Welcome to Monday’s live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
Live blog: Can you win the Tour de France? AMAZING game on Twitter, Top Gear break out the Brompton; Stars give fascinating insights on what makes the Tour unique + more
All today’s news from the site and beyond…
Mon, Jul 08, 2019 21:31
SUMMARY
8 July 2019, 21:31
Weekend catch-up
Here are some of our top stories from the weekend as the 2019 Tour de France kicked off with a surprise stage 1 victory for Lotto Jumbo’s Mike Teunissen…
RideLondon admits photoshopping picture of black woman
Local paper runs front page story on cyclists flouting Hull city centre ban – which doesn’t exist
Tour de France Stage 1: Mike Teunissen springs a surprise to win in Brussels and take yellow
Tour de France Stage 2: Mike Teunissen stays in yellow as Jumbo-Visma win team time trial
Exclusive: Team Ineos riding Lightweight wheels at Tour de France.
8 July 2019, 21:31
Want the best Tour insights? Follow the Tour de France helicopter on Twitter
TOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOCOTOTO #TDF2019
— Helicóptero del Tour (@HelicopteroTour) July 6, 2019
Every July since 2015, the mysterious ‘Helicóptero del Tour’ has popped up with a daily update from the Tour de France, and every single one looking like the above. Who needs live coverage and race reports when you’ve got in-depth info like this?
8 July 2019, 21:31
Nothing changes...
From our friends at Angry People in Local Newspapers, here’s a gloriously retro photo of a girl pointing at a pothole which, judging by her facial injury, was presumably responsible for flinging her off her super cool Raleigh Chopper. Wonder if the council have got round to sorting it yet?
8 July 2019, 21:31
Jumbo Visma's win from the team car
“’We are all happy, we are all proud’
The TTT win through the eyes of the teamWhole video#samenwinnen
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) July 7, 2019
They’ve been the surprise package of the opening stages so far, bagging stage 1 via Mike Tiernessen and dominating the TTT – here’s that second stage from the team car.
8 July 2019, 21:31
Guardian journalist Pete Walker gets early preview of Channel 5's "Cyclists: Scourge of the streets?" documentary... and it's even worse than it sounds
New, on the Bike Blog: why Channel 5’s programme this week, “Cyclists: Scourge of the Roads?” is irresponsible, inaccurate and generally awful, and will make me, my loved ones and others on two wheels less safe.
I’ve watched it so you don’t have to.https://t.co/CNscMBuOsx
— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) July 8, 2019
The documentary has caused much controversy before even airing (on tomorrow night at 9:15pm if you really want to put yourself through it), and Guardian journalist Pete Walker has got an early preview. Walker goes as far as to say the documentary may put cyclists at risk: “On Wednesday morning, I’ll be a little bit more wary when I cycle into work. I’m always hugely careful, anyway – the trip involves sharing space with tonne-plus lumps of speeding metal – but this time I’ll be particularly on my guard. Why? Because Channel 5 are putting me, and others, at risk.”
Walker quotes numerous false statements presented as fact in the program, such as the idea that Britain has gone ‘bike mad’ when in fact journeys made by bike in the UK are stuck on around 2%, and using the lack of helmet-wearing by cyclists as an indication that people who ride bikes are more likely to flout laws; when in fact there is no law in the UK that says cyclists must wear helmets.
The program also features a man driving a 4×4 down narrow country lanes, bemoaning the capacity of Britain’s roads and complaining that he is unable to overtake them on blind bends.
Numerous people are voicing their concerns on social media about riding the day after the documentary airs; although others are relieved that it’s only on Channel 5…
Cue thousands of letters to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission. If it’s that bad the Police should be informed as well – because this type of programming may incite violence by impressionable drivers of below average IQ. Watch out for a surge in road crime.
— Richard Lewis #FBPE (@cyclisethecity) July 7, 2019
The only saving grace might be that because it’s on @channel5_tv it will only be seen by the viewing figures of the occupants of a tandem.
— OstendGudgeon (@OstendGudgeon) July 7, 2019
8 July 2019, 21:31
Congratulations Dr Ian Walker! Europe Cycle Record smashed
16 days, 20 hours, 59 minutes.
The new world record for crossing Europe by bike.
I did it solo and unsupported.
It feels great. pic.twitter.com/Srf2eRHTgD— Ian Walker (@ianwalker) 8 July 2019
Ian has completed the 6,350km top to bottom route in just 16 days, 20 hours and 59 minutes – more on this later.
8 July 2019, 21:31
Tech randoms from the Tour de France
We were out in Brussels ahead of the Tour de France nosing around the team trucks. Here’s a gallery of bikes and equipment we spotted Trek, Pinarello, Specialized, Canyon and more, plus lots of interesting new products and top hacks.
8 July 2019, 21:31
Dumbest question of the Tour...so far...
Prize for most ludicrous interview question of the day
“Chris Froome crashed whilst riding a tt bike, do you agree that tt bikes are dangerous and should be banned?”
My reply;
“Ever seen anyone crash a road bike?”They continued….
— Alex Dowsett (@alexdowsett) July 8, 2019
What else could we blanket ban to improve safety? Pop your stupidest ideas in the comments.
8 July 2019, 21:31
Tour de France tech highlights
Click here for some of the coolest bits and bobs we spotted on our travels last week.
8 July 2019, 21:31
You can't accuse the UCI of not being thorough ...
.@UCI_cycling sock-height-measuring device at @LeTour pic.twitter.com/6IgH1OYakc
— Jakub Zimoch (@kubawinter) July 7, 2019
8 July 2019, 21:31
Giant launch Cadex, a new high-end whees and components brand
All the details here on the revival of the Cadex name, transformed into a high-end carbon wheel and component manufacturer.
8 July 2019, 21:31
Lucy Kennedy guilty of premature celebration as Marianne Vos steams past her to take Giro Rosa stage 3 victory
Did @marianne_vos teleport in the last 10 meters? That was just insane! (via @wcsbike ) #GiroRosa pic.twitter.com/z2XyPr11Sm
— Mihai Cazacu (@faustocoppi60) July 7, 2019
Australian rider Lucy Kennedy is the latest to learn her lesson from an early celebration, as Marianne Vos put down a phenomenal sprint to beat her on the uphill finish to stage 3 of the Giro Rosa…
Lesson most definitely learnt: always sprint beyond the line and never celebrate early. It hurts to come so close to my first #WWT win at #girorosa today, but I can be very happy with my form and how @MitcheltonSCOTT executed our plan perfectly (until 3m to go ) pic.twitter.com/xDyFZ7rM4G
— Lucy Kennedy (@lucyjkenn) July 7, 2019
8 July 2019, 21:31
The Tour de France in gluten
Baker Gregory Piraux was inspired to create the Tour de France map in bread after a meeting with Tour director Christian Prudhomme – after 30 hours of work, here is the result…
A French baker has created a map of the Tour de France – out of bread!https://t.co/WFqEq6Oh0f#France #TourdeFrance #bread pic.twitter.com/xDqqAvpqh8
— Living France mag (@LivingFrance) July 8, 2019
Looks pretty hefty, I’m guessing you’d have to eat it in stages…
8 July 2019, 21:31
Want to wear the Maillot Jaune? Tandem
On Saturday, Mike Teunissen surprised the entire world by taking the opening stage of the 2019 Tour de France; winning the Netherlands’ first yellow jersey in 30 years.
Here he is in 2005—at the age of 12—training with legendary cyclist Peter Winnen in the village of Ysselsteyn. pic.twitter.com/bjjqwU8uGF
— Dutch Cycling Embassy (@Cycling_Embassy) July 8, 2019
According to the Dutch Cycle Embassy this is stage 1 (and 2 with his teammates) winner Mike Teunissen training in his homeland with Peter Winnen on a battered old tandem, aged 12.
8 July 2019, 21:31
Top Gear break out the Brompton (not for the first time)
"Now THAT is British engineering!"
Thanks, @BBC_TopGear – They cost less on fuel too! pic.twitter.com/dgk8SuxCCW
— Brompton Bicycle (@BromptonBicycle) July 7, 2019
Some top notch British engineering popped up on Top Gear last night. No, not that £276,00 Rolls Royce Cullinan SUV (though we’re sure it’s very good mind if you like that sort of thing… and you don’t look at the front end), it was of course the Brompton emerging from the Cullinan’s capacious boot.
British engineering at it’s best, and it folds, and it’s a lot, lot prettier than the Roller. Brompton’s marketing department must LOVE Top Gear.
8 July 2019, 21:31
Brad on a bike proving popular with the riders and fans
“I love you, man. You are my hero!” – @SirWiggo feeling the love out on Stage 3 with @BOUETMAXIME! #BradOnABike #TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/HDjdVUifaX
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) July 8, 2019
Eurosport have certainly upped their game by sticking Bradley Wiggins on the back of a motorbike to provide live updates at this year’s race. Here he is having a friendly chat with an Arkea-Samsic rider mid-race.
8 July 2019, 21:31
Tour latest - Wellens suffers mechanical and loses lead
.@Tim_Wellens is on top at the Côte de Mutigny despite strong competition from @alafpolak1!
Tim Wellens passe en tête de la Côte de Mutigny mais Julian Alaphilippe est sorti en force du peloton ! #TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/Iuo35FqJI7
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 8, 2019
Wellens has been passed by Julian Alaphilippe, who is motoring towards the finish with about 5km to go. Will this put the Quick Step man in yellow or will the peloton catch him?
8 July 2019, 21:31
He's done it
Victory for Julian Alaphilippe!
Victoire en solitaire de Julian Alaphilippe ! @alafpolak1 #TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/PjRq59tbNN— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 8, 2019
Julian Alaphilippe stayed well clear of the peloton to take the stage 3 victory and the yellow jersey – full story to follow.
8 July 2019, 21:31
It'll buff out...
Kasper Asgreen’s bike #TDF19 #Epernay @k_asgreen @deceuninck_qst pic.twitter.com/awvZn9hizp
— Brecht Decaluwé (@caluweski) July 8, 2019
The latest we’ve heard is that Kasper Asgreen is in far better shape than his bike after falling hard on stage 3. The Dane put in a shift before his team mate rode away from the peloton to take the stage win, and rolled across the line on a spare bike as Alaphilippe was been presented with the yellow jersey on the podium.
8 July 2019, 21:31
Can you win the Tour de France? Take a look at this AMAZING Twitter game
We’ve been wasting a lot of time at road.cc towers today on this AMAZING Twitter thread that starts with the question, Can you win the Tour de France?
Follow the thread, make your choices, click on the blue arrow button wherever it pops up, and have fun!
******* Can you win the Tour de France ? *******
A JANKY BIKE RACE ADVENTURE THREAD#TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/HziObLuFBP— Jonathan Rowe (@ronnyjowe) July 7, 2019
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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
Oldblokey 3 hours ago
With so many people using and looking at mobie phones whilst driving and other distractions, may I suggest you always wear Hi viz and stay at home.
kil0ran 3 hours ago
The design of the "car" has played a role in this. SUVs and what the Americans call "trucks" are exempt from the pedestrian safety regulations which apply to passenger cars. Had the victim been hit by a car designed in the past twenty years he would have been "scooped" onto the bonnet and either over the roof or off to one side. Still a serious injury risk and potentially fatal but they have the benefit of those passive safety systems to improve their chances. With vehicles with such a high bonnet line as this Volvo has what tends to happen is the person bounces off the bonnet and falls on the road in front of the vehicle where they're then run over. This has happened time and time again and is becoming more of an issue as the numbers of vehicles exempt from the safety standards grows.
whosatthewheel 5 hours ago
@Accessibility for all Reducing the speeds wouldn't have helped in this case as the driver was reported doing 65 in a 40 zone on the approach to the junction, his driving described by the witnesses as erratic and evidently had no intention to stop to give way even though he had been warned by the passenger who apparently shouted "bike" three times just before the collision. He would have likely flown through that junction even if it was traffic light controlled with a red light for him at the time. In my own experience the entire area i.e. east of Lymm towards Warburton and along Dunham Road all the way up to Altrincham and past into Hale Barns, all those wealthy, posh settlements around Manchester Airport are best avoided by road cyclists. A disproportionally high number of psycho drivers must for some reason live in that area because every single time I went there on my road bike in the past, I either got harassed myself or witnessed proper dickhead driving - speeding, close passes, overtaking into oncoming traffic or round a blind bend, accelerating towards pedestrians already crossing the road, you name it. I gave up road cycling in that area years ago and only use the local TPT these days.
Hollis Jones 6 hours ago
In respect of the murder charge: based on him hitting Mr Mullins and making no attempt to help him (this killing him), how would the case compare to a hit and run driver who seriously injures or kills a cyclist, knowingly, and flees the scene without helping? Would this make the cut for a murder charge? Or is there something very different going on here that I’m missing? Genuinely curious because I don’t recall there being a murder charge before for this kind of thing unless it was premeditated. In fact, in my experience most cases like this seem to go the opposite way - where the driver can merely say the sun was in their eyes and get away with a slap on the hands.
jaymack 6 hours ago
@Rendel Harris...and there was me dishing out the praise!
whosatthewheel 6 hours ago
@polainm He must also be an already hardened criminal. It wasn't mentioned during the court proceedings to avoid influencing the jurors and ensuring he had a fair trial, but he had been released from prison shortly before this incident and was couch surfing at his cousin's house days before. Just look at his face, he's only 35, but looks older than his victim who was 56. Must have spent half his adult life in prison.
Rendel Harris 6 hours ago
@jaymack They did offer him manslaughter though but he declined to plead guilty. Without wanting to seem curmudgeonly, yes great that they preferred the most serious charges but hard to see how they could have done differently considering that Richardson got out of the car, saw Mr Mullins was stuck underneath and then got back in and carried on. That clearly moved it above anything that falls under death by dangerous driving.
Velophaart_95 6 hours ago
@thrawed Agree - the UK winters are utterly grim; grey, wet & windy. Not the type of weather you really want to go out and ride. Everything get covered in filth, and takes time to clean it after a ride. Oh for colder, drier & crisper days which can be enjoyable to be out in.
polainm 7 hours ago
@ymm In my view, lax sentencing of dangerous drivers, especially where cyclists are involved, makes the judge, jury and CPS complicit in UK driver culture. This driver is a sociopath.
slc 7 hours ago
@Mr Blackbird i reckon the libido is a bit overrated. I'd let that go rather than a limb or a nice bike.
16 thoughts on “Live blog: Can you win the Tour de France? AMAZING game on Twitter, Top Gear break out the Brompton; Stars give fascinating insights on what makes the Tour unique + more”
Thats not a raleigh chopper ,
Thats not a raleigh chopper , its a Tomahawk!
Well done Dr Walker!
Well done Dr Walker!
To be fair to channel 5 I
To be fair to channel 5 I understand their running a follow up show next week called. “British motorists, ISIS terrorists ? Who’s side are you on ?”
They’ve spent 5 mins on YouTube and realise that there’s is enough death and destruction caused by motorists for 300 seasons.
Very well done to Ian Walker!
Very well done to Ian Walker!
It’s more than a bit mental if you think about it, more superhuman!
.. 230 miles a day (average) for 16 days straight!
Which is 45% further than the Tour de France covers this year in 23 days.
Chapeau indeed!
Ofcom accept complaints after
Ofcom accept complaints after airing. Pre complaints could goto
viewerenquiries@channel5.com
They will get improved ad revenue from this irresponsible crap. Hopefully OfCom will pull the series. Please do complain.
The trouble with complaining
The trouble with complaining about that C5 bilge, is that I don’t feel I could complain without first watching it and (a) doing so would make me want to smash my TV and (b) I don’t have a TV (haven’t had one for nearly 20 years now). So I’d have to buy a TV, and a licence, just in order to annoy myself and smash the thing.
Reading the Guardian article
Reading the Guardian article account of that program also furthers my deep loathing of black-cab drivers. As if listening to LBC doesn’t do that enough.
FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:
Cockroaches.
FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:
We should cut their brake lines and drop bricks through the windscreens … just a bit of bantz
Sugar in the fuel tank totally acceptable however!
I never got a reply from CH5 nor OFCOM, despicable bags o shite!
Quote:
I hesitate to ask, for fear of looking stupid, but is that a real rule/thing?
brooksby wrote:
Yes, I believe so. I believe the rationale is to prevent socks being used to aid performance via muscle compression and/or aerodynamics.
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/check-illegal-socks-reaction-uci-introduces-maximum-sock-height-2019-400273
OnYerBike wrote:
Wow. Well, OK then…
OnYerBike wrote:
i’m surprised they’re using a mechanical device in this day and age. I’d have though an internet*-enabled laser device with an app would be better able to take into account variables such as fabric stretch, rate of droop over time at different altitudes, fibia:tibia:sock ratios both lengthwise and circumference, change in ratios resulting from dehydration and vein bulging, etc. It’s a complex matter.
Or they could just blanket ban socks and insist that pro cyclists paint their ankles instead.
*I mean, we all like net stockings, don’t we…?
In his several interviews
In his several interviews Mike Teunissen does seem like a charming young man.
I took a peek at C5’s website
I took a peek at C5’s website, very revealing, and I trust they will be getting an avalanche of complaints after it’s aired.
From the Channel 5 website:
“Hello and welcome to the Channel 5 Programming pages
What we DO want are programmes that are engaging, intelligent, well made and have a relevance to the viewer.
We particularly like factual shows – Specialist Factual, Documentaries and Factual Entertainment. These can be poppy, tabloid type shows or serious pieces, there’s room for all tones and textures. But they need to have a good, grabby title.
Ben Frow
Director of Programming”
And “The Independent Producers Handbook aims to give helpful and practical guidance to all our programme-makers and editorial staff on the Ofcom Broadcasting Code rules and the main areas of law that apply to the making and broadcast of programmes.”
The Ofcom Broadcasting Code has quite a few sections, including:
“Section two: Harm and offence
This section outlines standards for broadcast content so as to provide adequate protection for members of the public from harmful and/or offensive material.
Section three: Crime, disorder, hatred and abuse
This section of the Code covers material that is likely to incite crime or disorder, reflecting Ofcom’s duty to prohibit the broadcast of this type of programming.
Section five: Due impartiality and due accuracy
To ensure that news, in whatever form, is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality.”
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code
“What else could we blanket
“What else could we blanket ban to improve safety? Pop your stupidest ideas in the comments”
blankets.