Welcome back to another edition of Pro Log. Here’s a rundown of the latest results before we get started:
- Elite Men, Australia Road Race National Championships, Sun 11th January: 1st Patrick Eddy, Team Brennan, 3h 55min 25sec; 2nd Luke Plapp, Jayco-AlUla, +00sec; 3rd Oscar Chamberlain, Decathlon CMA CGM, +09sec.
- Elite Women, Australia Road Race National Championships, Sun 11th January: 1st Mackenzie Coupland, Liv AlUla Jayco, 2h 48min 58sec; 2nd Ruby Roseman-Gannon, Liv AlUla Jayco, +32sec; 3rd Neve Bradbury, Canyon-SRAM Zondacrypto, +36sec.
- Elite Men, Great Britain Cyclocross National Championships, Sun 11th January: 1st Cameron Mason, 56min 57sec; 2nd Toby Barnes, +21sec; 3rd Ben Askey, +2min 28sec.
- Elite Women, Great Britain Cyclocross National Championships, Sun 11th January: 1st Anna Flynn, 56min 07sec; 2nd Xan Crees, +1min 23sec; 3rd Grace Inglis, +1min 43sec.
Controversy at Australian Nationals
In a bizarre move at the Australian National Championships, Luke Plapp chased down Jayco-AlUla teammate Luke Durbridge in the final kilometre of the men’s road race only for neither to win the title. Plapp gave a free leadout to Team Brennan’s Patrick Eddy, who promptly eased to the victory, leaving Plapp to settle for second. Durbridge refused an interview request afterwards, according to SBS Sport.
Liv-AlUla-Jayco fared better in the women’s race, going 1-2 with winner Mackenzie Coupland ahead of Ruby Roseman-Gannon.
Cyclocross National Championships
Alex Whitehead/SWpix
The Cyclocross National Championships took place in South Shields this past weekend. Cameron Mason broke away to earn his fourth consecutive men’s elite title ahead of Toby Barnes and Ben Askey while Anna Flynn topped the standings in the women’s elite race ahead of Xan Crees and Grace Inglis.
Meanwhile on the continent, Thibau Nys and Tibor Del Grosso defended their Belgian and Dutch titles, while Marion Norbert-Riberolle defended her Belgian women’s crown, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado beat Puck Pieterse and Lucinda Brand for her first Dutch national championship since 2020, and FDJ United-Suez’s Célia Gery upset Amandine Fouquenet to take the French women’s title.
Tom Dumoulin finds new job in cycling
Amstel Gold Race
Tom Dumoulin will become the race director of the Amstel Gold Race from 2027. Dumoulin, who retired in 2022, will step into the role vacated by Leo van Vliet in what will be the 61st edition of the Netherlands’ only WorldTour Classic in 2027.
As well as being a former World ITT Champion and Giro d’Italia winner, Dumoulin competed in the Amstel Gold Race six times in his racing career.
Óscar Rodríguez fractures hip
Ineos Grenadiers
Ineos Grenadiers’ Óscar Rodríguez crashed on a training ride recently, sustaining a hip fracture that he has undergone surgery on. A Vuelta a España stage winner in 2018, Rodríguez moved to Ineos Grenadiers at the beginning of 2024 from Movistar and will now miss the first half of the season.
Simon Yates retires
Luca Bettini/AFP via Getty Images
In case you missed it, Giro d’Italia 2025 winner Simon Yates has retired. Despite having photographs taken of him in the new Visma-Lease a Bike kit in the past few weeks, the 33-year-old has decided to end his pro racing career.
In a statement Yates said, ‘I step away from professional cycling with deep pride and a sense of peace. This chapter has given me more than I ever imagined. Memories and moments that will stay with me long after the racing ends and for whatever comes next.’
This likely pushes Matteo Jorgenson up the Grand Tour leadership pecking order, but they’ll still be riding for Jonas Vingegaard at both the Giro and Tour de France in 2026.
