Andrew Hood

Jumbo-Visma is taking a patient approach to develop its young classics prodigy Wout van Aert, but he's already off to a fast start in 2019.

Ordinarily a dedicated domestique at the Tour de France and other major races, Rowe gets a shot to race as the leader with Sky's classics team.

Don't pigeonhole him as a pure sprinter. Colombian Fernando Gaviria plans to contend at the cobbled spring classics.

Hot off a top-10 result in Milano-Sanremo, Alejandro Valverde looks to defend Catalunya title as Chris Froome kicks off his European schedule.

Surgery to improve blood flow in left leg expected to sideline Sardinian for several months.

Alaphilippe brimming with confidence and form with Itzulia Basque Country and Ardennes next on the hit list.

Australian Michael Matthews had written off Milano-Sanremo after a hard crash in Paris-Nice, but he has recovered quicker than expected.

On paper, Deceuninck-Quick-Step boasts the strongest team for Milano-Sanremo, but can it control a typically unpredictable monument classic?

How to win Milano-Sanremo? Endurance, early season form, a perfectly timed attack on the Poggio or final sprint, and plenty of good luck.

Jumbo-Visma brass say that Roglic is an astute student of the sport, progressing rapidly despite a lack of experience as a junior or under-23 rider.

Team leaders are pleased that Team Sky isn't dying, but they are daunted by the British team's enormous budget, which won't change with new owner.

Pro cycling's first monument classic will feature an intriguing blend of sprinters and climbers who will take on "La Primavera," the longest race of the year.

With a virtually bottomless pocket, Team Sky's new sponsor Jim Ratcliffe and his company Ineos should allow the team to continue its dominance.

Team Astana has already matched its 2017 win tally in less than three months of racing, finding its groove with young talents and now-healthy veterans.

Sky's young Colombian prodigy Egan Bernal impresses at Paris-Nice, cool under fire and strong on all terrain from crosswinds to high mountains.

American team confident its Canadian climber has limitless potential with Tour de France debut likely in 2019.

The two Colombian stars are at different stages of their careers, and they'll face off this weekend on a relatively unknown climb in France.

The first three stages of Paris-Nice showcased the worst conditions Northern France has to offer with cold weather and whipping winds.

The rising French star has found the podium in three monument classics, and his win at Strade Bianche has Alaphilippe dreaming big.

Sunweb staff is relieved Matthews didn't suffer worse injuries in crosswinds crash during Paris-Nice stage 1.

Spring racing begins in earnest for classics contenders and the GC riders alike, but Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico have changed a lot.

Top riders Thibaut Pinot and Marcel Kittel blast their former teammate who was ensnared in recent doping sting in Austria.

A few top riders abandon original early season plans due to setbacks ranging from illness to injury.

Though he is a perennial favorite on the cobblestones, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2019 is Zdenek Stybar's first big win in the northern classics.

Adam Yates will target the 2019 Tour de France with hopes of landing on the final podium

A doping investigation involving Nordic skiers could expose the new techniques used to cheat.

With back-to-back wins in Belgian opener, Deceuninck-Quick-Step puts classics rivals on notice.

As the spring classics begin in earnest, all eyes are on Deceuninck-Quick-Step to see if it can again dominate on the cobbles.

To handle the demands of racing to win from Sanremo through Liège, Peter Sagan opts for a special high-altitude prep that skips classic openers.

The two Belgians are neighbors and often train together, but this weekend they'll be racing against each other on the cobblestones.

World champ Alejandro Valverde plans to race his first Tour of Flanders, and he intends to do much more than simply show off the rainbow jersey.

Saturday's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad marks the start of the 2019 classics season.

The Belgian will kick off the classics season at Saturday's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, which takes place in the Flanders region of his home country.

The Canadian and EF Education First rider is working to overcome his weakness on the bike: descending.

The classics winner Valgren believes he can win Tour of Flanders. He also talks about his passion for cycling equipment and how he came to the sport.

The 31-year-old American endured two tough seasons but is primed and ready for a better 2019.

The Mitchelton-Scott sport director tells VeloNews grand tour captains would be smart to race the spring classics in preparation for the Tour de France.

Confidence is crucial for a world-class sprinter. Elia Viviani brings his winning mindset from 2018 into 2019 with two victories in the books already.

Jasper Philipsen, 20, is thought to be an immense talent who could soon be the face of Belgian classics riders.

Geraint Thomas says he'll forgo some of his favorite races — those that take place on the cobblestones of France and Belgium — as he prepares for his Tour title defense.

The Tasmanian's main target race is the Tour de France this year, his first with the U.S.-registered team.

A meeting between Sky officials, Colombian President Iván Duque, and others suggest a deal to save the team could be in the works.

The U.S.-based team is victorious in Tuesday's team race against the clock, its first TTT win since 2016.

The Frenchman's Arkéa-Samsic squad is one of three Pro Continental teams vying for two wildcard spots.

The British team is off to a strong start to the season, which the riders said is important in the sponsor search.

Team Sky clears the way for young Egan Bernal to try his hand at leading the world's most formidable cycling team in the Giro d'Italia.

Colombia's vibrant cycling culture welcomes its home stars and Chris Froome alike for six-day stage race through Medellin mountains.

Spanish media report that Oleg Tinkov offered to save Team Sky, which is seeking a sponsor for 2020. He denies report as "bullshit."

The 2019 Tour de France will see an intriguing convergence of Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas's ambitions. But they won't race together before July.

The Tour de France director says running a women's Tour de France on the same days as the men's race is not feasible.

Geraint Thomas confirms he will forgo another run at the pink jersey as he targets the Tour de France as defending champion.

The 28-year-old Frenchman finished third in the 2014 Tour de France and wants to record another podium finish this summer.

Neilson Powless and Sepp Kuss are beginning their second seasons in the professional ranks with high hopes.

Early season races in Australia and South America afford important opportunities for domestiques to win, and these results have a broader impact as well.

The big German speedster is aiming to return to the top of the sprinter ranks this season.

Several of CCC Team's classics riders head to Valencia to build form and team cohesion.

After Tour de France organizers throw a curveball, Dutch time trial star Tom Dumoulin plans return to Giro d'Italia to aim for second maglia rosa.

Andrew Hood takes a look at the results sheets from the year's first races in Australia and discovered five riders who showed big promise for the season.

The Italian is targeting Milano-Sanremo this season, a race in which he finished ninth in 2017.

After five editions, the one-day race is marketing itself as an 'Australian classic' and is drawing more and more top riders.

Victory at Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race silences demon from 2018 and marks a "perfect" start to Viviani's season.

Ewan keen to deliver first official victory in Lotto-Soudal jersey on home roads.

Australian ex-pro set to streamline Flanders Classics programme and promote it to more international audience.

With the tough Challambra climb at nine kilometers to go, Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race pits pure sprinters against those who can kick on the climbs.

The 20-year-old is one race into his WorldTour career and his team believes he has grand tour abilities.

Teams don't bring their coach buses to the Australian WorldTour race, so each squad is given two cars and a van to use.

Racing at the Tour Down Under presents a logistical challenge, but once there things generally run smoothly for the mechanics.

The 2016 Paris-Roubaix champion retires at age 40 at the end of his home race, the Santos Tour Down Under.

Andrew Hood examines what has made this annual event in Australia so successful.

Woods growing in confidence and ambition despite leaving Tour Down Under empty-handed.

Ewan disagrees with UCI jury's decision and claims headbutts were necessary to avoid crash.

Race leader crashes in final 10 kilometers, while headbutts see sprint victor relegated at Tour Down Under stage 5.

The Kazakhstan-based squad has some fun off the bike and puts together a rap video.

The three-time world champion grabs his first victory of 2019 on just his third day of racing.

The Canadian is hoping that EF Education First will select him for its eight-rider Tour de France squad.

The 27-year-old is able to ride for victories on the CCC Team, now that Richie Porte has moved to another outfit.

The Italian grand tour's spot on the season schedule is not ideal for Peter Sagan, who says he'd like to race it at least once.

Former Austrian pro cyclist's dream of a bicycle tour across Israel, Jordan, and Palestine put on hold due to increasingly fraught political climate.

Australian takes confidence-boosting victory while team looks to rebuild sprint train around him.

GC clash expected to come down to closing-day finale on emblematic Old Willunga Hill after course redesign.