Geraint Thomas admits he hasn’t cycled for six months as he gifts iconic ‘shades to Greg James; Council receives £16m active travel funding but says “almost no money” for rural cycle lanes; TfL weighing up new charge on SUVs + more on the live blog

So much to take away from this video…

 

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Firstly, it’s not a great omen when even Ineos’ Director of Racing can’t bring himself to wear his own team’s kit (regardless of the colour of his shorts/leggings. But then comes the sunglasses handover.

When SunGod replaced Oakley as the team’s sunglasses provider, such was the disdain that Thomas would no longer be wearing near-decade old white-rimmed sunglasses that his new sponsor were all-but forced to make their own version. Now, they’re in the hands of Greg James, whose pedalling motion seemed surprisingly smooth more than halfway into his eight day challenge.

Then came the semi-awkward moment when James asked his Tour de France champion co-pedaller if he had won any races wearing them. What to say when you haven’t won a race in four years and change your sunglasses on (at least) a yearly basis? What to say when the the whole Radio 1 gang have done a good job of brushing aside the fact that Thomas has actually been retired for several months?

For 1.5 seconds, there is an awkward existential stare from the Welshman, a wondering of how to diffuse this question whilst racing his memory for the last time he stood on the top-step of the podium.

“I’ll say yes” eventually comes the reply, before we cut to a presenter filled with childish excitement at wearing a Tour de France winner’s glasses before heading up the road on his tandem alone.

Just excellent content all-round…

*Postscript* Turns out that Prince William later sat on the very same saddle that Geraint Thomas perched himself. One is the Prince of Wales, an inspiration to millions of people with an enduring legacy for the next generation, the other is… answers on a postcard!

Whatever will they think of next?

> Look moves away from a one-size-fits-all approach, and introduces fresh range of gravel-specific pedals

 

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It’s been a tough few months for Sam Bennett. After struggling for form in his final races with Decathlon-AG2R, the Irish sprinter landed a one-year contract at Pinarello-Q36.5, reuniting him with his one of his first coaches, Kurt Bogaerts. But then came atrial fibrillation, requiring heart surgery and a deliberately slow period of recovery.

But finally, the 35-year old is back racing, and is confirmed to make his season debut at Nokere Koerse tomorrow. Whether he sprints for himself this year, or acts as a mentor to his teammates, here’s hoping the second finest cyclist from Carrick-on-Suir (after Sean Kelly) can enjoy an injury-free season.

 

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From one Mayor to another now, and elections for the next head honcho in Paris started on Sunday, and were a positive result for fans of urban cycling, with Emmanuel Gregoire leading the way. Gregoire is a former deputy of Anne Hidalgo, the incumbent who is not seeking a third, six-year term.

During Hidalgo’s tenure, Paris has undergone an urban transformation, with the creation of several low traffic neighbourhoods and car-free neighbourhoods coupled with an expansion of cycle infrastructure. Gregoire’s strongest rival in the election, conservative Rachida Dati, has campaigned against many of the proposals.

But the election is due to go to a second round where several candidates could spoil each leading contender unless they withdraw. The second round will be held on Sunday.

Writing on Bluesky this morning, Sir Sadiq said “They said it would take 193 years to clean London’s air. We did it in nine. 💨 London has now met legal limits for nitrogen dioxide air pollution.”

In case you missed it, the mayor’s upbeat social media post follows last week’s report that found bike lanes and ultra-low emission zones helped London to slash its air pollution by more than 20 percent.

You can read Ryan’s full write-up here:

> “Bold” bike lanes and ultra-low emission zones help London slash air pollution by over 20% since 2010, new report finds – as capital aims to double cycle network and deliver “greener, safer streets”

Seems like the people of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Council need to have a stern word with themselves…

> Council backs town centre cycle hub… only to reject its own proposal over fears of “conflict” between drivers and cyclists

This is the one race Tadej Pogacar can’t win. Alright alright I know he hasn’t won Paris-Roubaix, and he still *needs* to get round to the Vuelta a Espana at some point. But this is the one race he has repeatedly tried to win and has so far failed to. So I think my point stands.

 

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Pogacar’s compatriot Domen Novak has the tactically simple, utterly mind-numbing job of sitting at the front of the peloton for the first 240km, working with an Alpecin domestique (my money’s on Silvan Dillier) to keep a breakaway of Italians on a short leash, then will come the Tre Capi, the Cipressa and the Poggio.

In recent years the pressure has been on Tim Wellens and Jhonatan Narvaez to launch the Slovenian but both are out injured. Instead expect Florian Vermeersch, Felix Grossschartner and Brandon McNulty to do the early work of whittling down the peloton before the explosivity will come from Isaac Del Toro, out of position on the Cipressa last year, and Jan Christen, a young Swiss rider whose ego and skills as a teammate have been questioned in recent months.

> “That was a criminal f***ing offence”: Outrage after UAE rider causes serious crash in race finale

Last year we saw Pogacar launch on the Cipressa, bringing Mathieu van der Poel and Filippo Ganna with him. And whilst they dropped Ganna on the Poggio, Pogacar couldn’t shake off the Dutchman. The trio then reunited before Van der Poel bested the home favourite to take his second win at the race. It was the first time the Cipressa determined a race-winning move since Marco Pantani and some very dodgy motorbike slipstreaming.

 

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Will Pogacar have any better luck in trying to tick off this box? Will Del Toro be a useful decoy to force his rivals to chase. Will it actually end up in a bunch sprint? We’ll have to wait until Saturday to find out…

It’s not all sunlit uplands in the active travel/road safety world.

Somerset Council have recently admitted that there is “almost no money” to support active travel in the rural county, despite receiving £16m from central government for investment. Of that money, less than 10 percent will be used to support new or upgraded active travel project, with councillors upset by the “very, very limited availability to use the money for rural areas,” as reported by Somerset Live.

Lib Dem councillor Ros Wykes went on to say that “Most of the money being spent so far on rural active travel has been money that was ring-fenced coming across from the former Mendip District Council.” In other words, the council’s latest spending plans do not account for any active travel investment at all.

The majority of the funding will be spent on improving road corridors and junctions in Yeovil, Glastonbury, and new links along the A39.

Encouragingly, several local officials spoke in support of better active travel funding, but there appeared to be a recurring theme:

“There is a larger contribution that is being made into urban areas, and that reflects the current government’s views and priorities.” Service director for infrastructure and transport Mike O’Dowd said.

“We’ve got a bit of a balancing act to make sure that we do what we need to do to keep receiving the funding, but also to continue to work with communities to help them deliver rural schemes where they can.”

Conservative Cllr Bob Filmer said “I know there are limitations with the funding, but we need to push as much as we can. We’re constantly telling people they need to get out of their cars, for good environmental reasons and good health reasons – but if we haven’t given them the alternatives, they can’t do it.”

In the meantime, funding for active travel will rely on third-party grants or contributions from housing developers. Plans to spend the allocated £1.55m have been drawn up for the Steam Coast Trail and “officer support to local groups” lobbying for improvements to the Strawberry line and 76-mile Somerset Cycle loop.

If you’re young, cool or just down with the kids, you probably haven’t been able to avoid Radio 1 DJ Greg James’ latest bike exploits for Comic Relief. We reported on the British-built tandem provided especially for the challenge, and James even got some unexpected advice from F1 driver Ollie Bearman’s “friend who’s a cyclist”…

> Check out the Mercian tandem that Greg James will ride 1,000km for Comic Relief

> Tadej Pogačar cold-called by Radio 1

 

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Well, things seem to be going well for James, who despite knee pain has made it through Wales and now up towards Yorkshire, where Radio 1 have lined up some proper Welsh cycling pedigree at an upcoming pitstop, apologies to Luke Rowe and Owain Doull.

Introduced as a “the human version of rocket fuel” and “the glass you break to go fast”, Geraint Thomas rocked up to cover hosts Matt and Mollie to chat all-things pro cycling. His insight was typical G.

“It’s definitely tough but I think you’ve got to be glass half full haven’t you?” Thomas said before adding, erroneously, “it’s all downhill from here.”

It was then put to Geraint that he should join Greg on the Mercian tandem, providing public donations can hit £700,000. Hyped up as the Tour de France winning, double Olympic champion, typical G couldn’t let the hosts get too carried away.

“I’m ready to go, I just need to say that I haven’t actually ridden a bike for six months, so I might just be a dead weight!”

Good to know that retirement and the steady embedding into Ineos Grenadiers’ management structure hasn’t dulled the Welshman’s sense of self just yet. Listen back to around 8:25 this morning for the full exchange, and if there’s any footage of the two increasingly middle-aged man wobbling over a Welsh hillock, we’ll be ready to bring it to you.

One of the biggest tech stories of the last year or two appears to be reaching its conclusion…

> Shimano agrees $11.5m penalty to settle crankgate failings with US government agency

Transport for London last week unveiled its latest ‘Vision Zero’ report, the capital’s long-term plan to eliminate all future road fatalities. Here are some of the highlights of what’s to come and what’s already been introduced:

• Spotlight on SUVs – The action plan is critical of the growing size of cars on the road with collisions involving people walking or cycling and oversized vehicles has increasing from four percent to 26 percent in the last 20 years. Their heavier weight and elevated front-ends lead to more severe outcomes in collisions, particularly for people walking or cycling, and especially for children. A separate congestion charge is being weighed up for these vehicles and is listed as one policy proposal.
• Adult bikeability training targets smashed – Previous efforts to increase cycle skills training to adults by 50 percent by the end of 2024 have been met. Since 2020 50,000 adult and 155,000 children’s places have been provided.
• Lower speed limits – whilst all of Central London is now under a 20mph limit, reduced speed limits are being extended a further 16km at the end of this month to the A1, A312, A23 and A10. That’s Archway, Church, Thornton Road and the Roundway.
• Urban driving safety modules for TfL drivers – drivers of any TfL vehicle over 3.5 tonnes are now required to complete modules such as ‘Cycle Safety’ and are graded for their performance.

The SUV policy is understandably what has taken up the motonormative media’s attention, and it headlines a Guardian write-up of the report from last week. But it does include a quote from Clean Cities’ Oliver Lord who says “Cars are getting bigger every year, but London’s streets aren’t. Supersized SUVs take up more space and threaten children’s lives, who shouldn’t have to dodge two-tonne battering rams just to cross the road.

“Cities across Europe are acting against car-spreading. We need fairer parking tariffs based on the weight of the car. It’s only fair that those with unnecessarily large SUVs pay more for the extra space and danger they bring.”

Exeter Wheelers Cycling Club “strongly support the development and protection of safe, high-quality cycling infrastructure that enables a broader range of people, including less confident riders, younger users, and those travelling for everyday purposes, to cycle safely and develop confidence in wider road riding.”

> “A line in the sand”: Cycling club joins campaign to keep controversial LTN closed to drivers, warning ‘reopening’ will lead to scrapping of other active travel schemes