General Race Thread 2026 spoilers

at1withmyself · 16-01-2026 04:52PM

The season kicks off tomorrow in Australia with the women's Tour Down Under which is then followed by the men's race. Don't know if there any Irish but hopefully we'll see the National jerseys a lot this year

Here is Mia in the 2026 Jeresy:

Dodge · 16-01-2026 08:52PM

No Irish for the Aussie races. It looks like Ryan and Townsend are pencilled in for all the Mallorca races that start over the next 2 weeks.

Griffin and Gillespie aren’t part of the upcoming European track champs team and the statement from CI said they had “road commitments” with their teams

devonp · 21-01-2026 01:51PM

is the Tour Down Under on SKY/TNT ?, had a check on the SKY Go last night..didn't see it listed?

Mefistofelino · 21-01-2026 02:24PM

The Tour Down under gets the Juice Media treatment. Audio probably NSFW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygdX7ueucic

Mefistofelino · 22-01-2026 04:15PM

https://www.rte.ie/sport/cycling/2026/0122/1554503-bennett-shares-road-to-recovery-after-heart-operation/

Hadn't heard about this. An interesting article too.

Paddigol · 22-01-2026 06:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124170700#Comment_124170700

"I would go into a sprint and then I'd be fine and I'd go to get off the saddle and I wouldn't be full of lactate, but I'd have to sit back down and it was just super strange" … that describes exactly what we were seeing.

Really hope it works out for him, even just in terms of being happy that he's getting everything out of his body for the remaining years of his career. It must be so frustrating for an elite athlete to know they have more in the tank, like he did, but unable to pinpoint why it's not producing.

Fingers crossed we get to see him at the pointy end of races this season.

Melodeon · 22-01-2026 07:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124170700#Comment_124170700

That's tough, but do you know what?
I'm delighted that he's found a physiological cause for his drop in form over the last few years.
It sounds very hopeful that he'll make a full recovery, and with any luck at all he'll be back at the business end of the sprints before too long.

JMcL · 23-01-2026 01:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124171327#Comment_124171327

Just in time to be forced into the nearest lamppost be Jasper… Delighted to hear he's found a cause though and moreso that it's not a career ending one like Iserbyt and a few others

seaviewphotos · 24-01-2026 12:02AM

Delighted for Sam to have found the reason for his poor form, so looking forward to seeing him at the pointy end again.

mewso · 25-01-2026 04:06PM

Rory Townsend in action today in Spain although probably riding for Groenewegen. Free to watch on youtube (in spanish).

at1withmyself · 25-01-2026 04:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124178875#Comment_124178875

Any pictures of the new Jersey, he's Irish National champion, isn't he?

Dodge · 25-01-2026 04:36PM

the 2.pro ranked Alula Tour starts on Tuesday. So far Seth Dunwoody (Bahrain), Dillon Corkery (Picnic Post NL) and Jamie Meehan (Cofidis) have all been confirmed

Pretty big race for them to start their seasons, particularly as Dunwoody is still a devo team rider

mewso · 25-01-2026 05:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124178928#Comment_124178928

Just caught the end and his teammate Groenewegen won. Wasn't paying enough attention to see if he was there but Sticky bottle have a pic of it - https://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/rory-townsends-new-minimalist-irish-champions-kit-looks-like-a-winner-20266/

Dodge · 25-01-2026 07:08PM

if you have Instagram, Unibet Rockets posted about 5/6 pics of it earlier today. Can’t link here for some reason but searching there for them or Rory Townsend will get them for you

Dodge · 26-01-2026 04:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124178959#Comment_124178959

There’s 5 Irish in total at the Alula Tour. Joining the 3 above are Eddie Dunbar (listed as leader for Q36.5) and Liam O’Brien word Lidl Trek (stepping up from the Devo team)

breezy1985 · 28-01-2026 08:26PM

Ben Healy signed a new contract but the most important thing is that Irish media cares. It's well deserved both from the team and media.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/cycling/2026/01/28/ben-healy-signs-big-contract-extension-with-team-ef-education-easypost/

at1withmyself · 29-01-2026 12:17AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124182301#Comment_124182301

Liam must be happy, 2 out of 2 stages for Lidl Trek from Jonathan Milan.

Hopefully Eddie is in good form and can pull off the GC

at1withmyself · 29-01-2026 07:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124188943#Comment_124188943

Ah well no chance of GC now, I was reading the stage 1 report but seems in stage 2 he lost over 7 minutes due to echelons

retalivity · 30-01-2026 10:55AM

Jamie Meehan in a break of 16 on a flat stage today…must be windy if that many are bothered to go on the attack!

retalivity · 31-01-2026 02:48PM

3 irish lads in the top 20 on the "queen" stage in Alula.

O'Brien was so close to getting onto the front group of 5 just before Christen attacked with ~6k to go

retalivity · 03-02-2026 10:10AM

2 lesser spotted Irish guys on the startlist for Valenciana which starts tomorrow, alongside Remco, Mads Pedersen & Joao Almeida

Dodge · 03-02-2026 06:52PM

Lara Gillespie and Mia Griffin will start their seasons in the world tour UAE tour.

mewso · 05-02-2026 01:38PM

Second for Lara. No shame in finishing behind Wiebes but probably not ideal to have her coming off your wheel. You'd want it the other way around.

dahat · 05-02-2026 02:39PM

It will be difficult for Lara to beat her in a fair sprint, it might require some creative tactics from her leadout team to get one over her.

at1withmyself · 06-02-2026 12:01AM

I think there is 3 to 4 flat stages so fingers crossed she can get 1 but finishing second to Wiebes is some achievement in itself.

Fingers crossed for the next few days!

seaviewphotos · 06-02-2026 08:56AM

Best of luck to Lara, it's great to see an Irish sprinter at the pointy end again. 🤞she can have a win this week

fat bloke · 06-02-2026 12:49PM

Have many of you picked up cycling-on-tv subscriptions for 2026? I terminated my TNT around September but have yet to re-subscribe. Are the options this year just as they were or are there any new providers?

Mefistofelino · 06-02-2026 03:14PM

Lara fifth on today's stage. Still second on GC and second on Points

at1withmyself · 06-02-2026 04:05PM

Didn't realize but coach André Greipel is part of Lara's team.

mewso · 06-02-2026 04:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124211474#Comment_124211474

Just as bad as last year yes.

General Race Thread 2026 **spoilers**

Comments

General Race Thread 2026 spoilers