70 degrees, sunny, 7mph tailwind and fresh tarmac: the 2026 bike racing thread, where the only rules are to be civil and enjoy the ride. All are welcome, whether you want to post frequently or just lurk.
Luckily the racing kicks off today with more CX action.
Welcome to 2026! May the racing and riding be good for all. The year started off well this morning with great racing at X20 Trofee Baal, particularly the women’s race. Our neighbor is about to watch the kids for us so that the wife and I can do our traditional New Years Day ride. This years twist; It’s 13F. We are bundling up and attempting to make it an hour on our gravel bikes.
2 weeks to the TdU and just under 3 months to Omloop. Anyone have any hot takes for the year?
Got a pic from GCGee. He looks happy.
No hot takes as I’ve not been too focused on the game lately but Id like it to be the Year of the Wout.
Superstar turned star. Easily wins Pull of the Year Award 2025 if there were such a thing. Can do it all or close to it all. Seems to have mellowed into a good dude contender, dad, smiles more. I’m partial to the guys who can adapt with age and be monster teammates.
No hot takes here, just thankful for this thread again in 2026 with the spoilers embedded. 
Early 2026 hot take is that the new Red Bull kit looks like a rejected packaging pitch for Fruit Stripe gum, and is miles ahead of the Ineos shorts for worst kit decision of ‘26
No hot takes but just wanted to say hi all and I am looking forward to good conversation in the year ahead.
I don’t want to jinx it, but we’re being treated to the epic battle we’ve been waiting for at today’s exact cross (on YouTube).
Well, sheeeeeeit.
HNY everyone!
ugh zilvermeercross was so good till … it wasn’t. its just endlessly heartbreaking to be a fan
early hot take - brenner takes tdu
ooh interesting. big fan, ive raced both him and his dad. neither particularly successfully haha
riding with team NIИ??
Damnit! The jinx is in!
Look what you did!
I post last week and Wout flats. Assuming this tied to the crash. Someone is monitoring Slowtwitch.
Happy New Year everyone . Wishing you all a year of health and miles.
Hot takes are Tadej delivers something new this Spring. Whether he solves MSR (I contend he won’t, until he does) or Roubaix. I think he is laser focused on winning in the Velodrome.
A youngie, not an oldie, is the Maglia Rosa.
Remco delivers. I don’t know how, hopefully not through calamity. But with his maturation over the past few years, a new team and beaucoup resources, the TTT for great start and later stage ITT set him up to be right there at the end.
And for those of us that can make it, we will see a threepeat World champ or passing of the jersey. Either one will be a blast.
Sorry Wout. Should’ve kept my mouth shut.
Will I jinx Pog if I predict he bags MSR this year? We’ll see!
Darn it! Just watched now. Was fun until.
Absolutely brutal for him. Hope the surgery is minor and he can get back to it quickly.
Or a skinny. Apparently Jonas is planning Giro.
