“They’re f****** hugging it out”: Lance Armstrong takes swipe at current era of pro cyclists that “do not compete like we did” and “high five” after losing races; “Who’s wrong? Me”: Cyclist shares painful crash footage + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Basso's new Venta R "is set to revolutionise the cycling landscape" (says Basso)
> Basso’s new Venta R “is set to revolutionise the cycling landscape” (says Basso)
"We really want to re-establish this as the nation's favourite bike ride": British Heart Foundation hoping to return London to Brighton participation to pre-pandemic numbers
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The British Heart Foundation says participation levels for its London to Brighton ride have fallen following a two-year break due to Covid, the charity’s head of events hoping to “re-establish” it as “the nation’s favourite bike ride”.
Around 10,000 people tackled the 54-mile route last year, which had 16,000 participants during its pre-pandemic peak. Anna McCaughley says the charity hopes levels will pick up again this summer, with 12,000 riders the aim for 2024, and growing the event to 20,000 participants the goal over the next few years.
“We really want to re-establish this as the nation’s favourite bike ride and it’s really important for the amount of money we raise so we’re working really hard to attract new audiences and improve the experience people have on the day,” she told the BBC.
“Understandably, people were anxious about attending large-scale events and out of the habit of attending in-person events.”
Since its inception the BHF London to Brighton has seen nearly 700,000 cyclists complete the ride from the English capital to the south coast, raising more than £50 million.
Lotte Kopecky, Lizzie Deignan, Lorena Wiebes and Charlotte Kool confirmed for Ford RideLondon Classique
The first riders for the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 are…
🏆 World Champion @LotteKopecky
🇬🇧 British cycling royalty @lizziedeignan
🌟 2023 Ford RideLondon Champion @charlotte_kool
🌟 2022 & 2019 Ford RideLondon Champion @lorenawiebes pic.twitter.com/6VnERlR6Xk— Ford RideLondon (@RideLondon) March 15, 2024
BIG NAMES announced for May’s Ford RideLondon Classique, world champion Lotte Kopecky, Lizzie Deignan, Lorena Wiebes and Charlotte Kool all coming to Britain (well, Essex and London) to do battle in what may be the only elite race on these shores in 2024. Fingers crossed British Cycling pulls a stage race-shaped rabbit out of the hat on that front…
> British Cycling hopes to deliver Tour of Britain and women’s edition in 2024
In the meantime, the three-stage Ford RideLondon Classique is shaping up with a stellar field, the race’s director Scott Sunderland saying it is proof “the best riders in the world want to race” here.
“The talent on show in the 2024 field represents the very best of the elite women’s peloton,” he said. “The sprinting on show will be of the highest order and this could be the fastest edition of the race ever.
“With a world-class line-up on a world-class course, you can expect to see aggressive team tactics and strategic attacks by riders. The course has been modified in 2024 to reward this type of racing during the stages in Essex. The quartet of Lizzie, Lotte, Charlotte and Lorena is formidable, and they boast more world, European and national titles, not to mention stage wins, than I can count on two hands. They are sure to be among the key players in this year’s race and I cannot wait to see what unfolds.”
The Ford RideLondon Classique begins in Saffron Walden on Friday 24 May, with a stage ending in Colchester. The Saturday will see the race return to Maldon before the finale on The Mall on Sunday 26 May, with eight laps of a central London course.
"Close your eyes and hope for the best": Riders' union president slams cobbled race organisers after pros complain "thick layers of mud" caused crashes
"It sounds like someone needs a hug": Your thoughts on Lance's longing for the good ol' days
The moment I’ve been waiting for all morning. It’s comments time…
“Disagree. Pogi is still putting on a show and winning without the peloton hating him. Maybe people are just more like-able than Lance was.”
Warren Greene: “I think listening to him about anything to do with cycling might be incorrect. For some reason.”
James Fraser: “I’ve raced in multisport, road running and trail/ultra running. One of the reasons I got addicted to ultra running and left the roads and bike behind a bit is that several hours after the winners are finished, they’re often still at the finish line applauding finishers, hugging it out and dishing out cake and warm drinks. It’s called being a sportsperson.”
Mark Gray: “They are actually having fun Lance, try it.”
Shake: “It sounds like someone needs a hug.”
Boopop: “Armstrong’s outdone himself here, truly. You go up to the average person in the street and ask them ‘Do you think pro cycilsts should compete like those of Lance Armstrong’s era did?’. I think ‘Yes, they should stop hugging and high fiving”‘ would be a ‘Pointless answer, and ‘No, they should not take performance enhancing drugs’ would get the full 100.”
"Strava's 'Weekly Snapshot' makes me feel bad": Should you be able to turn it off?
> “Strava’s ‘Weekly Snapshot’ makes me feel bad”: Should you be able to turn it off?
Happy Milan-San Remo Eve... who will take the first Monument of the season tomorrow?
It’s the Friday before San Remo, the highlight of the season for some, completely and utterly boring for others. Personally, I’ve grown to love it. Sure, if you watch all seven hours you’ll be feeling the tedium but, that final half hour with all its jeopardy, apprehension and sudden bursts of life, into a final 10km when you can barely take a second to blink.
To me, it feels about as high-stakes as cycling gets all year. Seven hours of effort and you’ve got one shot to win it. Don’t miss your chance. The fact any type of rider can win — from Grand Tour-winning climbers like Vincenzo Nibali in 2018 to the fastest sprinters — has to count for something.
A reminder of last year’s decisive moment…
Van der Poel’s attack on the Poggio was unreal 😲
The Dutchman won Milano-Sanremo 2023 with an unforgettable solo move 💪@AlpecinDCK @mathieuvdpoel pic.twitter.com/SYvnC0JGvc
— Road Code (@RoadCode) March 15, 2024
Mathieu van der Poel returns to defend his crown this year, home favourites Filippo Ganna and in-form Alberto Bettiol flying the Italian flag. Or will it be dropper post king Matej Mohorič? No Wout van Aert for Visma-Lease a Bike… can Christophe Laporte take his chance as the main man? Mads Pedersen, Biniam Girmay, Tom Pidcock and, of course, Tadej Pogačar… who do you fancy?
Cycling convert? Labour shadow transport secretary enjoys "great" e-bike ride, months after backlash over controversial cycling comments
Save the date! Local Bike Shop Day 2024
The Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) has chosen Saturday 4 May as this year’s Local Bike Shop Day, taking place on the weekend of the early May bank holiday. The ACT is encouraging the industry and wider cycling community to support the campaign as part of a wider effort to kickstart the sector following a difficult couple of post-pandemic years.
Jonathan Harrison from the ACT said: “Local Bike Shop Day is a celebration of the character, quality, and passion of the UK’s bike businesses, we hope that this year’s campaign can play a role in kickstarting the industry’s recovery. While Local Bike Shop Day is just one day a year, its main objective is raising awareness of the invaluable service that our IBDs offer year-round.
“There are plenty of ways for bike businesses to get involved in the day, in the past, shops have led rides in their community, hosted repair workshops with some even putting on gigs in store. It really is up to you how you use the campaign to promote what your business and what you have to offer.”
Find out more here…
Mathieu van der Poel has done WHAT to his hair?
Short back and sides, out. Mullet?! In…
🌈 A world champion is roaming in the streets of Pavia…
But the mullet though 👀 #MilanoSanremo presented by @CA_Ita pic.twitter.com/bUp6cuKnV7
— Milano Sanremo (@Milano_Sanremo) March 15, 2024
"Every single pedal hurts": Mollie King raises over £1.1 million for Comic Relief with epic 500km London to Hull cycle – despite never riding on the road before
"They're f****** hugging it out": Lance Armstrong takes swipe at current era of pro cyclists that "do not compete like we did" and "high five" after losing races
You didn’t think you were going to get to slip into classics season without you know who making a live blog appearance with some eyebrow-raising comments about bike racing, did you?
Today’s topic? The current generation of bike racers and their “hugs and high fives” that would “have been totally foreign to me”. Roll the tape…
I’m impressed with this generation of cyclists. In many ways, they are more talented. But they do not compete like we did.
Hugs and high fives? This would have been totally foreign to me.
(via @DannyDuncan69) pic.twitter.com/rXJyB5rvPX
— Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) March 14, 2024
“This generation now, these guys go hammer, race each other, some guy will lose. The guy who wins is waiting at the finish line. They’re f*****g hugging it out… I’m like, what?”
This feels like the cycling equivalent of a former footballer, of questionable ability, moaning about the current generation saying hello to their mates in the tunnel pre-match.
“You’re just waiting there so you can all hug this out? After you just lost? I’m not saying that our generation was the way to do it or that I was proud, I think it’s kind of cool to see, but it wasn’t like that for us. Never even crossed my mind,” he continued.
“I do think our generation’s racing was better […] we didn’t hate each other but even for me, nobody ever did anything to me that would have led me to be like I hate this motherf*****. I would make things up and read an article and be like, ‘well, I guess I could read it in a certain way, well, f*** them.”
There are things I miss about cyclism of the 90s, but honestly that kind of toxic behaviour is not one of them.
— SandyB (@SandraCirri) March 14, 2024
Or maybe just…
— Bruce Masterson (@BruceJMasterson) March 14, 2024
As Ryan pointed out to me this morning, the sporting handshake with Jan Ullrich as the pair crossed the line together atop Luz-Ardiden during the 2001 Tour must have been scratched from the history books too, plenty of asterisks from that era…
In the past 14 months, Lance Armstrong’s achievements stretched to becoming a reality TV villain after clashing with a Modern Family star over trans athletes during a bizarre US show where celebrities pretended to be astronauts on a simulated version of Mars. Cue the claims that he is “all too familiar” with being cancelled… and the counter shouts from the internet questioning Lance’s credentials for lecturing the public about “fairness in sports”…
Last year, he also objected to a poll by cycling statistics website ProCyclingStats, marking the 10-year anniversary of his Oprah confession, who asked if Armstrong should get his results back?
“The only people that should be asked are the ones who were in the battle with me. I know their answer,” he claimed, pulling off the quite incredible achievement of apparently managing to ask every single professional cyclist he ever raced against within four hours.
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Latest Comments
@chrisonabike True, things went back to normal once the pandemic was over. In this case, however the problems are still ongoing, and aren't likely to be resolved in the near future. If anything, they're going to get worse. Food shortages are predicted because of the effect that the heatwave has had on crops. This is bound to push prices up. The Straits of Hormuz aren't likely to reopen anytime soon and the strategic oil reserves are running low. Russia is having to import petrol because its own refineries have been badly hit, so that's even more competition for an even more scarce resource. I think that more and more people are going to see cycling as a way of cutting household bills.
I think if "grown up" cyclists * are quibbling about ASLs we've very much missed the road safety point anyway. (Not to mention the wider "better transport choices" picture). ASLs are poor-to-useless "cycling infra", even for their design intent. If the idea is "for less confident cyclists" then a design that requires that you re-position in front of the motor traffic - waiting to accelerate - seems unhelpful. Of course they're only designed to help when traffic is stopped, and you can reach the front in time and if vehicles aren't already occupying them. As we're noting here drivers frequently ignore them - whether that be deliberate, a lack of road craft, because they were concentrating on following the vehicle in front, or because the paint has rubbed off. * Aside: shouldn't cycling also be safe and accessible for kids? Or should they only be allowed to do this when accompanied by sufficient qualified adults? Or be limited to parks and otherwise being driven around by their carers? Perhaps there is another way...?
Hi Bungle, I saw you follow-up comment. I can't imaging there's a tolerance of 4 seconds on camera enforced lights, seems an odd decision - an offence is committed if a vehicle starts crossing on a red, any tolerance is discretionary. There does seem to be some odd thinking about 'advanced stop lines' where the rules relating to them are identical to a regular stop line, as explained correctly elsewhere in the Highway Code. It does seem a regular offence. Where I live it doesn't help that some of them are very faint and disappear in rain.
@ktache Not sure he's totally ruled out of the worlds yet (though I think it would be best if he doesn't), normal recovery time is about eight weeks but surgery can halve that...depending on the nature of the break he could be just about fit to ride by the time of the elite men's race, but he'll have missed a lot of training. Hopefully his managers and team will persuade him to wait until Lombardia, if not just to knock it off for the rest of the year.
@Bungle_52 The Met told me a couple of years ago when rejecting a submission that they needed a clear three seconds of red visible before they would consider it for an RLJ prosecution. I pointed out to them that this meant that at 30 mph a driver could see a light change to red from 40 metres away and still get through without sanction, or 55 m if they accelerated to 40 as most do. They just replied "them's our rules..."
@Ben Graham I have just checked the footage from my report. The driver crosses the 1st stop line 4 seconds after the light turns red. All on camera from behind the vehicle. No further action. So I assume the margin is at least 4 seconds.
Oh, and active travel funding per head (in England at least) is laughable compared to other places. Plus it is delivered intermittently. It's more like a Blue Peter contest...
Yup, I see those opportunities being missed all the time in Edinburgh. When it gets really bad, dig it all up and put it back down again how it was. Contrast with what seems to happen in NL - when things are dug up the whole thing seems to get a "let's redo this according to the current standards" treatment. They even coordinate with the utilities, so that after a refurb the street isn't immediately dug up again because of leaking pipes / we suddenly realised the new estate being planned for round the corner will want broadband etc. Pros and cons of course - you may wait longer there for changes as smaller changes may be deferred until a major redo is due. (Though in the UK case you likely wouldn't get them at all...) It seems we "can't have nice things" in the UK in part because a) we have greater motor traffic speeds/volumes spead across "streets" / within urban areas b) the funding and organisational responsibility differs. Are we in the "Sam Vimes boots" territory (being too poor to afford better products which not only save money over time but actually work)? There is long term money pressure on LAs and it seems that due to poor construction and maintenance we have to regularly pour money into (pot-)holes in the road. And it seems there's no budget to check up on or enforce adequate standards from utilities work or even private building.
Shame about the world champs defence. Speedy recovery. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/30/tadej-pogacar-vuelta-a-espana-cycling-crash-hospital-stage-nine
I believe the accepted form for this kind of argument is "I know you are, you said you were, but what am I?".
44 thoughts on ““They’re f****** hugging it out”: Lance Armstrong takes swipe at current era of pro cyclists that “do not compete like we did” and “high five” after losing races; “Who’s wrong? Me”: Cyclist shares painful crash footage + more on the live blog”
Armstrong’s outdone himself
Armstrong’s outdone himself here, truly. You go up to the average person in the street and ask them “Do you think pro cycilsts should compete like those of Lance Armstrong’s era did?”.
I think “Yes, they should stop hugging and high fiving” would be a “Pointless” answer, and “No, they should not take performance enhancing drugs” would get the full 100.
Hmmm do not compete like he
Hmmm do not compete like he did? If he means competing by doping to get an unfair advantage I think thats something to be glad about.
Pointless attention seeking loser.
I think he means threatening,
I think he means threatening, intimidating and assaulting competitors off the bike rather than trying to fairly beat them on the bike.
Patrick9-32 wrote:
And on the bike, don’t forget his disgraceful chase down of Simeoni and pulling him out of the breakaway in the 2004 Tour.
“yeah, why can’t they be
“yeah, why can’t they be toxic alpha-male assholes who drove a deeply unhealthy culture that almost destroyed pro-cycling, just like me”
Do hugs, not drugs.
the little onion wrote:
I can’t believe those weak men can compete hard and also respect their competitors. Aren’t the deeply broken inside like a real man?
Did it not occur to LA or
Did it not occur to LA or indeed the interviewer that their testosterone fuelled aggressive machismo was a result of injecting testosterone?
“The young men driving
“The young men driving themselves to death”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/articles/c517rnryj04o
“Road safety experts want the government to toughen up the penalties and reconsider introducing graduated driving licences.”
“The car is a weapon if you get behind the wheel and you do not drive it responsibly,”
-As part of its investigation into the disproportionate number of young men killed or causing the deaths of others on the roads, the BBC uncovered an alarming trend of young men filming themselves driving dangerously and posting their exploits on social media for “likes”.
Judge Francis Sheridan, who has overseen a number of high profile criminal cases involving road deaths, has described this as “a serious development”.
“They’re doing it only for one reason – glorifying themselves and their law-breaking,” he said.
“Without the proper deterrent, you’re not going to persuade, cajole or plead to hotheads to stop.”-
“… but cyclists…”
The only thing new about this
The only thing new about this is the filming themselves.
Young men were buying fast cars and wrapping them around telegraph poles back in the 80’s (cough, cough, trying not to look too sheepish).
The only difference now is that they insist on filming their stupidity.
Oldfatgit wrote:
I think the fact that cars now are bigger, far heavier and much faster makes quite a difference.
ChrisB200SX wrote:
I think the fact that cars now are bigger, far heavier and much faster makes quite a difference.
And the volume of vehicles has doubled since the 90s, never mind the 80s…
— Oldfatgit
I watched that earlier, I
I watched that earlier, I thought it was a very poignant and well-made little documentary. The lads were known locally to me, and it is interesting that my new-driver daughter mentioned the documentary to me when she got back from school and is planning to watch it. Hopefully it will make an impression.
For HP
For HP
Is that a load of fleas
Is that a load of fleas jumping off that squirrel?
There is a sad rise in
There is a sad rise in homeless squirrels whose few remaining trees have been demolished to make way for pointless woke cycle infra *.
Fortunately the government is tackling this by supporting the building of hundreds of more affordable starter dreys.
* How do the extremists lobbying for this (seeking to negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others) think they will get to the vet, or have their nuts delivered?
House! – I’m going straight
House! – I’m going straight down the planning inspectorate. I’m not having these ugly modern structures spoiling the look of any range rover fronted mock tudor semi detached domeciles.
I heard Tate and Lyle were
I heard Tate and Lyle were looking for a new logo to replace the rotting lion and flies on its tin of treacle.
https://twitter.com
At the end of the day, the
At the end of the day, the answer is always “no you can’t have nice things, because bicycles”. Even in Dundee…
It’s really just to easy, isn
It’s really just too easy, isn’t it? Surely he must know the response he’s going to get?
From xtwitter
From xtwitter
“you know how easy it is to get 9 points nowadays correct?”
Have to say I’m struggling with this one. What do I need to do to get 9 points ?
The answer is very easy if
The answer is very easy if you go looking for them, very tricky if you just drive like an absolute bellend with some vague eye on not getting caught by speed cameras.
I’ve not heard of the ‘cut
I’ve not heard of the ‘cut your inner tube in 2’ bodge to get home before !
I wouldn’t take advice from
I wouldn’t take advice from anyone that uses a lever to put a tyre back on the rim.
Armstrong in being-driven-by
Armstrong in being-driven-by-hate shocker
Man motivated by publicity
Man motivated by publicity says thing guaranteed to generate publicity. More at 11.
What’s been going on in here?
What’s been going on in here?
He wants to make cycling
Lance wants to make cycling great again
What kind of arsehole thinks
What kind of arsehole thinks that’s there’s too much respect, affection and hugging in this world?
It sounds like someone needs
It sounds like someone needs a hug
“Lance Armstrong” wrote:
OK boomer.
… right up until the moment
… right up until the moment I got caught cheating.
No idea what this squirrel
No idea what this squirrel thread is about but heres a pic of a squirrel trying to ride my bike near Buckingham Palace.
OK. For some reason the system won’t let me upload it and I can’t delete this comment.
Extremely well hidden
Extremely well hidden squirrel.
Prince Andrew doesn’t even
Prince Andrew doesn’t even like
nutspizza and has no memory of ever visiting that particular tree.Why are most commentators on
Why are most commentators on here so miserable, hateful and angry, especially around certain topics and people they don’t even know personally ?
Just like the road-bikers I see on my own rides around Eryri recently. All very glum looking, rarely smile, no-eye contact, etc. Must all be road.cc contributors?
Anger management is a thing to maye take some adice on? Might help with your outlook on life, the road.cc staff like to as well perhaps?
no u
no u
I am torn between a desire to
I am torn between a desire to reply with hateful, angry, miserable insults, to prove you right, or with grossly flattering praises showing awe for your perspicacity, again the piss to take.
Thanks Ned
Thanks Ned
/s
/s
Prince Charles is ‘infatuated
King Charles is ‘infatuated’ by squirrels, keeps nuts in pockets
So Loboto-Lance thinks he
So Loboto-Lance thinks he never really went for anyone as if he hated them?
Drugs seem to addle the memory.
Floyd Landis?
Not sure where to put this
Not sure where to put this but one for eburtthebike – or possibly “BBC and their misrepresentation”:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68588254
Heard that in similar terms
Heard that in similar terms on R4 news this morning. Lazy reporting.
I suspect one reason the response rates to consultations is low (and what is normal anyway?) may simply be that the majority are either in favour or at worst not bothered.
I’m not convinced that this pro-driver stance is going to work for the Tories: just because most people drive doesn’t mean they all identify primarily as ‘drivers’.