May 2026

[Gipfelstuermer]

Preview PDF
May 2026

Races to be designed:
Tour de Romandie >>> Tukh
Giro d'Italia >>> see Giro Thread
Tour de Hongrie
4 Jours de Dunkerque
Tour of Norway

Races to be checked:
Eschborn-Frankfurt
Lotto Famenne Ardenne Classic
Grand Prix du Morbihan
Tro-Bro Léon
Circuit de Wallonie
Tour du Finistère
Rund um Köln
Boucles de l'Aulne - Châteaulin
Classique Dunkerque
Veenendaal-Veenendaal
Grand Prix Criquielion
Antwerp Port Epic / Sels Trophy
Paris - Troyes

Legend
BLUE = Designer found
GREEN = DONE

[Hansa]

Came here to ask for 5 editions giro but thats already included (great happy with that) times look good. I dont really care about the parallel programm but i think that looks good too as from my perspective the most active newbies are in the evening so offering a bunch of editions there seems right.

[Gipfelstuermer]

Increase in teams helps with calendar:

- Giro 4 or 5 editions? Now clearly 5. So that's one edition more than in previous years.
- Tour de Hongrie, yes or no? Now clearly yes. So that's one parallel stage race more than in previous years.

But also raises some questions:

- Div6 only races... I would put them parallel to Classics, but there are no Classics in May (except Frankfurt which has Romandie parallel).
- More editions... numbers clearly ask for 'more' but normally Giro parallel programme is EMPTY so how much more is really needed, hard to predict.

Opinions very welcome.

[Falcor CC]

I think D6 races should not be needed in May anymore. ~15 races for most rookies at the start of the month already, most will go Giro anyway, so why go back to the old problem of having seperate races with 5 teams in regular parallel program and 5 teams in D6 races. If anything, parallel program will be nice for the rookies to ride in smaller fields against more experienced teams.

[drei.zehn]

I think D6 races should not be needed in May anymore. ~15 races for most rookies at the start of the month already, most will go Giro anyway, so why go back to the old problem of having seperate races with 5 teams in regular parallel program and 5 teams in D6 races. If anything, parallel program will be nice for the rookies to ride in smaller fields against more experienced teams.

Smartest thing Falcor ever said

[Robyklebt]

Giro: D1-5 or open? Open seems decided, I agree.

Giro times
9-14-18-21 last year.
9-14-18-20-22 this year.

(Tour 10-15-19-22, Vuelta 8-14-20-22)


9-14-18, what happened to the rotation? If there is none, ok too, just getting confusing if sometimes we have to ride MSR at late times (with more people unhappy than happy about it it seemed) for rotation, other time rotation isn't there. 9 of course usually insists on 9, (even if last year it actually turned out to be 8-9-10, 14-15 are similar, last year 2x14, 1x15 18/19 last year 1+1, 20 21 last year one each, 22 2 times.

Looking at that, rotation theory and what was offered last year I think there were better solutions. Especially since the Giro times sort of decide the tour times as well.
9-14-18-20-22 Giro? That means
x-15-19-21-23 Tour most likely Morning x because they are usually vocal about their 9
So triple same for the Giro, double same for the Tour (possibly triple, depending on morning.)

What I expected (and to me seemed the obvious choice) was x-15-19-21-23.
Not the end of the world if it stays like it is, just as I said somehow confusing on what criteria the decisions are taken.

Tour of Norway: Is cancelled.

D6 races: Many want the Giro Falcor says, he's definitely more informed than me about that, discord, but not all the newcomers are there either. And let's be honest, for newcomers with over-salaried teams actually riding something else would make more sense, and I think there must be a few sensible ones around.
For that IMO something like
-Tour of Hellas, 06.05-10.05 only for D6 would make sense. By then probably only those that have understood how it works will inscribe, unlike now where often the newcomers are inscribed but never online.
-Paris-Troyes, in reality on the 25th, parallel to Antwerp, put them both on the 25th, make Paris-Troyes as the lower cat race a D6 race.

[Gipfelstuermer]

Not the end of the world if it stays like it is, just as I said somehow confusing on what criteria the decisions are taken.

To explain why I proposed (not decided) 9-14-18-20-22:

- 5 editions this year, so it affects the rotation (MSR had 4 fwiw), at least for the evening which goes from 2 to 3 editions
- 23h not super popular so not the right choice for the first GT of the year with many new players
- So evening becomes 18-20-22, all super popular times, ensures good participation despite going from 2 to 3 editions
- Afternoon, with 18 offered, 14 feels more natural, but 15 would work, too, so have nothing against rotation if teams express a preference for 15
- Morning can be rotated, too, but 9 as you say the most popular. If rotation, can rotate to 8 or 10, but 8 very early on the many weekends & holidays during May and 10 a bit late for the 200km+ stages of the Giro (haven't checked if they have many this year though, but they used to have quite a few of those).
- Giro-TdF relation is correct, but number of editions for TdF is less predictable than ever. Could go down to 4 if wave of new players quickly fades but could also go up to 6 if new players stay and/or TdF popularity gives another push.
- If TdF ends up being 6 editions driven by the morning, it will be a good opportunity for 8-10 combo (so having Giro 9 helps in that scenario)
- If TdF ends up being 6 editions driven by the evening, it will be a good opportunity for 17-19-21-23 combo (so having Giro 18-20-22 helps in that scenario)

To summarize, pretty certain on morning and evening, although could be swayed. Afternoon I am really pretty much indifferent, as it would deserve rotation the most (feels like 14 and 15 equally popular although I need to double check the survey) and is least likely to get an additional TdF edition (even though not completely impossible).

[lennylenny]

intial checks, probably not really designing yet unless its on Flamme Rouge:
Eschborn Frankfurt needs new design, website has info about a climb premiere and other route changes
Ardenne classic same profile as last year
Grand Prix du Morbihan roadbook looks very similar to last years profile ingame, just 2 or 3 km off because of the circuits, Flamme Rouge for last year same distance and intermediates as roadbook for 2026
Tro Bro Leon not same as last year, but possibly very similar to 2023, needs more careful check
Circuit de Wallonie they got some circuit gpx on the website, but overall pretty low on info
Tour du Finistère new route, 50 km shorter than 2025
Rund um Köln pretty similar to 2025, but an extra sprint, a few extra classified climbs and about 10km longer, has a full gpx and roadbook on website
Boucles de l'Aulne - Châteaulin website has a few promotional posters for 2026, but all other info still for 2025
Classique Dunkerque same route as 2025
Veenendaal-Veenendaal new route
Grand Prix Criquielion pretty confusing roadbook, but definitely some changes compared to 2025
Antwerp Port Epic / Sels Trophy website says more info coming for profile
Paris - Troyes still everything for 2025

[bergwerk cycling]

Tour de Hongrie ... really 2x times only in the verylateafternoon/evening?
17-23 ?

[Gipfelstuermer]

Tour de Hongrie ... really 2x times only in the verylateafternoon/evening?
17-23 ?

Drafted like that because

- Try to avoid GIRO times in order to keep server performance stable
- Try to rotate times for the small parallel tours
- Hongrie the least prestigious amongst those, so gets the unusual times

But we can mix it around of course if you have a suggestion. Also Norway is cancelled but Boucles de la Mayenne can replace it on same dates.

[flockmastoR]

Tour de Hongrie ... really 2x times only in the verylateafternoon/evening?
17-23 ?

Drafted like that because

- Try to avoid GIRO times in order to keep server performance stable
- Try to rotate times for the small parallel tours
- Hongrie the least prestigious amongst those, so gets the unusual times

But we can mix it around of course if you have a suggestion. Also Norway is cancelled but Boucles de la Mayenne can replace it on same dates.

Additionally, the newcomers are very active in the evening. The morning participations were high as well first but little numbers showed up. I expect the majority of them to race in the evening in the future (some little poll on discord showed signs of it, Alk is also preparing an in-game poll to support that). One of the 3 parallel tours in the afternoon is ok I guess. 17h is no supplement to afternoon teams at all.

So to summarize, I support the Gip proposal on side tours

[Nomorelulz]

Tour de Hongrie

In PDF is from 14th - 17th May, but its actually from 13th - 17th May.

Tour de Hongrie ... really 2x times only in the verylateafternoon/evening?
17-23 ?

I also have to say that 17h is a horrible time, wasnt it one of the least picked times in the big survey at the start of the year? I understand having different time to giro, but 17h is really bad in my opinion. Better 13h then if you want something special.

[lennylenny]

the fantasy race today had 12 teams at 13h and current inscription for 17h has 12 full lineups, don't see a difference at least there

and Vichy classic on Tuesday had lowest count at 17h with 13 teams, but 8h had 15, 14h 16, 20h20 and 22h 18, seems 17h is quite popular with new teams

[bergwerk cycling]

my feeling says: both times on the evening ! so let the latest fallen and plz bring one competition in the morning or afternoon.

[flockmastoR]

About one day races and starting time. I hear noises in the discord that it might be reasonable to have some races starting at 24h. At least one player told me if 24h is offered, he could ride/start everyday. I think some might feel the same (unfortunately the poll all made doesn't cover that with the grouping). Maybe offer some more fantasy one day races and maybe at least one real race there to try these things.

[Hansa]

My Small discord poll supports this a bit of 11 Voters 5 said 24H would be a possible time for them.

[Pokemon Club]

For the survey about time, it can be interesting to know in the the answer if people can play at an unique time or at different time, the favorite time and until which time teams can play because a 1h race at midnight isn't the same than a 2 hours and half race at the end

[drei.zehn]

Did anyone already mentioned that the Giro starts a day too late in the preview?
Ingame too

[Falcor CC]

Did anyone already mentioned that the Giro starts a day too late in the preview?
Ingame too

Good catch . 8/5-31/5