, Van Aert launched another attack, with only Pogacar able to follow. The pair proved evenly matched as they rode together toward the Roubaix Velodrome. In the two-up sprint, Van Aert ultimately proved the stronger of the two, sealing one of the finest victories of his career.

“I had planned to attack, and when I made my move only Pogacar could follow. It was a crazy race with so much happening, but I felt incredibly strong. We worked well together, and it’s special to fight for victory against a champion like him.”

Head of Racing Grischa Niermann was equally full of praise for his team leader. “We are incredibly happy, and no one deserves this more than Wout. This victory means so much to him and to the team. He has come so close so many times, only to be beaten by someone just a little bit better. To see him finally do it, in what is perhaps the greatest one-day race on the calendar, is fantastic.”

Here's the Paris-Roubaix report from third-place Jasper Stuyven's Team Soudal Quick-Step:

Jasper Stuyven delivered an impressive podium place for our team Sunday afternoon, at the end of the fastest edition in history, and fulfilled a dream that he had ever since his junior days.

Having finished sixth in Ronde van Vlaanderen one week ago, Stuyven came into the race as one of our squad’s leaders. Through a blend of strength, determination, racing acumen, and guts, he ended up taking the Wolfpack’s 14th podium in Paris-Roubaix, and our first for seven years, an achievement that capped off an impressive spring of Stuyven, who finished top ten in two other prestigious races, Milano-Sanremo and In Flanders Fields.

“It’s a result that gives me a lot of pride, especially as I’ve been close to the top three here in the past. I’m really happy I could achieve it today with this team, from such a strong field, especially after some unlucky past editions”, a delighted Jasper said after his maiden podium in a cobbled Monument.

The 2026 Paris-Roubaix podium, from left: Tadej Pogacar (2nd), Wout van Aert (1st), & Jasper Stuyven (3rd)

In what became one of the most memorable Paris-Roubaix in history, Jasper was excellently positioned the entire day, and tackled the infamous Arenberg Forest - the first five-star sector of the day - in the first five wheels, which helped him make it into the eight-man leading group from which the winner emerged. Another selection occurred 60 kilometers from the finish, when two riders attacked and got a gap. Despite numerous accelerations in the group behind, Soudal Quick-Step’s 33-year-old remained composed and showed extraordinary mental power as he continued to push through the pain, staying with that group until the final three kilometers.

A clever attack there helped him eke out a small advantage which he maintained until the finish on the iconic André-Pétrieux Vélodrome, where he arrived completely empty but happy to have recorded his best result in eleven Paris-Roubaix participations.

“But I soon realised that everyone in the group was getting tired, and at the same time, I got encouraged from the team car, which was of great help, as I kept pushing and believing. The pain was in the legs, but I remained strong mentally and just gave my best. In the closing kilometers, I said to myself that I had to try something and raced on instinct, opening a small gap which I could then carry to the velodrome. I’m happy I could reward myself and the team for their confidence and belief”, added Jasper.

Here's the Paris-Roubaix report from Filippo Ganna's Team INEOS Grenadiers:

Kim Heiduk and Filippo Ganna led the INEOS Grenadiers home on a memorable and demanding day at Paris-Roubaix.

Once again The Hell of the North proved to be an incredible challenge for both riders and equipment, with a host of contenders all encountering issues across the 258.3 kilometres.

Ganna put in a committed ride but suffered a pair of punctures at key points during the race. The Italian had worked hard to bridge back to a promising position as he returned to the lead group following the Arenberg sector. Sadly as soon as he regained contact, a puncture with 82km to go distanced him once more.

Filippo Ganna on the Tilloy-à-Sars-et-Rosières cobble sector

Ben Turner and Heiduk worked hard to help the subsequent chase group regain momentum, with a tantalising gap of around a minute to close on the leaders. However Ganna would puncture again and crash with 50km to go – taking him out of contention for a top result. In the end Heiduk would lead the team home in 21st place, with Ganna crossing the line in 25th.

The Monument proved to be a box office spectacle, with Wout Van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) besting Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates – XRG) in a two-up final sprint.

Earlier both Turner and Josh Tarling were caught up in a crash whilst in the lead split in the main peloton. Turner was able to chase back by the end of sector 23 to ensure Ganna had support, including a huge turn heading into the race’s final phase.

And here's the Paris-Roubaix report from Lewis Askey's & Biniam Girmay's NSN Cycling Team:

It was an instant iconic edition of Paris – Roubaix. A race of attrition from start to finish, with crashes and punctures wreaking havoc and a battle between the favorites that will be remembered for a long time to come.

Lewis Askey came into the race with his sights set on a top-10 finish and while he ended up crossing the line in 13th place, narrowly missing his pre-race objective, he admitted “I did everything I could.” 13th marks Askey’s best ever result in Roubaix after five participations and a strong finish to the cobbled classics season.

After brilliant teamwork in the first half of the race, Askey and co-leader Biniam Girmay were well positioned on the run into the cobbled sectors and managed to stay out of trouble until the infamous Trouée d’Arenberg, when Girmay suffered an untimely puncture that would see him drop out of contention.

Askey forged on ahead and was in the second chase group behind an eight-rider leading group as the race entered the final ten cobbled sectors.

“It was such a hectic race that I don’t actually know exactly what happened at the start,” Askey said. “We had me, Bini [Girmay], and G [Boivin] in the front split and I don’t know if a few people stopped, or if there was a crash that caused that, but we didn’t have to spend too much energy to make that front split.

Biniam Girmay at the rider presentation ceremony. Sirotti photo

“G did a really, really good job of protecting me before the Arenberg, right in the front group, and that put me in a good position for basically the whole race. I didn’t quite have the legs to follow the best riders. I mean, I was in the right place, I just could not quite go with them. But I was always making sure my positioning was good going into each sector.

“Then, somewhere in the middle of the race, I punctured and I spent quite a lot of energy getting back. I was really on the limit in the last 70k, but I could see that the riders around me were also suffering. So I just tried to make sure I went as hard as I could at the start of each sector, and then kind of just survived each one.”

While up ahead Wout Van Aert won a two-man sprint against Pogačar, and the top ten were quickly decided in the minutes after, Askey’s group arrived in Roubaix to sprint for 11th place with the British rider emptying himself in the iconic velodrome to finish 13th.

“I think I did the best sprint I could with the legs I had, and with how I rode in the final,” added Askey. “I was third in that sprint from our group, and I don’t think I could have done much more, really. Every year I keep getting a little bit stronger. I keep improving little by little, and I managed to do that again this year. So I hope that keeps continuing year after year, because it does not take much more to make that front group, and that can completely change the race. Then maybe I can come away with the win or the podium instead of 11th or 10th.”

Unfortunately, the chaos of the cobbles saw Guillaume Boivin crash heavily on the Arenberg with x-rays confirming a fractured left scapular which, fortunately, will not require surgery. Girmay also crashed later in the race, forcing him to abandon, but escaped without any fractures, only sustaining some contusions.