Live blog: Amazing (and strangely mesmerising) video of huge crash in downhill race on snow, bloke who mistakenly sold wife’s heirloom classic bike in yard sale wants it back, this year's Zwift Academy entries open + more

A Massachusetts man has appealed for the return of his wife's classic bike, which he sold by mistake at a yard sale, and which he belatedly learnt had huge sentimental value.

Allan Steinmetz told Boston25news.com that the bike, a yellow 1970s tourer from the French brand Motobecane, had been given to his wife on her 16th birthday more than 45 years ago by her father, a Holocaust survivor.

She planned to give it to their first grandchild.

"This bike is absolutely priceless to not only my wife but to her family, my children and she wanted to give this bike to our granddaughter one day, which I didn’t know," he said.

"It was important to my wife, I didn’t realize how… and that was the biggest mistake I’ve made this year so far," he added.

"He went out and bought the best bike money could buy and he wanted my wife to feel as special as he was."

Nothing to see here... pic.twitter.com/PrLMRCrI40

— Rex Chapman (@RexChapman) July 2, 2019

Zwift's talent program sees riders compete for prizes, with the top accolade being professional cycling contracts with Dimension Data's Continental team and Canyon/SRAM. For 2019 riders must complete a series of eight workouts and four races or social rides, with incentives offered for progression. 

Over 35,000 took part in 2018, with that figure expected to swell to over 100,000 this year. Enrolment is open now, with the virtual events running from August 5th until September 29th. ​You can sign up here. 

We're seeing a dangerous surge in cyclist deaths on our streets — and we're taking action.

I’ve directed the NYPD to immediately launch a major enforcement action that will encompass every precinct. They will crack down on dangerous driving behavior like parking in bike lanes.

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) 2 July 2019

Mayor Bill De Blasio released a statement calling for a crackdown on dangerous drivers, following the death of 28-year-old Devra Freelander who was involved in a collision with a cement truck in the Brooklyn area of the city:

“We are seeing a dangerous surge in cyclist deaths on our streets, and we are taking action. I have directed the NYPD to immediately launch a major enforcement action that will encompass every precinct and crack down on dangerous driving behaviour like parking in bike lanes. At the same time, I have charged the Department of Transportation with developing a new cyclist safety plan to make biking in our city safer. No loss of life on our streets is acceptable. Last year was the safest year on record—and we have to keep pushing the envelope and increasing our efforts until we achieve Vision Zero.”

Freelander was the 14th cyclist to be killed in NYC this year, which is already double the 2018 death toll. Mayor de Blasio is often criticised for the city's attitude towards cycle safety, with locals reporting that the standard response from police is simply to ticket cyclists breaking minor traffic laws; and although this appears to be the most forceful statement yet that action will be taken to crack down on dangerous driving, it appears many New Yorkers aren't convinced. 

Weren't you warned that your Vision Zero wasn't working? Now you're not on track to even meet your own goals of increasing cycling modal share.

You've also promised enforcement on bus lanes and placard abuse; that isn't going well. You've lost our trust.https://t.co/eMScz472zw

— Samuel Santaella  (@TransitNinja205) 2 July 2019

How many cyclists had to die before you noticed?

Fifteen, apparently. #zerovision

— j (@Icarurs) 2 July 2019