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Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page

My favorite things in life don't cost any money. It's really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time. - Steve Jobs

Les Woodland's book Tour of Flanders: The Inside Story - The rocky roads of the Ronde van Vlaanderen is available in print, Kindle eBook and audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Upcoming racing:

• Nov 15: Flandriencross
• Dec 6: Superpresitge Ruddervoorde
• Dec 19: Scheldecross
• Dec 23: Azencross-Loenhout
• Dec 25: Heusden Zolder Cross
• Dec 26: Gavere Cyclocross
• Dec 27: Namur Cross
• Dec 30: Diegem Cyclocross
• Jan 1: GP Sven Nys
• Jan 16 - 24: Tour Down Under

Latest completed racing:

• Nov 7 & 8 European Cyclocross Championships
• Nov 1: Trofee Oudenaarde - Koppenbergcross
• Oct 25: Superpresitge Overijse - Vlamse Druivencross
• Oct 13 - 18: Tour of Guangxi
• Oct 13 - 18: Tour of Holland
• Oct 18: Chrono des Nations
• Oct 18: Veneto Classic
• Oct 18: Japan Cup road Race
• Oct 14: Giro del Veneto

The rest of the year's completed races are here.

The team sent me this:

Italians Davide Donati and Alessio Magagnotti will turn professional, bringing plenty of sprint speed as well as a talent for the Spring Classics to the WorldTeam.

This means that, alongside Sebastian Putz and Lorenzo Finn, two more riders from the club’s own youth programme have made the leap from the Rookies to the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe WorldTeam for the new season.

At 21, Davide has spent the past two seasons with the Rookies, demonstrating in both years that he can already go toe-to-toe with the strongest sprinters, even at a young age. He is particularly effective on finishes that follow undulating terrain or feature an uphill kick to the line. In 2025, this ability earned him a stage win at the ProSeries Tour de Wallonie. This season, he added another victory at the same level at the CRO Race, among other successes.

Davide Donati wins stage five of the 2026 Tour of Sardinia. Sirotti photo

In the U23 category, Davide has also established himself as a Classics specialist, most notably with his victory at Paris-Roubaix Espoirs. He made another statement at the Giro Next Gen: winning a stage on similarly demanding terrain, he took the leader’s pink jersey and later went on to play a key supporting role for Lorenzo Finn.

“I have always believed in myself and in my ability to achieve something through hard work and dedication. That is why I am so happy to have made this step,” says Davide Donati. “It means a lot to reach a goal I have been working towards. I have big ambitions, but over the next few years my main focus will be on continuing to develop so that I can achieve them.”

Alessio has earned promotion to the WorldTeam after just one year. Having joined the Rookies as a successful junior, the 19-year-old has made an immediate impact at the U23 level as well, claiming several victories. His first appearance for the WorldTeam at the start of the season also made a lasting impression: at the Trofeo Palma in Mallorca, he sprinted to third place on his debut.

He demonstrated his enormous sprinting potential and his ability to match some of the biggest names in the sport in terms of raw speed, particularly at the Deutschland Tour. There, he beat Paul Magnier in a head-to-head sprint to claim his first victory at professional level.

“Stepping up to the WorldTour is a huge opportunity for me,” says Alessio Magagnotti. “At the same time, this move makes me feel the team’s full support. I hope to showcase my abilities and gain as much experience as possible.”

Here’s the post from Veistroffer’s Team Lotto-Intermarché:

“I’m just a guy who likes to race.” These simple words are how Baptiste Veistroffer describes himself. No complicated explanations, no grand statements. He is simply someone who loves racing. And he has certainly made that clear this season. With the season now over, ‘Le Sanglier de Fouesnant’ - The Wild Boar of Fouesnant - is already preparing for a new adventure: a 2,500-kilometre bikepacking trip in support of a good cause.

With 94 race days, the 26-year-old Frenchman was more active than any other rider in the peloton. “Nowadays, many riders prefer to train well and prepare very specifically for a race. But I feel like I need to race. I love the emotions and the feeling of giving everything. Racing allows you to discover your limits and push beyond them.”

And push his limits he certainly did. With his first professional victory at the Tour of Oman, numerous long breakaways and his first appearance at the Tour de France, the Frenchman became a familiar face in the peloton. His attacking mindset is a defining part of his identity as a rider. “I love giving everything on the bike, from the start to the finish. Sometimes there are boring days in the peloton, and I don't really enjoy those. That's why I try to get into the breakaway whenever I can, or give everything for the team.”

Beptiste Veistroffer wins stage two of the 2026 Tour of Oman. Sirotti photo

It is therefore no coincidence that Veistroffer spent more than 3,100 kilometers out in front this season and featured in 21 breakaways. He likes to seek out adventure himself. His preference is to attack, even when the chances of success seem slim from the outset.

One of the highlights of his season was undoubtedly making his Tour de France debut. As a child, he would stand alongside the roads in Normandy with his grandparents, waiting for the riders to pass. Years later, he was the one thousands of supporters were waiting to see. “That feeling will stay with me forever. As a child, I looked at the riders as if they were superheroes. First, you heard the motorbikes, then the helicopter, and finally you saw the riders speeding past. I remember it very well. This time, I was the one who got to be part of that spectacle.”

He says that thought gave him extra motivation to make his presence felt. And he certainly did: he claimed the combativity award no fewer than three times. His 144-kilometre solo breakaway during stage five was particularly impressive. “The feeling was incredible. As a French rider, I think showing yourself on the biggest stage in the world is a way of showing respect for the race, the organisation and the fans. The team gave me that opportunity, and I wanted to make the most of it.”

The Tour left a lasting impression on him, not only from a sporting perspective but also beyond the racing itself. Veistroffer noticed that his performances had reached a much wider audience. “It's something I'll remember for the rest of my life: I've raced the Tour de France. It has changed my career a little, because now it's not just cycling fans who know me. Even ‘ordinary’ people recognise me.”

Before becoming a professional cyclist, Veistroffer competed in triathlon. Even back then, the Frenchman had a habit of giving everything during training sessions and competitions. Sometimes even a little too much. “I always gave everything, but I wasn't as well prepared back then. I kept pushing until the very end of training sessions or races and regularly completely exhausted myself. A few friends therefore started calling me a ‘wild boar’. Fouesnant is my hometown, so the nickname ‘The Wild Boar of Fouesnant’ was born quite quickly.”

The nickname stuck and still reflects his racing style today. However, according to his own description, those who meet him away from the bike mainly discover a calm personality. “I'm a laid-back guy, someone who simply enjoys taking life easy and occasionally going for a hard ride on the bike.”

That combination is what defines him. He gives everything in races, but for him, cycling is about more than just watts, results or chasing victories. “Cycling isn't just about racing. It's also about discovering places and experiencing nature. Everywhere you go, you hear different sounds: the trees, the animals, the cars, the city or the sea. They all bring different emotions.” This curiosity explains why he loves travelling and why he finds it difficult to sit still, even during the off-season.

Veistroffer joined the professional ranks relatively late. Before making his breakthrough in cycling, he graduated and spent two years working on energy systems for ships. During his amateur career, he even combined his job with a training schedule that often only started after office hours. “I worked 35 hours a week and trained afterwards. In winter, there were times when I only set off after dark, with my bike lights on. I still remember that period very well.”

Making the step up to the professional peloton significantly changed his daily life. For the first time, he could focus entirely on his sport, train during the day and recover better. However, he does not look back negatively on his years outside cycling. “For me, it was important to learn something and work first. What if I can't ride my bike anymore tomorrow? What would I do then? School and work also teach you a lot about life. Cycling is important, but there's more to life than just the bike.”

He sees the fact that he started later than many other riders as both an advantage and a disadvantage. He sometimes still lacks experience in certain racing situations, but at the same time, he feels fresh and motivated. “I'm not an ordinary cyclist. I'm different, and I can use that to my advantage.”

This season's results show that his individual approach is paying off. At the same time, Veistroffer realises there is still room for improvement. “I've learned that I need to use my strength at the right moment. I don't always have to give everything from the start. I can also wait for the right moment. I also want to improve on longer climbs, so I can achieve results in a wider range of situations.”

His biggest dream, meanwhile, remains unchanged. “Winning a Tour stage after a long breakaway, with two or three riders fighting all the way to the finish, would be fantastic. But I need to keep progressing step by step and try to win other races first. I'm looking forward to it, and I'll stay focused on that goal.”

After a season packed with racing, you might expect Veistroffer to be looking forward to nothing more than some rest. And he admits that he needs it. After two winters in which he barely took any time away from the bike, he wants to deliberately slow things down this time. “This year, I feel like I really need some rest, mentally as well. I want to take it easier for a week or two, without any obligations. That could be important in helping me come back stronger next year.”

But completely slowing down is not really an option. In previous winters, Veistroffer has already embarked on bikepacking adventures in the United States and Thailand. This winter, he will be back on his bike, setting off on a 2,500-kilometre journey through Vietnam and Cambodia from 13 November to 1 December. Along the way, he will be supporting MolemBIKE, a Brussels-based non-profit organisation from Molenbeek that uses cycling to bring people together and promote social inclusion. The organisation aims to make cycling accessible to everyone, regardless of age, experience or background.

The initiative also takes on an extra dimension thanks to the support of our partners. Both Ekoï and the Belgian National Lottery will donate one euro for every kilometre Veistroffer completes. This means that every kilometre will have not only a sporting significance but also a social impact.

For The Wild Boar of Fouesnant, the cycling season may be over, but his next adventure is already just around the corner. “For me, it's simply the best way to live. I can get on my bike, do some training, discover new places and enjoy the scenery. Sometimes I tell myself: I'm here, in a beautiful place, together with my bike… What a life.”