Samwise Cycle Racing Newsletter
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Quinn Simmons and Kate Courtney Win US Pro Road Nationals
Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) claimed his third USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships title on Sunday with a commanding solo attack from a select lead group with 29 kilometres remaining in the 198.6km race in Charleston, West Virginia. Simmons faced repeated pressure from the 12-strong Modern Adventure squad, who launched attack after attack to force the defending champion to chase throughout the race. Kevin Vermaerke (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) took silver, holding off Larry Warbasse (Tudor) who was closing strongly. In the women’s race, Kate Courtney (She Sends Racing) outsprinted Lauren Stephens to win the elite women’s road title in what Cyclingnews called her first US Road Nationals appearance.
Sources: Cyclingnews Cycling Weekly Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Fred Wright Sprints to Second British National Road Race Title in Aberystwyth
Fred Wright (Pinarello-Q36.5) won his second elite men’s road race title at the British National Championships in Aberystwyth, Wales, outsprinting Lewis Askey (NSN) and Connor Swift (Netcompany Ineos) by a wheel in a tense three-rider sprint finish. The 187.1km course around the Ceredigion region featured 2,586 metres of altitude gain from a field of 140 riders. Wright’s only two professional victories have both been British national titles, his first coming in 2023. The race forms part of national championship week in Wales, with riders aiming to wear their country’s colours at the Tour de France, which begins July 4 in Barcelona.
Sources: Cyclingnews Cycling Weekly Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Zoé Bäckstedt Completes British Championship Double with Epic Solo Road Race Win
Zoé Bäckstedt (Canyon//SRAM) became the first British woman to complete the time-trial and road race double at the national championships since Alice Wood in 2019, adding the elite women’s road race title to her successfully defended time trial crown in Aberystwyth, Wales. Bäckstedt attacked ahead of the finishing circuit and held on for victory after a dominant performance across both disciplines. DAS-Hutchinson’s Josie Knight finished second following a brave solo breakaway of over 90 kilometres, while last year’s champion Millie Couzens (Fenix-Premier Tech) won the sprint from a reduced bunch to complete the podium.
Sources: Cyclingnews Cycling Weekly Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Rune Herregodts Shocks Belgium’s Stars for Biggest Career Win at National Championships
Rune Herregodts (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) claimed the biggest victory of his career at the Belgian National Road Championships, defeating all expectations on the flat Antwerp-to-Brasschaat course in a major upset. The absence of Tim Wellens, Wout van Aert, and Remco Evenepoel opened the race to outsiders, and a large breakaway of 33 riders including Herregodts escaped the peloton. Herregodts said he had “incredible legs” on the day and found himself battling alone for a result he initially thought was beyond him. Cyclingnews described it as “the biggest victory of his career,” capping an emphatic performance in Brasschaat.
Sources: Cyclingnews Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Oscar Onley Ruled Out of Tour de France with Significant Shoulder Injury
Netcompany Ineos have confirmed that Oscar Onley will miss the 2026 Tour de France due to a shoulder injury sustained when he crashed on stage six of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, overshot a left-hander, and dropped into a ravine. Ineos director Geraint Thomas confirmed Onley suffered a dislocated shoulder and a knee wound. The 23-year-old has begun rehabilitation and is making encouraging progress, but cannot recover in time for the July 4 Barcelona start. Cycling Weekly quoted Onley as saying he was “gutted.” In his absence, Netcompany Ineos will be led by Thymen Arensman, with Egan Bernal and Filippo Ganna also named in the squad.
Sources: Cyclingnews Cycling Weekly Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Pogačar Assembles UAE Squad for Record-Equalling Fifth Tour de France Title Bid
UAE Team Emirates-XRG have confirmed the eight-man squad that will support Tadej Pogačar as he chases a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title, beginning in Barcelona on July 4. The team includes Isaac del Toro, who has won three WorldTour stage races in 2026, alongside Adam Yates, Brandon McNulty, Tim Wellens, Nils Politt, Felix Großschartner, and Florian Vermeersch. Pogačar described the group as “a fantastic group of teammates and staff.” A fifth victory would place the Slovenian alongside Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain in the club of five-time Tour winners, according to Cyclingnews.
Sources: Cyclingnews Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
World Champion Magdeleine Vallieres Signs Long-Term Extension with EF Education-Oatly Through 2028
EF Education-Oatly have extended their contract with women’s world champion Magdeleine Vallieres through 2028, the team confirmed, with the Canadian rider taking on an expanded leadership role within the squad going forward. EF General Manager Esra Tromp called the championship win “a just reward for her work ethic and dedication and her courage to back herself.” Vallieres’ goals include targeting the Ardennes classics, testing herself as a GC racer, and defending her rainbow jersey at the UCI Road World Championships in Montréal later this year. The extension builds on her existing multi-year deal, according to Cyclingnews.
Sources: Cyclingnews Cycling Weekly Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
York Analysis: Vingegaard Will Try, But Pogačar Remains Near-Impossible to Beat at Tour de France
Cyclingnews analyst Philippa York argues that Jonas Vingegaard, who completed the Grand Tour treble by winning the 2026 Giro d’Italia, will push Tadej Pogačar hard at the Tour de France beginning July 4 — but defeating the Slovenian will require Pogačar to falter through illness or injury. York notes Pogačar has “hardly set a foot wrong” in 2026, his only major defeat being Paris-Roubaix. Vingegaard adopted a new preparation strategy this year, racing the Giro instead of his usual Critérium du Dauphiné build-up, which Cyclingnews described as his “strongest Tour de France preparation yet” — but significant questions remain about whether the novel approach will close the gap to Pogačar.
Sources: Cyclingnews Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
UCI Men's World Tour Rankings
Individual (Top 3 — Source: PCS)
1. Tadej Pogačar — 11,593 pts | UAE Team Emirates-XRG
2. Jonas Vingegaard — 8,625 pts | Visma-Lease a Bike
3. Isaac del Toro — 5,340 pts | UAE Team Emirates-XRG
Up Next: Tour de France 2026
Grand Départ — July 4, Barcelona
● Stage 1: Team Time Trial — Barcelona
● 21 stages — July 4–26, 2026
● Favourite: Pogačar (UAE) vs Vingegaard (Visma)
● TdF Femmes: Aug 1–9, Swiss Grand Départ
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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