“It feels like twenty trucks have run over it”: Remco Evenepoel reveals “difficult to accept” shoulder injury after ‘dooring’ crash, as “his condition is getting worse while everyone else is improving”; Pidcock in Q36.5 colours + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
“My dancing idol is Patrick Swayze”: Peter Sagan signs up for Strictly Slovakia – but how have other pro cyclists who swapped their bikes for the ballroom fared?
Come on now — who had Peter Sagan ready to swap his S-Works 7s for some shiny dancing shoes and take part in Let’s Dance, Slovakia’s version of Strictly Come Dancing, on their 2025 bingo?
“Oh my god it’s CyclingMikey!”: Driver holds up mobile phone to point camera at road safety campaigner and show him on FaceTime video to starstruck callee
I imagine when they say there is no such thing as bad press, this is what they mean.
Because after a year which saw almost every major news publication in Britain dip their feet in the “controversial” — and also illegal — waters of using mobile phones while driving and the consequences when a cyclist decides to stick a camera on their head and report the perpetrators to the authorities, CyclingMikey has become a rather popular figure on the streets of London.
After interview features in The Times, The Telegraph, the Evening Standard, and the Guardian, as well as compliments and endorsements from BBC Radio 2 host Jeremy Vine, Mike van Erp, the Dutch-born Londoner has risen in popularity even beyond the niche circles of active travel (or, anti-active travel) communities for catching drivers breaking traffic rules, such as using a handheld mobile device.
And while on the lookout for such drivers in an old video from 2023 (anyone remember the ‘Didn’t Happen of the Year Awards’ fail?) that was shared on Twitter this morning, Mikey came face-to-face with one who not only was unabashedly holding the phone, but also on a FaceTime video call with someone who recognised Van Erp and couldn’t help himself from screaming: “Oh my god, it’s CyclingMikey — oh my god!”
His phone callee recognised me! Then he showed him me on FaceTime.
It’s the second time I caught someone in this vehicle using their phone. I bet he was bricking it when his friend told him who I was. pic.twitter.com/5C0czXvIEV— CyclingMikey the Unspeakable (@MikeyCycling) January 10, 2025
The oblivious driver, who had previously retorted with the question of “Are you the police?” when confronted by Mikey, plainly asks “Who?” and then holds up the phone to show CyclingMikey to his callee via the front camera, before driving off.
Mikey revealed that this wasn’t the first time he caught someone driving that car, even letting out a laugh when realising the fact. Honestly, I’m astounded by the man’s computer-like memory of the licence plates he’s filmed.
“His phone callee recognised me! Then he showed him me on FaceTime,” Van Erp wrote. “It’s the second time I caught someone in this vehicle using their phone. I bet he was bricking it when his friend told him who I was.”
Last week, CyclingMikey was featured in Daily Mail’s “top 12 villains of 2024” list, a belated New Year celebration from the newspaper’s online counterpart, rounding up an awkward and truly confounding compilation, including the likes of the Post Office, VAR, Oasis, Gregg Wallace… and Paddington Bear — amongst everything else villainous in this world.
Perhaps the list might make some sense when you factor in some of the other entries — the person who threw a milkshake at Schrodinger’s Nigel Farage, who somehow bravely walked it off but was also simultaneously frightened at the time, as well as Just Stop Oil campaigners.
“Does this mean I’m one of the good guys?” a rather confused and possibly amused Mikey posted on social media after reading the Mail’s review.
Locals support ban on “malicious” cycling in town centres where police claim cyclists “rifle through” – but cyclists call for clampdown on “speeding vehicles” and worry PSPO could target safe cycling
Grauniad gonna Grauniad… Newspaper gets both rider and race wrong in reporting on the World Photography Awards’ cycling picture of the year
Just how? Not a typo, not a formatting error, not even just one mistake — no, The Guardian got both the rider and the race wrong when reporting on the World Sports Photography Awards 2025 winners.
The fantastic shot of Wout Van Aert being cheered on by the staff from the Gaston Van De Walle butchers shop in Kluisbergen at the E3 Saxo Classic last year, clicked by Gaëtan Flamme, which was awarded the Gold Award in Cycling category was captioned by the Guardian as: “Tim Van Dijke raced past a Butchers [sic] shop in Kluisbergen during the Tour of Flanders.”
The errors have been corrected on the website now, but a keen-eyed reader was quick enough to screenshot it and share it on social media.
road.cc Recommends Components of the Year 2024/25: The best groupsets, grips, saddles and more from the last 12 months
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“I’m going to buy him a mug with a chocolate egg in it. I’m going to get ‘best security in the world’ written on it”
Road tax for Swiss cyclists?
New cycle parking shows how to reclaim space from motor traffic
Quite into this brand new cycle parking which has just sprung up in my ward (on highway).
— Cllr Emily Kerr 💚 (@emilykerr36.bsky.social) 9 January 2025 at 14:11
Part from Brompton’s latest e-bike used to build drones for UK military, resulting in product launch delays and cyclists having to wait months
Who would’ve thought that building a seemingly faultless controller for your company’s latest e-bike would actually result in delays in its rollout… because the British army wanted to use the same design and part to fit in its drones to be used against Russia’s war in Ukraine.
This conspiracy theory-like news was revealed by Brompton’s CEO Will Butler-Adams on BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House programme. He said that his company got “bumped down the list” as the UK military needed a “lot of drones” — not just to send to Ukraine and counter Russia’s drone activity, but also for the latest ‘sport’ adopted by the army, “drone racing”.
“We make electric bikes, and inside our electric bikes we have controllers. The controller is made in the UK – designed by us and made by a British company,” Butler-Adams said.
“We were launching a new bike – our G line – and it was delayed by two months because a controller manufacturer was also making stuff for the MoD [Ministry of Defence].
“Actually it was making stuff for drones, and they needed a lot of drones, and therefore we got bumped down the list.”
Brompton’s £3,499 G Line e-bike apparently has a controller good enough to be used in the UK military’s drones
The bike part needed for the drones is a controller, or control switch, that communicates with the bike’s battery-powered motor that makes the G Line bike easier to pedal.
The controller — which is said to be remarkably quick at communicating with the motor — was designed by the Greenford-based bike manufacturer most notable for its fleet of popular folding bikes, but the production for the part was outsourced.
“It feels like twenty trucks have run over it”: Remco Evenepoel reveals “difficult to accept” injury after ‘dooring’ crash, as “his condition is getting worse and worse while everyone else is improving”
No one was expecting Remco Evenepoel, after achieving an unprecedented feat in men’s cycling by winning gold medals in the road race and the time trial at the Paris Olympics, would become an exemplar of the precarious nature of a pro cyclist’s career where events completely outside your control have a devastating impact on your performance, but that’s how the tragic situation has played out after the dooring crash in Belgium with a bpost van which resulted in fractures to his ribs, right shoulder blade and right hand.
His pre-season training has been completely derailed, and some of the races Evenepoel would have liked to ride this year are now off the table. But if his recovery goes well — which at the moment seems like it is — Evenepoel aims to be back in action for the Ardennes classics.
> Remco Evenepoel calls for drivers to use Dutch Reach after suffering multiple fractures in dooring incident on training ride
“The Ardennes classics are difficult to return to. But I know those races well, so that’s a plus and positive,” he told Wielerflits. “I’m going to start a little earlier, in the Brabantse Pijl. Also for the motivation, because that’s a race close to home.
“After that, the Amstel Gold Race, the Walloon Arrow and Liège-Bastogne-Liège will follow. A one-day race is easier than Paris-Nice or a Giro d’Italia. That’s why the Giro is completely off the table. I know that I have three months now. That’s enough space to be good in the Brabantse Pijl. Liège is also only two weeks later. It’s a risk, but we have confidence in it.”
He shared his feelings about missing the Spanish winter training camps, saying: “That was and is very difficult to accept. I am literally lying in bed, my condition is getting worse by the day, while everyone else is improving their form. The gap is growing by the day. I have not done any exercise for five weeks now. Not on the bike, not in the gym. And before that I went on holiday. That means that I have not done anything for about ten weeks now.
“It is difficult to live with that. I have experienced it before. These are low points in my career. The contrast with my successful summer is great. Although I know what needs to be done. I am also more positive by the day. Around New Year I also sought out the sun, knowing that it might be the last relaxation for the coming months. But that did me good.”
Evenepoel added: “If there is one thing I can be happy about, it is that this injury occurred in December. We also had to decide now and that is why I am not riding any spring races. I want to be 200 per cent ready for the Tour de France . Maybe we will add the Tour de Romandie after the four hilly classics, to have a few more racing days in my legs.
“After that we want to copy last year’s preparation. I have no doubt that if I follow that path, I will be in very good shape for the Tour. There are still seven months until then. There is time. That is why the Tour is the main goal now. If things do not go well in the Ardennes classics, then it is part of the process towards the Tour de France. That is how I am looking at it in the coming period.”
Despite all the setbacks, Evenepoel is at least elated about his scan results, which are coming out positive. “I had my scan on Thursday morning,” he said. “There’s positive news, because the result was good. After that, I could immediately start my first session with the physiotherapist in Herentals.
“My rehabilitation can finally begin now. We are taking it day by day. We want to be sure that everything is 100% recovered. I have to strengthen my muscles. A nerve on the outside of my shoulder has been hit. As a result, the outside feels a bit dead. The pain is bearable, except when I get up. Then it feels like twenty trucks have run over it. There is also no muscle reaction yet. We have to keep an eye on that. But the most important thing is that I can start now.”
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Latest Comments
Follow the road rules. Why is this even a discussion? Because the road rules are not adequately policed. …Solution: how about £100 fines for everyone flouting the road rules / risking cyclists lives on social media and in council chambers, as well as on the roads? That should stop this ongoing waste of time.
@Rendel Harris you've painted a rather alluring picture of social harmony there, but unfortunately you've got my name wrong. I'm Jack, not Nigel. However, to return the compliment, I must think of a story for you. I imagine you sat outside a pub, real ale and pipe propped on the adjacent table, in a similar fashion to Nigel Farage at his populist best. You turn to your wife. "You know what dear? I think I've been a bit harsh in my time. I've shunned the politeness and wisdom of others for too long and want to change my ways.* "There there Rendel", says Mrs Harris. "You're not a bad old stick, it's just living in London that's emptied your soul of kindness and compassion. I've found a lovely new place where we can settle down in our later years. It's on a leafy cul de sac, surrounded by friendly neighbours and smiling faces. There's a guy a couple of doors down, a remarkable man. As well as his towering intellect and rapier wit, he's also a keen cyclist, holding severa local KOMs. Don't be perturbed dear - he'll ride with anyone provided they show other road users the kindness and courtesy they deserve." Rendel turned emotionally, voice shaking. "Oh my dear, thank you for this second chance", and with that the rest of the pub goers turned and applauded the couple, throwing garlands of petals in their wake. The end.
As a Councillor, Edward needs to be paying some attention to all that parking obstructing visibility and manoeuvres at the junction, and sorting out those radii.
Ed Hill was chucked out by Reform in 2025, though TBF to him it was about how to run it rather than ideology I think. He is now reportedly closer to Advance UK, which is distinctly more extreme than Reform. I'd call this Alan Amos style attention seeking.
Emily, thank you for such an insightful piece. I’m a man, but I enjoy watching the women’s races, possibly more than the men’s. The racing is so much closer, we rarely know who’s going to win. You painted a wonderful picture of how a true champion is able to ‘rise above’ setbacks and distractions, and focus their energy on the task in hand. ‘All’s fair in live and war -and sport, but always good to hear riders expressing their admiration for their competitors
@Nigel Garage ...and then everyone applauded my courtesy and I waved courteously to all the people who were courteously throwing flowers and cheering and courteously waving flags that said "Nigel is the best!"
The picture from street view clearly shows give way lines from the roads to the green painted cycle/pedestrian lane. The road user should give way (or must...) to the user of the green lane. This would of course apply to any cyclist on the roadway.
If I recall there is a cave or two along the route - perhaps they were sheltering from the heat in one of those having taken it for a Golf bunker?
“So if there’s a cyclist travelling down the cycle path at the moment, from this position I can’t see them because my blind spots are too big on the left hand side of the vehicle”, claims Hill. Well, there's your problem, right there...🙄
First impression from the headline that he's likely a twit. Then the detail he was expelled from Reform makes you suspect that failing even their low bar requirements he really is. Then he clearly explains his vehicle is unsafe for the highway because he can't see to give way when turning. Any collision he now has should have that video run out explaining he drove a vehicle he knew to be unsafe. Advice for motorists; instead of thinking that pedestrians and cyclists are low risk 100kg objects, imagine them as a 300 Tonne trains that will crush you and your vehicle if you cross into their paths. You'd give way to the train, so you equally can to the others.
20 thoughts on ““It feels like twenty trucks have run over it”: Remco Evenepoel reveals “difficult to accept” shoulder injury after ‘dooring’ crash, as “his condition is getting worse while everyone else is improving”; Pidcock in Q36.5 colours + more on the live blog”
I put this on yesterdays live
I put this on yesterdays live blog early this morning:
‘Hero’ security guard slashed with angle grinder while trying to stop bike thief (Metro)
Nasty.
Nasty.
The Met may evan take action, as it was a non-cyclist ABH-ed.
That little hug at the end ?
That little hug at the end ?
“And while on the lookout for
I’m certain that is not a new incident with CM as I remember a similar recognition (“Oh my god thats CyclingMikey!”) one a while ago but I can’t find it now.
mitsky wrote:
Pidcock “stuck with his old
Pidcock “stuck with his old INEOS kit”. Really?
Another find on Singletrack’s
Another find on Singletrack’s Fresh Goods Friday.
It would seem that some bloke called Jo Burt has done a book.
Though I can’t see why this would be relevant or in any way interesting to anyone here…
https://www.isolapress.com/shop/mint-sauce
Peter Sagan in a suit looks
Peter Sagan in a suit looks like he’s going to hypnotise you and steal all your money…
Or drive you to a flat
Or drive you to a flat viewing in an ‘up and coming area’ in his Foxtons Mini.
Or go into his Swiss uncle’s
Or go into his Swiss uncle’s business
Winning three world
Winning three world championships is a lot like making love to a beautiful woman….
(No subject)
Aren’t those new bike stands
Aren’t those new bike stands too close to the pavement? Certainly to lock the top tube frame to, it’s like a back wheel only solution, unless you leave part of your bike on the pavement.
The other thing about those
The other thing about those bike stands is where are they? It looks like a residential street. So who is going to use them? No one would be daft enough to leave their cycle locked up outside over night, or even for prolonged periods. That should be a cycle hangar ( although they are not theft proof either) Bike stands need to be close to where people want to lock their cycles temporarily; like a gym, shops, public building, office etc.
And no mention of the
And no mention of the Sinclair C5 40th anniversary ? It had pedals, was based on a recumbent, essentially an early ebike/vehicle.
Imagine what the roads would be like if they’d taken off in popularity, maybe Panorama should investigate.
The roads would have been
The roads would have been terrible. C5s have minimal ground clearance and struggle on rough surfaces. So all the traffic calming would have had to go – the pot holes would have been filled – great, right?
No, because then all the C5s would have gone extinct as they’re underpowered and heavy so slow up hills (in fact slow everywhere, unless fitted with the aftermarket rocket engine) and they’d have all been wiped out by MGIF drivers or gone under lorries (they’re a lot lower than my recumbent).
At which point it would be happy days for driving…
I like the idea but sadly while as a kid I thought they looked amazing they are a pretty miserable vehicle practically. (Did I mention the tiny range, or that the leg length is not adjustable?)
I know that was Sir Clive’s
I know that was Sir Clive’s vision though – an actual mainstream car replacement.
Problem is even with his manufacturing links and doing it at scale velomobiles are likely to be very expensive when compared to “basic bike”. I love the idea – and the average modern velomobile is both far faster unpowered than a C5 and many have as much or more luggage capacity. But it turns out that they’re niche in the modern world. They’re bulky, awkward to move about from the outside, an issue to park securely, very few will take more than one person (though those look cool, in a Thunderbirds way).
We have overcome some of those challenges with cars (eg. garages, trailers for carrying more) but I don’t see that kind of thing ever being more than a niche. Even if we had all the suitable cycle infra that they are much better ridden on (there’s a limit to the ground clearance you can get without making the CofG too high / width and turning circle too great).
This the Canadian version of
This a state version of the onion right ?
“House Bill 124 is titled:
AN ACT REVISING BICYCLE LAWS; PROVIDING THAT BICYCLES MUST BE RIDDEN OPPOSITE THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC UNLESS RIDDEN WITH A FLAG VEHICLE ESCORT; AND REPEALING SECTIONS 61-8-602 AND 61-8-605, MCA”
Mental
Mental
My wife forgot to tell me
My wife forgot to tell me about this and now the 48 hour deadline has passed.
No ved either.