The King versus Strava KOMs: Sean Kelly admonishes focus on Strava times, says he doesn’t “really take any interest in them”; Are cycle circuits the “only option” to save British bike racing? Fancy a job as a postie on Alpe d’Huez? + more on the live blog

Oh, you spent your weekend topping up your growing list of Strava KOMs, did you?

Well, that don’t impress Sean Kelly much.

Because, while we love a Strava-related story here on the blog – especially if it involves some degree of intrigue (looking at you, Tom Pidcock and your twitchy, deleting thumb – oh, and Dan’s traumatic motorbike-induced dethroning back in 2022) – it appears that the King himself isn’t as keen on your regal ride sharing titles.

> Tom Pidcock claims famous Strava KOM... but quickly deletes ride

Of course, the Irish classics legend-turned-iconic commentator does belong to the most ancient of cycling old schools. After all, this is a man who once, when asked to detail his pacing strategy for time trials, simply offered up: “Start fast, go faster in the middle, and ride flat out at the end.”

So, it should come as no surprise that when Eurosport commentator Rob Hatch informed Kelly during yesterday’s final stage of Paris-Nice – just as then-race leader Brandon McNulty’s UAE Team Emirates domestique Felix Großschartner began to set the pace on the Côte de Peille, in an ill-fated bid to ward off Remco Evenepoel’s soon-to-be race exploding attacks – that Großschartner held the Strava record for the climb, Kelly’s response was characteristically unequivocal.

Großschartner putting all that Strava KOM-hunting to good use yesterday (A.S.O./Billy Ceusters)

“Bahh, these Strava times!” he exclaimed, about a notch or two above his usual analytical tone.

“You go out there and you’re fresh, and you just warm up into it. Then you just blast it up it.

“These Strava times, I don’t really take any interest in them. Because in a week-long race like Paris-Nice, when you’re riding full gas, and in bad conditions, it’s a different game.”

No Strava KOMs on the road into Roubaix back in ’84, anyway…

Well, there you have it, the King has spoken – your KOMs are all worthless.

I wonder if he’ll change his mind about Strava when he hears about its new dog activity tracking feature? Somehow, I doubt it…

They’ve become an increasingly common presence at cyclocross races, and they captured some pretty cool shots during Paris-Nice’s team time trial last week. But could the use of drones make its way to this year’s Tour de France?

Well, according to Anthony Forestier, the broadcast director at France Télévisions, which provides the Tour feed, the success of their Paris-Nice experiment – which saw remote-controlled drones follow and capture the riders during the TTT in Auxerre, the first time they’d been permitted in a WorldTour race – has encouraged the television company to sit down with ASO and the UCI over the use of the technology at cycling’s biggest race.

⚡️ Cette vitesse ! 🤩

⚡️ That speed! 🤩#ParisNice pic.twitter.com/GmSgJldNeG

— Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) March 5, 2024

“Based on the feedback we got [from the Paris-Nice team time trial], everybody loved it,” Forestier told RMC Sport today. “Some teams even got in touch with us to ask us to share the footage with them.

“The idea is to show that they are super pros with a touch of madness. We want to make all the people in front of their TV understand that they are gladiators. We want to tell those who know nothing about it: ‘go ahead, take your bike, go at 40 km/h and you’ll see how it blows. There they are at 93km/h. Take your car and see what 93 km/h is like. But the riders are on tiny tyres.”

“Cycling needs these innovative images,” Décathlon-AG2R La Mondiale’s DS Julien Jurdie agreed. “I love it, it’s done in skiing in particular and it’s great. We must take advantage of this technology, it is essential.”

Seen in cyclo-cross and the O Gran Camino race before among other places but FranceTV using a drone to film the TTT in Paris-Nice today, if it works expect it to be used at the Tour de France pic.twitter.com/iQ4z9iuaeo

— the Inner Ring (@inrng) March 5, 2024

Asked about the possibility of incorporating drone footage as part of their Tour coverage in July, Forestier said: “Nothing is in place, but we’re thinking about it. There are two time trials in the Tour this year, and then a stage around Troyes with gravel roads which is going to be spectacular.

“We’re going to sit down soon with the UCI, ASO, and the teams to discuss if it’s worthwhile. That seems to be the case, so we’re going to think about how to do it in a safe way.”

While safety is paramount – I’m not sure how Jonas Vingegaard would feel if his Tour chances were scuppered by a drone running out of battery and following into his front wheel – Forestier also believes that any use of drones will be merely to complement the normal TV footage, putting the viewers in the “rider’s shoes”.

“We need to think about the best way to put them in place,” he said. “But, whatever the case, drones are an excellent way to make the product as beautiful as possible.”

Wishing @MollieKing the best of luck as she sets off on her epic bike ride for @comicrelief! 🚴‍♀️ 👏

Chapeau Mollie! 🎩#ComicRelief | #Radio1PedalPower https://t.co/v7GKXJh9mt

— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) March 11, 2024

But can Mollie make it to Hull in time for Saturday(s)?

Alright, I’ll get my coat.

Well, let’s just hope the former Strictly semi-finalist receives a warmer welcome from the Great British public during her 500km charity ride north than the young fella (and Jermaine Jenas) who took part in a similar charity cycle for Children in Need back in November…

> Cancer-surviving young cyclist takes on Children in Need charity ride – and gets branded a “selfish a***hole” by motorists for riding three abreast

A police officer in Ireland has been cleared of five disciplinary charges at an inquiry having been suspended for three years after giving one of many unclaimed bicycles at his police station to a “vulnerable and isolated” elderly man who was struggling for transport during the Covid pandemic.

Read more: > Irish police officer suspended for three years cleared of wrongdoing having given unclaimed bicycle to “vulnerable and isolated” elderly man for transport during the pandemic

Three months after cycling and walking campaigners complained about the apparent delay in introducing a trial enabling people to take bikes on trams in Greater Manchester – which mayor Andy Burnham promised would be brought in by the end of 2023 – a “supervised” guided pilot scheme has finally been launched.

Since the introduction of Greater Manchester’s tram network in 1992, only folding bikes have been permitted. But, as part of his 2021 election manifesto, Burnham committed to introducing trials that would allow dogs and bikes on trams, with dogs being permitted to travel on Greater Manchester’s tram network from August 2023.

> Active travel campaigners “disappointed” at apparent bikes on trams trial delay in Greater Manchester

Transport for Greater Manchester’s new “supervised” bike trial will last for four to six weeks and will see invited volunteers bring their bikes and non-standard cycles on board during off-peak times and under test conditions.

The trial will also assess the accessibility of adapted bikes used as mobility aids, scooters, and a broader range of mobility scooters that are not currently permitted, as well as studying possible accommodation for bikes at stations and stops.

Announcing the trial, Dame Sarah Storey, Greater Manchester’s Active Travel Commissioner, said in a statement: “I would like to thank Transport for Greater Manchester for progressing with the bikes on trams trial and I am looking forward to observing the study myself in the coming weeks.

“Not only will researchers carry out their study on a range of Metrolink lines and services, they will also trial different types of cycles, including non-standard ones used as mobility aids.

“A follow up report on how it’s gone will be brought to the Bee Network Committee this summer and I will be interested to read their analysis and learn more about how volunteers and tram users have found the experience.”

The cancellation of the National A-level Bourne CiCLE Festival race, on what would have been only its second ever edition, has once again raised the issue about spiralling police costs, road safety, local bureaucracy, and the seemingly increasingly untenable (and unsafe) nature of staging a bike race on open British roads.

Speaking to road.cc, Bourne CiCLE organiser Brian Moran said he was forced to pull the plug when informed that police costs for motorbike outriders to marshal the race would cost £35,000 – ten times the cost from five years earlier, despite the 2024 route being “simpler” to police.

> "I can't think of any British bike race that would run at a profit": Another organiser cancels cycle race amid spiralling costs

This was due to Lincolnshire Police, who provided support for the race in 2019, no longer being able to provide escort cover for the race, meaning the Central Escort Group was called on instead.

However, for the CiCLE Festival race to go ahead, the police wanted 30 police motorbikes and command cars involved, a similar level of policing as to what is used for the Tour of Britain or past RideLondon events, leading to ever spiralling costs and Moran’s sobering conclusion that he “can’t think of any bike race that would run at a profit” at the moment in Britain.

Down in the comments section, road.cc reader Cugel offered a rather thoughtful reflection on the current direction of the British domestic racing scene, and what may be needed to save it:

Now a decade or three ago, I used to road race in many club events around Northern England. It was relatively easy to organise such events then; less bureaucracy (although not free of it) but also back roads – and even town centre Sunday roads – that were extremely low-traffic, with some (such as for town centre Sunday crits) so low-traffic that it allowed road closures for a couple of hours or so.

But even then, there were traffic incidents, even when the routes were well-marshalled and the riders very considerate and adherent to the rules for such racing in traffic. It was inevitable, given the nature of racing and the nature of some loon drivers.

These days, the racers often seem less disciplined, as club etiquette and behaviours seem more me-my-I these days. In addition, traffic is heavier and the general standard of driving more aggressive in many places. Add the now large costs and additional bureaucracy and it’s easy to see why road racing on open roads has become untenable.

There is an obvious solution, which is to build dedicated cycle racing circuits. When I raced there was (and still is) a good crit circuit on the riverside in North Lancaster. The whole area is closed to traffic but is part of a wider sports facility that also has car parking and changing facilities. There’s a good case for including such dedicated cycle racing facilities in any newly proposed sports facility – built from scratch or as part of an upgrade to existing sports facilities, if land is available.

Yes, I know, not a big priority in today's broken and bust Britain. Yet it looks like the only option. And, after all, no one would propose a car racing event on open roads, would they?

What do you think? Are dedicated, safe, closed bike racing circuits the “only option” to save Britain’s flailing cycling scene? Let us know in the comments…

Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for a long-form story I’ve been working on concerning the future of British cycling, coming soon!

Fancy a new job and want to ride your bike more? The French national post service are advertising for a postie whose round (which can be delivered by bike) includes the sparsely spread propeties on L'Alpe d'Huez. https://t.co/C95c0F63Ao

— Jez Cox (@JezCox) March 10, 2024

Now, that would be living the dream – riding your bike up those famous 21 hairpins every day, dropping off the occasional letter, pretending you’re Pantani, or Geraint Thomas, or that mad swathes of Dutch fans are willing you on, ‘just one more parcel, you’re nearly there’…

I’d imagine it would be pretty grim in winter to be fair, especially with all the skiers.

But who do we know who’s currently unemployed (apart from obligatory white guy podcasting duties), has an intricate knowledge of Alpe d’Huez – and knows how to deal with angry customer service complaints while riding very fast up the iconic climb – and has previous experience serving another country’s postal service with unblemished distinction? (Alright, maybe I’ve gone too far there.)

Lance, get that Word document fired up, I have just the job for you…