“F*ck you” – Aussie (and ex-GB) coach responds to online critics; Underwear selfies row – team accuses rider of exploiting #MeToo; Is your stolen bike here?; Pinot v crosswind; Wahoo launch Stealth version of Elemnt Bolt + more on live blog
SUMMARY
Video: Mitchelton-Scott struggling to contain competitive instincts after withdrawing from racing
Mitchelton-Scott have withdrawn from all men’s and women’s racing until March 22 because of coronavirus.
As well as racing fans on Zwift in its ‘BikeExchange – Where the World Rides Series’ they’ve apparently been trying to keep the mechanics sharp too.
⭕️⚙️ Mechanic vs Mechanic ⚙️⭕️
Who can change a disc brake wheel the fastest?? ⏱
We put our team mechanics to the test…Practice makes perfect 🏁@bikeonscott @ShimanoROAD @SyncrosBike @Pirelli @GiordanaCycling @tacx @Topeak_Intl @GarminCycling #TechTuesday pic.twitter.com/k2pM2nGa87
— Mitchelton-SCOTT (@MitcheltonSCOTT) March 10, 2020
Thibaut Pinot v crosswinds
Everyone loves a cross-wind… except Thibaut…
In this video we see the French rider, in blue and white FDJ kit, visibly struggling to hold the wheel of a team-mate who’s attempting to position him in crosswinds during Paris-Nice.
No sé si acierto con la “banda sonora”, pero el planazo que se han currado el operador de wescam+piloto de heli ha sido sublime. #ParisNice #Ciclismo (📺 @Eurosport / 🎶 Carmen) pic.twitter.com/UDBHRTJJml
— iker gallastegi (@ikguallas) March 9, 2020
Belgian team accuses rider of exploiting #MeToo – but admits sports director asked her to send selfies in her underwear
The French Cycling Federation has asked the UCI to launch an investigation after two female riders on the Doltcini-Van Eyck team made allegations of inappropriate conduct against sports director Marc Bracke.
The riders claim that they were asked to send pictures of themselves in their underwear so that he could check that they weren’t “too fat”.
One of them, Marion Sicot, claimed: “He said I was too fat. I had to send pictures of myself in underwear every week. Front and back. He said he’d delete them afterwards but I can’t be sure”.
In an astonishing statement, Doltcini-Van Eyck have decided to attack Sicot’s credibility, arguing that she is motivated by a desire to blame them for her positive test for EPO.
This is despite admitting that Bracke did indeed request the photos, as alleged.
The full statement is below.
Lowlights include:
- “To justify for her “mistake” she launches the next lie : her sports director is the one to blame”
- “There are many girls riding for our team, girls that not have been caught for doping. You can contact any of them. They will all confirm that in our team there’s a very high, not to say perfect, discipline on the field of respecting privacy or sexual abuse. And they will not be lying.”
- “[Underwear selfies] is a practice that was normal in earlier times”
- “If she would have said one single time she felt uncomfortable about this it would never have happened again”
- “Sicot was not really a team-player. In races she frequently abandoned the team strategy and let her team members down”
- They weren’t going to give Sicot a contract for 2019, but she kept “begging and crying” and promised to start the season at “the right weight”
- Sicot is making use of the “#MeToo-mood” to concoct “a story full of emotion”
- Sicot ‘invented’ being depressed
TL;DR – We have extremely high standards when it comes to privacy – but yes, our DS did ask for photos of riders in their underwear…
Journalist says Belgian team were reluctant to let him speak to DS accused of inappropriate conduct
Marion Sicot’s allegations (see below) were reported by Thierry Vildary in Stade 2 on French TV.
In its statement, Doltcini-Van Eyck accused Vildary of failing to provide balance.
“We have proposed, in writing, to the journalist Thierry Vildary to meet with him in Paris, but without result. This has made the report in Stade2 not the story of Marion Sicot but the story by Marion Sicot, with no possibility to react or to see the evidence she claims to have.
“The attempt in the report to interview Marc Bracke took place 10 minutes before the start of the cycling race “Le Samyn”, when the riders had left already to the start and the sports director had to take his place in the line of cars of sports directors.
“The aggressive approach and the timing for the interview fit perfectly with the style of the hard investigative journalism, not at all an indication that Thierry Vildary was trying to make an objective report of facts.
“We can believe however that his intentions for making this program were positive, that he did this to improve the position of women in cycling, but believing Marion Sicot was a big mistake.”
In the comments, Vildary replied: “To answer one of your many lies concerning me and my work in your press release and to be very clear on my report: you never offered me an interview with Marc Bracke but only a meeting with Jan Morre who is not questioned and does not know the subject.
“I am at the disposal of the UCI to explain how the report and the communications I had with your team were produced. I will provide the evidence necessary to shed light on the behind the scenes of this report.
“I would like to point out that we have broadcast extracts from the response that Marc Bracke sent us by email when we sent him our questions.”
Wahoo's Eelemnt Bolt now available in Stealth colourway
If the grey-ish tint of the Elemnt Bolt never quite matched with your steed, then you’ll be pleased to know you can now get one in a stealthy black-on-black colourway. The RRP has also dropped to £184.99 – in any colourway – and a new firmware update means all Elemnt computers can now communicate with select Giant and Specialized e-bike models. You can buy one here and read our review here.
The atmosphere's building at Paris-Nice...
The crowd goes wild…or not!
A surreal atmosphere at the start of stage three of #ParisNice as organisers have restricted spectators at the start and finish of each stage to combat the spread of coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/FE18rbEIdP
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) March 10, 2020
PedalMe are trialling even bigger trailers
New @pedalmeapp big trailer. Experienced riders get bigger responsibilities. pic.twitter.com/1oZgtD66QG
— James Holloway (@JamesNonchalant) March 10, 2020
Police publish online gallery of stolen bikes - we suspect many of them weren't stolen locally
Are any of these bikes yours?
Going through the gallery, there’s some pretty fancy bikes and many of them look almost new.
It’s worth emphasising that bike theft is one of the original ‘county lines’ type crimes – bikes stolen in one location will tend to end up elsewhere – so this isn’t just for those in the Avon and Somerset area.
We’ve posted images of sus stolen 🚲🛠️ online to ID the owners. You’ll need to submit an online form with contact info & proof of ownership/purchase. The items may have been taken from our force area, Gloucestershire or Wiltshire since 2017. More 👉 https://t.co/MtXG60F0cb pic.twitter.com/Bu2iAAWoQy
— Avon and Somerset Police (@ASPolice) March 10, 2020
Mads Pedersen is a world champion at cycling, not journalism
That said, his efforts still give us more than we get from the average pre-stage interview.
Whilst we wait for the live action at #ParisNice, we thought you’d enjoy this clip from yesterday’s pre-stage…@Mads__Pedersen shows off a hidden talent as a journalist 🎤
🎥 @tv2danmark pic.twitter.com/OuAjr7CloE
— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) March 10, 2020
Seller's remorse - do you ever think about your old bike?
We saw this thread on Reddit where someone’s asking whether people ever think about the bikes they’ve sold?
How about you? Do you ever miss your ex?
City of London to crack down on idling vehicles
The City Corporation – the governing body of the Square Mile – has approved new powers that could see drivers fined £80 for parking and leaving their engines running.
The maximum fine for idling had previously been limited to £20 if paid on time.
The new Traffic Management Order will be enforced by the 35 civil enforcement officers who already patrolling the City’s streets monitoring traffic and parking contraventions.
They will first issue warning notices to drivers and this will be held on record, associated with the vehicle’s registration.
Subsequent idling of the same vehicle would result in a Penalty Charge Notice (£80 fine, or £40 if paid within 14 days) without further warning.
Jeremy Simons, Chair of the City Corporation’s Environmental Services Committee, said: “These new powers will take us a step closer to eliminating a completely unnecessary source of air pollution.
“Air quality in the City is improving, and by working with drivers, we will continue our progress.
“Cleaning up toxic air is an absolute priority.
“Londoners are determined to see a major improvement, and we will continue to take effective steps to make this a reality.”
The move is part of a wider clampdown on idling vehicles across London.
The current hour record holder is also a gent
Find someone who looks out for you like @VCampenaerts does for @yveslampaert.
Not teamies? No worries#ParisNice #couchpeloton pic.twitter.com/frhFIcrBpP
— CyclingCentral (@CyclingCentral) March 10, 2020
Hats off to Tom Devriendt
This morning, in Paris-Nice, Belgian rider Tom Devriendt set off on a solo break that could potentially be 210km long.
Less than delightful weather for it too.
🌧 Contre le peloton et les éléments, 🇧🇪@TomDevriendt ne lâche pas et maintient son effort en solitaire. 💪
🌧 Despite the rain and the peloton chasing, 🇧🇪@TomDevriendt doesn’t give up his solitary effort. 💪#ParisNice pic.twitter.com/YIwr46RrqW
— Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) March 10, 2020
Cédric Vasseur won in La Châtre thanks to a 147.5km solo break in the 1997 Tour.
Tom Devriendt’s would be 210km if he brought this home. https://t.co/IdKfSDrL0c
— Daniel Friebe (@friebos) March 10, 2020
Tom Devriendt update
He’s been caught. Just the 180km out on his own ahead of the peloton.
🚴🏻♂️ Fin de la belle échappée pour 🇧🇪@TomDevriendt, repris à 26 km de l’arrivée après avoir passé 180 km en solitaire. 💪
🚴🏻♂️ End of a beautiful breakaway for 🇧🇪@TomDevriendt, joined by the peloton. He spent 180 km solo in the lead. 💪#ParisNice pic.twitter.com/7ag1pNohBp
— Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) March 10, 2020
Ivan Cortina wins stage three of Paris-Nice
They call him “Ford”.*
🏆 🇪🇸 @ivan_cortina comme un grand ! 🏆
🏆 🇪🇸 @ivan_cortina a star is really born! 🏆#ParisNice pic.twitter.com/YC59PMQodG
— Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) March 10, 2020
* No-one calls him that.
Irish national champion Sam Bennett ended up in the barriers during today's sprint finish at Paris-Nice
¡IVÁN GARCÍA CORTINA! 🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸
Espectacular victoria del asturiano para llevarse la tercera etapa de la #ParisNice 🚴♂️🇫🇷
Nos quitamos el sombrero, @ivan_cortina 👏👏👏
Lo has vivido en #E2 y y https://t.co/x56wEWoWvo 📲 pic.twitter.com/0TCjWd6ANh
— Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) March 10, 2020
🚴♂️ | Wat een pech voor @Sammmy_Be 😰#ParisNice #SamBennett pic.twitter.com/ge72rJX9F0
— Eurosport Nederland (@Eurosport_NL) March 10, 2020
He looked to be in some pain as he crossed the line.
That doesn’t look too promising for @Sammmy_Be 🤕
🚴♂️ Watch #ParisNice LIVE
📺 Eurosport 1
📱💻🖥 Eurosport Player: https://t.co/0Fa7uXMVB9 pic.twitter.com/s21eE3vnu9— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) March 10, 2020
New section of Cycleway 4 opened in London today
Brilliant to see the newly opened section of Cycleway 4 from Rotherhithe Roundabout to Bermondsey today. Delivered 5 weeks early and awaiting the planting of 25 new trees. @MayorofLondon @TfL @lb_southwark @kiergroup pic.twitter.com/K5Oq5nwBXd
— Will Norman (@willnorman) March 10, 2020
Sam Bennett update
Also from today’s finish, this isn’t directly related to the Irishman getting forced into the barriers, but we thought we’d highlight it anyway.
Bennett vs. Nairo.
Es como un tanque de guerra contra un Fiat Cinquecento pic.twitter.com/eIaTdgxzef
— Camilo Mazuera (@camilomazuera) March 10, 2020
“F*ck you” – ex GB coach now working with Aussies, hits back at critics
Cycling Australia’s performance director Simon Jones – former head coach at British Cycling and head of innovation at Team Sky – has been called “unprofessional” after responding on Twitter to criticism of the Cyclones’ recent performance in the UCI track cycling world championships with the words, “F*ck you.”
The tweet, since deleted, was in answer to users of the social network complaining that Australia came away from the event – the last major track meet before the Tokyo Olympics – with one silver and two bronze medals.
For context, Great Britain, who also had a disappointing championships, won four medals … but one of those was gold, thanks to Elinor Barker.
“To all those key board experts out there — F*ck you,” said Jones in the tweet that has subsequently been deleted.
“We got a great team of riders, coaches, support and sponsors. Bring on Tokyo Team.”
Ex-pro cyclist turned pundit Robbie McEwen said that post “is unprofessional if that’s your role.”
“I think you can have better chosen words. But I can understand his frustration, he’s under lots of pressure,” he added.
10 March 2020, 09:28
Yoinks! Not much change from eleven grand...
Video: Specialized S-Works Turbo Creo SL - the most expensive bike we've ever reviewed
Not a lot of change from eleven grand... but how does it ride?
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It's not a 'statement' though - it's road.cc's words, based on l'Equipe's interpretation. The actual statement issued on it said that the judge authorised it "guaranteeing strict proportionality between the infringements on the rights of the athlete and the stakes of the fight against doping in terms of fair competition and protection of his health."
Trust me Callum, if you'd grown up watching the Tour in the 1980s, as I did, you would not be hankering after those long flat stages that weren't even as exciting as watching paint dry, it was more like listening to paint dry. As for the supposed benefits of those long TTs, what did they give us? Indurain winning five Tours in a row without winning a single road stage in any of them. As McT says below, you simply can't Pogacar-proof a course and we just have to accept, and enjoy, the fact that we are watching the greatest GT cyclist of all time. Anyway I think it has been a great Tour so far, yes no enormous drama about the inevitable winner (though of course Vinegaard and now Lipowitz have shown us that anything can happen) but just about every day has had a fascinating plot and multiple subplots. Some time in the future there will be another Indurain-style winner, playing it cautious, following moves, making incremental gains and winning without ever lighting up the race and we'll be saying I wish the old days of Pogacar making those spectacular solo breaks were back.
The main issue is the layout of the stages with the bigger climb first then a shallow finish climb. It means pogacar can get a gap at the top of the big climb and then stretch 10-15 seconds to a minute plus at the finish over smaller riders like Vingegaard. A summit finish on the hardest climb might not lead to the most exciting racing but equally would keep the gaps closer. I totally agree with the TT kms though, they should have 60+km tts in the grand tours.
@MaxiMinimalist I mean, that statement makes it sound like they had reason to think those two are doping. Either they didn't follow procedure and are making shit up to cover themselves up or something is going on.
Quite possibly. But the changeover time loss would be a bit more significant if it was done on the flat just after the downhill when the riders are travelling faster, the deceleration, changeover and acceleration loss could easily be around 30 seconds, which is quite a lot of a 34 minute effort.
So Skoda have taken a leaf out of Dung-Old Karen Taco Trump's book and are re-naming something when they have no authority to do so?
@Mr Blackbird Fair points, though I was wondering if doing the climb and descent on a standard bike and swapping to TT for the flat section would have been worth it? Certainly quite a few riders seemed to be having handling difficulties maintaining the best line on the descent with their TT machines.
No. The climb wasn't severely steep and allowed a reasonable speed to be maintained on a TT bike, his bike handling skills on road or TT bike are outstanding for the descent and on a road bike he would have lost a lot of time on the flat last 9k section. Terrific performance by him though!
I have been stopped on my velomobile and reprimanded for not having a number plate. The police desisted after I showed them that there was no motor at all, and were surprised as they'd followed me for a mile or two on the flat and hadn't realised that cyclists could go that fast - velomobiles are devastatingly quick on the flat, and slow heavy bikes uphill. I'm fairly sure that I would have found myself in a lot of trouble had I had any motor at all - even a legal one that would be very useful on the Welsh hills. It's very much put me off installing one.
Would he have performed better on his normal bike?
5 thoughts on ““F*ck you” – Aussie (and ex-GB) coach responds to online critics; Underwear selfies row – team accuses rider of exploiting #MeToo; Is your stolen bike here?; Pinot v crosswind; Wahoo launch Stealth version of Elemnt Bolt + more on live blog”
To be fair to Pinot his
To be fair to Pinot his teammate seemed on the point of ripping everybody’s legs off there!
Thats Stefan Kung (can tell
Thats Stefan Kung (can tell as he’s on the new unbranded LaPierre)
That Wahoo Eelemnt profile
That Wahoo Eelemnt profile looks very slippery…..
CHF800 fine for Sam “Tank of
CHF800 fine for Sam “Tank of War” Bennett. 4 stitches in a lacerated finger, will be back riding tomorrow.
The overhead shot showed him
The overhead shot showed him clearly pushing a rider (Quintana, I think) twice and that move almost caused another crash.
From what I could see he was already on a teammate’s wheel and didn’t need to do that. But then again, we didn’t see what happened previously…