A Cycling News round-up from the last week, including...

An update on the ongoing battle of Garmin vs Strava App, plus....

 Rapha parts ways with Pro Cycling, and Lidl's Bold plans to become the Number 1 Cycling team in the world.

#cyclingnews #cyclingupdates #cyclingcommunity #rideandthrive

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The route for the 2026 Edition of the Tour de France has just been released. In this episode, Dave discusses the facts and opinions about the route choice.

Facts & totals

• Dates: 4 July to 26 July 2026.
• Grand Départ: Barcelona, Spain. 
• 21 stages. 
• Total distance: ~3,333 km.
• Total climbing (vertical gain): ~54,000 m.
• Stage-type mix (from published summary):
  • One Team Time Trial (TTT) to open.
  • One (or minimal) Individual Time Trial (ITT).
  • 8 mountain stages with ~5 summit finishes.
  • 4 hilly stages (medium mountains/undulating)
  • 7 flat stages (sprinters’ domain).

The decision to start with a team time trial is a bold one — the first such by the Tour since 1971 in that format. 

The route promises a “crescendo” built in: easier stages early in Spain, then progressively tougher terrain across the Pyrenees, Massif Central, Voges, Alps, then Alpe d’Huez double finish.

The highest point of the race will be the climb of the Galibier (via Télégraphe etc) in the Alps.

Sprinters will still get their chances, but the mid-to-late mountains may render some flat stages less predictable.

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This episode hits the road — literally!

Recorded on two wheels through North Yorkshire’s beautiful lanes, I talk about cycling clothing, training tips, and what keeps me pushing the pedals when motivation dips.

Along the way, I meet wildlife, a train, and have coffee from a coffee bike!

It’s a chatty ride-along full of energy, inspiration, and countryside vibes.

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As the temperature drops and the nights draw in, motivation can also drop — unless your gear works with the season, not against it.
In this episode, David breaks down a practical guide to dressing for colder rides and outdoor workouts.

From base layers to windproof shells, gloves to thermal socks, you’ll learn how to stay warm, dry, and mobile without overheating or overcomplicating.

Whether you're commuting, training, or just trying to stay consistent, this is your blueprint for cold-weather resilience.

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We all hit the wall. That moment when the bike gathers dust, the gear feels heavy, and motivation slips through your fingers. 

In this episode, I get real about the slump — why it happens, what it means, and how to climb out of it with intention. From mindset shifts to micro-habits, you'll learn how to reconnect with your purpose, rebuild momentum, and ride with renewed energy.

Whether you're stuck in a rut or just need a spark, this one's for you.

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In a surprising twist for the fitness tech world, Strava has filed a lawsuit against Garmin, accusing the GPS titan of infringing on key patents and violating a long-standing partnership agreement. At the heart of the dispute? Two core features: segments and heatmaps — staples of Strava’s platform that let users compete on route sections and visualize popular training paths.

Strava is now seeking a permanent injunction to block Garmin from selling fitness devices that use these contested features, including popular models like the Forerunner, Fenix, and Edge series

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I recently went on a ride with a friend who brought his gravel bike. I showed up with my mountain bike—and honestly, I had a blast.

It got me thinking: do we really need a gravel bike, or is it just another shiny object in the cycling world? In this episode, I unpack that question. We’ll explore the differences between gravel and mountain bikes, what the marketing gets right (and wrong), and how to make gear decisions that align with your goals—not just the trends.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your current setup is enough, or felt the pull of the next big upgrade, this one’s for you. 

Have you recently gotten into cycling? Then get my Beginner Cyclist Toolkit here

If you have just started your cycling journey, you can get your Beginner Cyclist Toolkit Here.

It's packed full of information and advice to get you started safely on your journey.

The Tour may be over, but the thrills linger.

In this episode of Ride & Thrive, Dave counts down 10 unforgettable moments from this year’s Tour de France—from Quinn Simmons channeling Captain America to Lenny Martinez’s cheeky sticky bottle maneuver on Stage 18 🚴‍♂️💥.

Get ready for a fast-paced recap with behind-the-scenes drama, insider insights, and the kind of cycling storytelling that fuels your ride. Buckle up, it’s time to relive the magic—starting with #10 and climbing all the way to #1. 

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🎙️ Tour de France 2025: Highs, Heartbreaks & Heroics

Three weeks. Twenty-one stages. Endless storylines. From Pogačar’s clinical dominance to the cobbled chaos of Montmartre, this year’s Tour blended tradition with unpredictability.

In this special wrap-up episode, we break down the biggest winners, the unexpected losers, and the moments that made this Tour unforgettable.

Who cemented their legacy? Who cracked under pressure? And who deserves more love than the headlines gave?

We talk climbs, crashes, comebacks, and controversies—with fresh insights for fans and first-timers alike.

Whether you followed every stage or just dipped in for the final showdown, Ride & Thrive has you covered. 

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• Originally planned as a 129.9 km Alpine queen stage from Albertville to La Plagne, including the Col des Saisies, Col du Pré, Cormet de Roselend, and final summit finish.
• Due to a last‑minute outbreak of nodular dermatitis in local cattle, organisers shortened the stage to approximately 93–95 km, cutting out two climbs. The start was delayed to about 14:30 BST.

🚵 Early action: Breaks and Attacks

• Shortly after the revised neutral start in Albertville, Primož Roglič attempted an early attack, bridging with Valentin Paret‑Peintre and Lenny Martínez—an aggressive move that ultimately fizzled as the GC group reeled them in.I

🧗 Mid-stage: Climbs and Conditions

• Riders faced two key climbs: the HC Col du Pré (~12.6 km at ~7.7%) and the 2nd‑category Cormet de Roselend, before descending towards La Plagne. The shortened course and cool, rainy Alpine weather added extra drama.

⚡ Final climb & winning move

• With ~12–13 km to go on the final ascent to La Plagne, Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) launched a decisive attack, escaping the GC group including Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, and built a small gap.
• In the final meters, Vingegaard and Pogacar were closing fast, but Arensman held on to win by just 2 seconds—earning his second Tour stage victory.
• Emotion poured out from Arensman at the finish, calling the win a dream after taking on cycling’s biggest names.

🏆 GC and classification wrap‑up

• Tadej Pogacar retained the yellow jersey, with a slightly reduced lead of approximately 4 minutes 24 seconds over Vingegaard with two stages to go.
• Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull‑BORA) held third overall, just ahead of Oscar Onley, who continues to impress as a young GC hopeful.
• Pogacar also kept the King of the Mountains (KOM) and polka-dot jersey, showcasing his all-round dominance and smart, measured riding.

🧠 Strategic Takeaways & Talking Points

1. Arensman’s savvy timing and courage to attack on the final climb, even with the GC men looming.
2. Pogacar’s calculated control: he didn’t challenge for the stage win, but maintained pace to protect his lead.
3. The impact of the diseased cattle outbreak forcing a dramatic last‑minute route change—and how riders and teams adapted.
4. GC context: Lipowitz vs Onley battle for third; Vingegaard’s attempt to chip away at Pogacar; and Roglič’s fading gambit.
5. Weather and terrain factors: shorter course, rain, cooler temps—how that influenced tactics and rider performance.

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Stage 17 delivered chaos and courage in equal measure. In torrential rain and greasy conditions, sprinters battled for supremacy on the road to Valence.

A late crash inside the final kilometre shattered the sprint train, but Jonathan Milan stayed upright and surged to his second stage win, tightening his grip on the green jersey.

 Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard avoided the carnage, preserving their GC positions as the peloton edged closer to the Alps.

Stage 18 was the Queen Stage—and it lived up to the billing. With over 5,400 metres of climbing across three brutal ascents, including the infamous Col de la Loze, it was a day for the mountain goats.

 Ben O’Connor launched a daring solo attack and conquered the summit through hail and heartbreak to claim a career-defining win.

Behind him, Pogačar once again distanced Vingegaard in the final kilometre, extending his overall lead to 4 minutes and 26 seconds.

Meanwhile, young Scot Oscar Onley matched the GC giants pedal for pedal, closing in on a podium spot with just days to go.



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Stage 16 of the Tour de France 2025 was all about the Giant of Provence—and it didn’t disappoint.

French climber Valentin Paret-Peintre stunned the favourites with a late surge to win atop Mont Ventoux, claiming his first Tour stage and sending the home crowd into raptures.

With 140 km of flat terrain before the final climb, the peloton stayed calm until chaos erupted on the slopes. 🚴‍♂️ Pogačar marked attacks but didn’t strike.
🔥 Vingegaard tried to shake things up.

🇫🇷 Paret-Peintre timed it perfectly. We break down the tactics, the pacing, and the pain of one of cycling’s most iconic ascents. Plus: GC updates, team strategies, and what this means heading into the Alps.
#TDF2025 #RideAndThrive #Stage16Recap #MontVentoux 


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Stage 15 Muret-Carcassonne 169.3km (Hilly)

Stage 15 of the Tour de France 2025 delivered a masterclass in breakaway brilliance and tactical misfires. On a lumpy 169 km route through southern France, Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) launched a daring solo attack with 40 km to go, holding off all chasers to claim his first Tour stage win—and complete his set of victories across all three Grand Tours.

Behind him, the peloton fractured early due to a crash, GC teams scrambled to regroup, and Julian Alaphilippe mistakenly celebrated third place as a win. With the GC battle neutralized and the sprinters dropped, it was a day for the opportunists—and Wellens seized it with style. 

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Stage 13: Loudenvielle to Peyragudes – Mountain Time Trial (10.9km)

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) delivered a masterclass in pacing and power, conquering the brutal uphill TT in 23 minutes flat to claim his fourth stage win of the Tour.

Racing without a team radio and opting for a lightweight road bike, Pogačar extended his GC lead to +4:07 over Jonas Vingegaard, who finished second on the day.

Primož Roglič surged back into podium contention with a third-place finish, while Remco Evenepoel faltered, dropping off the GC podium.

Florian Lipowitz and Oscar Onley continued their consistent climbs, now sitting fourth and fifth overall.

With gradients peaking at 16%, this rare mountain TT was a pure climber’s test—and Pogačar proved untouchable.

Stage 14: Pyrenean Showdown – Pau to Luchon-Superbagnères (182.6km)

Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) delivered a breakout solo victory on the queen stage of the Pyrenees, attacking on the Col de Peyresourde and holding off the GC titans to claim his first Tour stage win.

Tadej Pogačar extended his grip on yellow, outsprinting Jonas Vingegaard for second and padding his overall lead to +4:13.

Remco Evenepoel abandoned on the Tourmalet, reshuffling the GC and opening the door for Florian Lipowitz to move into third.

Oscar Onley impressed again, climbing to fourth overall.

It was a day of high drama, brutal gradients, and a summit finish that crowned Arensman’s audacity.
 

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• Tadej Pogačar stormed to victory atop the legendary Hautacam, reclaiming the yellow jersey in dominant fashion.
• - He attacked 12 km from the summit, dropping all rivals and finishing 2'10" ahead of Jonas Vingegaard, with Florian Lipowitz rounding out the podium.
• - This marks Pogačar’s 20th career Tour stage win and his third of this Tour, just one day after crashing in Stage 11.

• 🔥 GC Shake-Up
• - Ben Healy, who wore yellow for two days, cracked in the heat and lost over 13 minutes, dropping to 11th overall.
• - Remco Evenepoel also struggled, conceding 3'35" and slipping further behind.
• - Oscar Onley, the 22-year-old Brit, impressed again with a top-five finish, holding firm among the elite climbers.

🕊️ Dedication & Emotion

• Pogačar dedicated his win to Samuele Privitera, a 19-year-old Italian rider who tragically died in a crash at the Giro della Valle d’Aosta.

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From heartbreak to heroics—Stage 11 of the Tour de France delivered a masterclass in grit and glory. Jonas Abrahamsen, fresh off a broken collarbone, stormed to victory in Toulouse, giving Uno-X Mobility their first-ever Tour stage win.

Meanwhile, Tadej Pogačar hit the deck but bounced back like a true champion. We’ve got breakaway brilliance, GC drama, and even a protester on the course.

 Let’s dive into the chaos, courage, and cycling culture of Stage 11.”

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Stage 10 of the 2025 Tour de France brought fireworks to the Massif Central on France’s national holiday.

Simon Yates launched a daring solo attack to claim victory atop the Puy de Sancy, while Ireland’s Ben Healy powered through the breakaway to snatch the yellow jersey from Tadej Pogačar.

With eight categorized climbs and nearly 4,450m of elevation gain, it was a brutal test of grit and strategy. We break down the GC shake-up, the tactical masterclass from EF Education-EasyPost, and what this means heading into the rest day.

Plus, reflections on the symbolism of a new maillot jaune on Bastille Day.



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Two days, two sprint showdowns, and a whole lot of heartbreak and horsepower.

Stage 8 saw Jonathan Milan power to his first Tour de France victory in Laval, reclaiming the green jersey with a dominant uphill sprint finish. But the weekend double wasn’t meant to be —

Tim Merlier snatched Stage 9 in Châteauroux, outpacing Milan in a chaotic final burst after Mathieu van der Poel’s heroic 173km breakaway was reeled in just 500m from the line.

From “Cavendish City” nostalgia to blistering 80kph sprints, this recap dives into the tactics, triumphs, and tension that defined the weekend.

Plus, a look at how the GC contenders stayed cool in the heat while the sprinters stole the spotlight.

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Relive the most thrilling moments from Stages 6 and 7 of the 2025 Tour de France!

In Stage 6, Ben Healy pulled off a stunning long-range solo attack, crossing the line nearly three minutes ahead of the chasers and shaking up the breakaway game. Mathieu van der Poel snatched back the yellow jersey from Tadej Pogacar by just one second—setting up a tense battle for Stage 7.

 Stage 7 delivered pure Tour drama: a punchy summit finish on the Mûr‑de‑Bretagne saw Pogacar surge past Jonas Vingegaard to reclaim the yellow jersey with authority, now leading Remco Evenepoel by 54 seconds overall.

🏆 We break down the decisive moves, late crashes, GC shake‑ups, and what this means for the road ahead.

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