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Live blog: Gangland killer caught because he recorded recon ride on his Garmin; VOTE! What’s your favourite bike colour? Sheffield active travel; Pippo Pozzato launches new career in… roller hockey + more
SUMMARY

Pippo Pozzato launches new career in... roller hockey
The 2006 Milan-San Remo winner Filippo Pozzato somewhat reluctantly retired from cycling last month.
This weekend he embarks on a new career in roller hockey.
Ready: Set: Go #maestro #hockey #hobby photo: @pocispix pic.twitter.com/pel8JBJ4vk
— Filippo Pozzato (@PippoPozzato) November 29, 2018
Sporza reports that Pozzato will be turning out for Hockey Bassano, a second division roller hockey team in Italy.
Highlights: Defending champion Daryl Impey takes stage four of Tour Down Under
Four favourites got away on the Corkscrew climb but were caught by the group behind before the finish.
Stage five is hilly but unspectacular, so stage six to Willunga Hill will decide the race.
Time for compulsory re-testing?
Heard from the police today. The 90 year old that knocked me off my bike has surrendered his licence as a result of the crash. Isn’t it time that we introduced a re-test for drivers every 10 years so that folks don’t have to go through what I have.
— Velotastic (@Velotastic) January 17, 2019
While the incident mentioned above could have been much worse, mandatory driver re-testing has been a topic of debate this week after the 97-year-old Duke of Edinburgh crashed while pulling out onto a main road near Sandringham.
Haunting
Spotted in the Cam #mobikesmoproblems #humansoflatecapitalism pic.twitter.com/PNWNPT3ZTv
— Hannah Shepherd (@naan__sequitur) January 17, 2019
Obviously...
How cool is this?
Cyclo Retro might just be our new favourite Instagram page at the moment – as well as this shiny Dura-Ace 9000 crankset, there’s also shots of blinged up Campagnolo Potenza and a Rotor 3D crankset. They also do some seriously tasty bike builds, head over to cycloretro.com to find out more.
Jess Varnish proud she helped create "a better and fairer environment" at British Cycling
CeramicSpeed launch oversized pulley system for 1x
Just a couple of days ago we reported on the first oversized pulley wheel system for 1x set-ups by the fledgling US brand SLF Motion – and now the market leader in supersized derailleurs CeramicSpeed have launched their own, the OSPW X for SRAM Rival & Force 1. They promise the system delivers 30-40% less friction than conventional systems, and has already being used by British cyclocross champ Tom Pidcock. If you want one that’ll be 479 euros for the standard black one and 559 for a coated version, available on CeramicSpeed’s website now.
Sheffield launches search for Active Travel Commissioner
“Our current transport system in the Sheffield City Region is not fit for the 21st century. If we don’t act now, it’s not going to improve,” said Mayor Dan Jarvis.
“Here in the Sheffield City Region, we will build a transport system that works for everyone. A vital part of this is enabling people to travel in a more active way, whether by foot, bike or public transport. By prioritising active travel, we can improve people’s health, cut carbon emissions and reduce congestion.
“Through my Mayoralty, we now have a clear vision. In December, I launched my Vision for Transport, which has active travel at its heart. We have also submitted funding proposals to the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund for four active travel schemes across South Yorkshire.
“Action is already being taken; but I’m stepping up efforts by seeking an Active Travel Commissioner to take the lead on this important work. I look forward to appointing the Commissioner and, together, delivering an ambitious plan that makes real improvements for residents, businesses and visitors to our region.”
Cycle trail and cyclo-cross track approved in North York Moors
The North York Moors National Park Authority’s planning committee has agreed plans to extend a cycle trail and build a cyclo-cross track at Sutton Bank.
The Darlington and Stockton Times reports that if the scheme receives EU grant funding, work should start in September.
The circuits will be in the plantation at Hambleton. There had been concerns that they would be too close to a horse racing centre, but amended routes will be further away.
Near Miss of the Day 238: Exeter motorist barges in at roundabout
What's your favourite bike colour
Given the news today that the nation’s favourite car colour is now grey (what, not hi-viz yellow?), we thought we’d ask the question of you about bikes. What would you pick? Given that no-one can agree whether Bianchi’s Celeste is blue or green we’ve stuck it in both slots. Vote away!
Mandatory e-bike insurance?
That could become a reality in the EU if MEP’s vote in favour of the proposal on the 22nd January – read more on eBikeTips.
That cyclist-firing-fireworks-at-moped video's doing the rounds again
It was produced by Dafne Fixed a couple of years back.
You can find a bunch of their other equally bonkers stuff here.
World Naked Bike Ride London date announced for 2019
Event will coincide with the Queen’s official birthday.
Gangland killer was caught because he recorded his reconnaissance on his Garmin
The Liverpool Echo reports on gangland assassin Mark Fellows, who was caught by police in part because he carried out his reconnaissance on his bike and recorded the rides on his Garmin.
Fellows was already a murder suspect when officers spotted a photograph of him taking part in the Bupa Great Manchester Run wearing a Garmin watch. Reviewing the Garmin data later, they found it correlated with CCTV and mobile-phone data to indicate he’d carried out a “reconnaissance run” a couple of months before killing notorious crime figure Paul Massey.
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And I don’t know when you wrote this but I think it was published 9 days after Onley was confirmed out of the Tour.
Paul Seixas’ team is Decathlon CMA CGM
The best thing about the TTT as Stage 1 is that it emphasises the fact that cycling grand tours incl the TDF are a team sport.
If you click through and read the story you'll see that the first motorist hit the cyclist, and the second, following, motorist then also hit them while they were lying in the road - both were convicted of causing the cyclist's death.
I may be reading far too much into it, but I felt as though Pogacar and UAE weren't actually that bothered about winning today. Not having yellow to defend and all the extra press etc to do this early in the race is an indisputable advantage; I just got the impression that they were out to lose no more than a handful of seconds but not to bury themselves for the win. With about 2.5kms to go I thought that if Pogacar really wanted it he would have gone from there, but he stayed with Del Toro for nearly another kilometre even though the body language was saying that no way was Del Toro in as good shape as Pogacar. Even after the finish he didn't seem as wiped out as Ganna (whom I don't think I've ever seen quite so shattered) or Jonas. As I say, might be reading too much into it but I would not be surprised if UAE had played a very clever hand not to lose any meaningful time but to avoid the burden of yellow from the get go.
@tomlew It's not his youth so much as his inexperience. He's never ridden a race longer than eight days before. Pogacar won his first Tour, it's true, but he'd already finished a Vuelta. There's simply to much for him to learn and become accustomed to in my opinion for him to have a realistic chance of victory, particularly as he's up against probably the greatest of all time and a double Tour winner, both of whom seem to be at the peak of their powers. It's not entirely beyond the bounds of possibility but he'd need a hatful of luck and something fairly catastrophic to happen to both of those guys before he'd realistically be in with a shout. Don't forget nobody has won their first Grand Tour since Hinault in 1978, forty-eight years is a hell of a lot of precedent.
There is no rational reason for a rider this young not to dominate the race, other than some of us believing this is "not right" based purely on opinion. Younger athletes recover much, much faster. They adapt more easily. They are typically more eager to take risks, which is... well, risky, but could pay off big time if the stars align. Burnout? Yes, that is a risk. But it's not a given. See how long Leo Messi has been absolutely top-notch. The risks are high, but the potential is even more so. And even if Seixas does burn out early, it may just be his choice despite the awareness of the risk. If I were a prodigy cyclist youngster with a realistic shot at winning, I might take it even if I knew it might be the end of my career. After all, it's winning the TdF we're talking about!
@Rendel Harris Let's turn this around. One can hack their electronic shifting and nobody will believe them!
I’m confused: “ A driver who took a selfie, watched videos and sent messages at the wheel before killing a cyclist was jailed for five years, whilst a hit-and-run motorist who subsequently struck the same rider….” How does that work? Resurrection? Did the poor unfortunate cyclist recover from his/her case of death, only to be hit by a motorist again? Please, I don’t mean to make light of either case, merely to point out the poor/lazy journalism….
It was certainly an exciting watch today. Surprised that INEOS selected Ganna and Tarling. It felt like win at all costs and they didn't quite manage it. Personally I would rather see more riders having to stay together till the finish. It will reduce opportunities for teams to "rest" climbing domestiques and it preserves the spectacle and identity of the TTT discipline. Great start to the tour. Vingegaard is obviously in outstanding shape, but will he pay for today's effort later on.
12 thoughts on “Live blog: Gangland killer caught because he recorded recon ride on his Garmin; VOTE! What’s your favourite bike colour? Sheffield active travel; Pippo Pozzato launches new career in… roller hockey + more”
I heard on the news that the
I heard on the news that the council is considering reducing the speed limit from 60 to 50 where the Duke’s accident took place.
It’s probably a good idea, but what a shame that someone well-known has to have an accident before better safety rules are considered. If it had been a normal person, I guarantee nothing would have been done.
HarrogateSpa wrote:
Unfortunately, Mr Loophole has got himself another ten minutes of fame out of the Duke’s little prang/careless driving/whatever: taken from The Grauniad https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/18/prince-philip-car-crash-norfolk-police-to-investigate
HarrogateSpa wrote:
To be fair to the council,not a phrase I’m used to saying alot,in this case it was already under consideration,the report recommending the speed limit change was issued last week,and was already on the agenda to be discussed at their council meeting today & has been since been approved
The word search took me ten
The word search took me ten minutes, but I got there in the end. The other half isn’t convinced that it is a sign from god though.
North York Moors story: “if
North York Moors story: “if the scheme receives EU grant funding, work should start in September.”.
who’s going to tell them…?
Re retesting.
Re retesting.
Statistically the under 25s and new drivers have a far higher accident rate than the over 75s. It might be better to have mandatory retesting at 24 months after first passing the driving test.
I’d also suggest a mandatory retest at 6 penalty points.
Mungecrundle wrote:
I agree with the retesting thing.
Society seems to accept a higher collision rate for younger drivers because of the belief that they will learn and improve. It would seem that from a certain point it’s all downhill for the very old with driving.
I’ve never driven, can any driver out there please explain to me the attitude of ploughing on even though you’re completely blinded and cannot see?
The Sheffield thing, about
The Sheffield thing, about needing a dedicated active transport mayor, is interesting. But how come its London plus Manchester and Sheffield? Does anywhere else have someone who’s dedicated to expanding active travel?
Here in Bristol – the first cycling city, remember – our council is still only really paying lip service to active travel IMO, and has stuck with Metrobus as the answer to all congestion. Millions of pounds spent on special guided-in-some-places bus lanes that don’t go anywhere near where I might want to go. Any speed advantage to Metrobus is lost because so much of their routes involve just mixing it with the normal road traffic.
Bike lanes that aren’t at all joined up, some paint here and there, and no political will to actually discourage or remove motor traffic from the city centre.
The Centre got reorganised again “to make it better for pedestrians “. That would be “better” in the sense of the Exhibition Road style road on the plans and consultation being built as a bog standard blacktop road with a looong period light controlled crossing and a dedicated bus lane being put in which is so busy it’s practically a bus park, with a light controlled crossing that the bus drivers regularly ignore.
I had a point but seem to have misplaced it…
The Bristol area desperately needs political will and money to be spent on active travel, before it becomes completely logjammed with motor vehicles. But the will just isn’t there in the political class, and the voice of White Van Man is too loud.
brooksby wrote:
Have you seen this? https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-west-of-england-transport-summit-debate-tickets-53344701438?utm_campaign=event_reminder&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb_email&utm_term=eventname
A transport summit with a huge panel, but no cycling representation (Sustrans is not one) and they didn’t invite cycling organisations until it was full. After I sent them a rather strongly worded email, they released some more tickets for all the cyclists who’d heard about it too late and went on the reserve list. I’m now going, and if given the chance, will be raising the matter of why Manchester and Sheffield have Active Travel commissioners, concrete plans and actual money, we don’t.
A lot of the Bristol area is in South Glos, and if you think Bristol Council is bad, SGlos is ten times worse.
burtthebike wrote:
No, I hadn’t. Dammit! That completely supports my point – I thought I’d vented my spleen and now it’s all full again…
I’ve heard your stories of South Glos. I live in NOrth SOmerset, so we get the not as rural as it thinks it is Council who won’t change anything ever. We bl00dy well wouldn’t even sign up for the West of England May as it was (King Elfed was worried the other councils would bully NS into accepting the regions quote of new homes, and that might spoil the view of some elderly conservatives living in wraxall or something).
brooksby wrote:
Have you seen this? https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-west-of-england-transport-summit-debate-tickets-53344701438?utm_campaign=event_reminder&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb_email&utm_term=eventname
A transport summit with a huge panel, but no cycling representation (Sustrans is not one) and they didn’t invite cycling organisations until it was full. After I sent them a rather strongly worded email, they released some more tickets for all the cyclists who’d heard about it too late and went on the reserve list. I’m now going, and if given the chance, will be raising the matter of why Manchester and Sheffield have Active Travel commissioners, concrete plans and actual money, we don’t.
A lot of the Bristol area is in South Glos, and if you think Bristol Council is bad, SGlos is ten times worse.
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No, I hadn’t. Dammit! That completely supports my point – I thought I’d vented my spleen and now it’s all full again…
[/quote]
Sorry about your spleen, and I know just how you feel. From what I hear NS is no better than SGlos.
As well as the councils and the West of England, we now have the Local Enterprise Partnership to worry about and spend our taxpayers’ money. I’ve spent some time looking at our local LEP and they seem to have millions to spend and have development and transport policies, but I’m damned if I can understand how they work or what representation us taxpayers have.
brooksby wrote:
No, I hadn’t. Dammit! That completely supports my point – I thought I’d vented my spleen and now it’s all full again…
I’ve heard your stories of South Glos. I live in NOrth SOmerset, so we get the not as rural as it thinks it is Council who won’t change anything ever. We bl00dy well wouldn’t even sign up for the West of England May as it was (King Elfed was worried the other councils would bully NS into accepting the regions quote of new homes, and that might spoil the view of some elderly conservatives living in wraxall or something).
[/quote]
Well, that was interesting. The headline was Transport Summit, but the agenda on the day was all public transport. When I tackled them about this, and fought off the chair who clearly didn’t want this raised, they didn’t really have an answer about why they weren’t featuring active travel. I spoke later to one of the organisers, and it turns out that they thought cycling and walking were public transport. No, really they did. I left feeling that I was in some kind of parallel universe.