Astana invested heavily in the Cav 35 project and are now scrambling against relegation ( though , it looks like they have strategized that battle well)

I think Astana's investment in Cav 35 was less about Cav and more about an opportunity to get out in front of potential sponsors since Qazakstan was leaving. Definitely seems to have worked out (seems like they had far less trouble finding a new title sponsor than Visma did when Jumbo left) and they're getting their act together this year recently

Jules said:

I think the issue is that sprinters are much cheaper and have significantly shorter (on average) careers than GC and classics riders - so while there is a lot to "invest" in terms of team support the team can't "develop" a sprinter the way they can a GC/classics rider - especially in light of how quickly sprinters fall off a performance cliff of injury/ego/bravado...

That's an interesting possibility.

I think the lower budget WorldTour squads are 'moneyballing' when they can, which is getting rid of riders who are aging or pricey, and every two years taking a chance on a different second-tier sprinter.  I think EF does this.  They look for a guy who can possibly win second- and third-tier races, and might get lucky at a World Tour race, but has a very good chance of being literally in the picture when sprinting royalty posts up and gets on the front page.

I also wonder if there might be a few teams that churn through sprinters (Quick Step, for example) and a few riders that seem to churn through teams (Bouhanni, for example).  

Or we're just looking at a few cases.  Quick Step seems to give sprinters a single contract and then moves on.  So even when their sprinter  wins a couple of Grand Tour stages in a year, they have no trouble moving on.  Over the past decade or so, they've had Cavendish, Gaviria, Kittel, Viviani, Bennett, Cavendish, Jakobsen, Merlier, and I'm sure I'm missing a few.

Ewan actually spent most of his career at Greenedge/Jayco.  And we see some other sprinters, like Bryan Coquard spend years at a single team.

Alexander Kristoff did this with Uno-X the past few years. He may mix it up in a sprint when he's got the legs/position but he's been there more for his experience and knowledge

I did say "on average" right? Cav is anything but. I am certain EF is trying to moneyball with cheap young talent.

I am sorry we won't see Caleb's incredible position again for a while...

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/caleb-ewan-pretty-scary-sprinting-position-video-233499

"Immediate" is always code for "something bad happend"

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/matt-white-leaves-greenedge-cycling-with-immediate-effect-as-australian-team-restructures-performance-group/

Jules said:

"Immediate" is always code for "something bad happend"

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/matt-white-leaves-greenedge-cycling-with-immediate-effect-as-australian-team-restructures-performance-group/

Especially after the love they showered on him in their firing press release.

Kind of wonder what he had to offer in the first place, beyond recommendations for pharmacies.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cycling/regretful-white-lifts-lid-on-ridiculous-amount-of-doping-during-late-90s-20130505-2j1dk.html

Demi Vollering with a lovely dedication after her win.
https://youtu.be/-JPKBTHyltQ?si=391dbZhCdVZ-YG2K

If you're an Escape Collective subscriber, this is an excellent article about the tariffs affecting the cycling apparel industry which operates on pretty thin margins and low volumes to begin with.

https://escapecollective.com/tariff-whiplash-is-stretching-apparel-brands-thin/

The Tour of Swiss is going to work with GPS trackers for all riders, after Mäder's and Furrer's accidents. It sounds so practical that I hope this will be adapted by all WT races within a year. 

https://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/primeur-voor-ronde-van-zwitserland-gps-tracking-in-koers-na-tragische-dood-muriel-furrer/

Good for them!

Do we have to have a stupid Wiggins quote at least once a week on cycling news ?

Mark Taylor said:

Do we have to have a stupid Wiggins quote at least once a week on cycling news ?

Yes.

CN is a bare bones operation.  They'll post just about anything that takes little work to acquire.  

Meanwhile an amateur team just won the Italian National championships. Wonder how WADA covers teams like that.

https://youtu.be/NOwgBjFdYRQ?si=wrMjQ1E2o7lDrmyE

Mark Taylor said:

@RyanCollins

https://escapecollective.com/a-visit-to-mason-cycles-unusual-hq/

YES, now I need @eloy to teach me how to ride cyclocross on my gravel bike, Josh Ibett does it on his. Reminder I'm all power zero skill. 

Soon we'll be able to virtually ride in Prospect!

https://www.cyclist.co.uk/news/zwift-click-and-cog-new-york?callback=in&code=OGI2YJCWZJMTOGNHYS0ZYJGXLTGXYJKTMTG4NTMYMZU0ZMVM&state=4cbeaae606c1416a83815ca01970cb12

Hot damn, it’s like coming back home!

Savilia looked like she could have won the race, Evie Richards also looked sharp. Was interesting that Risveds appeared to have found her limit (which still gets her 2nd)

Evie got a rough break with the flat , but as they say ,half the battle is protecting your bike with line choices 

NYTimes:

The Trump administration said it would begin seizing Giant brand bicycles manufactured in Taiwan at the U.S. border, after an investigation found evidence of forced labor.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/business/economy/giant-bicycles-forced-labor.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ok8.ZEel.kCfdMnwFsEYi&smid=url-share


https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-issues-withhold-release-order-giant-manufacturing-co-ltd