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Articles by Abby Mickey
Two days after Charlotte Kool's Instagram post, Eneco Tour equalises prize money
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Sandrine Tas outsprints Charlotte Kool in Eneco Tour stage 1
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Wheel Talk Newsletter: Au revoir, 2026 season
Abby Mickey 13th Oct 2026 Cor Vos With Lorena Wiebes' three-stage sweep of the Tour of Chongming, the 2026 season is mostly wrapped. Racing isn't over; some riders with unfinished business will be lining up for the Eneco Tour this week, and the Track World Championships kick off on Wednesday in Shanghai, but the WorldTour season is done.
Lucinda Brand to depart Lidl-Trek
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Lorena Wiebes wins opening stage of Tour of Chongming Island
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Lauretta Hanson signs three-year deal with Movistar
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Marlen Reusser retains European ITT title
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Wheel Talk Newsletter: Again, for the people in the back
Abby Mickey 6th Oct 2026 Cor Vos One of the repeated topics that the Wheel Talk podcast constantly refers back to is the importance of leadership, and so it feels a bit validating that the Dutch federation proved our point with their teams at the World Championships and the European Championships. Admittedly, Demi Vollering would have been hard to beat in both race scenarios, but the team around her made it impossible, and it wasn't only the riders who rode in support of her.
Kim Le Court-Pienaar's season is over after crash in World Championships road race
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Steffi Häberlin set to join Canyon-SRAM on two-year deal
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What does Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney's move mean for everyone involved?
Abby Mickey 30th Sep 2026 Kristof Ramon, Cor Vos In a video post to Instagram on Tuesday, Lidl-Trek made the announcement everyone has been waiting for since the start of silly season: Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney will be wearing a new jersey in 2027. There were rumblings early in the season that the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift winner would leave Canyon-SRAM after nine seasons, but no concrete links to where she would end up. Now, the mystery is solved.
Wheel Talk Newsletter: Does it get any better than that?
Abby Mickey 29th Sep 2026 Cor Vos It's been said that we are living in the golden era of women's cycling, and after the road race on Saturday, it's hard to disagree. No doubt, the stars on the rise will continue to push the sport into a new stratosphere, but the current peloton is doing everything to continue to grow the sport on watchability alone. Sometimes, at races like the World Championships and the Olympics, the lack of radios, the increase in pressure, and the stakes lead to weird racing.
The best rider in the world is now the world champion
by Abby Mickey Sep 26, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + Cor Vos Not since Annemiek van Vleuten's 2022 season has a rider been as consistently impressive as Demi Vollering this year. Over the years, more and more riders have risen the ranks, and the Dutch federation has been put through its paces, but on Saturday, the Oranje were once again on top.
U23 women's road race offers a playground for future stars to shine
by Abby Mickey Sep 25, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + Cor Vos Most of the U23 women who featured in the pointy end of the World Championship road race on Thursday are already on WorldTour teams. On the podium, the winner, Viktória Chladoňová (Slovakia), rides for Visma-Lease a Bike, while Isabella Holmgren of Canada, who finished second, and Fleur Moors of Belgium, who was third, both compete for Lidl-Trek.
Worlds Preview: The women's road race will be uncontrollable
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Wheel Talk Newsletter: The Worlds are off to a great start!
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'It was important to pace it well': Riders react to a record-long TT at Worlds
by Abby Mickey Sep 20, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + Cor Vos Marlen Reusser (Switzerland) won her second consecutive World Championship time trial on Sunday in Montreal. The course was a technical one, with twists and turns through the city streets and a section around the Montreal Formula 1 circuit, but what set the parcours apart from previous editions was the length.
The Dutch are finally going all-in on one leader for Worlds
by Abby Mickey Sep 17, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + Cor Vos For years in the sport of road racing, the Dutch women were the most dominant on the world stage. That was true not only when competing in WorldTour races within their trade teams, but also as a national team unit. From 2012 to 2022, a Dutch rider won the World Championships road race on seven occasions.
Fem van Empel joins FDJ United-Suez with immediate effect
Fem van Empel joins FDJ United-Suez with immediate effect Dutch cyclocross star Fem van Empel, who stepped away from competition mid-December 2025, will finally return to racing. The former cyclocross world champion announced on Thursday that she is set to race for FDJ United-Suez, starting with immediate effect, through 2027. When Van Empel stepped away from racing, she also terminated her existing contract with Visma-Lease a Bike, meaning in 2026, she was unaffiliated.
Demi Vollering speaks against Sydney Sweeney Novig ad
Sep 16, 2026 Demi Vollering speaks against Sydney Sweeney Novig ad Last week, an ad for Novig, a sports gambling app, featuring a naked Sydney Sweeney sent the women's sports world into an uproar. Female athletes worldwide spoke out against the ad, calling it a "kick in the face" and "a mockery of women in sport", and now Demi Vollering has added her voice to the commentary.
Wheel Talk Newsletter: The Worlds start list is taking shape
by Abby Mickey Sep 15, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + The World Championships are upon us! The week of racing starts with the time trials on Sunday, with the first woman rolling off the ramp at 9:00 EDT / 15:00 CEST. The list of competitors for that first rainbow jersey includes defending champ Marlen Reusser representing Switzerland, Tour winner Demi Vollering for the Netherlands, Vuelta winner Paula Blasi for Spain, and more.
Cédrine Kerbaol will move to SD Worx-Protime in 2027
Cédrine Kerbaol will move to SD Worx-Protime in 2027 French phenom Cédrine Kerbaol is set to move to SD Worx-Protime on a two year deal starting in January, 2027. The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift winner spent the last two seasons with EF Education-Oatly, but will depart the American team at the end of 2026. While with EF Education-Oatly, Kerbaol built on the success she acheived in the early years of her career.
Blanka Vas to join Lidl-Trek October 1
Blanka Vas to join Lidl-Trek October 1 Blanka Vas will cut her SD Worx-Protime contract a few months early to join Lidl-Trek. The multi-time Hungarian national road and cyclocross champion first signed for SD Worx-Protime in 2021 but is now set to ride for Lidl-Trek through 2028, starting with this cyclocross season. "Following open and constructive discussions, both parties have concluded that the sporting ambitions they had hoped for have not been realised over the past year.
Vollering leads Dutch Worlds team, Vos and Van der Breggen out
Vollering leads Dutch Worlds team, Vos and Van der Breggen out The Dutch national team released the list of riders who will represent the Netherlands at the upcoming Road World Championships in Canada. The team will be led by Demi Vollering, however, both Marianne Vos and Anna van der Breggen were both left off the list.
No Pauline Ferrand-Prévot at Worlds?
No Pauline Ferrand-Prévot at Worlds? Despite stating at the end of 2025 that the World Championships in Montreal was one of her goals for this season, reports have surfaced that Pauline Ferrand-Prévot will not line up in Canada at the end of September. According to L’Équipe, the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift winner has "probably" ended her season already, after abandoning the Tour following stage 7 due to illness.
Wheel Talk Newsletter: RIP (sort of) Tour Féminin de l'Ardèche
by Abby Mickey Sep 8, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + On the podcast this week, we discussed the upcoming races and where riders can be seen before the world championships in a few weeks. One of the races we mentioned briefly was the Faun Tour, a new race on the calendar. Something we missed, however, was that this new race is actually a new era for the long-running Tour Féminin de l'Ardèche, one of the mainstays of the women's end-of-summer season. After 23 years, the Tour Féminin l'Ardèche is done.
Cherie Pridham and Dave Povall join Human Powered Health in 2027
Sep 3, 2026 Cherie Pridham and Dave Povall join Human Powered Health in 2027 Human Powered Health has been all over the transfer news so far this transfer season, with the signings of Yara Kastelijn, Sofie van Rooijen, Quinty Ton, Fee Knaven, Letizia Paternoster, and Amalie Dideriksen. Now the American team is announcing not only an overhaul of their roster, but also changes to their managment.
Tiffany Cromwell announces road retirement
Tiffany Cromwell announces road retirement Tiffany Cromwell announced on Instagram that the Philadelphia Classic last Sunday was her last professional road race. The Australian Olympian started her professional career in 2008 with USA-based Colavita-Sutter Home p/b Cooking, but truly came into her own with Orica-AIS in 2012. She then rode for Specialized-Lululemon in 2014 and stayed with the program after it changed to Canyon-SRAM for the remainder of her professional career - 13 years in total.
Tackling Ventoux again as an amateur helped me find myself
by Abby Mickey Sep 2, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + Toms Skujins, Gruber Images It was only 10 am, but already it felt like the sun was baking my body as I kitted up in a random parking lot, only a few kilometres away from the base of Mont Ventoux. Mentally, I was in a college parking lot arranging my belongings to start a race. The feeling was similar. Nerves about the task ahead, but an equal amount of excitement.
Wheel Talk Newsletter: Another sprinter's Classic?
by Abby Mickey Sep 1, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + With the Classic Lorient Agglomération behind us and on the first day of September, it feels like the end of the season is near. The race on Saturday was very good, one of those races where the results sheet only tells half the story. There were quite a few riders in there who gave it a good show, but in the end the race still came down to a reduced sprint.
Lidl-Trek add Julia Kopecký to 2027 roster
Lidl-Trek add Julia Kopecký to 2027 roster Multi-time Czech national road and time trial champion Julia Kopecký is set to join the German team on a two-year deal. The 22-year-old signed for SD Worx-Protime in 2025 from the AG Insurance-Soudal NXTG development team. While with the Dutch squad, Kopecký developed into a strong contender for the cobbled Classics as well as a loyal domestique. "I've always liked the way Lidl-Trek races – with an aggressive, attacking style.
Pfeiffer Georgi will ride for UAE Team L'IMAD in 2027
Pfeiffer Georgi will ride for UAE Team L'IMAD in 2027 After eight years with Picnic-PostNL, former British road champion is making the move to UAE Team L'IMAD with a three-year deal. Georgi turned professional with Picnic-PostNL in 2019 and has been one of the team's core members ever since. She excels in the Spring Classics and will bring that expertise over to her new squad.
Shirin van Anrooij will move to Canyon-SRAM in 2027
Aug 27, 2026 Shirin van Anrooij will move to Canyon-SRAM in 2027 After seven years racing cyclocross and road for Lidl-Trek, Shirin van Anrooij is getting a new jersey. On Thursday, Canyon-SRAM announced the Dutchwoman would join their team on November 1, with the cyclocross season in mind. In 2027, she will ride for their WorldTeam as a leader in the Classics with an eye on developing her into one of their key stars.
Wheel Talk Newsletter: In the final stretch now
by Abby Mickey Aug 25, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + Only one one-day and one stage race remain in the 2026 WorldTour season. As always, it feels like the year has flown by. Next year will be fascinating, as we will be gearing up for "Super Worlds" (August 24-September 5) and the start of La Vuelta Femenina on September 4. Hopefully that will make the end of the season feel a bit less light than it has for years.
The evolution of Lorena Wiebes and other Tour of Britain takeaways
by Abby Mickey Aug 24, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + Cor Vos The penultimate stage race of the 2026 Women's WorldTour season wrapped up on Sunday at the Lloyds Tour of Britain, with Lorena Wiebes taking an astonishing four stages out of five and Kim Le Court-Pienaar putting in one of her best performances to date to win the overall.
S'annara Grove exits Tour of Britain due to synthetic peptide positive test
Aug 21, 2026 S'annara Grove exits Tour of Britain due to synthetic peptide positive test S'annara Grove, who rides for the British Continental Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team, did not start the third stage of the Tour of Britain on Friday after news that she received an out-of-competition positive test for Ipamorelin. The International Testing Agency suspended Grove after she returned the adverse analytical finding on July 28th.
Kim Le Court-Pienaar's textbook Tour of Britain stage 3 victory
by Abby Mickey Aug 21, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + Cor Vos Midway through the third stage of the Lloyds Tour of Britain, Kim Le Court-Pienaar could be seen shaking out her hands at the back of a select group of riders who had topped the Nebo climb ahead of the rest of the race. The Mauritian champion finished third on the previous stage, but had shown clear frustration after a slew of attacks in Wednesday's opener were unsuccessful.
Wiebes wins again at Tour of Britain stage 2
Aug 20, 2026 Wiebes wins again at Tour of Britain stage 2 Lorena Wiebes remained unstoppable in the finale of the Lloyd's Tour of Britain stage 2. The stage was hectic, with a diversion and a neutralisation, and despite a late solo attack by Ode Gissinger of Hitec Products-Fluid Control, the peloton came to the finish together. Maggie Coles-Lyster (Human Powered Health) finished second, and Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) sprinted to third.
Lorena Wiebes wins opening stage of the Lloyd's Tour of Britain
Lorena Wiebes wins opening stage of the Lloyd's Tour of Britain The opening stage of the 2026 Lloyd's Tour of Britain was attritional and aggressive, with attacks from Kim Le Court-Pienaar, Riejanne Markus, and Lauren Dickson in the final 20 km. Even though every attack split the peloton, there was nothing the women could do about Lorena Wiebes, whose SD Worx-Protime teammates were able to protect the Dutch rider into the finale.
Wheel Talk Newsletter: The WorldTour peloton is off to the Lloyd's Tour of Britain
by Abby Mickey Aug 18, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift may be behind us, but the WorldTour season is not over. The next stop for the women is Cockermouth, where the Lloyd's Tour of Britain will kick off with a 160+ km first stage on Wednesday. This year's edition is not one for the sprinters. With some hilly courses, the five-day race resembles a series of Classics-style tests.
MTB star, road rookie: Kate Courtney is ready to learn with FDJ United-Suez
by Abby Mickey Aug 14, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + FDJ United-Suez This coming Wednesday, Kate Courtney will line up for her seventh road race... ever. It will also be her first WorldTour event. Courtney, who only raced her first road race in May of this year, is set to make her WorldTour debut with FDJ United-Suez at the Tour of Britain as part of a whirlwind summer of cycling that has seen her hang up her mountain bike to focus full-time on road racing.
FDJ United-Suez finally has a yellow jersey
by Abby Mickey Aug 12, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + Gruber Images, Cor Vos When the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift was announced, there were few teams as singularly focused on the new and improved version of the women’s Tour de France as FDJ United-Suez. For a French team, the yellow jersey would mean everything, but despite a strong performance in the inaugural edition, it took them five years to finally secure the overall prize.
Wheel Talk Newsletter: Was it only last week?
by Abby Mickey Aug 11, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + I can't quite believe the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is over. The first four stages seemed to really drag on, not because they were boring by any means, but because it was hard to get back into the swing of working on the ground. Then I blinked, and the race was over.
Elisa Longo Borghini's long road to the Tour de France Femmes podium
by Abby Mickey Aug 10, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + Gruber Images, Cor Vos Cycling is a tricky sport. There are many different elements riders need to harness in order to find success on the road. Strength and fitness are one; the mental game is another; teamwork, and then, of course, luck. For Elisa Longo Borghini, those four elements have never lined up at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift ... until this year. Longo Borghini's first Tour, in 2022, was fine; great, in fact.
The movie ends in Nice
by Abby Mickey Aug 8, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + Cor Vos, Gruber Images Whoever made the 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift route should be applauded. Every single stage has delivered on a cinematic level, and even in their wildest dreams, the organisers couldn't have imagined that going into the final stage, two of the sport's top heroes - Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney - would be going into a horrendous final stage with only 8 seconds between them.
FDJ United-Suez rode the perfect race to put Demi Vollering in yellow
by Abby Mickey Aug 8, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + Gruber Images The eighth stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift wasn't supposed to be a general classification day. On paper, the stage had one of the lowest elevation metres of all eight road stages. It was also the longest stage, and if FDJ United-Suez had other plans, it could have been another stage win for Kim Le Court-Pienaar, or even a fairytale victory for Lotte Kopecky.
Preview: Tour de France Femmes stage 9
Tour de France Femmes The last stage of the Tour is no joke with four ascents of the Col d'Eze.
The best thing about Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney is that she never learns
Tour de France Femmes Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney has spent a decade breaking hearts. On Friday, she fixed every one of them. by Abby Mickey Aug 7, 2026 More from Abby Mickey + Kristof Ramon There's a reason, ahead of every race, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney is marked as a rider to watch. Ever since she danced into the women's peloton at the age of 18, Niewiadoma-Phinney has been a phenomenal rider. It's the reason she has amassed so many fans over the years.
Preview: Tour de France Femmes stage 8
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Charlotte Kool finishes outside the time cut in Tour de France stage 7
Charlotte Kool finishes outside the time cut in Tour de France stage 7 Charlotte Kool of Fenix-Premier Tech was the only rider to finish outside the time limit in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift stage 7. The stage finished atop Mont Ventoux, with some riders crossing the line 40 minutes behind the winner Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney. Kool, a sprinter, came to the Tour to contest the sprint stages, but was dropped on stage 2 when most of the other sprinters contested the win.
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