Evening ride or photoshoot? Bradley Wiggins' empty computer mount raises questions; Cycling Mikey's Gandalf Corner on Google Maps; Selfie-seeking cyclist's TV fall: Cat predicted Sagan's win; Caleb Ewan responds to Merckx criticism + more on the live blog

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Sir Wiggo (@bradwiggins)

When he's not providing highly entertaining commentary at Grand Tours, nowadays Sir Bradley Wiggins can often be found on his Instagram account modelling a diverse array of attire; but he's took a break from the fashion shoots to get back on the bike in his latest post. 

Wiggins claimed it was a "lovely evening for my first spin in a while!", not forgetting to tag in Le Col and Oakley who have kitted him out with the new Project Aero jersey and shorts and the Kato shades respectively. Not everyone was convinced Sir Brad was out on a genuine training ride though...

Genuine spin or just a photo shoot ? Empty cycle computer out front and no bidons? + I carry more spare parts than the average Everest expedition. That said cool kit and bike 🚲 + I have not won The Tour so no arguments...

— Roland Rat (@RolandRatIV) May 18, 2021

As spotted by Rolan Rat on Twitter, the one photo that shows Wiggins on the bike reveals an empty computer mount, and there's an alarming lack of spares on his Cervelo S5 should he suffer a mechanical... although does that just mean Wiggins is not a fan of data now he's no longer a pro?

"No bike computer!! Just doing it for the love", said oldcrow.cc on Instagram. Another of Wiggins' Instagram followers accused the 2021 Tour champ of going through a "mid life crisis" and that his recent posts "have become fairly bizarre"; although many others only had good things to say, with another follower commenting: "Great to see you on the bike, looking class." 

LOL, some wag has put Gandalf Corner in Google Maps. Feel free to leave a review! I am delighted by this sort of human inventiveness, so a huge thanks to whomever did it. :)https://t.co/dDocRLuclu

— Fully Vaccinated CyclingMikey. 🇪🇺🇳🇱🇿🇼 (@MikeyCycling) May 18, 2021

Gandalf Corner, a turning on the Outer Circle of Regent's Park made famous by CyclingMikey, has been added to Google Maps. The turning has become one of Mikey's most recognisable locations for clocking drivers forcing their way up the wrong side of the road to get past other road users. 

Back in March, we shared his most recent video from the spot after Mikey was confronted by the angry passenger of a corner-cutting cab. Giving it his best 'you shall not pass' impression he blocked the road and forced the taxi driver to get back in the queue, a long way behind where he would have been...

As you can see, Gandalf Corner has got rave reviews from satisfied visitors...16 five-star ones, to be precise. 

Steve Ace-Driving-Videos' review captured the mood: "A great place to find Mikey and also pick up a fine and points on your driving license. There is an alternative route (approx 5 metres to the left) best taken by those that aren't entitled. Anyway, if want points or a fine continue to drive like a bell as it's quite entertaining for the rest of us."

firepartydiscopenguin 1 (random name) also left a review: "Stand and observe the wild driver in its own habitat, texting, watching videos or saving precious seconds by driving on the wrong side of the road. If you're really lucky, you will spot the legendary Gandalf stalking it's prey. It films them then goes in for the final kill a few months later in front of Magistrates' Court."

Top class track cycling will be returing to the Lee Valley VeloPark this December when London hosts two rounds of the inaugural UCI Track Champions League. London will host the fourth and fifth rounds of the series on 3-4 December. The event will begin in Mallorca on November 6 before moving to Paris for the second round two weeks later. 

Panevėžys in Lithuania is due to host round three before the London dates at the start of December. The series will finish in Tel Aviv on December 11. The new competition will see four champions crowned across sprint and endurance categories with the men and women competing for an equal share of the €500,000 prize pot.

Sir Chris Hoy has been named as an event ambassador and Ed Clancy was one of the founding riders named on the startlist last week.

Price comparison site Quotezone has crunched the numbers to find that demand for bicycle insurance has surged to a five-year high during the first quarter of this year, a 130 per cent increase on the same period in 2020. "It’s not surprising that bicycles were incredibly popular during lockdown," Quotezone founder Greg Wilson said.

"But it is interesting to see demand is still on the rise as restrictions ease, especially since the good weather has yet to arrive. It will be hard to predict what will happen once more people return to the office – I would imagine cycling could prove a favourable alternative to public transport until the population is completely vaccinated."

In a bid to better serve the cycling community and especially new cyclists looking for insurance, Quotezone has partnered with cycle and triathlon insurance experts Bikmo.

Needs a blue plaque.

— Bill Hulley (@billhulley) May 18, 2021

Another 17 five-star reviews have been posted on Gandalf Corner since we put the story up on the blog a couple of hours ago. They are all quite entertaining so why not share some more?

Edward has gone all dramatic on us: "A true wonder of the world. Where time and sides of the road inexplicably come intertwined in a Wild West standoff between good and evil."

RT wrote: "Great place to watch Mikey work his magic and hand out social justice to illegal drivers. Also spot simple, entitled people baffled to be told that the rules apply to them. Highly recommended."

Chris Cox enjoyed his visit: "A wonderful place to visit unless you're an entitled doctor with a bad attitude. You shall not pass."

And if you are wondering about the reference to the doctor that keeps popping up, go back and check out the original Gandalf Corner wizardry...

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Mark Cavendish (@markcavendish)

No Giro stage today so all eyes will be on the re-arranged early season race Vuelta a Andalucia. Cav is back in the peloton again for his first race since winning four stages of the Tour of Turkey. His teammate Jannik Steimle, who suffered a scary crash at Nokere Koerse back in March, is also making his return.

Cav has told us not to expect too much from him this week given the climbing on the route...another couple of stage wins then?

For the #Giro stage tomorrow, I'll let my cat do the prediction. It can't do any worse than me so far this Giro, and she is 2/2 predicting the Super Bowl.

I have a feeling she'll make it 3/3, since I would've picked someone else 😏 pic.twitter.com/WeMsbM7PT7

— Peter G. Lindegren (@Velocipeden) May 16, 2021

Cast your minds back to the 2010 World Cup when Paul the octopus was one of the stars of the tournament, correctly picking the winner in all seven of Germany's matches and Spain's victory in the final...

Paul's superstardom reached surreal levels, including Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero offering the cephalopod state protection and his Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian calling for Paul to be brought to safety in Spain...

One punter has channelled the spirit of Paul by getting his cat to predict the winner of stage 10...given the choice of the favourites: Fernando Gaviria, Tim Merlier, Peter Sagan, Davide Cimolai, Elia Viviani and Giacomo Nizzolo, the black moggy correctly chose Sagan.

I say chose, it ate the treat sat on Sagan's name which is good enough for me. The owner Peter G. Lindegren even had time to fire a shot at Paul, saying the octopus only ever had to pick between two teams...

You keep providing the winners, kitty. We'll keep the cat treats coming...

She just knows things 👀 pic.twitter.com/4SvuftKtpc

— Peter G. Lindegren (@Velocipeden) May 17, 2021