With spring racing heating up and the gear pipeline buzzing, today’s headlines range from route previews for the Giro d’Italia and Clasica Femenina Navarra to eye-catching product drops that hint at lighter, smarter kit for 2027.
🏁 Competitions
The Giro d’Italia’s Stage 5 on 13 May spans 203 km from Praia a Mare to Potenza with 4 100 m of climbing. After the early shake-up in Calabria, riders face the Prestieri KOM, a brutal 6.6 km, 15 % ramp at Montagna Grande di Viggiano, then a rolling descent and an uphill finish in town that suits punchy GC hopefuls. Key names to watch include Giulio Ciccone defending pink, Jan Christen’s late bonus-second gambit, and breakaway threats such as Filippo Zana. Source
Meanwhile, one Grand Tour favourite finds his support crew diminished.
Team Visma│Lease a Bike will be without Wilco Kelderman in the high mountains after he raced two days on a broken collarbone, joining the already lost De Lie and Groves—an early blow to Jonas Vingegaard’s Giro ambitions. Source
On the women’s calendar, one-day Classics set the stage for fresh rivalries.
The Clasica Femenina Navarra on 13 May covers 133.4 km around Pamplona with nearly 2 000 m of punchy climbs up to 21 %. Defending champion Cat Ferguson leads a Movistar trio that also features Liane Lippert and Olivia Baril, while Ava Holmgren and Ruby Roseman-Gannon stand out as top non-Movistar threats. Source
Meanwhile, product innovation continues to shape the industry.
🚴 Products
Evolve’s new 4.9 kg bike undercuts comparable Western lightweight frames by thousands of euros, claiming pro-level mass at a direct-to-consumer price well below €5 000. Source
On testing benches, visibility tech takes centre stage.
mtb-news.de’s head-to-head of four radar-equipped rear lights finds the Lezyne Radar StVZO Rear the overall winner for radar range, 40 lm output and StVZO compliance—outpacing Sigma, Bryton and Garmin in a six-category real-world review. Source
Next up, high-tech builds and optical breakthroughs.
Neko Mulally’s custom downhill rig embraces 32″ wheels with a bespoke frame, fork and repurposed stem relic to push gravity limits beyond the standard 29″ platform. Source
Meanwhile, business initiatives are reshaping dealer networks.
Fox teases its first Vue Performance Eyewear for Spring 2027: a half-frame “Vue Pro” with Vivid contrast-enhancing lenses, swap-out nose pads and an adult-fit case, signalling a deep dive into MTB-specific optics. Source
And across the alloy-gravel sector, big clearances arrive on budget frames.
State Bicycles restocks its $999 4130 All-Road, now with clearance for up to 700×55 mm or 650×60 mm tires, 1×12 mechanical by default and optional SRAM Transmission or Rival XPLR AXS builds starting at $1 999. Source
On the business front, several brands are strengthening partnerships.
💼 Business
No major updates in this category today.
And beyond boardrooms, riders continue to make headlines.
👥 Riders
Teen sensation Albert Philipsen walked away from an 80 km/h training crash “lucky” without fractures, as medics ran out of bandages treating massive road-rash wounds—his first real scare after years of junior WorldTour racing. Source
Today’s previews and product breakthroughs show cycling striding forward on both tarmac and tech fronts. Tomorrow, expect race reports from the Giro’s mountains and new mid-season kit leaks to keep the momentum rolling.