Gear & Grit Daily: December 09, 2025
Today's cycling news: Ineos Grenadiers Has a 5-Point Plan for Winning the Tour de France, Highlights of 2025 – Part II and more. Daily tracking of pro racing...
Welcome back to Gear & Grit. While British Cycling scrambles for revenue and races disappear from the calendar, the real action is brewing at the sharp end of the sport. Ineos Grenadiers just dropped their blueprint for Tour domination, and cycling's fiercest rivalries are heating up heading into 2026.
Today we're diving deep into Grand Tour strategy, the business pressures reshaping pro cycling, and what it takes to win in July. Whether you're here for the tactical breakdowns or the behind-the-scenes drama, we've got you covered. Let's roll.
⚡ Quick Hits
- Having your cake and eating it: Puck Pieterse on being a multi-disciplinary talent: Puck Pieterse discusses balancing road, cyclocross, and mountain bike careers while targeting Tour de France Femmes.
- [UPDATE] Oscar Onley is not sure he'll be with Picnic next year: Tour de France fourth-place finisher Oscar Onley uncertain about Picnic-PostNL contract for 2026.
- [UPDATE] Jack Haig signs with Ineos through 2027: Jack Haig joins Ineos Grenadiers through 2027 as experienced stage-racing support.
- [UPDATE] Biniam Girmay thinks NSN can challenge for cycling's sprint crown: Biniam Girmay joins Lidl-Trek, confident team can compete for sprint supremacy.
- Bosch buys Magura’s stake in MBPS in strategic expansion of service business: Bosch acquires Magura's stake in MBPS, consolidating control of e-bike service operations.
- Panhandle Bike Ranch suing Idaho county after officials blocked bike park opening despite approvals: Idaho county sued for blocking bike park opening despite regulatory approvals and community support.
- Specialized Seizes $1.6M in Fake Tarmac Frames and Roval Wheels – With AliExpress’s Help: Specialized, AliExpress, and Chinese police dismantle counterfeit bike manufacturing operations worth $1.6M.
- Seven people arrested after counterfeit Specialized manufacturers busted in Chinese police raid: Chinese police raid busts counterfeit Specialized manufacturers; seven arrested in largest anti-counterfeit operation.
📊 By The Numbers
- $1.6M: Value of counterfeit Specialized frames and Roval wheels seized
- 2027: Jack Haig's contract with Ineos Grenadiers runs through this year
- 2026: Tour of Norway cancelled for this year after government cuts
📰 Today's Big Stories
[UPDATE] Ineos Grenadiers Has a 5-Point Plan for Winning the Tour de France
Ineos Grenadiers Unveils 5-Point Plan to Reclaim Tour Dominance
After years of watching Pogačar dominate, Ineos Grenadiers is mounting a comeback with a structured five-point strategy to return to the top of the Tour de France. The British super-team, which once ruled cycling with Froome, Thomas, and Bernal, is signaling a bold new era with a comprehensive plan to challenge the current pecking order.
This matters because it could reshape the Tour's competitive landscape. Ineos still has the resources, infrastructure, and talent pool that made them cycling's most dominant force. If they execute this plan effectively, we could see a return to the tactical, team-driven racing that defined their Sky/Ineos era—offering a genuine challenge to Pogačar's individual brilliance. For fans tired of predictable outcomes, this signals potential fireworks ahead.
Highlights of 2025 – Part II
Giro d'Italia Drama on Colle delle Finestre
The 2025 Giro d'Italia's penultimate stage on the legendary Colle delle Finestre delivered the tension cycling fans crave. With the GC battle razor-tight heading into the final days before Rome, contenders played a cautious game of chess on the brutal gravel climb—each waiting for rivals to crack rather than risking their own position.
This matters because it captures the psychological warfare that defines Grand Tour racing. The Finestre, with its unforgiving white gravel roads, is where Giro dreams are made or shattered. While fans hungered for attacks, the strategic restraint highlighted how modern racing balances aggression with calculation when margins are slim. It's a reminder that the most memorable stages aren't always about solo heroics—sometimes the drama lies in who blinks first when everything's on the line.
Major UCI race cancelled for 2026 after government cuts
Tour of Norway Axed for 2026 as Government Pulls Funding
The Tour of Norway, one of Scandinavia's premier UCI races, won't happen in 2026 after the Norwegian government withdrew financial backing. The multi-stage race has been a fixture on the European calendar, attracting WorldTour and ProTeams to the region each spring.
Why it matters: This is another blow to cycling's mid-tier race calendar, which has seen several events fold or downgrade in recent years due to funding pressures. For riders, it means fewer opportunities to race at the UCI level, particularly in Northern Europe. The cancellation also reflects broader questions about government sports funding priorities and whether cycling can sustain its race portfolio without public support. If this trend continues, expect a more consolidated—and potentially less diverse—professional racing calendar.
British Cycling brings in corporate finance consultants and creates new events wing to "supercharge commercial growth" amid declining membership figures
British Cycling Restructures to Boost Revenue
British Cycling has hired corporate finance consultants and split off its events business into a separate commercial entity, aiming to accelerate revenue growth as membership numbers decline. The governing body says the restructure will help expand its events portfolio and develop new digital income streams.
Why it matters: This signals British Cycling is feeling financial pressure from shrinking membership—likely a concern for the sport's grassroots development and advocacy work. The move toward commercialization could mean more (and potentially pricier) events, but also raises questions about whether the organization will maintain focus on everyday cyclists versus chasing corporate revenue. If you're a BC member or regularly ride their events, expect changes in how the organization operates and potentially what you pay for.
[UPDATE] Cycling’s Best Rivalry Is About to Reignite
## Cycling's Best Rivalry Is About to Reignite
The sport's most electric rivalry is heating up again as Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel prepare to face off in cyclocross. After months focused on road racing, both superstars are returning to the muddy battlegrounds where their legendary head-to-head battles first captivated fans.
This matters because van Aert vs. van der Poel represents cyclocross at its absolute peak—two generational talents with contrasting styles pushing each other to superhuman limits. Their clashes consistently deliver edge-of-your-seat racing that transcends the sport, drawing massive crowds and global attention. For cyclocross purists and casual fans alike, these matchups are must-watch events that showcase technical mastery, raw power, and tactical chess matches played out at threshold. When these two line up together, you're guaranteed fireworks.
🎙️ Fresh Ears
- Power Up Your Nutrition with Stevie Lyn Smith Sports Dietitian: Sports dietitian discusses nutrition strategies for cyclists including cold weather fueling and energy deficiency signs.
📺 Watch List
- 674: The Mistake Most Of Us Make When Training | GCN Show 674: GCN explores grey zone training mistakes, happiness-cycling link study, and Lance Armstrong documentary.
- The Mistake Most Of Us Make When Training | GCN Show 674: GCN explores training mistakes, happiness research, counterfeit bikes, and Lance Armstrong documentary controversy.
- Are Mountain Bikers Too Vain? | Dirt Shed Show 561: GMBN discusses vanity versus performance in mountain biking, emphasizing safety gear importance.
