“What the hell?” Pinarello Dogma F appears at Louis Vuitton catwalk, and no one quite knows why; Cat Ferguson to miss Tour de France with injury + more on the live blog
Some things don't make sense
Cycling has always held a funny space in global pop culture. There are iconic fashionable looks from years gone by, but the current WorldTour kits trend towards a blander, more corporate feel that often struggle to make much of an impression beyond cycling circles.
But maybe we’ve been looking at it all wrong. Maybe we’ve focused too much on what an individual wears and not their choice of accessory. Have we ever thought of the bicycle as an aesthetic piece of one’s look? Don’t we deserve the input of a global fashion house to shape the direction of our sport?
Louis Vuitton, and Pharrell Williams, have clearly taken pity on us.
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Louis Vuitton actually owned Pinarello until 2023, which might explain how the Dogma on the model’s shoulder arrived there. What isn’t clear is why?
> Louis Vuitton launches range of £20,000 town bikes
The model appears to be wearing a customised Louis Vuitton skinsuit, no doubt made with the input of Peter Keen, Dan Bigham or Alex Dowsett, whilst the Dogma’s wheels and saddle appear to be painted a leathery brown.
Or is it a wetsuit? They’re walking on sand after all, and Pharrell Williams’ exhibition, titled “A Dandy Experience”, is purportedly “an ode to the surfing community.” Fair enough, but what the road bike is doing there on their mocked-up beach is beyond me. Will someone think of the paintwork?
Thankfully, the internet’s been on good form overnight:
“How many watts does the LV skin suit save?” Strava’s social media person wrote.
“Who the hell is this guy?” Ironman Sam Laidlaw said.
“Just imagine how slow he would be walking without that @ceramicspeed aero alpha system” said another person.
Bafflement all around, which is just how I like it.
Cat Ferguson out of Tour de France with injury
Cat Ferguson will miss the Tour de France Femmes, after her injuries sustained at the Giro d’Italia Women turned out to be worse than initially diagnosed.
The 20-year-old crashed on the opening stage and was withdrawn due to concussion and a suspected ankle sprain. But three weeks later, new X-Rays showed two ankle fractures that will require the Yorkshire woman to be in crutches for the next three weeks, and at least three more weeks on crutches.
Ferguson has continued her impressive rise this season, taking three victories and fighting among the favourites during the classics campaign. But she’ll have to wait another year before making her debut at the biggest race of them all, where she could have played a vital role supporting Marlen Reusser who, as we covered on Monday’s live blog, is in excellent form.
Writing on her Instagram Stories, Ferguson said she was “heartbroken to miss the most beautiful races of the season in this way but am now finding a new daily routine, just with a bit too much arm work for my liking” alongside a photo of a swimming pool.
Get well soon, Cat!
Tuchel's next career change?
tommy tuchel has a pure tour de france physique. get him out the dugout and up a mountain. the man is a born grimpeur
— Stan’s Account (@tristandross) June 23, 2026
I reckon the England manager would empty himself up the first category-1 for Jan Ullrich, then would make for an excellent mathematician in the Grupetto.
Calls to rip out “disastrous” cycle lane always blocked by cars rejected – but council proposes extra parking spaces in concession to angry traders
Another win for motonormativity…
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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/24/carspreading-vehicle-size-crash-deaths-study Is the bike industry missing a trick here? Too much focus on selling us lighter more aero machinery, new fangled tubeless systems & gravel specific chamois butter - not enough bikespreading. 32" MTB tyres are one thing, but where are the heavily armoured, oversized urban road warrior bikes? WankFietsen if you will. Just bung a load of ads on TV depicting empty urban streets whilst wanging on about freedom, engage the Evil Cyclists Lobby in some Government quangos & Robert's your mother's brother. If MSM media has taught me anything, it's that there's some sort of war going on out there & we need a bigger defence budget and some deadly new tech with which to compete on the battlefield. That & you know, how else are you going to transport your grand piano across town?
In bollards we trust! https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/bollards-installed-accident-prone-pub/
The problem with Roadcc (and all cycling magazines) is that it’s all preaching to the converted. …It’s a great forum for exposing the issues, it’s Roadcc’s bread and butter. But what is Roadcc doing to advocate for all its readers outside the cycling industry?
Cycling thinks it’s a fashion parade, which is why prices have become so exorbitant. It’s zero surprise to see Pinarello on a catwalk. Almost every group ride in any world city has become fashion parade. Cycling outfits can easily cost $1000. …The great thing is that you don’t have to buy into it! Just stop paying high prices. There are many affordable options.
That seems like a complete non sequitur to what I wrote.
Delivery's free should you spend over £55, golly! I could spend that much on all manner of ingredients to make rice cakes, granola bars, 'gravel' mix enough to keep me cycling for weeks on end. Just eat real food, if you've got time to train, you've got time to make you're own grub. Just eat real food, you've probably got some in the kitchen
@mdavidford Are you not concerned that using reasonable force to defend yourself against robbery with violence may result in criminal charges against you? It was 2 against 1. Reasonable force should include rendering your attackers incapable of doing you harm.
Not sure what being a “family man and business owner” has to with it, though. That's no guarantee of good character or trustworthiness. We've seen any number of "family men and business owners" abusing, threatening, or running cyclists off the road in stories here on road.cc - often using their business vehicle to do it.
@Mr Anderson One of the comments was from a person who describes himseld as a "family man and business owner", who fought off two attackers trying to rob him and is now facing charges of GBH. I am reminded of "The Little Onion"'s brush with the law and Dave Clifford's prosecution for reporting a phone driver.
10 thoughts on ““What the hell?” Pinarello Dogma F appears at Louis Vuitton catwalk, and no one quite knows why; Cat Ferguson to miss Tour de France with injury + more on the live blog”
An UTTERLY DEPRESSING day! For over 4 years I have been seriously considering giving up cycling. I have escaped 1 bikejacking attempt, and managed to avoid 2 others (1 in Orpington where 2 other cyclists were robbed in June 2022 reported by Road.cc). I have survived several attempts to deliberately push me off from passing motorists. Then there are the lucky escapes from near collisions with distracted drivers.
I have watched many videos from bikepackers, mainly Josh Parsons, and I decided I needed to return to off-road cycling if I am to continue enjoying cycling, free from those threats.
This morning, YT suggested this video: https://youtu.be/a9PDAOYVYm0?si=G2ZoPkLq9jT2tbXQ
Then I read the many, many comments. Not only that, the locations of these incidents. For some while I have been considering where I can move to in the UK to find better roads to cycle on, but I am beginning to believe the blight I experience in SE London, Kent and Surrey, are widespread.
Over the last few years I have been a subscriber to road.cc. This is because this appears to be the only publication in the UK that is willing to highlight the bad situations many of us cyclists face regularly. But in recent months I am now under the impression even this forum is shying away from reporting the bad stuff. So I have ended my subscription.
I am now left yet again pondering my future cycling choices!!
@Mr Anderson One of the comments was from a person who describes himseld as a “family man and business owner”, who fought off two attackers trying to rob him and is now facing charges of GBH.
I am reminded of “The Little Onion”‘s brush with the law and Dave Clifford’s prosecution for reporting a phone driver.
Not sure what being a “family man and business owner” has to with it, though. That’s no guarantee of good character or trustworthiness. We’ve seen any number of “family men and business owners” abusing, threatening, or running cyclists off the road in stories here on road.cc – often using their business vehicle to do it.
@mdavidford Are you not concerned that using reasonable force to defend yourself against robbery with violence may result in criminal charges against you? It was 2 against 1. Reasonable force should include rendering your attackers incapable of doing you harm.
That seems like a complete non sequitur to what I wrote.
The problem with Roadcc (and all cycling magazines) is that it’s all preaching to the converted. …It’s a great forum for exposing the issues, it’s Roadcc’s bread and butter. But what is Roadcc doing to advocate for all its readers outside the cycling industry?
Don’t see what’s so baffling – fashion’s always moved in cycles.
Cycling thinks it’s a fashion parade, which is why prices have become so exorbitant. It’s zero surprise to see Pinarello on a catwalk. Almost every group ride in any world city has become fashion parade. Cycling outfits can easily cost $1000.
…The great thing is that you don’t have to buy into it! Just stop paying high prices. There are many affordable options.
In bollards we trust!
https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/bollards-installed-accident-prone-pub/
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/24/carspreading-vehicle-size-crash-deaths-study
Is the bike industry missing a trick here? Too much focus on selling us lighter more aero machinery, new fangled tubeless systems & gravel specific chamois butter – not enough bikespreading. 32″ MTB tyres are one thing, but where are the heavily armoured, oversized urban road warrior bikes? WankFietsen if you will. Just bung a load of ads on TV depicting empty urban streets whilst wanging on about freedom, engage the Evil Cyclists Lobby in some Government quangos & Robert’s your mother’s brother.
If MSM media has taught me anything, it’s that there’s some sort of war going on out there & we need a bigger defence budget and some deadly new tech with which to compete on the battlefield. That & you know, how else are you going to transport your grand piano across town?