11 things we've learned this week

1. Tom Dumoulin has nerves of steel, and proved why he's a winner

Despite falling behind going into the final day of the Giro, Dumoulin managed to hold his nerve and blitz the time trial through Milan and seize the pink jersey from Nairo Quintana. It was expected the dutchman would succeed, being the far superior time trialler, but it was particularly impressive he kept the composure with so much at stake. 

Read more here. 

 

2. Edinburgh council are doing too little, too late

 

It's unfortunate that it took the tragic death of a 24-year-old woman for the government in Scotland to take notice of the danger posed by tram tracks in Edinburgh. Scotland's transport minister Humza Yousaf will meet with campaigners, after Edinburgh city council have been accused of repeatedly ignoring warnings about the danger the tracks pose to cyclists. 

Read more here

 

3. White is the new black for Team Sky

 

Chris Froome and co will rock a new white jersey at the 2017 Tour de France, courtesy of new kit supplier Castelli.

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4. Froome has a surprising opinion regarding his main TDF rivals

 

The three-time Tour champ doesn't see Nairo Qunitana as his main threat, claiming the Movistar rider may have taken on too much having just finished runner-up at the Giro d'Italia: "My biggest threats come from guys who did not do the Giro – Richie Porte, Alberto Contador and Romain Bardet."

Read more here. 

 

5. When Corbyn's in Glasgow, cyclists re-route

...well at least one of them anyway. A Glasgow cyclist (who happened to have a helmet cam) pulled up beside the Labour leader when he spotted his car in town, and wished him well in his campaign to become the next Prime Minister. 

Read more here. 

 

5. Cycle safety is starting to be taken seriously, according to its best known campaigner 

 

Chris Boardman says that the 2017 manifestos of the main political parties shows that at least some of them are making positive steps to implement cycle safety initiatives. 

Read more here

 

6. Only in America...

 

A US pro cyclist is due to attend a pre-trial hearing after allegedly firing shots from a handgun on a training ride. Are we surprised? Slightly. Are we surprised where it happened? Not so much...

Read more here

 

7. All we need is just a little patience

 

There wasn't much love in our comments section for an impatient London cyclist who berated another for deciding not to pass a tipper truck on the inside...

Read more here

 

8. They're getting younger every year...

 

9-year-old Alfie Earl became the youngest known person to ride from London to Paris this week. He's also scaled the Col du Tourmalet, Passo dello Stelvio and Mont Ventoux. The indefatigable schoolboy has now set his sights on the Col du Galibier in July "for good measure".

Read more here

 

9. Everyone wants to be Mark Cavendish 

 

Well these eight namesakes of the Manx Missile do, anyway. Cav has been coaching the riders, all who either share his name by chance or who have actually changed it by deed poll, for the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100.

Read more here

 

10. And he's definitely not just packed it all for coaching...

 

A few hours after the Cavendish x 8 video surfaced, the man himself announced a return to racing after recovering from a bout of illness. Cav will ride at the British Road Championships on the 25th July. 

Read more here

 

11. Close pass cycle initiatives are taking off

 

In another boon for cycle safety advocates, Avon and Somerset Police are now implementing a close-pass initiative, stopping drivers who pass too close to cyclists and offering roadside education instead of prosecution.

Read more here