soapworks

Cervelo just launched an updated Soloist, the first generation of which used to be the bike of choice for the CSC and Cervelo Test Team Pro teams in the early 2000s. The 2002 Soloist was perhaps the first road bike with a focus on aerodynamics. It looked far more like a TT bike with drop bars than a regular road bike. Cervelo subsequently created the S and R series, which became the bikes of choice for their Pro teams. The Soloist, now superseded was sent out to pasture. As the S5 (aero) and R5 (climbing) bikes became the darlings of the Cervelo range, there wasn’t really a need for the Soloist. But then in 2022, Cervelo relaunched the Soloist, positioning it as a do-it-all bike. Not as aero as the S5, and not as lightweight as the R5, it fit somewhere in the middle. It was used on occasion by the Pro team, but it largely saw use with development or youth teams. What I think is interesting about bikes like the Soloist, which aren’t used by the Pro teams, and never find themselves on camera, is that they create the capacity for their riders to impose a unique identity upon them. The S5 and R5 cannot escape the fact that they are used by the Jumbo / Visma / Lease-a Bike team (choose your sponsor depending on the year). Their identity is firmly established. They carries both the prestige and the baggage of the teams which use them. It also means that they date easily and show their age far quicker. The Soloist will remain timeless, as it doesn’t have any association with the Pro teams. It is a blank canvas, which doesn’t carry any preconceptions. The rider is free to create their unique relationship with the bike, and allow for it form its own identity.

What is the Tour de France, and what’s all the fuss about? You might have seen the screaming fans running dangerously close to the cyclists in skintight lycra, usually with their shirts off, a beer in one hand and a lit flare in another. You might even know someone who spends all of July stuck to the TV at a strange hour watching cyclists ride up a mountain. What’s going on?

You may already know that the Tour de France is the world’s biggest cycling race, but you may not know why 2026 is one of the most exciting editions in years. The best rider in the history of the sport Tadej Pogacar, rides to defend his title from longtime rival Jonas Vingegaard, finally back to form after a life threatening crash a few years ago. To spoil the party is Remco Evenepoel, known as the Aerobullet, and joining them is the wunderkind teenager Paul Seixas, hailed as The Great French Hope.

If you’re confused as to why they’re racing bicycles around France, let’s go back in time to see how it all started.

The bicycle as we know it really started to take shape around the 1880s. Known as the safety bicycle, it just about shares a passing resemblance to the Laufmaschine, the first bicycle shaped object which really was just a plank with two wheels attached to it. Give humans an object which can move and without fail they will find ways to race it. The rich and famous who were the few to afford these rather uncomfortable machines did mostly use to race each other for leisure. It’s difficult to put a pin on the first official bicycle race, but it’s fair to say the spirit of competition was in full swing the moment the bicycle started getting into the hands of more people.

‘Le Tour’, was an idea dreamed up in 1903 by Henri Desgrange & Géo Lefèvre, to drum up readership for the newspaper L’Auto. Henri planned a race around France, spanning 19 days, with the winner taking home 20,000 francs. 60 participants raced the six stages each with an average distance of 400km. Race officials would record how long it took riders to complete each stage, and the total time it took to complete all stages. The rider who would complete all stages in the least amount of time would win the race outright.

Maurice Garin won the inaugural race, taking 94 hours to complete the race. Although most of the riders were either professional, or semi-professional, some were just farmers looking to win cash for various other challenges that were on offer during the race. The first teams began to form in 1928, as riders realised having team mates to carry spare tubes, and to break wind for them was a big competitive advantage. These teams understood that supporting a single rider with their resources meant they had a much bigger chance of winning the race. These trade teams were usually bankrolled by bicycle manufacturers like Bianchi, Peugeot, Alycon-Dunlop, who wanted to prove they made the best bicycles.

These early bicycles were simple machines, steel frames, single speed, fixed gear, no brakes, wooden wheels, and leather saddles. Although much has changed in the time since, the sport has fundamentally remained the same. Athletes spend 3 weeks cycling around France, tackling the brutal mountains, enduring the heat of the summer, with the fastest one to finish all stages taking home the win. Our madcap friend Henri Desgrange would constantly tweak the rules over the years, to increase viewership, but the sport in 2026 would be quite familiar to someone from 1903. The very best would compete, and the onerous demands of the race would decide the winner.

The Tour de France is the biggest and most prestigious race in all of cycling. There are many big cycling races on the calendar, but the Tour is the biggest of them by far. One cannot sign up for the Tour, the teams and the cyclists are invited to participate. Only the biggest and most successful cycling teams are invited every year. Much like the Premier League, there are tiers in cycling teams. The top tier is called ‘UCI WorldTeams’, then comes ‘UCI ProTeams’, followed by ‘UCI Continental Teams’. A UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale, the governing body, similar to FIFA for football) WorldTeam has an average budget of €33M. These are big organisations, with 25-30 riders on their roster along with an army of support staff. When a rider for a team participates in a race, they win UCI points for their team. Every three years, the points are tallied up, and the teams who finish outside the top 18 in the standings are relegated to a lower tier. The Tour de France extends an automatic invitation to all 18 WorldTeams, and a discretionary invite to 5 other ProTeams based on their performance.

The Tour de France has for a while been an insular sport to those unfamiliar, and the one time it did have its transcendental moment, it nearly destroyed the sport of cycling. Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, David Beckham, Muhammed Ali, Serena Williams, Michael Phelps, these are all athletes who grew bigger than the sport they participated in. Household names, they not only appeared in the news for their record breaking exploits, but also for their off-field antics. They entered the lexicon as synonyms for excellence. Then there’s Lance Armstrong. He also entered the lexicon, but as a synonym for words like cheat, fraud, or disgrace. I don’t need to tell you who Lance Armstrong is, because you already know he’s a cyclist who competed in the Tour de France. The image in your mind might be of him in the iconic yellow jersey, or those yellow Livestrong bands. For most people, bicycle racing started and ended with Lance Armstrong. For others, there was a time when men in bandanas race their bikes, then came along the Lance Armstrong scandal, and now, do-they-even-race-bikes-anymore? Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France 7 times consecutively from 1999 to 2005, the most anyone has ever won it. Lance came, he conquered, and destroyed the sport of cycling. Lance wasn’t the only cyclist doping in that era, but his success and comeback from cancer story made him the biggest name anyone could point to. His abrasive and polarising personality certainly didn’t help.

So what happened in that fuzzy drug fuelled era? Cyclists have been doping since the beginning, trying to find a competitive advantage over each other. It started off with alcohol, caffeine, ether to help manage exhaustion. By the 1990’s, EPOs were in fashion. A game of cat and mouse ensued, with the organisers implementing new anti-doping protocols to keep up with the athletes who were finding new ways to gain an advantage. The fallout of the Armstrong era damn near killed the sport, but the changes that had to be made to save cycling was required to win back trust from the fans and sponsors. Today, the sport has a no-tolerance policy to any sort of doping. There is a constant and intense scrutiny from the organising body, teams, sponsors and fans towards the issue.

If you happen to be a friend or family member of one of these fans, let me tell you the story of the 2026 Tour de France, so that you too can enjoy the wonderful sport. I’ve given you a brief introduction to the history of bicycle racing, and connected the dots you had about cycling through the transcendental Armstrong era. Now let’s take a look at the contemporary state of cycling, and what’s at stake in the Tour this year.

The 2026 edition of the Tour de France is just as monumental and barbaric as it has been this decade. The participants will cover 3,333km, and climb 54,500m over 21 days. There are 4 big prizes to be won. The most distinguished of them all, the Yellow Jersey or the Maillot Jaune. This jersey is worn by the rider who leads the general classification, which means they have completed the race so far in the least amount of time. The rider on top of the classification might change everyday, so a different person might wear the jersey on any given stage, but the one who wears it at the end of the last stage is the overall leader and winner. Then there’s the White Jersey or the Maillot Blanc. This is given to the best young rider. It’s similar to the yellow jersey in the sense that it is given to the rider leading the standings, but this is only eligible for riders 25 years old or younger. The winner of this jersey is someone to watch out for in the future. There’s the Green Jersey or the Maillot Vert is awarded to the leader of the points classification. Points can be won at certain checkpoints or at the finish of a stage. To simplify, this jersey is usually won by the best sprinter. The Polka Dot jersey or the Maillot à Pois Rouges is awarded to the leader of the King of the Mountain classification, colloquially, the best climber.

What is a sprinter, and what is a climber? Let’s breakdown the different kind of riders who participate in the Tour. The Tour has 21 stages, and each stage is unique and different. Some stages are long and flat, some are short and mountainous, some are mostly flat with some small hills, and some are torture tests with one big mountain after another. Each stage profile requires a different kind of expertise to win it. Each rider has a unique capability, which is heavily influenced by their physiology. To put simply, the smaller and thinner the rider, the more likely they are to do better when the road goes uphill. The bigger and more muscular the rider will suffer on the mountains but have big advantage on the flats. There are also riders who can do a bit of both, but aren’t the best at either. Although this is a general rule of thumb, there are a great many exceptions.

The bigger riders can pack more muscle, so some of them specialise into becoming sprinters. They can generate monstrous amounts of power for a short period of time, and showcase their prowess at the very end of the stage, often fighting for the win in the last 200m of a 200km race. These explosive finishes are dramatic, with riders powering up to speeds in excess of 70km/hr and are often marred by high speed crashes.

The smaller and shorter riders are lithe and don’t carry a lot of weight, which is handy when you’re fighting gravity when going uphill. Their lightweight bodies enable them to dance up big mountain passes without having to push out as much power as their heavier competitors, which makes them excellent climbers. The tall alpine passes are often where the lead of the general classification is decided, which means that the winner of the yellow jersey is more often than not, a climber.

Then there are those who can do a bit of both. They aren’t as muscular as the sprinters, and not as lightweight as the climbers. They are known as Puncheurs, and they do well in stages which have a mix of climbing and flat sections.

Each team will have a designated sprinters, climbers, puncheurs, as well as a General Classification (GC) rider. A sprinter, climber, and puncheur will have ambitions to win stages, but a GC rider will aim for a good standing in the general classification at the end of the race. The GC rider will try to conserve as much energy each day, trying to keep themselves fresh for key moments and have good legs for the last week. Finishing in top 10 of the final standings may not sound remarkable, but it could be the difference between getting sponsorship needed for survival or folding up.

Who are the big contenders, and what are their stories heading into 2026?

Let’s begin with the rider who might be the best cyclist of all time in the history of the sport, and he’s just 27. Tadej Pogacar is an affable and lanky rider who has won the Tour four times already, and almost every other big race on the calendar. Tadej comes into the 2026 season having the won Tour for the last two years, and easily so. He wins on average 30% of all races he starts, as compared to his competitors at less than 5%. He sets climbing records every time he races, and commentators seem to run out of superlatives to describe him. Winning appears to be comically easy for him, and to watch him in real life is extraordinary. When others are suffering on a big climb, he appears to be smiling, enjoying himself, like he’s out on a relaxed ride around the park. Tadej cuts a beautiful form on his bike, it’s as if he was born to ride a bike. What makes Tadej exceptional is that he is a threat on any kind of terrain. He’s not only the best climber in the world, but he does well against puncheurs and can also give some sprinters a run for their money. He has won races against the best puncheurs on courses which shouldn’t favour him. If he’s on the start list, he is the favourite. You’ll see him on the start line wearing a jersey with rainbow stripes instead of his trade team colours, which signifies he’s the current world road cycling champion, a title he’s held for the last few years. He races for a star studded team called UAE Team Emirates who have surrounded Tadej with the best cyclists who are not named Tadej. With seemingly infinitely deep pockets, this team gets better every year. They have the best training, nutrition and they even have part ownership of Colnago, the prestigious Italian bicycle brand which provides them with the equipment. The focus on the entire package means that they optimise performance in every department, without compromise. Their competitors might have to use inferior equipment due to sponsorship obligations, but UAE Team Emirates has no such need for compromise. You’ll see Tadej on his outlandish looking Colnago Y1RS bike, which is one of the fastest in the peloton. This year, Tadej is accompanied by a talented young rider by the name of Isaac Del Toro, who will provide invaluable support and fight for wins himself.

Tadej’s biggest rival and threat to his bid for the overall win is a former fisherman, Jonas Vingegaard. A quiet, humble and wiry rider, Jonas doesn’t look like a person who has won the Tour twice, winning both against Tadej. His calm demeanour hides an intensely competitive racer who has a deep respect for the unwritten rules of cycling. In 2022, when both of them were racing for the win, Tadej crashed on a high speed descent. Instead of taking advantage of the situation, Jonas backed off, and waited for Tadej to get on his bike and rejoin the race. He didn’t have to, but Jonas, just like Tadej respect the art of racing far too much to profit off an incident like that. Jonas races for the Visma Lease-a-Bike team, who also have a fantastic roster of riders. Some argue they aren’t on the same level as Tadej’s team, but they are still one of the best squads out there. Jonas won the Tour in 2022, and 2023, then had a massive, life threatening crash in 2024. Although he recovered in time to race in 2024, he himself has admitted he hasn’t been at his best for the last couple of years. He comes into the 2026 Tour, wanting to prove that he can still win the race. Jonas comes to life in the big mountains. He might be unparalleled on the infernally long climbs, on the hottest of days. It was on those days when he got the better of Tadej. Although his performances have only gotten better since his crash, Tadej has just been a few steps ahead. Jonas hadn’t been dominant in his victories earlier this year, but he is the only credible challenger against Tadej to win the Tour this year. Jonas and Tadej have collectively won the Tour for the last 6 years. But now there are some new faces who are looking to break up this duopoly…

Enter Remco Evenepoel. Known as the Aerobullet, he is the former road cycling champion, the currently time trial world champion, and the olympic road race champion. He’s just 26. He may not have the storied palmarès of Tadej, but he has accomplished much so far. He’s just made a big money move to Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe, a team which has grand ambitions and the financial backing to walk the talk. Remco is a hybrid puncheur / climber, and perhaps the best time trial specialist in the world. Every Tour has a stage called a Time Trial. Riders don’t go head to head in this format, instead they compete against the clock. They start individually in two minute increments, and the stage is decided by who can finish the course in the fastest possible time. It’s called a race of truth, because there isn’t any drafting, tactics, or team dynamics. It’s the rider versus the clock. This discipline requires a specific ability to contort the body into the most aerodynamic position to slip through the air with minimal resistance and produce power in way that is consistent. Does the nickname ‘Aerobullet’ make sense now? A rider can gain or lose significant amounts of time in these stages. Tadej and Jonas have won and lost the Tour because of a time trial. Remco is still growing as a rider, and so far all signs this season have looked promising. He’s poised to spoil the party and either finish on the podium or maybe even win the race. What might keep him from success, is his mentality. Remco is emotional, and if things don’t go the way he wants, he’s liable to throw a tantrum. It must be said though, to throw a tantrum in 35° C heat while climbing a mountain in the Tour is quite impressive. Last year, on a particularly bad day he lost a chunk of time to his rivals, and instead of finishing the stage, he simply abandoned the race. His refusal to be media trained is quite the entertainment for fans, and it is refreshing to hear an athlete at this level speak their mind. Remco is a future superstar, and the fans want him to be the rider they hope he is.

One of the great tragedies of the Tour de France is the absence of a French rider being in contention to win the race. The French fans have had many hopes, David Gaudu, Thibaut Pinot, Julian Alaphilippe, Romain Bardet, but none have been able to win. Thibaut Pinot had a special connection with the French fans, his emotional and romantic approach toward racing was special to watch. The same can be said for Julian Alaphilippe, who races with his heart on his sleeve. But in 2025, everything changed. The frenchman Paul Seixas, who rides for the French team, Decathlon AG2R, had a breakout 2025 when he won the U23 version of the Tour (also known as the Tour de l’Avenir), and followed up with strong performances in early season races in 2026. Hailed as The Great French Hope, the 19 year old is participating in his first Tour de France this year. Paul is one of the very few riders who could hang on to Tadej’s wheel earlier this year, and even though he couldn’t beat him, has shown enough to earn the burden of nation seeking success. The young teenager is the GC rider for his team, and will have the backing of his teammates to support him in his quest to finish on the podium or better.

Cycling is a brutal sport. Very few ever make it to the upper echelons and get the opportunity the race in the Tour. Of these few, a small percentage will ever experience what it feels like to win a race. Of these, just a handful will make it as the greats of the sport. Then, from those few there will be a few who have the talent to be head and shoulders above the others. They’re known as the aliens. Tadej and Jonas are bonafide aliens. Remco still has to prove himself worthy of that category and Paul appears to have what to takes. Unless something completely unexpected happens, it will be one of these four who will win the race and make up the podium. This is one of the most ‘open’ and competitive Tours we have had in a while, and the fans are salivating at the prospect of watching the stages unfold.

There’s not a lot of similarities between professional boxing and cycling, but the one thing that is common is that the athletes go blow by blow at each other. Let me explain. When it comes down to it, a cycling race really is just a competition of who is stronger. One of them goes faster, the other catches up and returns the favour by going even faster. This continues until one of the crosses the finish line first. There’s a rather clinical savagery to the sport. The cameras are on their faces the whole time, so you, the viewer can see the emotions as this one-upmanship plays out in real time. You see pain, real pain, as they push beyond what they thought their bodies were capable of. You see despair when their bodies can’t give anymore. You see elation and the purest of joy when they cross the finish line to win a stage, and achieve all they ever dreamt of.

There will be a moment in the high mountains, perhaps somewhere in the Alps or the Pyrenees, where cycling is distilled to its purest form. The best in the world will have ridden off toward the summit, high above the clouds, leaving the rest behind. It is in that rarified air, in that bleak landscape, where the best ever to ride a bike will go to war. Each acceleration, each attack, will be seared into your memory. It is on those quiet roads, too narrow for any fans to be around, where greatness will roar. This is the temple within which the religion of cycling starts to make sense. You might find yourself standing, perhaps too close to your television, staring at the view from the helicopter camera, waiting with bated breath to see what will unfold next. There will be moments of calm, followed by moments of dazzling brilliance. The tension will continue to rise and rise till the riders race past the finish line. Now, you can finally breathe out, sit down, and reflect on what you just witnessed. These are the moments only the Tour can produce. These are the moments fans impatiently wait for each year.

Chasing eclipses on this speed machine. NYC '24