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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If "[t]he answer seems to be in creating more dedicated on-street parking bays", I suspect they've already got that covered.
As a fellow Dylanologist, Ryan, I thought I'd try at least a verse: In a little hilltop village, we bargained for warm clothes We wanted cooler weather, God gave us a lethal dose A breakaway of innocents, they got struck down with scorn "Come in," they said, "we'll give ya, shelter from the storm."
I agree it's not a good look and cyclists should be giving way but I think I would be very nervous about an inattentive lime bike rider smacking me up the arse. Funnily enough this, of course, is exactly what drivers say when not giving way to pedestrians when turning into junctions. I wonder if I head to our high street to film drivers not giving way to pedestrians crossing a side road (I know exactly which junction I'm going to film) and I stuck that on social media what the reaction would be? That's motornormativity for you.
Not condoning the cyclists who failed to stop when it is obvious they should slow on approach to the bus stop and the crossing but... This entire fiasco was created because cyclists were less safe having to deal with impatient/dangerous drivers when manoeuvring around buses when they were at stops. And at no point are pedestrians/politicians complaining at comparable levels about the same situation at crossings when faced with drivers who don't stop. Almost everyone waits patiently untill it is safe to cross. Because that is what motor-normativity has done to us.
In theory them being "abandoned" is in part a benefit. The firm doesn't have to truck so many of them around since many will be collected by users. (Eg. finding one and going to it, rather than the docking station). How helpful to the users that is may be moot because of most dockless bike hire business models. In practice I think the docking model is less bad. However if cycling is actually facilitated eventually most people have their own bike *. And tying any hire in with public transport hubs (like NL's OV Fiets) then makes the most sense. Overall I keep thinking about NotJustBikes comment that most public bike hire schemes are an attempt to make up for a failure to provide (good enough) street-level public transport. * I think that's the case even now in the UK? Certainly I notice far more bikes stored locally (balconies, corridors...) than would appear to be regularly (or ever) used.
For those interested in the "how we could do this (better)" there's the Bicycle Dutch article and video as OnYerBike notes, and also: Bicycle Dutch also has "Riding around the bus stop" specifically on that topic in NL. For the UK context (including the accessibility issue): Ranty Highwayman has written several times on this ("Floating Bus Stops: Redux" and "Floating Bus Stops") - along other things pointing out that we have *effectively* had some of these for a long time without anyone shouting about them! Robert Weetman also has an article on this (mainly looking at the less polished Copenhagen design): "Copenhagen bus stops"
Whilst I appreciate the idea behind Lime bikes/scooters and their ilk, the problem lies in that they can just be abandoned anywhere. If they required returning to a dedicated docking station before the ride was considered finished then that would cut down on this nonsense. Or even go a step further, it wont release your phone until its placed back in the docking station.
The Restore of lobby groups... TBF they pulled off a coup some time back with drumming up opposition around bus stop bypasses, but they have a ... particular view on this which speaks more to "concerns" (and not of everyone) than facts and stats. While the language is extreme, at this point (see campaign above) people are concerned so carefully "addressing concerns" (rather than dismissing) is important. But doing that the popular way and just blocking measures which are statistically safe won't move us forward. Particularly while effectively ignoring the motoring elephants in the town - for which buses and bikes are part of the solution.
@ROOTminus1 I would argue that yes you can. You can unless you are paying zero attention to anything but the person ahead of you. For almost the entire video even if the persons bum you've decided to sit on is blocking your direct view ahead, you can see it on the other side of the lane. You should always be checking your surroundings on any mode of transport for hazards.
@mctrials23 Can you see the lines when it's that busy though? That's what the flashing beacons at a zebra crossing are for, as would a rumble-strip texture approximately 4m either side of the crossing give adequate alternative indication that there is a potential hazard ahead, with suitable braking distances. I'm not saying everyone on 2 wheels is a saint and innocent in that clip, far from it, but the design of the infra does encourage problematic behaviour. Just as most road infra fails to protect cyclists from drivers by not setting the expectation of the presence of cyclists, this fails to protect pedestrians by funnelling them to a crossing with the bare minimum of encouragement for cyclists to be prepared for pedestrians at that point. Most importantly though, none of this discussion excuses the choice of inflammatory language by Baroness Ludford.
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 😉