Rider inches from crashing into photographer at Italian stage race; Denise Welch uses archive TDF pic to claim French aren't "terrified" of pandemic; Riders forced to slide at XC race; Parents want cycling on National Curriculum + more on the live blog

🇮🇹 #CoppieBartali

Olav Kooij (TJV) wins stage 1a of Coppi e Bartali. pic.twitter.com/pnlXepvp59

— NTT Pro Cycling (@NTTProCycling) September 1, 2020

In the video from stage 1 of the five-day race in Italy, a rider is forced to veer off to the side to avoid crashing into photographers, and another misses one of them by an inch. Seemingly unflustered, the cameraman proceeds to snap the rider who had peeled off to avoid a collision. 

At other races (e.g. ToB) there's a line on the floor so we don't stray in to the path of riders - they don't have one here. Plus its a tighter bottleneck after the line compared to other races. Even if the photographers weren't there, they would have smashed in to the barriers.

— 🅰🅽🅳🆈 (@SpinarelloDogma) September 1, 2020

Finish line safety has been called into question more and more since the horrific injuries suffered by Fabio Jakobsen at the opening stage of the Tour de Pologne in early August, when Dylan Groenewegen appeared to move across his line, sending him crashing into the barriers. While the UCI condemned Groenewegen's "dangerous behaviour", many noted that the narrow, downhill sprint finish and physical barriers were huge contributing factors in the incident. 

🔻 Flamme Rouge !#TdF2020 pic.twitter.com/6UaD8h6qRR

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) September 1, 2020

Roglic, Alaphilippe, Pinot, Bernal etc are all primed for a big finish. 

#TDF2020

Thumbs up from @TiesjBenoot as he's caught by the peloton.👍🏻

With 20km to go the remainder of the breakaway hold onto a 1'30" advantage. pic.twitter.com/UYDfGnJNxf

— Team Sunweb (@TeamSunweb) September 1, 2020

#TdF2020 - Benoot's bike. He seems to be ok and can probably continue. pic.twitter.com/ZaCQCLewTH

— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) September 1, 2020

The Belgian clearly came out of it better than his bike, and he's now back in the peloton. 

Devastating for Anthony Perez (Cofidis), the virtual KOM leader had to abandon after crashing on the descent and breaking his collarbone.

📸 Getty #TDF2020 pic.twitter.com/hlVZaTk1Q6

— La Bicicleta News (@LaBicicletaNews) August 31, 2020

In an interview with L'Equipe, Perez said the pain is already better than yesterday, but he's been left with two fractured ribs, a pneumothorax, three stitches in his knee and a lot of bruising all over. After taking maximum points on an earlier breakaway, Perez would have been in the polka dot jersey if he'd have finished the stage; but the crash, which involved his own team car, ultimately meant a painful abandon. 

He added: "It happened too quickly, I didn't have time to be afraid. I felt great pain after the fall, I couldn't breathe and I understood immediately that something wasn't right, but I still tried to get back on the bike. 

"At the time of the fall I yelled “bike number 2!”. My bike was brought back to me, I recovered and put my shoe back on that come off. I got back on the bike and tried to start again, but once I was on the bike I knew it was over."

The extraordinary scenes were captured at this XC race in Austria, with riders forced to slide down the slippery mud slope and most not even managing to stay on their feet, let alone bikes. We'll stick with tarmac thanks!

It is interesting though that we hear via the MSM that France are ‘terrified’ of rise in positive tests but the Tour de France didn’t reflect that. Life goes on x pic.twitter.com/fpYk5OCyx5

— Denise Welch (@RealDeniseWelch) August 31, 2020

The actress and panellist on daytime show Loose Women has been on something of a social media crusade as of late, criticising what she perceive as negativity in the mainstream media over their reporting of the COVID-19 pandemic. To illustrate the point that France is not "terrified" about a second wave (as she suggests the media is reporting) she has cited the Tour de France as an example. 

While it's true the race is on and fans have been seen on the streets (with the vast majority of them well distanced and wearing masks), this photo of the Champs-Élysées appears to be from a previous year; Welch claims it was taken on the 29th August, but the Grand Départ that day was in Nice. 

The Tour de France has a number of measures in place to prevent the spread of the virus, making mask wearing compulsory for spectators and strictly controlling access to key climbs. Riders, their families and team staff must wear masks in hotels and buses at all times, with UCI President David Lappartient saying these rules must be "scrupulously followed."

Rules on positive tests were relaxed just ahead of the Grand Départ, with teams now having to leave the race if two riders test positive for COVID-19, not two riders or team staff as originally stated by organisers. 

The world road champion will leave Mitchelton-Scott to join the Spanish team in 2021, having signed a two-year deal 

She said: “My link with the Movistar Team goes back a long way. I got to know the team better in some high altitude concentrations in Sierra Nevada that I did in 2014, and in which I coincided with part of the men's team. One of the coaches invited me to ride one day with them and I loved the experience. For me they were like my 'Spanish family'. I felt very comfortable, they were the first team of boys to invite me to train with them on long days, and the atmosphere was very pleasant. 

"We trained quietly, they waited for me after the climbs, each one did their work and every day, after dinner, you could tell that there was good vibes in the team, they got together to stay a while longer instead of going back to their rooms ... I even played table tennis one day with Alejandro Valverde!

"I'm not the youngest in the peloton anymore, but I am super ambitious and I want to do very well with this team."

This is a 2 way road. Remind me how cyclists are taking up the road space. pic.twitter.com/lsEL8EDLtH

— Tommy (@Wombletom) August 30, 2020

Must be a new cycle lane in Chesterfield @but_cyclists 🤷 pic.twitter.com/cqvLQbyX6u

— Dr Declan Ryan PhD (@DrDecRyan) August 31, 2020

A couple of examples from the Bank Holiday weekend.

As cycling boomed during the lockdown, many families took advantage of the safer and quieter roads by bike... and a new survey from Halfords has shown that the majority believe it's time to think of riding a bike as more than just a hobby, rather a vital tool that is taught on the National Curriculum. 

Halfords' first indication of more kids cycling is their sales figures of children's bikes, bike seats and trailers, going up by 100% ahead of schools reopening. The survey revealed that almost half of all parents would consider buying a bike or scooter for their children to travel to school, and that 56% would like cycling added to the National Curriculum so that all children will be taught to cycle competently, confidently and proficiently on the roads." 60% also wanted more money pledged towards cycling and scooting safety for children, even if this was at the expense of other school resources.

The survey also shown that there is still a lot of apprehension over road safety, with only 17% of those surveyed saying they have a child who cycles to school, and 42% saying the main reason their children don't cycle to school is because the roads are too dangerous; just 12% of British families with kids under 12 have at least one family member who doesn’t know how to ride a bike, according to statistics. 

A further 27% of parents said they would welcome interactive cycling clubs at schools and in local areas, with free bike helmets given to all children.   

Halfords' Emma Dines commented: “On the back of a year when many adults have rediscovered cycling, it’s heartening to see a growing number of children taking it up too. Our research shows that parents want further cycling education to be provided to young people to ensure it can help them to cycle safely. We know how important is it to start these skill sets young and educate the next generation. Such initiatives can help fuel a lifelong interest in bikes – as well as sound cycling safety knowledge. The benefits of cycling and walking are enormous.”

zwift.com/uk