Shocking vid as bike thief threatens bystander with angle-grinder; Fuglsang starts 2020 with bang; RNIB says e-scooters ARE dangerous; TdF stage winner Mercado linked to burglaries; Kid 'doesn't want to ride any more' after hi-vis talk + more on the live

Among potential Grand Tour contenders, Astana's Jakob Fuglsang was the standout rider in the first few months of 2019 - and he's kicked off his 2020 season and defence of his Tour of Andalucia title today, winning the opening stage.

The Dane, who has recently vehemently denied training last year with banned Italian doping doctor Michele Ferrari, followed up his win in the early season Spanish race last year with podiums at Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico and all three Ardennes Classics - including victory at Liege-Bastogne-Liege - by the end of April.

One swallow doesn't make a summer, and one stage doesn't make a six-stage race, let alone a spring campaign ... but following those allegations, he's bound to be one of the more closely watched riders right now, and not just by fans and the media.

Our article yesterday - regarding a new report from the International Transport Forum that says concerns surrounding the safety of e-scooters are overemphasised - has prompted the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) to get in touch to warn of the dangers of e-scooters around blind and partially sighted people. 

The RNIB's Policy and Campaigns Officer Zoe Courtney said in a statement: “E-scooters are dangerous for blind and partially sighted people as they are hard to hear and capable of reaching high speeds. The rise of silent vehicles such as e-scooters, but that also include electric and hybrid cars, is making it harder for people with sight loss to make independent journeys on foot as they are no longer able rely on sound to detect these vehicles.

“Despite it currently being illegal to do so, RNIB are aware of a rapid increase in recent months of e-scooters being driven on pavements and public walkways. Footways are vital for blind and partially sighted people to access transport hubs, essential services such as healthcare and education, and get to work. When footways become inaccessible, blind and partially sighted people lose their independence. Instead they must rely on expensive and polluting private hire vehicles to get around.

“If there is to be a change in the law relating to powered transporters, such as e-scooters, these safety concerns must first be fully addressed. We can only support the legalisation of powered transporters on public roads if the safety of blind and partially sighted people can be guaranteed.” 

How do you think the safety concerns (if you think there are any) should be addressed? Do e-scooters need their own trademark noise so we know when they're coming through? Answers on a postcard, or in the comments below ideally... 

This, ladies and gentlemen, is what sweating over your headset does to it. Even if you've covered it and wiped it down please check before taking the bike back out on the road. pic.twitter.com/ptDwiZd8t3

— NorthRoadCycles (@NorthRoadCycles) February 18, 2020

Apparently the damage done here is almost exclusively due to corrosion from sweat... if you're a fan o the turbo/smart trainer, make sure it's covered! 

The city will take advantage of the £1.065 million cash injection from the Department for Transport’s Access Fund to extend a four-year programme of partnership work between Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council. 

The programme has already led to notable increases in cycling and walking, claim Leicester City Council, with over 1,000 employees' bikes getting free services and 40 business getting travel grants to provide secure cycle parking, showers and electric bike fleets for staff.

More than 30,000 schoolchildren have also taken part in activities to encourage cycling to school in partnership with Sustrans. Deputy city mayor Councillor Adam Clarke commented: "We’ve already done a lot of work to promote walking, cycling and other sustainable transport across the city, and it’s very encouraging to see that this work is paying off, particularly in the impact it’s having on children walking to school. These successes have been instrumental in our securing a further £1 million to build on this work.

“We’re facing a climate emergency which requires urgent action at every level – individually, by local and national governments, and internationally. Everyone can play their part and we will be using this money to make it easier for us all to take action and make a positive impact on our local environment.”   

HAPPENING NOW: Forensic Crash Unit is on scene in Mount Louisa, where there’s been reports of a hit and run, with 5 cyclists injured. @9NewsNorthQld pic.twitter.com/jx3cEQTwce

— Lily Greer (@lilgreer9) February 18, 2020

A 28-year-old man has been injured following an alleged hit-and-run in which five cyclists were mown down in the suburb of Mount Louisa in Townsville, Queensland.  

Police and ambulances were called at around 5:40am on Tuesday morning, with two of the cyclists hit initially described as being in a "serious condition", reports ABC News Australia. An abandoned car was then found dumped at a scrapyard nearby, with police establishing that the car wasn't stolen or linked to any recent crimes. 

One female cyclist is reported to have suffered leg and pelvic injuries while another has serious leg injuries. Two men are been treated for back injuries, and another woman was allowed to leave hospital after been treated for minor injuries. ​

Police have charged the driver from Mount Louisa with four counts of dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm, and one count each of dangerous driving adversely affected by an intoxicating substance, and failing to remain at the scene and render assistance. 

The President of Townsville Cycling Club told ABC: "To see what happened to these five people this morning was just deplorable. 

"They're very well known in the cycling community, have been involved for a long time in some of the larger charity rides around the place. Just very, very nice people — nobody deserves to get hit by a car."

Police Minister Mark Ryan also commented: "My thoughts are with the victims of this senseless, heartless, cowardly attack.

"I have no doubt that this incident will hit Townsville's cycling community hard."

Granada Today report that the 41-year-old, who won stage 18 at the 2004 Tour de France and stage 10 in 2006, is been investigated by police for his alleged involvement in a criminal gang that have carried out at least 16 violent burglaries in and around the Spanish province of Granada. 

Mercado has been named as part of Operation Zaletasuna, which is been conducted by the Spanish Civil Guard to dismantle criminal gangs terrorising the Granada Metropolitan Area. It's reported that at least 16 robberies took place between December 2019 and this month with more than 120,000 euros stolen, plus vehicles, sports equipment, musical instruments and electronics, and three people have already been arrested. Force was said to have been used in many of the robberies, with numerous traders and homeowners assaulted. 

The investigation remains open, however some of the victims reported that those who allegedly committed the robberies were back on the streets within 24 hours of been arrested, and wanted them to be detained. Other Spanish media have reported that Mercado chose "the wrong path" after retiring from professional cycling, according to Sporza. 

Andy, sorry to hear this. We would certainly not ever want your son to be discouraged from #cycling. I’m away in Australia at the moment but have tasked one of my team to look into what happened and will update.

— Andy Cox (@SuptAndyCox) February 19, 2020

While it's not a legal requirement to wear high-visibility clothing, Andy Evans claimed his son was spoken to by officers and handed hi-vis clothing to continue his journey despite already running lights and wearing "a bright red jacket".

Pretty sure. This was the picture of him with his mum that the Police tweeted. This was after they’d been ‘talked to’ and dressed in ‘free’ hi vis but before they were sent on their way... pic.twitter.com/Txt1j80Er2

— Andy Evans (@AndyDEvans) February 18, 2020

Mr Evans also claims the police put an unsolicited photo on their Twitter feed to promote the operation, and now Superintendent Andy Cox of the Met Police has apologised and said he will task his team with looking into the incident. 

Recently the Met Police denied a scheme carried out by its Cycle Safety Team in which hi-vis vests were issued to cyclists was "victim blaming", with Superintendent Cox saying there is "some evidence" hi-vis can reduce risk; Mark Hodson of West Midands Police, one of the officers behind their renowned close pass operation, was among those to criticise the move. 

Just showed this to my youngest as a means of justifying why I constantly go on at him about not riding too close to parked cars.

And if you’re a motorist wondering why “that cyclist in front of you is taking up all of the road”, this is quite often the reason why 👍 https://t.co/dwaguHbJlm

— IronPhil (@PICollard) February 18, 2020

This scary clip shows why so many of us refuse to ride anywhere near car doors, and why infrastructure that puts cyclists near parked cars aren't the greatest idea; we're hoping the cyclist in the clip makes a full recovery.