Rishi Sunak’s police escort now involves bicycle-riding officers pushing people out the road; Remco Evenepoel uploads Liège-Bastogne-Liège win to Strava; Alex Dowsett completes London Marathon to ease into retirement + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Weekend round-up: Mathieu Lam der Poel; Questionable road safety messaging; Demi's delightful Ardennes triple; Remco reigns + loads more
If like me you’re emerging from a slightly groggy wedding weekend (not mine) and the past two days flashed by without giving you a second to even think about cycling, here’s what you might have missed…
> Road safety group draws ire after advising cyclists to “stop and allow drivers to overtake”
There was also the news that not everyone in the Netherlands pootles to the shops on their city bike…
> From cobbles to asphalt? Van der Poel becomes Lamborghini ambassador (and gets one himself)
There was racing drama…
> Tadej Pogačar forced to abandon Liège-Bastogne-Liège after early crash, suffers fractures
Oh, I almost forgot the bikes…
> REVIEW: Pearson Minegoestoeleven
> Bike at Bedtime: Check out this loud and limited Vielo x WTB collaboration V+1 gravel bike
Specialized Allez Sprint vs Trek Emonda ALR — which aluminium race bike will win this epic showdown?
Dirty Reiver lives up to its name... leaves Chris Boardman's poor bike filthy
Where do you start cleaning this….#dirtyriever #boardmanbikes pic.twitter.com/aqVYWoSCvi
— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) April 23, 2023
Or as Jo pointed out how your bike looks after any British ‘gravel’ ride…
How to lose a lot of money in not a lot of time
Go full screen for this one due to the way Facebook vids embed…
When cyclists swap cleats for running shoes: Wout van Aert, Pidcock's pacy 5km, Yates, Dumoulin...
Alex isn’t the only pro cyclist to dabble in the running world, back in the autumn of 2021 Adam Yates smashed the Barcelona Marathon, going sub-three, completing the event in 2:58:44.
Then there was, of course, the great 5km controversy of February 2021, Tom Pidcock posting a run on Strava suggesting he’d casually gone five seconds slower than the British record for the distance… on the backstreets of Leeds…
> “Maybe he forgot to get off his bike”: Tom Pidcock challenged over 13:25 5km run claim
It seemed to rattle the entire running community and Pidcock later admitted there had probably just been some dodgy GPS. How quick the rising star of British cycling is will have to wait, but he has promised to give the 5km time a proper crack at some point.
Shortly after Yates’ marathon escapades, Tom Dumoulin then raised the bar once again, finishing second at the Groene Loper Run, setting an incredibly impressive 10km time of 32:38, just 17 seconds off the winning time.
If Adam Yates running the Barcelona Marathon in 2:58:06 wasn’t amazing enough, Tom Dumoulin did a 32:38 10K #procycling https://t.co/Cy2zZKEcPh
— Stephen Royle @clathrin@mastodon.social (@clathrin) November 14, 2021
Even as recently as this morning one of the peloton’s biggest names swapped the saddle for trainers…
We can always rely on triathletes for aero 'innovation' — Joe Skipper's backwards bottle
Here’s British Ironman athlete Joe Skipper’s unique bottle placement, and also something up his shirt… which are apparently both in the name of aero gains.
Seems like an easy way to drip sticky sports drink on your legs and frame, but what do I know? I guess if he got back-bendingly aero he could drink from his TT position, might not be able to see where he’s going, mind, but still…
You can read all about Skipper’s off-season antics here, and we might just be delving deeper into the story behind Skipper’s position and equipment choices for Ironman Texas soon.
👀
More on this soon, but Suvi was out riding Dirty Reiver this weekend and spotted this eye-catching Boardman…
Stay tuned for more shortly…
The coolest bikes from the Cycle Show 2023: Cannondale, Bianchi, Wilier, BMC, Enigma, Reilly, Cinelli & more
"Shit happens": Tadej Pogačar confirms he broke his wrist in "crazy" Liège–Bastogne–Liège crash, "lucky" to escape worse
Tadej Pogačar took to Instagram to update the world on his injuries a day on from the fall that ended his Liège–Bastogne–Liège and robbed us of the Remco Evenepoel showdown we all craved. The Slovenian appears upbeat despite the broken wrist and was not drawn on speculating about whether it will impact his hopes to reclaim the Tour de France yellow jersey from last year’s winner Jonas Vingegaard this July.
“Shit happens,” he wrote. “I am lucky it just broken wrist, considering crazy crash that happened. I really wish the best recovery to Mikkel Honoré who went down way harder than me.
“It’s hard to describe how happy I am, to receive such a support and help from all the fans, family, friends, UAE Team Emirates and especially hospital staff. I am truly amazed and so grateful for that. I hope to see you all really soon. Congrats to Remco Evenepoel for the victory, our battle will wait until next time.”
"I miss my team bus and masseur": Alex Dowsett completes London Marathon to ease into retirement
While most people take up a hobby, spend more time with the people they love, perhaps see more of the world and generally chilling out, retirement for a pro cyclist seems to involve finding new ways to torture yourself. In Alex Dowsett’s case that meant the London Marathon.
The twice Giro d’Italia stage winner completed the 26.2-mile iconic event in a very respectable official time of 03:23:02, admitting he’s “very broken” and it’s “fair to say I’m a better cyclist than I am a runner”. Most importantly, Dowsett and fianceé Chanel raised more than £6,000 for Alex’s Little Bleeders charity and the Haemophilia Society.
Dowsett called the event “phenomenal” and said he was smiling all the way around…
“Enjoyed being not competitive at all more than I thought, enjoyed being one of thousands and getting a finishers medal. Enjoyed my nutrition strategy working out and not hitting any kind of wall. Enjoyed being on the same start line as my fiancée and doing the same ‘race’ (we ran together for 300 metres). Enjoyed being a part of something that showed the best of humanity, and enjoyed racing a dinosaur.
“I am very broken right now, enjoyably broken. Not sure how I feel about another (let alone getting to 151 marathons like a guy we got chatting to) I think I’ll be a bike rider again for a good while.
> Drink At Your Desk Live! With special guest Alex Dowsett
“My body doesn’t like me at the moment, had to have a good hard conversation with an ankle two thirds through. I think I’ll be a cyclist again for a while. Lastly, I miss my team bus and masseur.”
Remco Evenepoel uploads Liège-Bastogne-Liège win to Strava
Roll up, roll up, obligatory Monday gawping at Monument winner’s Strava activity…
And while Remco’s pretty keen to keep those power numbers secret (like almost all the top riders, in fairness) the world champion’s upload does at least give us mortals a glimpse at what it would be like to win one of the hardest one-day races in the sport.
Climbing 4,471m in 256.76km, Remco averaged 41.3km/h and hit a top speed of a whisker under 90km/h, his max speed for a full kilometre 82.7km/h, for five kilometres 71.9km/h and ten kilometres 59.6km/h.
On the climbs, Evenepoel went 13 seconds slower up Roche aux Faucons than last year and 25 seconds slower than Tadej Pogačar’s KOM from the 2020 edition. He did however go faster on Thier des Forges — setting the sixth fastest time — took various hilly KOMs in the miles immediately after his race-winning attack and matched his 4:12 personal best up the Redoute from last year.
The world champ’s 22km/h average pace up the infamous Liège climb remain the fastest Strava times set by a rider in the race. By the finish, Remco could relax and enjoy his victory, rolling across the segment dedicated to the race’s sprint finish well slower than the times of those riders who still had something to push for at that point in their respective editions. One such time, Demi Vollering’s 2021 sprint to the first of her now two Liège titles still the joint fifth fastest time.
No word on this year’s, however, Vollering is yet to upload her race-winning ride. Shocking, I know… it’s almost like professional cyclists have better things to be doing…
Rishi Sunak's police escort now involves bicycle-riding officers pushing people out the road
Those pesky cyclists riding through London five-abreast…
🚨 | NEW: Rishi Sunak’s police escort now consists of actual officers running beside his car… as well as pedal bikes pic.twitter.com/5TrNo2HXyt
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) April 24, 2023
The whole thing’s a bit bizarre — from the commentary you probably wished you’d muted to the waves of hi-vis pedallers right the way through to the one copper at the back who said sod it to the rush and took a stroll at a more leisurely pace.
Thankfully we weren’t the only ones left more confused after watching than before we’d started, the replies to the tweet above awash with pictures of North Korean bodyguards in suits running in perfect harmony around Kim Jong Un’s car.
North Korean vibes pic.twitter.com/P637h8S53d
— Mike (@Mikefp_) April 24, 2023
24 April 2023, 08:12
24 April 2023, 08:12
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Latest Comments
In my view this is an excellent, refreshing argument from the motorist. He is clearly onto something. I watched the IOM TT highlights recently and at no time did I see any of the competitors texting or trying to appease children pillion passengers. Michael Dunlop did nearly lose it with a back wheel skid when he was running late for a haircut, but that was an isolated incident. All speed limits need to be removed. The higher speeds will improve drivers' focus and encourage them to drive on muscle memory and reflex action.
@tomlew we can discuss both things, I don't see them as mutually exclusive. On the topic of comparison - have a look at the KOM / QOM times on the Mur du Huy ... Demi Vollering's winning time in 2026 is exactly the same as Tadej Pogacar's winning time in 2023. Women are closer than you might think. Let's see how it goes for Lael Wilcox ... she has a chance to set the outright record for riding around the world. On differences, I for sure enjoyed watching the Women's Giro this year and got a chance to see 1 stage. The more open access to the racers is quite surprising and gives extra appreciation for how they interact post finish line.
@tomlew Women's sport should of course remain protected. Hear hear. That women can excel at ultra-endurance, where short-term aerobic capacity becomes less and less important and mental strength/endurance becomes a major factor, obviously does NOT mean that we can set aside protection in other sports where aerobic capacity, strength, reaction time, or whatever, are the major factors - where women are at (varying) disadvantages to men. They're all amazing athletes at these high levels too, of course.
And to reinforce that, the previous record holder appears to have set it at the back end of a successful effort to set a new record for the greatest distance covered in a month - likely she would also have managed significantly further if she'd come to a specific effort fresh.
The 'alongside men' comment was in reference to the overall effort, which was better than any men has managed. The seven day result was in the context of an overall effort of nearly twice the length. If she'd focused specifically on the seven day record she'd almost certainly have gone further. The fact that it set a new women's record anyway likely just shows that few women have yet targeted it.
Do they also have a garage in which they don't keep their car(s)? It would be in keeping...
As far as I know, the men's 7-day record is 3,826.47 km. I am absolutely astonished by both the result and the manner in which the previous record was broken. However, it still demonstrates that women are far behind men in terms of absolute numbers. 15% is far to big a difference to call it "alongside men". Just to be clear: this takes nothing away from Sarah's spectacular achievement. If anything, it reinforces the argument that women's sport should remain a protected category. And that's perfectly fair and fine. Rather than trying to prove that "we can complete alongside each other," which still seems far from true, why not celebrate our differences and diversity?
There's a waiting list for the cycle storage units in my street. Why my neighbours bagged places in them makes no sense, given that they have a cellar with nothing in it.
Data from London shows a drop in crashes since the 20mph speed limits were introduced. There is a certain type of driver that shouldn't be behind the wheel no matter the speed limit though.
She's simply magnificent!
27 thoughts on “Rishi Sunak’s police escort now involves bicycle-riding officers pushing people out the road; Remco Evenepoel uploads Liège-Bastogne-Liège win to Strava; Alex Dowsett completes London Marathon to ease into retirement + more on the live blog”
Chapeau to Alex Dowsett..
Chapeau to Alex Dowsett.. that seems like a very fast time for a first time marathon runner.. and I wholly sympathise with how much that must have hurt. Good to see his engine being put to good use..I wonder what edurance feat he’ll do next?
If I’m honest, I’m surprised
If I’m honest, I’m surprised he wasn’t faster. I ran faster than that in my first marathon, and I don’t have half the engine he does.
AidanR wrote:
So did I, but I was a better runner than cyclist.
Could cycling feature on the
Could cycling feature on the BBC ?
“This would make a great BBC One ident.” !
(Quick snip)
Does this symbolise much UK
Does this symbolise much UK transport cycling design? A few people on a tiny, wacky over-designed space, very slowly going round in circles and not getting anywhere.
I’d rather they had something more like this one. Perhaps the Fendon Road one in Cambridge gets busy enough these days?
No, because it would not fit
No, because it would not fit with the BBC anti cycling rhetoric. There is no conflict with cars and nobody is wearing Lycra.
Just …what
Just …what
RantyHighwayman retweeted
“We did better at some stage. What changed to stop using these”
Hirsute wrote:
Everyone bought SUVs, “rugged” vehicles which can’t drive over anything like that without spilling the driver’s coffee. I know, because I regularly see them driven around speed bumps in parking lots.
A new dropped kerb was put in
A new dropped kerb was put in near where I live, for the new owners of a house to drive their oversized pickup onto their newly tarmacced front garden.
It’s all very neat and smooth, with that particularly black blackness of newly laid tarmac.
Personally, I’m wondering what will happen when someone realises that their new ever-so-neat tarmacced slope covers one of those rectangular telecomms mini-manholes…
Really makes me sad to see
Really makes me sad to see people replace nice front gardens to accommodate their fleet of, usually predictable, vehicles.
Pick-up – check; SUV – check; Sporty transit/transporter – check; Tesla- check.
Reminded me about a motorist
Reminded me about a motorist last Friday who moved further out in to the middle of the road to avoid a speed bump than he did to pass me. Made me chuckle.
I mean, that’s clearly some
I mean, that’s clearly some sort of pump track for the kiddies to practice their skills on the way to school. Not the kind of cycling infrastructure you generally expect to see, but hats off for innovation I say.
If they could install a few berms and the odd table-top (though those floating bus stops come close) along CS7 it’d liven up the commute somewhat.
Hirsute wrote:
wHy dONt CYcLisTs USe tHE blOody CYcLe LaNES??
Tadej Pogačar seems like a
Tadej Pogačar seems like a good bloke he seems to always have a good outlook on life.
I saw some interview with him the other day and he was like ‘I’m just making the best of what I’ve got right now, I know it won’t last, so I’m enjoying it’.. he’s ticking all the right boxes to be a top human!
Erm – is that footage of
Erm – is that footage of Sunak’s entourage genuine?
brooksby wrote:
I’d like to know the answer to this also. WTAF was that all about?
I’ve just come back from the
I’ve just come back from the Lakes through Lancaster. On the Cockerham road there’s a painted cycle lane which was occupied nose to tail by 15 parked cars
Is that Rishi doing the
Is that Rishi doing the london marathon?
Hot Futz
Hot Futz
“You’re not Prime Minister,
“You’re not Prime Minister, we didn’t vote for you” ?
He made a great point until
He made a great point until he claimed “we” had voted for Liz.
What on earth was that Rish!
What on earth was that Rish! Run all about? That was some deluded dictator dash. A whole Falange of Cops running beside a few blackened windowed SUVs. Those poor minions in their stab vests, hi viz, belts, buckles and gear weighing 30 plus kgs jogging along perspiring. Nice to see the cycles but even so. And then the brexitty / conspiracy commentary. OMG.
Just weird.
Just weird.
I’ve ridden alongside the now
I’ve ridden alongside the now Prince of Wales’ car in Kensington and had no idea it was him until I happened to glance into the passenger-side window; why on earth can’t the Prime Minister simply ride in that Range Rover with the blacked out windows, nobody would know it was him then. This sort of absurdly ostentatious parade surely just marks out the target for any potential protesters or terrorists? One can’t help being reminded of the Peter Cook sketch of Greta Garbo being driven around in an open top Rolls-Royce shouting “I want to be alone, don’t recognise me!” through a megaphone.
A far cry from the days of Clement Atlee (forgive me but I love this anecdote): he used to go home to his house in Essex at the weekends and take his place on the train platform on Monday morning just like any other commuter; he used to ask his two detective bodyguards to stand away from him so as not to draw any attention to himself. One day a woman approached him on the platform and said, “Do you know, you look just like the prime minister.” Atlee replied, “Do you know, a lot of people say that, I can’t see it myself.”
AFAIK, the whole “stop the
AFAIK, the whole “stop the traffic” motorcade thing in London started with Tony Blair, even John Major used to walk the 15 minutes from Downing St to the House of Commons.
Rendel Harris wrote:
Didn’t South Park do that recently too, with the Sussexes on a World Tour to tell people to leave them alone and give them privacy?
It wasn’t the sussexes, it
It wasn’t the sussexes, it was a completely made up, fictional couple who just by chance had a lot of similarities with the sussexes.