World’s steepest street celebrates by launching a hill climb; Alaphilippe holds onto yellow jersey and wins stage; Wout Van Aert Crashes out of TdF; Marianne Vos wins La Course; Tour biscuits, Tour helmet + more in today’s Live Blog
SUMMARY
The Tour de France weekend on Strava
It’s a big Tour for Strava with 98 out of the 176 Tour de France 2019 riders (56%) on there.
Gareth Mills, UK Country Manager of Strava, has listed a few below, but here’s the definitive list of who to follow.
“Could Alex Dowsett take the [time trial] stage win following on from his amazing British TT title? He’s clearly in great form – a 50kph average when you’re out on your own would indicate that.
“Egan Bernal’s skillset as a pure climber could set him up to take charge from Saturday onwards, hopefully giving the ‘galacticos’ of Team Ineos something to think about.
“The romantic in me really wanted Thibaut Pinot to podium this year, and I was sad to see him lose out when the wind tore the peloton apart on stage 10. I really hope that he stays well, and can get back into contention, otherwise he may as well lose some time and go for some stage wins.
“Looking back at the tour so far, my favourite stage was Thomas De Gendt’s amazing win on stage 8, over 12,000 have given him kudos on Strava, rightly celebrating an incredible achievement.
“The Strava award for best photos uploaded to the tour has to go to Michal Kwiatkowski.”
The weekend’s big Strava segment is the Tourmalet on Saturday.
Mills said: “The Tourmalet also includes an 18.95km Strava segment. Over 25,798 Strava members have climbed it, with more than 30,500 activities being logged at an average time of 1 hour and 55 minutes.
“Of these only 62 were professional cyclists, climbing at a speed of 16.33km/h and around 40 minutes faster than the average cyclist.”
Don't blame your tools
There’s currently a lot of speculation about the reason for Rohan Dennis quitting the Tour de France yesterday. We’re not going to add to the speculation here, we’re sure the full story will come out soon enough, but in the meantime here’s a close look at the bike he would have ridden in today’s individual time trial. It’s a shame we won’t get to see him racing against the clock in his world champion rainbow stripes.
Okay, maybe we will add to the speculation
Or at least report on it.
What was behind Rohan Dennis’s “reluctant” withdrawal from the Tour de France?
Not a good day for Bahrain-Merida
Things are even going BOOM for both @Bahrain_Merida and @JumboVismaRoad after the stage. BM team bus side swipped the Jumbo van. The Tour circus, how I’ve missed you. pic.twitter.com/vJl0yyBWo1
— Dave Everett (@ShoddyCycling) July 18, 2019
After their leader, Nibali, suffered stomach problems and Rohan Dennis went AWOL, all Bahrain Merida needed was a quiet departure from the stage.
Unfortunately, their bus clipped the Jumbo Visma bus. Not that Wout van Aert was bothered, he can be seen assessing the damage, before taking a selfie with a fan!
Uplifting news for Michael Woods
Yes, you’ve got two broken ribs. The good news is that they’re nice clean breaks. Hurray!
“I broke two ribs. They’re clean breaks. No surgery needed, so I’m cleared to continue.” – @rusty_woods
The latest out of France: https://t.co/gWw0ycRoBH #TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/FzLQPbRgRV
— EF Education First Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) July 18, 2019
Today's time trial
Stage 13 / Étape 13
Pau – Pau
Discover the 3D route of Stage 13.
Découvrez le parcours 3D de l’Étape 13.#TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/agsAbziwdz— Tour de France (@LeTour) July 19, 2019
A sock-doping cheat has been caught!
The UCI commissaire made me lower my socks 1cm yesterday. No wonder my prologue was shit
— Christine Majerus (@C_Majerus) July 19, 2019
Christine, how could you? Your competitors have trained long and hard and you think that you can cheat their hard work with an extra 1cm of sock length.
It’s good to see the UCI fixing the big issues in cycling…
"Why don't you use the cycle lane" etc etc
Why don’t cyclists use cycle paths? A story in 50 seconds. pic.twitter.com/NPympm0XEH
— Duncan (@Cobi00) July 18, 2019
You’d think it would be almost impossible to film so many hazards in under one minute, but alas…
Marianne Vos wins brutal second La Course title
There was heartbreak for Amanda Spratt who spent almost all the day away in the break, only for Marianne Vos to power past her on the final steep incline to win the sixth edition of La Course.
La Course Results
1. Marianne Vos (Ned/CCC-Liv)
2. Leah Kirchmann (Can/Sunweb)
3. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den/Bigla)
4. Lucinda Brand (Ned/Sunweb)
5. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (SA/CCC-Liv)
Marianne Vos attacks!
Attaque de @marianne_vos !#LaCourse pic.twitter.com/S13umvbSwQ— La Course by Le Tour (@LaCoursebyTDF) 19 July 2019
On a rolling 121km route on rolling terrain around Pau, the riders completed five laps of the 27.2km individual time trial course which will be used by the men later on today.
Having won four stages of the Giro Rosa this month, the “female Eddy Merckx” showed exactly why she is the dominant name in women’s cycling at the moment.
@marianne_vos “I really wanted to do well. It means a lot to me. After 5 years winning now again in a different circuit it’s really nice / Je voulais vraiment faire les choses bien. Après 5 ans, gagner à nouveau sur un nouveau circuit c’est super!”#LaCourse pic.twitter.com/jhl2hHGw8y
— La Course by Le Tour (@LaCoursebyTDF) 19 July 2019
Meanwhile, speaking to Radio 5 Live yesterday UCI President David Lappartient remained vague and non-commital saying that cycling’s world governing body will “continue to push” Tour de France organisers for a women’s equivalent.
“One day of racing is clearly not enough for women … if we want a women’s Tour de France, we can,” Lappartient added.
“For women’s cycling we can continue to push — I’ve had strong discussions with (ASO) and I hope we can reach an agreement for the future.”
Who will crumble on the way to Paris?
Biscuits decorated like all the team jerseys is the latest in this year’s line of baked goods to do with the Tour. How do we get some sent into the office for “review”??
#TDF2019 Team & Classification Jersey Biscuits.
Can you spot your favourite team #CouchPeloton? #TourSnacks #SBSTDF #TDF pic.twitter.com/aP1eBhBAlY— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) July 18, 2019
Insert helmet euphemism here...
Has Alex Dowsett (and his helmet) got a chance of triumphing on today’s TT after a certain Australian went walkabouts yesterday? He’s certainly in fine form after bagging the national championship title last month.
Near Miss of the Day 289: Driver immediately returns to road after left hook
Today’s near miss has fallen foul of Greater Manchester Police’s two-minute rule. The force says it requires two minutes of video either side of an incident and the cyclist didn’t have this.
Poor show
This was what Marianne Vos looked out at in her La Course press conference just now. Me and a lot of empty seats. Embarrassing that one of the sport’s greatest ever riders gets ignored like this #TDF2019 #LaCourse pic.twitter.com/gm6Sy6UM8f
— Peter Cossins (@petercossins) July 19, 2019
Just Sagan, being honest
Me: Do I look a bit like Daniel Oss?
Peter Sagan: “You look like shit!”
I @BORAhansgrohe! pic.twitter.com/0TBkZAOMBl
— Bas Tietema (@BasTietema) July 15, 2019
It's not going to be Alex Dowsett today
‘It was a bit too much climbing for me’@alexdowsett spoke to @friebos after his time trial pic.twitter.com/eM18FE56TY
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 19, 2019
This is the current top five with most of today’s favourites still to come.
Top 5 after 50 riders.
Top 5 après 50 coureurs.1@k_asgreen
2@ChadHaga +30″
3 @alexdowsett +40″
4 @stefankueng +58″
5 @PerezAnthony1 +1’01”#TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/CrNLdRfCXh— Tour de France (@LeTour) July 19, 2019
Geraint Thomas's pick for today's stage is out there now
One of today’s big favourites is on the road now : national champion @WoutvanAert !
L’un des grands favoris du jour est sur la route: le champion de Belgique Wout van Aert ! #TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/WdAURVtxf9
— Tour de France(@LeTour) July 19, 2019
Big crash for stage favourite Wout Van Aert
Wout van Aert. Out of the Tour by the looks of it. Not good. pic.twitter.com/XJ4vPq6Rmd
— Rob Hayles (@robhayles1) July 19, 2019
Van Aert on his way to hospital
#TDF2019
.@WoutvanAert unfortunately has to abandon the race after his crash. He is conscious and has a flesh wound at his right upper leg.— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) July 19, 2019
Sagan pulling a wheelie... on a TT bike... on a 17% gradient... as you do
Just @petosagan doing Sagan stuff
Juste Peter Sagan qui fait du Peter Sagan. #TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/TAAsmkePle
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 19, 2019
World’s steepest street celebrates by launching a hill climb
You may or may not have seen that the Guinness Book of Records has recognised Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech as the world’s steepest street.
Dunedin’s Baldwin Street has been stripped of the title. The mayor has suggested changing the street’s signage from “world’s steepest street” to “southern hemisphere’s steepest street”.
It’s now been announced that Welsh Cycling will be heading to Harlech on the weekend of August 11 for the Harlech Hell Climb.
Ffordd Pen Llech stretches 310 metres with a peak gradient of 37.45% and an average incline of 17%.
Welsh Cycling CEO, Anne Adams-King said: “Having Harlech Hell Climb taking place on what is now officially the world’s steepest street is fantastic news for Welsh Cycling.
“We’ve always wanted to add these type of events to our calendar and having the opportunity to do it in Harlech is really exciting for us. We hope people will come and take on this huge challenge.”
National Cycle Network added to online OS Maps
Users can now select an option to view 16,575-miles of UK cycle routes.
Much loved cycle shop closes in Taunton
ONE of the oldest shops in Taunton, Ralph Colman Cycles has closed after almost a century in the town.
Confused customers have been informed that Ralph Colman has ceased trading.
Road.cc’s Laura Laker was personally affected by the closure, but was unsure why the shop had been forced to close as cycling levels in the area are fairly high.
Super sad to see the bike shop I’ve used since childhood, and still used when I visited family in Somerset, has now closed. It was in business since 1925 – and one of the oldest shops in Taunton. https://t.co/LpzwRhqunP
— Laura Laker (@Lakerlikes) July 19, 2019
Alaphilippe stuns to win stage 13 time trial in Pau
Julian Alaphilippe gave everything he had to win the stage and keep the Yellow Jersey! @alafpolak1 a tout donné pour remporter l’étape et consolider son Maillot Jaune ! #TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/nKpTK1UaXD
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 19, 2019
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So a driver who killed nobody can be charged with dangerous driving and receieve a prison sentence but they cannot get a dangerous driving conviction in this case? Beggers belief. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnwmPX-RXxU
@perce Bit of both, our Nige isn't scared of multitasking!
@GMBasix Well normally I'd go for inveterate contrarian but on this occasion I think I'd go with befuddled idiot.
Unfortunately you'll be aware that the UK already has "dynamic speed limits". Before we even start, people should be dynamically *lowering* their speed anyway as the conditions dictate (restricted visibility, narrow carriageway, darkness, low sun, certain weather etc.) We have variable speed limits on motorways. Requiring people to check signs in a fairly "low distraction environment" is reasonable. Plus there's relative homogeneity of mass / speed / vulnerability of those thereon (excepting possibly motorbikers...) There are "please don't go faster when the lights are flashing" ones around schools. That is maybe not so good, eg. when children have to leave outside the regular times. Schools tend to be in "high mental workload for road users" urban environments also. Then there is the regular bad old UK habit of "the maximum is more of a target" and "I'll chance it because I've always got away with it and it's only taking the mick of you're more than 10mph over" "dynamic limits".
I like to be courteous to correspondents. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes people have a different perspective. Some people have a lived experience that explains their world view. But nothing explains your response more readily than it is the contrivance of an inveterate contrarian or a befuddled idiot.
@Rendel Harris Given the state of the bike industry I fear that Raleigh will become yet another brand in the Frasers Group portfolio, they'll buy the IP and nothing else like they did with Wiggle CRC.
[Petrol sniffer] Disappointingly illogical and rude comment. You've cheapened yourself there I'm afraid with a primitive lack of manners and understanding. To address the quote, of course lots of revenue can be gained by prosecuting people in a 20 zone, despite the fact that traffic speeds may only sometimes go above it. You might not have noticed, but traffic moves at different speeds depending on time of day and road conditions. For example, on a rainy morning, traffic tends to move very slowly due to congestion and safety concerns (both for the conditions and school children being dropped off). This is where a 20 limit would be appropriate, but also unnecessary due to self-regulation by responsible road users. Contrast this to when plod might be out, ambushing motorists with their speed guns: on a nice sunny clear day outside of peak times, looking to sneak out on an unsuspecting driver, driving down a nice straight hill, who's erred above the now arbitrary and unnecessary limit. This is why I favour dynamic speed limits, like they have in some parts of Europe.
Today's TDF Femmes stage was a great watch and good to see Kasia get the win. And almost as impressive was her performance in Tuesday's TT. The GC contest will be pretty exciting.
@GMBasix Fine people for _wanting_ to go faster than 20mph of course.
@GMBasix No shite. Moronically contradictory. Should someone so mentally challenged even be allowed to drive?
5 thoughts on “World’s steepest street celebrates by launching a hill climb; Alaphilippe holds onto yellow jersey and wins stage; Wout Van Aert Crashes out of TdF; Marianne Vos wins La Course; Tour biscuits, Tour helmet + more in today’s Live Blog”
You refer to her as “the
You refer to her as “the dominant name in women’s cycling”, yet then manage to call her Marianna Vos three times (while managing to spell “the female Eddy Merckx” correctly; I think). It’s Marianne.
EDIT: now corrected; thanks.
And Allaphilipe takes te
And Allaphilipe takes te stage with a 15 second advantage over Thomas extending his lead.
What, no calls/accusations for motor doping or chemical enhancements as to his miracle performance?
He got off the bike like he’d barely been for a tickle to the shops for a paper, good ride by him and took a few more chances/was a bit smarter through the corners IMO and nailed that ramp at the end which is where he took a few more precious seconds out of Thomas.
Game on!
“Why don’t cyclists use
“Why don’t cyclists use cyclepaths” vid is eloquent, and it didn’t even have a car parked in the lane, or pedestrians using it as an advanced stop line. I couldn’t see any, but I expect there were also dog turds, glass and other rubbish too.
where I live in Tottenham,
where I live in Tottenham, they built a cycle path thing on the pavement that goes about a couple of hundred yards ,seven sisters tube station to the south Tottenham overground station , it cost a fortune . A complete waste of money . When the path ends you have to cross the road and get back on the road. This little path takes you the wrong side of the road if your heading towards the overground station , pedestrians still walk on the cycle markings because it’s just painted out on the pavement. It’s so fucking stupid . The cyclists are much h safer ,like I do ,ride in the road .the roads are wide as fuck both ways . So to spend a lot of fucking money for a confused hundred yards or so that just loses the cyclist more time and he has to negotiate leaving the road and going back on the road in between possibly hitting pedestrians you wonder what is the fucking point and how did anyone think this was a good idea . It does nothing except keep some PC egomaniac councillor happy thinking he’s saving the world .
In Nice they have a cycle path on the prommanade. People are always walking across it . It’s fucking stupid . I always ride in the road with the traffic . It’s much safer . These panted cycling paths on pavements are a fucking stupid idea . If you ride a bike and have to commute then learn to ride among the traffic . It’s not difficult. You ride at you own pace and let the dickhead commute racers get on with it . Barcelona has paths in the middle of the roads .designated paths and it works really well because the roads in the city are huge . You have to deal with what you have and in the case of a lot of city’s common sense and a bit of consideration for others will do the job . Painting lines and putting up useless signs just confuses people .
Woah, déjà vu.
Woah, déjà vu.