Gear & Grit Daily: January 13, 2026
Today's cycling news: Exclusive: WorldTour team owners are driving a new reform project, Why Vingegaard Sees the Giro-Tour Double as His Best Move in the Pog...
Welcome back to Gear & Grit. While most riders are still logging base miles, the biggest battles of 2026 are already being fought—and they're happening off the bike. WorldTour team owners are pushing a major reform project that could reshape pro cycling's power structure, while questions about burnout and the sport's relentless intensity are sparking real debate.
From Vingegaard's strategic Giro-Tour gamble to January's already-questionable tactical decisions, today's edition tackles the business decisions, mental health concerns, and competitive chess moves defining modern cycling. Let's dive in.
⚡ Quick Hits
- [UPDATE] Alvarado, Nys and Del Grosso among winners on day 2 of CX national champs: Elite cyclocross national championships conclude with Alvarado, Nys, Del Grosso claiming victories.
- [UPDATE] Aussie Road Nationals: Pat Eddy takes surprise win in bizarre finale: Pat Eddy wins Australian Road Nationals in dramatic finish after teammate chases down race leader.
- [UPDATE] Aussie Road Nationals: Mackenzie Coupland wins women's road race in Liv AlUla Jayco 1-2: WorldTour neo-pro Mackenzie Coupland wins Australian road nationals with late attack.
- [UPDATE] Dream Opportunity Arrives for Matteo Jorgenson: ‘I’d Like to Try a Grand Tour as a Leader’: Matteo Jorgenson positioned for Grand Tour leadership role following Simon Yates' Visma exit.
- [UPDATE] Norbert Riberolle headlines day 1 of CX national champs weekend: Cyclocross national championships begin across Europe with Riberolle leading day one competition.
- Judge criticised for extraordinary 'nightmare cyclists' comments after slashing damages by 80% for Dublin rider who suffered brain injury in collision: Judge criticized for dismissive comments toward cyclists while slashing injury damages by 80%.
- Matthew Lefthand Named 2025 World Cup Champion by the World Ultra-Cycling Association: Matthew Lefthand wins 2025 World Ultra-Cycling Association championship in impressive rookie season.
- [UPDATE] Why Keegan Swenson joined Specialized – and what it says about gravel’s future: Keegan Swenson's move to Specialized signals gravel cycling's evolution into professional team-backed sport.
📊 By The Numbers
- 500km: Distance of bizarre McDonald's drive-thru ride completed by cyclist
- 33: Age Simon Yates retired, sparking burnout concerns in cycling
- 80%: Damages slashed for Dublin cyclist with brain injury
📰 Today's Big Stories
Exclusive: WorldTour team owners are driving a new reform project
Two billionaire team owners are spearheading a fresh attempt to overhaul professional cycling's business model, rising from the failed One Cycling project. The effort aims to restructure how WorldTour racing operates financially, though specific details remain under wraps.
Why it matters: Pro cycling's current economic model is notoriously unstable—teams scramble for sponsors annually while riders face uncertain futures. If successful, this reform could bring NFL or Premier League-style stability to the sport, meaning better-funded teams, more secure rider contracts, and potentially improved racing. For fans, it could mean fewer mid-season team collapses and more consistent competition. The involvement of deep-pocketed owners suggests this attempt has more firepower than previous reform efforts, but cycling's fractured governance structure has killed similar proposals before.
[UPDATE] Why Vingegaard Sees the Giro-Tour Double as His Best Move in the Pogačar Era
Vingegaard's Giro-Tour Gamble
Jonas Vingegaard is targeting the Giro d'Italia-Tour de France double in 2025, a rare and punishing feat that only a handful of riders have achieved. The Danish champion sees racing more—not less—as his best strategy to counter Tadej Pogačar's dominance after losing the last two Tours.
Why it matters: This signals a major tactical shift in the Pogačar-Vingegaard rivalry. Rather than arrive at the Tour fresh, Vingegaard is betting that extra racing will sharpen his form and potentially stretch Pogačar's focus. It's a high-risk play—the Giro-Tour double is notoriously difficult, with fatigue often derailing July ambitions. But with Pogačar seemingly unbeatable when both peak for the Tour, Vingegaard is searching for any edge. The move could reshape grand tour strategy for the sport's elite.
[UPDATE] It’s Only January and We’ve Already Seen the Season’s Worst Tactics
Jayco-AlUla's Tactical Disaster Down Under
In a stunning display of poor race tactics at the Australian National Championships, WorldTour team Jayco-AlUla snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Luke Plapp chased down his own teammate who was in a breakaway, neutralizing their advantage and handing the national title to a rival from a third-tier team.
This matters because it's a masterclass in what not to do. When you have a rider up the road, the last thing you do is chase them down—especially at nationals where the winner gets to wear the green-and-gold jersey all season. It's a reminder that even top-tier teams can bungle basic race strategy, and that communication and tactical discipline matter as much as raw power. For the winner, it's a career-defining upset that proves smart racing beats big budgets.
[UPDATE] Evenepoel Who? Legendary Belgian Team Pivots Back to Smash-Mouth Cobbles Racing
Quick-Step Returns to Its Cobbled Roots
With Remco Evenepoel's departure, Quick-Step is abandoning Grand Tour ambitions and returning to what made them legendary: one-day classics dominance. The Belgian squad has signed cobbles specialists Dylan van Baarle and Jasper Stuyven, signaling a full-throated return to smash-mouth racing on the pavé.
This matters because it's a rare case of a team choosing identity over chasing stage race glory. Quick-Step built its reputation winning monuments like Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders—races that demand tactical brutality and bike-handling wizardry. By doubling down on classics rather than spreading resources thin on GC contenders, they're betting that specialization beats diversification. For fans, it means more aggressive, entertaining racing where Quick-Step excels. The cobbles just got a lot more interesting.
In Year Two of an Unexpected Comeback, Anna Van Der Breggen Has a Huge Target in Mind
One of women's cycling's greatest champions, Anna van der Breggen, is entering 2026 with renewed ambition after her surprise return to racing. The Dutch legend, who retired from competition to become a directeur sportif before making an unexpected comeback, appears to be hitting her stride with major targets on the horizon.
Why it matters: Van der Breggen's palmares speaks for itself—Olympic gold, multiple world championships, and Giro Rosa victories. Her return adds serious firepower to an already competitive women's peloton. If she's coming back stronger in year two, we could see her challenging for the sport's biggest prizes again. For fans, it's a rare chance to watch a legend race at the highest level after seemingly hanging up the wheels for good.
🎙️ Fresh Ears
- 405: Top Coaches Share Strategies on Base Training with Limited Time: Top coaches reveal base training strategies for time-crunched cyclists and what actually matters.
- Movistar Team 2026 Preview: Movistar Team 2026 roster preview covering transfers, leadership changes, and season planning.
- NSN Cycling Team 2026 Preview: NSN Cycling Team 2026 preview covering transfers, roster changes, and season outlook.
📺 Watch List
- 679: Are Cyclists Burning Out Earlier Than Ever? | GCN Show Ep. 679: GCN examines if modern pro cycling's intensity causes earlier burnout amid recent retirements.
- Is Cycling Now Too Hard? | GCN Show Ep. 679: GCN explores whether modern pro cycling's intensity causes early burnout, analyzing Simon Yates' retirement and industry trends.
- Zone 2 The Facts... 🤨: Analysis of Zone 2 training relevance and effectiveness for cyclists in 2026.
