Driver slams Chris Boardman for not wearing helmet – and gets accused of “completely missing the point” after active travel chief claims anti-cycling agendas are “easy”; Evenepoel fires Tour warning with TT win; Worst AI bike ever? + more on the live blog

It may not have looked like much on paper, but stage three of the Critérium du Dauphiné into Charantonnay yesterday was one of the toughest days Mathieu van der Poel has ever spent on a bike.

And for a man who’s won three editions each of Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, two Milan-Sanremos, a world road title, and seven cyclocross rainbow jerseys, that’s quite the statement.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Critérium Du Dauphine (@criteriumdudauphine)

Van der Poel was one of the chief animators of the 203km stage, a constant presence during the tough, explosive, and mostly uphill opening 30km, and infiltrating the 13-rider breakaway that rode away to contest the win.

However, the Dutchman, searching, remarkably, for his first stage win at a WorldTour race since the 2022 Giro d’Italia, was marked out and leant on by his rivals in the closing kilometres, as Movistar’s Iván Romeo slipped away to secure an impressive solo win.

Green jersey wearer Van der Poel, just two weeks after breaking his wrist in a UCI mountain bike World Cup race, was forced to settle for fifth, after taking two thirds – in very different circumstances – on the previous two stages, showing his form is in the right place ahead of a highly anticipated return to the Tour de France.

“It was one of the hardest days on the bike I’ve ever had,” Van der Poel told the Cycling Pro Net YouTube channel after the stage. “We have 45 kilometres per hour average, 3,000 altitude metres, that says enough, I think.

“Again, I’m super happy with the shape actually, but it’s difficult to win in this position as well, everything needs to be 100 per cent correct, and it was a bit of a gamble in the end, but a really nice day out there.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Critérium Du Dauphine (@criteriumdudauphine)

“There were a lot of riders looking at me, but, of course, in the end, you also need to look at the other riders if you want to win the stage. It’s not up to me to react to every single attack, so that was the gamble in the end. I responded to several, but not all of them.

“We thought that the breakaway might have a chance today, but we didn’t get that much room I think because of [Florian] Lipowitz, who was in our group. That was a bit of a pity, but we pulled really hard all day to make it and it’s good to at least have some points in the end.

“For the shape, it’s important to have hard days like this. It’s impossible to recreate them in training, so that’s why I’m here.”

Twix and dangerous driving, very unhappy together. I’m not sure that particular marketing slogan will catch on, but it’s certainly the case at the moment, after a new TV advert for the double chocolate bar was banned this week in the UK for encouraging dangerous driving.

The advert, released this year and replacing Twix’s previous bears at a campsite skit, features a hippy-looking young man, driving a 1960s caramel and chocolate-coloured car through the deserts of the American west, getting chased by another motorist before crashing his vehicle off a cliff.

He then coincidentally lands on top of an identical car (just like Twix!), as his twin proceeds to drive off, kicking up dust as he goes while the slogan ‘Two is more than one’ appears on the screen.

While we’re all used to seeing less than ideal driving advertised by car companies, it’s somewhat rarer to see a chocolate bar company join in on the ‘fun’, with the advert attracting five complaints which claimed it was irresponsible and encouraged dangerous driving.

In response, Twix owners Mars-Wrigley claimed that the ad had a “cinematic presentation” and was set in a “world that was absurd, fantastical, and removed from reality”, a stance shared by Clearcast, the non-governmental organisation that approves adverts before broadcast.

However, the BBC reports that the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) watchdog has this week ruled that the advert “must not appear again” in its current form because it “condoned unsafe driving”.

While the ASA acknowledged that the crash stunt highlighted the fantastical nature of the advert, it argued that the first half of the video showed driving “that appeared likely to breach the legal requirements of the Highway Code”, with a clear “emphasis on speed” thanks to the “fast paced beat and music” featured in the car chase and the “visible skid marks” left on the road.

Defending the advert, which they said was indicative of the brand’s absurd and playful humour, Mars claimed “the cars were shot driving at lawful speeds and any emulation would only reflect the legal and safe driving presented”, while Clearcast told the ASA that the style of the video made it clear it wasn’t meant to be emulated by motorists and did not suggest that “safe driving was boring”.

Nevertheless, in its ruling, the ASA told Mars “not to condone or encourage irresponsible driving that was likely to breach the legal requirements of the Highway Code in their ads”.

Two for me, no ads for you, then.

And the reaction online so far to the ruling?

“I was planning to drive like this but now the ad is banned, I won’t,” James said under the video on YouTube.

“Same. Very disappointing,” another added. “I didn’t realise that driving like this was potentially dangerous. Never mind. You live and learn. I’m so grateful that advertising standards are looking after our well-being.”

They joke, but…

Yesterday, I sat down for a chat with the Olympic champion-turned-Active Travel England chief. Here’s what he had to say: 

> “E-bikes aren’t a problem when 99.5% of road deaths involve cars”: Chris Boardman calls for “anger to be pointed in right direction” amid Reform’s anti-cycling rhetoric and “embarrassing” BBC Panorama e-bike episode

How about this for awful cow parking on a cycle path? Somebody needs to tell him to mooove. Alright, alright, I’ll get my coat…

Pretty standard conmute to work.

[image or embed]

— David K Smith (@professor-dave.bsky.social) June 10, 2025 at 8:52 PM

Reminds me of the time a goat chased me up a steep rural hill once – until he realised he was considerably faster than me and sped off into the distance.

They brought us Romain Bardet and Jean Christophe-Peraud’s Tour de France challenges, Ben O’Connor’s epic rides and even more epic temper tantrums, top-notch Netflix content, public spats between teammates Nico Roche and John Gadret (including the Irishman’s infamous vision of a “bald French head flying through a car windscreen”), and the sprinting legend that is Jaan Kirsipuu.

And they brought us brown shorts.

But AG2R La Mondiale’s 27-year association with professional cycling could be coming to an end, with reports in France claiming that the insurance company is set to end its co-sponsorship of the Decathlon-AG2R squad at the end of the season.

First joining the sport as co-sponsor of the Casino team back in 1998, AG2R took over as title sponsor two years later, cementing the squad, alongside Groupama-FDJ, as one of France’s biggest and most successful WorldTour outfits.

After 24 years in the top role, AG2R stepped aside as the team’s main sponsor last year, when sports retail giant Decathlon took over on a deal that will last until 2028.

Decathlon’s arrival, and the cash injection it provided, appeared to pay dividends almost immediately, the team racking up 30 victories last season – 21 more than the nine they managed during AG2R’s final season as sole sponsor in 2023. This year, the team has continued to pick up wins, most notably through Nicolas Prodhomme’s superb solo win in the Alps at the Giro d’Italia.

Zac Williams/SWpix.com

And now, Le Télégramme has reported that AG2R will now leave the sport altogether this winter, with cosmetics brand L’Oréal apparently set to take over as second sponsor. Why? Because they’re worth it. (Okay, that’s enough of that.)

The team has refused to comment on the reports, but the change of sponsors looks set to herald a big winter in the transfer market, with sprinter Olav Kooij expected to make the switch in 2026, alongside his Visma-Lease a Bike teammate Tiesj Benoot.

Le Télégramme has also reported today that highly rated American climber Matthew Riccitello is set to join from Isreal-Premier Tech, bolstering the squad’s stable of stage racing talent, which already includes Felix Gall and 18-year-old French sensation Paul Seixas.

And, if Alpecin’s marketing is anything to go by, the team’s ads for L’Oréal should be fun, regardless of the results on the road…

> “It’s not something we should advertise as secure”: Cycle park plagued by bike theft “epidemic”, with cyclists now too fearful to use it

Those bloody cyclists, always complaining about… err… statues outside bus stations!

Yes, that’s right – over in Stevenage, plans to install an eight-foot-high sculpture outside the town’s bus interchange have been approved by the borough council’s planning committee, despite opposition from Cycling UK, who reckon the artwork’s placement could lead to conflict between pedestrians and cyclists.

The 2.5m-high sculpture, comprised of three stacked rocks decorated with mosaics, symbolic of Stevenage’s history and status as a “destination” (apparently), will be placed outside the entrance to the station, on the side closest to the town centre.

However, speaking at a council meeting last week, Jill Borcherds, representing the Stevenage branch of Cycling UK, argued that placing the sculpture in the middle of a pedestrian and cyclist junction could cause safety issues.

She told the meeting that the town’s Cycling UK branch “love the art but… is this definitely a safe space for it to be put?

“The concerns we are raising are entirely related to the location and certainly not the artwork itself. People approaching the junction from all directions need to be able to see each other to share the space safely.”

The statue’s proposed location

Meanwhile, Labour councillor Lynda Guy suggested that the “great” sculpture could be installed on the other side of the bus station, instead of being “plonked” down on the proposed spot.

And Lib Dem councillor Stephen Booth argued that the statue could be moved to “to the front of the actual bus station so that passers-by, motorists will see it and it would be a more suitable location”.

However, council officers said they had consulted both the highways authority and their engineers, insisting that the proposed location “would meet guidance for the space left between the sculpture and the edges of footpaths”.

“While I do accept the concerns, I think the point of public art is you put it where people are,” Labour’s Robert Boyle said, before the plans were approved by nine votes to three.

“The point that this is a busy thoroughfare is why it is a good candidate site for the art. We can’t hide everything away for that reason.”

A post-Giro trip to Windsor Castle yesterday for the double Olympic champion, who’s making a bit of a habit of these royal visits in recent years:

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by ᵀᴼᴹ ᴾᴵᴰᶜᴼᶜᴷ (@tompidcock)

I wonder if Princess Anne (or whatever royal was ‘working’ this week) grilled him about his grand tour GC aspirations during the ceremony?

‘We don’t give these out for finishing 16th overall, you know, Tom…’

In a new, surprisingly heartfelt and emotional ad campaign for period product brand Always, world champion Lotte Kopecky has urged young girls to stick at sports, encouraging them to turn the negative labels they can branded with to their advantage.

“Did you know that half of all girls stop playing sports during puberty? I can understand why,” Kopecky said on Instagram, after posting the short film, where she addresses ‘Little Lotte’ and encourages her to “keep going” and be “as bold, fierce, and strong as you can”.

“During a period of insecurity and self-doubt, the negative labels that are put on female athletes can leave deep scars. But I’m so glad that I didn’t give up and I want to encourage all girls to keep doing sports #LikeAGirl. Stay true to your courage, ambition, and determination!”

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Lotte Kopecky (@lottekopecky)

“They’ve called you ‘too much’ so many times, haven’t they?” the double world champion and three-time Tour of Flanders winner says in the voiceover to the film, which features clips of Kopecky racing as a child.

“Too loud, too pushy, too aggressive, too rough,” she said. “They slap these labels on you as if they’re flaws, as if you need to shrink yourself, lower your voice. But here’s what I need you to know: those things they call ‘too much’ are what make you powerful, unstoppable, great.”

“Too loud? That’s your passion roaring for the world to hear. Too pushy? That’s your unshakeable confidence, daring to believe in yourself. Too aggressive? That’s your drive, pushing you to go further, train harder, and test your own limits. Too rough? That’s the raw strength of your body and your spirit.

Thomas Maheux/SWpix.com

“I know there will be days when you feel like making yourself smaller, quieter, less. Anything to make things easier. But don’t. The world doesn’t need you muted. It needs you turned up to full volume.

“Keep going. Keep being as bold, as strong, as fierce as you can. Because one day you’ll see: it’s exactly what makes you enough. With love, Lotte.”

I’m not crying, you’re crying…

While we’re on the subject of bike that look like they’re AI-generated, have a gawk at this Facebook Marketplace classic:

Blimey…

It’s a lot to get your head around, isn’t it? The other angles posted by the Bournemouth-based seller don’t really help much, either:

Anyway, this “custom built one-off penny farthing style” with front wheel drive, which the seller describes as “very lightweight and a very unusual bike for sale, great for shows” (what kind of shows? Ones in circus tents?) is available for just £130.

Bargain. Unfortunately, the clown suit is not included.

What the…?

This baffling beauty was sent to us by road.cc reader Nick, who saw it pop up as an ad on his Google news feed, ostensibly promoting a mountain bike ramp from MTB Hopper… which, by the looks of things, apparently is so good it completely reconfigures your bike mid-air.

Well, look on the bright side – at least it looks like AI won’t be taking over the cycling industry just yet. It’s still not even sure what a bike looks like.

> Classified and TRP’s new 1×16 groupset hits the market for £2,370, promising “a breakthrough in drivetrain design”

Mark your calendars, because Saturday 5 July is a big day in the cycling world. No, I’m not talking about the Tour de France’s Grand Départ in Lille, or the start of the Giro Donne the following day in Bergamo.

I’m talking – naturally – about World Naked Bike Ride, that annual festival of bare-it-all cycling, protesting car culture and dependency on oil, as well as highlighting body positivity and the vulnerability of riding a bike.

The event takes place in over 50 cities around the world (I wonder if any Tour riders will be tempted to join in during the opening stage in Lille – though I’m not sure how the old Whoop recovery score would look after that), and is often lauded for its carnival-style atmosphere and fun, attracting hundreds of very naked cyclists across the UK.

> World Naked Bike Ride cyclists defend protest ride in face of calls for ban

However, it hasn’t been without its critics, who are routinely horrified by the lack (or should that be abundance?) of helmets on show.

Back in 2023, Greater Manchester mayoral candidate Nick Buckley called for the ride to be banned “to bring back common decency”, claiming “morality was missing in action” (along with a few other things, eh Nick?).

Anyway, the protests have started early in Brighton this year, where residents have raised concerns about participants who use publicly available hire bikes to take part in the ride.

In 2021 Brighton and Hove City Council reassured locals that the city’s rental bikes, then managed by bike hire scheme Hourbike, were thoroughly cleaned following the event. Since then, Beryl has taken over the scheme, with participants photographed riding the rental bikes during last year’s NBR.

And according to the Argus, the council has declined to comment on any measures that will be put in place this year to mitigate hygiene issues.

But to the ride’s organisers, it’s all just a storm on a sweaty saddle.

“As you might be aware. we have addressed the concerns and the issue in question in the past multiple times,” a spokesperson for The Brighton Naked Bike Ride Collective said.

“It’s a shame that the saddle concerns are more important to some than the ethos of the ride and many issues that we are trying to highlight and raise awareness of – tackling climate change, body positivity, our dependence on fossil fuels, vulnerability of cyclists and pedestrians on our roads among some of them.

“Many of our riders come to Brighton from outside of the city to participate in the ride. Inevitably, many will seek to hire a bike for the event due to issues around bringing a bike on public transport for example.

“Some riders, often from London, where on-street rental bikes are commonplace, do not own their own bikes. We guide participants towards the various rental providers in the city. Beryl bikes are the most popular and concerns around hygiene are legitimate.

“As a result, we have seat covers made available to all riders on the day that will be for sale at a low price to encourage take-up. Riders are approached on the day and encouraged to use the covers where we see them using these bikes, but many owners also use them too.

“They have the World Naked Bike Ride logo on so are popular too as a souvenir of the day. Their use is encouraged in the lead up to the ride through our social media and we hope, press channels too.

> World Naked Bike Ride cyclists kicked off their bikes in shocking attack

“We ask riders to use wet wipes otherwise after use. The irony is that the handlebars are also a hygiene issue at any time, but this is not something often highlighted.

“So, we understand the concerns and whilst we do everything we can to encourage use of seat covers, some riders will inevitably either miss the message or be outside of our influence.

“Seat covers are available by post in advance of the ride so anyone can order one by emailing or contacting us through social media.”

Now that was interesting. Very interesting.

Despite the script-tearing exploits by the big GC favourites on Sunday, today’s time trial stage at the Dauphiné, always promised to be the first proper dress rehearsal before the big show in July, offering a tantalising glimpse of things to come at the most hotly anticipated Tour de France in recent memory.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Critérium Du Dauphine (@criteriumdudauphine)

And for Remco Evenepoel – whose Tour build-up has been punctuated by the slow recovery from his dooring crash over the winter – things couldn’t have gone much better.

The world and Olympic time trial champion, for all his qualities the distant third man in the so-called grand tour big three, was in blistering form against the clock, averaging 50.1kph over the 17.1km between Charmes-sur-Rhône and Saint-Péray.

Evenepoel’s staggering time of 20.50 was also enough to propel him into the yellow jersey, four seconds ahead of yesterday’s GC-minded attacker Florian Lipowitz and stage three winner Iván Romeo, who missed out on retaining his grip on the race lead by nine seconds.

Lipowitz’s time in the break yesterday was well spent, it seems, the German handily placed on GC in second, while his fellow attackers Eddie Dunbar and Mathieu van der Poel both put in very strong rides (eighth and sixth, respectively) to stay in the top six overall, within 30 seconds of Evenepoel’s yellow jersey.

But when it comes to the overall battle for the Dauphiné, and bragging rights ahead of the Tour, Evenepoel will be joined in the ‘happy’ camp by Jonas Vingegaard, who will take heart from a very impressive performance, the Dane – taking part in his first race since Paris-Nice in March, another victim of crashes and injury – finishing just 21 seconds down on the flying Evenepoel.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by TNT Sports Cycling (@tntsportscycling)

Tadej Pogačar will be less pleased with his TT performance, finishing fourth, 48 seconds down on Evenepoel, 28 down on Vingegaard, and 11 behind Matteo Jorgenson, who rounded off a promising day for Visma-Lease a Bike with third.

But then again, Pogačar – building up his form after a very busy and ridiculously successful spring – still finished fourth, so I doubt he’ll be panicking too much, three and a half weeks before the Tour’s Grand Départ in Lille and a month and a half before the decisive stages where yellow will be decided.

However, momentum and confidence can often play a key role in bike racing, especially with the Tour now looming large on the horizon. And following today’s time trial – and its insight into the current form of cycling’s big three – Pogačar may be tempted to reach out and grab a little momentum of his own before the Dauphiné is over.

> “We cannot build more roads”: Cycling campaigners call for “bold” congestion charge to tackle car-dependency in Oxford

Sustrans has praised the Labour government for continuing to support active travel following today’s Spending Review, which focused less on cycling and walking and more on housing budgets and the NHS (despite the clear link between active travel and health).

Nevertheless, the charity says it is now time for Labour to finally tackle the next Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, calling on the government to show “strong leadership” and commitment to active travel policies.

> Government’s cycling funding cuts unlawful, Court of Appeal rules – as campaigners say “it’s a mystery why Labour continued defending a Conservative cut”

“It’s good to see continued support for walking, wheeling and cycling in this Spending Review. The government has made economic growth its first priority, and this investment supports that. Walking, wheeling and cycling generate £40bn in economic benefit across the UK,” Sustrans chief executive Xavier Brice said.

 “With this support confirmed, the government can now start producing the next Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy.

“However, if people are going to see improvements within their communities to make it possible for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle we need strong leadership from combined and local authorities when they make spending choices.”

We knew our interview with Chris Boardman, which saw the Active Travel England commissioner call for the public’s “anger and frustration” about road safety to be “pointed in the right direction”, would provoke some debate – but we certainly didn’t think it would start a discussion about helmets, of all things.

In the interview, published this morning, Boardman criticised the anti-cycling, ‘war on drivers’ rhetoric employed by the likes of Reform UK and certain parts of the press, who instead of campaigning for ways to actually make things safer for all road users, focus on “easy” narratives around cycle lanes, e-bikes, and – though he didn’t mention it explicitly during our chat – helmets.

“I don’t want people to not be angry. I want the anger pointed in the right direction,” Boardman told us.

“200 miles from Westminster, 73 per cent of kids have the freedom to get around under their own steam every day and we are being denied that. So, if you frame it like that, I think you’ll find you’ve got an awful lot of people on your side and the anger is appropriately directed.”

> “E-bikes aren’t a problem when 99.5% of road deaths involve cars”: Chris Boardman calls for “anger to be pointed in right direction” amid Reform’s anti-cycling rhetoric and “embarrassing” BBC Panorama e-bike episode

So, imagine our shock when we opened up Facebook and saw the very first comment under the story.

“The guy without a helmet…” wrote Matthew Farren, referring to Boardman’s decision, as shown in the story’s main image (above), to not wear a lid while riding in a cycle lane.

And it’s fair to say that Matthew’s bizarre and ill-judged ‘gotcha’ moment went down like a lead balloon.

“Someone’s completely missed the point,” replied Ben Williams.

“Totally missing the point of the article,” agreed Kathy Pickering. “You are doing exactly what Chris Boardman is talking about.”

“What’s that got to do with the price of fish?” asked a baffled Tim, while Garry wrote: “Completely irrelevant. Slow clap…”

> Why is Dan Walker’s claim that a bike helmet saved his life so controversial?

“Many motorists wouldn’t wear their seatbelt if it was only recommended,” argued Liam Pike. “Also, if your car stops in a head-on smash, you’re hitting that windshield at 60-70mph. That is why it is legal. Cycle lane at about 12mph, not so much.

“I wear mine when on the road and at high speed, but not down the beach for nice bike ride. I did have a head injury, so I would recommend it. But I do understand why people don’t. For some households £30 can be a lot of money. So, it’s nonsense to go ‘oh guy without a helmet’. It’s childish and points scoring. He doesn’t have to so leave him alone.”

Meanwhile, Paul Tutton pointed out that there are “more head injuries incurred by occupants of cars than cyclists. Maybe we need people to wear car helmets.

“The fact that your takeaway from an article about people being killed by motorists, where helmets offer almost zero protection, is to point out that, is astounding. Well done.”

Bizarre. But at least it did give one reader the opportunity to shout out “bingo!” this morning. Silver linings and all that.

> Chris Boardman: “Helmets not even in top 10 of things that keep cycling safe”

Of course, luckily for us, Boardman himself has broached the topic of helmets on plenty of occasions before.

Boardman wearing a (very pointy) helmet back during his racing days, in 1996 (Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com)

Way back in 2014, when he was still a British Cycling policy advisor, he told John Stevenson that wearing helmets is “not even in the top 10 of things you need to do to keep cycling safe or more widely, save the most lives”.

“I think the helmet issue is a massive red herring,” he said at the time, an argument he returned to in his criticism of Reform UK this week.

““It’s a bit like saying ‘people are sniping at you going down this street, so put some body armour on’. And encouraging people to wear helmets is therefore the same as a big campaign to get people to wear body armour, by the people who should be stopping the shooting.”