Welcome to Thursday’s live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team…
Post-race ‘punch up’ in Muensterland; Finish line idiocy in Croatia; Hovering roundabout in Trafford?; Feds chase Bruyneel for $1.2m; Bacon butty update + lots more in the Live blog
All today’s news from the site and beyond…
Thu, Oct 03, 2019 19:18
SUMMARY
3 October 2019, 19:18
Tributes pour in for Mapei boss Giorgio Squinzi
Sad to hear of the passing of Mapei Chairman and passionate cycling fan, Giorgio Squinzi.
A partner of the UCI, Mapei continues to support the development of cycling. My thoughts go out to Giorgio’s wife Dottoressa Adriana Spazzoli, his family and all those effected by his death. pic.twitter.com/hIWoXp8s3u— David Lappartient (@DLappartient) October 2, 2019
The owner of the Mapei chemical building material company Giorgio Squinzi has passed away aged 76 after a long illness. Mapei were the headline sponsor of arguably the most successful cycling teams of the 90’s/early 2000’s, dominating races such as Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders with their roster of superstars which included Andrea Tafi and Paolo Bettini.
Squinzi also owned Sassuolo football club, with tributes pouring in across the sporting world and beyond.
3 October 2019, 19:18
Lance Armstrong's ex-manager Johan Bruyneel is still on the run from US authorities, who say he owes them $1.2 million
According to court documents obtained by USA Today, Bruyneel was doorstepped by authorities at his house in Spain last year, where they demanded he paid them $1.2 million for his part in the doping scandal that helped Lance Armstrong win seven Tour de France titles.
The U.S government used a Spanish counsel to try to retrieve the money, but Bruyneel refused to accept documents from an attorney hired by the government.
Lance Armstrong eventually accepted a multi-million dollar settlement with the U.S in 2014, but Bruyneel insisted that they couldn’t enforce a civil judgment on him overseas because he is Belgian and living in Europe. He’s been ignoring the demands ever since, and Paul Scott, an attorney that was involved in the case as a representative of Floyd Landis, told USA Today: “He can continue running as long as he likes, but this judgment will ultimately catch up to him.”
Bruyneel, an active social media user who describes himself as a “proud ex-manager of my dear friend Lance Armstrong, winner of 7 Tours de France. Anti-hypocrisy warrior”, has understandably stayed silent on the matter so far…
3 October 2019, 19:18
Pendleton offers colour co-ordination for the nation*
*Well, okay the nation’s families… correction the nation’s families that ride bikes together – with a new range of matching parents and children bikes. Apparently kitting your kids out as mini-me versions of yourself is a ‘thing’. If we were a philosophy and ethics website at this point we’d probably launch in to a discourse about whether that’s a good ‘thing’ or not, but we aren’t so we won’t. The Pendleton Somerby Balance Bike costs £85; while the adult Somerby is £280 – if you want to colour co-ordinate with your older children or moody teens there’s a 24in wheeled junior Somerby for £240 – obviously it’s up for debate as to whether they’ll want to colour co-ordinate with you at this point but… You can find them all at Halfords stores or on their website www.halfords.com.
3 October 2019, 19:18
Riding past Horse Guards Road soon?
Extinction Rebellion’s plan to spray 1,800 litres of fake blood on the treasury did not get off to the best start pic.twitter.com/c2WYHM2Tuc
— Sam Francis (@DavidSamFrancis) October 3, 2019
It might be a bit slippy, as Extinction Rebellion’s hose malfunction means there is currently a few hundred litres of fake blood on the road that was meant to be aimed directly at the HM Treasury building. What a bloody mess!
3 October 2019, 19:18
Hammer Series Hong Kong leg is cancelled due to continuing political unrest and rioting
BREAKING
We regret to inform that the decision has been taken not to stage Hammer Hong Kong on Sunday, October 13 because of the ongoing events in Hong Kong.
This means @JumboVismaRoad will be crowned Hammer Series Champions of 2019.
Full statement: https://t.co/q7XjAxgFu9
— Hammer Series (@HammerSeries) October 3, 2019
The increasingly chaotic events in Hong Kong have forced Hammer Series organisers to cancel their upcoming race in the region on 13th October, awarding the series win to Jumbo Visma based on current standings.
A statement says: “Velon and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), the organiser of Hammer Hong Kong and the mass participation Hong Kong Cyclothon, regret to inform that the decision has been taken not to stage the two events on Sunday, October 13, 2019 because of the ongoing events in Hong Kong.
“We have been keeping matters under close review and it has now been decided that the best course of action is to halt preparations and look to 2020 when the Hammer Series and the world’s top professional cyclists will return to the streets of Hong Kong.”
3 October 2019, 19:18
Post finish-line crash in Croatia and the riders really aren't happy
How much faster than a man running in jeans do riders travel immediately after a sprint finish.
The answer, shock and horror, is quite a bit faster.
This came after crashes in a black unlit tunnel, cars on course, laps around an absurdly technical-slick finishing circuit. Enjoying the opportunity to race in Croatia but safety standard way below a profesional level @UCI_cycling @cpacycling @ANAPRC_ https://t.co/JQ29hzv7yU
— Brent Bookwalter (@brentbookwalter) October 3, 2019
It seems that the safety standards at the Tour of Croatia haven’t been very good with Mitchelton-Scott’s Brent Bookwalter also pointing out that the peloton had to contend with unlit, pitch-black tunnels and oncoming traffic during the stage.
3 October 2019, 19:18
Croatia crash: Matej Mohoric suffered punctured lung colliding with spectator
Matej Mohoric’s season over suffering a punctured lung, broken ribs and bleeding within the chest cavity after a crash in Croatia caused by someone running across the rod after the finish line. https://t.co/OarHDrx0Yo
— Susan Westemeyer (@WestemeyerSusan) October 3, 2019
In a statement, his team Bahrain Merida said: “The Slovenian rider was taken to Zadar General Hospital. After the medical checks, the Team Medical Doctor Marjan Korsic reported that he suffered a fracture of two ribs on the left side, consequently left-sided pneumothorax and bleeding in his left phrenicocostal recess. Fortunately, no neurological deficit, and besides local cutaneous contusion, there are any skeletal injuries.
“Therefore Matej Mohorič – who was 5th overall and fighting for the general classification – is forced to abandon CRO Race.”
3 October 2019, 19:18
Annemiek van Vleuten goes for a coffee ride ... in the rainbow jersey
Win the rainbow jersey with a 104-kilometre solo attack on Saturday … go out for a coffee ride wearing it on Tuesday …
Time to ride with friends incl coffeestops. pic.twitter.com/s3QrkjGYvi
— Annemiek van Vleuten (@AvVleuten) October 2, 2019
3 October 2019, 19:18
Just in: Orro Pyro Evo
Check out the updated gran fondo bike with a gorgeous-looking frame and a full Shimano 105 groupset.
3 October 2019, 19:18
UK's first Dutch-style 'hovering' roundabout coming to Trafford?
Wow.@TraffordCouncil informed Trafford Cycle Forum that it has submitted a bid for a 'Hovering' style elevated cycle and walk way for White City which will link Chorlton, Stretford and Salford (Quays). Be the first of its kind in UK.
What's a 'Hovering https://t.co/PgsmuL9u06
— WalkRideStretford (@WalkRideM32) October 2, 2019
3 October 2019, 19:18
Cycling’s bacon hero feels vindicated over latest research ruling out cancer link
Super-fit cyclist who’s scoffed 11,000 bacon butties ‘never worried’ by cancer https://t.co/3geXe3APxa pic.twitter.com/iATTCRb88S
— Daily Star (@Daily_Star) October 2, 2019
Ever get worried that stories about cycling and salt-cured pork are few and far between? Fear not, because The Daily Star are here with some breaking bacon news courtesy of keen cyclist and bacon sandwich fanatic Steve Grice from Shropshire.
We reported back in 2017 that Mr. Grice was given an Outstanding Services to Bacon award by a trade body, after posting dozens of reviews of bacon sandwiches from establishments around the Midlands on Facebook. Academic research has often linked too much cured meat with cancer, and the World Cancer Research Fund still advise us to limit red meat consumption; but recently a team of Canadian researchers found no increased risk of heart disease, cancer or diabetes in 12 randomised controlled trials involving 54,000 individuals.
A buoyant Mr. Grice told the Daily Star he was never in doubt that his fondness for a bacon sarnie, of which he estimates to have scoffed over 11,000, was likely to have caused him any ill health. He also informatively told them: “I can’t put into words what I enjoy so much about bacon, I guess it is the savoury taste. But I don’t eat any old bacon sandwich. It must be crispy bacon on white bread with brown sauce and served with a cup of tea.”
Never mind the bacon award thing, give this man a Nobel Prize…
3 October 2019, 19:18
Deceuninck–Quick-Slap: HUGE FIGHT* at the end of Meunsterland Giro
*one rider flapped at another rider’s helmet…
@flosenech of @deceuninck_qst seems to be blaming @MaxWalscheid of @TeamSunweb for the crash in the last 200m in @tweets_giro #muensterlandgiro (@sportschau) pic.twitter.com/pMOmTuaTS5
— World Cycling Stats (@wcsbike) October 3, 2019
The mad fight occurred after the finish of the Meunsterland Giro which was won by Hodge of Deceuninck Quick-Step.
Florian Senechal, the rider throwing the punch, thought that Max Walschied had cut him up, causing the crash. But as Senechal finishes his leadout, he looks over his shoulder and drifts. Not looking where you’re going isn’t advisable and Senechal is unable to avoid Walshied who is diving for a wheel.
How long until this is in a Top 10 Cycling Fights video?
3 October 2019, 19:18
"Battle of Munsterland" Update: The fear made him do it…
#sparkassen munsterland 2019.
Sorry for my brutal reaction after the finish. But I was scared, I am cured of a broken shoulder since June. I was lucky not to go back to the hospital today and still live this sufrance on a bike.@deceuninck_qst— Florian Senechal (@flosenech) October 3, 2019
Just as well roadies don’t have peaks on their helmets or Florian could have been nursing some nasty hand sufferance (what a great word) during the close season, well if his teammates hadn’t held him back he might. Maybe.
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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
Gm_Crop 8 hours ago
I'll counter that by saying the Bryton 750se I have drives me nuts at times. Inconsistantly picks up on routes created on Komoot and the app re-syncs every few seconds when trying to set up the device and sends me back to the home screen. The most infuriating one is that I turned live track on. Once. It now won't turn off and repeatedly flags up the live track is starting, and then disconnecting every few seconds whilst riding. I haven't timed it but it wouldn't suprise me if 10-20% of the time the the screen is covered with an error message. That's been about 6 weeks now. Other than that it's great :/
IanGlasgow 8 hours ago
RE: Police launch road safety operation... by clamping down on cyclists using footbridge Meanwhile in Glasgow, Police Scotland are riding their motorbikes over the pedestrian and cyclists only bridge. https://x.com/FietserGlasgow/status/2065106152917012523?s=20
Rendel Harris 10 hours ago
@Paul J Van Schip certainly seems a bit of a dick, but he's a European and multiple World Champion on the track, pretty sure you don't get there without having some talent in your legs.
Bill H 10 hours ago
Poor Vincent cannot get over the simple fact that given the choice people prefer dedicated cycling spaces, rather than pretending to be cars like vehicular cyclists.
pbunyon 10 hours ago
What is the point of the fancy air sensor if it can't account for changing weather conditions?? If all you care about is a delayed approximation of aerodynamic watts in steady conditions, you don't need any special sensors for that. Just your speed on a decently flat course is enough to approximate rolling resistance and drivetrain losses. And the rest must be aero. If you assume a less aero body position at the same watts, your speed will drop while rolling resistance also drops, which means approximated aero watts goes up. And that's enough to demonstrate what you've shown in your testing protocol ("I sat upright and the number went up a little while later").
chrisonabike 10 hours ago
Your correction is accurate - it's almost always been "the (lack of) thought that (doesn't) count". "Massive" - less than a billion a year spent on active travel (trying to catch up / building a network across the entire country) Not massive - 6 billion every year (2026-2030) spent on road *maintenance* of existing "already built, goes everywhere, very convenient" road network for inactive travel Ultimately the reason "cycle infra" is *needed* is those unbelievably colossal amounts spent every year (and for more than a century now) on making mass motoring not just viable but apparently the "best choice" for most journeys. As the Dutch and others have shown, the majority of people *are* prepared to cycle and even mix with very light, slow local motor traffic *if* cycling is also made safe and convenient for the whole of their journey (including secure parking at both ends). (The history of the financial drivers of the current situation are a complex topic but note that while people complain about "crumbling roads" and underfunded motor infra - with some reason - by us continuing the fuel duty escalator freeze (for example) we're actually helping motorists pay *even less* for that activity / subsidising more of the cost of driving than ever.)
belugabob 10 hours ago
yes, but people will still object - which was my point.
Astralstroll 13 hours ago
So ' Priority of Road Users' and 1.5 metre clearance at 30mph has been been reduced to 'sharing'? NCN route 2 here in South Hams is an absolute scream with white vans, tractors and total idiots who refuse,or are totally incapable,to reverse on high Devon banked lanes ...means you have to get off and pedal back to a passing place....could be at that all day...so I don't bother...
Mr Anderson 14 hours ago
@MaxiMinimalist Agreed. The big problem I see now is today's parents grew up being driven to their schools, and therefore, see private motor vehicles as the only viable form of transport. The vast majority of UK infant and primary schools have a catchment area that is within easy walking distance from home to school. Yet, the traffic caused by pupils being driven to/from school is astonishing. Banishing the "School Run" should be a priority for all schools.
MaxiMinimalist 14 hours ago
When I was a kid (that was during the previous millenium when phones were connected to a plug in the wall), I rode my bicycle to school, music academy, sport grounds, parties even during the winter. The government didn't have to spend, correct that, didn't have to think of spending massive amounts of money to build cycling specific infrastructures. Over the past 3 or 4 decades, cars have grown bigger, taller, safer (for their drivers) and faster. Meanwhile, motorists have become abusive, aggressive, hypersensitive to people moving on two wheels, aka cyclists. Spending billions upon billions on new infrastructure won't address the crux of the matter. Sadly.
12 thoughts on “Post-race ‘punch up’ in Muensterland; Finish line idiocy in Croatia; Hovering roundabout in Trafford?; Feds chase Bruyneel for $1.2m; Bacon butty update + lots more in the Live blog”
Punctured lungs hurt, and
Punctured lungs hurt, and indeed it is very painful to breathe, luckily mine cleared up by itself and I didn’t need a chest tube. Bloody innatentive drivers. Or idot runners in this case.
ktache wrote:
I think runners ought to have registration and insurance, and maybe have to wear a helmet just for good measure
Horrible collision with a
Horrible collision with a spectator but not unexpected. My experience of watching bike racing is there are a lot of people who are happy to stay by the side of the road, and suddenly decide they want to cross as soon as the race gets near.
I don’t understand that
I don’t understand that ‘idiot in the road’ video. He doesn’t seem to be crossing the road, more a case of running line with the riders? Was there a start to it where he tried to get across and then decided he couldn’t (&/or get off the road) so he tried to run away from them??
Bobbinogs wrote:
They were in the finishing area immediately after the finish line so possibly a team or race helper. There were not many people hanging around so I think they were connected to the race in some capacity.
Ref the punch up.. LOL
Ref the punch up.. LOL cyclists are pathetic fighters. That one was really not worth the ‘telling off’ he’s bound to get.. he literally just tapped him on his helmet and shouted at him…. Car drivers are never going to be scared of us if that’s the image we’re putting out there.
So what would you prefer –
So what would you prefer – smash him in the face with a hammer!
Floating bridge looks amazing
Floating bridge looks amazing, or the White City Velodrome as it will be called.
Butty Man; I wondered how old
Butty Man; I wondered how old he was, he looked relatively slim, like an older cyclist should, but the wrinkles around the eyes suggested he was quite old, was he in his sixties? I click on the Daily Star link and literally guffawed, he is 47! Put the butty down mate you are dying in front of us.
Organon wrote:
Fcuk off!!! No way. Did the Daily Star get his DoB from his Tinder profile?
Sh1t I’m wearing well for 50+ if he’s the norm for 47…..
PP
Pilot Pete wrote:
With all those wrinkles, he looks like a smoker.
The focus on links between
The focus on links between things like bacon and cancer are slightly misleading. One of the main threats that eating too much of this kind of food is the saturated fat and its links to higher cholesterol, which can lead to the furring of the arteries, etc. Being fit and thin is not the optimum way to measure overall health. A lot of meat eaters jumped on the revised cancer message though, I get the impression a lot of people get fed up with the constant (and often conflicting) messages of what to eat.