Nails scattered on controversial cycleway; Jonathan Shubert rides 100 miles...in under three hours; "The worst thing I have ever encountered in my life": Vuelta peloton suffer on brutal Angliru; Cycling's toughest climb? + more on the live blog

Bike markings being removed from the road @SunriseCycleway... pic.twitter.com/ejq7XqR5Lz

— Paul G (@PaulGmedia) November 2, 2020

As announced by North Tyneside Council the Sunrise Cycleway, which they insisted was always a temporary measure, is being removed to make way for the resumption of two-way traffic. The decision is not without controversy with many local users lamenting the decision as a backwards step in the campiagn for more active travel infrastructure. Last week the council plugged their new fleet of electric cargo bikes on the cycleway without mentioning that they were keen to scrap the the project a week later. The council were also accused of misleading the public by changing their website to call the cycleway a temporary project. North Tyneside Council refuted these claims saying the word 'temporary' was added due to members of the public asking for clarification about the future of the scheme.

Lizzie Deignan and Elisa Longo Borghini have committed to Trek-Segafredo until at least 2022. Deignan, who won La Course by Le Tour de France and Liege-Bastogne-Liege this year has been riding for the American team since 2019 and put off plans to retire at the end of 2020. 

Deignan said: "It was a really easy decision for me to sign with Trek-Segafredo. I found myself to be really happy in the team, very comfortable. I know I’m very lucky to be in the position to re-sign with the team. I had always envisioned retiring after the 2020 Olympic Games, but I think the fact that I’m enjoying my job so much and experiencing such an enjoyable team environment means that I feel motivated to continue further and not just draw a line on my career next year. I don’t see a reason to stop when everything is going so well."

Lots of great changes in my neighborhood. A safe cycle lane being built, and today the new @ChiswickFlowers Market. Everyone friendly, socially distanced and wore masks (apart from the person in the yellow anorak with the placard saying the improvements are DESTROYING CHISWICK) pic.twitter.com/H1ZWG5OOlC

— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) November 1, 2020

Family cycling past the Flower Market. No silly queues along the pavement this time. pic.twitter.com/ZFL1Re6Adr

— Chiswick Flower Market (@ChiswickFlowers) November 1, 2020

Garmin-Tacx will provide all trainers for the inaugural UCI Zwift Cycling Esports World Championships. The partnership will see Tacx supply all participants with the Tacx NEO 2T Smart trainer. All participants will be competing on standardised equipment to create the fairest possible competition. 

A second lockdown is coming this week with widespread restrictions coming into play on Thursday. This is how the new National Restrictions will impact cycling. Let us know your thoughts in the poll below...

How will lockdown affect your cycling?

I'll cycle more

I'll cycle less

I don't think lockdown will change how often I cycle

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sadly today's incident in the north-east isn't the first instance of cyclists being targeted with traps. Back in May these nail traps were hidden under soil on a trail in East Cleveland in the north-east. On the same day we reported that pins and nails had been deliberately spread in Regents' Park. 

The first lockdown earlier this year saw a spike in vigilante attacks against cyclists with two pensioners in North Yorkshire spoken to by the police after rocks and branches were found blocking a path to stop cyclist using it. 

The Sunrise Cycleway has gained a great deal of attention in recent weeks with the segregated bike lane, that was introduced earlier this year, set to be scrapped by North Tyneside Council. This morning, Alison Stenning highlighted that the cycleway had been targeted by vandals - who scattered nails across the road surface.  

She said: "Making the most of the last hours of Sunrise Cycleway
and found these scattered on the path. Whatever your feelings about cyclists and the cycleway, this is violent and dangerous." 

Last week North Tyneside Council received criticism for promoting their new fleet of electric cargo bikes on the cycleway. 

122 tacks collected on @SunriseCycleway between the Grand Hotel and Cullercoats, plus some that others took. There were children cycling, people jogging in the cycle lane, dogs crossing it, and lots of people like me just trying to get somewhere or get some exercise. pic.twitter.com/Zb1W2QQg7r

— Alison Stenning #2metres #givespace (@alisonstenning) November 2, 2020

"The worst thing I've ever encountered in my life."@Harrytanfield94 summing up the brutal Angliru 🏔👀#LaVuelta20 pic.twitter.com/KQfUYHX7Hd

— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) November 1, 2020

Widely regarded as the hardest climb in the sport, the Angliru is a brutal test even for the professional peloton. The climb hosted yesterday's summit finish at the Vuelta which was won by EF Pro Cycling's Hugh Carthy ahead of Alexandr Vlasov and Enric Mas. Before a downhill run to the line, the climb ascends for 6.2km at 13% with gradients closer to 25% in places.

Chris Froome described the Angliru as "savage".

"When you say Angliru I just think of relentless pitches. Especially in some of the corners it's over 25% - the TV cameras really don't do it justice," he explained to ITV.

British rider Harry Tanfield was the last man home, almost 39 minutes behind stage winner Carthy and stated afterwards that the climb was "the worst thing I've ever encountered in my life".

Of the riders who uploaded their rides to Strava Jumbo-Visma climber Sepp Kuss posted the fastest time, taking the KOM with a 44 minute ascent. By contrast, Tanfield spent one hour seven minutes grinding his way to the finish line. 

#LaVuelta20

Here's where we are heading to! The Alto de l'Angliru is here! ⛰

IT. IS. STEEP! 😯 pic.twitter.com/iQscniUqau

— Mitchelton-SCOTT (@MitcheltonSCOTT) November 1, 2020