Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Sunday, October 4, 2026
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Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame! - William Butler Yeats
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Current racing:
- Sept 27 - Oct 4: Le Tour de Langkawi
- Oct 4: Coppa Agostoni
- Oct 3 - 7: Elite European Road Championships
Upcoming racing:
- Oct 5: Coppa Bernocchi
- Oct 6: Tre Valli Varesine
- Oct 6: Binche-Chimay-Binche
- Oct 8: Gran Piemonte
- Oct 10: Il Lombardia
- Oct 11: Paris-Tours
- Oct 18: Chrono des Nations
Latest completed racing:
- Oct 3: Giro dell'Emilia
- Oct 3: Sparkassen Münsterland Giro
- September 20 - 27: World Road Championships
- September 16 - 20: Tour de Luxembourg
- September 19: Flandrian 0.0 Classic
- September 18: Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen
- September 15 - 18: Giro d'Abruzzo
- September 16: GP de Wallonie
- August 22 - Sept 13: Vuelta a España
- September 13: GP de Montréal
- September 13: GP de Fourmies
- September 13: Trofeo Matteotti
- September 12: Memorial Marco Pantani
- September 11: GP de Québec
- September 10: Coppa Sabatini
We posted the report from race winner Davide Piganzoli's Team Visma | Lease a Bike with the results.
Here's the report from third-place Oscar Onley's Team Netcompany INEOS:
Oscar Onley battled to third place at Giro dell’Emilia after a combative 197km race in Italy.
The race came alive on the finishing circuits, with Onley repeatedly making the key moves as the front group was whittled down. The Scotsman followed attacks from Matteo Jorgenson (Visma Lease A Bike) and Ben Healy (EF Education - EasyPost) before Piganzoli went clear on the final descent with 4km to go.
Davide Piganzoli wins the 2026 Giro dell'Emilia. Sirotti photo
Onley attacked with 500m remaining as Tom Pidcock (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) countered to take second place.
An early breakaway was brought back as the peloton hit the finishing circuit, with Michal Kwiatkowski putting in a big turn on the front for Netcompany INEOS. As the attacks continued, AJ August then joined a move of six, but the peloton kept the group within reach and the race came back together on the following ascent.
The decisive selection began to form on the third ascent of the finishing circuit. Jorgenson attacked, followed by newly crowned world champion Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates - XRG), before Healy also made his move. Jorgenson, McNulty, Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates - XRG), Pidcock and Onley joined them to form a front group of favourites.
Behind, Thymen Arensman worked to disrupt the chasing moves, helping Onley maintain his position at the front as further attacks came.
With the front group swelling to 16 riders, Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) went clear before Jorgenson made another move on the penultimate ascent. Onley and Healy bridged across to form a trio with Jorgenson, while Pidcock and Piganzoli joined them over the top.
Healy and Jorgenson immediately attacked again, with Onley following the wheels, before Piganzoli launched his decisive attack on the final descent, opening a gap that he held to the finish.
Onley launched his sprint from 500m out, but Pidcock came around him with a late counterattack to take second, leaving Onley to secure a hard-fought third-place finish.
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And here's the Giro dell'Emilia report from Clément Berthet's Team Groupama-FDJ United:
As it does every year, the climb to San Luca delivered its verdict at the Tour of Emilia. For Clément Berthet, the outcome could have been even more favourable. Dropped with two laps to go after being caught in a split, the French climber still finished strongly in Bologna to secure a solid 13th place. There was therefore some frustration over the day’s outcome, but also plenty of encouragement ahead of the upcoming races.
Clément Berthet finishes stage nine of the 2023 Tour de France. Sirotti photo
Just one week before Il Lombardia, some of the biggest names in world cycling were already gathering in Italy on Saturday for the Giro dell’Emilia — not a proper rehearsal for the final Monument of the season, but certainly an important test. It is also a race that leaves little room for surprises, with five ascents to the Madonna di San Luca sanctuary (2km at 9.5%) packed into the final 40 kilometres.
“We know that the race is quite straightforward once we reach Bologna,” Benoît Vaugrenard pointed out. “The goal was to be in the mix from the first lap, because we know things then go very fast on this nine-kilometre circuit.” The early breakaway was caught on the first slopes, before Quentin Pacher made his way to the front alongside five other riders approaching the summit. “He tried to anticipate, but Visma was missing from the move and the peloton gave them not much room,” Benoît added. The French puncheur nevertheless managed to tackle the second ascent of San Luca with a small advantage, then went clear with two other riders and completed the climb five seconds ahead of a considerably reduced peloton, which still included Rudy Molard and Clément Berthet.
Quentin Pacher and the other attackers were caught shortly afterwards, while the descent froze the positions ahead of the third and penultimate ascent of San Luca. It was at this point, with around 20 kilometres to go, that the major battle began among the favourites. Unfortunately, Clément Berthet was unable to join in. “Visma-Lease a Bike rode hard from the bottom, the pace really picked up, and Clément himself admitted that he had been caught a little off guard,” Benoît explained. “He was poorly positioned at the foot, got caught in a split and the best riders went clear ahead. We hoped it would come back, but the race never settled down again. That’s where Clément missed the move. He was a little too passive towards the back and the race went away without him.”
Around 20 seconds behind the group of favourites, Clément Berthet nevertheless kept fighting over the final two laps to finish on a positive note. At the finish, he even managed to close in on the top 10, taking 13th place, 1:34 behind winner Davide Piganzoli. “He had a strong finish, catching the riders who were being dropped ahead of him,” Benoît continued. “It shows that he was going well, but it was too late. It’s a shame because he could have done a little better. I think he clearly had his place in the group of ten that bridged across to the favourites, in which case the top 10 would have been within reach.”
While the result could have been even more rewarding, the French climber nevertheless provided plenty of reassurance regarding his condition. “He said he didn’t have exceptional legs today, apart from the final lap, when he felt really good,” Benoît concluded. “For a return to racing after the Vuelta, on such an explosive course, that’s still very encouraging for what’s to come, and especially for his goal at Il Lombardia in a week’s time.”
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We posted the report from winner Olav Kooij's Team Decathlon CMA CGM with the results.
Here's the report from Fabio Jakobsen's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Team Visma | Lease a Bike experienced a special day at the Sparkassen Münsterland Giro: Fabio Jakobsen rode his first race with the WorldTour team in the yellow-and-black colors. Olav Kooij ultimately proved to be the fastest rider in Münster, while Jakobsen sprinted to sixteenth place.
For the first time, the Münsterland Giro started in Borken. From there, the peloton faced more than 190 kilometers through the Münsterland, with a relatively flat opening section followed by a more challenging passage through the Baumberge. A breakaway formed early in the race. However, the peloton kept the escapees within reach and, as the race progressed, their advantage continued to decrease. In the end, the race came down to a bunch sprint, with Olav Kooij proving to be the fastest man.
Olav Kooij (second from left) wins the 2026 Sparkassen Münsterland Giro.
“I saw a very strong team today,” says sports director Robert Wagner after the race. Team Visma | Lease a Bike started with Matthew Brennan and Fabio Jakobsen as the two fast men. “We had a plan and executed it perfectly. We were basically always in control. The agreement was that we would go for Fabio if he was feeling good, and that was the case. Matthew also tried something in the hilly section, but the course wasn’t hard enough for him,” Wagner explains.
In the hectic finale, the team tried to keep its fast men out of trouble as much as possible. For Fabio Jakobsen, it was a special moment: following his move to Team Visma | Lease a Bike, he made his official debut with the WorldTour team today. “I felt pretty good. I was happy that I was able to stay well positioned in the group and that I got the chance to try it in the sprint. The guys helped me really well throughout the whole day,” Jakobsen says afterwards.
“I was perhaps still a little too far back in the sprint, but I think I took a step in the right direction. It may not be quite the result you want when you’re in that position, but for now, this was the maximum. I mainly want to use these races to take some steps forward again, so I’m definitely satisfied. This is the best race I’ve ridden in two years, so I’m looking positively ahead,” Jakobsen concludes.
Sports director Robert Wagner also heads home with a positive feeling: “We really gave it our all, but unfortunately Fabio got completely boxed in. What matters most to me now is that he was back in the finale after 200 kilometers. He has come from far, so I’m definitely happy that he was there,” the German concludes.
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Here’s the team’s news:
Lotto-Intermarché will also strengthen its professional roster with Brandon Fedrizzi from next season. The young Italian, who finished fourth in the European Championships junior road race today, had already been announced as a future rider for the Lotto-Groupe Wanty development team, but will now turn professional straight away with Lotto-Intermarché. With this decision, the team wants to underline its confidence in Fedrizzi and his potential.
Brandon Fedrizzi finishing fourth in the 2026 European Championships junior road race.
Brandon Fedrizzi’s move to Lotto-Intermarché had already been confirmed. The talented youngster signed a four-year agreement with the team in 2025. The original plan was for the young Italian to spend two seasons with the Lotto-Groupe Wanty development team from 2027 onwards, before making the step up to the WorldTour team. That pathway has now been adjusted: from his very first season at U23 level, Fedrizzi will immediately become part of the professional roster. With this decision, Lotto-Intermarché primarily wants to send a clear signal of confidence to the young Italian. The team strongly believes in his qualities and potential and therefore wants to integrate him into the professional team from the outset. At the same time, his development remains the priority, and Fedrizzi will be given the time and support within the team to continue progressing step by step.
CEO Jean-François Bourlart: “When we signed Brandon in 2025, we were obviously already convinced of his potential. The past few months have only strengthened that belief. That is why we have decided to adjust the original pathway and allow him to turn professional straight away from next season. Of course, that does not mean we want to skip any steps. Brandon is still very young and needs to be given all the time he needs to continue developing. Our decision to make Brandon a professional rider straight away is first and foremost a sign of trust. We strongly believe in him as a rider and want to show that by strengthening our commitment to him. Investing in young talent and offering them a clear perspective is part of who we are as a team. Brandon still has a long road ahead of him and we will give him all the time he needs, but we are very happy to travel that road together.”
Talent development has been one of the pillars of Lotto-Intermarché for many years. The team not only wants to identify young riders, but also guide them over the long term and give them opportunities to progress to the highest level. The decision to make Fedrizzi a professional rider also fits within that philosophy: showing confidence in young talent and giving riders the space to continue their development within the team’s own structure.
Fedrizzi is currently still racing as a junior for the Italian Borgo Molino Vigna Fiorita team. The young sprinter from Bolzano has made his mark this season with victories including the E3 Saxo Classic for juniors, the GP Giuliano Baronti, the Giro d’Abruzzo and the Trofeo Buffoni. As a sprinter with a particular love for the Classics, he also fits perfectly with the profile and identity of Lotto-Intermarché.
Brandon Fedrizzi: “When I signed with the team in 2025, I was already very happy with the confidence Lotto-Intermarché showed in me. The fact that the team has now decided to let me turn professional straight away from next season means a lot to me. Above all, I see it as a huge sign of trust. I know I still have a lot to learn and I don’t want to skip any steps, but I’m really looking forward to continuing my development within this team and taking every opportunity to become a better rider.”