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Surrey traffic cops call out safe driving campaign spouting "dangerous advice" about riding two abreast; Disgusting scam profiting from NZ cyclist's death exposed; Gold Pinarello; Pro Brexodus?; Froome embraces 'leisure rider' life + more on the live blog

It's Thursday and Dan Alexander is here for another day of the live blog...
Thu, Aug 12, 2021 09:05
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Surrey traffic cops call out safe driving campaign spouting "dangerous advice" about riding two abreast; Disgusting scam profiting from NZ cyclist's death exposed; Gold Pinarello; Pro Brexodus?; Froome embraces 'leisure rider' life + more on the live blogJeremy Vine two abreast cyclists video screenshot
12 August 2021, 16:16
Katie Compton's husband raises concerns with suspension - says both have suffered huge mental health implications

This reaction to yesterday's big story that 15-time US cyclo-cross champ Katie Compton has been handed a four-year ban comes from the athlete's husband...

12 August 2021, 15:32
Grieving brother of New Zealand Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore exposes online scam that tried to profit from her death

The brother of New Zealand cyclist Olivia Podmore, who tragically died earlier this week, has urged people not to donate to an online scam posing as a fundraiser for the family of the athlete who competed at the 2016 Olympics. The page claiming to be created by 'Team Podmore' and titled 'Help Olivia Podmore' has been exposed by the athlete's brother Mitchell.

He shared the scam on Facebook, saying "I hope this is not what I'm seeing, the Podmores have not started a gogetfunding or give a little page. Do not react to this." Yahoo Sport reports the now-deleted fundraiser had a target of $50,000.

Podmore died suddenly, just hours after posting a message on her Instagram warning of the "struggle" of elite sport. The 24-year-old competed at the Rio Olympics and the most-recent World Championships but was not selected for the Tokyo Games.

12 August 2021, 14:38
Fabio Aru to retire at the end of the Vuelta a España

Fabio Aru will retire from pro cycling after the upcoming Vuelta a España. The 2015 winner of the race has struggled since 2017 and has said he is looking forward to spending more time with his family. Aru shot to prominence at the 2014 Giro d'Italia where he finished on the podium, a feat he repeated in 2015. The Italian achieved his best result at the Tour de France in 2017, winning the stage to La Planche des Belles Filles and finishing 5th on GC in his national champion's jersey.

"Reaching this decision has not been easy but it is something that I’ve been thinking about and discussing with my family for some time. I’ve been racing my bike for 16 years and for more than a decade as a professional, but the time has come now to prioritise other things in my life, my family," Aru said.

How better to remember Aru than with his many pain faces...

12 August 2021, 10:54
Aaannnd it's gone...1-0 Surrey traffic cops

That went well. Bashing cyclists about riding two abreast turned out to be...fatal...for Fatal 5's road safety 'campaign'. Despite claiming to be targeting the five main reasons for death and serious injury on UK roads: speeding, distractions, carelessness, no seatbelts and intoxication, Fatal 5 found the time to bash two abreasters too. Blasting cyclists as "ridiculous" and "downright dangerous" for doing so.

Surrey traffic cops then got involved, did their best to educate the so-called road safety page, before giving up and reporting it instead. Whether the account was deleted or removed by the powers that be, we don't know...either way Fatal 5 is no more...  

12 August 2021, 14:19
Chris Froome embraces the 'leisure rider' lifestyle
Chris Froome randonneur Strava

At least Chris saw the funny side...If you missed it, he was amusingly mistaken for just a leisure cyclist by French TV yesterday. Just a leisure cyclist with four Tour de France titles, all won during a time France 2 broadcast the race...

12 August 2021, 13:47
12 August 2021, 13:29
American BMX star Connor Fields missing multiple days from memory after Olympic Games crash

US BMX racer Connor Fields has revealed the frightening days of treatment and missing memory that followed his crash during the Olympic semi-finals in Tokyo earlier this month. Fields, who won bronze in Rio five years ago, crashed heavily when his front wheel landed on another rider's rear wheel causing him to fall heavily.

The 28-year-old suffered a shocking list of injuries, including a brain haemorrhage, broken rib and a collapsed lung and was stretchered off the track and straight to hospital. Fields posted an update on his recovery to his Instagram followers and said he is still missing four of five days of memory.

"I have about 4-5 days that are completely missing from memory from competition day to the following few days," he wrote. "I am finally back home and on the road to recovery from Tokyo."

Fields was in second place at the time of the crash. Dutch rider Niek Kimmann recovered from a crash with an official during practice to win gold as Briton Kye Whyte won GB's first medal in the event.

12 August 2021, 13:19
One killed as driver strikes 11 cyclists in horrific incident near Tongaat in South Africa
One killed as 11 cyclists hit by driver in South Africa (Image credit: IPSS Medical Rescue)

A driver hit 11 cyclists, killing one, in a shocking incident on the R102, near Tongaat in KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday morning. The South African reports the driver was allegedly overtaking several cars on a blind rise when they struck the group. One cyclist in his 20s was pinned under the vehicle and was declared dead at the scene. Three of the riders suffered "minor to moderate injuries".

IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson said the scene was chaotic. "IPSS Medical Rescue, together with IPSS Search and Rescue division, responded to the reports of a mass casualty incident on the R102 Frasers, Tongaat. It was reported that a vehicle had allegedly been overtaking several cars on a blind rise when the vehicle struck a group of cyclists," the official statement reported.

12 August 2021, 13:17
12 August 2021, 11:47
Ethan Hayter takes his silver medal back to the place where it all began

 Olympic silver medallist Ethan Hayter popped down to Herne Hill Velodrome on Wednesday to show off his bling at the place where he started training aged 13. 

Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: "It's not really sunk in yet, it's a bit strange coming back here and I don't feel like I should be but I'm treated like a celebrity which is weird.

"I got back and my whole road was out and after getting back from the airport it's been really nice, in a way it's meant more to everyone else than it has to me. It's been really nice, everyone has been saying well done and coming up to see me and stuff like that. I feel like the same person, I was here eight years ago and the buzz around the Olympics was massive - this time it was me competing which was weird."

12 August 2021, 10:18
Richard Carapaz's stunning Olympic gold Pinarello Dogma

How good is this?! It's what we've been waiting for since Richie C won gold a few weeks back. His new Olympic gold Pinarello Dogma is just about as good as it gets...well, maybe apart from if Top Ganna had won TT gold so his supersonic world champ's machine could be given a gold trim.

The Ecuadorian hero will debut his fresh new ride at the Vuelta a España when it kicks off this weekend. We'll have to wait until Sunday as the first stage is a TT. I wonder if Cervélo has anything special planned for Primož Roglič?

12 August 2021, 09:55
Tour of Denmark crash has the critics criticising...

We've been here before: rider crashes, bike does something bizarre on impact...must be a peloton-wide conspiracy of motor doping. Okay, that's a bit of a straw man. I can't explain why Ryder Hesjedal's bike did what it did at the Vuelta in 2014, nor can I explain what happened here...maybe if I didn't ditch Physics after an extremely underwhelming GCSE campaign I'd have the answers.

Some are saying it's clear evidence the rider's bike has a motor, others that it was just the wind, others rotational energy? Anyone smart want to help me out here?

12 August 2021, 09:40
Ned Boulting launches 'make cycling infrastructure fit for purpose' petition

You might have seen Ned's vid from the North East on the blog earlier this week. In it, the commentator and writer shared a familiar scene for cyclists across the UK: lazy, substandard token infrastructure - at most a white painted bicycle and a few lines...

The clip got a lot of traction, so Ned has decided to set up a UK Government Petition to 'Make cycling infrastructure fit for purpose. Just like we have done with roads.' The petition is in moderation at the minute so you might not be able to sign it for another few days.

Here's the link to it, we'll share it again once it's live.

Replying to a question about what a parliamentary debate will achieve, Ned said: "I'd rather is WAS debated than WASN'T. I'm hoping it can serve as a focal point for campaigners and will give us something to work with. I'm not expecting miracles, but it could matter."

12 August 2021, 09:50
12 August 2021, 08:52
Meet Jose Laverico...the British pro grabbing a Spanish residency card to bypass Brexit ball-ache

Back in February we highlighted the situation facing British riders subject to visa rules in the wake of Brexit meaning non-EU citizens can only spend 90 days in Europe in a 180-day period. With the majority of WorldTour and Pro Conti races held on the continent, and with many British riders opting to make places like Girona and Andorra home due to the superior training options - it's become a very real problem for many. 

Luckily for Hagens Berman Axeon pro Joe Laverick, he's found an alternative...introducing...Jose Laverico.

12 August 2021, 07:47
Surrey traffic cops call out safe driving campaign spouting "dangerous advice" about riding two abreast

We're back to this again...we thought it was done and said it will take something spectacular to drag us back into the 'debate'. Well, everyone's favourite police Twitter account caught our eye with this call out of a page posing as a road safety campaign...Fatal 5 says it is a: "Campaign against the biggest dangers whilst driving: inappropriate speed, distractions, carelessness, no seatbelts & drink/drug driving". Fair enough.

 Interestingly Fatal 5 chose to tackle the road's biggest dangers by saying cyclists riding two abreast is "a ridiculous act to encourage" that is "downright dangerous", in reply to Jeremy Vine's viral vid. When challenged by the Surrey road cops, Fatal 5 doubled down: "Vehicles are being forced further to the offside than necessary with cyclists riding 3 or 4 abreast as demonstrated here, this in turn adds danger from hidden exits etc Are you advocating that cyclists ride 3 or 4 abreast, contradicting guidance as outlined in the Highway Code?"

If you're new around here you might not know why we think the Surrey road cops are worth a follow...back in June its admin slid into the DMs to educate one person bemoaning "dickhead" cyclists riding away from the kerb...

Dan Alexander

Dan is the road.cc news editor and has spent the past four years writing stories and features, as well as (hopefully) keeping you entertained on the live blog. Having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for the Non-League Paper, Dan joined road.cc in 2020. Come the weekend you'll find him labouring up a hill, probably with a mouth full of jelly babies, or making a bonk-induced trip to a south of England petrol station... in search of more jelly babies.

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41 comments

Avatar
Sriracha | 3 years ago
21 likes

This is why I think the revised HWC missed the mark. The simple truth would be as advised here - use the whole other lane to overtake, always, unless you can't, in which case don't overtake.

So none of the hedging around with oughta shoulda coulda go single file in xyz scenario, which inevitably translates into some motorists knowing cyclists are bringing it on themselves by not magicking up the space for overtakes in the same lane.

And to be fair, a whole lot of motorists do overtake in the other lane. Maybe we need a "good overtake of the day" piece, where it can be shown every day that yes, it is possible and other drivers do do it.

Avatar
I like bikes replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
8 likes

Yes, maybe a good addition to the hc would be that your nearside wheels need to cross the central white line when overtaking

Avatar
jmcc500 replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
7 likes

Codifying as suggested would be a massive positive step towards ending these ridiculous debates.

Avatar
blodnik1 replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
3 likes

This,absolutely.People who compose rules,regulations,laws etc have to complicate simplicity, perhaps they think it makes them seem worth their salary as they are such an expert in these matters...

Avatar
brooksby replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
7 likes

"I didn't want to overtake, officer, but those meddling cyclists absolutely forced me to."

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
4 likes

brooksby wrote:

"I didn't want to overtake, officer, but those meddling cyclists absolutely forced me to."

and the old favourite, "the cyclists wre going too fast I had to break the speed limit to overtake them."

Avatar
StuInNorway replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
8 likes

Sriracha wrote:

Maybe we need a "good overtake of the day" piece, where it can be shown every day that yes, it is possible and other drivers do do it.

Had one last year, out with mini-me, semi-decent cycle lane, then the bus lane and a normal traffic lane. Bus driver sat behind us for quite a while, and only when the normal traffic lane was clear, and he could straddle both and give us really great space, did he pass. https://youtu.be/TLhpSU4vbYc
About a year prior to this the local bus contract went to a different company (same drivers) and there was a marked difference in driving standards. I think they sent them all on extra training. Haven't had a bendy bus pass me to pull into a bus-stop while I'm alongside the bendy-bit in forever, it's been lovely.

Avatar
Awavey replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
1 like

I'd worry about the law of unintended consequences with something like that though, I dont need a whole lane to myself, I just want to be given reasonable amounts of room for my safety and for people to stop overtaking when there isnt really the space to do it safely.

And I'd struggle to find footage of examples of good overtakes,most fall in the barely adequate bracket.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
2 likes

Awavey wrote:

I'd worry about the law of unintended consequences with something like that though, I dont need a whole lane to myself, I just want to be given reasonable amounts of room for my safety and for people to stop overtaking when there isnt really the space to do it safely. And I'd struggle to find footage of examples of good overtakes,most fall in the barely adequate bracket.

I agree, but if they make the recommendation for drivers to use the other lane, then you can bet that most drivers will just aim for straddling the white line which will be an improvement.

I quite often see some really well executed overtakes, but they are still a minority.

Avatar
Zebulebu replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
2 likes

I already tweet road hauliers when one of their wagons performs an exemplary pass on me. Bibby Distribution seem to be the best around (up North) - there are loads of them up here and I can't ever remember a bad pass by a single one of them, unlike some of the other big hauliers (Eddie Stobart, Great Bear, Morgan McCLernon - I'm looking at you...)

Avatar
jh2727 replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
0 likes

Sriracha wrote:

This is why I think the revised HWC missed the mark. The simple truth would be as advised here - use the whole other lane to overtake, always, unless you can't, in which case don't overtake.

It kind falls down when the cyclist is in a cycle lane, on a shared use path or even (for that matter) riding on the pavement - at all these times the motorist should be following the 1.5/2m rule, not that many will though.

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