Welcome to Monday’s live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
Live blog: Tour of Flanders – Happiest ever post-race interview, Flanders – epic win behind the scenes vid trailed; Flanders – van der Poel’s bike, Flanders – Strava; Sir Chris Hoy’s “Code Brown” 100mph crash; “Mo Salah” on his bike + much more
All today’s news from the site and beyond as we start a new week…
Mon, Apr 08, 2019 15:40
SUMMARY
8 April 2019, 15:40
Weekend catch-up (in case you missed it)... Alberto Bettiol takes shock win at Tour of Flanders
The 25-year-old EF Education First rider pulled off a surprise win at the Tour of Flanders yesterday. He attacked a strong group containing several of the pre-race favourites on the Oude Kwaremont, the last but one of the day’s cobbled climbs. Full report here.
8 April 2019, 15:40
ICYMI - What they don’t tell you about commuting
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Commuting to your place of work or study is immensely satisfying and there are lots of positives, from the obvious health benefits to beating public transport delays and queues and the freedom it provides… but we have a few bugbears, and it turns out from the comments section that you all do too! Read our round-up of commuting gripes here.
8 April 2019, 15:40
ICYMI - Stealthy assisted speed: e-bikes that look like road bikes
Want the boost without the bulk? E-bikes are getting lighter and stealthier, with a whole new generation of drop-bar machines being launched recently that are now barely distinguishable from conventional road bikes. Here’s a round-up of some of the best.
8 April 2019, 15:40
ICYMI - ‘Is cycling ban just a money-making exercise?’ asks man fined for cycling in Peterborough
A Peterborough man who was handed an on-the-spot £80 fine for riding his bike at walking pace while carrying his two-year-old daughter has asked why officers cannot use their discretion when handing out fixed penalty notices. The enforcement firm patrolling the area covered by the city’s Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) keeps the money it collects as part of its contract with the city council. Full story here.
8 April 2019, 15:40
Tour of Flanders - Sagan disappointed to finish outside top 10
Thanks @BORAhansgrohe mates for your superb work today and thanks @RondeVlaanderen for the great race and amazing crowds. Unfortunately, in the final kilometers, I didn’t have the legs to go for the attack and the sprint. https://t.co/hx3rbYnMvP
— Peter Sagan (@petosagan) April 7, 2019
The former world champ was down on his performances from previous years, finishing 11th. We’re sure he’ll be back with a bang soon enough…
8 April 2019, 15:40
London's Ultra Low Emission Zone, the world's first to be enforced 24 hours a day, launched this morning
‘Because you can’t see it, you don’t know how bad it is.’
Sadiq Khan defends new laws which will cost drivers of older cars £12.50 to drive into central London. It’s hoped this will improve the city’s air quality and reduce air pollution-related health issues and deaths. pic.twitter.com/Dmd25L1kQV
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) April 8, 2019
According to London Mayor Sadiq Khan almost 1,000 people a year in London are hospitalised with asthma caused by pollution – and he has said this morning that the new Ultra Low Emission Zone, or ULEZ, is part of the solution. The charge will be £12.50 a day to drive into central London, and all diesel vehicles plus most cars that are over 14 years old will be liable to pay. In more good news for cyclists and pedestrians, Transport for London also predict that traffic will be cut by 5% in Central London.
It won’t improve air quality.
Just another cash cow.
The big trucks still need to make their deliveries to sustain dense populations such as cities…— Robert Lofthouse (@author_rob_76) April 8, 2019
The charge has been called a ‘tax on the poor’ by some, and a notable exception are London Black Cabs – Uber and other private hire firms will have to pay. Do you think ULEZ is fair, or other the other hand, does it not go far enough? Let us know your thoughts in the comments…
8 April 2019, 15:40
Flanders - a few pics from the day
The photo above is the women’s podium Marta Bastianelli was the winner) and below you’ll see Peter Sagan and Alejandro Valverde sizing each other up onthe start line, and Alberto Bettiol crossing the finish line (featuring photobombing elder gentleman).
8 April 2019, 15:40
Flanders - Strava data starting to come through
The highest-placed finisher we’ve found who has uploaded their ride so far is 10th-placed Greg Van Avermaet, and it gives some idea of the brutality of the day’s racing – 276km, 42.3km/h and 2,100 metres of climbing. Other notable uploads so far are Wout van Aert, Michael Valgren (who titled the upload ‘worst legs ever’ after a disappointing ride), and Tim Declercq.
8 April 2019, 15:40
The bike Mathieu van der Poel rode to fourth place at the Tour of Flanders
The 24-year-old didn’t quite manage to replicate his dad Adri’s achievements in Flanders 33 years ago, but still placed an impressive fourth on the cobbles in his first season racing classics at senior level. Shared by Canyon on their Facebook page, here is the bike he rode on the day in more detail…
The Canyon Aeroad is dressed with a full Shimano Dura-Ace groupset and Dura-Ace R9170 C60 carbon disc brake wheels. On those wheels, van der Poel is running Vittoria’s new Corsa tyres with their Graphene 2.0 compound, in a 28mm width for some extra cushion over the cobbles. We’re not 100% sure if they’re the new tubeless versions (you can read about them here) or tubulars as favoured by most of the pro peloton – confirmation coming soon hopefully.
Canyon have also paid tribute to van der Poel’s 2018 Dutch national championship win, and the colours of the Netherlands flag adorns the seatstays and fork.
8 April 2019, 15:40
ULEZ and clean air - opinions from around the Twittersphere
Ultra-Low Emission Zone #ULEZ begins today. It’ll help reduce lethal & illegal levels of air pollution in central London by targeting most polluting vehicles. We look forward to seeing positive impact extended across rest of London soon. #LetLondonBreathe https://t.co/yQTMGN6Z2M pic.twitter.com/kb6c7RxQSU
— LdnCyclingCampaign (@london_cycling) April 8, 2019
Despite some opposition to its implementation (perceived lack of help for small businesses and the fact that black cabs are exempt, to give two instances) generally London’s new Ultra Low Emission Zone has had plenty of positive reaction so far.
“We’re really keen to put #cycling at the heart of the ongoing transformation of London Bridge as a transport hub and a place for modern commerce.”
– Jack Skillen, Director of Team London Bridge https://t.co/hwg3OUTFEZ @TeamLondonBdg #bikesforbusinesses #ULEZ #mobility
— Cities Today (@Cities_Today) April 8, 2019
Cycling in Haringey this morning with the kids was a dream…it was calm, we didn’t get stuck in traffic, and the air actually felt less gross than normal! A beautiful mix of first day of the Easter holidays and the Ulez I reckon. Just imagining if it was like this every day! pic.twitter.com/bEJbDahLN4
— Catherine Kenyon (@cmdkenyon) April 8, 2019
8 April 2019, 15:40
'Mo Salah' cycling home from the game
We’re not sure how or why this happened, but anyway here’s someone who looks a lot like Mo Salah cycling pushing a bike down a path after Liverpool’s game against Southhampton…
8 April 2019, 15:40
"A happy dead fish": third-placed Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig sums up Flanders in epic post-race interview
@CUttrupLudwig gives you insight in the #RVVWomen finale as only she can do. Sit back and enjoy … #RVV19 #UCIWWT @BiglaTeam @UCI_WWT #onehappydeadfish pic.twitter.com/h8MzxjqHGw
— Ronde Van Vlaanderen (@RondeVlaanderen) April 7, 2019
The Team Bigla Pro Cycling rider, who finished third in the Tour of Flanders women’s race, gave a highly entertaining interview complete with blue language, questionable idioms, screaming and gusto that Brian Blessed would be proud of (watch it above). We’d be in favour of every pro cycling race ending with a Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig summary, and hopefully a career in commentary awaits!
8 April 2019, 15:40
"Code Brown" - Sir Chris Hoy exits Silverstone track at 100mph
Sir Chris Hoy had what he euphemistically referred to as a “Code Brown” while racing a Caterham 7 single-seat car at Silverstone at the weekend – exiting the track at 100mph thanks to a jammed throttle on the fastest corner of the Northamptonshire motor racing venue.
Among those commenting on the six-time Oympic champion track cyclist’s post on Instagram was fellow Scot Craig MacLean, who won silver alongside Hoy in the team sprint at Sydney in 2000, who simply said, “Crash. Bang. Wallop.”
8 April 2019, 15:40
EF Education First trail behind-the-scenes Flanders video
It’s always a bonus when a team whose rider has won a big race has a film crew documenting it from the inside – and we can’t wait for the full version of EF Education First’s behind the scenes video of Alberto Bettiol’s victory at the Tour of Flanders yesterday.
Judging by the trailer, it’s going to be a cracker.
“Man, I can tell you they were the longest 14 kilometres of my life.”@AlbertoBettiol, take a bow. pic.twitter.com/e6OWGg4NwY
— Rapha (@rapha) April 8, 2019
8 April 2019, 15:40
When you're channeling your inner Magneto at the TT starting ramp ...
Rik Verbrugghe … or Sir Ian McKellen?
8 April 2019, 15:40
Tour de Yorkshire gets official airport
What’s that screeching sound?
Don’t worry it’s just the Tour de Yorkshire pre-race publicity barrel getting a good hard scrape to deliver today’s news that the race has announced the Official Airport for this year’s event… yes, it’s Leeds Bradford (but you’d already guessed that) I suppose Humberside could have been in the running. For our money at least stand out line from the press release has to be from Leeds Bradford Airport Chief executive, David Laws who said:
“We are incredibly proud of our Yorkshire roots and are delighted to now be part of such an exciting legacy.”
It’s the ‘roots’ bit… but you’d probably guessed that too.
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Jack is group editor across road.cc, off.road.cc and ebiketips, overseeing all three sites in the F-At Digital group to make sure everything’s up to scratch. He’s been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of road.cc including tech, news and video, and also contributed to eBikeTips before being named editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town, and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master’s degree in print journalism, and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it’s a long story).
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Latest Comments
mark1a 2 minutes ago
@Backladder Oh I think I can guess - the nearest indoor velodrome to road.cc HQ looks to be some distance away in Wales, whereas Odd Down Cycle Track (where this test was conducted) is just 2 miles away.
Cugel 5 minutes ago
There are a number of causes of "the divide between motorists and cyclists". Only one is to do with the technology (of bicycles and cars) and that's the nature of the car, which is designed to induce the sort of dangerous and careless behaviours that providing humans with a lot of power and glamour fetches out of us. Other causes are much more insidious - A culture of hyper-individualism bordering on solipsism, with violently ultra-selfish and aggressive anti-heroes being promoted in every mass media channel as the ideal. A "news" media that overwhelmingly seeks, creates and offers pariahs and scapegoats to the rabid individualists, which pariahs and scapegoats includes all kinds of those perceived as less powerful and therefore easy victims, including cyclists. The near complete lack of any curb upon the dangerous antics of vast numbers of media-maddened motorists by the forces of law and order, many of whom are actually members themselves of the mass media maddened motorist ilk. ******** No amount of a more rational discourse about active travel or the means of making it safer will change these root causes of the vast numbers of deaths and maiming due to inept, incompetent and deliberately violent antics of vast numbers of motorists allowed their dangerous "weapons of choice". Yet many other highly damaging aspects of modern societies would be solved by a much more effective curbing of mass media mob-building and goading along with a serious attempt to prevent motorists and a whole range of other damagers from behaving as badly as so many do. It'll not happen, of course. Large and powerful elements of the modern world obtain far too much ultra-riches and power from current conditions for them to allow any significant change. And vast numbers of the population have long had their minds, attitudes and behaviours captured and directed by various oligarchical monsters and their mass media propaganda horns. About the only chance of safe active travel becoming extant is for the population at large to become mostly too poor to afford a car, ironically one other likely outcome of the machinations of those same power and money-mad monsters that have created the car-issue in the first place. Their need for zero-sum socio-economic arrangements degrades everything, including the wallet-contents of the masses.
Rendel Harris 24 minutes ago
@Astralstroll The hierarchy of road users does not mean priority of road users except in certain circumstances, e.g. stopping to let pedestrians cross junctions before turning. It doesn't mean that cyclists have priority over motor vehicles at all times any more than the pedestrians have priority over cyclists at all times. It certainly doesn't mean that you have priority in the circumstances you describe; personally, unless the driver is being a complete dick, on a narrow country lane I accept that it is easier for me to turn around and go back to the nearest passing place, which is never that far if you're on a bike, than for a tractor or other large vehicle to reverse back down the road for my benefit.
Backladder 25 minutes ago
If you were spending that much money on the device the obvious thing to do is to book a couple of hours in a velodrome for testing in a stable environment, I can't understand why Road.cc tried to do it outdoors.
kinderje 27 minutes ago
@chrisonabike 'Minimisation' please!
wtjs 46 minutes ago
@Astralstroll The Hierarchy of Road Users, announced with great fanfares in 2022, has been rendered into complete fiction by the attitude of the police: there is this hierarchy/ priority list but we don't take it seriously and if drivers ignore it we don't care! The same applies to the ludicrous notice of close-passing - No KSI'd cyclist = No Offence ttps://upride.cc/incident/lwa190_minicooper_hierarchy/
chrisonabike 1 hour ago
Hope Barcelona keep the transport improvements (they've been making for a while) coming! Better streets, more infra to help active travel where necessary. And while it's a major investment (though can be lower operating cost than busses) maybe more trams where they can. That may be more effective in making places active travel friendly and replacing taxis than mass public bike hire. They've a good start with 6 lines already.
chrisonabike 1 hour ago
I think this is a positive story. They're not getting rid of public hire bikes - they're expanding their in-house one. They're merely kicking out cowboys who've shown they've a lack of interest in the game they claim to be playing. It seems logical that companies whose business model is to extract (venture capital) money by invading public space are even less likely to make the efforts to keep things in order than a local "in house" scheme. (After all the "bikes and riding" part of these schemes always *costs* money, they don't generate it.) So not surprising their experience shows those firms are not particularly motivated to follow the rules - especially when scrapping for "market share". It's nice the European Cyclists’ Federation is thinking about tourists also (i hesitate to say "follow the money...") - as they note, where it's safe to cycle locals will largely get their own bikes. Tourists aren't going to stop coming because lack of public bike share - I think this is mostly a "nice to have" ("hey - why don't we go on one of those bikes there? ").
chrisonabike 2 hours ago
Harm minimization - at least they're not driving...
Gm_Crop 10 hours ago
I'll counter that by saying the Bryton 750se I have drives me nuts at times. Inconsistantly picks up on routes created on Komoot and the app re-syncs every few seconds when trying to set up the device and sends me back to the home screen. The most infuriating one is that I turned live track on. Once. It now won't turn off and repeatedly flags up the live track is starting, and then disconnecting every few seconds whilst riding. I haven't timed it but it wouldn't suprise me if 10-20% of the time the the screen is covered with an error message. That's been about 6 weeks now. Other than that it's great :/
13 thoughts on “Live blog: Tour of Flanders – Happiest ever post-race interview, Flanders – epic win behind the scenes vid trailed; Flanders – van der Poel’s bike, Flanders – Strava; Sir Chris Hoy’s “Code Brown” 100mph crash; “Mo Salah” on his bike + much more”
The post race interview from
The post race interview from Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig who came in at 3rd place at Flanders is the best thing you’ll see today. She’s ace.
peted76 wrote:
Jack Sexty wrote:
The post race interview from Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig who came in at 3rd place at Flanders is the best thing you’ll see today. She’s ace.
That is great, she needs to do some race commentating too!
— Jack Sexty— peted76
….and my new fav meme https://twitter.com/Andymcgra/status/1115178615816192000
Predictably, the comments on
Predictably, the comments on the rightard media articles (London Evening Standard being the one I just read) are calling it a ‘stealth tax’. Yeah, it’s so fucking ‘stealthy’ that those signs up next to the road are made especially small, just so that you can’t see them.
Fucking self-entitled wankers.
I see that black cabs are exempt, of course. The vermin of the road would have brought London to a standstill if they’d been forced to pay this.
I never understand why taxis
I never understand why taxis are exempt from any traffic measures. The council here have a number of bus/cycle lanes to encourage people to get out of their cars…and yet taxis are also allowed which seems to just say “get out of your car…and into someone else’s”! Thing is, for most rides in a taxi, the journey is double because the taxi has to return from where it started so they are less green than someone actually using their own car. Bonkers. I know the obvious (or urban myth) answer is “kickbacks to local councillors” but that can’t be true, surely??? Am I missing something about the benefits to the environment/city centres about taxis??
Bobbinogs wrote:
In London at least, there are two reasons. The first is one to which you allude in your original question, and it is a fact that MPs and Lords use taxis to get around the city. This is why they are allowed to use bus lanes.
The second is that black cab drivers are spoiled, petulant little cockroaches who would block roads all over the city (whilst complaining with a straight face about how cyclists ’cause congestion’) if they were not granted special privileges to go into the ‘ULEZ’.
£12.50?
£12.50?
Which of MvdP’s Aeroads are
Which of MvdP’s Aeroads are the photos of? The one he finished the race with or the one with the broken steerer tube?
Whilst I agree with this, and
Whilst I agree with this, and with it’s expansion plan, and I think that they should have enlarged the congestion zone, but this is not an Ultra Low Emmision Zone (ULEZ), as this would mean actually banning the most polluting vehicles, what it is is a pollution charging zone. There is a difference.
Does anyone, off hand, know whether LPG vehicles come into this, I understand that they are a bit cleaner?
I do wish that black cabs would occasionally have their dirty engines turned off when waiting in their ranks. Thay can be truely rank.
ktache wrote:
A very good point. It’s still okay to pollute, you just have to pay a bit for it.
So who’s going to be
So who’s going to be benefitting from the pollution charges?
It’s a sad state of affairs when the proletariat is charged excessive taxes (e.g. VAT) and then it’s used to subsidise fossil fuels (see https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/23/uk-has-biggest-fossil-fuel-subsidies-in-the-eu-finds-commission) for the benefit of the bourgoisie.
It’s now gotten so bad that petrol stations include actual breathing stations for their customers!
You have to have a little
You have to have a little sympathy for the people who live in that area, or just outside. They are priced off the road so Oligarchs, MPs and Bankers can come and go as they please. Because as we know, it isn’t the ones with the deep pockets who get effected by these charges. But at least it means there are swarms of lycra clad baristas descending on central London every day, so they can’t argue against good bike infrastucture.
It’s a meaningless comparison
It’s a meaningless comparison, but this is still pretty galling
“He said the tax not collected was “about twice as much as we spend on all NHS nurses and doctors each year”.”