“What a horrible-looking bike… love it!”: Cycling world loses its mind over Jan-Willem van Schip’s latest bonkers aero set-up; Pidcock back on Pinarello?; Police face mounting pressure over controversial bike theft policy + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Will Tom Pidcock be back on Pinarello bikes next season? Fausto Pinarello has dropped some hints
“It’s not nice to see our rider use other bikes,” Fausto Pinarello has admitted, hinting that Tom Pidcock may be back racing the Italian brand’s bikes on the road in the near future.
In an interview in Italian with Tuttobiciweb’s podcast, the Pinarello chairman suggested the brand “could have two professional teams next year”. Pidcock has raced Scott bikes on the road for Q36.5 this season, but still has a personal sponsorship with Pinarello. In off-road races, such as at the Gravel World Championships at the weekend, the Brit has continued to compete on Pinarello models.
> Tom Pidcock’s Gravel Worlds Dogma GR is on a voyage of discovery
“It’s not nice to see our rider use other bikes,” Pinarello admitted. “There’s a good chance that Tom will also use our road bikes [next year]… We’re going to double up.”
Pinarello’s PR department has since urged some caution with the rumours (a briefing it may have been better giving the brand’s own chairman), however it seems fairly likely given everything that Q36.5 and Pidcock (as well as former team Ineos Grenadiers) will both be Pinarello teams in 2026.
"Sends the wrong message to commuters, residents, and crucially to bike thieves": Andy Burnham "deeply concerned" and urges British Transport Police to reconsider controversial bike theft policy
Greater Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham, recently touted as a potential future Labour leader, has joined the criticism of the British Transport Police (BTP) over the force’s controversial policy not to investigate bike thefts in cases where stolen items were left at stations for longer than two hours.
Critics say the policy effectively decriminalises bike theft from stations. Last week, in an extraordinary update, we reported how the BTP had come out fighting, responding to the backlash by blaming the media for “inaccurate” stories. That stinging response bizarrely then admitted that it is indeed the case that such cases wouldn’t be investigated.
In an open letter alongside Stockport councillors, Burnham urged the BTP to reconsider its “deeply misguided” policy as it “sends the wrong message to commuters, residents, and crucially to bike thieves across Greater Manchester”.
The full letter stated:
We are deeply concerned by the recent announcement from the British Transport Police that they will no longer investigate bike thefts at stations where a bicycle has been left for more than two hours. This decision is deeply misguided and sends the wrong message to commuters, residents, and crucially to bike thieves across Greater Manchester.
The GMCA, alongside local councils and key stakeholders, has a clear vision to transform our transport system. By 2040, the goal is for 50% of all journeys across Greater Manchester to be made by public transport or active travel. This policy change directly undermines that ambition.
Effectively decriminalising bike theft risks discouraging people from cycling to local stations, pushing them back into cars rather than risking having their bikes stolen by criminals who feel emboldened by a lack of enforcement.
This move will disproportionately impact young people and those on lower incomes especially working people who do not drive and rely on bicycles for the first and last legs of their daily commute. These individuals are more likely to leave their bikes at stations for longer than two hours and, therefore, are among the most vulnerable to theft.
Research shows that nearly half of consumers cannot afford a new bike outright, with many needing up to six months to save for one. For them, bike theft is far from a petty or victimless crime — it’s a serious blow to their mobility, independence, and livelihoods.
For all these reasons, we urge the British Transport Police to reconsider this decision. Back the victims of crime. Send a clear message to criminals operating around our stations: bike theft will not be tolerated.
"Let the man race!" Pro cyclist and his mad aero bike disqualified from Tour of Holland over "upside down" seatpost – but team say "he's been racing with it for years"
Check out the full story here…
Chinese track cyclist notified of adverse analytical finding after sample from 2016 reanalysed nine years on
As the omnipotent Spotify shuffle overlords fill my work station with The Drugs Don’t Work it seems suitably ironic to type out some quick news about Chinese track cyclist Junghong Lin, a three-time silver medallist at the World Championships in sprint events, being notified of an adverse analytical finding from a sample collected nine years ago at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in 2016.
It’s the result of a report from the International Testing Agency, which reanalyses historical samples and enables further testing to be carried out based on updated information, notably thanks to investigations, or when detection methods evolve as a result of advances in scientific technology.
Samples can be stored for up to 10 years and reanalysed, in this case the authorities finding an adverse analytical finding with Junghong Lin’s sample from the third round of the 2016 Track World Cup in Hong Kong. The rider has been provisionally suspended and the proceedings are ongoing.
At that particular World Cup round, Junghong won the sprint event, we’ll await the final ruling of the UCI to link back to any conclusions about whether Richard Ashcroft’s soothing melancholic classic can be shoehorned into this further…
Watching the Ashes this winter? You might hear a familiar voice in the commentary booth
It’s been a while since we’ve had a TNT Sports story… well, after a year of cycling fans leading the dissent, it’s now the cricketing fraternity’s turn to be massively underwhelmed by the product they are being asked to shell out £30.99-a-month to watch. But guys, you can warm up for a winter of Ashes viewing by watching the Tour of Guangxi, didn’t you know?
The cycling link here (apart from general TNT despair) is that Rob Hatch, widely considered cycling’s best English language commentator, will be turning his hand and microphone to the Ashes action this winter along with Alastair Eykyn, a commentator best known for his work in rugby and, like Hatch, lacking much in the way of previous cricket work.
Now, they’ll both probably be as competent as they’ve been in other sports, but the idea of two ‘non-cricket’ commentators being parachuted in (and like much of TNT Sports’ punditry and coverage) not even coming live from Australia but rather in studios at home, has raised some concerns with cricket fans.
In fact, summing up the mood, the Mail hasn’t held back: TNT Sports have hit a new low – their half-baked plan to cover this year’s Ashes from 10,000 miles away is another dumbed-down insult to long-suffering England fans
It seems it’s not just cycling fans unconvinced by the broadcaster’s ‘premium’ £371.88 product…
Ineos Grenadiers announce new deal with Pinarello following split rumours and Q36.5 links
> Ineos Grenadiers announce new deal with Pinarello following split rumours and Q36.5 links
Never read a Rob Hatch impression before? Step forward the comments section
It’s like he’s in the comments section with us.
Still waiting for somebody to make the case for Carlton Kirby as best English language cycling commentator…
Elsewhere, in the ever-growing Jan-Willem van Schip fan club:
Yikes
Josh Tarling switches back to the track to make World Championships debut, as British Cycling announces star-studded line-up for next week's racing
Josh Tarling will be back on the track next week as part of the British team heading to Chile for the UCI Track World Championships. It is his debut at the track world champs and the first time he has represented Britain on the track in almost two years. Not that it’ll be a problem, we assume, Tarling crowned a double British champion back in 2022, when aged just 17.
He’s expected to compete in the points race and join Mark Stewart for the madison. Elsewhere, sprint king Matt Richardson will make his first World Championships appearance in British colours following his switch of allegiance from Down Under to Blighty.
There’s no Jack Carlin, of course, the four-time Olympic medal-winning sprinter announcing his retirement yesterday at 28, having failed to “ignite that spark again” after Paris.
Katie Archibald, Meg Barker, Josie Knight, Anna Morris and Jess Roberts are back to defend their team pursuit title, while Maddie Leech is also joining the squad seeking its third team pursuit world championship in a row. Emma Finucane will lead the women’s sprint squad, while even British Cycling can’t help but get quite excited about what could be in store for Morris in the individual pursuit as she has already set two world records in 2025.
Performance Director for the Great Britian Cycling Team, Stephen Park CBE said: “As we often see at this stage in an Olympic cycle, we have a great mix of world championship veterans and up and coming talent heading to Santiago.
“Many of our eight debutants competed at elite European level this year and came back with some brilliant results, so it will be interesting to see how they settle into established squads and show what they’ve got to give on the world stage. Within our more established riders we have four title defences taking place, including back-to-back successes in the women’s team pursuit and women’s sprint from Emma Finucane.
“With the cycle now fully underway and our performance planning strategies live within the squads, I’m looking forward to seeing where we sit among the other nations as all eyes turn to LA 2028.”
Men’s Endurance Matthew Bostock, Josh Charlton, Michael Gill, Mark Stewart, Josh Tarling, Charlie Tanfield, Will Tidball
Women’s Endurance Katie Archibald, Meg Barker, Josie Knight, Maddie Leech, Anna Morris, Jessica Roberts
Men’s sprint Harry Ledingham-Horn, Matt Richardson, Joe Truman, Hamish Turnbull
Women’s Sprint Lauren Bell, Rhian Edmunds, Emma Finucane, Iona Moir, Rhianna Parris-Smith
Ethan Hayter wins Tour of Holland time trial, but Van Schip's team unsuccessful in appeal to UCI
It’s double Dutch for Ethan Hayter as he takes Stage 2 in the Tour of Holland 💪
Soudal-Quickstep are three for three so far this race! pic.twitter.com/W01OB3eIvx
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) October 16, 2025
Ethan Hayter’s fine autumn of time trial results continued this afternoon, the British rider landing his third win against the clock since September and second in three days. Soudal Quick-Step have won all three stages so far at this year’s Tour of Holland, Hayter having taken the opening prologue before Tim Merlier’s sprint success yesterday.
With three flat or punchy days to go, the 27-year-old from south London will surely also have GC ambitions too now he’s in the race lead. Unfortunately, we also have to bring you confirmation of the news that Jan-Willem van Schip and his team did not convince the UCI, the Dutch rider not allowed to race today following his DQ. We’re not angry, just disappointed… (although did anyone really expect a reprieve?)
Elsewhere in the world today, Hayter’s teammate Paul Magnier won his third stage in a row at the Tour of Guangxi, meaning Quick-Step have won all six stages of the two end-of-season stage races this week. What year is it again? Have we gone back in time?
"Cyclists should feel comfortable leaving their bikes at stations": Lib Dems join criticism of British Transport Police's bike theft policy
Another open letter now, this time from Lib Dem MPs, led by the party’s transport spokesperson Didcot and Wantage MP Olly Glover, who have written to the British Transport Police’s chief constable raising concerns about bike thefts effectively being decriminalised by a policy meaning officers won’t investigate thefts if stolen bikes were left at stations for longer than two hours.
The Lib Dems said it “sends the wrong message to both victims and criminals”.
“Cyclists should feel comfortable leaving their bikes at stations without the fear of them being stolen, especially when they’re doing the right thing by choosing to travel more sustainably. Similarly, thieves must be deterred from stealing property,” the letter states.
“As well as stolen bikes being expensive to replace, the inconvenience caused for people who rely on their bike to get to work, or school, needs to be taken much more seriously.
“Police resources are clearly stretched, but the British Transport Police must urgently reconsider this approach, and work with train operators and local authorities to improve station security so that people feel safe and encouraged to travel by bike.”
Endura posts £4.7m loss as Scottish cycling brand blames "continuation of challenging market conditions" year on from massive £14m loss
"What a horrible-looking bike... love it!": Cycling world loses its mind over Jan-Willem van Schip's latest bonkers aero set-up
It’s always a good day when Jan-Willem van Schip makes an appearance. The breakaway specialist, famous for his wild aero tech choices and “indecent” gestures to track cycling officials, was on the attack at his home race yesterday, the Tour of Holland, as the entire cycling world collectively lost its mind at his latest aero creation.
Down the outside, off the grass, and onto the attack! 🚀
Jan-Willem van Schip launches a breakaway attempt at the Tour of Holland! pic.twitter.com/a3y8ntn5zc
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) October 15, 2025
Wielerflits journalist Julian Dubbeld was on the ground to snap the all-important side-on photo of the set-up, complete with possibly the most ridiculous stem you’ve ever seen and that seatpost.
Jan-Willem van Schip uit NIBC Tour of Holland gezet vanwege ‘fiets die afwijkt van UCI-regels’
Het zou gaan om zijn zadelpen. Zo zag deze er drie weken geleden uit bij Arno Wallaard Memorial pic.twitter.com/iOFOZEri5J
— Julian Dubbeld (@Julian_Dubbeld) October 15, 2025
Van Schip has got form for this sort of thing. UCI commissaires regularly wake up in a cold sweat mumbling incoherently about handlebar widths after working at races he competed at. Back in 2021 he was thrown off the Baloise Belgium Tour for using these…
That was actually a subsequent DQ from the chiefs at the UCI, not the commissaires on the ground at the race — and history repeated itself at the Tour of Holland. Van Schip was disqualified from the race last night, the UCI stepping in and ruling his seatpost “does not meet the requirements”.
Ryan will have more on this shortly, Van Schip’s Parkhotel Valkenburg team manager Paul Tabak making some very interesting comments about the whole situation and confirming it was the chiefs at UCI HQ, not the commissaires on the ground, who took issue with the seatpost.
As I said, more to come on that this morning, but Tabak isn’t optimistic… “Ultimately, I think we won’t win and Jan-Willem is simply out of the race. We’ll see.”
One we’ll keep an eye on as the morning develops and the start of stage two nears. That’s a TT so god knows what Van Schip will roll down the startline on for that if the team is successful in its appeal. Something a certain Graeme Obree would be proud of, perhaps.
Thankfully there was no repeat of the 2024 Track World Championships where Van Schip was banned for a month over “indecent” behaviour, including swearing and showing officials the middle finger following his disqualification for a “dangerous” close pass during a track race.
Naturally, cycling fans watching on and commenting online loved Van Schip’s whacky aero rig at the Tour of Holland. Pissing off the UCI is a sure-fire way to win some support, but the Dutch breakaway specialist’s maverick approach to racing a bike has earned him a cult following too.
The video of his Tour of Holland attack has been widely shared online, racking up the likes and views. One fan’s caption said: “Not a single year passes without Jan-Willem van Schip taking the piss out of the UCI rules LOL. What a legend.
“Apparently it was the seatpost (no, it’s not broken) that broke the UCI rules, not that huge stem. Anyway, respect for trying. What a beauty! I’ll give this guy a contract just to come with new ways to avoid the rules.”
Another joked: “What a horrible looking bike, love it.”
That bike belongs in a museum
— jeff (@TrackandCycling) October 15, 2025
“I really appreciate him for being different. Fantastic rider.”
Van Schip on this bike is like: pic.twitter.com/f8RyeUUgMN
— GrandMa Johnson (@OldLadyLarry) October 15, 2025
16 October 2025, 08:07
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Latest Comments
The spirit of this ride is that a superhuman rider pedals every bit of the route. She did that.
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head- mountain bikes are now mainstream, with brands relying on their sales volume for the profit of the company as a whole and consumers knowing what they want. We also expect more from our bikes and constant failures would be unacceptable, I remember when head tubes snapping was a semi regular occurrence to hear about. We have had incremental improvement- geometries are longer and slacker, suspension is more responsive, tubeless tyres are great, disc brakes work, derailleurs don’t break and gear ratios are now appropriate for application. I wouldn’t drop £6k on an out there bike that might not last and might not work well, and I don’t think many people would or could. It’s the price of mountain biking being many stream. If you want something wacky buy a tt bike
Not to be a negative Nelly but is swapping between a Road and TT bike in the spirit of this ride?
It’s American English. Nice-looking bike, a shame about the harsh ride.
who don’t want disc brakes or tubeless tyres I DO want disc brakes because they're better, and I DON'T want tubeless tyres because they're a right faff.
Very pleasant to read such a positive article. A rare treat here.
Regardless of whether such a test would be workable, Carera's remarks are stupid and naive. Of course there might be doping. That spectre will never go away. Some of Pogaçar's performances are just insane, they beggar belief. Is he doping? I don't think so. Can I be 100% sure? Of course not.
I'm predominantly a roadie, and I might be wrong so please don't shoot me down, but I think the article is as much about innovation and creativity in the bike industry (plus the debate about, if it ain't broke, stop trying to fix it!). I'm sure innovations in road have crossed to MTB but in recent decades a lot of innovations in MTB appear to have made there way to Road - disc brakes, tubeless tyres, groupset & derailleur designs including bigger cassette ratios etc. - which again I appreciate there's plenty of road purists out there who don't want disc brakes or tubeless tyres, but love them or hate them, these features are now the standard when you buy a road bike. Cheers, Andy
Caravaggio let you use his picture? If not then be careful as from what I’ve heard he’s got quite a temper.
How dare you road.cc. Now I'm back to "0 days without seeing a MTB" and my Friday evening biscuit is a total write-off.
29 thoughts on ““What a horrible-looking bike… love it!”: Cycling world loses its mind over Jan-Willem van Schip’s latest bonkers aero set-up; Pidcock back on Pinarello?; Police face mounting pressure over controversial bike theft policy + more on the live blog”
A long time ago, I used some
A long time ago, I used some 6-ounce, wide silk tubulars on my time trial bike. I went faster on the wide tyres than on the standard-size silk tubs. After a while, I realised why: the front wide tub acted as an aerodynamic shield. I have no research evidence that this is true, only my times.
Van Schip seems to have
Van Schip seems to have decided to make his entire career about pissing off the UCI, and I for one applaud his tenacity
Came here looking for the
Came here looking for the “Police face mounting pressure over controversial bike theft policy” story but alas found nothing. Schrödinger’s police perhaps?
I see the article has
I see the article has appeared. Not sure why the alarm now about the police. It seems a little late in the day. The police have been not-so-quietly decrimininalising many crimes for quite a while now including shoplifting for items £200 or less (fewer?) and seemed to be getting away with it. “Safer neighbourhood” teams were putting out the message some years ago. Road traffic offences seem to be for the most part decriminalised unless the evidence is incontravertible and it is not one of the things they have said they do not investigate (decriminalised surely?) such as ignoring a traffic sign and the police can actually be bothered that day and they haven’t hit upon another excuse such as the law might change soon (e.g. e-Scooters) and they forgot that they have space to confiscate things back at HQ and there needs to be a pursuit-trained officer to follow crims and they need approval to pursue etc etc etc ad nauseum.
Pub bike wrote:
I believe the phrase is ‘saying the quiet part out loud’.
Coppers seem to do less and
Coppers seem to do less and less in terms of crime prevention and investigation. Yet they remain fully paid. Defund the Police!
Pub bike wrote:
Yeah, the story was up for less than two hours. Sorry mate, nothing we can do. You’ll just have to get another article from somewhere.
Do I have to sit slavishly
Do I have to sit slavishly through 8 hours of cycling websites to find it? Or can I use a binary search perhaps?
Some good news…
Some good news…
“(Cardiff) City may become UK’s first to impose SUV parking premium“
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c04gpp4w0rdo
They’ve just approved it in
They’ve just approved it in Cabinet
Well I just spent an ill
Well I just spent an ill-advised amount of time in the comments on that article… So many people losing their shit without appreciating it only affects resident and similar permits.
I wonder how mad they’d get
I wonder how mad they’d get if You pointed out that they are theoretically advocating for socialism by not wanting to pay for the permits and having everyone else partially cover the costs for their motoring.
mitsky wrote:
I see your point but being allowed to do exactly what you please with your expensive status symbols and expecting the cost to come out of everyone else’s pocket seems a pretty fair definition of capitalism also, at least for those for whom capitalism is a success.
Surprised the item on
Surprised the item on Pinarello and Pidcock doesn’t mention the fact that cycling-loving billionaire Ivan Glasenberg owns a majority share in both Pinarello and Q 36.5, which would seem to make the team’s switching over to the Italian brand less of a possibility and more of an inevitability.
It was a day 1 inevitably the
It was a day 1 inevitably the moment Pidcock signed, the sticking point seemed to be what Ineos were going to do, now signed for another 3 years and if Pinarello could supply two teams.
Quote:
OOOOOoooohhhhhh!!! NO, NO, no, no, no, NOOOOOoooo!!!!!
If he’s the guy who does the
If he’s the guy who does the pseudo commentary on TDF Unchained then I’d have to agree with you.
You know its going to go well
You know its going to go well when they describe their onsite pundit team,as having 10 Ashes series victories between them. That’s the equivalent of saying Tadej has won the Tour de France 21 times.
At least we can revert to TMS or Talk Sport comms to listen to people who will actually understand the game.
As for the pap about not being onsite to commentate not being an impact, not an issue for cycling as they show in their coverage.But its a bit harder to judge if the wind is affecting the bowlers, the cloud cover is inducing swing,or the heat is affecting the batting, if you arent there.
Kirby would be a fine addition to the TMS squad, perfect for rain delays, could talk about cake, pigeons and buses like a latter day Blowers
stonojnr wrote:
Please make it so! It just hasn’t been the same without Henry (I was there at Lord’s on his last day, not a dry eye in the house) but Carlton could prove a worthy successor.
Oh the irony!
Oh the irony!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mk-cycling-symposium-shaping-the-future-of-cycling-in-the-city-tickets-1254738660109
More ironic I’d say because
More ironic I’d say because MK designers had the right idea (provide for cycling, don’t mix modes with major speed differences) but the execution ended up almost reversing the intent. They built (for the time) a driving paradise. There are wide, straight roads suitable for high speed with good visibility of the area and car parking right next to the amenities.
Other modes have to go up and down, swap sides of the road etc and when you arrive somewhere it’s surrounded by a car park!
Yep, the cycling
Yep, the cycling infrastructure is not bad, but it could have been so much better.
It’s also frustrating to see them putting in more cycling infrastructure that doesn’t conform to LTN1/20. Mainly putting give way lines at all the side roads, forcing cyclist to frequently slow down and yield to turning traffic when required.
This seems ridiculous these days with the changes to the highway code making it clear that pedestrians have priority at side roads. As these give way markings only apply to cyclists, they’ve created a situation where turning drivers should yield to a jogger crossing the side road, but would have priority over a cyclist doing the same. Factor in that many drivers might think the give way markings on the shared path apply to pedestrians and it’s a massive point of conflict for vulnerable road users.
Alas – this is where all the
Alas – this is where all the money and (campaigning / informing people) energy goes. On stuff that is “much better than nothing” (in most people’s eyes) but equally “still not good enough” (to get that same majority interested in using it occasionally rather than driving).
The inevitable result is the idea that “perhaps people just don’t want to cycle?” is confirmed. (And the sympathetic politicians decide they’re not doing that again, and campaigners get cynical).
“You can’t have perfect!” No, but that’s not being asked for, really. But it’s hard trying to explain that difference. And how lots of things on different scales * all relate to how the UK’s “better than nothing” is different from “good enough”. And how the latter is neither some unrealistic “cyclists paradise” nor “war on the motorist”. Just a LOT of effort to get people to accept the changes, big and (more often) small.
* From kerbs to infra widths, continuity and connectivity of routes, then local motor traffic speed/ flow limits, then road network design to city / region zoning restrictions and national rules on parking / road types / speed limits and perhaps how police and courts deal with driving rule-breaking.
Just seen some new infra
Just seen some new infra going in on a new estate (West Craigs). In one sense it’s great they’re thinking and doing. But yet again details big and small (and some pretty obvious, I would have thought) are just not good. And details are not even consistent across the site, never mind with the rest of the city…
Delicious!
Delicious!
“Shape the future of cycling”
“Shape the future of cycling” in 4 hours, that’s very ambitious of them.
I don’t know how long it took
I don’t know how long it took but the first court case where a motorist’s lawyer successfully used an incompetence defence * certainly shaped the future of cycling (and indeed any road use by vulnerable users).
* Sun was in my eyes / couldn’t stop in time because of the (excessive) speed I was going / just didn’t see them (though it’s agreed they were ‘there to be seen’) / couldn’t see someone because of the shape of the vehicle i chose to drive. Or the plainer “Scottish defence” of “I don’t recall that”.
Have the police cottoned on
Have the police cottoned on to this defence yet I wonder? “Yeah I didn’t see any evidence of a crime because the sun was in my eyes so we closed the investigation etc.”. Perhaps they’re already using the “We attended the burglary but the burglar wasn’t there so we closed the case.”. I shouldn’t give them ideas.
They know this in Scotland!
They know this in Scotland! “You managed to get through our arcane reporting system and finally arranged to give a statement. And after you found the driver for us we asked them about the alleged incident, but they said they don’t recall it, so we’re closing this one.”