Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, August, 1, 2026
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Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat. - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Giro d'Italia, A Year-by-Year History of the Tour of Italy, Vol 2: 1971 - 2011 is available in print, Kindle eBook and audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing
- July 29 - August 2: Tour of Denmark
- August 1: Clasica San Sebastian
Upcoming racing:
- August 2: Circuito de Getxo
- August 3 - 9: Tour of Poland
- August 4 - 8: Vuelta a Burgos
- August 13 - 18: Arctic Race of Norway
- August 16: Cyclassics Hamburg
Latest completed racing:
- July 28 - 30: Tour de l'Ain
- July 4 - 26: Tour de France
- July 26: Vuelta a Castilla y Leon
- July 8 - 12: Tour of Austria
- June 24 - 28: National Championshps
- June 17 - 21: Tour de Suisse
- June 17 - 21: Baloise Belgium Tour
- June 7 - 14: Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- June 14: Copenhagen Sprint
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Here’s the team’s news:
One of the most important stage races scheduled before the Vuelta a España, the Vuelta a Burgos takes place this year between 4-8 August, when Soudal Quick-Step will be one of the twelve World Tour teams at the start.
Sticking to the usual script, the race will once again features two summit finishes - Valle del Sol and the iconic Lagunas de Neila - but also Puerto del Escudo, a gruelling 7km climb averaging 9% that comes not far from the finish of the third stage is going to have a big impact on the way the general classification will look on Saturday, when the 48th edition comes to a conclusion.
In his years as pro, Mikel Landa has finished six times on the overall podium of the competition including twice on the top spot (2017 and 2021). The experienced Basque is set to start Burgos for the 12th time in his career, but his main goal now will be to rack up miles ahead of La Vuelta: “Burgos is a really special race for me and I have many great memories from there. I know the roads and the climbs well, but this year the plan is to go without big expectations and just build up my shape for later in the month and finish the race in a better condition than I had at the start.”
Mikel Landa wins stage three of the 2017 Vuelta a Burgos.
Joining Mikel on Soudal Quick-Step’s team next week will be Alberto Dainese, Gianmarco Garofoli, Yves Lampaert, former Italian Champion Filippo Zana, and two Devo riders: Giro Next Gen stage winner Jasper Schoofs and Viktor Soenens.
“It’s a mixed team, with World Tour riders and young ones from our impressive feeder squad. We have several cards to play in our quest for good results, from Alberto in the sprints to the likes to Filippo and Gianmarco on the more demanding stages, so we are pretty confident in our chances”, said Soudal Quick-Step sports director Wilfried Peeters.
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Here’s the team’s news:
Bahrain Victorious heads to the Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa on Saturday, where Pello Bilbao will make his final appearance at his home race before retiring from professional cycling later this season.
The 221.1 kilometre UCI WorldTour one-day race features more than 4000 metres of climbing across the Basque roads, with the decisive moves expected to come over the final sequence of climbs. Jaizkibel and Erlaitz are likely to reduce the front group before the steep slopes of Murgil, less than 10 kilometres from the finish, offering the last opportunity to make the difference.
While the race marks Bilbao’s farewell to the Klasikoa, Bahrain Victorious’ sporting focus will be on supporting 20-year-old Jakob Omrzel through the decisive part of the race.
Pello Bilbao winning stage 20 of the 2019 Giro d'Italia. Sirotti photo
The team will look to support Omrzel deep into the race, with Bilbao’s experience on home roads set to be key in his role as road captain. Valter and Eulálio will provide important support on the climbs, while Miholjević, Paasschens and Miquel complete the team, helping keep the leaders in position before the final sequence of climbs.
For Bilbao, Saturday’s race also carries a personal significance as he prepares for his final appearance at the Klasikoa.
Pello Bilbao said:
“Well, together with Itzulia, this is the most special race for me. It’s a beautiful race, a postcard race in San Sebastián, and it’s also a special occasion because I’ll be saying goodbye to my home fans. I would have liked to arrive here in different condition, coming straight from the Tour de France and at my very best, but instead I’m still building towards the Vuelta a España. Even so, racing at home always gives me wings. I’ll try to be among the protagonists, and we’ll do everything we can to animate the race and enjoy such a special day.”
Sports Director Enrico Gasparotto said:
“San Sebastian is always a special race coming after the Tour de France. Some riders arrive with incredible form from the Tour, while others are still recovering. Our team is different, with most of the riders coming from altitude camps and starting the second part of the season here.
Our goal is to fight for a top-10 result with Jakob Omrzel. He’s a young talent and this will be his first major WorldTour one day race. Frankfurt was a good introduction, but San Sebastian, with more than 4000 metres of climbing, is a completely different challenge. We’re looking forward to seeing how far he can go against some of the best riders in the world.
"Having Pello with us is also a huge advantage. As a local legend and our road captain, he knows these roads better than anyone. I trust him a lot. I worked with him in Liège earlier this season and it worked really well. He always thinks outside the box, so I’m really happy to have him alongside us in such an important role.”
The day after the team will ride the 81st edition of the Circuito de Getxo, featuring a tougher 172.2 km route starting at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and ending at Calle Los Fueros – Arkotxa in Getxo.
SD Gasparotto said:
“Coming to Getxo, we are going to change two riders from the San Sebastián lineup. We’re giving Afonso and Attila one extra day of rest before Burgos, and we’ve added Oliver Stockwell and Max van der Meulen.
"We really want to try to win the race with Pau Miquel, also to honour Pello’s career, because Pello started his cycling career with a small team in Getxo. It’s the last home race of his career, so we want to have fresh forces that can support Pau as much as possible all day long.”
Pau Miquel said:
“I’m coming into Getxo in good shape. The work has been done and we’ve had a good altitude training camp with the team, so everything is ready to have a good race.
"I hope to be there with a reduced group in the final and have the chance to fight for the win in the sprint. It’s also an important race for Pello, as a home rider and with this being his last race here, so we want to honour him in the best possible way. We’ll give everything and try to win the race.”
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Here’s the team’s news:
Jarno Widar will remain with Lotto-Intermarché until the end of 2028. Widar, who recently impressed with a fourth place in the queen stage of the Tour de Suisse and is set to start the Clásica San Sebastián, has extended his stay with the team where he developed as a rider. “This is the best place for me to continue growing, not only as a rider but also as a person.”
Lotto-Intermarché continues its commitment to developing young talent from within. Jarno Widar has extended his current contract and signed a new deal that will keep him with the team until the end of 2028. Although he was already under contract until 2027, both Widar and Lotto-Intermarché have reaffirmed their mutual confidence in one another.
Jarno Widar finishes fourth in stage five of the 2026 Tour of Switzerland. Sirotti photo
Jarno Widar: “I feel really good at Lotto-Intermarché. This is the team I joined through the Development Team in 2024, and where I have grown over the past years into the rider I am today. I’m convinced this is the best place to continue that development over the coming seasons, not only as a rider but also as a person. The team gives me the trust and the opportunities that are so important for a young rider like me. I’m in constant contact with my coach and the rest of the performance staff. Here, I have all the support I need to get the best out of myself every single day together with them. I’m really looking forward to continuing to build on the foundations we have laid over the past seasons, and I will do everything I can to chase great results.”
Over the past few years, Jarno Widar has established himself as one of the best climbers of his generation. He became the first Belgian ever to win the Giro Next Gen, claimed the Giro della Valle d’Aosta twice, and also won the Alpes Isère Tour, Ronde de l’Isard, Liège–Bastogne–Liège U23 and Flèche Ardennaise. Widar also took stage victories in the Tour de l’Avenir and was crowned European champion in 2025. This season, Jarno Widar made the step up to the professional ranks. After overcoming a persistent knee injury, he immediately impressed on his return at the Tour de Suisse with a fourth place in the queen stage, finishing behind riders including Tadej Pogačar and Lenny Martinez. In a few weeks, he will also make his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a España.
Kurt Van de Wouwer, Sports manager Lotto-Intermarché: “Over the past seasons, Jarno Widar has shown and proven that he possesses exceptional potential. We have become a home where he can continue to grow at his own pace, but above all a place where we can provide him – and tomorrow’s talents – with the very best environment. The team works closely with Ghent University, develops cutting-edge equipment together with bike partner Orbea, invests in staff education and closely follows new technologies before implementing them within the team. Our young riders benefit from that approach, and the numbers speak for themselves: over the past five years, no fewer than 33 riders have progressed from our youth structure to the professional peloton.”
Jean-François Bourlart, General manager Lotto-Intermarché: “Jarno Widar’s development within our team is the result of a clear vision and meticulous guidance from our performance department, where talent, ambition and science come together. Alongside our other promising riders and young professionals, Jarno is proof that we must continue to embrace our core philosophy: supporting young talent. We are all looking forward to seeing him ride his very first Grand Tour in the coming weeks.”