Coronavirus: No races cancelled yet, says UCI … but more and more teams are pulling out of upcoming events; Rasmussen wants his Colnagos back; More people want cycling investment; Bolton Council forgets cycling + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
New Bike Life Report from Sustrans says more people want investment in cycling, and less for cars
The report has some quite promising stats about the public’s attitude towards investment in cycling, with 58% of the 17,000 surveyed believing there should be more investment in cycling, while 42% wanted more investment for drivers. 55% believed there were too many people driving in cities, and 56% agreed with the idea of charging more to drivers of heavily polluting vehicles. 68% supported the building of more cycle lanes even if this meant less road space, and 77% believed more segregated cycle lanes would encourage them to cycle more.
Full story with analysis of this from our news editor later today.
UAE Tour confirm six new coronavirus cases
The UAE Tour have this morning confirmed that the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has announced six new cases of the COVID-19 virus in the UAE.
Although there was speculation from an Italian journalist that there hadn’t been any official diagnosis, the statement says that two Russians, two Italians, one German and one Colombian have been diagnosed, and that the new patients were connected to the two previously announced cases at the UAE Tour.
MoHAP confirmed that the cases are being monitored, and individuals are currently in a stable condition and are receiving treatment. This also means that for the time being, some riders and staff are still stuck in quarantine in the UAE.
UAE riders quarantined until 14th March, according to Groupama-FDJ
— Équipe Cycliste Groupama-FDJ (@GroupamaFDJ) March 4, 2020
Groupama-FDJ have confirmed they have been informed that 12 of their employees have been asked to observe a period of quarantine in the UAE until 14th March. They say none of the positive tests involve their team.
Lopez has now accused the Royal Spanish Cycling of not caring about riders in UAE quanantine
Hasta ayer mismo no os preocupasteis de nada sobre nuestro asunto y encima fue porque una tercera persona llamó al presidente.
Los contactos con el @deportegob empezaron ayer precisamente por esa llamada.
Ya que no haceis nada encima no nos tomeis el pelo.— Jose Herrada Lopez (@joherradalopez) March 4, 2020
Clearly a frustrated man, Lopez replied to a tweet from the federation that says they are working with the UAE’s embassy to process the return of Spanish nationals to say they have only got involved because someone got in touch with the Spanish president: “don’t tease us”, he says.
Bolton Council tell us to "leave the car behind and take the bus, train or tram"... but what about bikes?
Dirty air is making us sick.
Can you leave the car behind and take the bus, train or tram? 🚌🚆🚋
Help clean up our air: https://t.co/bLwnTlXgGU@CleanAirGM— Bolton Council (@boltoncouncil) March 4, 2020
We’ll break off from coronavirus updates briefly to ask Bolton Council? What’s up with cycling or walking? Although the link they provide to Greater Manchester’s Clean Air plan does a better job of telling us all the ways we can reduce pollution.
Women's team Parkhotel Valkenburg latest to pull out of Strade Bianche, accusing organisers of "not taking responsibility"
To go or not to go. We take our own responsibility. #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/t6H8zW94gq
— PHVCT (@PushingDreamsNL) March 4, 2020
The team have joined EF Pro Cycling in pulling out of the Strade Bianche, citing safety concerns.
The statement says: “We are not going to Siena and start on the Strade Bianche on March 7th. The same is for the Trofeo Alfredo Binda on March 22nd.
“It is super unfortunate that we have to come to this conclusion at the latest timing, but if the Italian government, the race organisation or the UCI will not take responsibility, then we need to take it.”
Another one: Jumbo-Visma latest to pull out of Strade Bianche
Following Ef Pro Cycling and Parkhotel Valkenburg are Jumbo-Visma, who said in a statement: “Team Jumbo-Visma will not participate in Strade Bianche and GP Industria, this weekend. The decision has been taken on medical advice, the recommendation of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as on sportive and practical grounds. It’s likely that the same decision will apply to other Italian races in March. However, we are also awaiting messages from the Italian government.
“We know that any team that goes to Italy might probably be prevented from racing in any other country. The focus has to be on salvaging the bulk of the season, not a handful of races”, a joint statement of cycling teams, including Team Jumbo-Visma, says. The teams are in close contact with the UCI, who will make their decisions known shortly.
Medical advice and guidelines of the involved authorities will be taken into account before any decision about participation will be made.”
With big name teams dropping out, will organisers have no choice but to pull the race? We’re still waiting for an official announcement from the Italian government, so as it stands the Strade Bianche will go ahead.
£8 million walking and cycling project underway in Glasgow
Glasgow’s Active Travel project will commence as part of the council’s bid to tackle the climate crisis and improve public health, reports Glasgow Live. The project is been presided over by Sustrans, and it’s hoped the new protected cycle routes will boost active travel in the city.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson promised even more funds in the future, saying: “For our wellbeing, health and climate – people require more opportunities to walk, cycle and wheel for shorter everyday journeys. As we respond to the climate emergency, this focus has never been greater and our funding is now at record levels. The draft budget proposes over £85 million for active travel, much of which will be match funded, and that is before an additional £15 million in ring-fenced local authority funding which brings the amount to over £100 million pounds.”
Michael Rasmussen wants his old Colnagos back
I am looking for help to locate some of my old Colnago’s from the Rabobank days between 2003-2007. I am trying to recollect them for my own little bike museum. Please spread the word. pic.twitter.com/hKtdXqsPhr
— Michael Rasmussen (@MRasmussen1974) March 4, 2020
The convicted doper is looking to build his own ‘bike museum’, and would like to locate some of the Colnago bikes he used for Team Rabobank between 2003-2007 to decorate it with.
Have you seen any fashionble folk buzzing around Shoreditch on one of Michael’s bikes? If so, he would like you to get in touch…
Zdenek Stybar has a curious new bell
Mathieu van der #Poel is terug op de fiets en maakt plezier met Zdenek #Stybar! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/o2RPSfyaKV
— Wieler Revue (@wielerrevue) March 4, 2020
We’re not sure exactly the make and model of the contraption Stybar has on his bars, but it’ll certainly get you heard. The footage was posted by Mathieu van der Poel, who is back on his bike after missing a considerable amount of training recently due to a heavy flu (no, not THAT flu).
Former cyclocross National Champion, Ian Field, launches coaching company
The multiple former National Cyclocross Champion Ian Field has announced the creation of his coaching company ‘Veld’. The name comes from the Dutch translation of ‘field’, Ian’s surname. Speaking about the new venture, Field said:
“Having coached for eight years on a limited basis while racing professionally, I am excited to now be in a position to dedicate time to launch my own coaching vision”.
Veld will offer a range of plans on a pay-monthly basis. To find out more, click to the link below.
Mitchelton-Scott pull out of Strade Bianche and seven other races
STATEMENT: Mitchelton-SCOTT position regarding COVID-19.
Following extensive discussions, we have made the decision to withdraw our teams from the next period of racing, regardless of the individual Government Regulations in place.
More details 👇https://t.co/nV8lbx0eG4
— Mitchelton-SCOTT (@MitcheltonSCOTT) March 4, 2020
The domino effect is beginning to take hold, with another big name confirming their absence… at this rate, there will be no one racing the white gravel at the weekend.
Mitchelton-Scott have pulled their men’s and women’s teams out of eight races in total: they are the Strade Bianche, GP Industria, Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriatico, Ronde van Drenthe, Danilith Nokere Koerse, Milan-San Remo and Trofeo Alfredo Binda.
Groupama-FDJ the latest team to pull out of Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico
French UCI WorldTour outfit Groupama-FDJ has announced it will not race at Strade Bianche on Saturday or Tirreno-Adriatico next week.
The team is one of four with riders and staff currently in quarantine in an Abu Dhabi hotel following the UAE Tour last week.
It said on Twitter that situation was partly to blame for it “lacking sufficient numbers of available riders and staff” and its decision to pull out of the Italian races.
— Équipe Cycliste Groupama-FDJ (@GroupamaFDJ) March 4, 2020
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@Mr Blackbird motorists who drink alcohol should be required to pass the test twice, once sober and once after three drinks in two hours. Then they can get an endorsement on their licence for driving home from the pub after a few pints.
In France, the closer the cyclist gets to the Mediterranean Sea, the weirder car drivers behave. Some of them being repeat road deliquents. Encounters with 13, 31, 34 and 84 may prove hairy. Drivers with plates showing 84 (Vaucluse) think light signalling is no longer necessary before making a turn or exiting a roundabout. Pity UAE Team came to the decision not to press charges.
@MaxiMinimalist We can fear such a ban to varying degrees. But I'd be surprised if it happens. Even if it does the police don't have the resource and time to deal with dangerous drivers. So I guess they will ignore it anway.
Sooner or later, there will be public calls for cycling ban on specific roads and / or at specific times of the day. The great divide that separates cyclists from drivers of motorized vehicles with 4-plus wheels isn't going to narrow anytime soon. In spite of the net-zero madness, there is zip political ambition to allocate massive funds to cycling, build proper infrastructure, elaborate a nationwide integrated cycling network, educate all road users. Why? Because motorists of all kinds are voters and taxpayers.
@Smoggysteve Right - as I say, though - that's a separate debate, that I'll leave to others.
AS I read this, I was wondering hao many other legal e-bikes may have been seized and crushed as a result of this bogus test? As I pointed out recently in a reply to a Facebook post that stated that e-bikes are limited to 25kph/15.5mph any bike, whether a pure pedal cycle or an e-bike, can exceed this speed if the rider can pedal hard enough, or when going downhill. The regulation just states that the motor must switch off at higher speeds. If the rider can achieve higher speeds unaided, that is legal. The test that the police used just demonstrated the maximum "speed" achieved by pedal power alone with no or little resistance can be much higher than the motor cut-off speed.
@ROOTminus1 Unfortunately, people will still do all they can to get past. the MGIFs can't help themselves and are a danger to everyone not only the cyclist.
It was going to weigh them up, but they were below the limit.
Clearly driver training and the driving test need to change to meet modern time poor driving conditions. I suggest the following need to be added to the practical test : 1) Undertaking on pavements. 2) Close passing cyclists or horses at 50mph.(It is clear from the comments on this website that cyclists do not appreciate how difficult a skill this is to master). 3) Threading between bollards to park on pavements near fast food outlets. 4) Steering with the knees while using a mobile phone and eating a burger or sushi, depending on the area. 5) Fighting with cyclists at roundabouts. For the advanced driving test the fighting will be with gangs of Hell's Angels or Mods. 6) Handbrake turns. 7) Driving at speed after all night parties. 8) Selecting the wrong gear and smashing into somebody's living room. The theory test could be shortened to make room for these practical additions. Maybe it could just be distilled down to learning crucial phrases like : "The cyclist came out of nowhere!" "I had the children in the car." "I had hunger knock and urgently needed an egg Mcmuffin." "I didn't see them." "I had been to a party and was wearing different shoes."
The headline states the article will "weigh up the pros and cons" but doesn't really provide any argument for keeping the limit. Or maybe it's to "weigh up the pros (of lowering the limit) and cons (of keeping the limit)"? Beyond having a different limit for either/or women's races/smaller riders, which I can see a strong argument for, I don't really see the point of just lowering the absolute limit. What will it achieve? We'll end up with aero bikes at the new limit but instead of costing £10-15k, it'll be £15-20k and we'll still hear more complaining about everything in the bike industry being so expensive. Sure, no one's forced to buy the TdF bike, but it does anchor the price ceiling, which will have an effect on every other model. There's a focus in the article on companies being able to make lightweight bikes again, or for pros to race on them. Well, they already exist for those that want them. And the pros? We might have a few years of bike choice, but we'll still end up with everyone using the aero bike at the new weight limit but with lots of expensive R&D and new materials that need to be paid for. Especially lightweight bikes don't have a right to exist. A 7kg bike from 20 years ago is the same weight as a 7kg bike today. I think what's more interesting is the suggestion of scaling the weight limit with rider weight. That feels fairer. But could it remove an advantage that a bigger sprinter might have over their colleagues, for example? We could end up with just the same style of rider across a whole race. It also feels like it doesnt make much sense to just map the men's limit onto the women's field. But then if it's an arbitrary limit, does that matter either?
15 thoughts on “Coronavirus: No races cancelled yet, says UCI … but more and more teams are pulling out of upcoming events; Rasmussen wants his Colnagos back; More people want cycling investment; Bolton Council forgets cycling + more on the live blog”
I can’t see Strade Bianchi
I can’t see Strade Bianche going ahead now – more teams will follow suit and pull out. Tirreno-Adriatico and Milano-Sanremo will probably go the same way too. Sad, but there’s more to life than a bike race (apparently).
Not the only Italian linked
Not the only Italian linked sporting events either. MotoGP has cancelled the big class for Qatar this weekend due to the large Italian presence in the paddock, though the smaller classes go ahead as they were already in Qatar for testing. Thai GP 2 weeks later has been completely “postponed”. In cycling I’d be surprised if many of the classics go ahead this year, and expect even the French races to go as well as things spread. Ah well, last year’s races are all up on YouTube / MotoGP.com to keep me amused.
Well, the Dutch/Belgians seem
Well, the Dutch/Belgians seem to be quite Benelux about it, which is encouraging. All depends on whether it reaches those nations in big numbers.
All Italian outdoor sporting
All Italian outdoor sporting events for the next month cancelled by Italian govt. Only closed stadium events permitted (because, well, football). So no Tirreno-Adriatico, MSR, or SB.
Bolton council are obviously
Bolton council are obviously following the lead of that minister who tweeted icons of every form of transport except cycling; was it the instantly forgettable Chris Heaton-Harris?
I did find this link while trying to find out who it was “The Tories say they are serious about cycling – but their manifesto says otherwise”
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/tory-manifesto-conservative-party-cycling-funding-a9240521.html
I thought it was the ‘sacked
I thought it was the ‘sacked for bullying’ grant chapps, who at least has the ‘better than Grayling’ thing going for him.
ktache wrote:
Better than Grayling? So not a complete, total and utter disaster: a government defined by not being as bad as Grayling? Private Frazer was right.
Blimey, there’s trams in
Blimey, there’s trams in Bolton now? They’ve hidden them well.
We’ve certainly got a lot of dreadful bike lanes, and horrible aggressive drivers.
At least TfGM are building more lovely bike lanes to Chorlton though…
eburt, on this evenings South
eburt, on this evenings South Today, there was an almost quite positive item about cycling in Southampton. It sort of counts as BBC.
“…almost quite positive….
“…almost quite positive….” Hmm. Not sure that actually inspires me to withdraw my objections to the BBC’s total and utter failure to present the facts.
Sustrans survey – depressing
Sustrans survey – depressing that 42% still haven’t got the climate change message and want more investment in driving.
alchemilla wrote:
I blame the inaction of goverments. The key is to provide decent public transport and cycling/walking infrastructure first and then more people will discover that driving isn’t the only option available to them. As it is, a lot of people don’t even consider buses/trains/bikes as most of the time it’ll be more hassle than jumping in a car and spending half an hour in traffic jams.
Provide the options and people will use what is most convenient/cheapest.
Construction starts in
Construction starts in Netherlands on longest cycling bridge in Europe.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/04/construction-starts-in-netherlands-on-longest-cycling-bridge-in-europe
with lovely animated video.
It apparently has a max gradient of 2.5%.
And is designed to last 80 years even though made of wood.
That looks immense!
That looks immense!
Michael Rasmussen – I have
Michael Rasmussen – I have that black Colnago – with him winning a mountain stage on it – as a photo on my wall 😉