Samwise Cycle Racing Newsletter
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Demi Vollering Wins Giro d’Italia Women to Complete Historic Grand Tour Treble
Demi Vollering delivered one of the most dramatic finales in Grand Tour history to claim the 2026 Giro d’Italia Women overall title. The FDJ United-SUEZ rider attacked on the final climb of stage 9, overtaking pink jersey holder Anna van der Breggen to secure overall victory — 30 seconds ahead of Antonia Niedermaier, with Van der Breggen third at 1:37. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE ADQ) won the stage sprint. “I did it, we did it, I can hardly believe it,” an emotional Vollering said at the finish in Saluzzo. She becomes only the second woman in history to win all three Grand Tours.
Sources: Cycling News, Cycling Weekly
Anthon Charmig Claims First WorldTour Win on Brutal 234km Stage Two
Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Mobility) claimed his first WorldTour victory on stage 2 of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and his first win of any kind since the 2022 Tour of Oman. The Dane escaped alone from a ten-man breakaway on the Côte de Saint-Vidal with 12 kilometres remaining in the 234.3km stage from Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux to Le Puy-en-Velay, finishing 43 seconds clear of Henri-François Renard-Haquin (Picnic PostNL). “It’s an incredible feeling,” Charmig said, noting it was also good timing for Tour de France selection. Race leader Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) came home in the peloton around three minutes down, retaining the yellow jersey ahead of Tuesday’s crucial 28.4km team time trial.
Sources: Cycling News
Alex Baudin Solos to Career-Best Victory on Tour Auvergne Opening Stage
Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) claimed the biggest win of his career on the opening stage of the renamed Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, riding solo to victory in Saint-Ismier after escaping the day’s breakaway on Sunday. The Frenchman took the yellow jersey ahead of a pursuit group containing Oscar Onley and Kévin Vauquelin (Netcompany Ineos), who gained 12 seconds on the main GC favourites including Jorgenson, del Toro, and Ayuso. Baudin’s EF Education-EasyPost squad controlled the peloton to protect their leader’s advantage in the 146.2km stage from Vizille. The win positions Baudin as a surprise race leader ahead of Tuesday’s crucial 28.4km team time trial.
Sources: Cycling News, Cycling Weekly
Jordi Meeus Wins Fourth Race of 2026 Season in Chaotic Brussels Classic Sprint
Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) collected a fourth victory of his 2026 season, winning the 106th Brussels Cycling Classic in a chaotic bunch sprint at the Belgian capital on Sunday. Racing over 206.3km from Etterbeek, the Belgian sprinter benefited from a well-timed lead-out by teammate Danny van Poppel, who launched before Meeus made the decisive final pass. Meeus edged Milan Fretin (Cofidis) and Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling) by around a tyre’s width as several riders were brought down in crashes during the frantic finale. The result continues a strong sprint campaign for Meeus heading into the summer season.
Sources: Cycling News
Pre-Race Crash and Lack of Form Mark Wout van Aert’s Difficult Tour Auvergne Return
Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) endured a tough return to competition at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, racing for the first time since his Paris-Roubaix victory in April. The Belgian’s build-up was complicated by a training crash on his time trial bike. “It was not a nice crash,” he said, having lost the handlebars in a pothole — racing with bandages on his right arm and leg. Van Aert finished 24 minutes down on stage 1. “I wasn’t feeling great immediately,” he admitted, though he insisted he was fit enough to start. The Belgian is using the race to build form ahead of Tour de France preparation.
Sources: Cycling News, Cycling Weekly
João Almeida Admits He Would Not Be Ready for Tour de France
João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) has admitted he is not ready to ride the Tour de France as he continues battling back from a virus that derailed his 2026 season. The Portuguese rider missed the Giro d’Italia due to illness, underwent blood tests after a difficult Volta a Catalunya, and spent nine weeks away from racing. His return at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes has been difficult: he finished last in the gruppetto on stage 1, losing over 24 minutes. “I feel I wouldn’t be ready to ride the Tour de France,” Almeida said, adding that the Vuelta a España is his Grand Tour target for 2026.
Sources: Cycling News
Jorgenson Cedes 12 Seconds to GC Rivals in Tour Auvergne Opener
Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) opened his Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes campaign with an uncomfortable result, losing 12 seconds to Netcompany Ineos pair Oscar Onley and Kévin Vauquelin when they slipped away on the approach to the stage 1 finish. With Decathlon CMA CGM stopping their pacing work in the chase, the American found himself unable to respond. “You can’t follow everyone,” a stone-faced Jorgenson told reporters. He now sits 44 seconds back from race leader Alex Baudin and 12 seconds adrift of Onley and Vauquelin after the first day. Jorgenson switched his pre-Tour de France build-up from the Tour de Suisse to this race, adding pressure to perform well.
Sources: Cycling News
Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes GC
After Stage 2 (Stage 3 TTT today)
1. Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) — leader
2. Onley (Netcompany Ineos) +0:32
3. Vauquelin (Netcompany Ineos) +0:32
4. Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) +0:44
5. Del Toro / Seixas / Ayuso +0:44
Giro d’Italia Women 2026
Final Overall Podium
1. Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) — winner
2. Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM) +0:30
3. Van der Breggen +1:37
Stage 9: Longo Borghini (UAE ADQ)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency