🚴 Three Mallorca riders to the Track Worlds as Seixas wins Lombardia

⚡ At a glance

• Xavi Cañellas, Joan Martí Bennàssar and Francesc Bennàssar will represent Spain at the Track Worlds from 14 to 18 October.
• Paul Seixas won Il Lombardia at 20, with Enric Mas finishing second.
• Sóller will buy five e-bikes for nurses making home visits.

🇪🇸 Three Mallorca riders bound for the Track Worlds

Xavi Cañellas and brothers Joan Martí and Francesc Bennàssar have been selected for the Track World Championships in Shanghai from 14 to 18 October. All three are scheduled for the team pursuit alongside Beñat Garaiar and Héctor Álvarez. Joan Martí is also set to ride the individual pursuit, while Cañellas will contest the elimination race. Their selection extends an excellent year for Balearic track cycling: the three Mallorca riders won Spain's team pursuit title with Lluc Dols. Shanghai will award 22 world titles and host the first Track Worlds held in mainland China. Report on the Mallorca riders and official UCI event hub.

🚲 Sóller turns to e-bikes for home healthcare

Sóller Town Council has approved the purchase of five electric bicycles, with an announced investment of €13,500, so health-centre nurses can make certain non-emergency home visits. The initiative follows delays caused by congestion and the difficulty of parking when staff use their own cars. It is modest in scale but meaningful for mobility in Mallorca: an e-bike becomes a practical work tool for short urban journeys involving hills, traffic and limited space. The bicycles and chargers are expected to arrive in the coming weeks. Diario de Mallorca report and corroboration from Mallorca Magazin/Inselradio.

🏆 Paul Seixas makes history at Il Lombardia

Paul Seixas won the 120th edition of Il Lombardia on 10 October, racing 239 kilometres from Bergamo to Como. The Decathlon CMA CGM rider attacked late and finished alone in 5:49:28. Enric Mas took second at 48 seconds, with Giulio Ciccone third at 1:05. At 20, Seixas became the youngest winner in the race's history and claimed his first Monument. Mas' runner-up finish offered another reminder of his strength in mountainous one-day races. Official Il Lombardia report and classification.

🧠 Robin Orins retires from professional cycling at 24

Belgian rider Robin Orins announced on 8 October that he was leaving professional cycling after two seasons. He had reached the top level following a strong under-23 career, but said mental-health difficulties, including anxiety and panic attacks, had drained his energy and enjoyment of riding. His final professional appearance was at the Belgian National Championships in June. The news deserves care rather than a dramatic or simplistic lesson: performance and wellbeing cannot be separated, and stepping away can be a responsible decision. Reporting and context from Cyclingnews.

🌐 First Junior and Masters cycling esports Worlds

The UCI and MyWhoosh announced the first UCI Cycling Esports World Championships for Junior and Masters riders. The remote races will take place on 12 December on a recreation of the final circuit used at the 2026 Montreal Road Worlds. Juniors born in 2008 or 2009 and Masters aged 60 and over will race 26.6 kilometres; the 40-59 age groups will cover 39.9. Entry still carries substantial controls: a UCI licence, verified account, dual power recording and pre-event validation are required. The initiative broadens competitive virtual cycling while retaining demanding technical checks. Official UCI announcement.

🛠️ A 32-inch MTB brings aerodynamics to XC

Van Rysel unveiled the RCR-XC, a full-suspension prototype on 32-inch wheels that Decathlon Ford riders will test before a possible 2027 launch. The brand says its frame is 230 grams lighter than the team's 29-inch platform and claims a 15.5-watt saving at 35km/h in the wind tunnel. These are manufacturer figures, not an independent comparison, while complete-bike weight and handling data remain unavailable. The concept is notable for taking road-style integration and aerodynamics into XC, but fit, agility and actual availability will matter as much as wheel diameter. Technical presentation at off.road.cc and BIKE analysis.

📅 What comes next

Attention turns to Shanghai's velodrome from 14 to 18 October. The team pursuit could bring Cañellas and the Bennàssar brothers together, with Joan Martí also entered for the individual pursuit and Cañellas for elimination. As this is a preview, final participation can depend on Spain's line-up for each round. The schedule and live results will be available through the official UCI event hub.

📍 The view from Mallorca

This week links elite sport with everyday mobility: three Mallorca riders at a World Championship and e-bikes helping healthcare staff move around Sóller. For anyone riding on the island, the practical point is simpler: the right bicycle depends on purpose, fit, terrain and proper setup, not only on the newest headline feature.

Sancho Bikes offers local guidance at its Cala Millor bike shop and preparation at the Cala Millor bike workshop. Riders planning a route around Mallorca can also explore bicycle rental.