Hold on tight, cycling fans! The winds of change are blowing, and they're carrying some HUGE news about the upcoming year in women's cycling. Forget hibernating – the Giro d'Italia is about to get a serious shake-up, and you won't want to miss a single pedal stroke.
Welcome back to the Wheel Talk Newsletter! Can you believe it's already December? This year has absolutely flown by, especially for the pros who are already deep into offseason training. I've spotted some familiar faces, like the incredible Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, putting in those crucial winter miles in preparation for the upcoming December training camps. And on the snowier side of things, the Cross Country skiing season is in full swing, with the Scandinavian athletes dominating the leaderboards, as many predicted.
First, a moment to celebrate a true legend: Mikaela Shiffrin continues her reign as a force to be reckoned with.
The American downhill skiing sensation just keeps making history! Shiffrin snagged another victory over the weekend – her third consecutive slalom win this season, following podium finishes in Levi and Gurgl. This latest triumph, on her (almost) home turf at Copper Mountain, not only extends her winning streak but also officially secures her spot at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy.
But here's where it gets even more impressive... Even before this latest win, Shiffrin had already cemented her place in history as the most decorated alpine skier of all time. Sunday's victory pushed her tally to a mind-blowing 104 World Cup wins. And the win held extra significance. Exactly one year prior, Shiffrin suffered a crash during a Giant Slalom in Killington, Vermont, resulting in a puncture wound to the abdomen. She openly discussed the long and challenging recovery process and the PTSD she faced upon returning to the slopes. This win was a testament to her incredible resilience.
Adding to the emotion, it marked her first victory on Colorado snow in a decade! Her last home-snow win was at the Aspen World Cup back in November 2015. Fresh off her win in Gurgl, Shiffrin expressed her excitement about racing so close to home, saying there's nothing quite like competing in a World Cup and sleeping in her own bed.
The World Cup action continues with two Giant Slaloms in Tremblant, Canada, this weekend, before the skiers head back across the Atlantic to Courchevel, France. Get ready for the first speed events of the season from December 12-14 in St. Moritz, Switzerland!
Transfer Talk: The Silly Season Settles Down
Since SD Worx-Protime welcomed Valentina Cavallar to their team, things have been quiet on the transfer front. It seems we can wrap up this section of the newsletter for now. This transfer season has been noticeably calmer than last year's whirlwind, which is typical for a post-Olympic year. Expect things to heat up again next season, as many riders' two-year contracts will be expiring after 2026. I doubt anything will surpass the excitement of the 2024 transfer season!
And this is the part most people miss... There are still some very talented riders without confirmed teams. Some, like Nina Kessler (reportedly re-signing with EF Education-Oatly) and Julie De Wilde (believed to be staying with Fenix-Deceuninck), are likely renewals that haven't been officially announced. Others, such as Emilia Fahlin, Ilaria Sanguineti, and Tamara Dronova-Balbolina, remain complete mysteries. We've even seen some transfers, like Mylène De Zoete's, leaked on social media before official confirmation. Honestly, the teams holding back on announcing renewals at this point is, well, frustrating. What are they waiting for? It's December!
Racing Never Stops!
The Tour Down Under is just 46 days away! Podcast plans are underway, co-hosts are being lined up... things are definitely moving forward.
Wheel Talk Podcast: A Story You Won't Forget
This week's episode is truly special. I had the privilege of speaking with Peruvian artistic cyclist Gracia Sotomayor. Her story is so incredible, you'll be struggling to keep your jaw from dropping the entire time. I won't spoil the episode for you, but prepare to be moved. I'm also working on a written piece, so stay tuned.
Let's Talk Giro d'Italia!
The 2026 Giro route was unveiled on Monday, and it's packed with reasons to be excited. The addition of a ninth stage, an uphill time trial, and the new dates all point to a thrilling future for the Italian race. The inclusion of a women's Giro d'Italia is a welcome and much-needed addition to the sport.
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift route, while exciting in its own right, did leave me wondering what the sprinters would do with their summer. Now we know that at least some of them will be targeting those first two stages at the Giro. My money is on Elisa Balsamo being the fastest woman with the strongest desire for that first stage and the coveted pink jersey.
But here's where it gets controversial... Some argue that the Giro's new focus on shorter, punchier stages might favor different types of riders, potentially overshadowing the pure sprinters. What do you think? Will the sprinters have their day, or will the climbers and all-rounders dominate?
Did we do a good job with this story? Let us know in the comments! Who do you think will win next year's Giro d'Italia? Are you excited about the new route? Share your thoughts below!
