Geraint Thomas blasts “ridiculous” calls to jail Tour de France crash spectator; Cav reaction; KHS congestion; Cargo bike rap; Tadej Pogacar’s TT masterclass uploaded to Strava; UK’s pothole capital; Urban skills; Breaking records + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Tadej Pogačar's Tour de France TT masterclass uploaded to Strava
Tadej Pogačar has uploaded his ‘Afternoon Ride’ from yesterday’s Tour de France destroying TT for us all to gawp at. Unsurprisingly, Pog swept up most of the KOMs en route to go with his stage win, including the opening 1.7km of ‘Bosse Changé Saint-Germain le Fouilloux’ which averages four per cent, but was powered up at 35km/h by the 22-year-old…think about that the next time you’re panting up your local lump.
According to the Strava times, Pog was also quickest up the final climb, Montée rue Léo Lagrange, and took three seconds from Wout van Aert on the 500m ramp alone. For Stefan Küng, whose heartbroken face told the story as his much younger, faster rival crossed the line — the final climb took seven seconds longer.
Unfortunately for us, like most of the pros at the race, Pogačar has kept his power data hidden. But for some context, eighth place Mattia Cattaneo was the highest ranked rider to let us see the numbers…407w average for 33 minutes. We’d better get training…
How's your bike handling?
Some bike skills for your morning entertainment, featuring some gloriously noisy freehubs…
Alex Dowsett has no time for the "flappy garment that keeps your shoulder fronts warm and stops you getting to your food"
In the high mountains I’ve come to the conclusion that the gillet is the most useless piece of clothing available. Too warm for the uphills, not warm enough for the downhills. Basically a flappy garment that keeps your shoulder fronts warm and stops you getting to your food.
— Alex Dowsett (@alexdowsett) July 1, 2021
Gilets. Yay or nay? Dowsett is going nay (in the high mountains). Plenty of Brits enjoying the summer weather made the case for the defence…
obs have a badly designed Gilet. I live in Cold and wet Devon and it is a brilliant piece of kit and my go to on every ride
— Dave Bayliss (@dave_bayliss) July 1, 2021
guess it depends where you are; damp Yorkshire last weekend unzipped uphill allowing access to pockets, and zipped up down dale to keep the worst of the chill off (it is June after all 🙄)
— Simon.Rhino No.5 (@RhinoFive) July 1, 2021
Sustrans urges the government to create a "golden age of cycling" and capitalise on lockdown boom
Sustrans has urged the government to capitalise on the surge in interest in cycling during lockdown to create a “golden age of cycling”. The BBC reports that almost four times more journeys were being taken by bike at one point last year. Rachel White, head of public affairs at Sustrans called on careful planning of cycle lanes and a “large-scale” government campaign to push the health and environmental benefits of riding a bike.
The charity also proposes the default speed limit in built-up areas be lowered from 30mph to 20mph. “We would like the resurgence in cycling that we saw during the lockdowns in England to herald a golden age, rather than be wasted,” White said. “We know that if cyclists are kept away from traffic and traffic is slower, they feel more comfortable.”
Last summer, Boris Johnson outlined plans for bringing about a “new golden age for cycling”, including cycle training, national standards for infrastructure and bikes available on prescription.
Geraint Thomas blasts "ridiculous" calls to jail Tour de France spectator who caused opening stage crash
Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe have expressed sympathy for the spectator holding the cardboard sign involved in the huge crash during the opening stage of the Tour de France. Speaking on their Watts Occurring podcast, Thomas called talks of the woman being sent to prison for a year as “ridiculous” and joked Jumbo-Visma domestique Tony Martin could be imprisoned for two months.
“Let’s be honest, Tony could have moved left, at least a little,” Thomas said. “It looked like he saw it and thought, ‘I can ride through that’. It’s her fault, but at the same time he has a part to play. Put him in prison for two months then, at that rate. That is absolutely ridiculous. She can’t go to prison.”
Co-host and fellow Ineos Grenadiers rider Luke Rowe added: “She fucked up massively. She did something stupid and caused a massive crash, there’s no avoiding those facts. But they’re talking about a €15,000 fine and a year imprisonment. I just feel sorry for the woman to be honest.
“She is in the middle of all this hate on social media. It was all over Facebook, they were searching for her. They finally got her, take it down to a human level and think, ‘that poor woman’. She’s going to feel bad enough about it. Imagine being in prison and someone asks what are you in for? Murder? Theft? ‘Nah, I went to the Tour de France with a sign that said hello to my grandparents.’”
Yesterday, prosecutors confirmed a woman had been taken into custody in Landernau, the finish town of Saturday’s stage. Reuters journalist Julien Prétot has this morning reported that the race organisers have withdrawn the lawsuit against the woman, although that may not affect the state prosecutor’s case. Movistar rider Marc Soler, who was left with three fractures to his arms after the crash, has said he plans to sue the spectator.
TOUR DE FRANCE ORGANISERS WITHDRAW THEIR LAWSUIT AGAINST SPECTATOR WHO CAUSED CRASH – ORGANISERS TO REUTERS
— Julien Prétot (@julienpretotRTR) July 1, 2021
The worst place in the UK for potholes is...Cornwall, according to this new data
New data obtained via a Freedom of Information request submitted by motoring insurance firm Carole Nash found that 210,000 potholes were reported to Cornwall Council between June 2017 and 2020. Cambridgeshire took second spot with 180,000, while Derbyshire was third with 170,000. Here’s the full top ten:
1. Cornwall (210,311)
2. Cambridgeshire (184,402)
3. Derbyshire (172,297)
4. Devon (147,779)
5. Oxfordshire (110 106)
6. East Riding of Yorkshire (106,144)
7. Durham (99,630)
8. Rotherham (83,964)
9. Hertfordshire (72,230)
10. Fife (70,254)
Stage six is underway...will Cav win again?
💚 @MarkCavendish
💛 @mathieuvdpoel
🔴⚪️ @IdeSchelling
👶 @TamauPogi #TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/xzJ1KpgdQc— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 1, 2021
Almost 70km done on what looks a glorious day over in central France. We had some interesting early action with a super strong breakaway including Tour of Flanders winner Kasper Asgreen, Thomas De Gendt, double stage winner last year Søren Kragh Andersen and Olympic champ Greg Van Avermaet. The peloton weren’t too keen to chase that stellar line-up for the next few hours so reeled them in early doors. Van Avermaet and Lotto-Soudal veteran Roger Kluge are now off the front on their own and have around 1:30 over the Deceuninck-Quick-Step and Alpecin-Fenix led bunch.
Stay tuned for all the action, results and reaction…but for now let’s see what’s happening away from the Tour…
Someone get Jeremy Vine's video editor a pay rise...
Kensington High Street is still my direct route home, and there may be some irony in this video. Grrrrrrrrrrrr … @RBKC @London_Cycling @willnorman @AracerRacer @Chris_Boardman @WeAreCyclingUK @SadiqKhan @HounslowCycling @CllrSteveCurran @righttobikeit @MikeyCycling @mzdt pic.twitter.com/3W3ovFory3
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) July 1, 2021
Maybe I’m doing Jeremy a disservice and he is in fact the mastermind behind this cinematic brilliance. If you don’t remember what the pedalling presenter is referring to, back in November actor Nigel Havers complained to the Daily Mail about the Kensington High Street cycle lane “causing gridlock every day”. The lane was ripped out shortly after and these are the scenes cyclists like Jeremy face now…
Santander Cycles enjoys record-breaking June
Transport for London’s Santander Cycles scheme enjoyed a record-breaking month in June as 1,182,901 hires were made. Which, according to Will Norman, is the best June in the scheme’s history.
Bicycle Theft and Security Survey
Leopard Technology has launched its annual survey on bike theft and cycle security and is hoping to build upon the 4,000 responses last year. The focus is on measures to prevent theft, feeling safer on the road and attitudes to safety, security and wider cycle lane usage. The survey is open until 16 July when the results will be circulated.
Colbrelli beats Cav at the intermediate sprint but the green jersey wearer's lead is cut to ten points
💚 🇮🇲 @MarkCavendish tries to extend his lead in the green jersey classification but he is beaten by 🇮🇹 Colbrelli, 🇧🇪 Philipsen and 🇦🇺Matthews.
💚 🇮🇲 Mark Cavendish cherche à augmenter son avance au classement du maillot vert mais il est battu.#TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/Me1l8RQw1H
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 1, 2021
Lachlan Morton nears the Alps on his Tour de France solo mission
We are getting closer and closer to the Alps and it looks like Lachlan’s days of rinding in his sandals are numbered. While it’s been smooth sailing on the flatter ground, as soon as he hits the mountains his progress will slow considerably as he heaves his gear over the passes. pic.twitter.com/eyyTSmf9lT
— EF Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) July 1, 2021
Lachlan Morton’s mission to beat the Tour de France peloton to Paris, riding the full route (including transfers) self-supported has taken him closer to the high mountains…Yesterday the EF Pro Cycling rider rode two stages…in his sandals.
Knee pain forced him to switch out cleats for flat pedals ahead of day four where he rode the TT route in 1:17, almost 50 minutes slower than stage winner Tadej Pogačar.
Now on day six, the Alt Tour tracker has Morton 1,766km in and currently riding the transfer between stage seven and eight. Stage eight will take him into the Alps with a triple-header of first category climbs.
Cargo bike rap
"Don't say the name!": Mark Cavendish shuts down speculation he could break Eddy Merckx's Tour de France stage wins record
Oh. my. gosh. He has done it AGAIN!
Once he starts, he does not stop 👏#TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/GD6PrJs1Ky
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 1, 2021
Cav’s back! Two in three days and our favourite sprinter is giving those brilliant post-stage interviews that only he can. Fast talking, tactical breakdowns, disdain for other teams and hitting back at the man with the mic.
“Mark, it’s your 32nd victory, you know what my next question will be,” Cav was asked at the finish by the interviewer hinting that the 36-year-old could reach Eddy Merckx’s Tour de France stage wins record of 34.
A sigh, another pause and a roll of the eyes followed, before Cav blurted out: “Don’t say the name! Don’t say the name…I’m not thinking of anything. Again, I’ve just won a stage of the Tour de France. If that was my first stage or my 32nd stage, I’ve just won a stage of the Tour – that’s what people work their whole life for. If I’m good enough to win 50 more or never win again here, then so be it.”
Most impressive thing is how Cav recounts his wins and also remembers how the stage finish differed back in 2008…#TDF2021
— road.cc (@roadcc) July 1, 2021
A message bigger than the sport...what does Cav's comeback mean to you?
In my opinion, one of the reasons why so many people are so thrilled to see Cav winning at the highest level again is because it shows what someone can achieve when they are given a chance and people back them. That’s a message that is bigger than sport.
— Chloe Hosking (@chloe_hosking) July 1, 2021
How good was that? We’ll be raising a cold one to Cav again tonight. For all the details you might have missed, check out our race report…
For me it’s amazing because of the depression. Such an example for everyone — he asked for help and became the real Cav again. Mental health matters 💚
— Marcos Marín (@MiCiclismo) July 1, 2021
1 July 2021, 08:01
1 July 2021, 08:01
1 July 2021, 08:01
1 July 2021, 08:01
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Latest Comments
@OnYerBike thanks! Although they didn't go far enough I believe the general idea is that Leith Walk should be mainly a pedestrian "place" and public transport corridor and so there *shouldn't* be many private cars there. So the figures *ought* to flatter cycling. (The discouragement for motoring is that the space has been somewhat reduced, so now they might be stuck behind a bus. Of course there's the parallel Easter Road they can use...)
@OnYerBike Doesn't it just need some sort of reference to illegal e-bikes on public roads?
@mattw this is an excellent question. As people have reminded me - it's not just about the journey, but also how safe *and convenient* it is to park / store your "cycle" at both ends of that journey. Luckily "informal parking" works for the current hardy cyclists (free for councils!), but a) is insecure b) is not for those with non-standard / expensive cycles and c) it doesn't scale. The Dutch solution is perhaps illustrative: changes to building regulations mandating amount and *quality* of cycle storage in new build, and creating "multistory cycle parks" in urban centres.
@mattw "1 – We DESPERATELY need real research into cycling and disabled people." That ought to help, particularly as the UK is very much "not invented *here*" in many matters. BUT while logically this makes sense and I agree - how do you think this would actually help here? Reason I ask is a) I think the data is probably already there for the use * b) ... but who is really looking? (and if not, why would they now) c) ... and more importantly is careful research of any use at all in the face of slightly interested but ambivalent governments and councils who are scrabbling for money? Especially when they're constantly fending off aggrieved citizens who are feeling neglected. And/or get their "facts" from sources and parties strongly influenced by the fuel/motor trades and in large part the individualist political strain of the US? I do still believe in the importance of fact-based counter-narrative **. But we have to recognise that story and emotion usually trumps facts and logic in wider discourse, * There are presumably decades of data available from NL. Even if not you could probably get a PhD's-worth of data merely by viewing online videos from BicycleDutch, NotJustBikes, David Hembrow, the Bruntletts, the Dutch Cycling Embassy etc. Or really blow the research budget and travel a hundred miles or so across the sea and go around NL with your eyes open... ** if only in the hope of providing a counter to eg. the ... (now alas less) fringe views of some lobby groups (NFBUK *cough*). Like there is an extreme danger to pedestrians from cyclists, motor traffic reduction is a grave threat to those with disabilities etc. Those just happen to chime very well with the narratives of the "war on the motorist" crowd...
@eburtthebike ...well, not by bike, at least
Don't all head units have GPS tracking built in, nowadays? Can't the UCI hook into this or do all the manufacturers use different protocols? Hopefully they will use it to calculate the gaps between riders and groups too as measuring it using the motos is way off
I think the police's wording in these cases is accurate: it is the use of those e-bike on public roads that is illegal. The existence of the e-bike is not illegal, nor is owning one/buying one/selling one/modifying one/riding one on private land with the landowner's permission. It would therefore be technically inaccurate for the police to simply call them "illegal bikes" as you suggest. I can see your point that that does open the door to a degree of misinterpretation by the public who might wonder in what way they were being used illegally when the answer is in fact any use on public roads (assuming not registered/licensed/insured etc.). But I think there's enough information out there that it you can find the answer in a couple of seconds on google, so really ignorance is not an excuse.
It sounds like a straightforward decision for the council. Include the cycle lanes in the scheme, or risk losing the £19.9m of funding, which was awarded on the basis of inclusion of an active travel element. The attitude reminds me of my local council's bid to be City of Culture. The emphasis was mainly on how much footfall and business the title would generate, rather than what would be done to promote arts and culture. Quality of life and physical and mental health are not a priority.
@quiff Pedicabs should be banned in London, blocking cycle lanes, severely ripping off tourists, blocking pavements when not in use, often a front for low-level criminality (drug dealing/transportation) and riders frequently highly aggressive. I had a nose to nose confrontation with one a couple of weeks ago as I was walking to the Proms because I politely asked him to move his incredibly vulgar contraption (it looked like Barbara Cartland's bedroom on wheels) off the pavement in Buckingham Palace Road where it was forcing all pedestrians to leave the pavement and walk on the roadway. Instant aggression, shouting and swearing and threatening violence – fortunately a passing police motorcyclist clocked what was going on and told him to pack it in and get his machine off the pavement. They are an absolute blot on our fair city.
There's another big question, which perhaps applies to a lot of cycle schemes: Where is the cycle parking that allows people cycling in that street to stop and use the local businesses?
21 thoughts on “Geraint Thomas blasts “ridiculous” calls to jail Tour de France crash spectator; Cav reaction; KHS congestion; Cargo bike rap; Tadej Pogacar’s TT masterclass uploaded to Strava; UK’s pothole capital; Urban skills; Breaking records + more on the live blog”
Here, have a link: https:/
Here, have a link: https://www.strava.com/activities/5554938566.
“Afternoon Ride”
“Afternoon Ride”
Thanks! Not sure why you’d
Thanks! Not sure why they’d write this whole article and not give the link
Isnt his average power shown
Isnt his average power shown in the summary…411w? Or is that the strava guesstimate.
It’s estimated power.
It’s estimated power.
If we are going to have a
If we are going to have a golden age of cycling, then we need to keep Sustrans as far away from it as possible. Unless we want this golden age to be based on shared paths, muddy paths, A-frames on paths, and a nationwide network random blue signs that does nothing to facilitate cycling.
We are already in a golden
We are already in a golden age of dog muck littered Sustrans paths, infested with dog walkers without dogs on leads and zombie joggers with noise cancelling earphones. If you’re really lucky you’ll also come across abusive youths. You’ve never had it so good.
Spot on. But where I am there
Spot on. But where I am there is also generally a carpet of glass shards from broken bottles.
I think Sustrans have
I think Sustrans have acknowledged that they got it wrong in the past. But they did build some utterly useless paths, and even worse, were pretty much guaranteed to give approval of any old shit put forward by a local authority even when all the other cyclist advocate groups objected. Bike scary roundabout – that will do fine.
Let’s hope that they really are a completely reformed organisation.
I can excuse even the worst
I can excuse even the worst sustrans path, because at least it’s been saved from being sold off or built on.
I would be really pleased if the abandoned railway line near me was a muddy track. As it happens, it’s now a housing estate and a supermarket. The rest of the line being mainly overgrown or private land.
Was particularly impressed
Was particularly impressed with the 1 in 3 wet, greasy, cobbled lane in Hebden Bridge they use as part of NCR 68.
To be fair, it’s hard to plot
To be fair, it’s hard to plot a route through Hebden Bridge, the hillclimber’s paradise, without a steep hill. (Apart from route 66 which follows the nearly-flat valley bottom east-west). Route 68 is supposed to follow “the spine of England“, after all.
On the other hand, Sustrans show an alternative route on a proper road with a milder gradient (lower section of Heptonstall Rd) without mentioning that the turn is forbidden by local roadsigns. Which are, admittedly, often ignored by cyclists.
“Up the Buttress” used to be a lovely event, though, for the chafed masochists among us. Maybe there should be a local hillclimb event which takes in both Slack Bottom and Raw End.
Excellent Strava bombing by
Excellent Strava bombing by Francois Beaujean there
Quite… Pojacar might think
Quite… Pojacar might think he’s clever with his 50kmh average, but he ‘s not the Local Legend.
Re: the pothole statistics, I
Re: the pothole statistics, I get that the FOI concerns ‘potholes’ specifically, but it seems to be misleading. I know there are some rules and guidelines governing the size of what constitutes a pothole, but surely a larger prevalence of these is no indicator of poor overall road quality – or is it? My thinking is that poor road surfacing can and often does spread consistently across a significant area of road (West Midlands residents might recognise Stoneleigh Road between Stoneleigh and Coventry) and as such, would create a more jarring and negative experience for the road user than isolated potholes. Unless the pothole statistic is simply an indicator of a wider problem, where more potholes = poorer road maintenance standards = poor road quality overall.
Anyway, could I suggest that Loose Tooth Fillings per Mile (LTFpM) be adopted as a road quality measurement standard?
Kensington High Street…
Kensington High Street…
What happened to the muc-off
What happened to the muc-off ludicrous review of £1 a ml? Was it an april fool ?
I’m guessing it got laughed
I’m guessing it got laughed off.
Regarding potholes. Spent
Regarding potholes. Spent last week on a family break in Pembrokeshire so I took my bicycle. The roads are excellent, even the small lanes smooth and almost pothole free. I had some of my most enjoyable rides ever. Pembrokeshire CC you should be proud of yourselves; Hampshire CC and West Sussex CC hang your heads in shame.
Agreed… I spend a lot of
Agreed… I spend a lot of time in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion cycling. The roads there are superb, even the tiny rural ones. The local drivers are generally courteous and safe too.
My welsh father in law tells me that its a simple function of ‘chimney pots’ as he calls it… relatively few people for predominantly rural Welsh CCs to spend money on and relatively less usage.
I’m astonished to find Oxfordshire only 5th on the list… the roads elsewhere must be unbelievably bad!
I have encountered
I have encountered Oxfordshire’s Dragon Patcher, which seemed to be able to mend small defects.
The gravel used and the tar cause sticking on the tyre and so it sounds like you are riding on rice crispies for a while after.