Gear & Grit Daily: January 23, 2026
Today's cycling news: Exclusive: America’s biggest road race is on the brink, “Transformational” cycling schemes saved NHS over £13 million, new research rev...
Welcome back to Gear & Grit. While the cycling world watches Australia burn—literally—today's newsletter cuts through to what matters: the sport's reckoning with reality.
The Tour Down Under just axed Willunga Hill due to extreme fire danger, days after riders blasted its oil and gas sponsorship. Meanwhile, stateside, America's premier road race teeters on collapse. But it's not all crisis: new UK research proves cycling infrastructure saves millions in healthcare costs. The tension between cycling's climate-conscious culture and its commercial dependencies has never been sharper. Let's dig in.
⚡ Quick Hits
- Exclusive: America's biggest road race is on the brink: Maryland Cycling Classic faces financial crisis threatening America's biggest road race.
- [UPDATE] The Most Important Early Test of Tour de France Form Is in the Least Expected Place: Vingegaard, Del Toro, Evenepoel clash at UAE Tour on new climb testing Tour de France form.
- [UPDATE] Tour Down Under: Hello and welcome to the UAE Show: UAE Team dominates Tour Down Under's first GC day with strong 1-2 finish.
- [UPDATE] UAE Blows Up Tour Down Under with Early-Season Warning Shot: UAE Team Emirates dominates Tour Down Under stage 2 with Vine and Narváez taking 1-2 finish.
- [UPDATE] Canyon axes up to 320 jobs as part of "continued consolidation", two weeks after claiming business not in crisis: Canyon axes 320 jobs amid continued market consolidation and industry challenges.
- [UPDATE] Welsford Dethroned: Andresen Fastest in Tour Down Under Sprint Opener: Tobias Lund Andresen wins Tour Down Under sprint stage, defeating defending champion Welsford.
- [UPDATE] Canyon to reduce workforce by up to 320: Canyon reduces workforce by 320 amid industry oversupply and declining sales.
- Cycle project delivers £100million+ in social value and saves NHS millions; prompts renewed calls for long term investment: UK cycling project generates £100M+ social value, saves NHS millions, sparks investment calls.
📊 By The Numbers
- £100m: Health and social value delivered by cycling schemes since 2019
- 43°C: Forecast temperature that forced Tour Down Under stage modification
- 320 jobs: Canyon workforce reduction as part of consolidation measures
📰 Today's Big Stories
Exclusive: America’s biggest road race is on the brink
America's Premier Road Race Faces Uncertain Future
The Maryland Cycling Classic—the highest-ranked UCI professional road race in America—is fighting for survival just three years after its 2022 debut. The race, which was originally planned for 2020 but delayed by COVID, quickly became the top U.S. event on the international calendar but now faces a severe financial and organizational crisis.
Why it matters: This isn't just another race struggling—it's the flagship American road race, the kind of event that attracts WorldTour teams and puts U.S. cycling on the global map. If the Maryland Classic folds, it leaves a massive void in American professional racing and signals deeper troubles for the sport's viability stateside. For fans and aspiring pros, fewer top-tier domestic races means less access to world-class competition and fewer pathways to the sport's highest levels.
[UPDATE] “Transformational” cycling schemes saved NHS over £13 million, new research reveals – as governing bodies call for £30m “targeted public investment” to leave lasting Tour de France legacy and turn Britain into “true nation of cyclists”
New research shows Britain's Places to Ride programme has delivered over £100 million in health and social value since 2019, saving the NHS more than £13 million. The findings come as cycling bodies push for £30 million in targeted public investment to capitalize on the Tour de France's UK presence and build a lasting legacy of cycling infrastructure.
Why it matters: The data proves what cyclists have long argued—investing in safe places to ride isn't just good for riders, it's economically smart. Every pound spent on cycling schemes returns multiple pounds in healthcare savings and social benefits. With concrete evidence in hand, advocates now have ammunition to demand the infrastructure Britain needs to become a "true nation of cyclists." The question isn't whether we can afford to invest—it's whether we can afford not to.
[UPDATE] “Extreme weather. Santos. The irony”: Fire danger warning and soaring temperatures see Tour Down Under stage shortened and Willunga Hill removed – days after riders urged race to ditch “embarrassing” oil and gas title sponsor
Climate Crisis Hits Tour Down Under
Saturday's Tour Down Under queen stage was dramatically shortened and the iconic Willunga Hill climb scrapped due to extreme fire danger and forecast temperatures of 43°C. Race director Stuart O'Grady cited rider and spectator safety as the primary concern for the unprecedented modification.
The timing is striking: just days earlier, riders publicly called on the race to drop Santos, its oil and gas title sponsor, labeling the partnership "embarrassing." Now extreme weather—directly linked to climate change—has forced organizers to cut short Australia's premier cycling event. It's a stark reminder that the sport's future isn't just about sponsorship ethics; it's about whether races can even happen as planned. When you can't ride up Willunga Hill because it's literally too dangerous, the climate conversation moves from abstract to immediate.
[UPDATE] Extreme Fire Danger Forces Shock Change to Tour Down Under
Fire Danger Scraps Willunga Hill from Tour Down Under
Organizers have pulled the iconic Willunga Hill climb from Saturday's queen stage of the Tour Down Under due to extreme heat and bushfire risk. The legendary ascent—a staple of the race's finale and one of cycling's most anticipated stages—has been removed entirely from the route as South Australia faces dangerous fire conditions.
This is a massive blow to the race's prestige and drama. Willunga Hill has defined the Tour Down Under for years, serving as the decisive battleground where GC contenders make their final moves. Its removal fundamentally changes the race dynamics and robs fans of the spectacle they've come to expect. It's also a stark reminder that climate conditions are increasingly disrupting major sporting events, with extreme weather forcing organizers to make tough calls that impact competition integrity.
[UPDATE] Caught with 1 km to go: Welsford wins at the TDU after breakaway scare
Sam Welsford claimed his first UCI win in Ineos Grenadiers colors at the Tour Down Under, but not before a breakaway nearly spoiled the sprinters' party. With just 1 kilometer remaining, the peloton reeled in the escapees, setting up a bunch sprint that Welsford converted with precision. "I was thinking, 'There's no chance from here,'" the Australian admitted, highlighting how close-run the finale became.
Why it matters: This win validates Ineos' investment in sprint firepower and shows their willingness to chase down breaks for their fast men—a shift from their traditional GC-focused approach. For Welsford, it's career confirmation after moving from Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, proving he can deliver at WorldTour level when his team commits. It also demonstrates that even with 1km gaps, modern peloton chase dynamics favor organized teams over hopeful breakaways.
🎙️ Fresh Ears
- S14 Ep3: Burn Baby Burn: WorldTour racing recap with training science discussion and Derek Gee-West team transfer insights.
- Ten Minute Tips #71: Avoiding Panic Training (Starts Now): Coaches discuss panic training causes, prevention strategies, and mental approaches to realistic goal-setting.
- The Hardest Tour Down Under Stage EVER?! | Watts Occurring: Tour Down Under race analysis covering stage difficulty, team performances, and Grand Tour implications.
📺 Watch List
- Do you want to be stronger on your MTB? 💪 Try These!: MTB-specific strength training workout guide for improving rider performance.
