Live blog: Porn Pedallers' kit launch; Dumoulin to miss the Tour de France; Good Morning Britain guests ‘discuss’ whether we treat cyclists badly (descends into helmet row on Twitter); Mathieu Van Der Poel to race Tour of Britain; The 'Rowe-hawk' + more

Porn Pedallers Cycling Club (PPCC) is holding a launch party at Look Mum No Hands tonight.

The event will see it unveil the sponsors who have flocked to support it after British Cycling revoked its membership because its name contravened UCI regulations.

They’ve also hooked up with Le Col, who have provided the club’s new kit for the 2019 season.

In 2010, PPCC will continue to raise funds for HIV and sexual health charity, the Terrence Higgins Trust.

The next fundraising effort will see six club members, including porn star Tindra Frost, ride down the west coast of France in 10 days’ time.

The so-called #AtlanticStreak will involve bikepacking 900+ miles from Roscoff in Brittany, France, to Santander, Northern Spain, over nine days, unsupported.

You can track their progress and donate via the Follow My Challenge website.

PPCC is also slated to ride Prudential Ride London-Surrey 100, London to Amsterdam, London to Brighton and Paris 24, with a World Aids Day sportive on 1 December still in planning.

Dumoulin finished runner-up to Geraint Thomas last year, but injured his knee in a crash at the Giro d'Italia earlier this year.

Announcing that he is to sit out the Tour, he said: “The last month has been extremely difficult overall, and with the setbacks in the knee recovery.

"After what happened at the Giro I really wanted to go for it in the Tour, but this week I realised it’s just not realistic for my level to be there in time.

"I’ve tried so hard to get there but I really have to listen to my body and release myself from chasing an unrealistic goal.”

Team Sunweb physician Anko Boelens added: “Tom was really eager to be ready in time for the Tour and he tried all he could, but now the conclusion is that it’s simply not possible.

"We trusted in the process of rest, recuperation and a gradual return to racing but like in any recovery, there have been setbacks.

"Time isn’t on our side anymore to cater for setbacks so to give Tom the time he needs to get back to complete fitness can only be the right decision.

"Despite his strong will and ambition to race the TDF it’s better to let this goal go this year in favour of optimum recovery.”

Throughout various ups and downs, hope prevailed, but unfortunately @tom_dumoulin is to miss #TDF2019

"I realised it’s just not realistic for my level to be there in time. I’ve tried so hard to get there but I really have to listen to my body."

https://t.co/oeguI2thGe pic.twitter.com/uB8Nuytdm0

— Team Sunweb (@TeamSunweb) June 20, 2019

“Not testing the athletes is a selfish, cost saving decision from a race director," says organisers.

Full story here.

The big story pre-stage is @LukeRowe1990's radical new look, courtesy of a lost bet . Where does 'The Rowe-hawk' rank in the history of great mohican haircuts? pic.twitter.com/HVbb00W8Cq

— Team INEOS (@TeamINEOS) June 20, 2019

Team Ineos have unveiled Luke Rowe's 'Rowe-hawk', inflicted on the Welshman due to a mysterious lost bet. What do you reckon? 

In Gorse Hall primary school with their eco-committee in Tameside this AM I asked who rides to school? No hands go up. I then asked who wanted to ride to school, this was the response. The same response everywhere I ask. These are tomorrow voters

#airpollution #CleanAirDay. pic.twitter.com/W9iT48ppKV

— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) June 20, 2019

"We’ll study the roadbook in order to decide in which stages we will try to go for a win.”@mathieuvdpoel will lead his Corendon-Circus team at this September's @OVOEnergy Tour of Britain.

https://t.co/ZFo5bkfClN#OVOToB pic.twitter.com/ra1oWikyaE

— Tour of Britain (@TourofBritain) June 20, 2019

It's been announced this morning that the 24-year-old Dutchman will line up for this year's Tour of Britain, taking place between 7-14 September. One of the most exciting talents in world cycling at the moment, Van Der Poel says he's weighing up which stages to go for: “I’m really happy that the organiser gives our team the chance to participate for the first time and at the same time helps me preparing for the Worlds in the best possible way.

“Of course, we’ll study the roadbook in order to decide in which stages we will try to go for a stage win.”

What are you doing to make a difference this #CleanAirDay? By making small changes to our travel, we can reduce the amount of #AirPollution we create.

1. Leave the car at home
2. Get pedalling
3. And help make the world a healthier, cleaner place! @CleanAirUK pic.twitter.com/UorBEzUKOc

— Cycling UK (@WeAreCyclingUK) June 20, 2019

Clean Air Day was started in 2017 to highlight the dangers of air pollution. If you choose the bike over the car for most of your trips you're already doing your bit, but do check out the Clean Air Day website for more tips on reducing air pollution and read up on the facts and figures. 

I wasn't at home, so it was good that DHL were really careful to hide the parcel they delivered yesterday pic.twitter.com/bWKaXOULTI

— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) June 20, 2019

Well this looked like it might have been almost unbearable viewing.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain, the co-founder of Stop Killing Cyclists, Donnachadh McCarthy, attempted to highlight how many people’s views on cyclists and cycling are completely out of proportion.

We don’t know if any of you saw the segment, but it does not appear that his effort to put cycle helmet use in some sort of context hit home.

Are cyclists victims of 'cyclo-phobia'?@DonnachadhMc co-founder of "Stop Killing Cyclists, says they are unfairly treated and the drivers and passengers should be required to wear helmets as they're more likely to receive head-related injuries. #GMB pic.twitter.com/1SoQ5KuYIP

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) June 20, 2019

The comments responding to the tweet don’t make for uplifting reading either.