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A very considerate overtake (but …); Boulting big fan of Dutch bike parking; Coppi TdF yellow jersey from iconic photo up for auction; Regional cycling federation chief banned for doping; De Gendt answers fans’ questions; + more on the live blog

All today's from the site and beyond.....
04 December 2019, 20:51
A very considerate overtake, but ...

Here's something that's god to see - a motorist giving a cyclist a huge amount of space when overtaking.

But as David, the road.cc reader who filmed it in Bournemouth, points out, "Yyes, great pass intended, but badly planned.," with the driver having to pull in sharpish afterwards due to an oncoming car (the driver of that one also having to move to the left).

 

04 December 2019, 20:29
Ned Boulting's impressed at Utrecht station's cycle parking
04/12/2019, 20:28
04 December 2019, 15:40
Some more info on Sustrans' software adaptation to make cycling routes more inclusive

We reported on Monday's live blog that Sustrans have developed an adapted version of the AutoTURN software - originally used to analyse and accommodate movement of motor vehicles - to simulate accurate real-life movements of people who cycle. In the above video, Giulio Ferrini of Sustrans gives a few more details. 

04 December 2019, 15:32
Brighton cyclists warned about riding wrong way down one-way street
St James's Street brighton

The Argus reports that police offers say they will fine anyone who they catch cycling the wrong way down one-way St James’s Street in Brighton. A Police spokesman said: “Cycling the wrong way in St James’s Street is prohibited and can cause harm to others as well as the cyclist.

"It also attracts a fine so for your pocket, your safety and the safety of others. Go with the flow.”

The penalty for anyone caught red-handed is £50. 

 

04 December 2019, 15:24
Bahrain-Merida to become Bahrain-Mclaren for 2020
bahrain mclaren

Last week it was announced that the Merida would be dropped from the name, and now Mark Cavendish' team have officially announced they will become Bahrain McLaren. A statement says: "As Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team we achieved many incredible results in the past three years, learned some valuable lessons and have immensely grown as a team. Together with our primary partner, Merida Bikes, we built a solid foundation and are now looking forward to continuing this incredible journey via a joint venture with McLaren, the renowned racing, technology and super car brand, where competition and racing is a part of the DNA.

"Merida is stepping back as the primary partner and title sponsor but continues to be our official bicycle supplier and valued technical partner, providing our team with the best equipment possible. Merida played an important part in the creation of the team, coming on board as our foundation partner for the debut 2017 season."

04 December 2019, 15:17
Frightening.

We try to stay apolitical on road.cc, but a reminder that the NHS is worth protecting at all costs whatever your political persuasions.  

04 December 2019, 15:12
Tributes to Bjorg Lambrecht in Norway as a commemorative star is placed in Egersund

Tributes were held in the Norwegian town of Egersand, where Lambrecht won a stage in 2018, with a star-shaped plaque laid on the concrete in memory. 

04 December 2019, 14:53
Rare Fausto Coppi jersey and even his pyjamas are up for auction, with jersey expected to fetch up to €25,000
fausto coppi jersey action - via astebolaffi.it_

Posted on the Aste Bolaffi website, Lot 306 contains a size 3 Le Coq Sportif racing jersey in mustard yellow worn by Coppi at the 39th edition of the Tour de France in 1952. You also get a photograph with Coppi's signature thrown in and the jersey features two pockets on the front, two on the back and the classic Le Coq Sportif logo - the estimated winning bid will be as much as €25,000 according to Aste Bolaffi. 

fausto coppi pyjamas - via astebolaffi.it_

If you win the auction for Lot 305 you can even get yourself Coppi's knitted pyjamas, with his initials embroidered on the front pocket. Apparently the shirt was donated to the collector by his brother in 1993.

If you have wads of cash and want to own some pieces of cycling history, get bidding! And of course we'll post what the winning bids were if and when we find out... 

04 December 2019, 12:49
President Dope: Extremadura's actual PRESIDENT of cycling gets a four year doping ban

If this bloke doesn't know better then we give up, but according to El Mundo Pedro Romero, a former road and mtb pro and now the actual President of Extremadura's Cycling Federation, has been banned for doping for four years. 

The Spanish Agency for the Protection of Health in Sport (AEPSAD) concluded their sanctioning process last Monday after it was found that Romero tested positive for Darbepoetin Alfa in 2018. 

Romero took his presidential role in the Spanish region back in 2017, and only stopped formally competing in June of this year. He claims the whole process has been full of "inconsistencies" and still denies he was doping, as his urine sample wasn't positive: "If the urine sample is negative, this is a total and absolute nonsense and we have not been able to explain it.

"It would be the first control in history that tests positive in blood but not in urine. Urine is suitable and meets validity criteria; if not, they would have discarded it and used another method. They have not been able to explain this." 

 

04 December 2019, 12:32
Bath cyclist hit by Poundland lorry says he's been hit four times in 10 years on his commute
bathwick

Stephen Nippard, who is also a truck driver, told Somerset Live that he is "lucky to be alive" after being knocked off his bike and dragged at the junction of Bathwick Street and Beckford Road last Tuesday: “I was shouting and had to jump from my bicycle and scramble clear from the articulated truck. 

 “I had my lights on and my high vis and everything.”

The Poundland driver left the scene, claiming they didn't know they'd hit Mr Nippard. Poundland said: “We’re aware of the incident in Bath.  The police investigated at the time and took no action, but we’re currently discussing directly with Mr Nippard how best we can resolve matters.”

Mr Nippard says his bike and accessories were worth an estimated £1,700, and fears he won't be able to reclaim the costs. He also raised fears for his safety when cycling around the city and says he's been hit on three previous occasions: “No-one takes any notice of the cycle box. I see cars there all the time. Even police cars don’t take any notice so what chance has anybody else got?

“Once I was even knocked off by bike by a police car going into the police station. It was probably about five years’ ago now. You can’t make it up.”​

 

04 December 2019, 12:18
Controversial...

Considering most of derision towards Peloton's ridiculous ad was for being sexist on the first place, is this observation wide of the mark? We can certainly think of other reasons people may dislike them...  

04 December 2019, 11:57
MPCC group calls for better doping controls, including blood testing right after race finishes

The Mouvement Pour un Cyclisme Crédible (MPCC) sent a letter to David Lappartient outlining their proposals. They want an increase in the number of blood tests, and more timely collection of blood samples including right after riders cross the finish line. They also want riders to be searched for plastic in their blood, which is an indication that it's been injected at some stage. 

The end with: "It is therefore necessary to be even more aggressive in the implementation of controls."

04 December 2019, 11:20
Two new Stolen Goat x World Bicycle Relief jerseys launched, with all profits going to World Bicycle Relief
world bicycle relief stolen goat MENSSSJERSEY_01

Stolen Goat have once again teamed up with World Bicycle Relief, the charity that delivers rugged 'Buffalo bikes' to communities in developing countries to boost social mobility. 

The Hustle Jersey and the Zambian Zebra are both available now in men's and women's cuts, priced at £75. Head over to the Stolen Goat website to buy. 

04 December 2019, 09:27
Thomas De Gendt gives fascinating impromptu Twitter Q+A

On the comedown from his epic 700km gravel adventure with Tim Wellens, De Gendt answered one of his Twitter followers who suggested a quick Q+A... and the Belgian played ball with some very interesting answers... 

One of the most interesting was the claim that he didn't have a 'proper' bike for his first six years of racing: "If you can’t win on a cheap bike then you can’t win on a expensive one."

De Gendt also gave his musings on massages, saying they're "a waste of time", said he prefers rim brakes and admits to spending a little too much time with Tim Wellens ("I *was his superfan"). 

Finally, De Gendt's mid-ride snacks of choice are gingerbread and Nutella with banana, and his favourite bands are Queens of the Stone Age, Rammstein and Muse. His first cycling memory was riding his bike in the garden when he was 3, which was an old BMX belonging to his brother.  

04 December 2019, 09:15
Lotto Soudal's team bikes are for sale

While Tim Wellens has been away it looks like his team have been flogging his bikes, with Lotto Soudal launching a sale of 2019 team bikes. While they're by no means cheap, it gives you the chance to own a truly top level bike ridden by a pro for less than you'd pay at standard RRP - there are Ridley Noah Fast and Ridley Helium SLX bikes in various sizes for sale from 3,199 euros, all with top-end Campagnolo wheels and Super Record groupsets. Click here to have a browse. 

04 December 2019, 08:42
Cavendish faces "extremely challenging" path to Olympic track team selection, says GB head coach Iain Dyer
Mark_Cavendish - credit Bahrain Merida

Dyre told the PA media agency: “The door is open but it’s extremely challenging to carve out an opportunity at this point,” Dyer told the PA media agency.

“Simply because there are people there that have had their hand in the air.”

Cav was in good form at Six Day London back in October, toppling Elia Viviani in a sprint finish in one of the events; but Dyer raised concerns about the need for five riders who can flourish in bunch racing and pursuit events, and Cavendish likely won't be first choice for the latter: “When you’re travelling to the other side of the world with only five riders at your disposal you really want to make sure you’re covered for both pursuits and bunch racing events, ideally with reserves and flexibility there,” Dyer said.

“You still want to have five that can ride the team pursuit so to have someone who is solely a Madison specialist in there and doesn’t have any other availability isn’t the perfect scenario. If one of the other riders goes down you’ve got a problem.”

04 December 2019, 08:50
Rim brake preservation...

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

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CyclingInBeastMode | 4 years ago
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Well at least one pro has shown themselves to have their head screwed on regarding brakes.

Also unsurprisingly he's correct on the winning on a cheap bike, you've maybe seen the type, turn up to a TT or some other event in jeans and a tee on a 25 year old MTB with slicks and starts burning most of the riders off. The Dutch postie from a few years back who was going up the Cauberg on his sit up and beg plus panniers making the Radobank riders look like a bunch of newbs is a prime example, if you're good enough you'll stand out on a machine that would be considered dated.

I don't see the overtake as being that close for the ncoming car at the speeds I could see, yes it's a little close but not horrendous, maybe the oncoming driver could have eased off a smidge well before anyway, afterall it's only a 30 zone isn't it?

 

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