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Tom Dumoulin runs super quick 32:38 10k (sorry, Adam Yates!); Moaning motorists made miserable by segregated cycle lane; 100 miles out the saddle postponed; Stolen cycling dinosaur; No beer in Belgium; Should Pog go for the Giro? + more on the live blog

Welcome back to the live blog! Dan Alexander is here for the first of the week, getting you back into the swing of things after the weekend
15 November 2021, 16:48
The pro cycling running craze continues

Everyone's at it. Can't be long before Mathieu van der Poel pops up with a two and a half hour marathon...

15 November 2021, 16:22
Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal takes training in a golf cart after falling off his bike

Poor Louis van Gaal is feeling the pain after a fall from his bike in the build up to his nation's World Cup qualifying decider against Norway. The 70-year-old was unable to attend today's press conference in person but appeared by video link, sitting in a wheelchair. 

The former Manchester United manager was cycling near the team hotel when he fell and was taken to hospital for tests. "Physically I’m not good, but the brain is still working. I’m in a lot of pain, that’s why I was in a buggy during training. I can still do everything and have done all the preparation that I normally would have."

Captain Virgil van Dijk said the incident was "definitely a shock". Van Gaal stressed he would still be on the bench for the Netherlands' all-important final qualifier against Norway tomorrow where a point will be enough to see them qualify for next November's tournament in Qatar.

How did the rest of the team travel to training?

Netherlands football team (screenshot Sky Sports News)

 

15 November 2021, 15:28
Reaction to Tom Dumoulin's turbo 10...

If Adam Yates' sub-three hour marathon was 'alright for a pro athlete'...Tom Dumoulin's 32-minute 10km has been far better received. A few of you even took time out of your day to congratulate the Dutchman on his effort. How lovely.

Simon Warren did not...he's had enough of this running nonsense...

peted76 thinks he's worked out how the 2017 Giro d'Italia winner clocked such an impressive time...it's amazing what you can do when you really need to go..."That's a mega impressive 10km run time!! Maybe he needed the loo?"

Any excuse to dig this up. Okay, maybe don't dig that up...

And now we get to those of you taking issue with us saying Dumoulin's faster than Yates. Obviously running a marathon is very different to a 10km, and we weren't suggesting taking Dumoulin's time and stretching it out over 42km...just that running a 32:38 10km is the greater achievement than a sub-three marathon. 

Cheers, Mark...

15 November 2021, 08:47
Sorry, Adam Yates...Tom Dumoulin can run faster than you

For any of you who dabble in some off-season running, upload your sessions to Strava, only to see four or five-minute kilometre pace, you'll know how impressive Tom Dumoulin's 10km time of 32:38 is. I honestly think it's not too far out the ballpark I'd be looking at for a 5km at the moment...

It seems running fast is this year's big winter trend in the pro peloton. Last week, Adam Yates clocked a sub-three hour effort at the Barcelona Marathon straight "off the beach". These pro riders are built different...

> Adam Yates goes running (he's pretty quick)

Dumoulin probably (possibly/maybe/maybe not) has more of a runner's build than Yates, and carried his long frame to second at the Groene Loper Run in his hometown of Maastricht, just 17 seconds off the winning time.

Someone with more running knowledge will have to tell me if Dumoulin's performance is more impressive than Freddy Ovett, L39ION rider and son of Steve Ovett, clocking a 2:48:55 at the Los Angeles Marathon.

Of course the greatest pro cyclist running achievement of all-time was Tom Pidcock winding up the entire running community by uploading a post claiming to have run a 13:26 5km, just five seconds slower than the British record...only for it to have been a case of dodgy GPS. 10/10 entertainment...

Maybe a future stage of a Grand Tour can include a 5km run to the bikes...hmm, on second thought this is starting to sound a bit too triathlon-y...

15 November 2021, 14:50
Movember Strava art

From the same Strava artist who brought you last year's best festive message...

15 November 2021, 14:30
Chad Tavernia postpones out the saddle century due to illness...but wants a crack before the week's out

Chad Tavernia unfortunately had to postpone his out the saddle Zwift century attempt on Saturday due to an illness last week. Tavernia made headlines here on road.cc with his whacky 100-miler in the summer...not least because of cheating allegations, reader detective work and the outright craziness of riding 100 miles without sitting down...

Anyway, this attempt is the proof once and for all that he can do it. Chad said he's hoping to give it a go at some point this week once he's fully recovered so we'll keep you up to date with the new date.

15 November 2021, 14:22
"You know you’ve married the right person when they let you do this"...

 

15 November 2021, 12:39
RGT simplifies set-up features

 

RGT_Echelon League --10

RGT has simplified how riders can connect and meet up with other users on its online cycling platform with it now being available as a standalone app for Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android devices and Apple TV, with no extra devices required. Basically, to take a ride, join an event or start a workout you no longer need to combine the mobile app with the screen app.

RGT also now has its Remote app which is a new, completely optional, mobile app that can be used to complement your ride on RGT, as well as control and navigate RGT when you’re not close to your main device, such as PC, Mac or Apple TV.

As well as all this, RGT launched its new site where you now create and manage events, and make changes to your account.

15 November 2021, 12:31
"I don’t think winning the Tour de France three or four times makes much of a difference to a rider’s career": Giro d'Italia director dares Tadej Pogačar to try Giro-Tour double
pogacar rim brake bike - via aso.PNG

Surprise, surprise...Mauro Vegni is trying to cajole a Giro d'Italia appearance out of Tadej Pogačar. The director of the Giro d'Italia said there's "little else to prove" after you've won one yellow jersey...

"I don’t think winning the Tour de France three or four times makes much of a difference to a rider’s career," Vegni told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "When you win it once, you’ve proved you’re a great rider and there’s little else to prove. It’s a pity that nobody seems to have the desire to try to win the Giro-Tour double. If I’m not wrong, the last was Pantani. So perhaps it’s time for a rider to add their name to that roll of honour."

Last week's jumbled route announcement left most people very, very confused. But we've all had some time to digest the scattergun approach and the consensus seems to be it'll be another tough Giro, although this time more suited to the climbers thanks to the relatively short TT kilometres.

15 November 2021, 12:19
No beer...in Belgium?

 Some last-minute restrictions have put a dent in the plans for a Ghent Six party this week. Racing begins on Wednesday, with Cav and Deceuninck-Quick-Step teammate Iljo Keisse, amongst the big-name starters. However, there won't be beer...

An increase in Covid cases in Belgium has seen extra measures, including mandatory mask wearing and no catering or drinking inside the venue...that's not very Belgian...

Last week, Cav got back on the boards to prepare for the week. Keisse wasn't too impressed by his tinkering..."Cav changes bikes like underwear," the 38-year-old told Het Nieuwsblad. "He has decided to ride on a different frame and they're being set up and finished at the service course in Wevelgem. When he stopped after 15 laps on Monday, I thought 'here we go again'."

it's the Manx Missile's return to the event he last competed at in 2019, and won five years ago alongside a certain Sir Bradley Wiggins...

15 November 2021, 11:53
Court rules German delivery apps must give couriers bikes and phones or pay compensation
Chop CHop delivery riders (picture via Sainsbury's)

Food delivery services in Germany have been ordered to provide bikes and mobile phones for their employees or pay them compensation, a Federal Labour Court ruled on Thursday.

euronews.next reports the move came about when Frankfurt-based courier Philipp Schurk took delivery company Lieferando to court to demand he be given the essential tools for his work.

Lieferando is the country's subsidiary of Just Eat Takeaway, and argued that its employees already had bikes and phones so were not "significantly burdened" by having to use their own equipment.

The court ruled it "unreasonably disadvantages" riders who risked damaging their own equipment while working. The company had previously offered couriers a €0.25 bicycle repair voucher per hour worked. Some employees criticised this approach however, saying they had to be used at a repair shop of the company's choice.

"This is a strong and groundbreaking signal to establish fair and equal working conditions in the industry," said Freddy Adjan, vice chairman of Germany's Food and Catering Union NGG.

15 November 2021, 11:40
Joe the Cyclesaurus stolen (but swiftly returned!)

A big weekend of drama down in Cornwall...Joe the Cyclesaurus was stolen, to the outrage of the local community, only to be swiftly returned after the police got involved. 

One of the four public art dinosaurs in Camborne, Joe the Cyclesaurus went missing yesterday morning. The news was reported by BID Camborne who said they were "shocked" by the theft...

"These were installed for the children and people of the town to enjoy and were securely concreted and welded in place so are saddened that this must have been a deliberate act. The area is covered comprehensively by CCTV and we are in conversations with the police. We would ask anyone reading this who knows who took the dinosaur to private message us to arrange swift return. Any members of the public with information please also private message our page.

"We would like anyone reading this who knows who took the dinosaur to private message us to arrange a swift return," wins the 'things I didn't expect to read this morning' award...

 Locals were reportedly outraged by the news. One told Cornwall Live, "I am not surprised one little bit, we can't have anything nice someone always ruins it."

The great dino robbery didn't last long. The post was later updated with the relieving news that Joe had been returned "looking a bit worse for ware". Perhaps Joe just went for a night on the town? We need answers...

15 November 2021, 10:42
That's me told...
15 November 2021, 10:21
Won't somebody please think of the parking...Moaning motorists made miserable by segregated cycle lane plans

Today's dose of cycle lane-bashing comes from Grimsby where this group of locals told the local press about their displeasure at plans to build a new segregated cycle lane outside their homes. Ironically drowned out by the noise of passing traffic, the resident explained they wouldn't be able to park outside their houses if the lane is built...

North East Lincolnshire Council is consulting on the scheme for the new infrastructure, but Craig Lamb told Grimsby Live the lane would make life a misery for motorists...

"It was quite a shock when the plans came out. The proposed idea will have a massive knock on effect down here. Parking is my primary concern however. As we are in a conservation area, we can't make changes [build off-street parking] to accommodate for this new cycle lane," he said.

"The idea is to put double yellow lines along the road, but that will mean nearly 200 residents will have to park elsewhere. However, these streets are already quite congested and there are two schools in the area as well. 

"I have two children who go to the schools and I often see cars flying past when I go to pick them up or drop them off. To add to that by making people park on busy streets seems simply unfeasible. It's already excessive, we don't need to be making the situation worse.

"I don't see why they can't just incorporate the cycle lane on to the paths like they have done elsewhere. I'm not against improving cycle and road safety by any means, but I find it disappointing that no one seems to have really asked us if we're okay with it."

A spokesperson for North East Lincolnshire told the local news outlet:

These are currently only proposals at this stage and we are still formulating the responses from our most recent round of engagement.

We have engaged with cyclists, residents, businesses and colleges throughout this process and have welcomed people to submit their comments via two surveys – one about the initial proposals, and most recently, about the draft design of the cycleway.

If the proposed project goes ahead, it would aim to provide a dedicated and protected space for cyclists, supporting the Government’s renewed focus on sustainable and active travel and the publication of the ‘Gear Change’ national plan which aims to transform the role cycling and walking can play in the transport system and the environment.

Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 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 has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too.

Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously, when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace, or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family. Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way, he's a bit strange like that.

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56 comments

Avatar
Captain Badger | 2 years ago
2 likes

I think the miserable motorists moaning need to be shantied....

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Captain Badger | 2 years ago
2 likes

Captain Badger wrote:

I think the miserable motorists moaning need to be shantied....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtmzv2dV0cA

One morning by motor through Grimbsy I went,
For to drop off my children was my good intent,
When I got to the school gates to let out my Jane
I couldn't park nearby - a bloody bike lane!

Singing roll, bike bullies roll!
Them lycraist cyclists have got us in tow!

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to chrisonabike | 2 years ago
1 like

chrisonatrike wrote:

Captain Badger wrote:

I think the miserable motorists moaning need to be shantied....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtmzv2dV0cA

One morning by motor through Grimbsy I went,
For to drop off my children was my good intent,
When I got to the school gates to let out my Jane
I couldn't park nearby - a bloody bike lane!

Singing roll, bike bullies roll!
Them lycraist cyclists have got us in tow!

That has cheered my morning up! Chapeau!laugh

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to Captain Badger | 2 years ago
1 like

Captain Badger wrote:

chrisonatrike wrote:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtmzv2dV0cA

One morning by motor through Grimbsy I went,
For to drop off my children was my good intent,
When I got to the school gates to let out my Jane
I couldn't park nearby - a bloody bike lane!

Singing roll, bike bullies roll!
Them lycraist cyclists have got us in tow!

That has cheered my morning up! Chapeau!laugh

I think these guys have a future in folk - they've got beards, a tache a bald head, there's an old dude in there....

The Miserable Moaning Motorists

They're going to go stratospheric...

Avatar
Muddy Ford | 2 years ago
0 likes

Re: Grimbsy cycle lane. The residents do have a point. If they are to use their bikes and walking shoes more, then their cars will likely spend more time parked near their home awaiting the occasion when they need to ferry goods or several people. I cycle everywhere I possibly can, and my car gathers cobwebs. But alternative transport options for when the bike is not suitable (picking up a piece of furniture, taking four people on a UK holiday etc.) are just not viable yet. 'Man and Van' and Trains are not affordable as a regular alternative. I think it should be a blanket rule across the country..if a car is likely to park on the side of the road, it is an urban road and must be restricted to 20 mph. This should be met with a change in the restricted speed of e-bikes to 20mph, so that bicycles can always keep up with traffic (we all know that the reality is bikes are faster than cars across town anyway).

Avatar
TheBillder replied to Muddy Ford | 2 years ago
4 likes
Muddy Ford wrote:

Re: Grimbsy cycle lane. The residents do have a point. If they are to use their bikes and walking shoes more, then their cars will likely spend more time parked near their home awaiting the occasion when they need to ferry goods or several people. I cycle everywhere I possibly can, and my car gathers cobwebs. But alternative transport options for when the bike is not suitable (picking up a piece of furniture, taking four people on a UK holiday etc.) are just not viable yet. 'Man and Van' and Trains are not affordable as a regular alternative. I think it should be a blanket rule across the country..if a car is likely to park on the side of the road, it is an urban road and must be restricted to 20 mph. This should be met with a change in the restricted speed of e-bikes to 20mph, so that bicycles can always keep up with traffic (we all know that the reality is bikes are faster than cars across town anyway).

A) if you don't need a car much, it matters less that it's parked 50m away than 5m away.

B) a year of depreciation on a £5k used car, insurance, VED, servicing is quite a lot of Men with Ven, people with e cargo bikes trains or even car rentals.

I don't understand why on people who leave their car on a stretch of road that is in common ownership don't have to compensate the rest of us.

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to TheBillder | 2 years ago
4 likes

TheBillder wrote:

A) if you don't need a car much, it matters less that it's parked 50m away than 5m away. B) a year of depreciation on a £5k used car, insurance, VED, servicing is quite a lot of Men with Ven, people with e cargo bikes trains or even car rentals. I don't understand why on people who leave their car on a stretch of road that is in common ownership don't have to compensate the rest of us.

Yeah - it'd be a huge change (although in many cities people already have the notion of parking permits...). I'd be even more ambitious and try and flip the current "can park anywhere you're not forbidden to" situation to "can only park where specifically allowed to".

As for hanging on to the car - I think it's one measure of "I'm independent", lots of little servings of short-term convenience ("I can just nip round to...") and the worry that there will be That One Time you really need it and it wasn't there (your mother calls you with some emergency, your daughter's having a nasty break up and wants to get out of the house quick, three Pinarellos came up at a once-in-a-lifetime price on Gumtree, cash, you have to test your eyesight...)

Avatar
Kapelmuur | 2 years ago
8 likes

So the bloke riding without a saddle wants 'another crack'...

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mdavidford replied to Kapelmuur | 2 years ago
2 likes

Thank you - I've been struggling to resist posting something along those lines for the best part of three hours.

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eburtthebike | 2 years ago
15 likes

"I'm not against improving cycle and road safety by any means,......."

Oh yes you are.

This 100%, first water, 24 carat hypocrite stands by a very busy road complaining about a cycle lane in a conservation area, saying that the council is hypocritical!

“O, wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as others see us!"

XR and Greta are right; COP26 might as well not have happened.

Avatar
mpdouglas | 2 years ago
11 likes

The levels of inconsistency and lack of critical thinking on how our roads are cofigured and used are truly staggering. The same people who think cyclists progressing at 15-25mph need to get off the road because they are getting in the way, are the same people that think using a lane's worth of space on each side of the road to abandon a long line of immobile cars is perfectly OK and reasonable! We have just become the most selfish, self-centred society. Not one single topic is assessed any more on its overall merits, or on the greater good. Everything is viewed through a (heavily) polarised and selfish lens. Whether it's horse riding, dog walking, driving, shooting guns (I'm talking about you Mr Ride London 100 objector) or in fact any interest/hobby - only what an individual wants matters, and every one else can go and do one. Sadly quite a lot of cyclists fall into this (Jeremy Vine being one of them - I could hang back a few seconds and let this bus full of people pull in or I could be a n0b, insist on my right of way in the cycle lane and make a video for social media). All very depressing.

Avatar
HarrogateSpa replied to mpdouglas | 2 years ago
6 likes

It was terrible driving by the bus driver in the JV video.

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mdavidford | 2 years ago
3 likes

Quote:

The great dino robbery didn't last long. The post was later updated with the relieving news that Joe had been returned "looking a bit worse for ware". Perhaps Joe just went for a night on the town? We need answers...

Has anyone checked for Chinese spy activity in the area?

Avatar
mdavidford | 2 years ago
24 likes

'It's going to make school drop-off times really dangerous because of all the cars that will be forced to park in the side roads'

Or they could maybe ... I don't know ... cycle to school instead?

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to mdavidford | 2 years ago
12 likes

Is that the same person who stated
"I have two children who go to the schools and I often see cars flying past when I go to pick them up or drop them off. To add to that by making people park on busy streets seems simply unfeasible. It's already excessive, we don't need to be making the situation worse"

So simple solution to all which makes the street safer for cyclists and kids going to school and reduces the immediate need for the segregation, make all the roads in Grimbsy 20mph and make sure the limit is rigourosly enforced with technology and the legal system. Within a few months most of the cars will be off the road through bans and more people will be walking and cycling anyway.

Avatar
giff77 replied to mdavidford | 2 years ago
5 likes

The road in question is approx 1.5 miles long. It looks like the schools in question are  no more than 0.5 mile off the main road. An acheiveable distance and flat as well regardless of age. I walked to and from primary in all weathers until allowed to cycle and that was a little over a mile. Also was walking independently from P4 when mum decided I could be trusted. Other classmates would walk 2/3 miles. Though this was the seventies when car ownership was still a privilege rather than a right. 
 

Wonder if the 'spokesman' realised that the cycle lane would ultimately make the road safer for his kids to get to and from school. 

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to mdavidford | 2 years ago
3 likes

mdavidford wrote:

'It's going to make school drop-off times really dangerous because of all the cars that will be forced to park in the side roads'

Or they could maybe ... I don't know ... cycle to school instead?

It's the "who makes the first move" thing though. Grimsby doesn't look like it's awash with good cycling infra (or any, really) and I'm not astonished that people aren't keen to have their kids cycle to school there. I'm actually surprised to find it has on-road lanes and even some signs.

It's a small town in the countryside (Lincolnshire is pretty rural) so people are going to have and value cars (Lincolnshire seems even keener than you'd expect). However it would seem to be a place which could hugely benefit from mass cycling with fewer obstacles to that happening than many places:

  • Geography: compact (a couple of km), flat, no motorways, only a couple of larger roads going through it. It's mostly on a series of grids rather than windy narrow medieval streets. Not too many major "obstacles" - just one river and a railway.
  • Around 9 miles from the next large place with employment (Immingham).
  • There's even a bit of green space which could be linked.
  • There's a fair bit of local employment. Equally it has some very deprived areas so cheaper and more convenient transport would help.
  • It's not a noted heritage site, despite "conservation areas".
Avatar
Safety | 2 years ago
8 likes

Same issue as the Lanark Rd, Edinburgh complaints. "I've always stored my car on council expensively maintained property because I can't be bothered using my drive".

Also looking at the lovely trees lining the road raises an issue, keeping the lanes clear. A friend told me he had to stay out an Edinburgh segregated lane made uncycleable by deep leaves. He was then hooted and abused by some driver's.

Avatar
wycombewheeler | 2 years ago
21 likes

If drivers don't like cycle lanes they can only blame drivers

When we have drivers beepeing and abusing cyclists for riding in the road and not facilitating a dangerous pass, the result is that bike lanes are needed.

where we have bike lanes but they are routinely driven in or parked in by drivers, the result is that we need segregated cycle lanes.

If only all drivers would treat cyclists with respect and courtesy these measures which they don't like would not be necesary.

Avatar
jpj84 | 2 years ago
0 likes

Why's Dumoulin got "more of a runner's build"? Genuine question - I am baffled by this comment.

Avatar
peted76 replied to jpj84 | 2 years ago
3 likes

jpj84 wrote:

Why's Dumoulin got "more of a runner's build"? Genuine question - I am baffled by this comment.

He's tall and has long legs like a one humped camel. Whereas I believe those of us with builds like dachshunds are considered to be sub-optimal at running and jumping games. Although I've heard hippo's are pretty quick so this is all clearly hearsay and conjecture.

Avatar
Steve K replied to peted76 | 2 years ago
13 likes

peted76 wrote:

Although I've heard hippo's are pretty quick so this is all clearly hearsay and conjecture.

Hippos are quick runners and excellent swimmers.  You've really got to be on top of your cycling game if you're going to beat one in a triathlon.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Steve K | 2 years ago
14 likes

Steve K wrote:

Hippos are quick runners and excellent swimmers.  You've really got to be on top of your cycling game if you're going to beat one in a triathlon.

They're not so good at climbing trees, though

Avatar
Steve K replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
15 likes

If my cat brings in one of those, I'm moving house.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Steve K | 2 years ago
13 likes

Steve K wrote:

If my cat brings in one of those, I'm moving house.

Avatar
Steve K replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
8 likes

Just stop.

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chrisonabike replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
15 likes

I knew there was a reason I stopped doing acid at lunchtime...

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to chrisonabike | 2 years ago
8 likes

chrisonatrike wrote:

I knew there was a reason I stopped doing acid at lunchtime...

Avatar
giff77 replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
4 likes

You obviously have too much time on your hands Peter. Get out on your bike and clear your head mate!

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to giff77 | 2 years ago
4 likes

giff77 wrote:

You obviously have too much time on your hands Peter. Get out on your bike and clear your head mate!

I'll have you know I'm busy "working-from-home" and besides, it's a rest day.

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