10 top cycling stories you may have missed this week

1. School’s response to increase in bike thefts – no bikes

A secondary school in Solihull has responded to a police warning about a rise in bike thefts in the area by asking parents to stop their children bringing bicycles to school. In an email to parents, Lyndon School said that where this was unavoidable, parents should ensure children wore a helmet.
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2. Marcel Kittel has left Katusha Alpecin by mutual consent

The German sprinter Marcel Kittel has agreed to have his contract with Katusha Alpecin terminated early by mutual consent. Kittel thanked his team for their support over the last 18 months, citing exhaustion and not feeling able to compete at the highest level as reasons for the decision.
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3. Chris Boardman calls for end to drivers v cyclists rhetoric as British Cycling reveals two-thirds of bike riders say roads no safer than five years ago

Media coverage that promotes a “turf war” between people in cars and those on bikes is “divisive, unhelpful and only serves to fuel the problem we have on our roads,” says Chris Boardman, as British Cycling publishes a State of Cycling report which finds that more than two-thirds of its members who responded to its survey believe that conditions have not improved for cyclists within the past five years.
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4. BBC's presenter's 'bet you all love cyclists' tweet gets a response

3 points if you pass a bicycle with more than .75 metres clearance.. we shall discuss on @BBCRadioScot . I bet you all love cyclists.

— John Beattie (@BBCJohnBeattie) May 7, 2019

From our Wednesday live blog, The BBC's John Beattie attracts criticism for the "bet you all love cyclists" comment above, including from Callum Skinner.
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5. Officina Battaglin celebrates Giro d’Italia with new lugged steel frame

Italian bicycle brand Officina Battaglin is celebrating founder Giovanni's victory in the 1981 Giro d'Italia inside the famous Verona Arena Roman amphitheatre which is being used in this year's edition of the Italian stage race, by launching a limited edition steel frame called Arena 1981.
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6. HGV blind spot project that will save hundreds of lives up for award

A Loughborough Design School (LDS) project that accurately measures an HGV driver’s blind spot is up for one of the university’s Enterprise Awards(link is external). The work gave rise to the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) which will see the more dangerous trucks banned from London’s roads and which has also recently been adopted by the EU.
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7. HS2 line could 'obliterate' brand new £1.2m greenway

HS2 could decimate a brand new £1.2m greenway, a local cycle tourism programme, cut off up to ten interconnected cycling and walking routes, and destroy future active travel links in Derbyshire, by failing to plan bridges and tunnels, road.cc has learned.
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8. Shimano Tiagra groupset gets improved shifters and brakes, new 48-34t chainset option

Shimano has updated its fourth-tier Tiagra groupset with new Dual Control hydraulic brake levers, mimicking 105, Ultegra and Dura-Ace, bringing better ergonomics to entry-level road bikes as well as improved mechanical shifting performance. 
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9. Rapha launches new Aero range to be raced in Giro d’Italia

Rapha has announced its new Aero clothing range which is designed to help the EF Education First Pro Cycling and Canyon//SRAM teams to win on the biggest stage, which for the former team is this weekend with the Giro d’Italia. The range includes new jerseys and skinsuits for men and women.
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10. Shimano GRX gravel/adventure groupset launched - all the key details you need to know 

It’s been a long time coming, but after teasing with Ultegra RX last year, it’s finally here, Shimano has announced its first dedicated groupset aimed at gravel and adventure bikes. Called GRX, the new offering provides a wide spread of possible builds including 10 and 11-speed, 1x and 2x, mechanical and electronic, wide or close-range gears and dropper post integration.
Read more here