Welcome to Thursday’s live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
- News

Live blog: Peter Sagan drones on (amongst other things) in training camp vid; “My life could have changed dramatically” – Yoann Offredo on his temporary tetraplegia after crash last week; Lance Armstrong’s house; Prudhomme “sad” at Verity departure +more
SUMMARY

Peter's fully focussed as usual...
You don’t get to where @petosagan is in the world of cycling without taking training very seriously… Stay tuned for the full video on our Youtube channel. pic.twitter.com/53JyIysYjw
— ShimanoROAD (@ShimanoROAD) April 3, 2019
And sporting an epic tash!
19-year-old boy arrested in Los Angeles accused of cycling up to people and slashing them with "an edged weapon"


Sky news reports that Lenrey Briones was taken into police custody, after four people had been attacked in the past month and being left with severe injuries. He allegedly rode up to his victims and slashed at them with an edged weapon, Captain Dan Randolph said: “The suspect instilled fear in this community”.
Christian Prudhomme says he "feels sad" about resignation of Yorkshire tourism boss Gary Verity following expenses scandal
Prudhomme was speaking at an awkward tenth anniversary celebration of Welcome to Yorkshire, taking place after the recent resignation of its boss Sir Gary Verity due to a scandal involving alleged irregularities in his expenses claims. Welcome to Yorkshire brought the Tour de France Grand Depart to the county in 2014.
The Guardian reports that Prudhomme says he “feels sad” for Verity: “I cannot help but feel sad for the man who made me discover your beautiful county, for the man who brought together our ‘ooh la la’ with your ‘ee bah gum’, the man who made me love Yorkshire: mon ami, Gary Verity.”
After the event, Welcome to Yorkshire Board member Keith Stewart answered questions over the scandal, and said there will inevitably be meetings with West Yorkshire Police: “If there is anything that is thrown up from the investigations that we think are police matters, we will obviously pass them to the police. We have nothing to hide”, he said.
Two-way Cycling Roundabout
Two way bike roundabout, anyone? pic.twitter.com/kZmLbd3Rtg
— maidstoneonbike (@maidstoneonbike) April 2, 2019
What could possibly go wrong?
Take a look around Lance Armstrong's house
So many fridges. Can’t think what they’re all for…
Mathieu van der Poel doesn't let anything get in his way...
Mathieu van der Poel shows his skills again pic.twitter.com/LsMfIiIEir
— Cycling Today (@CyclingTodayEn) April 3, 2019
Did he do it on purpose or was it just luck?
Pro cyclist celebrates victory despite finishing second. And it's not the first time...
Marcos Garcia, celebrating 7 years ago on Estacion de Valdezcaray and today in Thailand. He didn’t win any of these races. Poor guy, he never learns… pic.twitter.com/Lo3rMxtwkl
— Mihai Cazacu (@faustocoppi60) April 3, 2019
Let’s hope its third time lucky for Marcos Garcia.
At least he’s not the only guy who’s had a premature celebration.
Pippo Pozzato celebrates win but Blel Kadri had already won
Cyclist starts celebrating win early – and gets pipped to the line
Premature exultation as Spanish rider Eloy Teruel celebrates California win a lap early
Never mind chaps, it happens to the best of us…
Organisers slam British Cycling after being forced to cancel Bristol Grand Prix 2019
Organisers of the Bristol Grand Prix have slammed British Cycling after cancelling this year’s event, which had been due to be the fifth edition.
In a statement published on the event’s website, they said: “From the start, the Bristol Grand Prix has been part of the Bristol cycling community and has been dedicated to women’s racing, youth development and creating a sustainable and locally produced race.”
But explaining their decision to cancel this year’s edition, they said: “As a race we have found that our objectives and our ethics are irreconcilable with the requirements of the governing body.
“The restrictions that are placed upon the race both undermine women’s racing and prevent us from including youth riders and local riders and clubs being part of the day.
“Additionally as race organisers we are being forced out of our race due to unfavourable conditions imposed upon us.”
They also warned the event’s backers to beware of a company that is apparently targeting them, saying: “Please note, it has come to our attention that a company is contacting our race sponsors claiming to raise money on behalf of the race.
“Please be aware that this company has nothing to do with the race and has no contract with us as organisers.”
Caitlin Moran ponders the annoyance of bikes in the hallway
Let’s open this up to a poll. Ladies, do YOU have a partner who reduces you to cold fury by leaving their bike in the hallway? https://t.co/XpvoBuWpZ3
— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) April 4, 2019
The journalist and broadcaster’s poll has revealed plenty of contrasting answers, with many female respondents saying they are the ones leaving the bike in the hallway. Is it a domestic problem in your abode? Do let us know in the comments…
Chasing KOMs for Charity
Former pro cyclist turned YouTuber, Phil Gaimon has been riding the most famous climbs around the US in the aim of claiming Strava titles. His series, Worst Retirement Ever, has become popular and now he is doing it for charity.
This summer I’m going on a 3-month van tour to ride bikes, make new friends all over the US, and make videos. The goal is a @strava KOM every day, and $100k (1 million meals) for @chefscycle @nokidhungry, sponsored by @veloguide @ShoAirCG and lots more. pic.twitter.com/caeYHZOjLX
— Phil Gaimon (@philgaimon) 3 April 2019
If you want to know more then click on his tweet and follow for information on how to donate
Peter Sagan (sort of) show us his training schedule in new Shimano video
After teasing us this morning with a preview, Shimano have revealed that testing bikes out with wheelies, flying drones, reading his own book and sneaking treats from the vending machine are all apparently part of Sagan’s ‘very serious’ training regime.
We also wonder if his Bowie-like rate of appearance changes are also part of the strict routine. The latest facial hair styling reminds us of someone computer-animated and Italian…
“My life could have changed dramatically” – Yoann Offredo on his temporary tetraplegia after crash last week
Wanty- Gobert rider Yoann Offredo, who suffered temporary tetraplegia after crashing at the GP de Denain last week, is back training and aiming for a place in the team’s line-up at the Tour de France this summer.
The 32-year-old Frenchman said: “It took a while to get a good feeling, but the evolution was promising and the doctors allowed me to recover at home. I recovered bit by bit and now I am able to use my limbs and to speak quite normally. I want to thank the emergency unit, our team doctor Jelle Van Nieuwenhuyze and our sports director Steven De Neef who supported me in CHRU Lille.
“The many support messages I received were heart-warming. I crashed a few times in my career but I always picked myself again. It will not be different, whenever the mental and physical recovery will not be easy. Yesterday (Wednesday), I was able to ride my bike again and it went quite well.”
He continued: “I want to show what I am able to do on the bike more than ever. Last year, I broke my ribs at the end of April. This year, I am one month in advance. An athlete must be able to bounce back. My team Wanty-Gobert helps me perfectly to achieve my goal.
“The first medical was very alarming because they were speaking about tetraplegia,” he continued.
“My life could have changed dramatically so I want to enjoy the capacities I still have. I want to keep riding my bike and I want the be at the Grand Départ of the next Tour de France. Cycling is more than a sport. I became aware of it when Loïc Vliegen and David Boucher stopped after my crash to support me.”
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I have great news for everyone: as long as your derailleur has pulleys with proper bearings (i.e., not the bushings found in cheaper RDs) then your cage already has "almost zero friction". This is especially true because the return part of your chain has virtually no tension on it, so you don't need to spend any money on an "upgrade". Just go ride your bike, and "ride up grades" instead of buying them.
This racing incident is certainly not what cost her the jersey, so she shouldn't be whining or placing blame anywhere else but with herself. She had plenty of time after the incident to come back, but she looked totally spent and was lucky to be with the Italian, who towed her to the line.
Even if she doesn't win the GC, she has had a terrific tour. A great win on Ventoux, Almost snatching a sprint stage and a super time trial performance.
@Rendel Harris indeed, but there have been a few other changes also eg. the protection of children. Sandboys are no longer employed, I thought? And thus not run over drunk in the streets. (But I may have missed a change when BJ was mayor?)
The basic upright bike is indeed supremely practical (ideally built with sturdy metal frame, equipped with mudguards, rack, perhaps baskets and kickstand etc). But that doesn't seem to be what most professionals are racing? It's an open question whether a modern pro would win eg. the TdF on a (faired?) recumbent benefitting from the developmental efforts that modern bikes have received. Would the aero and comfort benefits outweigh the likely weight disadvantage? Given what we know of the huge aero benefits of group riding perhaps uprights might still edge it? However the reason it's still an open question is that it was resolved on the flat a long time ago and as a result the UCI acted and amended the rules to effectively disqualify recumbents! (Perhaps in part to protect the interests of builders of upright bikes).
Thats racing, I like Kasia but she didn't position herself well nor have the legs yesterday.
Kasia should consider herself fortunate that Longoborghini (apologies for spelling). was willing to tow her to the line, or she would have lost even more time - she was not strong enough to do a turn on the front of the chase.
https://x.com/hetiskoers/status/2086180569352716750
I wanted Kasia to hold on but there's nothing conclusive on the video and even if she was baulked, intentionally or otherwise, it could only have cost her a couple of seconds, not seventeen. It's a very serious allegation; hopefully it was just made in the heat of the moment and in the cold light of day she might withdraw it. ETA Some extra fan footage on Twitter, it's a big load of nothing as far as I can see, Kasia and Gery were both trying to hold Vollering's wheel, they both went too fast into the corner side-by-side and Kasia, being on the outside, got the worst of it. No foul. Link in next comment.
Couldn't agree more ,had my account 6 years and my last order arrived on Monday, 2 dats before the announcement .The whole set up was a mess and their b2b website is a shambles. It's not surprising to me at all they are where they are
7 thoughts on “Live blog: Peter Sagan drones on (amongst other things) in training camp vid; “My life could have changed dramatically” – Yoann Offredo on his temporary tetraplegia after crash last week; Lance Armstrong’s house; Prudhomme “sad” at Verity departure +more”
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Maybe he’s just pleased he finished…?
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I don’t understand that picture. Is it basically a – you know – a T-junction for bicycles?
Let’s open this up to a poll.
Let’s open this up to a poll. People of all genders, do YOU have a partner who reacts with cold fury to you storing one of your most prized and valuable possessions in a convenient place in the house you live in?
jollygoodvelo wrote:
LEAVE!
no, REMAIN!
I was thinking more Nigel
I was thinking more Nigel Mansell.
Armstrong has good taste in
Armstrong has good taste in art. Who knew.
martybsays wrote:
Everyone.. he famously brought loads of art, before someone outed him as Lord Voldemort.
He also gave money to charity, dated a pop star and admitted to tickling Bill Clinton’s balls just the once at a thanksgiving meal.