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Saturday, September 19, 2026

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Giro d'Abruzzo stage four reports

We posted the stage four race report from race winner Kévin Vauquelin's Team Netcompany INEOS with the results.

Here's the report from third-place Nicola Conci's XDS Astana team:

XDS Astana Team rider Nicola Conci, racing alongside the young riders of XDS Astana Development Team at Il Giro d'Abruzzo, claimed third place on the final stage of the Italian stage race.

Kévin Vauquelin wins Giro d'Abruzzo stage four.

The 182-kilometre final stage started in Silvi and finished in Controguerra. Conci finished third on the day, moving up to fourth place in the final standings, while Diego Ulissi finished eighth overall. XDS Astana Development Team also won the team classification, taking the top spot in the final team standings.

"We just wanted to try something today, and I think we did really well. Vlad (Bashlykov) did a great job before the climb, and then Pietro (Galbusera) and Ludovico (Mellano) set a very high pace on the climb, just before the kicker at 40 kilometres to go, where we knew something could happen. Diego (Ulissi) and Matteo (Scalco) covered some of the attacks, and then, with 40 kilometres to go, I went full gas on the kicker and got away with two other riders. We worked well together. I was feeling really good and thought I could have a strong sprint, but when I started sprinting, I got a full cramp in my left calf and couldn’t sprint. That’s a shame because I think I had the legs to do much more. In the end, we started looking at each other and lost around a minute over the final two kilometres, so I finished fourth overall. I just wanted to fight for a really good stage result, and I think I could have done it, but the cramp came as soon as I started sprinting and I basically had nothing left", — said Nicola Conci.

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The Story of the Tour de France, vol.2 South Salem Cycleworks frames Melanoma: It Started With a Freckle The Story of the Giro d’Italia, vol.2 Shade Vise sunglass holder Paris-Roubaix: The Inside Store Advertise with us!


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The Story of the Tour de France, vol.1 South Salem Cycleworks frames Melanoma: It Started With a Freckle

Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen team reports

We posted the report from winner Tim Merlier's Team Soudal Quick-Step with the results.

Here's the report from Team Picnic-PostNL:

The Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen delivered the expected fast finale in Koolskamp, with the peloton completing 12 laps of the 14.7-kilometre circuit. Seven riders went clear early in the race and built a gap of around two and a half minutes. As the pace increased in the bunch over the final two laps, the breakaway gradually lost riders. At the same time, positioning became increasingly important in the peloton, with several exposed sections where the wind could cause splits.

Tim Merlier wins the 2026 Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen

The final breakaway riders were caught with 13 kilometers to go, setting up the expected sprint. In the final two kilometers, the team did a good job of moving Frits Biesterbos towards the front of the bunch. Merlier took the victory in the sprint, while Biesterbos finished 7th after a strong effort in the fast finale.


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The Story of the Giro d’Italia, vol.1 Shade Vise sunglass holder Paris-Roubaix: The Inside Store

Tour of Luxembourg stage three reports

We psoted the report from stage winner Pepijn Reinderink's Team Soudal Quick-Step with the results.

Here's the report from Igor Arrieta's UAE Team Emirates-XRG:

Igor Arrieta produced a bold display on stage 3 of the Skoda Tour de Luxembourg, racing aggressively to a fifth-place finish. The result moves the Spaniard up some 19 places in the general classification to fourth overall, as the race heads into its final two stages.

Arrieta was not the only UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider on the move on Friday, with his teammate Nils Politt part of the breakaway of the day. The German was out front from early on and accumulated enough points throughout stage 3 to take the lead of the King of the Mountains classification.

Pepijn Reinderink wins Tour of Luxembourg stage three. Photo: Getty Sport

Politt is a man in form, with his Luxembourg efforts coming just weeks on from winning the final stage of the recent Tour of Britain. On a hilly course between Wiltz and Diekirch, the veteran shone throughout Friday’s stage, and was well worth his place on the podium at the end.

As for Arrieta, the Spaniard was part of a group that splintered off the front of the peloton in search of the break. Their attacking efforts were enough to bring them to the front with over 40km left to race, as those in the peloton scrambled to regain touch behind.

Over the hills of Luxembourg, Arrieta remained vigilant and, for a spell, linked up with his teammate Politt. Together, the pair helped the front group extend its advantage over the peloton, with Arrieta ultimately faring best as the race headed into the finale.

The 23-year-old ultimately crossed the finish line just 11 seconds shy of the day’s winner, Pepijn Reinderink (Soudal Quick-Step). That was enough to see Arrieta move 19 places up the GC to fourth overall, with two stages to come at the weekend.


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And here's the Tour of Luxembourg report from GC leader Davide Piganzoli's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:

Davide Piganzoli is the new race leader at the Tour de Luxembourg. The Italian from Team Visma | Lease a Bike finished second in the grueling third stage to take over the leader’s jersey. Tijmen Graat completed a strong team performance with a ninth-place finish.


Davide Piganzoli racing in stage 10 of the 2026 Tour de France. Sirotti photo

The Queen Stage from Wiltz to Diekirch covered 179.6 kilometers and featured 3,171 meters of elevation gain, making it the toughest stage of the Tour de Luxembourg. A large breakaway formed early in the stage, with Pietro Mattio among the riders up front. As the race progressed, the pace continued to increase. Timo Kielich and Tijmen Graat made the jump across to the front, while Piganzoli later launched an attack from the peloton.

Piganzoli moved from group to group, picking up a teammate along the way each time. In the finale, Pepijn Reinderink eventually attacked from the breakaway. Piganzoli gave it everything to chase down the race leader, but ultimately crossed the finish line in second. Tijmen Graat also had a strong ride, finishing ninth.

“The victory was within reach, so it’s a little disappointing that I just missed out. At the same time, I’m very happy with the leader’s jersey. The team did an incredible job today, and thanks to their efforts, we came very close to the win. Taking the lead in the GC makes me very happy.”

According to sports director Gaëtan Pons, the team had a clear plan going into the stage. “The plan was to attack early in the race. We had a few riders positioned as satellites up the road, so they could help Davide later when he made his way across to the breakaway.”

That plan worked out perfectly. “Davide was incredibly strong today. He went from group to group, and every time he was chasing, he picked up another teammate who could help him. The team was everything today. Davide taking the leader’s jersey is really thanks to his teammates.”

Pons is not surprised to see Piganzoli performing at this level. “We know Davide can perform at this level. He has already shown that in the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France. What is perhaps even more impressive is that after riding those two Grand Tours, he has been able to recover and perform at this level again. That is a huge achievement for such a young rider.”