“You wouldn’t see cyclists doing that!” Driver slammed for single file cows video, claiming “they’re better than any cyclist”; Q36.5 unleashes ‘Condom’ jacket; Van der Poel for Ironman?; Jonas eyes Giro; Gigante’s 190km Zwift ride + more on the live blog

> Plans for new cycleway stalled as police warn it will “exacerbate” off-road motorbike “nuisance” issues

An absolute classic, here, of the ‘Why don’t cyclists use the bike lane?’ genre. Because it barely exists: 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Buck (@buck_ontheroad)

We missed this one at the time, but it sounds like the usual Bonfire Night activities had quite the flatulent effect on the Lee Valley Velodrome last week:

i’m crying pic.twitter.com/VE98pI1Oi5

— robyn (@robyn_emz) November 7, 2025

We’re an immature lot, us cyclists.

After finishing up the live blog last night, I jumped on the turbo trainer, in a vain bid to kickstart my winter miles. And I’ll be honest – it didn’t last long. I got bored very, very quickly.

So, spare a thought for double Giro stage winner Sarah Gigante, who is currently spending her time glued to Zwift as she continues her long and arduous recovery from the broken femur she suffered in a training crash in August.

> “The podium? It will come”: Sarah Gigante optimistic about future Tour de France ambitions after falling off podium on final day – and admits she received “a lot of mean messages” about her descending abilities

The Australian climber’s injury brought an abrupt end to a spectacular if condensed 2025 season, itself delayed by iliac artery endofibrosis surgery, causing her to miss the start of the campaign.

During a scorching hot spell in July and early August, Gigante secured two Giro d’Italia stage wins and third overall, before putting in another strong showing in the mountains at the Tour de France Femmes, ripping the race to pieces on the Col de la Madeleine to move up to second overall and only ceding her place on the podium on the final day.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Sarah Gigante (@slipstreamsarah)

And, after a long recovery period, Gigante finally was able to get back on her bike last month – albeit indoors, and in the virtual world of Zwift. Not that the Zwift life is stopping her, unlike us mere mortals, putting in some big mileage.

On Sunday, the 25-year-old covered a staggering 190km, in four and a half hours, on her indoor bike, a ride she aptly captioned “Don’t think, just do” on Strava. See Sarah, this is where you and I differ.

She followed that up with a 170km, four-hour “gym warm-up” on Monday and 125km today – which she branded a “short one”.

Well, at least the AG Insurance-Soudal rider is keeping herself entertained by posting memes alluding to life in the virtual world, and her slow return to fitness (and subsequent loss of sanity). You can scroll through the Instagram post above for a selection of those inspiring memes (the granny one is my personal favourite).

“Recovery is a bit more of a slog than I initially expected,” Gigante posted on Instagram after her epic 190km turbo stint at the weekend.

“I must have been a combination of naive and optimistic. I like uphills more than I like uphill battles, but I’m doing my best to stay positive and not skip a single rep out of my billion physio exercises!

“Riding will be all indoors for a while yet, but I started my time on the Zwift Ride with a nice 190km yesterday, so at least I can still train, albeit modified. One meme per Strava upload is keeping the mojo high.”

Maybe the meme-based approach will be enough to entice me onto the turbo more often this winter. Probably not, if I’m honest.

A quick scan of the Bahrain-Victorious website informs me that the team, along with all the usual, boring bike, wheels, kit, and helmet sponsorship deals, currently has an off-bike clothing partner, a smoothies and fruit juice partner, a meal partner, and a dairy partner.

So, it’s not real surprise that Lenny Martinez and co. have now teamed up with Chinese pump and smart trainer manufacturer Cycplus, who will serve as the team’s “official supplier of electric pumps” during the 2026 season:

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Team Bahrain Victorious (@teambahrainvictorious)

I suppose it does make sense, and you have to get those brand big bucks anyway you can in cycling – especially when your title sponsor is, errr… the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Stock images used in DCC presentation planning PR campaigns to promote active travel and use of cycle lane (left), vs images of actual cycle infrastructure in the city. “Only 36% of respondents felt safe cycling in Dublin City”. Hmmm.

[image or embed]

— Sam Tranum (@samtranum.bsky.social) November 11, 2025 at 9:27 AM

Julian House Bike Workshop, a social enterprise in the centre of Bath providing opportunities for homeless and vulnerable people by teaching them to build, fix, and sell second-hand bikes, has closed its doors for the final time, the charity citing rising costs and falling sales behind the decision to cease trading.

Starting out as a bike maintenance and repair training programme for service users at Julian House, a charity supporting socially excluded people across the southwest, the workshop moved to a warehouse on Bath’s Corn Street in 2010, soon developing into a competitive social enterprise business.

While continuing to collect second-hand tools and donated bikes, the workshop also looked to sell fixed-up bikes and services to local cyclists, allowing those suffering from homelessness, addiction, mental health issues, or long-term unemployment to put their newfound bike mechanic skills into practice in a real business setting.

However, in April, the charity announced that the workshop would be closing, and would provide discounts for a final clearance sale.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Julian House UK (@julianhouseuk)

According to Julian House, the decision came amid increasing financial pressures owing to rising costs and public sector budget cuts. For instance, the increase in employer National Insurance contributions has added £165,000 to the charity’s costs in 2025 alone.

The Bike Workshop has also seen a decline in interest and sales in refurbished bikes, in the wake of the Covid-19 era bike boom, adding to the pressures facing the enterprise.

“We have thought long and hard and concluded that now is the time to close our social enterprise, the Bike Workshop in Bath,” Helen Bedser, Chief Executive of Julian House, said in a statement this week.

“We are proud of the impact we have had over those years: supporting people recovering from trauma to develop their skills, encouraging people to get out on their bikes and being part of the circular economy in Bath.

‘We would like to thank our committed staff and volunteers who have been the lifeblood of the Bike Workshop, as well as everyone who has supported us by either donating a bike or through their loyal custom.”

> Cyclist who “keeled over” after suffering heart attack brought back to life thanks to defibrillator, quick-thinking friends, and passers-by

Speaking of riding your bike hard in a shed when it’s cold and wet, Cycling Time Trials’ inaugural winter series kicks off tomorrow evening – and has already attracted over 650 entrants (that’s a fair bit more than your local club 10. Maybe this indoor cycling lark will catch on).

“We are utterly gobsmacked by the demand for the series,” one of the series’ volunteer organisers, Ali McLean, said in a statement. Utterly gobsmacked, I tell ya!

Organised by the governing body for TTs in England, Scotland, and Wales, the first round of the Zwift-based series will take place at 7pm on Wednesday, with round two following on Saturday at 9am.

The series will feature 14 rounds in total, on a variety of courses and terrains, designed CTT say to “attract time trailers both new and old”. Entry is free and riders can take part in as many, or as few, events as they wish.

However, if you want to qualify for a position in the overall Series Championship, you have to complete at least seven of the 14 rounds (including four flat rounds, two rolling, and one mountainous).

To join in on what those weird TT enthusiasts call “the fun”, you can sign up for tomorrow’s first round at Zwift’s website and by joining the Cycling Time Trials Zwift Club.

I’d love to myself, you know, but I’m a bit busy tomorrow night… lots of ironing to do, I think.

Yesterday on the live blog, we covered former Paris-Roubaix winner Greg Van Avermaet’s brilliant victory in the 40-44 age category at the Ironman 70.3 world championships in Marbella, a win helped in no small part by the Belgian’s training rides, runs, and swims with a certain Mathieu van der Poel.

And now it’s fair to say the clamour for the multi-talented Van der Poel to dip his toe (and then the rest of his body) into the world of triathlon and Ironman is getting steadily louder – at least if Freddy Ovett has anything to do with it.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Freddy Ovett (@freddyovett)

Ovett, an off-road racer, son of Steve, and training buddy of MVDP, took to Instagram this afternoon to inform everyone that Van der Poel has (apparently) confirmed that he will, in fact, take on an Ironman… if Ovett’s video of the pair training together gets 10,000 likes.

And considering we’ve hit the 10,000 mark and the reel is only an hour old, Mathieu better start shopping for some wetsuits…

Readers of a sensitive disposition might want to look away now… 

> “We cyclists don’t have much to protect us”: Pro cyclist urges drivers to “be careful” after being “hit hard” by motorist who failed to give way during training session, leaving her in “pain everywhere”

Mathieu van der Poel may be busy riding in the sun with Freddy Ovett and mulling over a potential future in Ironman events, but his first love, cyclocross, is doing pretty fine without him, thank you very much.

At the Superprestige Niel this afternoon, the delicate, exhilarating balance of the sport’s pre-MVDP, Van Aert, and Pidcock world was underlined once again, with the men’s race going right down to the wire on the Jaarmarkt.

Laurens Sweeck and Niels Vandeputte sprint for the win at Superprestige Niel — with Sweeck narrowly taking it! ? pic.twitter.com/MxutMSaUHM

— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) November 11, 2025

In a hard-fought sprint to the line, Laurens Sweeck managed, just, to edge past Van der Poel’s Alpecin teammate Niels Vandeputte to take his first win of the season by a matter of inches, after forcing the pace for most of the race.

Series leader Michael Vanthourenhout, meanwhile, was forced to settle for third after an apparent mechanical ruled him out during the last few corners.

Lucinda Brand took complete control of the race, leading from start to finish at Superprestige Niel – Jaarmarktcross ? pic.twitter.com/aawIUOTb6O

— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) November 11, 2025

And in the women’s race, multidisciplinary star Lucinda Brand continued her scintillating start to the season, leading for most of the day to secure her fifth victory so far this winter, and her fourth career win in Niel.

Newly crowned European champion Inge van der Heijden also underlined her own top form by finishing second after initially trying (and eventually failing) to stick with the rampant Brand.

The biggest ‘will he, won’t he’ of the road racing off-season shows no signs of slowing down, as Jonas Vingegaard dropped his biggest hint yet that he’ll make his Giro d’Italia debut in 2026.

After winning the Vuelta a España in September, the Dane is now a Giro away from completing a grand tour clean sweep, following his two Tour de France victories in 2022 and 2023.

And with Tadej Pogačar currently looking untouchable at cycling’s biggest race, speculation has grown in recent weeks that a tilt at a maiden pink jersey is looking a more enticing, and realistic, prospect for Vingegaard and Visma-Lease a Bike for 2026 – a viewpoint underlined by Vingegaard’s comments to La Dernière Heure this week.

Unipublic / Cxcling / Antonio Baixauli

“Win the three grand tours or the Tour de France in 2026? I think I’d prefer to win the three grand tours,” he told the Belgian newspaper. “And after the Tour de France and the Vuelta, I only have the Giro left…”

However, Vingegaard also noted that the Tour would almost certainly still be on his racing calendar for 2026, even if he does head to Italy in May.

“We haven’t decided yet where I’ll race next season. The Tour de France obviously remains the big objective,” he said, emphasising that usurping his Slovenian rival remains his biggest objective.

“Sometimes Pogačar seems really unbeatable. He is undeniably the best rider in the world right now. But if I told myself he couldn’t be beaten, it would mean I was giving up. So I won’t do that.”

This one’s going to run all winter, isn’t it?

The tech team will bring you all the details on this tomorrow, but a press release from Q36.5 has just dropped in our inbox, heralding the launch of the clothing manufacturer’s new ‘foul weather’ collection, designed in collaboration with Tom Pidcock and the lads.

And the name, or at least the nickname, of one particular item in this new collection is interesting to say the least.

The Rain Shell Aero Jersey – otherwise known, ahem, as ‘the Condom’ – is designed for use when it’s above 12 degrees and is “compact, fully waterproof, and cut for aerodynamics.”

“It uses a double membrane fabric with a special inner coating that spreads moisture to speed up wicking,” Q36.5 says. “Designed to be worn on its own or under another layer, it’s the jersey riders reach for when the weather looks uncertain but the pace will be high.”

And the name? Well, Q36.5 says the ‘condom’ moniker came about during the design process and stuck around internally. To quote Garth from Wayne’s World, ewwwwww.

Safety first…

“The ‘Condom’ is engineered to be the last layer in the rider’s rain system (to be worn even without a jersey underneath), worn underneath either the Vampir, or Vampir + Rain Shell/Rain Shell Plus which will be removed in the last kilometres where the rider needs to be as aero as possible,” says Q36.5 founder Luigi Bergamo.

“This shell took the longest and most amount of prototypes to develop because we wanted for the jersey to be not just waterproof but also to offer the best possible wicking from the inside so that the rider can continue to feel dry.

“To that end we used not just two membranes on the outer surface but also a special coating on the inner side that ensures that moisture is distributed across the entire inner surface of the jersey, accelerating the wicking process.”

Alright, that’s enough internet for today.

Cows! Cyclists! Single file! Idiot drivers filming themselves breaking the law!

It was cattle-themed madness in the comments section today – here’s a selection of some of your best bovine-bike opinions:

Mitsky: “The driver videoing the cows… While I am never a fan of criminal/dangerous behaviour, I always appreciate it when idiots create the self-damning evidence themselves. What I hate is when the police don’t act on it.”

Smoggysteve: “When you decide to use a phone while driving you forfeit your right to call any other road user out. I hope the police find out who this smart arse is and fine him.

“But the irony of these well-behaved cows in single file holding him and other road users up for far longer than a cyclist would shows the moronic mindset.

“I do wonder how many drivers will rant and rave about momentarily being slowed to around 15-20mph by a cyclist yet will sit quite contently in three lanes of motorway traffic at a snail’s pace.”

Clem Fandango: “Bloody cows don’t even pay road tax.  And I’m amazed he could see them given their negligent lack of hi-viz.”

Beachboy: “So maybe that is where we are going wrong, moving slowly in a long single file and shitting on the road as we go must be the way forward. Because not one idiot motorist is trying to squeeze past in the small gap. It looks like the cows may have it figured out.”

And finally, Mctrials 23 won the internet for today with this cracker of a cycling-themed cattle pun: “I wonder if those cows planned that route on Komooooot.”

Dairy good stuff. Right, I’m off to have some cake…

Some motorists just can’t help making everything about cyclists, it seems.

Over the last few days, a video has gone viral on Irish TikTok, racking up hundreds of thousands of views, featuring a motorist driving behind a herd of cattle as they were moved from field to field on a damp country road.

So, what do a bunch of cows have to do with cycling? Well, I’ll let our viral videographer ‘Eoinyp’ take it from here.

“Well I tell ya one thing, they’re right when they say animals are more intelligent than people, look at this, look,” the Irish motorist says in the clip.

@eoinyp No comparison between cyclists and well behaved cows… fair play ladies ? ##fyp #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #soundviral #humour #irishtiktok ♬ original sound – Eoinyp

(For the sake of time and willpower, we’ll gloss over the fact that outspoken Eoin appears to be illegally using his phone while driving to film the cows. Although it does add an extra layer of irony to his next few comments…)

“They’re better than any cyclist,” he continues.

“Look at all them poor ladies there, and they’re all going single file. You wouldn’t see a bunch of b***ard f***ing cyclists doing that – by god you wouldn’t. Fair play to ye ladies, fair f***ing play to ye.”

Unsurprisingly, the video – which features the caption “No comparison between cyclists and well-behaved cows” – has ignited quite the discussion over on TikTok. Let’s just say the clip has emboldened a certain group of people, just chomping at the bit to complain about cyclists on the internet (and praise cows, apparently).

“These cows are demonstrating consideration, pay attention cyclists,” said Mauree, while Moss added: “Maybe we should stick cyclists out with the herds for a while, they might learn how to be nice and not think that they live in the Netherlands.”

“They have more sense then [sic] cyclists,” noted Dan, and Tl85 concluded: “The cows are more valuable to society than cyclists.”

Tl85 sounds delightful. And to make matters worse, Extra.ie, an Irish news site that has also covered the viral video, described it as a “brilliant take”. Deary me.

However, the comments were also full of cyclists (and some non-cyclists) who couldn’t help but note the difference in attitude exhibited by the phone-wielding motorist towards the cattle, compared to his approach to people riding bikes.

“You’d not give cyclists the same space that you’re giving the cows though,” said Ciaran.

And Sharon added: “I don’t see you speeding up on the outside of them coming into a corner.”

“I’m no cyclist but see how the driver still isn’t trying to pass them on that narrow road where they need room? Think about that for a minute,” wrote BricksBiz.

> Most drivers wrongly believe cyclists must ride single file, stay close to the kerb, and use cycle lanes – and one in three say they shouldn’t have equal rights on the road, new Highway Code survey finds

Meanwhile, others helpfully pointed Eoin towards the Highway Code and its guidelines for riding two abreast – and why, ironically, he would have found it quite difficult making it past that single file line of cattle if he hadn’t been so busy filming from behind the wheel.

“Cyclists have more sense as they are riding correctly,” Jill said. “A line of bikes that long? You’ll never get past. They cycle two abreast for safety. Read your Highway Code.”

“It’s harder to take a long line of single cyclists than a group,” added Kenny, while Stephen wrapped things up with the perfect response to these naff viral videos jumping on the anti-cycling bandwagon.

“350 people killed by motorists this year in Ireland,” he said. “Zero killed by cyclists. I drive and cycle and obey the rules.”