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“Some TLC for the pavé”: Students start repair work on Paris-Roubaix cobbles; Conservatives claim “Labour and their lycra clad lobbyists are slowing Wales” with 20mph speed limits; Penny farthing hill climb world championship + more on the live blog

Join Adwitiya for a live blog filled with all the latest news, reactions, and general chit-chat from the cycling world this Tuesday
19 March 2024, 13:40
“Some TLC for the pavé”: Students start repair work on Paris-Roubaix cobbles

If you hadn’t been keeping count, the “Hell of the North”, Paris-Roubaix is less than three week away. And the feared, mythical pavé sections of the race, built in the 19th century tend to come loose every so often due to bad weather, wear and tear, and large vehicles going over them.

As one would expect, it’s not just going to make the race more challenging, but also a lot more riskier and unsafe as the potholes left by the loose cobbles get filled up with water, making it dangerous for the riders.

So each year before the race, the forçats du pavé from Les Amis de Paris–Roubaix, a group of fans of the race formed in 1983, look after the route, seeking to keep the course safe for riders while maintaining its difficulty. But this year, they have been aided in their noble pursuit by some students.

BFMTV reports that this year, students from the Lomme horticultural high school have also volunteered to refurbish a section of the course in Mons-en-Pévèle, one of the most gruelling and bone-breaking parts of the track 60 kilometres from the finish and classified five stars, implying the most difficult level. 

A student explained: “We will first remove all the stones. We will then remove the earth, the sand, everything that was in there and we will be able to bring everything back to level.”

“Then, we fill the wheelbarrows to put them in the trench that we created yesterday so that it is flat and prevents water from seeping in,” added another. The cobbles are then placed again in a staggered pattern.

Frédéric Vergelle, trainer in landscaping at the Lomme horticultural high school said: “Large ruts are caused by the passage of heavy vehicles which will cause the loosening of paving stones and the formation of large puddles.”

Meanwhile, Les Amis de Paris-Roubaix has also started their repair works.

19 March 2024, 16:02
What can stop Tadej Pogačar? Not the rain certainly, as the Slovenian dominates at Volta a Catalunya with an emphatic solo attack

I wondered on the live blog yesterday, if the Volta was also going to be an "easy spin with some friends" after the Slovenian called the fastest ever Milan-San Remo as such.

And by the looks of it, it seems that's the case partially once again — stage two, with a treacherous summit finish atop the frigid, wet, and snowy mountains, at the Vallter 2000, the highest road climb in Catalonia, looked to be an "easy spin", although he was missing a few friends. In fact, all of them.

> Fastest Milan-San Remo ever just an “easy spin with some friends” for Tadej Pogačar as not one, but TWO riders sport white shorts

Because at ten kilometres to go, Pogačar who was pacing the peloton by leading in the front, blew the rest of the field to bits with another of his smooth, effortless attacks, leaving the rest of the riders staring in awe. 

Soudal Quick-Step's Mikel Landa and Bora-Hansgrohe's Aleksandr Vlasov were the only two who could follow although the young and ebullient Frenchman Lenny Martinez did make a few valiant attempts to keep up.

Pogačar conceded that the climb wasn't too easy though. "It was tough, you could feel the altitude and the weather made it more difficult," he said after finishing the race. "I was just riding at my own pace. Nothing special."

I would like to disagree. I think we are witnessing something quite special, in fact.

19 March 2024, 14:20
Ferrari driver destroys bike rack after losing control of sports car on 20mph street, police confirm no further action for collision
Ferrari driver destroys bike rack (YouTube/Conisford Court)

Ross Mendham, a former Dragons' Den contestant who earned £60,000 of investment on the show, appeared in court yesterday having been arrested for breach of bail conditions, although Norfolk Police have said he will not face action for the crash...

> Ferrari driver destroys bike rack after losing control of sports car on 20mph street, police confirm no further action for collision

19 March 2024, 09:27
Cyclist (not really) holding a speed gun (Twitter: Welsh Conservatives)
Cyclists shame Conservatives for claiming “Labour and their lycra clad lobbyists are slowing Wales” with 20mph speed limits

The Welsh Conservative party seems to have performed a miracle: They have posted something so absurd and asinine that Twitter, the graveyard of coalition and reason, has united in shaming and lampooning their remark that “Labour and their lycra clad lobbyists are slowing Wales down with their blanket 20mph speed limit”.

The Welsh Government, which is in the process of electing Vaughan Gething as its new First Minister after the surprise resignation of Mark Drakeford, introduced a 20mph speed limit not to a rapture of applause, but raised eyebrows, controversies and conspiracy theories (the last one seems the natural public reaction to most things now) last year.

Despite the directive just calling for roads and streets with a 30mph speed limit to be reduced to 20mph, with local councils still ultimately holding the power to have the final say on it, Conservatives have taken up the issue as if people are being forced to drive down the M4 or the A470 at 20mph speeds.

> "Far more pleasant for walkers and cyclists": 20mph speed limit analysis hailed "astonishing", with drivers' journeys just 45 seconds longer

20mph sign (CC licensed by EdinburghGreens via Flickr)

And while the Westminster Tory Government continues to pledge its allegiance to drivers to halt the so-called ongoing “war on motorists” and continue its “angry rhetoric” on traffic calming measures like low traffic neighbourhoods, 20mph speed limits, and even public transport schemes, the Welsh wing of the party has taken it upon themselves to mount an assault on the 20mph warriors — you know, road safety campaigners, transport experts, and mums and dads who want safety for their children.

And the next step in its assault has come in the form of a Twitter post yesterday, with the most shoddy use of Photoshop I’ve seen in a while, and that’s bearing in mind the Princess of Wales’ latest endeavours with it.

The Welsh Conservatives wrote: “We will SCRAP Labour and Plaid's blanket 20mph speed limit and get Wales moving,” with a cyclist wearing a jersey and a helmet, made to seem as if they’re holding a speed gun pointing at a car.

And cyclists, not just the lycra clad ones, mind you, have blasted the post.

“Ahhh, so basically, you don't care about children being able to walk around their neighbourhoods or to school safely,” wrote James Stafford, while Nick Hawksworth wrote: “This is why nobody likes Tories anymore; Name calling nasty party.”

One person replied saying: “Playground comments about clothes are disgusting and fuel road crime. Shame on you,” while another commented: “Way to alienate people and the proof that you are finished as a government nationally, certainly becoming more and more irrelevant in Wales.”

Folks, do you think they may have read too much into its one-off win in the Uxbridge by-elections, opposing London’s ultra-low emission zones?

> Whose ULEZ is it anyway? Political chicanery as clean air zone set to expand to outer London

Here are some more replies on the tweet…

Despite me cynically looking for them, not a single anti-cycling or pro-Tory comment in the replies! Have the Tories managed to unite Twitter?

The irony deepens when you consider that just three years ago, senior members of the Welsh Tories were calling on the Welsh Government to bring in a 20mph limit calling it a “common sense” plan.

And funnily, some of the lycra clad cyclists they accuse of lobbying the government into making the nationwide changes are the same ones who are going to be somewhat negatively affected by the blanket speed limit, in losing many routes previously used for time trials.

In November last year, Cycling Time Trials (CTT) introduced a ban on events taking place on roads with 20mph speed limits, with existing courses in such areas going to have to be scrapped or modified to avoid the zones. Many cyclists feared that this would spell the end of safe time trial courses and could be the tip of the iceberg for British racing.

> All cyclists must adhere to 20mph speed limits during time trials in Britain – as governing body cites safety concerns and risk of causing “public outrage”

I think they’re giving us too much credit. If the lycra lobby were indeed so powerful, maybe they’d fix up all the potholes first…

19 March 2024, 14:16
We know one person who's ready for the stage 2 summit finish at Volta a Catalunya

Actually, make that two. (I'm only excited because I'm not climbing, but instead going to be watching from my couch)

19 March 2024, 12:32
Have you checked out this latest pop group? They're called "Middle of the Bike Lane"
19 March 2024, 11:55
Mollie King completes 500km Comic Relief cycle, 2024 (Comic Relief)
“Five days of cycling for just five seconds of airtime”: Viewers complain Mollie King’s 500km Comic Relief ride not given enough coverage on BBC

If you missed last week’s big news story, former Saturdays star and BBC Radio 1 DJ Mollie King gave us all a reason and inspiration to get on our bikes and attempt something outside our comfort zones.

In memory of her father Stephen, who died of a brain tumour in 2022, she took on the challenge of riding her bike from London to Hull — that’s 500 kilometres — without having  ever cycled on the road before, and ended up raising £1.1 million for charity Comic Relief in the process.

“Every single pedal hurts”: Mollie King raises over £1.1 million for Comic Relief with epic 500km London to Hull cycle – despite never riding on the road before

However, viewers have complained that she wasn’t given enough airtime. One BBC viewer fumed: “Five days of cycling for just five seconds of airtime for Mollie King. Poor form.” And a second raged: “Mollie cycles five days straight for Comic Relief, but more airtime is given to British Airways.” A third added: “I thought the same! @MollieKing did an amazing job!”

On crossing the finish after five days of suffering on the saddle, King said: “This week has been time for me to think about what’s happened, to think about my dad and to process the fact that everyone’s donated so much. I wish I could thank everybody individually. It has been such a team effort. I cannot thank everybody enough.”

“Matt, these past few days have been so tough,” she told her radio co-host. “And I would not have got there today if you had not been there by my side. You talked me back onto that bike when I couldn’t do it anymore. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here.”

19 March 2024, 11:31
Penny farthing rider (Visit Eastbourne)
Fancy a hill climb time trial world championship... on a penny farthing?

Just a moment, dropping a DM in Jeremy Vine's inbox...

Making its way to our list of wonderfully peculiar but lovely cycling competitions is the latest entrant: Beachy Head World Championship Penny Farthing Hill Climb TT.

Don't let the elaborate name get to you, it's as simple as it sounds. You climb a hill as fast as you can on a penny farthing with a wheel diameter in excess of 46 inches — come on, this is not the UCI, we take our rules and regulations seriously here.

Back for a seventh year, this is the only cycling event of it's kind in the world specifically for penny farthings, taking place in Eastbourne, East Sussex on 11th August. The course if 4.69km with an elevation gain of 150m, with riders setting off at an interval of one minute to tackle the climb to Beachy Head.

"The quickest riders take just over 13 minutes to reach the finish line", says Visit Eastbourne. "We expect around 25 to 30 riders this year, with the final rider arriving at the top at around 11am. A prize giving ceremony will then take place where the winner will receive the 'Block of Wood' trophy containing the names of past winners."

19 March 2024, 11:23
A 10-year contract for Mark Cavendish coming too?

After reigning world champion Mathieu van der Poel bowled one over your live blog host's head by sharing a video of himself at the Canyon headquarters in Koblenz, Germany, and raising my hopes for a new bike drop but instead announcing a mammoth 10-year deal with his bike brand of choice, it's Mark Cavendish's turn to appear at Wilier's HQ in Rossano Veneto, Italy.

So it can naturally mean one thing only right? A 10-year deal for Cav? Bring it on, he's just getting started!

19 March 2024, 10:22
Pope Francis ditches Dogma — Pinarello gifted by Egan Bernal put up for auction... if you've got a spare €30,000
Pinarello Dogma F12 - Special Edition Egan Bernal x Pope Francis (Catawiki auction)

Won the lottery recently? Found €30,000 down the back of the sofa? Looking for a new bike to take you into summer? Well, Pope Francis might just be the man to call...

> Pope Francis ditches Dogma — Pinarello gifted by Egan Bernal put up for auction... if you've got a spare €30,000

Adwitiya joined road.cc in 2023 as a news writer after graduating with a masters in journalism from Cardiff University. His dissertation focused on active travel, which soon threw him into the deep end of covering everything related to the two-wheeled tool, and now cycling is as big a part of his life as guitars and football. He has previously covered local and national politics for Voice Wales, and also likes to writes about science, tech and the environment, if he can find the time. Living right next to the Taff trail in the Welsh capital, you can find him trying to tackle the brutal climbs in the valleys.

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77 comments

Avatar
Hirsute | 7 months ago
4 likes

Collective responsibility.
I'm a cyclist myself.

What other group would be written about in this way ?
https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/cycling-london-cycle-lanes-drivers-b1...

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don simon fbpe replied to Hirsute | 7 months ago
5 likes

Ped Millichamp sounds like a right wanker.

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lesterama replied to don simon fbpe | 7 months ago
5 likes

He writes like a tw*t

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eburtthebike replied to Hirsute | 7 months ago
1 like

"Ped Millichamp is head of design at the Evening Standard"

Not head of thinking or head of logic or even head of sense.  What kind of head could he possibly be?

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mitsky | 7 months ago
10 likes

Re the Ferrari driver crash...

Can Norfolk Constabulary now claim to be the MOST "pro-motorist and anti-road safety force" in the country with their "no further action" decision on this incident with such clear CCTV?
Surely a NFA incident would be ok in a driving test...

Avatar
stonojnr replied to mitsky | 7 months ago
1 like
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Hirsute replied to stonojnr | 7 months ago
1 like

I have no words.

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wtjs replied to stonojnr | 7 months ago
1 like

I wonder if the driver had to say anything other than 'I didn't see the cyclists' to persuade the police to rerun the usual 'NFA' dodge?

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brooksby replied to wtjs | 7 months ago
0 likes

The right handshake?

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Hirsute replied to brooksby | 7 months ago
0 likes

If it were one cyclist, it is conceivable that they moved onto the road giving the driver no chance but 2 cyclists seems very unlikely.

Let's see if the families make a complaint.

Sze-Ming Cheung

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/20754151.family-devastated-no-one-bro...

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/20647792.family-cyclist-killed-crash-...

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brooksby | 7 months ago
4 likes

Huntingdon cyclist killer to appeal manslaughter conviction

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-68606255

surprise

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Hirsute replied to brooksby | 7 months ago
4 likes

Last appeal failed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-65645364

Not sure I follow the subteties of this appeal.

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Rendel Harris replied to Hirsute | 7 months ago
1 like

Hirsute wrote:

Last appeal failed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-65645364

Not sure I follow the subteties of this appeal.

The first appeal was against the sentence only, not the conviction. In the appeal against conviction her lawyers are, it seems, going to argue that Grey had no intention of harming Mrs Ward or causing her to fear harm, presumably leaning heavily on her disabilities to claim a justified act of self protection due to fear of harm to herself defence. Not quite sure how that is going to be tied in with the fact that Grey stood in the middle of the pavement gesticulating and swearing at Mrs Ward whilst she was still a considerable way away, rather than moving out of her way, though.

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mattw replied to brooksby | 7 months ago
3 likes

It looks like a narrow grounds for Appeal - "the jury did not consider an unlawful actl.

It seems clear that pushing a cyclist in front of a moving motor vehicle is an unlawful act.

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brooksby replied to mattw | 7 months ago
3 likes

mattw wrote:

It looks like a narrow grounds for Appeal - "the jury did not consider an unlawful actl.

It seems clear that pushing a cyclist in front of a moving motor vehicle is an unlawful act.

Maybe she's going to say that the cyclist shouldn't have been on the footway (unlawful act) and so deserved what she got? Thus setting a precedent to legalise genuine vigilantism...

Christ but I hope notno

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lifeonabike | 7 months ago
6 likes

re the Ferrari - no charges but who pays for the damage to the road furniture and cycle racks? I presume insurance will be invalid as he shouldn't have been out in the car (curfew)

 

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Matthew Acton-Varian replied to lifeonabike | 7 months ago
3 likes

From a legal standpoint it's going to get ugly. But unless he is forced to pay up by the court, I doubt it will come from anywhere other than the local authority's purse.

 

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Secret_squirrel replied to lifeonabike | 7 months ago
1 like

He was out before curfew.  The time on the CCTV shows 1600 something.

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mattw replied to lifeonabike | 7 months ago
3 likes

Property damage by an uninsured driver should come from the Motor Insurance Bureau industry levy fund.

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Legin | 7 months ago
0 likes

Nice of them to photoshop a picture of the A12 on to a Paris-Roubaix comment; good quality though, it would get the Royal Seal of approval!

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Toffee | 7 months ago
1 like

I don't know about the actual Comic Relief show, but Mollie King's ride got plenty of coverage and support during the week. It was constant on Radio 1 and the BBC had a live text with updates on their home page. It was all good.

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Hirsute | 7 months ago
7 likes

Pure luck the cyclist wasn't wiped out

https://youtu.be/tdSpWOyu5u8?t=126

Meanwhile the ES goes with vigilante cycle cammers

https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/jeremy-vine-cycling-mikey-road-safe...

BTL

"The car-dependent, car-brained media is trying to change the meaning of ordinary words to shill for the motoring industry. "

 

 

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NotNigel replied to Hirsute | 7 months ago
5 likes

I watched one of those dashcam compilations for the first time the other day...we're in a terrible state if the contributors think that they aren't in any way adding to the risks the way that they themselves drive.  Absolutely shocking reactions to things you can see a mile off happening.

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Hirsute replied to NotNigel | 7 months ago
3 likes

Fortunately when you read the comments, they mostly echo what you put !

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stonojnr replied to Hirsute | 7 months ago
3 likes

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-cambridgeshire-68600639

See if you can spot the problem with the sentencing they handed out for it.

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Hirsute replied to stonojnr | 7 months ago
0 likes

I can only assume prior convictions !

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Backladder replied to stonojnr | 7 months ago
2 likes

stonojnr wrote:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-cambridgeshire-68600639 See if you can spot the problem with the sentencing they handed out for it.

If disqualification didn't work the first time why do they think it will work this time?

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brooksby replied to Hirsute | 7 months ago
10 likes

The cover of that copy of the Standard.

It's almost as if they don't understand that one of those things is illegal and dangerous and the other isn't…

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chrisonabike replied to brooksby | 7 months ago
0 likes

OK, so it's a cartoon ...

However - in general you're worried about cameras now?  The UK apparently (2019) had more CCTV cameras per person than anywhere bar China, and London is in the lead in the UK.  No idea how exactly how many drivers have dashcams but there are a lot and apparently more than cyclists with cameras.  Probably more than cyclists full stop.

Anyway - aside from "vigilante" - people out to "nail dangerous drivers"?  Where can we get some more (any) of that?

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Steve K replied to brooksby | 7 months ago
5 likes

Small mercies, but at least the sub-heading at the bottom acknowledge the drivers are dangerous.

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