Bettiol lobs bottle at cameraman filming him suffering with cramp at Tour Down Under; Rohan Dennis wins TDU stage 2; “A fast 200”: Remco Evenepoel and the Soudal-QuickStep boys casually smash out 200km in just over five hours + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
"A fast 200": Remco Evenepoel and the Soudal-QuickStep boys casually smash out 200km in just over five hours
It never fails to amaze us how much better the pros are at riding a bicycle than you or I…
While one part of the peloton is over in Oz starting their season with Tour Down Under, there’s another bunch over in Argentina (pro cycling’s a green sport, eh) gearing up for Vuelta a San Juan.
World champ Remco is the big name on the startlist and along with his Soudal-QuickStep teammates set off on this silly speed 200km training ride. Now admittedly there was only 900m of climbing on the flat hit out, but still… 38.3km/h, 200km in 5:13…
Along with Remco was ‘John Deere’ Yves Lampaert, new signing Jan Hirt, Pieter Serry and presumably non-Stravaing teammates Fabio Jakobsen and Michael Mørkøv. Not a bad little group ride…
Other Tour Down Under news... Rohan Dennis wins stage two
Aside from Bertie’s bottle and cramping leg, Rohan Dennis had no such problems and claimed a home victory on stage two in Adelaide. Dennis broke away from a strong lead group of five, displaying raw power to cross the line with a couple of seconds to spare…
Aussie Rohan Dennis soars into first place in the final kilometre of the Oakley Men’s Stage 2 at Victor Harbor! 👏🚴♂️🥇 Congratulations to the team at @JumboVismaRoad@oakley | @SantosLtd #TourDownUnder pic.twitter.com/OyjxkUrb6C
— Santos Tour Down Under 🚴🚴♀️ (@tourdownunder) January 19, 2023
Concussion check controversy
Sorry everyone, nipped out to do something on one of the big stories from yesterday…
Tour Down Under stage two highlights
Here’s the action if you missed it this morning…
⭐ Oakley Men’s Stage 2 Highlights ⭐@oakley | @SantosLtd #TourDownUnder pic.twitter.com/QckY6po3rA
— Santos Tour Down Under 🚴🚴♀️ (@tourdownunder) January 19, 2023
Cycle lanes removed from Exeter's Queen Street redesign
Plans to redesign Queen Street in Exeter have seen the proposed cycle lanes scrapped due to cost concerns. The BBC reports that Devon County Council agreed the cycle infrastructure should be removed from plans due to “significant increases” in the cost of materials.
Councillors said the £250,000 active travel project needed to stay within budget, meaning the cycle lanes have been removed from the plans and the new widened footpath will be 50cm narrower than previously stated. This is to allow the road to return to two lanes…
Top 10 | The BEST gravel bikes awards show — gravel adventure bikes & gravel race bikes
DJ Eenkhoorn
🔊 SOUND ON
How to make a seven-hour training ride more enjoyable? DJ @PascalEenkhoorn is in the house 😁 pic.twitter.com/1kYKyreRk7
— Lotto Dstny (@lotto_dstny) January 19, 2023
Just imagine the disgust of the winter sun seekers trying to enjoy a peaceful lie in…
Get back to where you once belonged (the road)... why cyclists don't use the cycle lane part 8576, Liverpool tanker edition
You can get a ferry across the Mersey by all means… but riding a bike alongside it isn’t so easy nowadays, because this cycle lane on Liverpool’s dock road “is not only a mass of broken glass but being used for parking”, according to road.cc reader Grant Carter-Moore.
The cycle lane, which runs past Everton’s new football stadium that is set to be completed in time for the 2024/25 season, is segregated in parts… but it looks like the parts that aren’t segregated have reverted to disappointing type, with what looks to be an oil tanker parked on the left side of the lane.
“The cycle lane has only been opened the last couple of years, wagons park over it all the time”, Gareth told road.cc.
We’ve asked Liverpool City Council for comment.
* Update, 20/01/23: A Liverpool City Council spokesperson told road.cc: [We] have forwarded on to our highways and parking team to see if someone can go out and issue a ticket and get the vehicle moved.”
Cav to make Astana debut in Oman
Tour of Oman. That’s where Mark Cavendish will make his Astana Qazaqstan debut next month (February 10-14).
> Mark Cavendish signs for Astana Qazaqstan for 2023 season
And speaking to Cyclingnews, team sports director Stefano Zanini said it’s an “honour” to work with Cavendish and the team will “do everything we can” to help him win races.
“It’s an honour that a great sprinter like Mark has decided to join Astana Qazaqstan,” he said. “He’s the best there is and probably the best sprinter in the history of the sport. We’ll do everything we can do to help him this season and set him up in every sprint we can contest.
“Astana Qazaqstan was traditionally a Grand Tour and stage race team. Now we’ve got Mark in the team and so we’ll adapt and do whatever we can to back him. We’ll need some time to perfect a lead-out train but we’ve got Cees Bol who has also come on board specifically to help Mark. There’s also Martin Laas, under-23 world champion Yevgeniy Fedorov, Dmitriy Gruzdev, plus Manuele Boaro and Davide Martinelli for the final kilometres.
“People have questioned if we can set up Mark for the sprints but I think we can and even do it pretty well.”
And it's not just in Liverpool...
Another road.cc reader, Tim, got in touch with details about another case of bike lane blocking, this time on one of London’s Cycle Superhighways near Battersea Bridge. Submitting footage of a moped parked in one, he told us the infra is “marked with a solid white line, and may or may not also be marked with wands.”
“It did not seem to be damaged or parked there in an emergency, and the rider summonsed to court following non-acceptance of a penalty charge notice.”
Offences: Danger of injury to other persons and Obscured vehicle registration mark
Court Result: Fine £440, Costs £159 and L/E 3ppts
The rider did not attend court.
“Word has spread, and Battersea Bridge has remained clear of parked vehicles for several months now,” Tim said.
“This may seem minor, but it’s a busy road, and cycle lane obstructions can force vulnerable road users into the main flow of traffic, so am pleased with the result, which sends a clear message.
“I do think it unfortunate that Transport for London (TFL) hasn’t really done much in the way of spreading awareness about not parking in cycle lanes, and unless you keep up to date with the TFL website, you would never know that there’s London-specific legislation.”
More support for James Knox
That’s Tao Geoghegan Hart, Oli Naesen, Luke Rowe and now Tim Declercq speaking out in support of James Knox…
Pretty decent line-up those four…
This 🙏 @UCI_cycling https://t.co/NSCZLvgpDO
— Tim Declercq (@Tim_Declercq) January 19, 2023
Cameraman filming the moment Alberto Bettiol's Tour Down Under unravelled due to cramp gets bottle thrown at him by irate EF rider
¿Me la he gozado viendo a Bettiol? Me la he gozado.
Buena cruzada de cables con el cámara y buenos calambres.
Supongo que le habrán sancionado.#TourDownUnder pic.twitter.com/ULaW5IzOwm
— Mikel Ilundain (@mikeilundain) January 19, 2023
We can all feel Bertie Bettiol’s frustration in this clip and a lot of you will have been there. Your mind and the rest of your body is still (sort of) saying yes, but an excruciating cramp stops you in your tracks and there is nothing you can do about it.
We see the 29-year-old Italian — who won Tuesday’s 5.5km prologue — desperately trying to beat the cramp out of his upper left leg, before conceding and coming to another stop. At about 54 secs into the clip, Bettiol notices that an intrepid cameraman has sniffed out a scoop and stopped to zoom in on his suffering… and angrily chucks a bottle in his direction when the filming doesn’t stop.
Suppose cameraman was just doing his job, and that reaction can’t be fully justified… but if we’ve learnt anything, it’s that if Mr Bettiol is in a mood maybe give him some space!
Alberto Bettiol's air bottle lob
Alberto Bettiol contains all the letters for AIR BOTTLE LOB. https://t.co/RgNnxZ9rl6
— Daniel Lloyd (@daniellloyd1) January 19, 2023
But comment of the day goes to Shake… “I would have liked to have seen Bettiol throw a bottle at the helicopter”. Stage three is in eight hours or so… you’re up, Alberto…
19 January 2023, 09:03
Awards, awards, awards!!!
road.cc Recommends Bikes of the Year 2022/23: the best road bikes
Find out which of the tarmac-focused bikes we reviewed last year is the best of the best
19 January 2023, 09:03
19 January 2023, 09:03
19 January 2023, 09:03
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Latest Comments
@mitsky Just checking the figures and apparently the 2026 average cost is £58,000 per year per prisoner; worth noting that is only the direct cost, you then have to factor in ten years of lost tax income from the prisoner, ten years that the prisoner is making no contribution to society as a worker or as a consumer, plus the fact that if they were the primary breadwinner very likely the costs will include benefits for their family as well. None of which should be a reason for keeping violent recidivists out of prison of course, nor drug/drink drivers who kill, but it is a factor worth considering for lower-level offences.
@Surreyrider I ride in Surrey a fair bit and absolutely many do look like that but the point is they all *think* they're driving perfectly reasonably (as one discovers when remonstrating with someone who's skimmed one by 30cm, "I gave you masses of room") so deterrent penalties have little effect. That's why we need to strike at the root cause and actually train drivers properly and test them stringently (and more than once over the course of a potential 70+ years of driving, it's absolutely absurd that competence and knowledge in what for most people is the activity in their life that will run the biggest risk of killing people you never have to have your qualifications renewed).
@mitsky Imprisonment currently costs over £50k p.a. per prisoner and obviously that will rise over the course of a ten-year stretch with inflation. Regarding culpability and mitigating sentences etc, of course I'm not against condign punishment for drivers who kill (and cyclists on the tiny, tiny handful of occasions when this happens), including prison as appropriate; I was objecting to the ridiculous and oft-repeated demand of MM that drivers who kill cyclists must get ten years, "no excuses, no exceptions".
Hey, but their wool blend cycling adjacent t-shirts are/were fantastic.
@Surreyrider Still the boss. Ride one, you'll see why
@Smoggysteve "Most would happily ride on the roads and be treated with respect by drivers". But people aren't - and as far as I can see they won't be. Not until there is a lot less driving and it's slower around cyclists, and far more people driving have "skin in the game" eg. they sometimes cycle and their friends and family do also. That's what leads to the model - which is perhaps most advanced in NL - where cycling, walking and driving are all seen as separate normal transport modes. Their needs, vulnerabilities and any dangers to others are considered. And *that* leads to "mix / share when possible, separate when necessary". But "possible" is "where your 10-year old would be safe to cycle unsupervised" - so very few motor vehicles, going slow! And AFAICS everybody - even "existing cyclists" - is happy with the result. (I dunno about a few pro cyclists - but don't they tend to have training camps in different counties anyway?)
@quiff as an Edinburgh resident I can confidently say he's speaking without moving his lips in one sense: - while as I noted in a separate comment there *is* now some real separated cycle infra, all the examples i can think of have *at least as much space* for pedestrians. The rest of the "cycle infra" is essentially similar to the situation in the rest of the UK: eg. bus lanes*, cycle lanes and shared use paths (eg. "build" infra by sticking up a sign). Edinburgh is one of the places with a moderately extensive network of former railways which have been converted to "shared use" paths (completely motor traffic few). However though shared they are not narrow by UK standards. And this is all effectively a "free extra" for all non- motorised users, not like the "sign a cycle path" where pedestrians do lose space. I think this all comes from the "popular understanding" of cycling in which ultimately cyclists are the "other". They don't fit "motor vehicle" or "pedestrian" (including wheelchairs on the very rare occasions people think about that). Thus "cyclists are cheating" in multiple ways! They shouldn't get their own space as "there aren't enough" of them. And "they can just use the road / path". But being able to *choose* "on the road" or "on the footway" (shared use path) is clearly unfair - nobody else gets to do that! BUT of course even if they did pick just one of road OR pedestrian space it's still not fair anyway because they're "too slow" for the road (don't pay "road tax" etc...) and "far too fast" for pedestrians... * Though some existing cyclists may appreciate them when there are few buses, buses and bikes are a very poor mix for several reasons.
Whilst a shame for any employees, their bib shorts had the worst chamois pad I’d ever encountered, utter waste of my money. Even though they were Strava challenge discount purchases, still a waste of money.
Thanks, just going to have to suck it up. Got next week off and will take the easy, if expensive option...
@ktache Just go for the TNT Sports only package, £30.99 for a month. Alternatively have you considered experimenting with a VPN for a few pounds, allowing you to sign up for a free stream abroad, e.g. SBS Australia which streams the Tour live? If I didn't have a kind mate's login that's what I'd do!
28 thoughts on “Bettiol lobs bottle at cameraman filming him suffering with cramp at Tour Down Under; Rohan Dennis wins TDU stage 2; “A fast 200”: Remco Evenepoel and the Soudal-QuickStep boys casually smash out 200km in just over five hours + more on the live blog”
Interesting article on LTNs
Interesting article on LTNs in the guardian – shows no significant increase of traffic on boundary roads, but rather “traffic evaporation”. Sorry I can’t post the link
This one ?
This one ?
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jan/19/low-traffic-neighbourhoods-boundary-roads-london
but, but, but, but…. My car
but, but, but, but…. My car centric intuitive view says loony lefty LTNs push traffic to other areas!!!!!
“Appears” to show, or as the
“Appears” to show, or as the researchers say themselves “suggests” which are very important qualifiers that alot of people seem to be missing.
I can see this increasingly being my new bugbear where research gets cited as absolute proof by proponents simply to shutdown valid debate.
These are the correct words
These are the correct words for a proper scientific study of this type to use. There are too many variables in human behaviour and travel for them all to be excluded entirely. When a researcher says it “appears” to show something they are telling you that they don’t have another plausible explanation. I agree that this does not mean there isn’t one, but you can be sure that an unscientific approach, in the absence of any evidence would make absolute statements of opinion represented as fact.
If there are any alternative interpetations of the data I would be interested, but I suspect that the real benefit of LTNs is not about cutting down through traffic, but about encouraging the local residents to walk/ cycle for 5 minutes rather than drive for 2 minutes, hence why there is a reduction around the LTN not an increase as some predicted. It is important to note that this will not necessarily be the same for all LTNs depending on the nature of the traffic before, the demographic of local residents and the proximity of amenities.
Dismissing “appears” is the
Dismissing “appears” is the same as dismissing the term “theory” (when used correctly).
nosferatu1001 wrote:
as in
“You can’t tell me evolution is real, it’s only a theory”
I’ve no issue with this study
I’ve no issue with this study, it properly explains its limitations and the need for more data and research to continue on it.
My issue is the way the study is grabbed by proponents of LTNs as if its simply THE ultimate conclusive proof, when its not. Even by the very charity who commissioned it who talk about how we should make data led decisions citing a study that actually concluded we need more data on this !!!
And I just wish people would approach a study like this as hey this data shows something interesting about LTNs that counters a narrative they increase traffic, let’s try a few more and see where we get with them.Not treat it like but study says so it must be so.
One thing the study didnt mention is post Covid peoples driving patterns have changed, the roads are much more quiet on Mondays/Fridays than they are midweek, I suspect alot of traffic evaporation might be explained by that.
I thought changes in traffic
I thought changes in traffic patterns over time were included? I must admit I only read the article not the study. As this covers pre/post Covid times and looks at inside/outside LTNs then surely that should naturally take pre/post Covid changes into account.
i do agree with your comments on the desire for binary position supporting PROOF. I think that is driven by the confrontational nature of social media. It could also be related to poor education in statistics – a significant link is not necessarily proof of causality for example.
And I very much agree with your point that this seems to show that the world isn’t going to end thanks to LTNs and maybe we should try a few more well designed ones and do more research as to their impact. I would be really interested in air quality impacts for example.
This is what it says on the
This is what it says on the charity’s website:
“The truth about low traffic neighbourhoods
We’ve conducted the biggest ever study into the impact of LTNs and the evidence is in: they work.”
Awavey wrote:
Do you have any data on that? (since data is what you were talking about)
No obvious drop in traffic volumes in & around Shrewsbury on Mondays and Fridays sadly, but there is feck-all cycling infrastructure, a rather cycling-hostile county council while the appalling bus services can’t be helping either.
Where’s that downvote button?
Where’s that downvote button?
(No subject)
I would have liked to have
I would have liked to have seen Bettiol throw a bottle at the helicopter
Tcha, that effort by Remco
Tcha, that effort by Remco and his mates is pathetic. Worst attempt at a Strava art duck I’ve ever seen. Amateurs.
Exeter rollback on proposed
Exeter rollback on proposed bike lanes.
I hadn’t realised white paint had gone up in price so much…..
How is this an “active travel
How is this an “active travel” project when it removes the cycle lane, narrows the pavement and reinstates 2 way car lanes?
Quote:
(edited – just realised Owd Big Ead got there first!)
nosferatu1001 wrote:
Honestly, it’s all a complete farce. If they wanted to do something positive, they could extend the pedestrianisation out to Exeter Central station and leave the car parks accessible from the North Street side only. It would prevent Queen Street being so busy and unpleasant.
But they won’t.
Once again, you can avoid the
Once again, you can avoid the problems of the bike lane being blocked by just riding in the road
ChuckSneed wrote:
One for wtjs, Lancs’ finest
One for wtjs, Lancs’ finest investigate a car passenger for not wearing a seatbelt:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64337866
Ambushed by a back seat…
Ambushed by a back seat…
Am I right in thinking Devon
Am I right in thinking Devon council used active travel funding to make a one-way a two-way?
Car Delenda Est wrote:
Queen Street was previously a two way road but has had a temporary cycle lane put in, since COVID, which has fully blocked one of the lanes for part of the length of the road (between Northernhay and Paul st). They always would have done something with it as the temporary solution, involving temporary traffic lights and planters, was pretty shoddy.
But yes, they are using active travel budget to increase the carriageway from it’s current (albeit temporarily restricted) width. It’s an abysmal proposal.
Councillors said the £250,000
Councillors said the £250,000 active travel project needed to stay within budget, meaning the cycle lanes have been removed from the plans and the new widened footpath will be 50cm narrower than previously stated. This is to allow the road to return to two lanes…
yea right. Of course it’s just too expensive. It’s cheaper to make the pavement narrower.
BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP wrote:
There are much better experts on active travel on here than me… but surely the proposal invalidates the purpose if the budget? It’s really really expensive to return funds.
I did laugh when I read sunak
I did laugh when I read sunak is being investigated by *lancs* police on non seat belt use.