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Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,

Monday, July 6, 2026

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The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. - Honore de Balzac

Plato's dialogue Crito is available both in audiobook and Kindle eBook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Current racing:

July 4 - 26: Tour de France

Upcoming racing:

July 8 - 12: Tour of Austria
July 26: Vuelta a Castilla y Leon

Latest completed racing:

Tour de France stage three to be run despite wildfires in the area

Here's the organizer's update:

Changes to the conditions for stage 3 due to the major wildfires affecting the Pyrénées-Orientales department

JOINT PRESS RELEASE: The Prefect of the Pyrénées-Orientales and the Director of the Tour de France

Changes to the conditions for stage 3 due to the major wildfires affecting the Pyrénées-Orientales department

The exceptionally large wildfire currently raging in the Pyrénées-Orientales is requiring a massive mobilization of wildfire-fighting resources, internal security forces, and all government agencies. The top priority remains the protection of people, property, and natural areas, as well as bringing the fire under control.

In light of this, Pierre REGNAULT de la MOTHE, Prefect of the Pyrénées-Orientales, and Christian PRUDHOMME, Director of the Tour de France, have decided to adjust the conditions for the French portion of stage 3, running from Granollers to the town of Les Angles, on Monday, July 6, 2026.

These measures aim to limit the mobilization of public resources to what is strictly necessary, so that they can be prioritized for rescue and firefighting operations.

Consequently, within France, it has been decided at this stage that:

The caravan will not pass on the race route;
The event will be limited to the passage of only the riders and vehicles essential to the organization of the race;
The public is asked not to gather along the route or at the finish line.

The Tour de France will thus take place in an exceptional format, based on autonomous organization and a significantly scaled-back operation, consistent with the operational constraints imposed by the situation.

These measures reflect the plan adopted at this stage, given the current situation. As the situation remains highly changeable, further adjustments may be made.

The Prefect of the Pyrénées-Orientales and the Director of the Tour de France salute all those involved (firefighters, internal security forces, staff from government agencies, local authorities, accredited civil protection associations, and all other responders) who have been working tirelessly to combat this fire.

They express their full solidarity with the communities affected by this event and thank both residents and visitors for their understanding and civic-mindedness in the face of the exceptional measures made necessary by the situation.

Given this very high risk, everyone is urged to exercise the utmost vigilance. The authorities remind the public that the majority of wildfires are caused by humans and can be prevented through responsible behavior. It is essential to follow the authorities’ instructions, not to discard cigarette butts in the wild, not to light fires or barbecues near vegetation, and to immediately report any fire by dialing 18 or 112.

Additional press releases will be issued as the situation develops.

Tour de France stage two team reports

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

Here's the report from GC leader Jonas Vingegaard's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:

Jonas Vingegaard has impressively retained his yellow leader’s jersey. The 29-year-old Dane was in contention for the stage win during a grueling finale, but fell just short of a place in the top three. Vingegaard crossed the line in fourth place, thereby retaining the leader’s jersey.

Jonas Vingegaard will start stage three in yellow. Sirotti photo

The day after their success in the team time trial, the peloton faced a treacherous stage from Tarragona to Barcelona. The focus was on the local circuit, where the Montjuïc and the Côte du Stade Olympique had to be climbed three times. After the breakaway riders were reeled in, the pace was ramped up considerably on the first climb.

The peloton was severely thinned out, and in the end around forty riders remained to contest the stage victory. In the final meters of the climb, Isaac del Toro accelerated, with his team-mate Tadej Pogacar following in his wake. Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel managed to hold on and crossed the finish line at the same time as the UAE Team Emirates duo.

"This isn’t my favorite circuit, but I think I can be happy that I’ve kept the yellow jersey", said Vingegaard afterwards. "So far, things are going well and I’ve got nothing to complain about. I’m really trying to enjoy the yellow jersey and that’s what I did today."

Sports director Marc Reef talks about a tough day in the Spanish heat. "It was already 40 degrees on the first climb. You could notice that quite a few riders were running out of steam as soon as the pace picked up. We were ready to launch an attack on one of the climbs, but I think most were afraid of burning themselves out."

Reef is pleased with Vingegaard’s result. "We know that Jonas isn’t quite as explosive, so we’re very pleased with fourth place. When Isaac made his move, only Tadej was able to follow him. Jonas and Remco stayed on his wheel and didn’t lose any time. The fact that Jonas is still leading the general classification is a nice bonus."

Here's the Tour report from Team Netcompany INEOS:

Tobias Foss led Netcompany INEOS home on a hard-fought finish to stage two at the Tour de France.

Foss, along with teammates Egan Bernal, Thymen Arensman and Kevin Vauquelin had battled their way into the front group as the peloton split in the hills of Montjuic.

Foss came to the fore in the final kilometres and would eventually finish 20th in Barcelona, with the group further splitting apart as late accelerations fired on the final climb.

Netcompany INEOS rider Filippo Ganna at the teams presentation ceremony. Sirotti poto

Arensman and Bernal finished four seconds after their teammate, while Vauquelin battled hard to limit his losses on the run-in.

Bernal was enjoying a day in the green jersey, following a strong start to Saturday's Team Time Trial.

Dorian Godon was involved in an early crash during the stage's break formation phase, but was able to quickly remount and continue.

At the line it was UAE Team Emirates - XRG duo Isaac Del Toro and Tadej Pogacar who took a one-two finish on the stage.

And here's the Tour report from Team Soudal Quick-Step:

Tarragona became on Sunday the southernmost city to be visited by the Grande Boucle, as it got to host the start of the second stage, a 168.5km trek to Barcelona. The peloton didn’t have an easy day in the saddle, the trio of Montjuic ascents stacked inside the final 30 kilometers making for an explosive fight for victory between the general classification contenders.

Tour de France stage two gets started. Sirotti photo

Barcelona’s “magical mountain”, averaging 9.3% over just 1.6 kilometers, Montjuic lived up to the expectations, and so did Ilan Van Wilder. Soudal Quick-Step’s Belgian, riding just his third Tour de France, came home with the main group on this stage won by Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) and jumped a total of eight places on the overall standings, where he sits now just outside the top ten.

Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,

Monday, July 6, 2026

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