“But parked cars are perfectly acceptable”: Cyclists slam “irony” of drivers claiming hire bikes “blight our pavements”; Council claims pothole-laden road “does not require immediate attention”; “Scandalous” Tour Down Under sprint + more on the live blog

The recently released – and aesthetically divisive – Ridley Noah Fast certainly stands out from other pro bikes with its radical front end… but is that a good thing? Jamie offers his take on the pros and cons:

> Five reasons why we hope this isn’t the future of race bikes (and five reasons we like it)

These dangerous sprint deviations at the Tour Down Under are getting out of hand – even Skippy’s at it now:

“In all the years, I’ve never seen that.” – @PhilLiggett 😂🦘#TourDownUnder 📺: Peacock pic.twitter.com/k37gX6tbHH

— NBC Sports Cycling (@NBCSCycling) January 22, 2025

Cycling YouTuber Artem Shcherbyna – the guy who follows pro cyclists around during their Spanish training camps, clinging grimly to their back wheels while shouting nonsense about hairy legs at them – is at it again.

And this time, he’s been busy getting dropped – going both downhill and uphill – by a certain Mathieu van der Poel:

While we can all grumble about his content-creating methods, Shcherbyna’s videos do give some startling insights into the staggering ability and bike handling skills of the best riders in the world, especially in this case the ease with which Van der Poel and his colleagues dropped the Ukrainian amateur on the descent of the Coll de Rates.

And that’s before we get onto the former world champion’s power output during his interval efforts uphill, which to be fair to Shcherbyna, the YouTuber was able to match for a few minutes at least.

I’d be happy just to let him blast by and offer a polite wave, if I’m honest…

I can’t stand the tension, it’s all too much for me. Anyway, drum roll, please…

> We reveal the road.cc Recommends Bike of the Year 2024/25

 

 

 

 

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> “Pure bullying”: Driver who close passed cyclist before deliberately ramming him jailed for 18 months for using “vehicle as a weapon”

You’ve installed the turbo trainer, your n+1 bikes all have their own spot, and the Marco Pantani and ‘Pain Cave’ posters are hung up pride of place. So, what finishing touches could you add to make your new bike shed stand out from all the rest?

Well, road.cc editor Jack’s mate Tom has come up with a novel, groundbreaking door handle design that could – ahem – shift the parameters of shed aesthetics for years to come:

Tom, who built the new shed – or “bike dungeon”, as he calls it – to host his Ribble cyclocross and Dolan time trial bikes, as well as a few project builds, tools, and indoor training equipment, fashioned the revolutionary door handles from the shifters on his first ever racing bike, a Fausto Coppi replica.

He says he had the bike for 25 years before finally salvaging the levers and repurposing them for his shed. Well, at least they’re still being used, I suppose.

What do you reckon? Has Tom’s unique shed door inspired you to glance at your decades-old rusty winter bike and think, ‘You could be of use again someday’? And has he revolutionised bike shed design with one simple update? Or were you rocking the lever door handle back in the ‘90s?

Or maybe you’re not convinced and believe brifters should remain brifters to the end? Let us know in the comments…

> Your definitive guide to what the top pro cycling teams are riding this year

Sam Welsford’s started 2025 in decent form, hasn’t he?

After nabbing his fourth career stage win at the Tour Down Under on the race’s opening day in Gumeracha, the Australian sprinter made it two from two in Tanuda this morning, continuing his almost perfect start to the year on home roads (with the exception of his DNF at the Aussie road championships, Welsford’s won every race he’s started so far in 2025).

However, the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe had to work for his stage win in the ochre jersey, crashing in the first five kilometres before being distanced on the third steep ascent of Menglers Hill with 25km remaining, prompting a tough, frantic 10km-long chase back to the bunch.

(Zac Williams/SWpix.com)

But, after being dragged to the front by Danny van Poppel (more on him in a minute) and given a sniff of the victory in Tanuda, Welsford didn’t disappoint, easily accelerating clear with 100m to dispatch Arne Marit and Bryan Coquard and take his second consecutive win at the race.

Not that the sprint itself wasn’t without controversy, however.

As Van Poppel – widely regarded as one of the best lead-out riders in the business – pulled off after teeing up Welsford perfectly, the Dutch rider then swiftly and clearly made a sharp move to his right, closing the door on Picnic PostNL’s Tobias Lund Andresen, whose own reaction forced Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) to slam on the brakes to avoid the barriers.

A well-oiled machine with no faults today. From the lead-out, to the sprint, no one could have stopped 🧡 🇦🇺 @sam_welsford (RBH) today!

📺 Stream the race now on 7plus:https://t.co/k2Exq3FDwl

Health Partners | @santosltd#TourDownUnder #CouchPeloton pic.twitter.com/670q43l0Rw

— Santos Tour Down Under 🚴🚴‍♀️ (@tourdownunder) January 22, 2025

Van Poppel was promptly issued one of the UCI’s new-fangled yellow cards for his dangerous sprinting, and relegated from eighth to 118th on the day.

According to the UCI’s new rules on sanctions, introduced last autumn and made permanent for 2025, if Van Poppel receives another yellow card during the Tour Down Under, he’ll be disqualified from the race and receive a seven-day suspension.

Meanwhile, three yellow cards over a 30-day period will lead to a two-week ban, and six over the course of a season will result in a month-long suspension.

However, the Dutchman’s antics during the hectic run-in in Tanuda – which, at the end of the day, contributed significantly to Welsford’s win – prompted fans on social media to vent their frustrations at the UCI’s current rules on safety during sprints, with some calling on the governing body to introduce measures that would also penalise teams (and the victorious sprinters themselves) for dangerous lead-out practices.

“Danny Van Poppel didn’t even make it subtle and just jumped across the road in front of Lund after finishing his job AND looking behind,” wrote Mihai Simion. “Not cheeky, straight dirty.”

“Tobias Lund could very well have won if Danny van Poppel had not been so creative,” said Danish journalist Mathias Fisker Mundbjerg. “It is clearly a problem that you can make it ‘nice’ for your captain, who then wins without problems.”

(Zac Williams/SWpix.com)

“It’s been happening for years, but Van Poppel’s movement in today’s sprint was deliberate,” argued former British champion and Eurosport commentator Brian Smith. “This will continue if relegation is the only deterrent.”

“Oh, Danny. Not cool. I do wonder if sprinters should be relegated from victory if their lead out so obviously blocks behind. A relegation for Van Poppel and yellow card only does so much,” wrote Dan Deakins, while Thomas described Van Poppel’s move as “clearly intentional and disgusting”.

Duluc Jean-Baptiste added: “Scandalous move by Van Poppel in the sprint… Typically the kind of move that should make his sprinter lose the victory. Really shameful and ultra-dangerous. You have to downgrade the lead-out AND the sprinter in this kind of situation. Otherwise, they will never learn.

“It would be shameful to give the victory to Red Bull-Bora given Van Poppel’s (clearly voluntary) move. If the UCI really wants to care about the safety of sprints, they must stop awarding a victory obtained (in part) illegally and dangerously.”

“Need team penalties for stuff like this. Relegate all of them,” concluded Joe.

> UCI considering use of “rider airbags” and gear restrictions to “enhance safety”

However, not all fans were jumping on the ‘relegate them all’ bandwagon, of course.

One user, All About Bora (which may give you an indication of where their allegiances lie in this debate), said: “Change in the rules is necessary, alright! But relegate all of them? Come on. The Van Poppel move was not okay, but it’s a move we see 10 times a year. No need to hyperventilate…”

(Zac Williams/SWpix.com)

And, after a tough and complicated day in the saddle, I’m not sure the flying Welsford was paying too much attention to yellow cards, UCI rules, or social media debates either, taking time to praise Van Poppel for his excellent, if controversial, work at the finish.

“Bloody hell – it was bike off in the first 5k to the race, and that was less than ideal,” the 29-year-old, jersey and shorts torn to shreds, told reporters in Tanuda. “It was a pretty hard day out there. The break of three came back quite early, and then everyone started getting quite nervous, then last time up the climb I was on my limit.

“I think it’s always hard to win again, everyone looks at you even more. The parcours didn’t suit us as well as yesterday, but we made it our race. I think it’s a really dream start for us here.

“Oh, man, I don’t think I can describe how [Van Poppel] was. He pulled me back on after the climb, and then still managed to do that 20-second lead out at God knows what power. That was amazing. I’m just happy to finish it off for him, and Laurence [Pithie], Ben [Zwiehoff], Ryan [Mullen] – all the guys came back on the climb and tried to help me get back on.”

After two top tens in a row, including a second-place finish behind Remco Evenepoel in 2023, Tom Pidcock is now set for another crack at breaking his monument duck and winning Liège-Bastogne-Liège this year, after his new Q36.5 team secured an invite to the hilly Belgian classic.

As well as securing a wildcard slot for Liège, ASO have also invited Q36.5 to La Flèche Wallonne, where Pidcock finishes sixth in 2021, for the third straight year.

Q36.5’s status as a second-tier ProTeam means Pidcock will be reliant on invites to the sport’s biggest one-day races – his main aim on the road for the moment – in his first season since moving from Ineos at the end of 2024.

(Zac Williams/SWpix.com)

The 25-year-old is set to start his season at the AlUla Tour in Saudi Arabia, before potentially riding Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, during the classics season’s Opening Weekend, and Strade Bianche, which he won in 2023, ahead of a packed cobbled classics campaign.

However, Q36.5’s place at this season’s grand tours remains up in the air, though it is expected that they won’t be invited to the Tour de France, while it is also uncertain whether Pidcock will be able to defend his Amstel Gold title.

Decime que sos australiano y corres en Australia sin decírmelo 😅🦘

El corredor Luke #Plapp lució unas zapatillas especiales para el #TourDownUnder. pic.twitter.com/ulLuin4xqt

— ESPN Ciclismo (@ESPNCiclismo) January 21, 2025

Crikey, Luke Plapp sure doesn’t look like a bogan in those shoes, they’re bonza!

After breaking them out for the first time at last year’s Giro, the Jayco-AlUla rider has, predictably, decided to give The Most Australian Cycling Shoes Ever™ another airing at this year’s Tour Down Under.

The custom sand shoes feature his country’s colours and cartoon depictions of some Aussie staples, like boxing kangaroos, bush hats, meat pies, Victoria Bitter beer, and Vegemite. We just need Kath and Kim on there and we’d have the full set.

Look at me, Plappy, look at me… Now I’ve got one word to say to you Luke: Nice shoes.

Last week on the live blog we reported that, on National Pothole Day no less, Mark Morrell – better known to all of us as the hi-vis wearing Mr Pothole – revealed that he was calling it a day and stepping back from his 12-year campaign to fix Britain’s battered roads.

Announcing the decision on Good Morning Britain, Morrell cited family reasons for his decision to halt his campaigning efforts, but also expressed his disenchantment with the governmental apathy that greeted his pothole pleas over the years, admitting: “I’ve lost faith completely in any government or political party really wanting to do something”.

And based on a recent council response to road.cc’s very own Tass Whitby, who complained about a particularly hairy, pothole-laden road near Bath, only to be told it didn’t require “immediate attention”, I don’t blame him.

Tass first reported the shockingly bumpy and dangerous Ford Road, just south of Bath, between Wellow and Hinton, to Bath and North East Somerset Council last year – and was told in November that the issues had been “fixed”.

However, while cycling on the road last week, Tass discovered its cratered surface was as bad as ever.

“After reporting this to you last year, I had an email from you saying this had been fixed in November. It clearly hasn’t,” Tass wrote in her latest complaint to the council.

“Can you claim back any payment you made to the contractor who said it had been fixed? Or send them back to do it properly… If I damage my car, or fall off my bike because of this, how will that reflect on the council?”

And this morning, after what appeared to be a ‘thorough’ investigation – which I imagine did not take place by bike – the local authority got back to Tass with a bafflingly nonchalant response.

“After investigating, we have concluded that your issue does not require immediate attention,” the council said, bizarrely. Are we sure they got the right road?

“However, we have included this issue in our plans for future works. This means that your issue will be resolved during routine works scheduled for the area.”

Ah, perfect. So it’ll be fixed by 2040 then?

The news that hire bike company Beryl is set to pull out of the east Dorset area at the end of February – citing low demand for the scheme in an area where “many people are riding their own bikes” – has been met with glee by some local motorists, who have branded the bikes a “trip hazard” and a “blight on our pavements”.

This morning, Dorset Council confirmed that their partnership with Beryl – an extension of the ongoing, successful hire bike scheme run by Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) Council – will come to an end next month in West Parley, Colehill, Wimborne, and Ferndown, where the construction of a new protected cycle lane has been the subject of hostility in recent months.

According to the council, Beryl’s decision was a purely commercial one, with the service – first started in August 2022 – simply not attracting enough customers to use the electric bikes, and riding their own instead.

> Cyclists want to “control the roads” through lower speed limits, claims driver – who asks: “What right does a cyclist have to tell anyone what to do?” amid call for cycling insurance and number plates

“Dorset Council has been informed by Beryl that they intend to close the east Dorset section of their bike hire service at the end of February,” Jon Andrews, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Place Services, said.

“This is a commercial decision, as the number of people renting bikes isn’t enough to maintain the service without additional funding.

“Evidence suggests that, in this particular area, many people are riding their own bikes and therefore wouldn’t choose to rent one, with around 500 people a day using the new cycleways in favourable conditions.

“We are currently exploring options to keep the service in some form, including looking at whether local businesses are interested in subsidising a similar local scheme. We will also continue to work with Beryl on their well-received Dorchester, Weymouth, and Portland bike-hire scheme.

“Dorset Council remains committed to the development of active travel options in the Ferndown, West Parley, Colehill, and Wimborne area. Sustainable travel remains a top priority for us as we continue to respond to the climate and nature crisis in Dorset.”

Meanwhile, councillor Ray Bryan, who was the local authority’s highways and climate portfolio holder when the bikes were introduced, said he was disappointed by Beryl’s decision, especially in the wake of the council’s recent investment in protected cycling infrastructure.

> “Not everyone has the option to drive”: Council addresses backlash over controversial cycle lane projects, including row over ‘driveway-blocking wands’ and ‘Britain’s biggest bike lane’

But while councillors have expressed their disappointment with Beryl’s withdrawal of its 43 parking bays from east Dorset, it’s clear that more than a few local motorists are delighted.

“On the bright side, less to trip over as they won’t continue to be dumped on the pavements and roads, so less of a hazard to the visually impaired,” Ian, a member of the BCP and Dorset Motorists Facebook group, said in response to today’s news.

“It does though beg the question of whether there is sufficient demand to justify new cycle infrastructure already completed and under construction? It may also call into question the viability of any future 15-minute-cities.”

“Looks like maybe fewer Beryl bikes to blight our pavements as potential trip hazards,” added Alison.

> Lime hire scheme under fire as residents claim e-bikes “deliberately” left in “dangerous places”

“Good! Sick and tired of sights like these all over the county. E-scooters next please!” said Colin, alongside a photo of some Beryl bikes tipped on their sides on a pavement.

> Controversial cycle lane wands go viral as furious residents lash out at “blocked” driveways, but local cyclist suggests outrage “overblown” and bike lane bollards only necessary because drivers park in it

“I have long wondered how all those parked bikes ever make any money to pay, they must have been heavily subsidised,” wrote Steven.

“Rarely seen any in use in Poole. People are using their own cycles? There has been minimal visible response to Active Travel, they just won’t admit it!”

“LEGAL FLY TIPPING,” added Nick. “We’ve had one in our road, dumped for nearly two weeks. When we’re cycling in the dark, they are a huge hazard when dumped and on their side across the cycle paths.”

“To be fair, it just confirms what most people know – the cycling fad is dying out and that millions of pounds have been wasted on the unused cycle lanes,” one Daily Echo reader said on the site’s comments page. “Hopefully BCP will also lose their Beryl bikes and scooters.”

> Cycling campaigners paint fake “free parking” signs on pavement to protest against “anti-social” illegal parking in Dublin… but drivers continue to park over painted signs

However, the jubilant motoring response has been criticised by cyclists in the area, who claim that the ‘blocking the pavement’ argument is seldom used when it comes to parked cars.

“Oh my word – the irony that Beryl bikes are a ‘blight on pavements’ but no doubt parked cars are perfectly acceptable,” said Andy on the local active travel page.

“Someone post a few pics of the thousands of cars blocking every road and street,” added Andrew.

“No need: they’re everywhere you look, particularly right in front of you,” replied Philippa. “We need the cycle lane network completed to pass them more safely.”

Nevertheless, Ross duly obliged, posting the following photo with the caption: “Bloody Beryl Bikes”:

“Such a shame that Beryl are pulling out of East Dorset (essentially Ferndown, Wimborne, and Colehill). Their BCP operation is working well but they say there is just not enough use in East Dorset to make it viable,” said Lucie.

“I just wish Beryl would also put bike stands where their bike are so that they stay upright in all weathers” added Sue.

I wonder if that would appease the anti-hire bike brigade? I wouldn’t hold my breath, to be honest…