Rochelle Gilmore’s countertop pose recreated; Council say park cycling ban is because cyclists using it “as a race track”; Irish Deputy panned for demanding helmet law; Driver overtakes on wrong side of refuge island twice + more on the live blog

The 36-year-old Total Direct Energie rider fell during a training ride in the Netherlands yesterday, and his wife Ramona confirmed that he has been taken to hospital with serious but non life-threatening injuries. The Dutch news website NOS reported that he is in intensive care and suffered a collapsed lung, a concussion and broken ribs. They also claim that he crashed swerving to avoid geese, and landed in a ditch after he fell. 

She wrote on Instagram: “Unfortunately, the rumours are true. Niki fell hard during a bike training today. He’s in the hospital and will have to stay here for a few more days. He is not in mortal danger but will need time to recover from this. To be continued.”
 

Being tailgated and beeped on the #Quietway on #BarnsburyRoad, #Islington is really scary! This impatient moron then twice passed on the wrong side of the mandatory bollards to swear at me! LS68 LYD. @MPSIslington @CycleIslington @SuptAndyCox #Headcam @theJeremyVine @IslingtonBC pic.twitter.com/sIitLtG6TM

— Highbury Cyclist (@HighburyCyclist) June 16, 2020

The horrendous piece of driving was posted to Twitter last night, and reportedly took place on Barnsbury Road in Islington. Highbury Cyclist wrote: “This impatient moron then twice passed on the wrong side of the mandatory bollards to swear at me!”, followed by their number plate. Many replies have recommended the cyclist report the incident to the police, including Superintendent Andy Cox who said he will “ensure our teams promptly review and take action.”

At the end of the clip, the driver also failed to give way at a pedestrian crossing as they sped away. In fact, the list of offences is potentially quite large for when the police catch up with this particularly impatient individual…

• Using horn as rebuke – contrary to Highway Code.
• Failing to observe Keep Left – twice.
• Causing another road user to brake (brake test).
• Stopping in the middle of the road. Obstruction.
• Failing to give way at pedestrian crossing.

That should add up.

— Michael – Aeolus, Middle Abbey Street (@baoigheallain) June 16, 2020

It seems like everesting is becoming to cycling what the ironman is to triathlon and what the marathon is to running (although everesting on foot is rather popular too) as we’ve just been informed that yet another record fell over the weekend. Hells 500 have now officially recognised 20-year-old Tom Stephenson’s time of 9 hours, 2 minutes and 25 seconds to complete the 8,848m of elevation. This is a little over 6 minutes quicker than Hannah Rhodes’ time of 9:08:31 set less than two weeks ago, which made her not only the fastest female everester, but also the fastest Brit overall; the latter accolade now belongs to Stephenson, who completed his effort on Kirkstone Pass in Cumbria. The overall record was also broken again by EF First pro Lachlan Morton just days ago, who completed his everesting in 7:32:54 in Colorado. 

Stephenson, who rides for Lakes Road Club, dedicated the record to his late grandfather, and has raised over £1,300 for St Mary’s Hospice; Tom’s brother Sam also completed an everesting on the same day. The fundraising page is here and you can see the gory details on Tom’s Strava here. 

I hope you do look at ‘evidence from other developed countries’ @Alan_Dillon in fact start with those that are most developed in this area and follow their policy.

Hint: You’ll find yourself back where you started. https://t.co/el4lq3zu7u

— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) June 17, 2020

Time to bust out that pic from our archives again as the Fine Gael politician, who is a former professional Gaelic footballer, is continuing to receive criticism over his calls for mandatory helmet laws in the Republic of Ireland. 

Dillon wrote on Twitter that “the amount of juveniles cycling without helmets nowadays” was “really concerning”, and said in the Oireachtas last week that there was a “need” for mandatory cycling helmets in Ireland. He continued in his speech:

“Due to the recent Covid restrictions, more people have taken to cycling. I have been contacted by local bicycle shop owners highlighting the need to promote the wearing of cycle helmets and making it a mandatory legal requirement to do so. We have spoken much in recent months of effective public health policy. We also need to expand the conversation to include cycle helmets to reduce acquired head injuries.

“While not for discussion today, a similar argument can be made for introducing a mandatory need for helmets when using electric scooters. Will the Minister give serious consideration to this topic and raise it with his Department, as I will be raising this important topic again as soon as the new Government is formed?”

Brendan Griffin, Ireland’s Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, responded:

“With regard to the compulsory wearing of helmets, any such decision would have to include widespread consultation with cycling clubs and people who regularly cycle throughout the country. That conversation would need to include the views of cyclists.”

A number of the replies to Mr Dillon also note that there could possibly be some ulterior motive in bike shops recommending the mandatory purchase of cycle helmets.. 

Now, why do you think that you have been lobbied by bicycle shops to introduce compulsory helmet wearing, Alan?

— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) June 17, 2020

🚨 TEAM NEWS: Paule Ka to become the main sponsor of the team until December 2024.

We are extremely pleased to announce that the emblematic independent French fashion house will officially commence with us on 1 July 2020.

Read more: https://t.co/wa2vIUhXex pic.twitter.com/4wY7PHUoWy

— Bigla – KATUSHA (@BiglaKatusha) June 17, 2020

As many cycling teams have been plagued with financial problems and sponsors pulling out due to the pandemic, one that can breathe easier is Bigla-Katusha, as luxury French fashion house Paule KA have stepped in as their headline sponsor until 2024. The team’s CEO Priska Doppmann Campana said: “We are very excited to welcome Paule Ka as the new main partner of our team. This will be the first time that a fashion house will enter into women’s cycling, and as such, this is a ground-breaking event.” 

“We are seeking a WorldTour license, and will be developing a masterclass project, in which we will be able to keep furthering the potential of the athletes that have gone through our development program.”

And as one fashion brand enters the sport, another is departing as it’s been rumoured that American insurance firm Rally could be stepping in to save CCC Team,  which is currently named after the Polish shoe and bag retailer CCC. Belgian news site HLN reports that team manager Jim Ochowicz is looking for sponsors that can cover a 20 million euro budget annually, and has a few months remaining to strike the deals in time for the 2021c season. 

Triangle Road modal filter bollards are live… pic.twitter.com/joeGT9kF7e

— Cllr Jon Burke (@jonburkeUK) June 17, 2020

pic.twitter.com/hxDJ17elxb

— World Bollard Association™ (@WorldBollard) June 17, 2020

This style of filter is designed to close the road to motor vehicles and allow cycles through to create low-traffic neighbourhoods, and it’s caught the attention of our new favourite Twitter account, the World Bollard Association.

An entire road of bollards. Is there anything more beautiful?#WorldBollardAssociation pic.twitter.com/r0cckd9W3J

— World Bollard Association™ (@WorldBollard) June 16, 2020

Appreciating everything bollard-related from classic concrete numbers to neat bollard-laden boulevards, the WBA claims to be giving away a bollard worth £174.23 in a competition, and its ‘Life President’ is none other than Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. 

The vision impaired track cyclist – who won gold in the tandem B kilo at the 2016 Olympic Games and 13 world titles – has announced her retirement to focus on a history degree she will start at Manchester Metropolitan University in September. 

She said in a statement: “Cycling has been a huge part of my life for the last twelve years and has provided me with some of the biggest highlights in my life, including becoming Paralympic Champion in 2016 and setting world records at the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

“I have met and worked with amazing people along the journey, the most important of which is Scottie (pilot, Helen Scott). I cannot thank her enough for the amazing memories we have made together.

“I have also worked with the most amazing support team, many of whom have gone above and beyond for me and they have been unbelievable in their support. I’d like to thank everyone in the Great Britain Cycling Team for everything they have done for me and my career, and I’d like to wish them the absolute best of luck for Tokyo next year.”

The research, conducted by Findoutnow on behalf of the e-scooter and e-bike retailer Pure Electric, found that there is support for a law change on electric scooters, but only if they were continued to be banned on pavements. 

Of 2,500 people polled, 53% supported making e-scooters legal; but when asked if they would support a rule change if there was also an additional pavement ban enforced, 63% said they would be in favour. By occupation, the demographics who were most supportive of legislation changes were commuters, students, homemakers and jobseekers, while retirees were the least supportive.

75% also said that they would prefer to buy their own e-scooter rather than use hire schemes; however government trial schemes, which are set to begin in August after a consultation on legalising e-scooters concluded earlier this month, will only allow for rentals to be used on public highways. To get around this, Pure Electric are developing a long lease model where customers would ‘rent’ the scooter for an up-front sum, and then be allowed to keep it at the end of the ‘lease’; they claim this would be legal under the Department for Transport’s trial regulations. 

Pure Electric’s Tom McPhail commented: “Given current concerns about any form of shared transport and Covid-19 infection risks, combined with the freedom to use an e-scooter from your front door, it’s hardly surprising people prefer to own their own scooter rather than rent one off the street.”

Eddy Merckx is 75 years old today, this shot in 1977 gave me a first-ever sale and put me on the road as a cycling photographer – thanks Eddy..! pic.twitter.com/t4N4fuC46m

— Graham Watson (@grahamwatson10) June 17, 2020

Arguably the most successful cyclist of all time, and also successful at launching the careers of world-renowned cycling photographers. Here’s a slightly less good shot we took of him, surrounded by an entourage in a bar prior to the 2018 Tour de France depart… 

Hi Lisa, unfortunately due to some cyclists using Wallace Park as a race track only small children are now permitted to cycle in the park. We need to ensure the safety of our residents who are walking and running in our park.When this changes we will update our social media pages

— LCCC #StayHomeSaveLives (@lisburnccc) June 17, 2020

Responding to an enquiry as to when cyclists would be allowed back in Wallace Park in the city of Lisburn, Northern Ireland, the City Council said that the reason for a ban on cycling is that some were using the park as “a race track”, which they say was compromising the safety of pedestrians. Adding that they won’t reopen the park to cyclists until the situation changes is also a rather curious remark, as if cycling is banned, it would appear there is no opportunity for the situation to change. 

“A race track”. I’ve heard it all. I’ve been chased the entire length of the park by dogs not on leads but you don’t ban them. It’s like saying we’re banning all cars from the road because some drivers break the rules. 😡

— Lisa (@magic8lisa) June 17, 2020

Please reassess this issue asap. I am an NHS key worker whose bike commute would often take me through the park. Cycling infrastructure is to be encouraged not diminished. Frankly our area is very behind in this regard, please dont perpetuate this situation.

— Timothy Warke (@timwarke) June 17, 2020

What roads will you be closing to all drivers as some use roads as a “race track”? Is that how it works or just to suit a prejudice?

Idiots on bikes are annoying, idiots in cars kill

— thebonnieloon 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺 (@thebonnieloon) June 17, 2020

Plenty were unhappy with the stance, with some citing that there is rarely – if ever – similar cases of roads being closed to cars due to a minority of dangerous drivers. Lisburn City Council are yet to respond beyond their initial reply to the query. 

A similar situation caused controversy in London, with The Royal Parks banning cycling in Richmond Park back in March due to “congestion” and claims that social distancing rules were being ignored. A phased re-opening to cyclists began earlier this month, with cycling currently allowed before 10am and after 4pm on Mondays to Fridays; commuting NHS staff and children under 12 are exempt. 

Think I’ve sat on a fork. pic.twitter.com/3YYSyyydPc

— Rob Whittle (@PolkaDotRob) June 17, 2020

In a definitely-not-in-any-way-contrived snap, we see the former pro cyclist and former Wiggle High5 team owner Rochelle Gilmore spread across her kitchen worktop with 12 grands’ worth of Pinarello in the foreground, plus a handy link to her clothing brand of choice Santini in the accompanying text. 

Not to be outdone, our new favourite fashion icon who goes by the name Polka Dot Rob steps up (or lays down) to recreate the pose. We think you’ve nailed it Rob, although best move that fork out of the way…