Welcome to this week’s GCN Racing News, where we take a deep dive into the statistics to ask: is the legendary Van der Poel vs Van Aert rivalry officially a thing of the past? We also break down Tadej Pogačar’s record-shattering preseason form and Fem van Empel’s shock announcement regarding her professional career. Plus, we bring you all the latest on the 2026 Vuelta a España route and the bold new 2026 kit reveals from Ineos Grenadiers and Canyon-SRAM.
Chapters: ⏱️
00:00 – Introduction
00:24 – Pogačar’s Record-Breaking Preseason
01:29 – Cyclocross: Antwerp & Koksijde Highlights
03:43 – The Stats: Van der Poel vs Van Aert Rivalry
07:42 – Is Mathieu van der Poel Quitting CX?
08:55 – Fem van Empel Pauses Her Pro Career
09:50 – Women’s Cyclocross Results & Standings
10:58 – Marc Madiot Steps Down at Groupama-FDJ
12:17 – 2026 Vuelta a España Route Revealed
12:56 – New Ineos Grenadiers & UCI contract news
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With Mathieu van der Poel dominating both the mud and the road while hinting at a potential retirement from cyclocross, do you think the rivalry with Wout van Aert has finally run its course? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! 👇
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📸 Photos – © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sirotti Images
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