Samwise Cycle Racing Newsletter
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Wout van Aert Undergoes Surgery After Elbow Infection, Ruled Out of Tour de France
Wout van Aert has been ruled out of the 2026 Tour de France after an infected elbow wound from a training crash required surgery. Visma-Lease a Bike confirmed the wound, sustained before the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, developed an unexpected infection requiring surgical intervention. “Intervention was necessary. Otherwise, he could have contracted sepsis,” said Mathieu Heijboer, the team’s Head of Performance. Van Aert had already abandoned the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes before Stage 6 and missed Visma’s altitude training camp. Recovery requirements made it impossible for him to reach top form in time for the July 4 Barcelona start. His next race is now targeted as the Vuelta a España in August.
Sources: Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly
Casper van Uden Claims Tour de Suisse Stage 3 Sprint as Pogačar Holds Yellow Jersey
Casper van Uden took stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse in Bad Ragaz on Friday, winning the sprint finish ahead of Kaden Groves and Rémi Cavagna. General classification leader Tadej Pogačar retained his yellow jersey following the stage, maintaining a 2:50 lead over Richard Carapaz of EF Education-EasyPost. Pogačar won the race’s opening stage from more than 70 kilometres out and has dominated the five-day Swiss race. Stage 3 ran from Bad Ragaz to Bad Ragaz, giving sprinters their main opportunity of the week before Saturday’s individual time trial and Sunday’s final mountain stage.
Sources: ProCyclingStats, Cyclingnews
Zoe Bäckstedt Stuns Field With Scorching Long-Range Sprint on Tour de Suisse Women Stage 3
Zoe Bäckstedt won stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse Women on Friday with a dominant sprint launched from nearly 300 metres out, opening a decisive gap on the finishing straight to claim her ninth professional victory. The Welshwoman, riding for Canyon-SRAM, finished ahead of Lily Williams of Human Powered Health in second and Shari Bossuyt of AG Insurance-Soudal in third. General classification leader Elisa Longo Borghini, who took the GC lead with a stage 2 victory and an attack on the final climb in Locarno, retained her overall advantage heading into Saturday’s individual time trial and Sunday’s final stage.
Sources: Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly
Ronan Augé Wins Stage 2 Sprint at La Route d’Occitanie as Pyrenean Mountain Finale Looms
Ronan Augé won stage 2 of La Route d’Occitanie CIC on Friday, taking the sprint finish in Saint-Gaudens ahead of Matteo Moschetti and Axel Zingle. The French stage race now heads into the Pyrénées for Saturday’s Stage 3 mountain finish at Loudenvielle, covering 172 kilometres and 3,426 metres of elevation gain from Loures-Barousse. The summit finish at Loudenvielle is expected to be the decisive point in the general classification battle before Sunday’s concluding stage. The mountainous profile, climbing through the Pyrénées to Loudenvielle, gives climbers their first opportunity to break open the race.
Sources: ProCyclingStats
How Can Visma Replace Wout van Aert at the Tour de France for Jonas Vingegaard?
Cyclingnews has examined how Visma-Lease a Bike may adjust their Tour de France strategy after Wout van Aert was ruled out of the July 4 Barcelona start due to elbow surgery. The piece analyses which riders Visma have available to absorb Van Aert’s roles in support of Jonas Vingegaard’s attempt to win the yellow jersey back from defending champion Tadej Pogačar. Cyclingnews described Van Aert’s absence as a “huge loss” for both Vingegaard and the race itself. Visma will formally announce their Tour de France team on June 23, with the race starting in Barcelona on July 4 with a team time trial Grand Départ.
Sources: Cyclingnews
Tour de Suisse: Pogačar Holds 2:50 Lead as Riders Head Into Saturday’s Aarburg Time Trial
Tour de Suisse riders contest a 23.7-kilometre individual time trial in Aarburg on Saturday, with general classification leader Tadej Pogačar holding a 2:50 advantage over Richard Carapaz of EF Education-EasyPost heading into the stage. Pogačar won the opening stage from more than 70 kilometres out and has led throughout the five-day race. The women’s time trial over the same course in Aarburg begins at 10:45 CET, with overall leader Elisa Longo Borghini defending her position. Men’s start times begin at 14:57 CET. Both men’s and women’s races conclude on Sunday with a final mountain stage.
Sources: Cyclingnews, ProCyclingStats
Tour de Suisse — Men’s GC
After Stage 3 — June 19
1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) — leader
2. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) — +2:50
Stage 4 ITT in Aarburg (23.7 km) underway Saturday
Tour de Suisse Women — GC
After Stage 3 — June 19
1. Elisa Longo Borghini — GC leader
Stage 3 winner: Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon-SRAM)
Women’s Stage 4 ITT begins 10:45 CET Saturday
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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