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LTN filter vandalised within 24 hours of installation; Fabio Jakobsen back on the bike; Tribunal told Shane Sutton ‘found empty EPO phial in car’; Don't stop be-leaf-ing; Pro cyclist uses headphones to rescue dog + more on the live blog

Tuesday's live blog with Dan Alexander...
Tue, Nov 24, 2020 09:07
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LTN filter vandalised within 24 hours of installation; Fabio Jakobsen back on the bike; Tribunal told Shane Sutton ‘found empty EPO phial in car’; Don't stop be-leaf-ing; Pro cyclist uses headphones to rescue dog + more on the live blogHackney LTN vandalised (Twitter)
24 November 2020, 17:15
24 November 2020, 17:06
Hackney LTN vandalised within 24 hours of installation

On the same day that analysis from Transport for London in the borough of Hackney found that LTNs had not increased increased traffic levels on five nearby A and B-roads, this newly installed filter has been vandalised. Not even 24 hours had passed by the time it was graffitied with red paint covering the signs banning motor traffic. 

Councillor Jon Burke was furious with the vandalism: "In the 24 hours since this new filter was delivered, anti-LTN fanatics who absolutely cannot accept sharing the roads with all those who both use and pay for them, have stolen the bollard, defaced the signs, and snapped the trees. Degenerates, plain and simple."

It's not the first time LTNs have been vandalised in the capital. In August, oil was poured on the road and planters graffitied in Ealing.

24 November 2020, 16:36
Have YOUR say on changes to cycling in Richmond Park

The third and final public consultation on The Royal Parks' Movement Strategy is open for suggestions. After shutting during the first lockdown, the park reopened to rat running drivers in August with many parts now too dangerous and congested for cyclists. In the same month the park reopened to motorists, Met Police's Cycle Safety Team were forced to release a statement condoning "outrageous behaviour towards cyclists including assaults and a young girl being injured in the park."

You can respond to the consultation and give your thoughts and suggestions here...

24 November 2020, 16:01
The UK's first gravel and cyclocross team
CX Syndicate

CX Syndicate is a newly registered Cyclocross, Gravel and MTB team operating out of Peak District. Due to restrictions placed on travel, and a heavily reduced calendar, CX Syndicate will be targeting races close to home this winter, however, plans are in place to expand as a UCI Team in 2021. The team's four-rider roster is headlined by former British national champions Ian Field and Beth Crumpton as well as some younger talent. Their kit's pretty cool too...

CX Syndicate

 

24 November 2020, 15:23
Fabio Jakobsen back on the bike for the first time since Tour of Poland horror crash

Fabio Jakobsen is back! Four months on from his terrible crash at the Tour of Poland, the Deceuninck-Quick Step sprinter is back on the bike for the first time. Jakobsen was put into a medically-induced coma following the crash on the opening stage of the race and required five hours of reconstructive surgery to his facial injuries, but things are starting to look more positive for the 24-year-old. 

Unsurprisingly there's been no shortage of well-wishers pleased to see him back on his bike...

24 November 2020, 14:41
24 November 2020, 13:59
Tribunal told Shane Sutton 'found empty EPO phial in car'
Shane Sutton, March 2016 (picture credit Alex Whitehead, SWPix.com)

Former British Cycling Technical Director Shane Sutton found an empty phial of banned drug EPO in a team car at a race, the Dr Richard Freeman medical tribunal heard yesterday. The Times report that Tony Cooke, father of former Olympic road race champion Nicole Cooke, told the tribunal that the incident happened during the Five Valleys Road Race while Sutton was the national coach for Wales. This was before his involvement with British Cycling or Team Sky and Cooke explained that Sutton was "very angry" on discovering the phial.

Simon Jackson QC asked: "Your informant said Mr Sutton was very angry about this being left in the car in which he was travelling? He thought it had been left there deliberately by a rider?" 

Cooke confirmed this before explaining that his own interpretation at the time was that Sutton was innocent. Jackson also asked if Cooke felt uncomfrotable that the coach was able to recognise an EPO phial.

Cooke said: "Mr Sutton was obviously able to recognise it, according to the account given to me."

Last week the tribunal heard that Sutton had raised concerns to the Team Sky hierachy about Chris Froome's relationship with Bobby Julich in 2012.

24 November 2020, 12:36
Miguel Ángel López signs for Movistar

Miguel Ángel López has left Astana and will ride for Movistar in 2021. The Colombian won Stage 17 of the Tour de France on the summit finish at Col de la Loze and finished the Tour sixth overall, 40 seconds behind Movistar leader Enric Mas. López has twice finished on the podium at Grand Tours coming third at the Giro d'Italia and La Vuelta a España in 2018 and will bolster Movistar's GC options with Alejandro Valverde approaching retirement. 

24 November 2020, 11:51
Don't stop be-leaf-ing

Autumn bike ride

We think this video is from America based on the comments on Reddit, but wherever it is we want to visit. Who knew leaves could be so fun? Riding through this looks much more enjoyable than negotiating the slippy, muddy ones that turn your local climb into an ice rink at this time of year.

Admittedly, regular users of the Stretford Road cycle land in Manchester may be wondering what all the fuss is about....

Leaves
24 November 2020, 13:35
Londoners can now use Santander Cycles from just a quid a week thanks to new Cyclescheme partnership
santander cycles pr pic 2 - june 2020

In a first for Cyclescheme, the UK's biggest provider of bikes under the Cycle to Work initiative, an annual Santander Cycles membership can now be purchased with discounts of between 32-42% depending on which tax bracket you fall in. The annual membership, which gives users unlimited access to Santander Cycles, usually costs £90 per year. With no bike-fixing overheads and rides available in hundreds of locations, Cyclescheme says the reduced rate makes the Santander Cycles annual membership one of the least expensive ways to get around the capital. 

Adrian Warren, Director at Cyclescheme and Chair of the Cycle to Work Alliance, commented: “As the leading provider of cycle to work schemes, Cyclescheme is extremely excited to partner with TfL to bring this innovative cycling benefit to employees across London.

"We believe our forward-thinking approach coupled with these incredible savings demonstrate our dedication to making cycling more accessible. Cycling is becoming more prevalent in London, but many people struggle to afford a bike or to find space to store one.

"With over 22,000 employers already signed up, this new initiative will break down those barriers and help more Londoners get on their bikes.”

24 November 2020, 11:12
Thousands of cyclists take to the streets of Dubai

24 November 2020, 11:33
24 November 2020, 10:33
Remco Evenepoel's back training and 'impatient' to make Grand Tour debut
Remco Evenepoel (screenshot from YouTube)

Deceuninck-Quick Step's Remco Evenepoel has said he's hoping to start his 2021 season "as soon as possible" and that he's "impatient" to race a Grand Tour. Evenepoel has not raced since crashing out of Il Lombardia in August where he suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured pelvis. 

However, the Belgian wonderkid is confident he'll be back to his frightening best in 2021. He told Sporza: "It’s going better than we could have hoped. At first I only expected to be able to pedal by now, but I’ve already been on the bike for a month. Things came back quickly here in Spain. I’m no slower or different than before."

The 20-year-old rode 763km in his first week back on the bike, racking up 26 hours around Calpe, a popular winter training destination for the pros. Evenepoel also explained how his time off the bike has allowed him to slim down and he's now five kilograms lighter than at his last race.

He said: "I only weigh 59 to 60kg now, so I can hardly compare my wattages and values with last year, but if you weigh less, you have to push fewer watts to go as fast as you can. The muscle mass I lost in the beginning is back, but the baby fat is completely gone. When I look at my upper body, I am skin and bones.

“I always paid attention to my diet. I knew that every kilogram I gained was one kilogram too many to reach the top again. It's certainly not that I have anorexia, but it's my new lifestyle. I recognised even more the importance of a healthy diet."

In 2021 Evenepoel will likely return to racing in February at Vuelta a Valenciana before moving on to bigger targets later in the year with his Grand Tour debut on the cards.

"It doesn’t matter which one, but I want to race one. I want to start my racing season as soon as possible, so it’s likely the Vuelta a Valenciana could be my first race. The Olympic Games are on my schedule. More than anything, I want to race a Grand Tour."

24 November 2020, 10:14
Near Miss of the Day 501 update
Near Miss of the Day 501 screenshot

Saturday's Near Miss of the Day was a bad one. Secret_squirrel, a cyclist from Oxfordshire, sent us the video of a builder's merchant HGV cutting a corner at a junction and almost flattening him in the process. The driver continued, forcing him out the way and left without giving his contact details. Today we've been told the driver has been suspended by his firm, pending further investigation. 

24 November 2020, 09:40
How has nobody thought of this before?

This is one for our Christmas gifts for cyclists: presents for less than £50 next year. There were plenty of other amusing replies to Owain Doull's canine rescue mission...

24 November 2020, 09:18
Edinburgh cyclist halts traffic to make a point about parked car
Edinburgh cyclist makes a point (video screenshot)

This Edinburgh cyclist wanted to make a point about a driver who'd parked his car on zigzags and was prepared to wait. Standing in the road and forcing traffic to use the other lane to pass he waited for the driver to return. Edinburgh Evening News say the cyclist waited in the road for at least five minutes and that police passed four times during this time.

Traffic backed up along Holyrood Road and motorists blared their horns until eventually the driver returned to his car where he and the cyclist exchanged words. One witness said: "I’ve never seen anybody do anything like this before. We were a bit astonished to see the stand that the cyclist was taking by sitting in the middle of the road. This cyclist just stopped in the middle of the street. He just pulled up. He was making a point."

Edinburgh cyclist makes a point (video screenshot)

 

24 November 2020, 08:51
Owain Doull reunites lost dog with his owner

INEOS Grenadiers' Owain Doull was out training when he found Bolt, who had escaped from a nearby farm. Using his headphones as a makeshift lead the Welshman was able to trot the dog back to his relieved owners. In the video his Garmin shows Doull still pushing more than 200 watts with the help of his new friend. Luckily for Bolt, Doull didn't have any efforts to do... 

Dan Alexander

Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Dan has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too.

Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously, when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace, or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family. Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way, he's a bit strange like that.

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31 comments

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Boopop replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
2 likes

Definitely think he got off too lightly there. Wouldn't suggest jail time or anything but maybe a bigger fine or a 4 hours of community service or something like that. If you're riding along a tight pavement like that you should be ready for anyone to step out of a property...that rider was not.

If I got fined £30 for doing that in his situation, given how unlikely it is to happen again I'd probably keep doing it. Unless £30 is a huge expense for this guy I guess.

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