Eugene Oppelt

Today's task - very short stage with a key climb that sets up the perfect dramatic finish. Today is all about the climb midway. The race manual says it’s “easy” and 17km at 5% sounds steady but zoom in because there’s 14km at 6% and the first 8km are close to 7% which is Alpine enough to drop plenty, all on a twisting side road too. Sauce: Inner Ring

Magnier!!! Wearing the Maglia Rosa so far from home is a massive achievement and career milestone for Guillermo Thomas Silva, the man from Uruguay. 📸 Getty Images

"When it rains, it pours; but it's your choice if you drown in it or dance in it." - H. C. Paye

Even in the women’s space, the winners are becoming younger and younger. I attribute this to sports science.

Going through the Balkan mountains today. Bulgaria, I've never been. With 14km to go the climb of out Lyaskovets stings. It’s 2.5km at 9.5% and has long parts of 12% and even an 18% moment on the way up thanks to some tight hairpins. It’s all on a small road in woodland so moving up is costly or probably impossible making this a crunch point for stage contenders and GC riders alike. Sauce: The Inner Ring

Can the 22 year old Magnier hold on to the Maglia Rosa? The breakaway artists will be licking their lips. There may be an audacious GC attack. Hmmm. Let's see.

That’ll warm me up

Ma se kinners - what longevity

Whoooshhh

Quirky. Refreshing.

Promotional content is all over the place here in Italy as the Giro is about to start this weekend. Early wintery conditions. Shiny roads are forecasted for week 1 as well. Hoping the Dane will join the exclusive club of having won all 3 Grand Tours. He expressed his desire to reach this milestone in today’s live presentation. Red Bull segments will be in play. Masters at marketing, that brand. Hmmm. Like a video game of sorts:

No one on their deathbed ever said that ‘I should’ve spend more time at work.’

South Korea, beautiful. Must go.

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." - Marcus Aurelius

2026 begins

Two weeks off the fietse with work travel. Packed my running shoes. 😶 Weltevreden📍

That'll warm me up, Bruuuuu

Seixas' WorldTour career bursts open after a remarkable few weeks. His team will deliberate over the next few days whether he will be at the Tour de France. Here's hoping that he can stay at Decathlon and not get usurped by one of the super wealthy teams.

Western Province Cycling: Team Time Trial 🏁

PPO 🧨

The youngest ever to win atop the Mur de Huy - Paul Seixas He still texts his girlfriend asking his girlfriend how her English test went and prefers games on his iPhone, and could not care about social media

Her name is Saira (Arabic for ‘wanderer’ or traveller).

This is rugby country. 🏉 And definitely one of the epicentres of marathon mountain biking in Feb-April on the calendar. IMG_3232.mov

Bbrrrr!

AMSTEL The 23 year old from Spain that signed up yesterday due to last minute injuries in the UAE team - winner in the women’s race. Welgedaan, Paula Blasi. And a master class from Evenepoel, outsprinting last year’s winner in Skjelmose. 📸 Getty