“I have a problem with that”: Retiring pro cyclist calls out riders who “don’t care” if they crash and make races “so dangerous” by braking late and “cutting everyone off” + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Weekend round-up: A legend retires, a multi-material prototype, big claims about wheels, and our review of the Tarmac SL8 Expert
So, what did you miss this weekend if you were (quite understandably) not spending your weekend online? Well, road.cc Podcast favourite Rory Townsend shocked the world with his first WorldTour win, defying many of the world’s best sprinters to take a famous breakaway win in Hamburg. In fact, it was Q36.5’s first WorldTour win as well… sorry, Tom P, Rory’s beaten you to that one…
“It’s crazy,” a stunned Townsend said afterwards. “It’s just pure disbelief as you could see on my face when I crossed the line. I am still in shock. This is an incredibly proud moment. Winning a World Tour race, any race in my national colours is great.”
> Tom Pidcock’s new teammate Rory Townsend on how “maverick” Olympic champ has lifted Q36.5
It was a bit harsh of TNT to call this a DNF though…
❌ DNF for Rory Townsend in the second race of the day 🍻😂 pic.twitter.com/N8NGnJAflH
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) August 17, 2025
Elsewhere this weekend, once the tracker farce passed there was also some racing at the women’s Tour de Romandie, Elise Chabbey seizing the overall victory from Urška Žigart on the final stage. Having lost contact, the Slovenian made a bad mistake on a descent, in the end missing out by an incredibly tight (and frustrating) margin of just seven seconds. Unfortunately, the race will undoubtedly be remembered for the tracker disqualifications more than the racing itself.
This weekend also saw mountain biking’s most successful athlete Nino Schurter announce his retirement. Our pals at off.road.cc have all the details about that one…
Away from the world of racing, our Bike at Bedtime is “designed, engineered, and made in the UK. Properly.” You can check out Mat’s deep dive into Field Cycles’ multi-material prototype here, while there’s a link to our Tech of the Week round-up (and some very big claims about a new set of wheels) here.
Oh, and if you want to get your teeth into a review, Stu’s written up his thoughts on the Specialized Tarmac SL8 Expert, the TLDR summary a “stunning frameset and ride quality, hampered by the tyre choice”. The full review and all-important rating out of 10 is here.
Transport for London to roll out new Santander Cycles app following complaints from users
Transport for London (TfL) says a “new and improved” app for hiring Santander Cycles is coming next year, that following complaints from users about issues and bugs. A software issue earlier in August meant nobody was able to hire bikes for several hours, TfL’s head of cycle hire David Eddington hoping the new app will be “more reliable”.
The BBC noted the app is currently rated 1.2 stars on the Google Play Store and 3.7 on Apple’s App Store, TfL suggesting a “new and improved” app will be available next year.
Final Transcontinental finisher completes continent-crossing epic with just 25 minutes to spare
James Illman was this year’s final Transcontinental finisher, completing his pilgrimage across Europe in 18 days, four hours and 35 minutes, just 25 minutes before the cut-off. That final cut-off had been extended by an hour due to changes to the finish parcours but James reached the finish just before 2am local time on Friday.
Apparently the bulk of the finishers’ party had drifted away but the event’s organisers said a loyal crowd had remained to welcome him, including race winner Victor Bosoni, there “to greet the last GC rider in a moment of mutual admiration”.
"As lucky as I have been to do this job, it also has its downsides... cycling is a ludicrously dangerous sport": Mike Woods also announces his retirement
It’s turning into the ‘pro cyclists announce their retirement and cite how dangerous cycling is’ live blog today, Mike Woods now also confirming that this is his last season as a pro. The Canadian, who won three stages of La Vuelta, a Tour stage and came second at Liège–Bastogne–Liège and third at the World Championships, has penned a lengthy blog post explaining the decision.
“Almost every time I race a bike, there is a point where I am flying along in a line of riders at 70 km/h, and I think, ‘A million years ago, we were monkeys’,” Woods began. “Even if you dropped somebody from 100 years ago into the modern peloton, they would be so confused about what is going on.
“This sport is crazy, and has morphed into something so far from our original purpose as animals that anyone not born in the past century would not understand it. Every time I do a race, I feel an immense sense of luck to be doing it, as it is truly a pure luxury constructed by our own creativity. Riding around France, while literally billions of people watch, is my job, and that is nuts. What puts food on my table and a roof over my head has been riding a bike 30,000–35,000 km every year across all parts of the globe — for the entertainment of others.”
Like Tim Declercq’s comments earlier on today’s live blog, the climber went on to highlight the risks that come with a career in professional cycling.
“As lucky as I have been to do this job, it also has its downsides,” Woods continued. “I have highlighted over the Tour, in this blog, that cycling is a ludicrously dangerous sport.
“I once asked staff on my team: how much would they have to be paid, to drive around in a car at 50 km/h, 70 days a year, for 4-5 hours per day, in a T-shirt and shorts, and twice per year — with no control over when or where — they would be pushed out of the car? Statistically, that is roughly how many times the average pro rider crashes per season. Not one of the staff said less than 500k, and when I asked how many years they would do it, not one said more than two. I am now 11 years deep into doing this sport as a profession, and another two as an amateur. The toll it has taken on my health has been significant, and the time I have spent away from my family has been long.
“Being a father, in particular, has shown me how at odds being one of the best riders in the world is with being a good dad. Unlike most sports, pro cycling, due to its extensive calendar, is a job that requires unending commitment. For the past five years, I have avoided giving my kids kisses when I pick them up from school in an attempt to prevent getting sick before a race. That is strange. More often than not, I sleep in another room, separate from my family, in an effort to optimise my sleep. Every aspect of my life has been examined and studied to maximise my ability to ride a bike. That all-encompassing pursuit I have loved and have no regrets doing, but it is something that can only be sustained for so long.
“As they say, though, all good things must come to an end. I still have big ambitions and plans for the coming years that will involve exploring new arenas in endurance sports (I’ve got some epic plans, so stay tuned for these). But, for the reasons mentioned above, I have made the decision to retire from professional road cycling at the end of this season.”
Illi Gardner obliterates Mount Washington QOM
Shout out to Miller in the comments who spotted Illi Gardner’s latest ridiculous climbing achievement on Strava this weekend. Not content with smashing every QOM in Europe, the Illi Gardner world tour is now ticking off the North American ones too.
Mount Washington in New Hampshire is the latest monster climb added to the list, Gardner taming its 12km at 12% savagery in under an hour. Two and a half minutes under an hour, in fact, her time the 27th fastest on Strava and by far the leader of the QOM standings, six minutes clear of the second fastest female time.
The time was set during the famous Mount Washington Hill Climb, dubbed one of the hardest hill climbs in the world. In the men’s event, former WorldTour pro Ian Boswell set a new men’s record of 50:18.
Kidical Mass crowdfunds for its insurance
Another comments section shout-out goes to Hirsute for sharing the link to Kidical Mass’s crowdfunder raising money for its insurance for 2025-26. It’s currently at £545 of its £2,522 target, Kidical Mass saying it would ensure funding for its public liability and cover for all volunteers for September 2025 to August 2026.
The UK group’s rides are part of the growing worldwide movement calling for children and young people to be able to safely and independently travel by bike, regardless of where they live. Kidical Mass rides are family friendly community events where everyone gets to enjoy the pleasure of riding a bike without fear of road danger.
The link to Kidical Mass’s page is here if you want more info… last year Kidical Mass successfully raised the full amount required to cover its insurance costs.
Hookless road rims: "Maybe scam was a bit strong, but I want it to go away. If you're on it, be super-careful," says Silca boss
Cycling UK unveils new multi-day Chiltern Hills "adventure route"
Bored of riding the same old roads and trails? Cycling UK, the charity behind other routes such as King Alfred’s Way, the Rebellion Way and Traws Eryri, has now added another to its ‘Adventure Route Series’.
The Royal Chilterns Way joins the rest in Cycling UK’s newly unveiled ‘Adventure Route Series’ of long-distance bikepacking trips through the British countryside, promoting domestic tourism and an “affordable and healthy way to explore the country”.
Marking the announcement of the series, Cycling UK has unveiled a brand-new route for riders to explore, beginning in Reading. Named the Royal Chilterns Way, the route covers 282km/175-miles of off-road track through the Chilterns, blending scenic trails and historic landmarks. With a total 11,100ft / 3,383m in climbing, the route “offers competent riders a challenge”.
It’s designed to be enjoyed over several days, but there’s nothing to say you couldn’t smash it out in one epic day (and probably some night) out, Cycling UK keen to point out the route is served by two London Underground stations and multiple railway stations.
The 282km route consists of three loops that intersect, so they also explained that riders could easily take on some of it if the full distance seems daunting.
Each route in Cycling UK’s adventure series is designed for a long weekend escape – spanning 250 to 300 kilometres (150 to 190 miles), with it being accessible by train, so riders can easily enjoy our National Landscapes without the need for a car. Built for competent cyclists using gravel, cyclocross or mountain bikes, routes “link quiet roads, scenic trails and places to rest and refuel”. Routes are free to download from the Cycling UK website as a GPX file.
Max Darkins, a ride guide and the route’s planner, said: “Growing up in the Chilterns sparked my passion for cycling and inspired a lifelong love of the area and exploring the country by bike. This lesser-known part of the south-east has so much to offer and in working closely with Cycling UK we have carefully crafted a route that would give people the chance to escape and connect with nature.
“Out on the trail you get to experience everything that the Chilterns has to offer, ranging from verdant landscapes to historic market towns, medieval earthworks and majestic rivers. What also excites us about this route is that it connects numerous local businesses, from farm shops and cafés to vineyards, pubs, and a wide range of unique accommodation. We all known how much cycling can improve our physical and mental health, and with every new route launched, we make that accessible to more people.”
"Car moved towards cyclists causing several to be dismounted," police say – after two riders seriously injured when driver crashed into group ride during botched overtake
"We would encourage members of the public to continue to submit their footage to Operation Snap, since we are still likely to be able to take action..."
The summer has seen a long-running saga around camera reporting in Wales, you’ve probably read all about it by now. The short version is that GoSafe Wales said it was suspending taking action on close pass footage due to national guidance, only for the National Police Chiefs’ Council (the source of said ‘guidance’) to insist there’s no reason for police in Wales to stop taking action on cyclists’ close pass videos.
Anyway, many of you have been in touch since with your own experiences reporting footage, road.cc reader James asking the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner for their thoughts. Andrew Dunbobbin, the police chief in question, spoke with the head of GoSafe in Wales and received the following reply, essentially backing up everything we knew so far — not much has actually changed.
Operation Snap remains a crucial service as we work towards our main objective of making Welsh roads safer. Recently circulated guidance from the NPCC outlined that forensic analysis of speed or distance would need to be carried out by a level 3 trained forensic specialist under ISO 17025, who must be specifically competent in the Forensic Science Activities being undertaken. GoSafe personnel do not hold this specialist forensic accreditation and are also aware that there is no specific offence of ‘close pass’.
However, we would encourage members of the public to continue to submit their footage to Operation Snap, since we are still likely to be able to take action, where there is corroborating evidence, or an aggravating factor present.
In real terms, what this means is that if all that is being submitted is a video of a ‘close pass’ type situation, then it is unlikely that we will be able to take action. However, where there are aggravating factors, such as clear evidence on the submitted footage, that the submitter, or any other road user has had to alter their path or speed to avoid a collision, due to the actions of the offending road user, we are still likely to be able to take action.Alternatively, if the submitter is able to provide corroboration in their statement which accompanies the submission, such as a real terms description of how close the vehicle got to them, (i.e. the vehicle’s wing mirror brushed my hand, or they were closer to me than a length of A4 paper) we again are still likely to be able to take action.
The reality is, in such circumstances the offence is likely to be one of careless or inconsiderate driving, or in extreme cases dangerous driving, and where the evidence submitted meets the prosecution threshold, we will still look to take action.
So there we have the latest. It all really does make you wonder why GoSafe Wales made a big song and dance about ‘suspending’ close pass action when they could have just explained it like this two months ago…
Returning Edinburgh bike hire scheme to be run by Voi
Edinburgh will have hire bikes back on its streets in the near future, the council announcing that Voi has won the contract to run its cycle hire scheme from Friday 22 August. Lime and Dott had been considered but Voi has ultimately been chosen, the scheme set to see dockless bikes available to residents and visitors without the need for docking stations.
It’s a return for cycle hire in the Scottish capital, the city having previously had Just Eat Cycles, but vandalism and losses saw the operator pull the plug a few years ago.
Edinburgh’s transport chief, Labour councillor Stephen Jenkinson commented: “I’m delighted that we’ve reached this key milestone to deliver a new cycle hire scheme for Edinburgh. Voi brings a wealth of experience in this field, operating across the UK and internationally, and I’m very excited to see how the scheme will progress here in the capital. We’ll be launching the scheme later this week before expanding across the city through the autumn.
“My thanks also go to council colleagues who have been able to turn around this vital scheme for our city quickly and efficiently. From allowing our residents and visitors a new way to travel around the city, through to cutting congestion, pollution and beyond – the scheme will bring a host of benefits to Edinburgh.”
"What if he takes ten riders down with him? I have a problem with that": Retiring pro cyclist calls out riders who "don't care" if they crash and make races "so dangerous" by braking late and "cutting everyone off" when cornering
Domestique extraordinaire Tim Declercq has confirmed this is his final season as a professional cyclist, one of the peloton’s most respected teammates stepping away from the sport after a 14-year career that has seen him set up countless victories for his Soudal Quick-Step and Lidl-Trek teammates.
Speaking to Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad about the decision, Declercq was honest about his views on the sport these days, saying it has become “so dangerous” and that as a parent “you see it differently”.
It comes at the end of a week when 21-year-old Alpecin-Deceuninck rider Louis Kitzki walked away from cycling and cited fears about his safety following a string of fatal crashes for his decision.
Declercq, who rode the Tour de France five times and was a mainstay in Soudal Quick-Step’s successful classics team for the best part of a decade, admitted he doesn’t “dare take the risks I used to”. The 36-year-old also called out riding by some in the peloton who he believes create danger for others by braking late and cutting people up when cornering.
“Danger plays a significant role in my racing, and you can’t race when you’re scared,” he explained. “I don’t want to overstate it, but as an experienced rider, I’m very aware of how dangerous it all is. As a parent of two children, you see it differently. While I see the opposite with many riders. They ride around thinking: ‘I don’t care if I crash’. Right now, I can afford to name a few. Matej Mohorič is a rider who — like everyone else — tries to race as economically as possible. Completely understandable. But he does this by braking as late as possible in the corners, cutting everyone off. That causes crashes. Not his own, but the riders behind him.
“After the final stage of this year’s Tour, he literally said: ‘I gave it my all on the descent from Montmartre; I didn’t care whether I was just sitting at the table that evening or lying in the hospital’. Everyone thinks those are great statements, but what if he takes ten other riders down with him in his crash? I have a problem with that. In the Scheldeprijs, Warre Vangheluwe broke a vertebra in a crash I was involved in. It wasn’t my fault, but it still bothers me.”
Declercq reflected that he probably wouldn’t recommend cycling as a sport for his children due to the danger involved, something he says is “a shame, because cycling is a wonderful sport that teaches you so many valuable things as a person”.
Regardless, the Belgian is “definitely not quitting with a bitter feeling” and pointed to the friendships he’d made along the way, adding that “racing is full of good guys”.
“We lived through the good old days, when young riders could still enjoy being young,” he reflected. “Compared to the young guys now, we knew nothing. We’d train on water only and then have to recover for two days. But we were able to study, get a degree, and even enjoy a beer every now and then. That’s not really possible for young riders these days. The top riders get paid very well right away, but there’s a big downside socially.”
Help us to bring you the best cycling content
If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more.
24 Comments
Read more...
Read more...
Read more...
Latest Comments
"I’m a firm believer that a suspension fork can make your gravel bike faster, as it stops you from battling low-level chunk, makes for a smoother and more comfortable ride, while improving traction. They’ll also improve rolling resistance, as the front wheel can move over a trail obstacle, rather than hang up on it. Although I’m sure many will disagree with me there." The traction bit is a very bold statement that only holds true on a perfectly tuned suspension (most are not). Drop tire pressure by 0.3 bar and the effect in that respect will be the same, minus the weight penalty. If suspension makes gravel bikes faster, how comes that companies like Canyon, Rose, Pinarello....who invest millions in research don't bolt suspensension forks on all their gravel bikes?
There is nothing better than eloquent Australian political correctness to restate the obvious and put things into perspective : It's summer, so, yep, it's hot, really hot. Some years are cooler or wetter, though. UCI bureaucrats can't control the weather, can they? If it's too hot for you, change your programme, says a former pro and experienced DS. Astana prepare their riders' racing schedules by factoring in their resistance to cold and hot weather conditions. Some of their riders only do the Asian circuit and race against Thai, Malaysian and Vietnamese top shots in really hot and super humid conditions. In case of a heatwave, ASO could opt for earlier starts, say 08. or 09.00 a.m. One may assume that early live broadcasting is less lucrative for TdF organisers.
Saw this while on the BBC. Maybe this is unfair - the police have a job to do, they were investigating a murder, and they can park where they like. But really, did they need to? If even they have just defaulted to parking on the pavement, what hope is there?
Yeah - I've no idea how you ward that off!
And a giant inflatable haribo gold bear...
Will that take some of the heat out of the situation?
The usual misinformation being peddled, an interviewee at 8:21am on the BBC Breakfast news was calling for legislation to "require insurance for these vehicles that can go faster than 15.5mph" - when there already is legislation (it's just rarely enforced, as is the case with a lot of road crime). Then the example of the pedestrian who was hit by an illegal e-scooter rider, who thought she would be safe as she was on a crossing. But she was carelessly crossing on a red man. Had she been mown down by a car driver, she would likely have been far more seriously injured and this probably wouldn't have made the news!
Throw some salt over your shoulder.
@mdavidford That was my assumption, but have just had a look and it does seem to be the case (otherwise MIB would be yet another part of the answer to the "cyclists don't have insurance" complaint). So no, I don't think a 'traditional' 4-8mph mobility scooter has anything to do with MIB.
24 thoughts on ““I have a problem with that”: Retiring pro cyclist calls out riders who “don’t care” if they crash and make races “so dangerous” by braking late and “cutting everyone off” + more on the live blog”
If the UCI want to reduce
If the UCI want to reduce racing speed, they need to ban disc brakes, set a maximum tyre width of 23mm and set a maximum gear ratio of 108 inches. Let’s go retro!!
Mr Anderson wrote:
It would reduce racing speed on the flat but if you’re looking to improve safety, particularly on descents, I’m not sure that reintroducing less powerful worse modulated braking and less stable tyres with worse grip is going to improve things a great deal.
Less powerful brakes mean
Less powerful brakes mean braking has to occur over longer distances, with lower decelleration, with longer times.
I ride both modern bikes with hydro disc brakes, and ancient vintage ones with flimsy pressed-plate calipers and cork pads. The former brakes incredibly hard (especially if you have front suspension, as MTBs and some gravel bikes now have – my gravel bike does), with amazing control. The latter brakes incredibly poorly.
I’ve ridden both down twisty descents, and the risk level is bizarelly the same. The difference is you have to start braking over twice as early with the vintage one. Which means your average speed is lower on the vintage bike, and often that means lower top speeds if you have to brake before reaching terminal speed (and my vintage bike’s 80s campagnolo hubs are actually still /very/ fast – faster than most of my modern wheels; incredibly well engineered).
I don’t automatically buy that ultra-powerful modern disc brakes are better for safety. I don’t automatically believe old brakes would be better either – I’m undecided. I can see reasons both ways.
I /do/ think modern brakes allow greater speeds approaching corners, through much later braking, though. Which may sometimes reduce available reaction times in bunches.
Also disc brakes can be
Also disc brakes can be dangerous in emergency situations, when the reaction is more “binary” than usual (i.e. brake ASAP!), because they it make it too easy to lock the wheels.
It’s less of a problem for MTB where these systems were first adopted, because they usually ride on single tracks, not in large groups, and can prepare for every braking in advance, by looking at the terrain.
All other vehicles on the road have ABS…
After reading this I m
After reading this I m sticking with my old Dawes 😉
Rendel Harris wrote:
It would reduce racing speed on the flat but if you’re looking to improve safety, particularly on descents, I’m not sure that reintroducing less powerful worse modulated braking and less stable tyres with worse grip is going to improve things a great deal.— Mr Anderson
Is it the spike sticking out of the steering wheel equivalent, though?
Steve K wrote:
Yes, I guess it is but the trouble is we’re talking about racers here and you can’t guarantee that their thought processes will be the same as those of a logical person. As Mark Cavendish once said when questioned about the insane speed of the peloton when descending in the rain towards (I think) Nice, “Yeah, you know that voice in your head that tells you don’t do this, it’s too dangerous? We don’t have that.”
I think this is quite common
I think this is quite common in top sports people where danger is a significant factor.
I remember long ago reading an article about F1 drivers, I’m pretty sure it was Damon Hill in particular, saying exactly the same thing about there not being that risk averse switch in the brain (he admitted it)
[quote=I’m not sure that
[quote=I’m not sure that reintroducing less powerful worse modulated braking and less stable tyres with worse grip is going to improve things a great deal.
[/quote]
My observation is that anyone going do3n a hill with crap brakes, tends to go slower, brake earlier – both of which would greatly enhance rider safety. Let’s face it, was Sean Kelly’s descent of the Poggio on 20mm tubs and mvic sidepulls less amazing and exciting than Mohoric’s or Nibali’s on disc brakes, wider tyres et al?
A normal person perhaps, but
A normal person perhaps, but IIRC the fastest descent in the Tour de France is still one recorded with rim brakes.
HLaB wrote:
Its just basic physics, if your brakes are less effective you will go downhill faster 😉
Bigfoz wrote:
It most certainly was not! But was it actually any safer? Pros are always going to ride on the absolute frontier of safety with whatever they’ve got. My personal opinion is that a lot of the crash problem in the current WT environment is down to the fact that riders are coming in before they’re even twenty on the basis of their power numbers rather than their race smarts, not the equipment.
I wouldn’t think twice about
I wouldn’t think twice about doing a tricky Alpine descent on a classic ’70s to ’90s road bike. I love the way bikes of that era feel. I’d be slower than on a modern bike for sure.
Mr Anderson wrote:
I remember being able to lift the rear wheel when braking in the dry with cheap Weinman 500 brakes as well as being able to pedal at over 40mph with 108 inches back in the day and with today’s roads 23mm is just asking for punctures so basically NO!
Backladder wrote:
Perfect. If everyone in the peloton is getting a puncture every few miles, that’s *really* gonna slow down the racing, surely? Result!
Tannus.
Tannus.
No punctures.
And will slow them down.
Everywhere.
This came up in a feed if
This came up in a feed if anyone wants to support kidical mass as they need to buy third party/ liability insurance.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/km-insurance
Probably worth mentioning the
Probably worth mentioning the Mount Washington hillclimb in the US where Illi Gardner absolutely demolished the female best time. Was 1hr6min, now 58:07.
Miller wrote:
It was/is, at 10.37.
On the Santander Cycles app,
On the Santander Cycles app, I don’t find it that bad, but I’m not trying to hire a bike with it. I still use the key fob , which is pretty reliable. But it probably get compared to Lime and Forest apps now.
Michael Woods wrote:
Massive underestimate, surely? Just in the first week of the Tour it generally feels as if the GC favourites all have three or four tumbles, though thankfully most of them minor.
Bit harsh on Mohric? Maybe he’s a pain elsewhere but in that particular instance, IIRC, he was leading at the front of a three-man group trying to catch Pog and Wout, the only person he was putting at risk was himself.
When cornering I tend to slow
When cornering I tend to slow down a little and don t sit behind someone s wheel
Coolkitty wrote:
As do I, but then my (and I presume your?) livelihood and future employment don’t rely on not losing the wheel in front.
TfL bikes are definitely the
TfL bikes are definitely the cheapest hire option. But the app is indeed awful, as is the back-end tech behind it
Any news on whether when they update the app, they will also update the awful system where if the card you’ve registered expires, they just suspend your accuunt- rather than, say sending you a message to say that your registed card has expired…?