At the Volta ao Algarve, 19-year-old French rider Paul Seixas claimed his first professional victory on the summit finish of Alto de Fóia, outsprinting Juan Ayuso in a thrilling finale. Ayuso moved into the overall lead on countback, setting up a crucial individual time trial before Sunday’s hilly finale. Seixas’ breakthrough confirms his rapid rise and makes him one to watch this season, achieving this milestone just over a year before Tadej Pogacar did the same stage.
In the UAE Tour, Jonathan Milan dominated Stage 4 with a perfectly timed sprint to take the win. Breakaways were controlled and the bunch finish was set up by strong team work, but Milan’s timing and positioning proved decisive. With the punishing ascent of Jebel Hafeet still to come, the general classification battle remains wide open and the coming stages could reshape the leaderboard.
Looking ahead, attention turns to Belgium for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on 28 February. The Flemish Ardennes course features sharp bergs and cobbled sectors that mirror the Tour of Flanders, making it an early test of form for the classics season. Defending champion Søren Wærenskjold returns to a stacked field, with aggressive racing and late attacks expected to decide the outcome. For teams and riders, Omloop is the perfect opportunity to test tactics, equipment, and leadership ahead of the spring monuments.
