“You get less for shoplifting”: Cyclist’s £1,224 shopping street fine sparks questions about ban’s dodgy wording and claims it “targets cycling, not anti-social behaviour” – but drivers say “it’s about time”; Giro Goats (and dogs) + more on the live blog

Horrible news from Manchester here, where an elderly pedestrian died in hospital last week following a collision involving a cyclist riding the Tour de Manc sportive the previous weekend.

> Pedestrian, 80, dies in collision with cyclist during Tour de Manc sportive

Scary scenes at the Giro as GOAT terrorises peloton

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— Dan Deakins (@dandeakins.bsky.social) May 11, 2025 at 5:35 PM

Alright, that’s enough of these goat-based rest day shenanigans for now (though I can’t promise anything). 

Last night, the Giro d’Italia peloton jumped on a plane or two and hopped over the Strait of Otranto, back to Italy, after three eventful, frenetic, and occasionally dangerous days in Albania (spare a thought for the poor team staff, who were relegated to this morning’s ferry across the Adriatic).

And, with Mikel Landa’s Giro, and possibly his entire season up in smoke after breaking his back in a horrible crash on stage one, the rest of the bunch will certainly be relieved to arrive in Alberobello in (mostly) one piece.

Though probably not as relieved as the Albanian wildlife.

In the days leading up to the start of this year’s Giro, which began for the first time ever in Albania, teams were privately raising concerns about the plethora of stray animals loitering along the route, as well as some of the less-than-ideal road conditions.

And those animals duly stole the show during yesterday’s mostly soporific stage to the seaside town of Vlorë, where Mads Pedersen won again and regained his pink jersey from Primož Roglič, after a stray dog ran across the road right in front of the charging peloton with 3km to go, much to the frustration of Pedersen’s Lidl-Trek teammate Mathias Vacek.

He probably prefers ball games…

However, the real four-legged star of the Giro’s final Albanian outing was a young mountain goat, who broke away from his mates as the bunch descended at speed in the middle of the speed, crossing the road right into the middle of the peloton, before launching himself at Intermarché-Wanty’s Dion Smith.

Fortunately, Smith somehow managed to stay upright despite the best efforts of the NIMBY goat – seemingly angry and upset that the Giro had closed his mountain roads for the day (who knew Albanian goats had the same views on cycling as British motorists?) – while the goat itself safely navigated its way through the peloton and across the road.

 

 

 

 

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“I didn’t have much time to think but I could see it 10 seconds before,” the New Zealander said after the stage. “The policeman was trying to keep them all in, and then one or two started coming across.

“I didn’t know where he was going to go, but luckily I stayed upright. Everybody else went left and I chose right, but in the end it was alright.

“I have to watch the replay because it happened so fast that I was focused on staying on my bike, but I think I might have just brushed it. It was pretty close.”

Smith continued: “I think I probably expected more of a wild dog, but I guess there’s a lot more goats down here!

“Albania’s been great and it’s beautiful down the south here. They’ve done really well and I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been a different experience – just watch out for the goats!”

The Giro organisers may have been frustrated that cycling’s GOAT, Tadej Pogačar, didn’t return to defend his pink jersey this year, but at least the Albanian variety stepped up to fill the void…

Of course, the biggest, most sought-after accolade at Tro-Bro Léon isn’t the win itself (sorry, Bastien).

Nope, the greatest prize in cycling – the sex toy hamper from the Bloeizone Fryslân would beg to differ – remains the French one-day race’s squealing prize piglet, awarded to the highest-finishing Breton.

 

 

 

 

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This year’s baby swine-based trophy went to Groupama-FDJ’s Valentin Madouas, who outsprinted Anthony Turgis for third at his first ever crack at Tro-Bro Léon, where he was roared on by his banner-waving, flare-lighting fan club along the route.

This year’s baby pig is named, rather obviously, Léon – though Madouas said before the race that the cute little thing is earmarked for a housewarming hog roast, against his girlfriend’s wishes…

 

 

 

 

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Cover your ears, Léon.

Away from the Giro, we were treated to a gloriously chaotic, mud-filled edition of Tro-Bro Léon on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

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As the rain turned the unpaved farm tracks of Brittany, the race’s famous ribinoù, into squelchy, almost unpassable mud slides, more closely resembling a cyclocross course than a one-day classic, we saw riders barely manage to control their bikes, punctures galore, and a devastatingly decisive late crash for Uno-X’s brilliantly attacking Fredrik Dversnes.

Oh, and a stunning ride from Burgos BH’s Hugo de la Calle, who still managed to finish 14th despite spending most of his time in the break riding a Shimano neutral service bike.

Even winner Bastien Tronchon, who headed a Decathlon AG2R one-two with Pierre Gautherat after Dversnes’ late crash, didn’t have things his own way, puncturing twice, while even managing to head off the race route and into a car park after reading the race signs wrong as he led solo:

 

 

 

 

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As I said, pure chaos.

This weekend’s racing action wasn’t just confined to the road. On Saturday, at the Velodromo Bicentenario, 1,900m above sea level in the Mexican city of Aguascalientes, Vittoria Bussi made history once again, breaking the Hour Record for the third time in her career.

After abandoning her initial attempt on Friday at around the halfway mark, the Italian took to the high-altitude boards again a day later, covering 50.455 kilometres for the hour.

The blistering new benchmark nudged Bussi’s Hour Record out by a further 188m, after she became the first woman in history to break the 50km barrier back in 2023.

The 38-year-old, who holds a DPhil in Pure Mathematics from the University of Oxford, first set the Hour Record in 2018, when she covered 48.007km.

That marker that stood for three years before Britain’s Joss Lowden and then Ellen Van Dijk surpassed it in quick succession in 2021 and 2022 respectively, triggering Bussi’s groundbreaking 2023 ride, which she financed through a crowdfunding campaign.

“I can say with a smile that I contributed to the history of the UCI Hour Record for women,” Bussi said after her latest record-breaking ride on Saturday, which means she now holds the two greatest distances covered in an hour by a woman.

“This record has always been really special to me as an athlete and as a person, and I hope I have transmitted to young generations and people that sport is not just an athletic performance but that athletes bring messages to the world.

“The Hour taught me that one of the most important things in life is to understand the preciousness of time in every single instant of our life.”

 

 

 

 

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The 38-year-old also, rather touchingly, paid tribute to her cats Gauss and Chanel, holding up photos of them in the velodrome after her successful attempt, dedicating the record “to our love, to the life that was, and the life that will come”.

The cat-loving record-breaker has now set her sights on another benchmark, announcing that she will attempt to break the women’s individual 4km world record while in Aguascalientes.

Since the UCI’s decision to increase the distance of the women’s individual pursuit from 3km to 4km this year, that record has become hot property, with GB’s Anna Morris currently holding the world record, covering the distance in 4.24:060 at the British track championships in February.

> “Huge public health benefits to more children walking and cycling”: Oxford’s low-traffic neighbourhoods defended after criticism of controversial scheme’s £4m cost

 

 

 

 

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You can have your LEJOGs and your Transcontinentals, this is a proper epic ride.

On Thursday, London cyclist Gabriel Sayer will attempt to ride 1,000km in just 48 hours – on a route comprised solely of the same 4.4km loop that makes up the Outer Circle of Regent’s Park.

Back in 2022, we reported that Gabriel racked up 602.8km around the Outer Circle during his first charity ride, taking him over 22 hours, 130 laps of the park, and averaging a ridiculously impressive 29.3kph (18.2mph) – fuelled by Double Deckers, fish and chips, Jelly Babies, and a full English (pro nutrition, eat your heart out).

And now he’s upping the ante, and is planning to hit the 1,000km mark over two gruelling days at the end of the week. He better stock up on the Jelly Babies.

Like his 2022 ride, Gabriel will be taking on those hundreds of laps around Regent’s Park in memory of his daughter Molly, who passed away unexpectedly in 2021 at the age of 22.

He’s also raising funds for the mental health charity Mind, and has already raised over £4,700. You can donate via his JustGiving page here – or better yet, donate and join him on Thursday for a few laps around Regent’s Park.

I’m sure you’ll find new things to look at on every lap.

It’s fair to say the implications of Reform UK’s success at this month’s local council elections are still being processed across British politics, as postmortems take place within both the Labour and Conservative parties, and political scientists wax lyrical about the apparent death of the two-party system.

But since this is road.cc, we’re mainly focused on one question in particular: what will it mean for cycling?

According to a recent article in the Guardian, transport – and therefore active travel – is one of the six areas, including net zero, Send provision, diversity policies, immigration, and culture, that could be set for change once Reform gets its feet under the table in local authorities across the country.

> Nigel Farage lashes out at “cycle lanes that no one uses”, accusing councils facing bankruptcy of wasting “tens of millions” on cycling infrastructure

“Opposition to 15-minute cities – an urban planning concept that has become a lightning rod for conspiracy theorists – and support for ‘pro-motorist’ policies have long been red meat to Reform,” the newspaper noted.

“Farage lashed out in the local election campaign at ‘cycle lanes that no one uses’ while Reform’s likely leader of Worcestershire county council, Alan Amos, claimed: ‘All the other parties have bent over backwards to please a small minority.’

“At the same time, Amos was eager to emphasise that Reform was eager to support bus travel, a hot issue in a number of counties where Reform’s voter base has tended to be older.

“When it comes to cycling, existing policies at many councils are already advanced while there is strong public support for cycling schemes.”

So, what the Guardian is saying is… things could get interesting (to put it mildly).

It’s a new week, so we’ve got a new list of Five Cool Things, from ceramic coatings to terrible driving-catching camera-equipped lights:

> Will Garmin’s new front light/4k camera combo set the new benchmark for recording bad drivers? Plus new gear from Litelok, Dynamic, Quad Lock, and Carradice

What’s that coming over the hill, it’s… a massive cartoon Jonas Vingegaard, apparently:

Guys im dying

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— 397 (@fishcanride.bsky.social) May 10, 2025 at 10:20 AM

Nope, you aren’t seeing things – these giant, inflatable versions of Visma-Lease a Bike leaders Vingegaard and Wout van Aert (who had a difficult time during yesterday’s Giro stage) were spotted prowling around last week’s China Cycle show in Shanghai.

I can’t decide whether I think they’re brilliant or terrifying. Well, at least we know Jonas and Wout are big in China… I’ll get my coat.

Those of you with weak constitutions, look away now…

 

 

 

 

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I was going to pick a few of my favourites, but I don’t even know where to start (that stem, though).

On the bright side, the mechanic who put together this wince-inducing bike trauma collection, California-based Jarod Bourdeau, said it “took a while to collect enough of these photos” for his Instagram post.

“People must be treating their bikes better these days (probably not).”

Yeah, probably not…

Only five per cent of the Irish population ride a bike more than once a month, while 82 per cent have admitted they never cycle, a new survey has found, with the country’s dangerous, non-protected roads, high traffic volumes, and poor driving cited as the biggest barriers to increasing cycling uptake in Ireland.

The study, undertaken by polling company Ireland Thinks on behalf of RedClick, which sponsors Dublin’s bike-sharing scheme, ahead of National Bike Week, found that only 13 per cent of Irish people cycle more than once a week, with 56 per cent of adults admitting that they would not take up cycling due to safety concerns.

66 per cent singled out the traffic on Ireland’s roads as a key deterrent to cycling, while dangerous driving (61 per cent) and the lack of segregated cycle lanes (40 per cent) were also highlighted, with some respondents admitting that previous near misses or collisions with motorists had put them off.

> Disqualified lorry driver who sped through red light and left cyclist in coma avoids further jail time – as judge rules initial nine-month term was not “unduly lenient”

The survey, which was based on a representative sample of 1,648 participants, also found that women were 25 per cent more likely to say that safety concerns had stopped them cycling, a conclusion broadly in line with similar studies in the UK.

Other factors viewed as preventing cycling in Ireland include poor weather (noted by 34 per cent), limited access to secure bike parking (15 per cent), and inadequate workplace changing facilities or showers (12 per cent).

“As proud partners of the RedClick dublinbikes scheme, operated by JCDecaux on behalf of Dublin City Council, we’re proud to support National Bike Week with new research that gives insight into how people feel about cycling today – and what would help make it a more realistic option for more people,” RedClick’s general manager Lorenzo Ioan said in a statement.

“People clearly recognise the health, environmental and lifestyle benefits of cycling. And while the survey highlights certain barriers, they are practical and solvable – especially with the strong foundation already in place thanks to sustained government investment in cycling infrastructure.

“That’s why we launched the Shared Streets campaign: to help close the gap between intention and action by supporting safer, more inclusive public spaces where cycling is not just possible, but actively supported and encouraged.”

I’m sorry Vincenzo, you were a great rider, but you’re wrong on this one.

In a classic ‘back in my day, things were more exciting’ pronouncement from a retired pro cyclist (up there in the cliché stakes with the timeless ‘these youngsters have no respect in the peloton anymore’ from ageing veterans), two-time Giro d’Italia winner Vincenzo Nibali has claimed that cycling in 2025 is “all about watts and data”, and not the improvisation and racing guile of the… err, 2010s.

Speaking to Marca at the start of this year’s Giro in Albania, the 2014 Tour de France winner, a rare swashbuckling presence during an inarguably tactically stale period for cycling’s biggest race, said he thinks the intelligent style he and Alberto Contador raced with has largely disappeared in recent years.

“It’s the same thing. The new Contador, the new Nibali… Soon there will be new Contadors or ‘Sharks’, but cycling has changed,” Nibali said.

“Now it’s all about watts and data. Before, there was more race reading. Tadej Pogačar attacks at 100km, and that’s impressive, but in my time, intelligence on the bike was also highly valued,” the four-time grand tour winner continued, seemingly forgetting that his biggest rival at the Tour de France was arch stem watcher Chris Froome.

“I’m not saying it’s better or worse, it’s just different. I liked the strategy more, playing with rivals. There was room for improvisation. Today, everything is measured.”

In any case, the Shark, who retired in 2022, reckons this year’s Giro looks “exciting”, despite all the watts and data.

“Roglič comes with experience and ambition. Ayuso is young but has impressive class,” the former Astana leader said.

“Ciccone is coming from a win and is in a great moment. Podium chances? It won’t be easy, but he looks good.”

In case you missed it, on Friday, Grimsby struck again.

The Lincolnshire port town, the spiritual home of the cycling ban, made headlines once again last week, after one cyclist was ordered to pay over £1,200 in fines and costs for riding his bike on four occasions through its pedestrianised shopping street.

According to North East Lincolnshire Council, cyclist Richard Cameron received four fixed penalty notices for riding his bike on Grimsby’s Victoria Street, where cycling is prohibited under the town’s controversial Public Space Protection Order.

That particular PSPO, and its dogged policing by Grimsby’s fine-hungry, externally contracted WISE wardens, has proved a regular fixture on road.cc’s news pages over the past few years (seriously, it’s become such a regular item, we’re currently considering moving one of us to Grimsby).

> Cyclist fined £1,224 for riding bike in town centre – as councillor claims cycling ban isn’t “simply way to make money”

After failing to cough up for the fines, 45-year-old Cameron was summoned to Grimsby Magistrates Court on 28 April, and, in his absence after failing to attend, was ordered by the court to pay a total of £1,224, including a £660 fine, £264 victim surcharge, and £300 in legal costs.

Announcing his latest big catch, Grimsby councillor Ron Shepherd described the hefty fine as “a lesson to those who think they can flaunt the rules” (I reckon he meant ‘flout’ there, or maybe he’s referring to himself ‘flaunting’ the rules? Then what’s the lesson? Who knows?) and insisted that the orders “aren’t simply ways for the council to make money”.

Of course, the PSPO is making the council lots of money, with almost 1,500 fixed penalty notices – at £100 a pop (at least) – dished out in the space of just six months last year.

And judging by the comments under Friday’s story, cyclists aren’t convinced Grimsby’s PSPO is really about making, as Shepherd claimed, the town a “better place to live”.

“They want to stop ‘youths’ from tearing around the town centre so they prosecute some harmless old giffer who’s cycling to WH Smiths to get his Werthers. Failing to understand the target is anti-social behaviour, not cycling,” wrote Andrew Crinson on Facebook.

“You get less for shoplifting,” added Kevin Smith.

> “If you don’t want cycling on footpaths, support bike lanes and 20mph zones”: Town centre cycling bans and the fight against “cowboy” wardens

Meanwhile, Olly Killick said: “I know someone who recently got £800 for careless driving with no insurance. This is a fucking joke.”

“I just hope they are as vigilant at stopping car drivers that flout rules!” wrote an optimistic Sue Polshaw.

road.cc reader No Reply agreed: “Why don’t they treat motorists the same way, and fine them for driving the wrong way up one-way streets, parking on the pavement, parking on double yellow lines, parking in pedestrianised zones?”

“When they actually do, the fine is only £50,” replied Red John.

James Barker also criticised Ron Shepherd “and his team of bullies picking on people harmlessly riding bikes again”, while Kevin Blackburn said: “They should be welcoming bikes into towns, as they do in civilised countries!”

> Hundreds more cyclists fined by “enforcement officers” under town’s controversial cycling ban, months on from rider ordered to pay £1,050

road.cc reader and Grimsby local Richochet also gave some valuable insight into the working effects of the town centre cycling ban.

“I live round here, although I don’t usually take my bike up to town partially because of the hostile cycling environment,” they wrote. “The road up there used to be an actual road and is never very busy with foot traffic as many of the shops down there are closed.

“It’s quite an awkward one to bike around because the paved area is literally through the middle of town, bordered by a large indoor mall on one side. Some of the streets you might have to bike to get round it are one way and others are pretty hostile to cyclists, if you’re coming from Pasture street into town you’re not really left with good options.

“The area you’re not allowed to cycle is not well signposted. Even if it was a danger, there’s no reason they couldn’t have just painted a cycle path (which will be ignored by most pedestrians anyway) like they have in other, busier parts of the urban area (Cleethorpes beach), but as it’s making them a lot of money you can understand why they don’t.”

> Controversial cycling ban that saw cyclist ordered to pay £1,150 has “rejuvenated” town centre, claims councillor behind it… just days after ‘no cycling’ speaker message cut to twice an hour because “it was too repetitive”

And while many cyclists were critical of the council’s heavy-handed approach to people riding bikes in Grimsby, one road.cc reader pointed out that the fines may, in fact, not have any legal standing, thanks to its, ahem, clumsy wording.

According to the PSPO, renewed last year, “the effect of this Order is to impose the following prohibitions under Section 59 of the Act: No cycling by any person along Victoria Street from its junction with George Street up to the cycle hub Victoria Street South.”

“It is my view that the wording is incorrect, it should be ‘Cycling by any person…’ Therefore, the 1,500 persons fined for cycling may be entitled to a refund!” said Mr Anderson in an email.

This revelation prompted JEMVisser to note: “Technically anyone not cycling has to be find, correct, because double no turns positive. I would definitely fight this in court if they tried to fine me for riding a bike in ‘no no cycling’ zone.”

“No no cycling? So all pedestrians should be fined?” asked Shermo.

“Starting with Cllr. Shepherd. We have the photos!!!” added a gleeful Pockstone. You’ve been warned Ron…

Is councillor Shepherd breaking his ‘no no cycling’ order?!

After Colchester’s cyclists rose up against the WISE wardens last year, could we now have a full scale cycling rebellion on our hands?

Not if the Facebook drivers in the comments have anything to do with it, of course.

“Pedestrian zone, cars banned, now bikes banned. The chap got fined four times and refused to even bother to go to court when summoned. Zero sympathy, the fine is proportionate to the level of piss take,” wrote a rather less revolutionary-minded Owen Davies.

“I don’t see the issue. Don’t fucking ride where you’re not supposed to,” added sweary Stu.

And Ed Briggs said the Grimsby PSPO flouter (or should that be flaunter?) is “not a ‘cyclist’, he’s a chap on a bike who won’t obey rules and has been warned multiple times”.

“About time! Cyclists say what about car drivers, this topic is simply you break the law you pay the fine, the bike should be scrapped the same as a car with no tax or insurance,” concluded Charlie Carter.

Don’t give Ron any ideas…