Driver almost hits cyclist – then crashes car; Paris-Nice highlights; Cav and G in stellar chain gang; Coronavirus – London Bike Show postponed, Mallorca cycling hotels suffer; e-bike thefts soar in Netherlands; Pavement parking ban + more on live blog

You can see in the video that James was wearing hi-vis... although clearly that did very little to stop 

Inches from death for both of us. First thing he asked when I got him out of the car 'Did I hit you?' Thankfully not. @cyclegaz @PompeyCyclist @NthrnCyclistTVL @MikeyCycling @gcntweet pic.twitter.com/Y60kfnlYAm

— James Hannaway (@JamesHannaway1) March 11, 2020

Since we posted this yesterday floods of comments have come in on social media and on the site aghast at the driver's actions.

Some from abroad have also questioned the rider's route on a dual carriageway; and although cycling on four-lane roads classed as A-roads with green signs is perfectly legal, some have warned against riding on busy dual carriageways.

The lucky cyclist hasn't commented on what the consequences might be for the even luckier driver, but has said that it wasn't even raining at the time of this horrendous near miss that could have been so much worse... 

It wasn’t actually raining at the time. The road was wet from previous rain.

— James Hannaway (@JamesHannaway1) March 13, 2020

Bike share rivalry in North London just got nasty ...

Brutal... pic.twitter.com/qVPa7tcQc9

— Jono Kenyon (@Jono_Kenyon) March 12, 2020

Covering almost 166 laps of the White City track, this monster of a race (on bikes of course that were very different to the ones use by today's trackies) was won by Great Britain's Charles Bartlett in a time of 2:41:48.6 with another British rider, Charles Denny, second.

The bronze medal went to a certain Octave Lapize ... three-time winner of Paris–Roubaix and Paris–Brussels and winner of the Tour de France in 1910 when, on the race's first visit to the High Pyrenees, he famously accused the organisers of being "murderers!"

The start of the 100k Track race - Olympics - London 1908 pic.twitter.com/pi2xVPzTIw

— classicretro (@classicretro) March 11, 2020

The Race to the Sun is continuing (for now) ... here's what happened today ...

Fernando Gaviria and his UAE Team Emirates team-mates have been kept in quarantine in their Abu Dhabi hotel since the UAE Tour was cancelled midway through last month.

The Colombian sprinter says he has the coronavirus, but feels well.

“I am here to avoid spreading the virus to more people,” he explained.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Fernando Gaviria Rendon (@fernandogaviriarendon) on Mar 12, 2020 at 5:07am PDT

Another rider at the race, Dmitry Strakhov who rides for Professional Continental outfit Gazprom-RusVelo, has also tested positive for Covid-19 and has been receiving treatment in hospital.

🏁 🇸🇮@JTratnik y a cru mais c’est finalement 🇮🇹 @Bonifazio_993 qui s’impose dans un finish de folie.
⏪ Revivez le dernier kilomètre de l'étape 5 de #ParisNice.

🏁 🇸🇮@JTratnik was close but 🇮🇹@Bonifazio_993 claims the win after a crazy finish.
⏪ Relive the last kilometer. pic.twitter.com/18y1T8Zmbh

— Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) March 12, 2020

This includes the We Ride Flanders sportive, which has around 16,000 riders.

We have decided to postpone all of our Peloton recreational cycling events up to April 19, including @RondeVlaanderen cyclo, until later this year. Concerning the pro events we will await further advice from authorities but we will of course understand any decision taken.

— Tomas Van Den Spiegel (@tomasvds) March 12, 2020

You can find the latest news on other major cycling events on our Corona Watch page.

A massive proportion of cyclists who had booked to stay in Mallorca during March and April have now postponed their trips, according to The Business Association of Balearic Travel Agencies (AVIBA).

Last year an estimated 20,000 cyclists descended on Mallorca between March and April, but The Olive Press reports that local hoteliers are suffering an ‘exponential’ cancellation of bookings.

“The situation is very delicate and the level of activity from cyclists compared to last year has decreased by 40 per cent,” said an AVIBA spokesperson. “Almost all destinations in Mallorca have been impacted.”

NL Times reports that over 3,800 e-bikes were reported stolen to Dutch bike insurer ANWB last year – 38 per cent more than the year before.

This is not entirely unexpected with some 420,000 e-bikes were sold in the Netherlands last year – 40 per cent of total bike sales.

"Until recently, the plug-in bike was mainly used for recreational purposes by older Dutch people," said an ANWB spokesperson. "But now masses of pupils ride them to school and commuters take them to work."

They added that, "shopping centres, train stations and entertainment areas in particular are true theft hotspots."

The figures were confirmed by Enra, the Netherlands’ other major bike insurer. They said that while conventional bikes were mainly stolen by opportunistic thieves, the high value of e-bikes made them a focus for organised crime.

"Most stolen electric bicycles cross the border straight away," explained Jeroen Snijders Blok of SAFE, an organisation that works to combat bicycle theft. He said the fact that e-bikes are widespread in the Netherlands, but not yet in the rest of Europe was a factor.

British athletes competing at this year's Olympic Games in Tokyo will have more opportunities to thank sponsors as part of a compromise agreement with the British Olympic Association (BOA).

The BOA’s 'Rule 40' protects the exclusivity of the International Olympic Committee's major sponsors, but a number of high profile athletes have said they find it unduly restrictive.

Former track sprinter Callum Skinner has previously said he found his British Cycling contract limited his commercial opportunities as the sport’s governing body has a series of large commercial partners who are offered exclusivity.

Late last year a group of athletes led by Adam Gemili launched a legal challenge against the BOA and the two parties have now reached an agreement.

Andy Anson, the BOA’s recently appointed CEO, said: “This agreement allows athletes to further benefit from their personal sponsors whilst balancing the needs of the BOA to raise funds to support all athletes at the Games.

“I’m grateful that Adam [Gemili] and his colleagues took the time to work with us to find a solution.

“We have always been and will continue to be supportive of athletes maximising their earning potential and having sponsors at a national or local level.”

Gemili said: “As an athlete group we are pleased to have reached an agreement with the BOA that moves us into line with other Olympic federations and that provides every athlete an equal and fair chance to generate sponsorship revenue in the build up to and during the Games.

“I would like to say thank you to the BOA for facilitating an open dialogue and recognising and addressing the concerns of the athlete body.

“Most importantly I would like to thank my teammates who have supported this movement both openly and behind the scenes, together we have made a real difference and demonstrated the strength of unity.”

"In view of the health news and the measures taken throughout France, it is with deep sadness that the Tour de Bretagne cycliste takes the decision to cancel its 54th edition which was to take place from April 25 to 1st May 2020."

🚨 INFORMATIONS 🚨

Au vu de l’actualité sanitaire et des mesures prises sur l’ensemble du territoire français, c’est avec une profonde tristesse que le Tour de Bretagne cycliste prend la décision d’annuler sa 54ème édition qui devait se dérouler du 25 avril au 1er mai 2020.

1/4 pic.twitter.com/ZOViKAleAF

— Tour de Bretagne (@tourdebretagne) March 12, 2020

For an overview of cancellations and postponements of cycling events, see our Coronovirus Watch page.

The London Bike Show and Triathlon Show: London will be postponed until July 3-5 2020 following the escalation of COVID-19 Coronavirus across Europe and the UK.

In a statement, organisers said: “We have been following UK government guidelines and working with the rolling advice from the public health authorities and other organisations, but it is now with reluctance that we have taken the decision to postpone the event at this time.

“The safety and wellbeing of our staff, exhibitors, visitors, partners and contractors is of the utmost importance to us, and therefore feel the protection and prevention of harm to the public has been paramount to this decision.”

Exhibitors’ bookings will be transferred to the new show dates.

Visitors’ tickets will be automatically transferred to Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th July, and will be valid on any day that you wish to attend – simply come along with your existing ticket to gain access.

If you are unable to attend on any of the new dates, you can contact https://www.seetickets.com/customerservice and they will be able to arrange a refund.

To check the status of other cycling events, see our Coronovirus Watch page.

Volta a Catalunya cancelled due to government restrictions, according to Spazio Ciclismo (h/t @OdvartJames) https://t.co/uPeh1M3ob5

— José Been (@TourDeJose) March 12, 2020

For more information on whether cycling events have been cancelled, postponed or are still on, see our Coronavirus Watch report.

Bradley Wiggins is fronting a new Comedy Central show where British athletes take on members of the public in a series of challenges that are sort of semi-related to their respective sports.

It's called Gods of the Game. Here’s the trailer. Wiggo appears to be gigantic and that’s actor Tom Rosenthal, son of sports presenter Jim Rosenthal, badgering him.

Gods of the Game is on at 7.30pm tonight.

The opening episode features Chris Hoy on a pedalo.