Jacob Whitehead
@jacobwhitehead.bsky.social
✍️ Reporter for @theathleticfc.bsky.social. Investigations with a bit of cycling and #NUFC. Read books, climb hills, make soup. 📚🏔️🥣
News: Josh Tarling to race the Vuelta a Espana, one week after his younger brother Finlay was killed at the Volta a Portugal. Incredible bravery and sincerely hope both the race and its media is able to give him all the space he needs.
Josh Tarling to race Vuelta a España a week after death of brother Finlay (Gift Article)
The younger brother of the Netcompany-INEOS rider was killed by a van while racing the Volta a Portugal on August 14.
nytimes.com
Tadej Pogacar is the overwhelming favourite for the red jersey... but plenty more intrigue at the Vuelta a Espana. 🇸🇮 Roglic's last dance? 🏴 Oscar Onley's Ineos leadership 🟢 Pedersen vs Van Aert 🚀 Brennan's GT debut Full preview:
2026 Vuelta a España preview: Tadej Pogacar chases more history in final Grand Tour of 2026 (Gift Article)
A brutal route should suit the world champion as he bids to continue his near-perfect season
nytimes.com
Cycling had its warnings and none were heeded. Finlay Tarling's death was shameful, senseless, and avoidable. The sport has proven incapable of investigating itself. How many more riders must die before its stakeholders bear responsibility? Column ⬇️
Cycling’s stakeholders must reflect on failings that led to Fin Tarling’s death. The sport has to learn (Gift Article)
By not being afforded the basics of protection in a racing situation, the teenager became the latest cyclist to pay with his life
nytimes.com
Jonas Vingegaard to miss remainder of the 2026 season as he continues recovery from a broken collarbone sustained in July's Tour de France. Will miss next month's World Championships in Montreal & Europeans in Slovenia.
Jonas Vingegaard ends 2026 season after broken collarbone, will miss World Championships (Gift Article)
The 29-year-old abandoned the Tour de France last month after suffering the injury on stage 15.
nytimes.com
Horrible, horrible news from the Volta a Portugal. Finlay Tarling, 19, killed after an accident on Friday’s eighth stage. On early reports, organisers and policing appear to face serious questions.
British cyclist Finlay Tarling, 19, dies after accident at Volta a Portugal (Gift Article)
Race organisers said Tarling died "following a serious accident" which occurred during the eighth stage of the race.
nytimes.com
Tadej Pogacar to ride the Vuelta a Espana - where he becomes instant favourite to complete his Grand Tour set. Via @oilysailor.bsky.social:
Tadej Pogacar set to race in Vuelta a Espana next month (Gift Article)
The Tour of Spain is the only Grand Tour Pogacar is yet to win in his career so far.
nytimes.com
Twenty-one photos for 21 stages. Farewell to the 2026 Tour de France. (And now onto the Femmes…)
The story of the 2026 Tour de France in 21 photographs (Gift Article)
Every year the Tour is a snapshot of a French summer – here are some of the most evocative images from the 2026 edition
nytimes.com
The Tour de France is over. Convened around the virtual coffee table with @oilysailor.bsky.social, @berencross.bsky.social, & @chrisdhwaugh.bsky.social to run the rule over this edition... and have an early look towards next year.
2026 Tour de France takeaways: Pogacar’s glory, best stage, Pedersen vs Carapaz, and looking ahead to 2027 (Gift Article)
The Athletic's writers discuss the 2026 Tour de France, from best riders to biggest disappointment
nytimes.com
Tadej Pogacar greets history with an unsure wave. He is almost its accidental master, but is close to completing it all the same. His fifth Tour de France title was straightforward — and yet still one of his greatest achievements. This is how he did it.
In the midst of his majesty: How Tadej Pogacar won the 2026 Tour de France (Gift Article)
This year's race will be remembered as Pogačar at his most supreme, engaged in a relentless march towards a historic fifth title
nytimes.com
“We both rode to the death,” said Tadej Pogacar. “He took a beautiful victory today I think.” Mathieu van der Poel wins perhaps the finest standalone final stage in Tour de France history. After two editions, Montmartre is already a modern classic.
Tour de France stage 21: Pogacar confirms yellow as Van der Poel stuns in Paris. Was this best-ever final stage? (Gift Article)
Analysis of the final stage of the 2026 Tour de France, a breathless 89km race in Paris
nytimes.com
Carapaz 🗻 Pedersen 🟢 Del Toro ⚪️ The battle for the yellow jersey was over after less than a week - but this was a Tour de France saved by its minor classifications.
Why the 2026 Tour de France has been blessed by its green, white and polka dot jersey competitions (Gift Article)
It is details that make a race and this edition of La Grand Boucle was crafted with an artist’s eye.
nytimes.com
Richard Carapaz, the ultimate man of the high mountains, wins on Alpe d'Huez after scary Sepp Kuss crash. Tadej Pogacar, meanwhile, turns domestique for Isaac del Toro's podium — with teenage phenom Paul Seixas dropped at last. Next stop: Paris.
Tour de France stage 20: Richard Carapaz wins Queen Stage after Sepp Kuss crashes twice in thrilling finale
Analysis of stage 20 of the 2026 Tour de France, a 171km loop from Le Bourg d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez
nytimes.com
NEW: Tour de France's final Paris stage rerouted due to wildfires in the Gironde — with emergency services redeployed to help with evacuation of some 200,000 inhabitants. 89km stage will start on Champs-Élysées and still feature iconic Montmartre climb.
Tour de France final stage rerouted as wildfires limit emergency service capabilities (Gift Article)
The stage has now been shortened from 133 kilometers to 89km and will take place fully within Paris’ city limits.
nytimes.com
Yesterday, I walked up the 21 bends and 1100m of Alpe d’Huez, the Tour’s most fantastical climb. But after yet more rider injuries due to overcrowding, has the mountain’s mythos become its curse?
Walking Alpe d’Huez on race day: Is the Tour de France’s ultimate mountain becoming a problem? (Gift Article)
Huge crowds and unruly behavior could mean fewer visits to one of the race's most iconic stage finishes
nytimes.com
Pogačar has amazed, astonished, and awed but perhaps never come closer to touching the firmament than he did on Alpe d’Huez. Pantani's climbing record shattered by well over a minute. Piece from its summit, with @chrisdhwaugh.bsky.social:
Tour de France stage 19: Tadej Pogacar shatters Alpe d’Huez climbing record to record historic victory
Analysis of stage 19 of the 2026 Tour de France, a 128km route from Gap to Alpe d'Huez
nytimes.com
Twenty-nine years ago, Marco Pantani set the climbing record on Alpe d’Huez. Will it fall this afternoon? From @oilysailor.bsky.social:
Remembering Marco Pantani’s record-breaking ascent of Alpe d’Huez (Gift Article)
The Pirate's 37 minutes and 35 seconds of climbing lives on as a high-water mark of the places 1990s cycling took itself to
nytimes.com
Carapaz secures stage win for EF, Pedersen looking good for green... but the talk of the town (well, mountain village) is the illness sweeping UAE Team Emirates. Ahead of Alpe d'Huez over the next two days, might Pogacar be vulnerable?
Tour de France stage 18: Carapaz gets his win, Pedersen bounces back, and are ailing UAE in trouble? (Gift Article)
Analysis of stage 18 of the 2026 Tour de France, a 185km route from Voiron to Orcières-Merlette
nytimes.com
Isaac Del Toro is typically a man of few words, but he really opens up to @jacobwhitehead.bsky.social in this profile. He's mature beyond his years. Gratitude and dedication stand out as his main personality traits. www.nytimes.com/athletic/746...
Meet Isaac del Toro: North American cycling’s new superstar
The Mexican speaks to The Athletic about moving to Europe, turning pro and becoming Tadej Pogačar's trusted lieutenant at the Tour de France
nytimes.com
NEW: FIFA’s integrity taskforce have congratulated themselves on a World Cup free of “suspicious betting activity”. Experts disagree. They have generated seven yellow flags, including from two games involving Spain, its champions. Story with @colinmillar.bsky.social:
FIFA, global advisory body clash over potential betting irregularities at World Cup (Gift Article)
Irregularities flagged do not necessarily mean manipulation of events took place, a gambling industry expert told The Athletic.
nytimes.com
EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Mexico’s Isaac Del Toro on his Tour so far, relationship with Tadej Pogacar, and the broken leg that almost ended his career. Twenty days after leaving hospital, he forced himself onto the same descent - and everything changed.
Meet Isaac del Toro: North American cycling’s new superstar (Gift Article)
The Mexican speaks to The Athletic about moving to Europe, turning pro and becoming Tadej Pogačar's trusted lieutenant at the Tour de France
nytimes.com
Mads Pedersen has held the green jersey for two weeks — but the fight is back on after a redemptive win for Jasper Philipsen. This one is going all the way to the Parisian cobbles. Report from Voiron with @berencross.bsky.social:
Tour de France stage 17: Jasper Philipsen wins at last, now can he steal green jersey from Pedersen? (Gift Article)
Analysis of stage 17 of the 2026 Tour de France, a 175km transitional stage from Chambéry to Voiron
nytimes.com
After nine months of work, there were just 16 minutes between Remco Evenepoel winning Tuesday's Tour de France time trial and Florian Lipowitz breaking his collarbone. A deep-dive inside Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe's brutal, beautiful day:
Inside Red Bull’s Tour de France time trial: Glory for Remco Evenepoel, agony for Florian Lipowitz (Gift Article)
The Athletic was along for the ride as Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe experienced highs and lows on stage 16 of this year's race
nytimes.com
NEW: UAE Team Emirates’ Brandon McNulty knocked off bike by car belonging to member of the public after morning recon of time trial. Gianetti hopes injuries are minor, was unsure if Pogacar involved:
American cyclist Brandon McNulty knocked off bike by car before Tour de France time trial (Gift Article)
The UAE Team Emirates XRG rider is due to start Tuesday's stage at 16:40 CET.
nytimes.com
For the first time in his career, Jonas Vingegaard stands at a true crossroads. In cycling’s all-consuming orbit, the 29-year-old swims to escape the mouth of the whale. It is fair to ask: what comes next?
After a broken collarbone ends his Tour de France, what next for Jonas Vingegaard? (Gift Article)
After his sad exit on Sunday the Dane stands at a crossroads. How much does he want to continue chasing?
nytimes.com
What happens at a Tour de France finish line? Went behind the scenes in the the timing booth before stage 13 — probably the best air-conditioning of the race so far...
What happens on a Tour de France finish line — apart from the occasional wheelie? (Gift Article)
The Athletic visits the crew who ensure that stage results are confirmed almost instantaneously
nytimes.com
Jonas Vingegaard has abandoned the Tour de France. Reaction from Visma as Evenepoel wins his first mountain stage & Pogacar pulls Del Toro into white as Seixas loses time.
Tour de France stage 15: Remco Evenepoel triumphs at Plateau de Solaison as Vingegaard crashes and abandons (Gift Article)
Analysis of stage 15 of the Tour de France, a 184km route from Champagnole to Plateau de Solaison
nytimes.com
Pogacar said it was a grimace, then admitted it was kind of a smile. The 125th victory of his career, his 25th at the Tour de France, his fifth yellow jersey all but secured. Elsewhere, Seixas and Del Toro drop Vingegaard. This era is both old and new.
Tour de France stage 14: Tadej Pogacar christens Col du Haag climb with 125th victory of his career (Gift Article)
Analysis of stage 14 of the Tour de France, a 155km route from Mulhouse to Le Markstein
nytimes.com
Paul Seixas is the Tour de France’s youngest rider since WW2. He enters its final week in the midst of the podium fight. The teenager wears his nation’s hopes lightly, like an amulet around his neck. This is how he, and his team, deal with the burden of his own precociousness:
Being Paul Seixas, the boy king of the Tour de France (Gift Article)
With eight stages of the 2026 race remaining, the 19-year-old can still dream of a podium finish
nytimes.com
Tom Pidcock enters the Tour de France's podium battle after launching escape to Belfort — while Mauro Schmid atones for sprint defeat with cathartic and thrilling win. Report from the Swiss border, with @berencross.bsky.social:
Tour de France stage 13: Mauro Schmid wins epic breakaway stage as Tom Pidcock climbs to fourth on GC (Gift Article)
Analysis of the longest stage of the Tour de France, a 206km route between Dole and Belfort
nytimes.com
“The game’s really changing now”. Cycling’s transfer market is more hectic than ever - with transfer fees now commonplace and the battle for talent focused on young teens. How does it really work? Spoke to Red Bull head of sport Zak Dempster:
Inside Red Bull’s recruitment strategy: How does a cycling transfer really work? (Gift Article)
The Athletic spoke to Red Bull’s chief of sports Zak Dempster about the sport's talent ID and growing parallels with European soccer
nytimes.com