In this cycling news roundup: Demi Vollering capped a dominant spring with a solo Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes victory, while Tadej Pogačar capped his spring reign with a win at Liège. Giulio Pellizzari took the Tour of the Alps overall, Tom Crabbe opened the Tour of Turkey with a sprint win, and Nairo Quintana soloed to an emotional stage victory at the Vuelta Asturias. The Tour de Romandie faces a depleted field after four WorldTeams opt out, and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift begins its countdown to a Swiss Grand Départ in Lausanne on August 1.
TOP STORY
-
READER POLL: What Was Your Favorite Spring Classic?
RACE NEWS
- Vollering Solos to Liège Victory in Pogi-esque Display
- The Other Rising European Talent: Pellizzari Takes Final Stage and Overall at Tour of the Alps
- Quintana Returns to Winning Form Against Tragic Backdrop
- Tour de Romandie Faces Thin Start List Despite Star-Studded Top
- Switzerland Takes Centre Stage: Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Countdown Begins
TEAM, RIDER AND CYCLING NEWS
- Visma | Lease A Bike Releases Two Tour de France Jerseys
- Want to Own Pogačar’s Bike? It’ll Cost You.
VIDEO
- Press Conference with the Little Rock Nine
READER POLL: What Was Your Favorite Spring Classic?
Liège-Bastogne-Liège served up more drama than in the last couple of years, and it confirmed that Pogačar remains the strongest cyclist in the world, that Paul Seixas is most likely to remove that crown — and that Remco Evenepoel is the strongest flat-road rider in the pro peloton.
But how does this edition of La Doyenne stack up against spring 2026’s other Classics? We’re putting that question to you!
Calling to mind the (literal) ups and downs of spring races in Italy, Belgium, France and the Netherlands, which race do you remember most fondly?
Did you most enjoy watching Pogi take down his competition along the Tuscan white roads at Strade Bianche?
Or seeing him recover from a crash and edge Pidcock to nab his fourth Monument at Milan-Sanremo?
Maybe it was following Pogačar to another emphatic win over the cobbled climbs of the Tour of Flanders…
…or witnessing a rare Pogačar loss — at the hands of Wout van Aert at Paris-Roubaix?
Were you a fan of the non-Pog twists and turns of Remco’s win at Amstel Gold?
Or did you most enjoy watching Paul Seixas put Pogačar under (a little) pressure at Liège-Bastogne-Liège?
My previous response notwithstanding, I’ll be sharing my thoughts soon — but please share your own as well, by responding to the poll below, and by emailing me with your explanations and elaborations at mike@pezcyclingnews.com.
Because before you know it, we’ll have turned the page on the 2026 spring Classics; it’s almost Giro time!
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.
RACE NEWS
Vollering Solos to Liège Victory in Pogi-esque Display
Demi Vollering delivered one of the great solo performances in recent women’s cycling memory on Sunday, riding away from the entire field on the Côte de La Redoute to win Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes with 34 kilometers still to race.
The European champion, already victorious at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the Tour of Flanders, and Flèche Wallonne this spring, simply had a different engine to everyone else. Her acceleration on the Redoute — delivered seated, controlled, almost contemptuous — was the kind of move that draws inevitable comparisons to a certain Tadej Pogačar. Clinical, devastating, and utterly final.
Nobody could follow. Not defending champion Puck Pieterse, not the tenacious Kasia Niewiadoma, not the revelatory Isabella Holmgren, who had been one of the day’s most impressive performers inside the breakaway. Within kilometers, twenty seconds became a minute, and a minute became a statement.
Vollering crested the Roche-aux-Faucons alone and in full command, eventually crossing the line for her third Liège victory, putting a very loud exclamation point on a spring campaign that will be discussed for years.
Behind her, Anna van der Breggen found extraordinary reserves to bridge across to Pieterse and Niewiadoma on the final climb. The three could not separate each other, and in the ensuing sprint, Pieterse was sharpest to claim second ahead of Niewiadoma and Van der Breggen.
But Sunday belonged entirely to Vollering.
The Other Rising European Talent: Pellizzari Takes Final Stage and Overall at Tour of the Alps
Giulio Pellizzari won the final stage of the Tour of the Alps (2.Pro) — and sealed the General Classification win — with a courageous attack around 28 kilometres from the finish. Pellizzari broke away from his fiercest rivals on the final climb of the 128.6 kilometre stage from Trento to Bolzano and rode solo to victory, crossing the finish line 30 seconds ahead of Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) and last year’s winner Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team); those four riders also took the first four spots in the overall competition.
Pellizzari and Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe had already set the course for overall victory on the second stage, when the Italian took the lead with a stage win. The team rode defensively through most of the final stage, controlling the pace for long stretches and eventually positioning Pellizzari for his decisive attack.
Said Pellizzari of the win, “I didn’t win the Tour of the Alps myself; it’s a victory for Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe. The guys have simply done an incredible job in the last few days, so I wanted to return that trust. When I saw my chance, I went for it. The fact that I was able to carry the attack through to the finish and win solo just makes this day perfect.”
While young phenom Paul Seixas has been stirring excitement in his native France, Pellizzari’s recent performance, capped by his Tour of the Alps victory — his first as a professional — has Italian fans wondering if they are witnessing the rise of their next champion. The win serves as a promising signal for the Tour of Italy, which begins on May 8th — with Pellizzari on the starting line.
Top Ten — 49th Tour of the Alps, courtesy of Pro Cycling Stats
Quintana Returns to Winning Form Against Tragic Backdrop
Nairo Quintana reminded the cycling world he remains not just active, but spirited and competitive, soloing to victory on stage two of the 2026 Vuelta Asturias at the age of 36. The Colombian climber crossed the line alone in Pola de Lena, reclaiming the race lead and sparking scenes of genuine emotion after a deeply difficult day for the peloton.
The stage was a stern test, featuring over 140 kilometers of demanding terrain including the Category 1 Alto de la Colladiella. It was on the final ascent, the punishing Alto de Carabanzo, that Quintana made his decisive move. With seven kilometers remaining, he attacked the young Spanish climber Adrià Pericas — who had been setting a blistering pace — and rode clear to win alone, with Diego Pescador eventually taking third.
Quintana dedicated the victory to Cristian Camilo Muñoz, the 30-year-old Colombian rider who passed away in hospital on Friday following complications from a knee injury suffered at the Tour du Jura. His team, NU Colombia, withdrew from the race entirely in mourning. Tadej Pogačar, once Muñoz’s teammate, wore a black armband during at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and pointed to the sky in tribute as he crossed the finish line first.
It was a victory tinged with grief, but also one full of meaning — a champion paying the finest tribute he knows how to give.
Tour de Romandie Faces Thin Start List Despite Star-Studded Top
The Tour de Romandie boasts an impressive top of its start list, with Tadej Pogačar, Florian Lipowitz, and Primož Roglič among the contenders. But the overall field tells a different story. Four WorldTeams — Uno-X, Lotto-Intermarché, Decathlon CMA CGM, and Alpecin-Premier Tech — have withdrawn, leaving just 15 teams and 105 riders, a notably thin peloton for a WorldTour event.
The absences stem from a new UCI rule, effective January 1, 2026, that allows each WorldTeam to skip one WorldTour race per year. All four absent teams have used that option on Romandie.
Organizer Richard Chassot says he understands some of the decisions. Uno-X and Lotto-Intermarché, both classics-oriented teams, were no great surprise. Decathlon CMA CGM, however, prompted him to seek an explanation. The French squad cited two factors: the Giro d’Italia begins in Hungary just five days after Romandie ends, creating logistical strain, and their key climber Paul Seixas was unavailable. With only sprinters free — and no sprint stages on the Romandie route — the team felt the fit simply wasn’t there.
Chassot accepts the reasoning but acknowledges the cumulative effect is painful. “It only becomes really annoying when four teams skip your race in the same year,” he said, adding that the teams must return next year under the rules.
A planned wildcard invitation to Swiss ProTeam Q36.5 also fell through due to injuries and roster shortages, leaving no replacement options.
Despite the setbacks, Chassot remains confident in Romandie’s calendar slot. The race faces no competing WorldTour events on the same dates and benefits from a relatively clear sporting landscape. A smaller peloton, he notes, even has its upsides — fewer crashes in an era where racing is faster and more dangerous than ever.
Switzerland Takes Centre Stage: Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Countdown Begins
In 100 days, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will make history with a Swiss Grand Départ, launching from Lausanne on August 1, 2026 — Switzerland’s National Day. The milestone was marked with a symbolic ceremony on Lake Geneva, uniting officials from the three host cities of Lausanne, Aigle, and Geneva.
Switzerland is a natural fit for the race. The UCI and World Cycling Centre are based in Aigle, and the country has a proud women’s cycling heritage, from Barbara Heeb’s 1996 world title to Marlen Reusser’s recent rainbow jersey. Local riders Reusser and Élise Chabbey are among those tipped to thrive on home roads.
Race director Marion Rousse promises racing that is “decisive from the very first kilometres,” with a selective loop around Lausanne on Stage 1 before the peloton heads to Geneva and ultimately into France on Stage 3.
To mark the countdown, Lausanne received the prestigious four-bike “Tour de France Cycle City” label, recognising its outstanding commitment to cycling infrastructure and promotion.
Over the next 100 days, all three cities will host events designed to inspire the next generation of Swiss champions.
TEAM, RIDER AND CYCLING NEWS
Visma | Lease A Bike Releases Two Tour de France Jerseys
I don’t know if Visma’s annual “Tour de France Jersey” release is a stroke of marketing genius, or raw opportunism; either way, it works.
As the squad’s yellow jerseys (not its Yellow Jerseys, though it does have a few of those) might sow confusion among fans, commentators and rivals during the Tour de France, Visma | Lease A Bike has taken annually to releasing a Tour-only version.
This year the team put it up to its fans, and after more than 100,000 votes were cast, Jonas, Wout and the boys will wear the “dark jersey” style (worn above on Wout van Aert himself.).
BUT — news flash! — as the vote was very close, Team Visma | Lease a Bike has decided to also release the “light” edition, designating this close-second choice as the “Rest Day” jersey. (I’m always struck by Tour riders pedaling for 3+ hours on the “rest” day. It’s all relative, I know, but…When I rest, I rest.
This struck me as cool: The limited-edition jerseys are available for pre-order from now until May 3 via the team’s website — and unlike some authentic team goods (See below), the prices don’t look dauntingly expensive — especially considering that you can personalize your jersey with your own name free of charge.
The team says that both jerseys are “rooted in the creative concept The Architect, inspired by the work of Antoni Gaudí and the visual identity of Barcelona. The honeycomb structure symbolises the team’s collective strength, now expressed across two distinct editions.”
Men’s, women’s, and even children’s versions are available at www.teamvismaleaseabike.com.
Want to Own Pogačar’s Bike? It’ll Cost You.
The folks at Bikeroom reached out, asking if Pez wanted to promote a bike sale they’re hosting.
Typically we’d turn down such an offer, but…this is Tadej Pogačar’s bike, the very one he rode in the Ardennes Classics last year.
Recently we posted a link to a charity auction where readers could bid on the skinsuit that Pog wore in Milan-Sanremo — the skinsuit that was torn in his pre-Cipressa crash.
It appears that this auction’s proceeds don’t go to charity; we presume they go to UAE Team Emirates. (Maybe? After all, even sovereign wealth funds need to be cost-conscious.)
Bikeroom told us that they’ve “partnered with Colnago to bring to auction the Colnago V5Rs raced by Tadej Pogačar during the 2025 Ardennes Classics — in the full UAE Team Emirates-XRG World Champion livery. The bike is certified authentic by Colnago and Bikeroom, was fully restored by our mechanics, ready to be owned by the next collector or rider.”
The auction opens Monday, April 27, and closes May 11. You can find it on bike-room.com.
The auction opens on 27 April and closes 11 May 2026, exclusively on bike-room.com,
Oh — the starting bid? Just €30,000.
The racing comes fast and furiously this time of year, but we took a beat to rewatch Richard’s account of a press conference with the Little Rock Nine a few years ago. We hope you’ll give it a watch as well.
Gotta Comment, thought or suggestion? Drop us a line at Content@PezCyclingNews.com
The post EUROTRASH: Reader Poll — What Was Your Favorite Spring Classic? appeared first on PezCycling News.
