It’s the third Sunday of January, which can mean only one thing: The “Blue Monday” slump is trying to set in, but the cycling world is doing everything it can to fight it off. We have full-gas racing in Spain, summer vibes in Australia, and the first proper WorldTour racing miles of the year.

Here is your essential digest of the news that matters to the Muckers community this week.

1. Today’s Big Race: The Battle of Benidorm

As we hit publish, the Benidorm UCI Cyclocross World Cup has just wrapped up, and what a chaotic spectacle it was.

The Spanish round of the World Cup has quickly become a classic—fast, dry, and absolutely packed with screaming fans. In the absence of the injured Wout van Aert (still recovering from that crash in Mol), Mathieu van der Poel was the heavy favorite. But the dry, technical park course didn’t make it a procession.

For Muckers watching from the sofa, it was a reminder that cyclocross isn’t always about deep mud; sometimes it’s about pure, high-speed bike handling in the dust. If you haven’t watched the highlights yet, go check out the final lap battle. It’s the perfect motivation to get out for a “fast and fun” ride this week, even if your local trails are a bit wetter than the Costa Blanca.

2. The WorldTour is officially GO!

While we freeze in the Northern Hemisphere, the 2026 WorldTour has officially started in Adelaide.

• The Women’s Tour Down Under kicked off yesterday (Jan 17) with some blistering racing in the heat.
• The Men’s Race: The men are gearing up for the Prologue on Tuesday (Jan 20).

Why should Muckers care? Because this is the first time we get to see who has actually done their winter homework. Plus, watching the peloton race through sun-drenched vineyards is the best possible distraction while you grind out a Zone 2 session on ROUVY.

3. Kit Watch 2026: The “Vis-High” Trend?

With the first race miles comes the first proper look at the 2026 team kits in action. The trend this year? Visibility. After years of dark, moody kits, we’re seeing a lot more neon and bright primary colours in the peloton (looking at you, EF Education and the new-look Ineos Grenadiers training kits). For us regular riders, this is a trend we can get behind. Being seen on the road is cool again. Maybe it’s time to retire the “stealth black” jersey for something a bit louder?

4. Community Challenge: Beat Blue Monday

Tomorrow is officially “Blue Monday,” statistically the most depressing day of the year. We’re challenging every Mucker to defy the stats.

• The Goal: Just turn the pedals.
• The Ride: Commute to work, do a 20-minute spin on the trainer, or hit the local loop.
• The Reward: Endorphins and the knowledge that you’re tougher than a calendar date.

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Mucker’s Takeaway: The pros are racing, the sun is shining (somewhere), and the season is moving fast. Don’t let the January gloom win. Put on a bright jersey, watch the Benidorm replay, and get riding.

See you on the road!