Just in time for #35? Mark Cavendish wins first sprint in three months at Tour de Hongrie; Police ask cyclists to “remove wheels and saddle if they can’t keep their bike inside” after bike theft; Reaction to Zwift subscription hike + more on the live blog

An elite cyclist who has won Asian Cycling Championships gold and competed in the individual time trial against Remco Evenepoel and Filippo Ganna at last year’s UCI Cycling World Championships now faces being ordered to move to the Bibby Stockholm barge by the Home Office.

> Asylum-seeking elite cyclist told to move to Bibby Stockholm barge — as Home Office says he cannot take his bike onboard

Two names won’t be making it to the start of the Giro d’Italia today unfortunately, with Israel-Premier Tech’s Michael Woods out after yesterday’s crash and Bora-Hansgrohe’s Florian Lipowitz withdrawing after an illness.

The 37-year-old Canadian was involved in a crash with Ineos Grenadiers’ Tobias Foss and Visma-Lease a Bike’s Attila Valter with just 26 kilometres to go, as the peloton was trying to reign in the four-man breakaway including Cofidis’ Benjamin Thomas who would eventually go on to take the win.

Sad news this morning with @rusty_woods unable to start @giroditalia stage 6 😢

“𝘐’𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘰 𝘥’𝘐𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦… pic.twitter.com/fCKkfygwPk

— Israel – Premier Tech (@IsraelPremTech) May 9, 2024

And Lipowitz, the young German, making his debut at a Grand Tour, will also be out of the Giro after Bora informed of his sickness on social media. Get well soon to both the riders!

🇮🇹 #giroditalia

Unfortunately, due to sickness, Florian Lipowitz will not start today’s stage of the @giroditalia. Heal up soon, Lipo! 🙏🏻

📸: @SprintCycling pic.twitter.com/ymb28BY5Hv

— BORA – hansgrohe (@BORAhansgrohe) May 9, 2024

Meanwhile, the peloton will make its way through the famed white roads of Tuscany in Giro d’Italia’s ode to the Strade Bianche. Will any team take the race to Pogačar, who sits pretty in pink atop the GC standings, or will it be a repeat of the Strade, and essentially the rest of the season? We’ll see soon…

In case you missed it, Zwift announced yesterday that its monthly subscription fee is rising from £12.99 to £17.99, with the company claiming that the price hike was “necessary” for the platform’s development.

Very quickly, cyclists were on the case and the  the popular virtual online training app company was accused of “taking its subscribers for granted”. Since our coverage, more reaction has trickled in, and here’s your roundup; first up, comments on our article…

Disgusted of Tu…: “I think they’re seriously delusional and aiming for the peloton brigade who will pay £££ for the “online experience”. I stopped paying in 2018 and only use it for running – guess that’s still free?

“Prefer to watch Netflix and keep an eye on my Watts per 3 seconds – when the weather is so bad or I’m sick of washing my bike!”

squired: “I switched to MyWhoosh sometime ago and I can’t ever see myself switching back. They are still saying it will always be free and the constant improvements they keep rolling out are excellent. I don’t care though about racing or training plans or community. I just want something I can jump on for an hour or two with some nice routes. With the impending World Championships on the platform I wouldn’t be shocked to see another big update in the next few weeks.”

Fursty Ferret: “How many people left? Given that the Zwift website went down under the demand yesterday, I’d guess “a lot”. Odd time to do it, really – far better business sense to have done it in October knowing you’ve got a captive audience as the weather turns. All it’s actually served to do is remind me that my subscription was still active and so I’ve cancelled it for the summer.”

dialeleven: “There is a Zwift-like alternative that I’ve been using over the winter which I’m pretty happy with aside from stability issues (crashes) which the devs have improved upon recently with a “Go” version for Windows. It’s the one advertised on the back of Tadej Pogacar’s shorts (something Whoosh). It doesn’t have the large community of Zwift, but they do have Sunday races and some other events if that’s your thing (not into events personally – just want to get in a good structured workout for about a hour usually).”

More from Facebook comments:

Darren Nicholl: Been on it since day 1, beta tester and all that, however it’s now transitioned into too much of a game than an exercise platform. They have ‘shot themselves in the foot’ though because I bet a lot of people would have paid the £12.99 to use the odd time in the Summer, but now I’ve cancelled mine and will restart in Autumn.”

Paul Manton: “Zwift hasn’t improved much but they have thousands more subscribers since 2017, i can’t justify monthly subscription when i don’t use it for a few months so i have cancelled and moved to Mywhoosh. Mywhoosh isn’t great for races but its good enough for training.”

> “I’ll see you in the winter”: Zwift accused of “taking subscribers for granted” as monthly subscription rises from £12.99 to £17.99 – but company says price hike “necessary” for platform’s development

And finally, one of these messages that dropped into our Facebook inbox:

“With Zwift increasing their subscription, I’ve now cancelled mine. Since commuting more, I haven’t felt the need to use it & once Spring comes I ride all the time outside. Bye bye Zwift.”

Israel-Premier Tech has decided to withdraw Riley Pickrell from today’s stage six of the Giro d’Italia fearing a concussion after yesterday’s crash. The Canadian joins compatriot Michael Woods and Nadav Raisberg in bowing out of the Grand Tour, leaving the team with just five riders.

The team wrote: “After careful consideration, a late decision has been made that Riley Pickrell will not start today’s Giro d’Italia stage.

“His face bore the impact of the crash yesterday and although he is feeling well enough to start, some slight confusion has been identified and the team is not willing to take the risk given the possibility of concussion.

“Riley needs time to recover and today’s stage is too risky, so the team has made the difficult decision to withdraw him from the race.”

Pickrell said: “I’m super disappointed, leaving your first Grand Tour is something no rider wants to do. I came here and I wanted to finish the race — obviously getting through a Grand Tour is such a big accomplishment for any rider. Hopefully I can get this opportunity again, and I can come back and make it to the finish.”

Back luck clearly comes in threes: @RileyPickrell will also not start today’s @giroditalia stage 😢

“𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰. 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦… pic.twitter.com/E3BLrdP3SE

— Israel – Premier Tech (@IsraelPremTech) May 9, 2024

A rather interesting proposition to solve bike thefts from a police force takes the top spot on the live blog today.

With the sun and the bank holiday weekend coinciding and joining forces to bring perhaps the first glimpse of the much-awaited spring to the British Isles, bike thieves found a hunting ground at the Ashurst Campsite in New Forest National Park, stealing several bikes off the back of a camper van after cutting through a bike lock.

And sharing photos of the cut lock, local officers from the New Forest Heart Police suggested that locking bikes is simply not good enough, and suggested that cyclists take away any removable spare parts if they leave their bikes outside.

The police force wrote: “The first photograph shows you the lock that was used to secure one of the bikes stolen from the Ashurst campsite over the weekend. As you can see it was very easy for the thieves to cut through it, even though the bike was attached to the back of a camper van and the owners were inside (like those in the photo).”

“That’s why it’s always best if you can’t keep your bikes inside to remove a wheel, the saddle or both. Just locking them sadly isn’t good enough.”

> Three quarters of Brits don’t expect police to bother investigating bike thefts

This isn’t the first time the force has suggested such measures to cyclists. Last year, when bikes were stolen from the same campsite, the force wrote on social media that cyclists should keep their bikes inside, and if they couldn’t, then they should “take the wheels off, or saddle, or both”.

In fact, New Hampshire Police, which oversees the New Forest Heart Police, has a dedicated website with guidelines for cyclists on how to keep their bikes safe. Some suggestions include using two quality locks (one of them being a D-lock), locking both the wheels and the frame to the stand, using different types of locks… and “take removable parts with you”.

“Take parts that are easy to remove with you, such as wheels, lights, baskets or the saddle. Or use locking skewers or nuts which can increase security by securing the bike’s components to the frame permanently,” is the force’s advice to cyclists.

Only if there was a way to crack down on bike thefts, I wonder…

> Cycling UK hails “clever” policing after bait bicycle used to track down £130,000 bike theft gang in one shift

Meanwhile, David Harrison, councillor at Hampshire County Council said: “Police are advising that it isn’t enough to secure your bike these days with a cable and lock. It seems it is now necessary to remove a wheel or a saddle and preferably both!

“I have always believed that the risk of having your bike stolen is a major factor when it comes to persuading people to travel by bike and leave the car at home. Lots of people tell me that they wouldn’t risk leaving their bike in Totton town centre and certainly not at places like the train station which has one of the worst records in the country when it comes to bike theft.

“We have more CCTV in this country per head of population than any other, but that doesn’t seem to be much of a deterrent, given that the thieves often use hoodies and masks.

“The only other answer seems to be lockable cages. However, this involves public expense at a time when councils are struggling to meet the most basic of needs, such as road repairs.

“I am not sure I know what the answer is. I do think that we won’t see a major shift towards cycling if we can’t solve the problem of bike theft though.”

> Find out how to keep your bike safe at home with our 9 essential steps

Let us know in the comments (or by email) if you’ve had any interactions with the Hampshire Constabulary, and if you’re likely to remove your wheels and saddle the next time you go for a quick nature’s call or to grab a cup of coffee and piece of cake…

Pink bibs for Tadej Pogačar today as well, after the drama with Castelli’s maglia rosa skinsuit that threatened to have him disqualified from the Giro.

No fashion change for Peppa Pog today, hard to believe. 😱He keeps the pink bibs. Now let’s see if he will keep the Maglia Rosa also after today…
#GirodItalia pic.twitter.com/SG2mrOu6XV

— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) May 9, 2024

I’m not going to lie, Peppa Pog is a pretty catchy name…

Yep I didn’t imagine I would be writing this statement today but here we are. But if you think about it, combining the two sports seems like a natural progression for the team sponsored by the massive petrochemical giant, that not only is the owner of the loaded cycling squad but also a yachting team (we don’t talk about Manchester United — Ryan would agree).

In fact, the role of a cyclor — combing the terms cyclist and sailor, isn’t new to the sport. Pedalling has been employed as a mode to generate the power to propel the massive, powerful yachts for some time now. But under the new rules of the America’s Cup, the oldest running sports competition in the world, going on since 1851, teams can use any body part to power the boat. Yes, including the legs.

> Sir Ben Ainslie says it would be “crazy” for Ineos yachting and cycling teams not to learn from each other

Under the new rules, “grinders” can pedal with their legs to power to power the hydraulics that control the movement of sails and foils, and manoeuvre the modern American Magic AC75-class yachts — the boat used by practically every team in the 2024 edition of the competition.

So, does this give the Ineos side, called Ineos Britannia an edge? Well, it is already led by the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie, who is team principal, CEO and skipper, and it takes place between 22nd August and 27th October in Barcelona. A late summer holiday for G, perhaps?

Chuckles aside, the team will turn to Prologo, the Italian brand for its high-performance saddles featuring the patented CPC (Connect Power Control) technology, the system with three-dimensional conical nano-structures that greatly increase grip and vibration absorption, and the new Onetouch 3D handlebar tape, already used on the Paris-Roubaix cobblestones by several World Tour teams.

Ineos said that Prologo’s innovative 3D product technologies will enable its four cyclors to maintain maximum saddle and handlebar grip during all phases of regattas, even with modern yachts flying over the sea at over 50 knots — that’s over 90km/hr.

The crew will also count on Prologo’s support during road training, where the saddles will be used on the team’s Pinarello bikes, and in indoor training sessions in the gym.

With the Green Party set to have control of Bristol’s council following last week’s election success, eyes have now turned to the manifesto promises of the campaign, the city’s “slow, expensive and unreliable” transport network to be tackled with increased investment in cycling and walking, as well as the installation of 20mph zones on all roads in the city “where possible”.

> 20mph speed limits and more cycle lanes coming to Bristol? All roads “where possible” set for speed limit under Green Party plan

⏱️ 5 second penalty for Esteban Ocon. #GirodItalia pic.twitter.com/qebRAbzr6T

— Giro d’Italia (@giroditalia) May 9, 2024

To get the maglia rosa out of the way, no changes in the top ten of the general classification, although there were moments throughout the race that it seemed certain that it would change hands, with Jayco-Alula’s Australian national road race champion Luke Plapp looking the most likely rider to emerge with the pink jersey on the other side of the ‘ode to Strade Bianche’ stage 6 today.

However that wasn’t to happen, as with Ineos’ fiery riding on the Tuscan gravel sections towards the end, the breakaway was reeled in enough, but that didn’t mean that there was any drama missing from the race — with the trio of Plapp, Soudal Quick-Step’s Julian Alaphilippe and the 24-year-old Pelayo Sanchez from Movistar exchanging bouts and contesting the final sprint after the steep final five kilometres at Ropolano Terme.

As they approached the finish line, Alaphilippe was the first one to bite the bullet and  launch his sprint, but had to concede to the mighty Sanchez, who took his first Grand Tour win while making his debut at the Giro.

A vitória de @pelayo_mayo na etapa seis do @giroditalia #giroditalia #GironoDSports pic.twitter.com/mbeppOHJrV

— O País Do Ciclismo (@opaisdociclismo) May 9, 2024

“I don’t believe it. This is amazing. I don’t have words – it’s a crazy, crazy day for me,” Sanchez said, constantly shaking his head with incredulity at his own feat. “Since the start of the Giro, I tried to save energy because I knew I didn’t have the shape to be at the front in the first days.

“So I tried to save energy for today. And today, I could be in the breakaway but I could never imagine to win the stage. So for me it’s crazy. I don’t have words.”

Él no se lo cree. Nosotros ya os advertimos que todavía tampoco.@pelayo_mayo | #Giroditalia | #RodamosJuntos

📸 @GettySport pic.twitter.com/nDAv5Nmw13

— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) May 9, 2024

Tomorrow marks the first of the two time trial days, meaning big shifts could happen in the general classification (let’s not kid ourselves, Pogi is extending his lead surely?!).

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said tougher legislation to prosecute cyclists who kill or injure pedestrians is “under review” and will be considered “with an open mind”. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former leader of the Conservative Party, has this week tabled a series of amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill that would see cyclists, as well as riders of electric scooters and “personal transporters”, subject to stricter laws if they ride dangerously and kill or injure.

> Transport Secretary says tougher laws for dangerous cyclists “under review” and will be considered “with an open mind”

A stage race with Peter Sagan and Mark Cavendish winning the bunch sprint? Is it still really 2024?

The Manxman who hasn’t won a race since the Tour Colombia in February, seems to have woken up just in time for July, for a tilt at that coveted win number 35 we’re not allowed to talk about, that would settle him into the position of the undisputed Tour de France stage win king, eclipsing Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 that Cavendish has shared with the legendary Cannibal since 2021.

Wow! The legend himself, Mark Cavendish, wins the second stage of #TourdeHongrie pic.twitter.com/ZyZjp5qbPp

— Eemeli (@LosBrolin) May 9, 2024

Contesting the sprint at the second stage of the Tour de Hongrie at Kazincbarcika, Cavendish was placed in just the right place at the right time by his team Astana Qazaqstan with around 500 metres to go, and then in the last 200 metres, it was all about the Manx Missile.

As we’ve seen for so many years, so many times now, bunched up against the railings, the low stance, the incessant pedalling motion of the legs propelling himself forward, almost mirroring a bull’s rampage — and Cavendish was over the line, holding off Team Jayco-Alula’s formidable sprinter Dylan Groenewegen.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Astana Qazaqstan Team (@astanaqazaqstanteam)

“I’m really, really happy with that,” Cavendish said after the finish. “Yesterday, we didn’t quite hit the lead-out properly. It was super good, everyone committed 100 per cent yesterday, but we were just a bit eager and a bit too soon. 

“We talked and talked about that to rectify it today. It was a completely different finish today, obviously no big boulevard or corners to make it technical, and we executed it exactly how we wanted it. I’m so happy!”

Same Cav, same… Let the hype train resume!