The Giro d’Italia is well underway, and the peloton is busy separating the contenders from the pretenders. But while the pros are battling it out in Italy, there has been some massive news dropping closer to home and right inside the virtual racing world.

Here is what’s going on in cycling this week and how it ties into our community.

The Vingegaard Pacing Clinic If you watched Stage 9 of the Giro this weekend, you saw Jonas Vingegaard deliver an absolute masterclass in climbing atop the Corno alle Scale. He didn’t panic when the attacks started; he just settled into his threshold, ground his way back, and then dropped the hammer.

That is exactly the mindset we need for the Muckers Sunday Hill Climbs. When the gradient hits 10% and the avatars around you start pushing early, don’t take the bait. Find your rhythm, hold your watts, and save that final punch for the last kilometre. Pacing is everything.

E-Racing Gets Serious: Virtual Anti-Doping If you thought virtual racing was just a bit of fun in the pain cave, think again. This week it was announced that e-racing platforms like MyWhoosh are rolling out random, real-world drug testing for their competitors.

While we keep our Thursday Race Nights clean and friendly on Rouvy, it’s wild to see how professional indoor cycling has become. The days of digital doping and uncalibrated smart trainers at the elite level are officially numbered. It proves that the hours we put in on the turbo trainer are being recognized as a totally legitimate, highly competitive discipline.

A British Legend Bows Out For us here in the UK, the biggest story of the week is the sudden retirement of Scottish track legend Katie Archibald. The 32-year-old Olympic and World Champion is stepping away from the velodrome with immediate effect, missing the upcoming Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

She isn’t retiring because of an injury; she is stepping away to train as a nurse. Archibald has given British cycling fans some of our greatest memories over the last decade, and she leaves behind a massive legacy. We wish her the absolute best in her new career!

Upcoming Muckers Race Schedule Make sure your fans are positioned and your bottles are filled. Here is the schedule for this week:

• Tuesday Night Hill Climbs: Remember, for the 2026 season, these are target power challenges, not traditional sprints! You need to hold the exact W/kg target specified for the segment. Check the route and rules here: https://www.muckersworldwide.com/events/tuesday-hill-climb
• Thursday Race Night: The main event of the week. Draft strategy is critical here, so form your echelons, communicate in the Discord, and work together! Event entry: https://www.muckersworldwide.com/events/thursday-race-night
• Weekend Social: A steady Zone 2 spin to flush the legs. Details here: https://www.muckersworldwide.com/events/weekend-social

Keep the rubber side down, and we’ll see you on the start line.