Dan Walker gets back on his bike – and is berated for not wearing hi-vis; “Surprised he knows how to turn right”: Ed Clancy tests Salford’s magic cycling roundabout; Is British road racing “likely to die out”?; eBay bike disasters + more on the live blog

Got back on the bike for first time today and felt safe and secure.

New bike, new helmet… just disappointed I didn’t manage to match the socks to the frame 😂 pic.twitter.com/diqXV8qyFy

— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) March 20, 2023

A month after his collision with a driver in Sheffield (and the seemingly endless debate which followed that terrifying spill) the Channel 5 presenter is back cycling – and riding a new, rather snazzy, Gocycle e-bike.

So, how did Twitter react to Mr Walker’s much-anticipated return to the saddle? By reprimanding him for not wearing hi-vis, of course:

Hope manage to find enough money for Orange or Yellow HI VIS jacket

— Barry Hambly (@BarryHambly) March 20, 2023

No hi viz
No gloves

— ah14666 (@andyh160) March 20, 2023

Would recommend brighter colours Dan

— JAMES KEMP AKA Blade on a Bike (@JAMES2430911) March 21, 2023

Hi viz makes all the difference

— [BTS] twlch63 (@twlch63) March 21, 2023

Now get some hi-viz clothing so you show up a bit more to other road users……

— Mo Pumfrey 💙 (@Erflady1956) March 20, 2023

Still no hi viz Dan 🙄

— GreyhoundzRoolRory (@E_B_Dog) March 20, 2023

Well, at least it’s not another discussion about helmets, I suppose…

> Why is Dan Walker’s claim that a bike helmet saved his life so controversial?

Cycling is bad because how are you supposed to carry a...

(insert ultra extreme example - e.g. fridge / drum kit / few hundred beef carcasses etc.)

...on a bike! https://t.co/9RdNZ2NSnd pic.twitter.com/e8pLwlq2fh

— Adam Bronkhorst (@AdamBronkhorst) March 21, 2023

These things are just getting weirder and weirder…

Winning Milan Sanremo, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in the same year is something which has NEVER been done.

Van der Poel has as good a chance as any to do it this year.

(Finishing on the podium of all three in the same year has been done 11 times)

— Cillian Kelly (@irishpeloton) March 21, 2023

Well I definitely wouldn’t bet against him anyway…

It’s been a rough few months for the British road racing scene.

Last week, UCI Continental outfit AT85, formerly known as WiV SunGod, collapsed due to sponsorship issues, just months after Ribble Weldtite shut its doors, leaving Saint Piran and Trinity Racing as the only UK-based Continental teams.

Earlier in the week, the organisers of the elite-level Women’s Tour – a race won by Marianne Vos, Lizzie Deignan, and Elisa Longo Borghini – launched a crowdfunding campaign, in a bid to ensure that this year’s race goes ahead despite the event’s current sponsorship crisis.

> "Continuing as we are remains unsafe": Calls for British Cycling action as rider airlifted to hospital after collision with car during race

Things haven’t been much rosier at grassroots level, either – yesterday, we reported that a rider was airlifted to hospital with a serious neck injury after he crashed through the rear windscreen of a stopped car during a National B race in East Sussex.

That terrifying incident has prompted a widespread debate about the dangers of racing in the UK at the moment, what British Cycling can do to help support clubs and organisers, and the future of British road racing in general.

In response to yesterday’s story, road.cc reader Martin, a 75-year-old cyclist, ex-racer, and longstanding club member, got in touch to share his views on the current climate within British cycling.

Here’s what he had to say:

The cover/marshalling etc needed nowadays on our busy roads is probably unsustainable for most clubs.

Many younger club members are sadly reluctant at best to help run any event, and time trials too suffer from this malady. Many riders just want to ride, or play at racing on club runs it seems.

The off-road and cyclocross events, away from the traffic, seem to be the way forward, with parents of youngsters happy, being away from traffic risks. Huge fields in CX events prove their popularity.

Circuit races, where circuits can be found, help, but sadly, open road events are likely to die out – not due to British Cycling’s failings, but due to the change in traditional cycling clubs.

Race teams, instead of multi-generational membership clubs, cannot offer the depth of experience and support to help organisers.

The organisers, as a consequence, fearing blame if disaster strikes, give up the unequal struggle. More risk assessments won’t always help. They just make the already onerous job more difficult.

What do you think? Do you agree with Martin?

Is British road racing “likely to die out”?

Are off-road events, away from our increasingly busy roads, the future of the British racing scene?

And is the decline of the traditional club structure, with its emphasis on volunteering, to blame for the current crisis?

Let us know in the comments…

Over the years on road.cc, we’ve reported on dozens of robberies and attempted robberies at bike races, as thieves target the shiny, expensive equipment usually on show.

However, I can’t say I remember a lap bell ever being nicked at a race before…

But that’s exactly what happened at the Peaks Two Day, a National B-level stage race for men and women in, you guessed it, the Peak District at the weekend.

A definite first. Somebody has stolen our brass bell off the lap board. Left for less than 40 minutes, laid down behind a wall. Staggering #peaks2day pic.twitter.com/WM3Tb3qRzd

— Marc Etches (@marc_etches) March 19, 2023

“A definite first. Somebody has stolen our brass bell off the lap board. Left for less than 40 minutes, laid down behind a wall. Staggering,” Marc Etches, one of the race organisers, posted on Twitter.

Etches said he left the lap board and bell hidden in a grassy ditch “in the middle of nowhere” between stages, and that the race cars were parked only a few hundred metres away when the campanology-loving thieves struck.

Thankfully, the organisers were able to pluck a spare bell from the boot, so the riders could still hear that sweetest of sounds as they neared the finish.

Apparently, no bell hunt will take place for the piece of equipment – which Etches himself dismissed as a “bit tinny” – though I’m sure locals will keep their eyes ‘pealed’ for it around the countryside (I’ll get my coat…).

3/3 Right now, I really think it is “the taking part that counts”!
So well done to ALL the athletes, organisers and sponsors here and across the UK.
The sport needs you more than ever 🙏 🚴 🚴‍♀️ 🏆

Amazing work by @jameshawkins0 @yompbonkcrew pic.twitter.com/jJcxVLNygc

— Ed Clancy OBE (@Ed_Clancy) March 19, 2023

While the British racing scene has come under increasing scrutiny lately, with team after team folding and safety concerns raised after horror crashes at races, Ed Clancy – making his second appearance on today’s blog – noted on Twitter at the weekend that grassroots events and races like the Peaks Two Day are pivotal for the future of the sport in the UK.

“There’s no denying that the sport of cycling in the UK has been struggling recently,” the Olympic champion wrote.

“The peloton has just been rocked by another major team folding, leaving many hard working and ambitious riders (and staff) without jobs and a platform to progress.

“I’ve just spent the day watching the Peaks Two Day (almost literally in my backyard) in Holmfirth. Got me thinking about how important these events are for both the sport of cycling and promoting health in general.

“Right now, I really think it is ‘the taking part that counts’! So well done to ALL the athletes, organisers and sponsors here and across the UK.

“The sport needs you more than ever.”

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Dario Cataldo (@dariocataldo)

This week’s Volta a Catalunya got off to a less than promising start yesterday, after a horrific-looking crash in the final, fast kilometres of the opening stage around Sant Feliu de Guíxols brought several riders down and seriously injured Trek-Segafredo’s Dario Cataldo.

According to a statement issued by the team last night, the veteran Italian, who has also raced for Liquigas, Quick-Step, Team Sky, Astana, and Movistar during his 16-year pro career, suffered a fractured left femoral head and right hip fracture in the crash, along with two spinal fractures which fortunately did not have any neurological impact.

The 38-year-old also sustained multiple broken ribs, a broken collarbone, and a collapsed lung.

Trek-Segafredo also noted that the Giro and Vuelta stage winner is stable and conscious, and will undergo surgery to fix his broken femur at a hospital in Girona.

Unfortunately @AdamYates7 was caught up in a crash in the final kilometers at #VoltaCatalunya102 , but thankfully escaped with abrasions and could finish the stage.

Hope the rest of the riders involved are ok 🙏#UAETeamEmirates #WeAreUAE pic.twitter.com/YhPLtCqNBO

— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamEmiratesUAE) March 20, 2023

In happier news, Adam Yates – who was also caught up in the crash which brought down Cataldo – escaped with some heavy road rash and will be able to start today’s tough stage to Vallter, according to his UAE Team Emirates squad. By the looks of things, he might still be a bit sore though...

Team DSM’s Chris Hamilton, another casualty of the high-speed spill, will however not start in Mataró today.

It's a 𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙣 for Primoz Roglic in Volta Ciclista a Catalunya! 😱

👏 The @JumboVismaRoad rider pips Remco Evenepoel to the finish in Stage 1 🏁@rogla | #VoltaCatalunya102 pic.twitter.com/HhOHhrhcWX

— Eurosport (@eurosport) March 20, 2023

Meanwhile, following yesterday’s crash-marred carnage, Primož Roglič and Remco Evenepoel set tongues wagging for May’s Giro d’Italia with a ferocious and hotly contested uphill sprint, which saw the Slovenian just about hold off the fast finishing and frustrated world champion at the line. And with a 2,000 metre-plus summit finish to come, expect more of the same this afternoon…

It’s been a few months since we last paid a visit to Salford’s new cycling roundabout (or cycle-a-bout, if you prefer the technical term), an interesting bit of bike infra that it’s fair to say proved rather divisive within the cycling community for what some claimed to be its novelty “car-centric” design and plethora of rather unnecessary markings.

> Magic roundabout or tragic roundabout? New "novelty" cycling roundabout hasn't gone down well

Since the roundabout was unveiled to the public in December, it’s about time that it was put to the test by a man who made his career riding around in circles:

@Ed_Clancy conquers the smallest velodrome in Manchester... #BeeNetwork pic.twitter.com/XcqRqD1NSQ

— Pete Zanzottera (@PeteZanzottera) March 20, 2023

Yep, that’s right – triple Olympic gold medal winning team pursuiter Ed Clancy yesterday proved he’s lost none of his speed by flying around Britain’s smallest velodrome… and that he’s even learnt a new trick or two in retirement:

Surprised he knows how to turn right 😂😂

— Simon Edwards (@Edvarski) March 20, 2023

Clancy was visiting Greater Manchester’s recently-installed cycling infra as part of his new role as South Yorkshire’s active travel commissioner, replacing Dame Sarah Storey last month.

Amazing day out with @SouthYorksMCA Active Travel team, checking out everything over in Manchester.
Thanks also to @DameSarahStorey for being so generous with her time and wisdom! https://t.co/idEckeiBmI

— Ed Clancy OBE (@Ed_Clancy) March 20, 2023

And, it must be noted, it looks like the much-derided magic roundabout was a hit…

I’ve wondered ‘why’ the Salford cycle-a-bout was put in, I now know, it was for the joy! pic.twitter.com/Kljnrodk8I

— Eve Holt (@evefrancisholt) March 20, 2023

I did! Loved it.
Also the amount of induction loops and Cyclopes get a thumbs up from me 👍

— Ed Clancy OBE (@Ed_Clancy) March 20, 2023

However, I’m still not sure everyone’s convinced: 

Bring the cyclops, leave the cycle roundabout where it belongs 😂

We even have a mock up ready for Queens Road 😉 pic.twitter.com/ecmihgw7A6

— Arundels of Norfolk (@ArundelsofN) March 20, 2023