UCI boss backs Riis return; Ottilie Quince puts ultimate burn on Lance Armstrong’s $30k Mallorca cycling trip; Halfords staff help stricken cyclist; First Bus boss says delays due to cyclists … using buses; Council bike path ‘thornaggedon’ + more

There’s been a bit of trolling of Lance Armstrong the past couple of days after the news that the disgraced cyclist, banned from the sport for life and stripped of seven Tour de France titles for doping, was charging $30,000 a pop for the chance to join him and former US Postal team-mate (and confessed doper) George Hincapie) for a week’s cycling in Mallorca.

Top spot on the podium though goes to Ottilie Quince – who received a kidney from her mother after being diagnosed with a cancerous tumour, is an 11-time World Transplant Games champion, and runs a cycling coaching business in, of all places, Mallorca.

Fuck it, I’ll guide you round Mallorca for a bag of sand Final offer #RideWithOQServiceCourse #OneThousandPoundsOnly #cycling #Mallorca https://t.co/E4XqxLtsRm

— Ottilie Quince (@OttilieQ) January 23, 2020

You can read her fascinating backstory here, and even if we had $30,000 going spare, we’d rather take her up on the offer of a cycling trip to the island in exchange for a bag of sand. We’re off to Weston-Super-Mare with our spades tomorrow.

So it's not just cyclists who think this is a ridiculous and ill-thought out over-reaction?@camcycle https://t.co/NjpuYwQS8d

— Simon Reeves (@SBOReeves) January 24, 2020

The researchers are looking for participants to help with a study aimed at reducing the number of incidents on the road. Working with cycling UK, the University’s Transport Research Group are working to develop new training programs to help road users understand risky behaviours and improve awareness of other road users. There will also be focus groups including people who travel by bike and car where they can discuss their views on 'a series of questions and scenarios'.

The researchers say cyclists are disproportionately represented in UK accident statistics with over 18,000 injured in road accidents in 2016. The study will contribute to the development of training programs for drivers and cyclists that will include theory and practical elements on the road or a simulator. 

Dr Katie Plant, Lecturer in Human Factors in Engineering at the University of Southampton, said: “For most of us, training in road safety is limited to taking our cycling proficiency test at school and passing our driving test. This makes it very easy for our knowledge of traffic laws and the Highway Code to diminish over time.

“A high proportion of road accidents involve cyclists and drivers, two groups who are traditionally in conflict with each other. It is really important therefore that we get both groups involved to find out where the gaps in awareness lie.”

If you're interested in taking part, you can contact focus group co-ordinator and senior researcher Matthew Webster at M.Webster [at] soton.ac.uk.

While also talking up a possible gravel world champs, Lappartient has also weighed in on the return of convicted doper Bjarne Riis to pro cycling as team manager of NTT Pro Cycling. He said he understands opposition to the appointment, but that Riis has a right to return: "I am sure he has learned some lessons from the past, so that he will be stronger in the future."

"If you include the Tour de France winners between 1996 and 2010, only two riders weren't caught doping. It was a difficult time for our sport, but I think we are now at the forefront of the fight against doping. We've invested a lot of money in the CADF anti-doping agency, about ten million Swiss francs a year. This is necessary because credibility can be lost in five minutes and it takes twenty years to get it back." 

Lappartient also reiterated the need to invest more in anti-doping, as the number of cases has actually increased worldwide: "75 percent of the doping cases come from South America. That is a concern for the UCI. I have spoken with federations and national anti-doping agencies and put them under pressure to combat doping. We went to one country, did twelve tests and they were all positive. That's horrible."

You can ride with me & https://t.co/rq0QymnVm8 for $20 this Sunday. Proceeds go to @ecocycle to help with the current recycling crisis. https://t.co/JkW0MguxTa

— Alex Howes (@alex_howes) January 23, 2020

Alex Howes makes the point that instead of paying $30,000 to ride with Lance Armstrong and George Hincapie, you can instead join up with him and his Project Super Training group for $20, with all proceeds going to the Eco-Cycle environmental charity. Similarly Phil Gaimon has retweeted the news to mention that you can also choose to ride with him and friends for free to raise funds for the No Kid Hungry charity in May. 

The head of Bristol’s biggest bus operator, First West of England, has blamed cyclists as well as traffic for causing delays that have seen the operator flooded with complaints – or at least, that’s what a headline in the Bristol Post would have you believe.

As road.cc user Brooksby pointed out in a forum post, the headline, First Bus blames delays on cyclists and traffic as complaints pile up, might lead one to wonder, “Is it cyclists using bus lanes? Being inconsiderate?”

Actually, no.  What First West of England managing director James Freeman actually said was: “We have seen extremely icy weather move in on Monday and Tuesday, followed by thick fog on Wednesday, which unfortunately slowed traffic more than usual all through Bristol during rush hour.

“In addition, we saw a surge people, many of whom we believe were cyclists using buses to avoid those potentially dangerous conditions.

“As a result, buses were getting full quicker, with consequential delays for passengers boarding at stops closer in to the city centre.”

As Brooksby pointed out: “So First are actually blaming people for actually using the service they're providing, and the Post is – as usual – putting together any clickbaity headline they can.

“Grrr.”

We’re glad that’s been cleared up.

It appears file sharing and sharing space on the road are two peas in a pod, as tech company Dropbox have formally backed the work of the Dublin Cycling Campaign by becoming a business member, reports the Irish Times. 

Their Director of Solutions Paulo Rodriguez said: “We understand the importance of making cities and towns bicycle friendly, and are delighted to partner with Dublin Cycling Campaign.”

“They are advocating to make cycling a safe aspect of everyday life. We have been very impressed with their unceasing work to effect change at national, local and community levels.”

Dropbox employ more than 160 people in Ireland, and the Dublin Cycle Campaign has more than 700 members. 

This is how true champions behave. Not what they do when competing, but how they behave off the field of play. Thank you @petosagan @BORAhansgrohe @UCI_cycling @cyclingweekly @Cyclingnewsfeed @RondeVlaanderen @cyclingmole pic.twitter.com/MbMxqUhFtj

— Dr Jonathan Leung (@jonpleung) January 23, 2020

We're feeling all warm and fuzzy this Friday morning after Peter Sagan decided to make a young fan's year by sending him a signed jersey and a signed copy of his book, 'My World'. 

Originally Dr Jonathan Leung posted a photo of his young son on a Frog kids' bike - to which Sagan privately messaged to ask if the boy was his son. Leung said yes, and that one day the two-year-old will win the Ronde... and Sagan asked for an address and phone number to "further encourage this future champion." 

A week later and the nipper was a proud owner of a Sagan edition world champ's jersey and a book with a personal message. Chapeau Mr Sagan, that is indeed how true champions behave! 

Rawnsley's funeral took place St Mary's & St Monica's Church in Cottingley, with close friend Philip Helliwell reading out the eulogy: "John was recognised by British Cycling when he was inducted into their first Hall of Fame along with such names as Chris Boardman, Barry Hoban and Tom Simpson.

"British Cycling later recognised his achievements by presenting him with a further prestigious award: the Gold Badge of Honour.

"He was immensely proud of these awards, and he had other accolades. In 1992, he was voted Sportsman of the Year by the Sports Council for Yorkshire and Humberside.

"In 1993, he received a memorial award from the Yorkshire Cycling Federation, and in February 2013 he received their lifetime achievement award." 

Rawnsley passed away on Christmas day on his 82 birthday. He remained deeply involved with the Three Peaks race, despite his battle with cancer leading up to his death.