Samwise Cycle Racing Newsletter
Sunday, June 28, 2026
Jonathan Milan Sprints to First Italian National Road Title in Cuneo as Lidl-Trek Controls Race
Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) sprinted to his first Italian national road race title on Saturday in Cuneo, with his squad exercising firm control over the 225-kilometre race throughout. Lidl-Trek kept the early breakaway on a tight leash and forced a regrouping with 64 kilometres to go, delivering a bunch sprint finish. In the final 250 metres, Milan came off the wheel of Alessandro Romele (XDS_Astana), powering past to claim the maglia tricolore. Tommaso Dati (Team UKYO) finished second, with Romele taking third. The victory gives Milan his first senior Italian national road championship title.
Sources: Cyclingnews Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Franziska Koch Claims Third Consecutive German National Road Title to Complete Championships Double
Franziska Koch (FDJ United-Suez) made it three consecutive German national road race titles on Saturday in Bad Liebenstein, adding road race gold to the time trial title she won the previous day. The 109-kilometre race — shortened from 136.5 km and delayed by one hour due to heat approaching 37°C — came down to a five-rider breakaway sprint. Koch powered past three-time champion Liane Lippert (Movistar) to claim her third straight win, with Lippert settling for second as she did in 2024, and Justyna Czapla (Canyon-SRAM) taking third. Koch leaves as a double national champion.
Sources: Cyclingnews Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Célia Géry Takes First Senior French National Road Title with Devastating Solo Attack
Célia Géry (FDJ United-SUEZ) claimed her first senior French national road race title on Saturday at La Tour du Pin, launching a devastating solo attack on the final ascent after teammate Juliette Berthet paced her to the decisive point. Géry accelerated clear near the top of the climb and rode solo to the finish in the 111.4-kilometre race. Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) finished second, five seconds back, with Émilie Morier (St-Michel-Preference Home-Auber 93) taking third. The win gives Géry the French national jersey for the first time in her career.
Sources: Cyclingnews Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Grégor Mühlberger Ruled Out of Tour de France After Altitude Camp Setback; Kooij Eyed as Replacement
Gregor Mühlberger (Decathlon CMA CGM) will miss the Tour de France, the 32-year-old Austrian climber confirmed on social media on Saturday after a devastating blow to his preparations. Mühlberger had skipped the Tour de Suisse and the Austrian Road Championships to focus entirely on altitude training with his team, targeting a start in Barcelona. “I put everything into the preparation at the team altitude camp in France. Full focus, full discipline, no shortcuts and everything was going to plan,” he wrote. Sprinter Olav Kooij, who posted three consecutive victories including the Baloise Belgium Tour, is among the candidates to take his place.
Sources: Cyclingnews Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Edoardo Affini Crashes Heavily at Italian National Championships and Placed Under Monitoring Before Tour de France
Visma-Lease a Bike face another potential Tour de France roster blow after Edoardo Affini crashed heavily at the Italian National Championships on Saturday. Affini was taken from the course by ambulance following a high-speed fall, with footage showing his bike retrieved from over a guardrail. The team said Affini “will be monitored” ahead of the Tour de France, which begins in Barcelona in under a week. The crash compounds Visma’s pre-Tour difficulties after Wout van Aert was ruled out due to an elbow infection, leaving Jonas Vingegaard’s support squad considerably weakened going into the race.
Sources: Cyclingnews Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Magnus Cort Announces Retirement at Season End; Tour de France Will Be His Final Race
Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility) has announced he will retire from professional cycling at the end of the 2026 season, with the upcoming Tour de France set to be his final race. The 33-year-old, who has won stages in all three Grand Tours during a hugely successful career, revealed his decision ahead of the Barcelona Grand Départ. “Eventually you start becoming ready to stop,” Cort said. “I still feel that I am riding at 100%, but I have been in this for many years, and there is a lot you have to sacrifice to be part of it.” Cort has a trip to Nepal planned after retiring.
Sources: Cyclingnews Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Mireia Benito Wins Spanish National Road Title to Complete Championships Double as Favourite Blasi Withdraws
Mireia Benito won the elite Spanish national road race title on Saturday, fending off a Movistar duo in the final stages to complete a double at the championships. Benito had won the time trial the previous day, and her road race victory gives her both national jerseys from the same championships weekend. The race unfolded without top favourite Paula Blasi, who was forced to withdraw ahead of the road race, stating she found it hard to move. Benito’s double title haul gives her two Spanish national champion jerseys from a single championship weekend.
Sources: Cyclingnews Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
UCI World Tour — Men
Individual Rankings
1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE-XRG) — 11,593 pts
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-LAB) — 8,625 pts
3. Isaac del Toro (UAE-XRG) — 5,340 pts
Tour de France starts July 4 in Barcelona
UCI Women’s World Ranking
Individual Rankings
1. Demi Vollering — 7,286 pts
2. Paula Blasi — 4,814 pts
3. Anna van der Breggen — 4,561 pts
Source: ProCyclingStats
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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