Welcome to Wednesday’s live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
Live blog: Video interview with new cycling minister (and Laura saves him from Mr Whippy); 532-mile race from Aberdeen-Silverstone between e-bike and electric car; neutral service goes bit nuts (literally) in Scotland; Magnus Backstedt to ride RAAM + more
All today’s news from the site and beyond…
Wed, Jun 05, 2019 18:11
SUMMARY
5 June 2019, 18:11
Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates bicycle kick goal with bicycle ride
The Swedish superstar stored a stunning overhead bicycle kick for his team LA Galaxy on Sunday, so naturally here he is posing with bike a couple of days later. Zlatan was quoted as saying this would be one of the wondergoals he’d rather forget, however, as the Galaxy actually lost the game 2-1 to New England Revolution.
5 June 2019, 18:11
Magnus Backstedt announces he will ride the Race Across America next week as part of eight man team
Hmm, so this has crept up on me rather quickly. Off to the RAAM on Saturday. Doing it for a good cause as well. Have a read. https://t.co/IsssbxhGH4
— Magnus Backstedt (@Maggy_PR) June 4, 2019
He kept that one quiet… up until now, as Swedish former pro and the 2004 Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus Backstedt just announced last night that he will compete in the Race Across America (RAAM) next week as part of an eight man team.
Proclaimed as ‘the world’s toughest bicycle race’, RAAM has no stages and sees participants ride 3000 miles across 12 states to complete the course. Both amateurs and pros compete together and you can ride solo or in teams of 2, 4, 6 and 8 (solo riders have to meet qualifying criteria). Backstedt, now a respected coach, bike fitter and cycling commentator, is no stranger to endurance events outside of traditional pro cycling stage races and one day classics, having completed multiple Ironman triathlons since his retirement. He will be riding to raise money for British military charities during his RAAM attempt along with his other seven teammates, and they have already raised nearly £5,000 on their JustGiving page – they’re not just there to make the numbers up either, and are aiming to win the team category in under six days according to the page blurb. Click here to donate to his team’s cause, and click here to find out more about RAAM. It kicks off on Tuesday 11th June.
5 June 2019, 18:11
Josh Dey court case: driver who hit the medical student is facing jail (more to follow)
The car that struck cyclist Josh Dey was driving on the wrong side of the road and hit him with such force it sent the medical student spinning through the air and left him fighting for his life in the middle of the street. He spoke to @ChloeKeedyITV about what happened. pic.twitter.com/UelQ6KjamF
— ITV London (@itvlondon) May 2, 2019
The 22-year-old was struck by 29-year-old Sean Fagan, who was driving on the wrong side of the road as he hit Dey and left the scene. Full story to follow.
5 June 2019, 18:11
The correct way round?
A beg button for drivers?
Not quite, but at this #Delft intersection, cyclists have a continuous green light.
If cars want to cross the cycle track, they must ask for permission by triggering a sensor under the street.
In a perfect world, this would be the standard everywhere. pic.twitter.com/rGk56g3AV5
— Modacity (@modacitylife) June 4, 2019
Drivers have to ‘press’ a button by triggering a sensor in order to get over this intersection in the Netherlands, something we can only dream of in UK cities currently…
5 June 2019, 18:11
Escape to the Pyrenees guest house opens, offering guided tours on road, gravel and the mountains
The new guest house, located in the heart of the heart of the Pyrenees, offers week-long guided tours of some of the most famous/infamous routes that have featured in the Tour de France, plus lesser known gravel and downhill rides if you prefer dirt.
The Escape to the Pyranees Tour de France week runs from 14-21 July, with the chance to watch some of the stages as well as ride the roads yourself, and there is also a mountainous week from 10-17 August and further tours in later August and September. Prices from €1450 for a twin room with everything included for a week, head over to their website for more info.
5 June 2019, 18:11
dhb launch updated Aeron LAB kit
dhb have launched the Aeron Lab Raceline 2.0 kit, developed with input from the Canyon dhb pro team. Visits to the wind tunnel, fit and fabric enhancements have all contributed towards the redesign, with the collection consisting of jerseys (£110), skinsuits (£180) and bib shorts (£130) in men’s and women’s sizes. You can shop the Aeron LAB Raceline 2.0 collection exclusively at Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles now.
5 June 2019, 18:11
Chris Ramsey is currently winning 532 mile showdown with electric car on his VOLT e-bike
Another #Pluginadventure update from the road. The road toward Hinckley is a dream #TheSustainableRace #SupportAlice @rachelburden @bobbyllew @FullyChargedShw @VoltBikesUK @voltbikesPR pic.twitter.com/p1hIpVYtKx
— Plug In Adventures (@pluginadventure) June 5, 2019
Ramsey (not the comedian), who holds the Guinness World Record for being the first to ride an electric vehicle the entire length of the 10,000 mile Mongol Rally, set off on Sunday for the journey between Aberdeen and Silverstone, where he plans to arrive in time for the Fully Charged Live show at the race circuit. He’s currently well in front of his competition in the form of a Renault Twizy, that needs recharging every 50 miles in contrast to the VOLT e-bike, which needs recharging every 60.
Chris was taking a break in Hinckley this morning with plenty of time to spare, and being about 40 miles from Silverstone that means he should be arriving at the finish today. Further updates when we get them.
5 June 2019, 18:11
"Neutral service just isn't what it used to be ... "
Bizarre goings-on involving a near-naked man wielding a bicycle wheel in Renfrew near Glasgow earlier this week …
Neutral service just isn't what it used to be https://t.co/84pYDmbdMA
— Tommy Two-Phones (@140CharTerror) June 5, 2019
I SAID DISC BRAKE AND 12 SPEED YOU USELESS SH…..
— Gibby(@agibby76) June 5, 2019
5 June 2019, 18:11
Laura Laker interviews new minister for cycling, Michael Ellis MP (and saves him from an ice-cream van)
Northampton North MP’s first official engagement was at yesterday’s All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group ride in London.
Michael Ellis MP from ONWARD PRODUCTIONS Ltd on Vimeo.
5 June 2019, 18:11
Absolutely makes sense
Bromptons are almost exclusively useful because of their compactness and how easy they are to fold. So obviously we’re all screaming out for a tallbike version…
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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
tomlew 2 hours ago
@Rendel Harris Oh, and by the way. "But I will not take risks for something other than the GC." - this could just as well be read as "I won't take any risks unless it's really, really worth it." They're not even talking about snatching the maillot jaune for a day, but about the GC. Who wouldn't, if they had a opportune shot at that?
Miller 9 hours ago
Here's a photo I took on Alpe d'Huez at TdF 1991. L to R: Gianni Bugno, Miguel Indurain, Luc Leblanc. They would finish the stage in that order, Bugno winning. Yes, colour film was available in 1991 but that day I chose to use black and white knowing that many years hence it would look epic.
tomlew 10 hours ago
Riding a bike is green. Pro cycling is not. Don't greenwash us by confusing one with the other.
Rendel Harris 11 hours ago
The first 750 words of this article comprise a detailed explanation of the ways in which cycling continues to feel the full force of climate change. Perhaps more time reading what's actually written before rushing to spaff nonsense everywhere might help your comprehension.
60somethingcyclist 12 hours ago
Sadiq Khan and TfL cannot be accused of neglecting cycling. They have greatly improved provision in London. Yes there is a lot more that could be done, but we need to be patient. The public finances aren't in good shape, so things are going to b e tight for some time.
tomlew 12 hours ago
@Rendel Harris "ultimately football at every level is played on roughly the same size to pitch, the goals are the same size and there are eleven players on each team." Except they don't. In a senior team a 16-year-old plays against adults, under tougher competition, plays more matches and under greater mental strain. If your argument was vaild, I could easily counter it by sayng that riding the very same bike on the same roads as in training, 150 km a day, should not be such a big deal for a pro cyclist.
MaxiMinimalist 13 hours ago
The TdF yearly circus generates human and atmospheric pollution. Big time. Airplanes, choppers, trucks, cars for teams, media, VIP and other involved parties. But pro cycling is a profitable business, ask ASO. Don't spoil the party with questions about carbon footprint, side-road waste, recycling (pun intended). Also, why does ASO not have a plan B case of high temperatures - earlier departure times, shortened stages, ... ? Based on this week's weather forecasts, several stages are likely to be cancelled. Quote of the day : "But as cycling continues to feel the full force of climate change, ..." In what ways?
Pub bike 14 hours ago
@Podc I heard that Scunthorpe CC's experiment with wrapping the name around the jersey under the arm to make it fit didn't go too well either.
IanMK 15 hours ago
Be interesting to see if UAE chase down any breakaway today to ensure that Jonas stays in yellow.
Rendel Harris 18 hours ago
@Rendel Harris Interestingly, and it sort of supports my theory that UAE were being cunning, Pog has the mountains jersey today because he was the quickest up the final climb, which argues that he hadn't burnt all his matches when he got to the finish.
4 thoughts on “Live blog: Video interview with new cycling minister (and Laura saves him from Mr Whippy); 532-mile race from Aberdeen-Silverstone between e-bike and electric car; neutral service goes bit nuts (literally) in Scotland; Magnus Backstedt to ride RAAM + more”
At least two vehicles
At least two vehicles appeared to go through that cycle priority junction on red including an HGV.
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:
The HGV started to turn on green, it’s just obviously slow to get through (and it’s hard to tell sped up).
Why does when the HGV started
Why does when the HGV started its turn have any relevance? It crossed the line on red (you can see frame by frame). It is not ok to run lights on a motor vehicle, regardless of where you start the turn. Amber and red are both stop signals.
Kudos to Michael Ellis MP for
Kudos to Michael Ellis MP for being so positive, and riding without a helmet, but we’ve had all the nice words a thousand times, and they don’t build no cycle routes. Either find the money or shut up. It shouldn’t be too difficult, if the government can spend billions on roads and HS2 with no economic case, surely it’s going to be amazingly easy to find the money to support projects with twenty times those?