EUROTRASH Thursday: The Tour Build-Up Starts Here

As the excitement rises for the 2025 Tour de France, we have a full EUROTRASH with all the latest news from the French behemoth. Plus video, race report, result and rider quotes from the Giro dell’Appennino.

TOP STORY:

• Evenepoel, Vingegaard and Roglič take a look at the Col de la Loze

Rider news:

• No National Champs for Julian Alaphilippe before the Tour de France
• Mathieu van der Poel training under the Spanish sun
• Thibau Nys can resume training for the Tour de France
• Jordi Meeus received permission from the UCI to start the Copenhagen Sprint
• Olav Kooij has His Lead-Out Train for Decathlon AG2R
• Suspension for Oscar Riesebeek after two yellow cards in Baloise Belgium Tour
• Oscar Riesebeek: “I accept the consequences of my actions
• Mattias Skjelmose gains confidence for the Tour de France
• Two-year doping ban for Christian Kornum

Team news:

• Modern Adventure Pro Cycling launches with bold vision to compete at world’s highest level
• Team Visma | Lease a Bike announces Tour de France line-up
• Lidl-Trek to have new kit for the Tour de France with an Icelandic sponsor
• Lotto Cycling Team and Caps extend partnership – new look shines during the Tour de France
• Visma | Lease a Bike has Nike as sub-sponsor
• Arkéa-B&B Hotels Team to lose both main sponsors
• Soudal Quick-Step to the National Championships

Race news:

• Tour de France final stage over Montmartre could be neutralised
• Teams announced for the Giro d’Italia Women
• Registrations Now Open – Race for $1 Million in MyWhoosh Championships 2025

EUROTRASH coffee time.

TOP STORY: Evenepoel, Vingegaard and Roglič All Take a Look at the Col de la Loze
On Sunday, Remco Evenepoel rode one of the crucial climbs of the 2025 Tour de France: the extremely tough Col de la Loze. The day before, the men of Visma | Lease a Bike, including Wout van Aert and Jonas Vingegaard, climbed the ‘Hors Categorie’ Col. Primoz Roglič was also spotted there last week.

After the Criterium du Dauphiné, Evenepoel went on an altitude training camp in Tignes. A great base to explore a few more Alpine cols in this year’s Tour de France. On Sunday, he and teammates Maximilian Schachmann and Valentin Paret-Peintre climbed the Col de la Loze, the extremely tough final climb of stage 18. The climb is 26.4 kilometres long at an average gradient of 6.5%.

“It is a tough climb, very irregular too”, said Remco Evenepoel, who has never climbed the Col de la Loze in a race, once he had reached the top. “I also believe that it is the longest of the entire Tour. With the Col du Glandon and the Col de la Madeleine first, it will be a beautiful but difficult stage.”

A day earlier, Visma | Lease a Bike was climbing the Col de la Loze with almost their entire Tour team. Vingegaard was joined by Van Aert, Simon Yates, Sepp Kuss, Matteo Jorgenson, Edoardo Affini, Victor Campenaerts and team DS Grischa Niermann. Only Tiesj Benoot was not there. He wasn’t part of the altitude training camp, which was also in Tignes, to ride the Tour de Suisse instead.

The Col de la Loze was very busy last week, because a few days earlier Primoz Roglič also climbed the Col. The Slovenian of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe managed to gain time on Tadej Pogačar in the 2020 Tour, but a few days later, Pogačar won the final time trial to La Planche des Belles Filles to take his first Tour win. This year, Roglič started the Giro d’Italia, but abandoned after several crashes and has not raced since.

Col de la Loze: The decisive day? | Alberto Contador’s 2025 Tour de France stage 18 recon with TNT Sports Cycling

Giro dell’Appennino 2025
Diego Ulissi won the Giro dell’Appennino on Tuesday. The Italian was the strongest in the difficult one-day race around Genoa. The XDS Astana rider won thanks to a 30 kilometre solo. Andrii Ponomar (Petrolike) was second and Ulissi’s teammate, Simone Velasco, was third

The 86th edition of the Giro dell’Appennino was set in the area around Genoa. With Francesco Moser, Gianbattista Baronchelli (six victories), Gianni Bugno, Pavel Tonkov, Damiano Cunego and Vincenzo Nibali we see quite a few big names on the honours list. The top riders were not at the start of the Giro dell’Appennino, but Alessandro Covi, Louis Barré, Diego Ulissi, Simone Velasco and Davide Piganzoli were at the start. There was a tough finale in and around Genoa, with the climb to Pietralavezzara (6.2km at 7.6%) and the Madonna della Guardia (6.9km at 7.8%). After the last climb, there were 20 mostly downhill and flat kilometres to the finish.

The break of the day formed quite early: Davide De Cassan (Polti-VisitMalta), Nate Pringle (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe Rookies), Matteo Cettolin (General Store-Essegibi-F.Lli Curia), Simone Lucca (Gragnano Sporting Club), Christian Bagatin (MBH Bank Ballan CSB), Matteo Zurlo (S.C. Padovani Polo Cherry Bank), Leonardo Meccia (Team Technipes #inEmiliaRomagna) and Matthew Kingston (Mg.K Vis Costruzioni e Ambiente). These eight built up a maximum lead of 4 minutes, but had no chance of victory. De Cassan was the last survivor of the early break, and was caught on the Madonna della Guardia and dropped by Diego Ulissi.

The Italian of XDS Astana broke away from the group of favourites for a long and successful solo. It soon became clear that Ulissi was on form, because the 35-year-old rider extended his lead over the first pursuers; Louis Barré and Matteo Fabbro. Ulissi reached the top of the last climb with a large lead and then soloed to victory with ease. Ulissi took his first victory of the season, the 49th professional victory of his career. For XDS Astana, these are also important UCI points in the relegation battle. Simone Velasco sprinted to third place behind the Ukrainian Andrii Ponomar, who was second.

Race winner, Diego Ulissi (XDS Astana): “We had a pretty young team today, with guys from XDS Astana Devo Team, some of them had just come back from the Giro Next Gen. Everyone did a great job, we controlled the early breakaway. Then, on the hardest climb, with around 50 kilometres to the finish, I attacked. It was quite tough with the head wind, but I managed to gain some advantage and take this win. Up next we have the Italian National Championships and I think we have a strong team there, so we will try to give it a proper battle.”

3rd, Simone Velasco (XDS Astana): “Today I didn’t have super legs because I really suffered from the heat, but we were still up there in front, and I tried to cover as many attacks as possible for Diego. All our guys did a great job in the first part of the race, up to the decisive moment. Then it was up to Diego and me when the race opened up, to do our part. Diego made a great move, he rode solo for about 50 kilometres, and I tried to neutralise all the counterattacks. In the end, I managed to win a bunch sprint and claimed third. So yes, for us it was indeed a good day.”

Giro dell’Appennino Result:
1. Diego Ulissi (Ita) XDS Astana in 5:00:09
2. Andrii Ponomar (Euk) Petrolike at 0:09
3. Simone Velasco (Ita) XDS Astana at 0:14
4. Alessandro Covi (Ita) UAE Emirates XRG
5. Francesco Busatto (Ita) Intermarché-Wanty
6. Lorenzo Quartucci (Ita) Solution Tech Vini Fantini
7. Valerio Conti (Ita) Solution Tech Vini Fantini
8. Louis Barré (Fra) Intermarché-Wanty
9. Luca Paletti (Ita) VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè
10. Davide de Cassan (Ita) Polti VisitMalta.

Giro dell’Appennino’25:

No National Champs for Julian Alaphilippe Before the Tour de France
Julian Alaphilippe will not participate in the French road championship this weekend. The 33-year-old rider, who has never won the red, white and blue jersey, has opted for a different run-up to the Tour de France, according to Ouest-France.

The French newspaper reports that Alaphilippe, after consultation with his advisors and the Tudor Pro Cycling team management, will opt for some extra rest due to fatigue in the run-up to the Tour de France (5-27 July). The rider himself calls it a ‘heartbreaking’ decision. The puncheur will, for the first time since 2019, not be at the start of the French championship. The national title is in ​​Les Herbiers this year.

The two-time World champion moved from Soudal Quick-Step to Tudor last winter. In the Swiss team he has not had much success, but in the recent Tour of Switzerland Alaphilippe performed much better than in the early part of the season. Alaphilippe finished fifth in the final overall after a very attacking race. A good sign, with a view to the Tour. “I have good legs and hope that victory is coming closer. This is only the first step towards my top level, but winning is something else and I am looking forward to it”, he said last week in Switzerland.

No national championships for Alaphilippe:

Mathieu van der Poel Training Under the Spanish Sun
Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert are preparing in the French Alps, but Mathieu van der Poel is taking a different route to the Tour de France by riding on his familiar Spanish roads. The Dutchman is not taking it easy in training, but he also finds time for relaxation.

Van der Poel is currently on the Costa Blanca, Spain. With his regular training buddy Freddy Ovett, he is once again putting in the necessary kilometres in and around the Denía area. The training rides of the couple can be seen on Strava and Instagram: Van der Poel blasting up a few Spanish hills, and then recharging his batteries in the shade on a bench.

“Reels on Instagram do not tell the real story,” Ovett wrote on his Instagram post. “I am so happy that I can cycle without pain again (he was suffering with an injury). It is still tough, but I like that.” Van der Poel responded: “Cycling is never without suffering pain, right?”

Van der Poel rode the Critérium du Dauphiné in the run-up to the Tour de France. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider returned home without the green jersey and a stage win, but with a good feeling. “Of course I wanted to win a stage and the green jersey, but I can only be happy with how I rode this week. It was a very tough week and that is exactly what I needed for the Tour de France. I am satisfied.”

“I need a race like this to get better. Then I get used to the feeling of being on the limit every day. It will not be due to the hardness in the Tour. It will be chaotic, hopefully I can win a stage in the first week. From now on I will recover a bit and then I can train hard”, he added.

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Thibau Nys can Resume Training for the Tour de France
After his abandonment in the Baloise Belgium Tour, there were some doubts about Thibau Nys, but his team saw no reason to panic. His coach Paul Van Den Bosch has a positive update. Nys had a long training day on Monday.

Thibau Nys hoped to further improve his form in the Baloise Belgium Tour, with a view to the Tour de France, but the young Belgian was ill during the night of Friday to Saturday morning. A blow for Nys, but the 22-year-old rider of Lidl-Trek is now feeling a lot better.

“Thibau himself indicated that he felt that the virus had completely left his body and his values ​​​​also indicated that”, Van den Bosch told Het Nieuwsblad. “A teammate of Thibau (Alex Kirch) had the same problems and you could see it in him too: seriously ill, but also quickly recovered.” Nys doesn’t have to worry about the upcoming Belgian Championship on 29 June and the Tour de France from 5 to 27 July, although his preparation for the Belgian title now looks a bit different. The puncheur will now have a harder training week, which means he may not be as fresh at the start of the Belgian Championship in and around Binche.

Van Den Bosch is full of confidence for the coming weeks. “Thibau’s form is simply good. He is pedalling very good values. Of course, as a rider you want confirmation in competition, but the fact is that Thibau is coming out of a long period without many competitions. In any case, we can complete all the planned training towards the Tour. The illness is far from ideal, but I wouldn’t call it a set back either.”

Thibou Nys good to train:

Jordi Meeus Received Permission from the UCI to Start the Copenhagen Sprint
It came as a surprise to many when Jordi Meeus sprinted to victory in the Copenhagen Sprint on Sunday. The Belgian of the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe team was riding the Tour de Suisse, where he won the sixth stage on Friday, but quit the following day so he could race in Denmark. He and his team received permission from the UCI.

Normally, a rider who has abandoned a race while it is still running, is not allowed to start in another race. Anyone who does so risks a fifteen-day suspension and a fine of 200 to 1000 Swiss francs. However, at the request of a rider and in consultation with the race directors, the UCI can allow exceptions.

This happened in the case of Jordi Meeus. “We have a lot of injured riders in the team,” the 26-year-old rider told Het Nieuwsblad. “We didn’t even have enough to start in Denmark, partly because Sam Welsford sustained a shoulder injury in the Antwerp Port Epic. We asked for and received an exception from the UCI to let me fly over. You know the rest of the story. No big deal: I had a great weekend.”

The course of the final weekend in Switzerland also played a role in the decision to drop out, Meeus acknowledged in the interview after the finish in Copenhagen. “Because we had some injured riders and it was only climbing there, we decided to come here. That was the right choice, I think.”

Jordi Meeus – Winner in Suisse and Denmark:

Olav Kooij has His Lead-Out Train for Decathlon AG2R
Olav Kooij’s sprint train for 2026 is gradually taking shape. WielerFlits reported that the Dutch sprinter of Visma | Lease a Bike is on his way to Decathlon AG2R, now it turns out that he will also have a top lead-out train. In addition to Daan Hoole (Lidl-Trek), Cees Bol (XDS Astana) and Robbe Ghys (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who are all rumoured to be going to the French team, it now appears that Tobias Lund Andresen will be joining them.

Kooij was offered a multi-million contract by the French team. He is also assured of being the top sprinter and he can also take his own chance in the Classics. The 22-year-old Lund is a promising sprint talent, but could also be a lead-out man for Kooij. Earlier this year he won the Surf Coast Classic, while in his second professional year with Picnic PostNL, he took six wins.

Olav Kooij building his lead-out train for 2026:

Suspension for Oscar Riesebeek after Two Yellow Cards in Baloise Belgium Tour
Oscar Riesebeek has been suspended for seven days. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider received two yellow cards during the Baloise Belgium Tour. As a result, he will miss the National Cycling Championships in Ede.

Riesebeek made two mistakes during the Baloise Belgium Tour. He received a yellow card for both violations. And two yellow cards within one stage race means that you get a suspension of seven days. This suspension will start the day after the second yellow card. Riesebeek received the second yellow card on Sunday 22 June and can’t race again until Monday 30th of June. He will miss the Netherlands National championships in Ede on Saturday 28th of June.

The Dutchman was given both yellow cards in the Baloise Belgium Tour for the same reason. In both the second stage and the fifth stage, twice in the fifth stage, he used the pavement or the cycle path. This is prohibited. In stage five, the last of the tour, Riesebeek fell when he tried to get back on the road with just over three kilometres to go. It is unclear what damage the 32-year-old rider sustained. His team Alpecin-Deceuninck announced on Sunday evening that Riesebeek was undergoing tests after his crash.

Riesebeek is the first rider to receive a suspension based on the yellow card system introduced by the UCI this year. Earlier, press photographer Joseba Etxaburu Gandiaga was suspended after being kicked out of La Vuelta Femenina after receiving two yellow cards.

Riders and staff with a yellow card could receive even heavier penalties. As of January 1, 2025, these will look like this:

• 2 yellow cards in a one-day race or in a stage race: disqualification + 7 days suspension (starting one day after the last yellow card)
• 3 yellow cards in a period of 30 days: 14 days suspension (starting one day after the last yellow card)
• 6 yellow cards in a period of 1 year: 30 days suspension (starting one day after the last yellow card)

You can see all the UCI sanctioned riders, DS, team staff, etc. HERE.

Seven day suspension for Oscar Riesebeek:

No Fractures for Oscar Riesebeek. Seven-day Suspension Confirmed
Following his crash in the final of the last stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour, Oscar Riesebeek was taken to the hospital in Jette for further examination. Fortunately, no fractures were diagnosed. Oscar is doing well under the circumstances.

Alpecin-Deceuninck confirms that Oscar has received a seven-day suspension, after collecting two yellow cards during the same stage race, as stipulated by UCI regulations. As a result, he will be unable to participate in the upcoming Dutch National Championships. Both rider and team accept this correct en justified decision.

Oscar Riesebeek: “I accept the consequences of my actions. Of course, it’s disappointing to miss the Nationals, but looking back, I realise my behaviour in the race was not only wrong but also put fellow riders at risk. And that’s something I sincerely regret and apologise for. The rules are clear. If they are applied consistently, I fully respect that. I’ll now take some quiet time to recover and prepare for my next goals.”

Riesebeek crashed, but not injured:

Mattias Skjelmose Gains Confidence for the Tour de France
Mattias Skjelmose won the first edition of the Andorra MoraBanc Clàssica on Sunday. This was a welcome boost for the Dane, who saw his preparation for the Tour de France severely disrupted by illness. He now has more confidence that he can ride a good Tour.

“Of course I am happy with this victory,” Skjelmose told his Lidl-Trek team website. “I was ill for a long time and had to miss both the Dauphiné and the Tour de Suisse. Fortunately, I was able to do this race. And I think the form is there for the Tour. I felt good all day and the guys did their job perfectly. I rode at my own pace and knew that I could sprint when I came back.”

Skjelmose had to let Enric Mas, Cristián Rodríguez and Sebastian Berwick go on the final climb, but he closed the gap before the final kilometre and then won the Andorra MoraBanc Clàssica in the sprint. “This was super good, because we had to wait and see how this race would go,” said the 24-year-old rider. “But the Tour is a completely different race, so we’ll see. But I have more confidence after today. I think I can ride a good Tour. I’m looking forward to it.”

A good win for Skjelmose in Andorra:

Two-year Doping Ban for Christian Kornum
Danish talent Christian Kornum has been given a two-year doping ban. The 21-year-old rider tested positive for methylphenidate, a substance found in the drug Ritalin, on 11 May 2024. Kornum won silver that day at the Danish championship for young riders, but he has since been removed from the results.

Kornum, who rode for the club team Aalborg-Sparekassen Danmark last year, has admitted to taking Ritalin. He said he did this the day before the Danish championship, when he was working on an assignment with some fellow students. Ritalin is a drug that is used for ADHD, among other things, but some students also take it. It improves concentration.

Kornum was offered the Ritalin tablets by one of his fellow students with ADHD. He says he did not know the product was on the doping list. During the doping test the next day, he did admit to having used Ritalin. During the procedure, Kornum also pointed out that he had never received doping education.

The Danish doping authority ruled that the intake of the banned substance was not intentional, but that it is the athlete’s responsibility to ensure that no banned substances end up in his or her body. The final penalty is a two-year suspension, starting on July 4, 2024. Kornum can return to the peloton in July 2026.

Two year ban for Christian Kornum:

Modern Adventure Pro Cycling Launches with Bold Vision to Compete at World’s Highest Level
The US-registered team will reignite racing state-side and aim to inspire the next generation of talent

With a shared vision of delivering performance at the top of the sport, athletes will ride aboard the latest Factor Bikes as a new partnership is announced

A new era begins with the launch of Modern Adventure Pro Cycling, a professional team founded by veteran cyclist George Hincapie with an ambitious vision: to become the nation’s premier squad and compete at the Tour de France by 2032.

With plans to be a UCI-registered ProTeam in 2026, the organisation is built around the core belief that the sport is more than competition—it’s a test of resilience, teamwork, and determination.

Following standout performances by World Tour riders from the United States, the sport is poised for a resurgence. With a focus on nurturing homegrown talent, the team will prioritise recruiting the best domestic riders, including rising stars and seasoned pros, alongside top international talent to create a roster that embodies grit and ambition.

Vision and Goals
“Our goal is clear: to build the nation’s team, a squad that inspires fans and competes fearlessly on the world stage,” said George Hincapie, Founder and Principal. “Within six years, we want the Modern Adventure Pro Cycling Team to be synonymous with excellence, racing in the Tour de France with the best U.S. riders and contending for victories. We’re here to spark a new golden era with a fresh, authentic approach.”

Modern Adventure Pro Cycling Team will compete in key European and South American events as the only domestic-based UCI ProTeam. This phase will develop elite riders, sharpen race tactics, and build the team’s infrastructure. As the squad grows, it will target Europe’s premier races while maintaining a presence at major global events. Ultimately, the goal is to join the UCI World Tour, race the Grand Tours, and establish itself as a marquee team.

Team Philosophy and Strategy
“We are so proud to be the title sponsor of a team that reflects our core values—purpose, courage and the spirit of adventure. Together, we know that the journey is the destination and we are inviting cycling fans around the world to join us from day one,” said Luis Vargas, Modern Adventure Founder.

The organisation will emphasise rider development by investing in cutting-edge training, nutrition, and technology, partnering with leading brands for equipment and performance analytics.

“When George first shared his plans to kick-start US racing again, I knew this partnership was the right fit,” said Rob Gitelis, Factor Bikes and Black Inc Founder. “Designing and developing bikes alongside top-level athletes for the highest level of cycling is at our core. The US racing scene is ready for a revamp, and Modern Adventure is in a great position to do so.”

“At The Feed, our mission is to help athletes fuel smarter with the best personalised sports nutrition,” said the team at The Feed. “Partnering with George and Modern Adventure Pro Cycling is an exciting opportunity to support a team that’s redefining what it means to race in the U.S. with ambition, professionalism, and a modern approach. We’re proud to provide the riders with unlimited access to the products they need to perform at their best.”

For Hincapie, who rode in 17 Tours de France and is widely regarded as one of the sport’s most experienced tacticians, the team represents both a return to racing and a chance to shape and influence our next generation of cyclists.

USA Cycling President Brendan Quirk welcomed the team’s launch, saying, “This is exactly what our sport needs right now. Modern Adventure Pro Cycling is making a real investment in the future. It’s about giving riders the platform to race at the highest level and to inspire the next generation of cyclists.”

“This is a unique moment. We’re not just building a team; we’re building a movement,” added General Manager Rich Hincapie. “We have a chance to build something that’s not just competitive, but meaningful—a team that reflects the best of who we are as riders and as a nation. Our riders will race with heart, supported by a culture of teamwork and innovation. We want every fan to feel proud when they see Modern Adventure Pro Cycling in the peloton.”

Modern Adventure Pro Cycling Team’s ethos is rooted in the idea that suffering can be sacred and that the sport, at its best, is about more than winning. It’s about doing hard things, working together, and showing up, no matter the challenge.

The future of professional racing starts now
For further information about Modern Adventure Pro Cycling, its race schedule, and sponsorship inquiries, please visit modernadventure.com/racing

Team Visma | Lease a Bike announces Tour de France line-up
Team Visma | Lease a Bike will line up with these eight riders at the start of the 112th Tour de France, kicking off in Lille on Saturday, July 5.

The eight names will be: Jonas Vingegaard, Wout van Aert, Matteo Jorgenson, Simon Yates, Sepp Kuss, Tiesj Benoot, Victor Campenaerts and Edoardo Affini. For the Italian rider Affini, it will be his first Tour de France, after it was previously announced that Christophe Laporte would not start.

The riders of Team Visma | Lease a Bike will compete in the special Tour de France jersey, The Swarm. With this, Team Visma | Lease a Bike honors the dedication of its fans and literally makes the fans part of the Tour team. During the pre-order phase, the jerseys sold out in no time. Everyone who previously purchased our special Tour de France jersey has been included with their name in the design of the shirt that will be worn by Jonas Vingegaard, Wout van Aert, Marianne Vos, and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, among others.

Starting today, Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s Tour de France jersey is again available in the cycling team’s webshop. With the purchase of the cycling jersey, you become part of The Swarm and gain exclusive behind-the-scenes access during this Tour de France.

“With these eight very strong riders, we believe in the plan we made for the Tour de France. From day one we will have to be there as a team to optimally assist Jonas in the GC. In addition, there will be opportunities for several riders to go for stage wins. We are very deliberately focused on ourselves and our own plan. We have an optimal preparation behind us and with that, we think we can get the best possible result.”

Lidl-Trek to Have New Kit for the Tour de France with an Icelandic Sponsor
Lidl-Trek is making a small change to its kit before the Tour de France. Unbroken, a product that accelerates muscle recovery in athletes, will be the official sponsor of the American team from the Tour onwards. The name of the Icelandic company will be displayed on the back and sides.

Unbroken has already played a key role in Lidl-Trek’s standout 2025 campaign, contributing to six stage victories and the Ciclamino jersey at the Giro d’Italia. Lidl-Trek rider Mattias Skjelmose began using the product during last season’s Vuelta a España, where he was honoured as the best young rider.

“I started taking it before and after the Vuelta, and I felt good, so I continued to use it,” said Mattias Skjelmose. “My recovery has improved with Unbroken, and I feel better on the bike day to day. I feel like my general well-being and overall health is improved, too. I’m quite surprised at how good I feel.”

Starting with the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia Women, Lidl-Trek riders will race in an updated version of their current jersey featuring Unbroken’s logo on the back and the chest side panels, marking the official debut of the partnership on cycling’s biggest stages.

Thordur Kolbeinsson, Chairman of Unbroken added: “At Unbroken, we are proud to join Lidl-Trek as a sponsor and partner for their Real Time Recovery – supporting one of the most advanced teams in cycling with our uniquely formulated, science-backed product. Lidl-Trek’s innovation in performance equipment reflects the same ambition that drives Unbroken: helping athletes push further with smarter recovery and better muscle health.”

New name on the Lidl-Trek jersey:

Lotto Cycling Team and Caps Extend Partnership – New Look Shines During the Tour de France
Lotto Cycling Team and Caps Energy Card are continuing their successful collaboration. To celebrate, the mobility solutions provider is launching a unique jersey during the Tour de France that also highlights their rebranding.

With this, Lotto Cycling Team and Caps Energy Card are marking the 15th year of a partnership that began in 2012. The collaboration with G&V Energy Group, the parent company behind Caps, is built on foundations of trust, shared values, and mutual growth. To celebrate the continuation of the partnership—and to showcase the brand’s new visual identity—Caps is unveiling a special Tour de France jersey. During the most prestigious cycling race in the world, Caps will feature prominently on the jersey.

The timing is, of course, no coincidence. Along with the start of the Tour de France, Caps is officially launching its renewed brand identity. The new logo for the well-known fuel and charging card is inspired by a journey, symbolising freedom on the road and a strong connection with customers and partners. It’s a visual representation of what Caps stands for today: much more than just a charging card. Caps offers a complete solution for modern mobility management, from corporate charging station oversight to home charging solutions with automated employee reimbursements. In doing so, they take the burden off fleet managers throughout Belgium.

The Tour provides the perfect platform to present this renewed brand identity to an international audience. The Lotto team is also proud to showcase this launch together with Caps at the highest level of professional cycling.

Xavier Dewulf, CEO of Caps: “The Tour is one of the biggest sporting events in the world. For us as a brand, it’s a unique opportunity to share our story, express our values, and increase our visibility. We’re proud of this collaboration and wish the team great success during the Tour,” says Caps.

Kenny Provyn, CCO of Lotto Cycling Team: “We’re especially happy to have Caps with us for another cycling season. Loyal sponsors like them—our shared story will soon enter its 15th year—are invaluable to our team. We’re proud to highlight that with a unique cycling jersey. The team’s name won’t change during the Tour, but with Caps as the jersey sponsor, their rebranding will take center stage, ensuring they’re clearly visible on every start podium and in every stage over the coming weeks.”

Visma | Lease a Bike has Nike as sub-sponsor
From the start of the 2025 Tour de France, the American sports brand Nike will be a partner of Visma | Lease a Bike. Nike will provide the team’s leisure clothing. At the National Time Trial Championships, the Nike logo was already on the team vehicles.

Nike has been involved with cycling before. From 1996 to 2011, it sponsored the yellow jersey in the Tour de France. Later, it also supplied the green, polka dot and white jersey in the French stage race. In 2012, Le Coq Sportif took over the jersey sponsorship. Nike also sponsored Lance Armstrong from 1996 to 2012. The company reached a personal agreement with the American soon after his recovery from cancer. Later, Nike produced the iconic Livestrong yellow bracelets, millions of which were sold worldwide and the proceeds went to cancer funds. In 2012, it severed ties with Armstrong after the USADA report was released.

Nike currently has personal deals with Mark Cavendish and Demi Vollering. A custom cycling shoe was made for Cavendish, while Vollering is an ambassador for the brand. With Vollering’s arrival at Team FDJ-Suez, Nike also became the exclusive lifestyle clothing supplier for the women’s team.

The partnership with Visma | Lease a Bike’s casual clothing is Nike’s first major new step in cycling. A collaboration that could grow in the coming years. For Visma | Lease a Bike, Nike is the third partner to join the team for the 2025 Tour de France. It was previously announced that Rabobank and Skil had joined the Dutch WorldTour team.

Nike casual clothing for Visma | Lease a Bike:

Arkéa-B&B Hotels Team to Lose Both Main Sponsors
Arkéa-B&B Hotels is in financial trouble and the future of the French team now seems to be precarious. Main sponsors Arkéa and B&B Hotels will definitely leave the team at the end of the season, but team manager Emmanuel Hubert is not giving up on the search for new financial backers.

Hubert has been in talks with the current sponsors behind the scenes, in the hope of extending the contracts. In January, he told L’Équipe that “the coming months are crucial for the survival of the team.” The talks with the current sponsors have come to nothing and so the French team must look for new partners. “In a financially difficult climate for cycling, Emmanuel Hubert and his teams are fully committed to actively looking for new sponsors,” the press release states.

“I would like to thank Arkéa and B&B Hotels for their support. Arkéa has supported us as main sponsor for the past ten years. This gave us the opportunity to write wonderful chapters together, while B&B Hotels gave us the chance to expand the team from 2024,” Hubert reflects on the collaboration. “They have been fantastic partners.”

“With a constructive and optimistic attitude, I am busy behind the scenes to secure the future of the team. That is my main goal. I know that there are no certainties in life, but I want to continue to believe in it. I still have confidence in our project and will therefore continue my search for potential new partners.”

No more Arkéa-B&B Hotels team:

Soudal Quick-Step to the National Championships
Twenty-two of our riders will compete for the road race or time trial title, between 24-29 June, in nine different countries

In the 22 years that have passed since the team’s inception, Soudal Quick-Step has won a staggering 70 National Championships with 32 different riders across 19 countries on three continents. In the next couple of days, our riders will again be in action at these races, for some of them, the last outing before the biggest event of the season, the Tour de France.

“We are very motivated for the Nationals. It goes without saying that we would like to be in the mix at the two Belgian races. For the time trial, we have three strong riders, while for Sunday we’ll rely on around a dozen riders on a course where we have some beautiful memories from a couple of years ago. In Italy, Mattia will be our main guy for the time trial, while for the road race it remains to be seen what the guys can do together.”

“In Germany, Max can fight for medals in the time trial, but also be there in the hard road race, despite being alone at the start. France doesn’t have an easy course, but the riders go there with confidence, and depending how the race will go, they could feature in the finale. Ethan had a very good Tour of Belgium and has a fair chance of fighting for the top three this week. In the Czech Republic, Denmark, Netherlands and Slovakia, it won’t be easy, but the boys are motivated, and being the Nationals, you never know”, said Soudal Quick-Step sports director Tom Steels.

Belgium
ITT (June 27): Remco Evenepoel, Yves Lampaert, Ilan Van Wilder.
Road Race (June 29): Ayco Bastiaens, Remco Evenepoel, Yves Lampaert, Junior Lecerf, Tim Merlier, Pieter Serry, Dries Van Gestel, Bert Van Lerberghe, Ilan Van Wilder, Mauri Vansevenant, Jordi Warlop.

Czech Republic
ITT (June 26): Josef Cerny.
Road Race (June 29): Josef Cerny.

Denmark
Road Race (June 29): Casper Pedersen.

France
Road Race (June 29): Antoine Huby, Paul Magnier.

Germany
ITT (June 27): Maximilian Schachmann.
Road Race (June 29): Maximilian Schachmann.

Great Britain
ITT (June 26): Ethan Hayter.
Road Race (June 29): Ethan Hayter.

Italy
ITT (June 26): Mattia Cattaneo, Gianmarco Garofoli, Andrea Raccagni.
Road Race (June 29): Mattia Cattaneo, Gianmarco Garofoli, Andrea Raccagni.

Netherlands
ITT (June 24): Pepijn Reinderink.
Road Race (June 28): Pepijn Reinderink.

Slovakia
ITT (June 26): Martin Svrcek.
Road Race (June 29): Martin Svrcek.

Remco Evenepoel to ride the Belgian TT and road race:

Tour de France Final Stage Over Montmartre Could be Neutralised
There are still less than two weeks until the start of the 112th Tour de France, but people are already looking forward to the final stage to Paris. This is due to the addition of the cobbled climb to Montmartre, but the weather could possibly throw a spanner in the works. If it rains on the Sunday the 27th of July, the organisers can neutralise the final stage. This is stated in the regulations of Tour organiser ASO. The race management and the race commissars can take the following measures with regard to the finish of the final stage on the Champs-Élysées circuit in Paris:

• If the road surface of the local circuit is/becomes slippery before the start of the last lap, the official times may be recorded at the first crossing of the finish.
• If the road surface of the local circuit is/becomes slippery during the race, the official times may be recorded at the next crossing of the finish.
• In both cases, the riders will still finish on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, but the riders and team leaders must be informed immediately. Under all circumstances, the riders are obliged to complete all local circuits in order to be included in the daily results and the final classification of the Tour de France.
• Only one team car (per team) is allowed on the circuit on the Champs-Élysées. The second team leader car must leave the local circuit before the first crossing of the finish.

Those dodgy Paris raods:

Teams Announced for the Giro d’Italia Women
RCS Sport has announced the list of 22 teams that will line up for the Giro d’Italia Women, scheduled from 6 to 13 July.

15 UCI Women’s WorldTeams
AG INSURANCE – SOUDAL TEAM
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO
CERATIZIT PRO CYCLING TEAM
FDJ-SUEZ
FENIX-DECEUNINCK
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH
LIDL – TREK
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO
MOVISTAR TEAM
ROLAND
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL
TEAM SD WORX – PROTIME
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE
UAE TEAM ADQ
UNO-X MOBILITY.

2 UCI Women’s ProTeams
EF EDUCATION – OATLY
LABORAL KUTXA – FUNDACION EUSKADI.

5 UCI Women’s Continental Teams
AROMITALIA 3T VAIANO
BEPINK – IMATRA – BONGIOANNI
ISOLMANT – PREMAC – VITTORIA
TEAM MENDELSPECK E-WORK
TOP GIRLS FASSA BORTOLO
THE ROUTE OF THE GIRO D’ITALIA WOMEN

The 2025 Giro d’Italia Women Route:

Registrations Now Open – Race for $1 Million in MyWhoosh Championships 2025
THE ULTIMATE CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIP IS HERE!

Registrations for the MyWhoosh Championships 2025 are now live—and so is your chance to race for a share of the $1 million prize pool.

Across 7 intense stages, riders will battle through flat, hilly, mountain, and time trial stages. Will you rise above the rest and finish where legends are made?

REGISTER NOW!

MYWHOOSH CHAMPIONSHIPS – MEN

MYWHOOSH CHAMPIONSHIPS – WOMEN
 
KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF MWC 2025

• 7 Days of Racing (7 race days + 1 rest day)
• Hundreds of kilometres in racing distance
• Thousands of meters in elevation gain
• A mix of flat, hilly, mountainous, and time trial stages
• General Classification (GC) format — fastest total time wins
• Equal prize money for men and women
• Every finisher receives an exclusive MyWhoosh Championships kit worth $500

Want to know more about schedule, race format, categories and prize breakdown? Click below:

EVENT PAGE

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The PEZ NEWSWIRE!
Don’t forget to check the “NEWSWIRE” section, you can find it on the homepage, just above the PEZ Shop section. The bits of news that missed the EuroTrash deadline are in there, plus any news as-it-happens will be added there too.

The post EUROTRASH Thursday: The Tour Build-Up Starts Here appeared first on PezCycling News.