Spoormakers’ half apology for “She knows exactly what she’s wearing – or not wearing” as journalist calls him a “Brontosaurus”; Government look to ‘double cycling + walking’ (with no plan for how) + more on the live blog

A perfect sprint of @Sammmy_Be, who wins the inaugural #RaceTorquay, notching up his second victory of the season!#WayToRide #No3in2020
Photo: @GettySport pic.twitter.com/ozp0DyPdKE

— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) January 30, 2020

Do you know how we can tell that this is the Aussie Torquay, not the British version?

We can see the sky…

This isn’t to knock Bikeability, which is perfectly fine. But if you were to write a list of things which would get more people cycling, and cycling safely and comfortably, training schemes for kids probably wouldn’t be in the top 50. Training is *pointless* without safe streets.

— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) January 30, 2020

At transport questions, junior transport minister George Freeman is asked successive questions about cycling from Labour MPs Feryal Clark and Matt Rodda. Freeman insists the govt will double cycling (and walking) in this parliament – but has no real explanation as to how….

— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) January 30, 2020

Currently, spending on active travel is quite a way off the £15+ per person that Labour MP Feryal Clark suggests is needed to meet such targets.

There are, some say, big plans on cycling being mulled inside No 10. But it has to be said, based on this Q&A session, the current DfT line-up of ministers don’t sound like they really understand the issue.

— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) January 30, 2020

Political correspondent for the Guardian Peter Walker is at Transport Questions. While the Government, who have a “cycling Prime Minister“, say they’re going to double cycling and walking in the time of this government, Walker says that there doesn’t seem to be a plan. 

We’ll be keeping our eye on this one. 

What is it about the Vuelta a San Juan and instances like this?

Belgian sports journalist and former professional cyclist, Sven Spoormakers has been accused of sexually objectifying a young female reporter working on the Argentinian race.

Seriously? Please tell me this is lost in translation and you did not just publicly objectify a young female reporter. Speaking from experience, let me say she does the exact same job as you but has to work and withstand twice as much still because of bullshit like this. https://t.co/N9EemBZLYV

— Sophie Smith (@SophieSmith86) January 29, 2020

When challenged by Aussie sports journalist Sophie Smith on his remarks, Spoormakers continues to blame the reporter in the picture, claiming that “she knows exactly what she’s wearing – or not wearing“.

So it’s her fault because you can’t stop looking at her boobs? What’s she meant to do, wear a potato sack so you don’t get excited? If I take a picture of you at work, post it and comment on how small your dick looks in a pair of shorts would you be alright with that?

— Sophie Smith (@SophieSmith86) January 29, 2020

This comes a year after Iljo Keisse was thrown off the same race for sexually harrassing a waitress. Keisse’s father then claimed that the waitress was “suggestive with her ass“.

Not only all that, but we’ve already had crashes caused by a rogue spectator and a rogue dog on stages 1 and 2 respectively. The curse of San Juan doesn’t seem to be relenting… 

Over and over and over again, my female colleagues have to defend themselves from institutional disrespect. I take your voice, Sophie, and I add mine. https://t.co/HGRz9H7DW4

— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) January 29, 2020

Mate, she’s wearing a top. That’s it. What’s the problem? Jesus Christ you’re a dinosaur.

— Matt Stephens (@RealStephens) January 30, 2020

Ah the wonderful “you wore that so you get raped” excuse. Even if she were in her bikinis and doing her job she still should be judged on her work and not her clothing. Or lack thereof

— José Been (@TourDeJose) January 30, 2020

Absolutely frustrating. @SvenSpoormakers your comment is inappropriate. We are more than the clothes we wear. If you can’t understand why your comment is inappropriate I suggest getting some training around sexism.

— Michele Reid (@Bliss_On_Earth) January 30, 2020

Some unsavoury comments filtering through, but luckily anyone with any kind of sense is defending the Argentinian reporter.  

A big shout out to the racers from Bath Cycling Club who were out racing on Zwift last night for their first team race. The Bath kit isn’t available in Zwift so the eight-man team was resplendent in road.cc colours, with Will Duffy taking second place overall, and three other Bath riders finishing in the top 20. Ride on!

This morning we’ve been reading the news that our neck of the woods, Bath, might be transformed into a mini-Holland through new transport changes that restrict vehicle access through residential areas.

You can imagine the reaction that this is going to get from the usual anti-cycling/environment/common-sense brigade. But the comments (so far) under the SomersetLive article seem to be relatively positive.

The reaction to the changes in a London borough, which have inspired the potential changes in Bath drew some properly ridiculous reactions with one person likening the modal filters (movable bollards) to the Berlin Wall.

Speaking to Somerset Live, Labour councillor Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader of Waltham Forest Council said that “there’s no rat-running. The people driving through are just the people who live there. There’s no speeding”.

Celebration complete here at road.cc Towers (apart from those crumbs) of our favourite pastry comestible – an ideal cycling fuel mix of fat, carbs and jam (maybe leave off the latter is you’re stuffing it in your jersey pocket). 

For some of us every day is croissant day, unless of course it’s pain au chocolat day… or should that be chocolatine?

*in France

So it’s her fault because you can’t stop looking at her boobs? What’s she meant to do, wear a potato sack so you don’t get excited? If I take a picture of you at work, post it and comment on how small your dick looks in a pair of shorts would you be alright with that?

— Sophie Smith (@SophieSmith86) January 29, 2020

Spanish police break up a doping ring based in Barcelona that was providing EPO to “a large number of national and international athletes in different disciplines and at different levels”. No names revealed, but sporting bodies are likely to be informed of them https://t.co/X3qOecoRXk

— Peter Cossins (@petercossins) January 30, 2020

Looks like we could have a new batch of top-level athletes about to be caught up in a doping investigation.

Hopefully, it won’t just be sporting bodies that are informed of athletes that are implicated as some are famous for brushing doping issues under the rug.

Can’t get over how genius wand orcas are. Lane abused by most drivers for nearly a year. Tried orcas, tried orange wands. Nothing worked. Stick some wand orcas in… Suddenly it’s sorted!!!

Thanks @ManCityCouncil @Piccadilly_Lab ! pic.twitter.com/7aR0ZzDaU4

— Sam – Wand Orca Enthusiast (@MCRCycleSam) January 30, 2020

Apparently, that what these are. More of this, please!

Very convincing win by Moschetti! pic.twitter.com/doofBKNHNP

— José Been (@TourDeJose) January 30, 2020

Only really posting this because I want to be in Mallorca on this rainy Thursday lunchtime.

Vasil Kiryienka has today announced his retirement from professional cycling, following medical advice regarding a cardiac issue.

— Team INEOS (@TeamINEOS) January 30, 2020

Known for his steely poker face and rock-solid position, the Ineos super-domestique will be a big loss for the Grand Tours.

What a career!

Let us know your favourite Kiry moments. Reply using the hashtag #ThankYouKiry pic.twitter.com/msCzdk6lMr

— Team INEOS (@TeamINEOS) January 30, 2020

Three questions were asked today directly about cycling. Here’s what the Government had to say… 

We’re amazed that it took him this long, but after hours of condemnation from the cycling world, Sven Spoormakers has finally deleted the ridiculous tweets that saw him accused of sexually objectifying a young female reporter at the Vuelta a San Juan.

Belén Mendiguren, the reporter, has also spoken out to condemn Spoormakers, rightly saying that what she wears does not enable him to make jokes or disrespect her.

Lo que yo lleve puesto no habilita el chiste o la falta de respeto hacia mi persona. Lamento que haya hombres que se detengan a hacer estos comentarios poco felices. Esto que a vos te parece divertido es parte de 1 engranaje machista que lastima y perjudica enormemente a la mujer https://t.co/lK52Vha4nE

— Belén Mendiguren (@lelumendy) January 30, 2020

Thank you Sophie, it’s gonna take time, but I really hope men will finally understand that this kind of comments are a complex gender issue. We live with this kind of gender violence since we r born. I invite everyone to ask your closest female friends about it as a first step. https://t.co/o0X0k7faGY

— Belén Mendiguren (@lelumendy) January 30, 2020

What was meant to be a funny remark, turned out to be offensive to a lot of people. That was bad judgement. Sorry. And to @lelumendy in particular: we never met, but if you’re ever in Belgium, you’re welcome to discover I’m not the brontosaurus you think I am.

— Sven Spoormakers (@SvenSpoormakers) January 30, 2020

Well. in 280 characters anyway. Clearly quite a few people didn’t thin k the comments were just “a funny remark”…

Scroll down the blog to read through the rest of the drama, minus Spoormakers’ deleted tweets. 

Y este brontosaurus dice que no es lo que me pongo si no lo que muestro. Váyase a dormir señora. Repito me pongo lo que quiero y siento adecuado. Vaya a escribir algo sobre un tema más relevante e interesante. https://t.co/8Cj0X6roeR

— Belén Mendiguren (@lelumendy) January 30, 2020

The comment was originally made by Spoormakers himself in an apology to Belén Mendiguren, where he said she was welcome to meet him and discover he’s “not the brontosaurus you think I am.”

It appears the apology wasn’t exactly accepted, with Mendiguren saying to a critic: “And this brontosaurus says that it is not what I wear if not what I show. Go to sleep, ma’am.

“I repeat, I wear what I want and feel great. Go write something about a more relevant and interesting topic.”

If you’re only just catching up on the live blog today… former cyclist-turned journalist Sven Spoormakers appeared to claim that Argentinian journalist Belén Mendiguren was dressed inappropriately during an interview at the Vuelta a San Juan (see main pic) and said she “knows exactly what she’s wearing”. He’s since deleted the offending tweets.