Samwise Cycle Racing Newsletter
Monday, June 8, 2026
Vollering Snatches Giro d'Italia Women Title on Final Day, Joining Cycling History
Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) claimed the 2026 Giro d'Italia Women title on the final stage in dramatic fashion, overtaking overnight leader Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) who had held a 49-second advantage entering the decisive finale. Vollering attacked on the last climb of stage 9, bridging to a front group including Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ), Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM), and Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek), before Longo Borghini sprinted to the stage win. Vollering's overall victory makes her only the second woman, after Annemiek van Vleuten, to have won all three Grand Tours, according to Cyclingnews.
Sources: Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly
Baudin Solos to Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Stage One Victory, Claims Yellow Jersey
Frenchman Alex Baudin (EF Education-Oatly) soloed to the biggest win of his career on stage one of the newly renamed Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on Sunday, surviving more than 120 kilometres at the front of the day's breakaway to claim the yellow jersey. Baudin crossed the finish line 32 seconds ahead of Ramses Debruyne (Apt Cycling Team), with Léo Bisiaux (Decathlon CMA CGM) completing the podium. The eight-day race, formerly known as the Critérium du Dauphiné, runs through June 14 as a key warm-up event for the Tour de France, which starts in Barcelona on July 4.
Sources: Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly
Ineos Grenadiers' Onley and Vauquelin Deal Early Blow to GC Rivals at Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Netcompany-Ineos executed a tactical masterclass on stage one of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on Sunday, with Oscar Onley and Kévin Vauquelin infiltrating a late chase group that gained nine seconds on the main GC favourites, including Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), and Paul Seixas (FDJ United-SUEZ). The duo, who each arrived fresh from finishing ninth and tenth in the stage, described the move as deliberately planned to exploit the disorganisation of their rivals. Onley told Cycling Weekly the result established that together the pair could be a competitive force even if neither holds the strongest individual GC credentials.
Sources: Cycling Weekly, Cyclingnews
Ibon Ruiz Takes Debut Professional Victory at Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes
Spanish climber Ibon Ruiz (Equipo Kern Pharma) took the first professional victory of his career at the Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes on June 7, benefiting from a dominant team performance on the final climb to Valberg. Léo Bisiaux (Decathlon CMA CGM) attacked solo with 11.6 kilometres remaining and built a gap of around 20 seconds, but Ruiz's teammate Ivan Sosa set a brutal tempo in the final 2.6 kilometres, closing down the breakaway leader with 450 metres left. Ruiz then accelerated past the faltering Bisiaux to seal victory in the mountainous one-day race in the south of France, reported Cyclingnews.
Sources: Cyclingnews
Ben Oliver Leads Modern Adventure to Tour de Wallonie Overall Victory in Debut European Campaign
New Zealander Ben Oliver (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling) claimed the Tour de Wallonie overall title on June 5, outsprinting Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarche) on the hilly closing stage in Aubel to deliver the American ProTeam its first European GC victory. Oliver secured two stage wins during the five-day Belgian race, adding the overall and points jerseys to his tally. George Hincapie, the team's co-founder and former classics rider, described it as ‘a wicked day for the team’ to Cycling Weekly. Modern Adventure, in its debut European campaign, beat several established WorldTour squads across the week.
Sources: Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly
De Lie Fights Back to Claim Tour de Wallonie Stage Four in Uphill Eupen Finish
Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarche) recovered from a difficult position to win stage four of the Tour de Wallonie on June 4, catching and passing late attacker Riley Sheehan (NSN Cycling) with a powerful solo effort on the uphill finish in Eupen. De Lie, who had been shadowing rivals throughout a tense finale, launched his decisive move inside the final kilometre as Sheehan faded near the top. The stage four win was De Lie's second victory of the 2026 season. He narrowly missed out on the overall title the following day when Ben Oliver outsprinted him on the stage five finish in Aubel, according to Cyclingnews.
Sources: Cyclingnews
Tour de France 2026 Form Guide: Pogačar Leads But Vingeggaard Arrives Battle-Hardened
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) enters the 2026 Tour de France as the overwhelming favourite, having dominated his only stage race this season at the Tour de Romandie where he won four of the six race days. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), arriving with strong Grand Tour form after winning the Giro d'Italia, is considered his primary rival at a race that starts in Barcelona on July 4. Cyclingnews noted that Vingegaard comes into this Tour with his best preparation since 2023. French teenager Paul Seixas (FDJ United-SUEZ) is generating significant excitement ahead of his debut Grand Tour.
Sources: Cyclingnews
Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes GC
After Stage 1 — June 8 Race Day 2
1. Alex Baudin (EF Education-Oatly) — 3:43'58"
2. Ramses Debruyne (Apt Cycling) — +0:32
3. Léo Bisiaux (Decathlon CMA CGM) — s.t.
9. Oscar Onley (Netcompany-Ineos) — s.t. (+9s on GC group)
10. Kévin Vauquelin (Netcompany-Ineos) — s.t.
Giro d'Italia Women — Final GC
Final Standings After Stage 9
1. Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) — Winner
2. Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) — deficit closed from +0:49
Stage 9 winner: Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency