No. 102 · 40 stories · 4 sources
Racing, kit and the roads less travelled
Sunday 25 October 2026
This week’s most consequential developments
Visma sports director Jos van Emden says the 2027 Tour de France Femmes has no climb longer than 11km, but warns it will not be easier.
Why it matters Ferrand-Prévot is the home favourite, so a route without long climbs could reshape who starts as the favourite.
The men's 2027 Tour covers 3,479km from Edinburgh to Paris, with two time trials, a Pyrenean queen stage and a Montmartre finish.
Why it matters The route sets out the terrain for the men's race, including the time trials and mountain stages that will decide the general classification.
The men's 2027 Tour starts in Great Britain and finishes in Paris, with 71km of time trials and Col du Portet expected to decide the overall contest.
Why it matters The Col du Portet stage is likely to be the decisive day for the overall classification, so it bears watching.
The 2027 men's route has three summit finishes and 71km of time trials, which may make the race tighter, though Tadej Pogačar remains the favourite.
Why it matters The route is designed to challenge Pogačar's dominance, though whether it does so will only become clear on the road.
Pogačar says he will eventually target the Vuelta, with the Giro set aside in favour of the world championships, the Tour de France and a first Vuelta win.
Why it matters Pogačar remains the sport's dominant figure, so his choice of 2027 targets shapes the calendar and the rivals planning around him.
The Giro commissaires disqualified Lorena Wiebes over a 20-gram infraction, applying the UCI rule as written despite widespread unhappiness with the result.
Why it matters It shows the UCI equipment rules are being enforced strictly, even when the consequences fall on a marquee sprinter.
Mark Cavendish, the Tour's record stage winner, says he is looking forward to a sprinter taking the yellow jersey on stage 1 in Britain.
Why it matters A British opening stage gives sprinters an early chance at yellow, and Cavendish's comments highlight the appeal of the Grand Départ.
The 2027 Tour de France Femmes has nine stages, a first-ever team time trial and a finale on the Puy de Dôme, starting from the UK.
Why it matters The women's race adds a team time trial for the first time and finishes on the Puy de Dôme, a demanding climb that could decide the title.
A guide to where and how to watch the livestreamed presentation of the 2027 Tour de France route, when stage details are revealed.
Why it matters Readers wanting to follow the route reveal first hand will need to know which broadcasts and streams carry it.
Also moving, worth a read
An early assessment of likely contenders for the 2027 Tour, whose route leans heavily on time trialling, though no firm predictions are made.
The Basso Palta III is a fast gravel race bike that offers few comforts, according to this review.
Scottish rider Oscar Onley says he is fairly confident against the clock and sees time trials as a main factor in the 2027 route.
Tim Merlier says he is not opposed to his Alpecin teammate Paul Magnier joining him at the 2027 Tour, where a stage 1 bunch sprint is likely.
Evenepoel, runner-up at the 2026 Tour, is expected back in France and may ride the Giro for the first time since 2023, a double Red Bull's Denk would prefer he avoid.
Former pro Tom Dumoulin says the longest time trial distance since 2013 offers Evenepoel the best chance of challenging UAE's dominance at the 2027 Tour.
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme defends the increase in time trialling on the 2027 route, citing Wiggins and Bahamontes, and acknowledges the shortage of major climbs.
The 2027 Tour includes its most time trial kilometres since 2012, and the piece argues the numbers may not trouble Tadej Pogačar much.
Reusser, at the Paris route presentation, asked where the Tour de France Hommes was, criticising the uneven naming of the two races.
An analysis argues that the 2027 Tour route is aimed less at Pogačar than at Jonas Vingegaard, reflecting the organiser's ambivalent relationship with the top rider.
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado won the elite women's race at Heerderstrand, with Betsema and van Alphen sprinting for second and van Empel recovering to fifth.
Pidcock's ranking is a career best, and his Swiss ProTeam, Q36.5, placed 12th in the team standings, ahead of six WorldTour sides, while adding reinforcements for 2027.
A critic argues the women's Tour route reveal lacks time trials, Alpine and Pyrenean stages, and that the finale may be held without spectators.
Organisers say local authorities will decide whether spectators can be allowed on the Puy de Dôme climb, where they were banned during the 2023 Tour.
The 2027 men's Tour runs from Edinburgh to Paris via the Alps, Pyrenees and Massif Central, with three summit finishes and 71km of time trials.
A stage-by-stage guide to the 2027 Tour de France, which runs over 21 stages from Edinburgh to Paris.
Marlen Reusser questions why the men's race is not called Tour de France Hommes, urging greater equality; organisers say the race must evolve at the pace of women's cycling.
An analysis of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes route questions whether the Puy de Dôme queen stage can live up to its billing without fans lining the roads.
Castelli has unveiled the leaders' jerseys for next year's Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes, including the yellow, points, mountains and young rider classifications.
A Thursday live blog gathers several cycling items, including a council's abandonment of free parking, lorry and driving footage, and the London time trial's confirmation for the Tour.
A review of No.6's G45R gravel wheelset, which the reviewer finds light, stiff and fast-rolling, with specifications meant to rival premium rivals.
TNT Sports has extended its agreement with ASO, the organiser of the Tour de France, to broadcast its races until at least 2032.
Visma's reaction to the 2027 Tour route, given in Paris, is that it should suit several of the team's riders, with Vingegaard the main beneficiary.
Weak signals worth a glance