Cycling infra vs the peloton, part two: Bike rack derails Sam Bennett’s Sanremo chances; That Van der Poel attack – and those sofa memes; Cyclocross takeover at the monuments; “There is never a Plan B for cycling” + more on the live blog

I’m sensing a pattern developing during the big early season races this spring…

Earlier this month, a segregated cycle lane – installed to keep everyday cyclists safe as they exit a roundabout – proved a serious hazard during the final kilometre of a Paris-Nice sprint stage, as riders were forced to jink either side of the unmanned concrete divider at over 50kph… with no more than a splash of pink paint to warn them of the potential danger.

Sorry...but this is unacceptable at this speed within 1KM to go...#ParisNice #gotawaywithit pic.twitter.com/wcsG29R6FI

— Brian Smith 𝕆𝕃𝕐 (@BriSmithy) March 9, 2023

> Paint is not protection, pro cycling style

After the stage, Astana’s American climber Joe Dombrowski noted the irony of infrastructure designed to make cycling safer and easier in towns and cities in recent years has actually made pro racing more dangerous.

Ironically all the infrastructure to make cycling safer in cities, makes it more dangerous for us ..

— Joe Dombrowski (@JoeDombro) March 9, 2023

And just nine days later at Milan-Sanremo (we’ll get to that attack on the Poggio soon, don’t worry), it was the turn of the humble bike rack to foil the chances of some of those hoping for monument glory on the Via Roma.

With 34km to go at La Classicissima, as the bunch was steaming towards the start of the race’s finale at the Cipressa, a crash – seemingly caused by a road sign at a crossing and the bike rack jutting out into the road behind it, which, again, was devoid of any marshalling or warning signs – bought a number of riders down, including Irish sprinter Sam Bennett.

Crazy - a bike rack sticking out into the road. Sam Bennett went down in this crash, stayed down a while but hopefully not badly hurt. https://t.co/vLvleWPpl1

— Shane Stokes (@SSbike) March 18, 2023

Thankfully this looks worse than it was. Gutted to miss the finale but happy to have bounced OK. Thanks to everyone who’s sent messages 👌 Be back again next year Sanremo pic.twitter.com/YGKleyGSUD

— Sam Bennett (@Sammmy_Be) March 18, 2023

Fortunately, the Bora-Hansgrohe rider wasn’t injured too badly in the spill, though a team spokesperson later said that he has some back pain and may be a doubt for the Classic Brugge-De Panne on Wednesday, a race he won in 2021.

While most pundits and fans criticised the race organisers for not properly signposting the cycle parking hazard, it seems the Danish commentary team have been reading too much road.cc lately, and suggested a different way of dealing with a pesky bike rack…

Danish commentators suggested that they should have used an angle grinder before the race

— Linus Midtgaard (@LinusMidtgaard) March 18, 2023

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to support the recovery of iconic Australian cycling photographer Marcus Enno – better known as Beardy McBeard – who was hit by a driver while riding his bike near his home in Hobart, Tasmania, on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by tobyshingleton (@tobyshingleton)

According to an Instagram post shared by fellow Tasmanian Richie Porte and Shimano’s Toby Shingleton, Beardy “sustained serious injuries which will require surgery, rehab, mental health support, and changes to his lifestyle in the short and medium term”.

The post continues: “Marcus Enno aka Beardy McBeard is a cycling photographer that has captured the world’s highest-profile cycling races such as the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia as well as numerous gravel and road mass participation rides across Australia.

“If you have ridden a Yaffa Classic event, Goodness Gravel, Giro Della Donna, Gears and Beers etc... or been to the Tour Down Under, Cadels, or World Champs there is a good chance you have already met or had your photo taken by Beardy. He is simply an icon of Australian cycling.

“He has beaten cancer and made it to the top of the photography profession, but over the coming months Beardy faces one of his toughest challenges as he recovers from his injuries and works hard to get back to doing what he loves and helping to support his beautiful family.”

The proceeds from the crowdfunder, which has already raised almost A$30,000 on GoFundMe, will go directly to Beardy to cover medical costs, replacing lost income, and contributing towards his recovery.

Looks like the lifts at Greenwich foot tunnel – you know, the one “dangerous” cyclists “zoom across” – aren’t functioning today, so at least Tower Hamlets’ councillors can rest easy this lunchtime in the knowledge that there’ll be no illegal zooming, as everyone makes it to work late… 

Nobody in power in London seems to have the slightest care that the ability to cycle across the Thames in east London is collapsing before our eyes. https://t.co/G3d94VPJjU

— Alex Ingram (@nuttyxander) March 20, 2023

Please, talk to me more about antiquated Victorian infrastructure being a problem for motor traffic at the Blackwall tunnel, as I choose between carrying my bike up and down 15m of stairs or paying £1.70 after 9:30AM to cross on the cable car.

— Alex Ingram (@nuttyxander) March 20, 2023

The fact that some Lime bikes are abandoned down there might make some people angry enough to actually do something about it

— Mark (@markvauxhall) March 20, 2023

Looks like it's going to be 16 miles to work tomorrow, as I go from Dagenham(CS3) to Greenwich Via Tower Bridge and CS4.

— Dagenham'staying@home'Cyclist (@dagenhamcyclist) March 20, 2023

If, instead of building the Silvertown tunnel they'd gone for a simple two lane bore adjacent to the 1967 tunnel, you'd now have a Victorian tunnel that would have been perfect for active travel whilst keeping the motor capacity at Blackwall the same.

Carbrains gotta carbrains.

— Show me a sign (@ShowMeASignBryn) March 20, 2023

> Councillor calls for anti-bike barriers to prevent “dangerous” cyclists “zooming across” foot tunnel 

A cycle route diversion in Belfast, put in place to allow for flood defences to be installed on a popular towpath, will put the lives of cyclists as risk, according to active travel charities Sustrans and Cycling UK.

Considered one of the most popular cycling and walking routes in Northern Ireland, the Lagan Towpath stretches for 11 miles between Lisburn and Belfast and caters for over one million active travellers each year, according to the Department for Infrastructure’s figures (a portion of the towpath also featured as part of the course for the 2008 U16 Ulster cyclocross championships, which saw this humble writer finish third – it was a poor turnout that year…).

For the next 6 months people wont be able to use one of the only safe cycle routes through Belfast

This shows the suggested diversion is not fit for purpose

The failure to deliver any of the Belfast Bicycle Network means there is never a plan B for cycling pic.twitter.com/3pdOHpfCrS

— Cycling UK Northern Ireland (@CyclingUK_NI) February 16, 2023

However, part of the route will be closed for the next five months to allow for the “essential” construction of five miles of flood defences, which the DfI says will protect at least 1,500 homes.

But Sustrans and Cycling UK say the diversion that has been put in place for cyclists affected by the work – taking them along the Ormeau Embankment and into the city centre via the Ravenhill Road, which features a painted, advisory cycle lane often filled with parked cars – is not safe or fit for purpose.

> Government says Belfast bike lanes are “advisory” – after local cyclists claim they are “completely unusable” due to parked cars

“For the next six months people won’t be able to use one of the only safe cycle routes through Belfast,” Cycling UK said on Twitter, alongside an eye-opening video of the proposed diversion.

“This shows the suggested diversion is not fit for purpose. The failure to deliver any of the Belfast Bicycle Network means there is never a plan B for cycling.”

Sustrans have also called on the DfI to install safe cycling infrastructure along the route.

“The diversion put in place, particularly for cycling from east Belfast via the Lower Ravenhill Road and the Lagan Embankment is not safe,” a Sustrans spokesperson said.

“There is an ‘advisory’ cycle lane or painted line along this very busy road which is often filled with parked cars.”

The treatment of cyclists in Belfast by @deptinfra is appalling. Talk of active travel and sustainability has gone on for years - with almost no results. @belfastcc needs to call this out and it needs to be a theme in local elections. Lives are at risk.https://t.co/X8x8B42Bzq

— Duncan Morrow (@duncan_morrow) March 19, 2023

A lecturer at Belfast’s Ulster University, Liam McComish, who cycles to work on the towpath, also told the BBC that the diversion is making him consider commuting by car for the next five months.

“It’s bad for me as a cyclist and it has increased the danger of my commute,” he said.

“It’s made me think twice about whether it’s safe to cycle and I might go back to driving more often because I do feel genuinely at risk.”

> Cyclists call on council to reconsider “unsafe” cycle route diversion

A DfI spokesperson, who noted that the Belfast Marathon will still be able to use a section of the towpath as part of its route on 30 April, after discussions with the contractors, said: “The diversionary route via the Ormeau Embankment/Ravenhill Road is the closest alternative designated cycle route. This route is signposted for pedestrians and cyclists.

“The existing cycle infrastructure on the Ravenhill Road is an advisory cycle lane and therefore parking enforcement is not permissible by law.”

I know that Milan-Sanremo, the Trofeo Alfredo Binda, and a few other events made it a grand slam weekend of sport (see what I did there?), but there was also plenty of other stuff going on around the cycling world too. Here’s what you may have missed on road.cc…

> Cycling UK takes council to court over “unlawful” decision to keep rat-run open

> Sunday Telegraph accused of using divisive rhetoric in “death trap” floating bus stops article

> Campaigners hit out at removal of pop-up cycle lane in Birmingham

> F1 drivers banned from riding bikes on track recce walks

> Near Miss of the Day 855: Driver dangerously overtakes on the wrong side… is let off the hook by the police because she lives abroad