Lance Armstrong says he is “all too familiar” with being cancelled as he enters trans athletes row; “Just not good enough”: Buses, motorbikes, and parked cars spotted on British nationals course; Is HGV advice “victim blaming”? + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
“Just not good enough for modern cycling”: Bus drivers, motorbike riders, and parked cars spotted on course during British nationals finale
It turns out that Fred Wright didn’t just have to dispatch James Knox and Stevie Williams on his way to an emotional British national road race title yesterday – he also had to dodge oncoming bus drivers and motorbike riders, as well as a few parked cars, during a frantic, soaking wet finale in Saltburn-by-the-Sea.
‘Not in service’ – apart from during the race, by the looks of things…
The questionable safety conditions for British Cycling’s blue riband event come just two weeks after the Tour Féminin des Pyrénées was called off with one stage remaining following protests from a peloton concerned for its safety after motorists were seen driving on the course, metres away from the riders at times, and parked cars and trucks littered the final kilometres while spectators wandered onto the roads.
The similar scenes at yesterday’s nationals were condemned by two-time British national road race champion Brian Smith, who tweeted photos of some of the incidents as Wright, Williams, and Knox made their way to the finish.
We still have room for improvement in the UK @BritishCycling
Just not good enough for modern cycling!#SafetyFirst pic.twitter.com/6bIOMtMlE3
— Brian Smith 𝕆𝕃𝕐 (@BriSmithy) June 25, 2023
“We still have room for improvement in the UK. Just not good enough for modern cycling!” the commentator wrote.
“It does look like British Cycling don’t have the influence to make sure we have a 100 percent safe course for all.”
Others were as equally unimpressed:
Thankfully near the end. Would have been a different outcome a lap or so in.
— Valley Striders CC (@StridersCC) June 26, 2023
There were countless other examples too. So small time.
— Nick (@BigNGandBertie) June 25, 2023
I did wonder when I saw the bus. I understand it can’t be a fully sterile course, but these don’t leave a lot of margin for error…
— @andypreston (@cockwomble12) June 25, 2023
Average day out on the bike in the UK really 😔
— Paul Thompson (@ChefPaul41) June 25, 2023
Perhaps that’s what the organisers were after – the authentic British bike riding experience?
Five days to go...
OMG THE ACTUAL TOUR DE FRANCE STARTS THIS WEEK 🤯🤩🇳🇱💥💛 #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/DNwfky3VvD
— Katy M (@writebikerepeat) June 26, 2023
Is there something happening this Saturday?
London Cycling Campaign accused of “victim blaming” over HGV ‘red zone’ advice
On the same weekend we reported that a lorry driver in Oxford denied causing the death of a cyclist who was killed while riding in a bus lane last year, the London Cycling Campaign divided cyclists on Twitter by issuing advice on how to stay safe while riding near HGVs.
Lorries account for half of London’s cycling deaths despite being less than 5% of motor traffic mileage.
Until we’ve fixed the system here’s your one critical summer safety message. Do. Not. Cycle. In. The. Red. Zone. https://t.co/HomT7siRMS pic.twitter.com/JcN1TL7sCH
— London Cycling Campaign (@London_Cycling) June 25, 2023
“Lorries account for half of London’s cycling deaths despite being less than 5 percent of motor traffic mileage,” the campaign group tweeted.
“Until we’ve fixed the system here’s your one critical summer safety message. Do. Not. Cycle. In. The. Red. Zone.”
On their website, the London Cycling Campaign expanded on this advice, warning that “most serious crashes happen at junctions when a lorry is turning left and the driver has not spotted the cyclist stopped at the lights or on the inside.
“So beware of cycling into the lorry risk zone shown in the picture, especially at junctions. If a lorry driver passes you and puts you in the lorry risk zone, brake sharply to drop behind.”
Totally agree. I see quite a few cyclists do this on my morning commute and when I hang back, some behind me get v frustrated and want to get through. It’s just not worth it.
— Charlotte Baker (@charlie_baker23) June 25, 2023
The advice was praised by many cyclists on Twitter, with Gemma Champ describing the red zone warning as “one of the most important life-saving things you need to know as a cyclist”.
“If you’ve ever sat in an artic cab and seen the blind spot, you’ll never cycle down the side again,” she said.
“This is why we don’t like useless strips of paint, advance stop boxes, and bus lanes as substitutes for protected cycle tracks and junctions,” added the Newham branch of the London Cycling Campaign. “There are too many designs being built today by Transport for London that funnel those cycling into the most danger at junctions. These need to stop.”
The only problem with this tweet is it ignores the fact that as often as not, drivers place the vulnerable in their ‘red zone’.
— Tofu Mikey (@MikeWat3232) June 26, 2023
However, some argued that the onus should be placed on the lorry driver to avoid placing vulnerable road users in danger.
“Unfortunately lorries don’t beam red zones onto the road surface and there’s nothing you can do if the driver – who *should* know what the zone is – decides to get close and place you there,” one said.
Others, meanwhile, claimed that the advice amounted to “victim blaming” on the part of the London Cycling Campaign.
While such vehicles present danger to *all* vulnerable road users it seems disingenuous to single out cyclist behaviour for special moaning.
These lorries should not be on our roads at all.https://t.co/N40paV4Zg2— EricEatsPickles 🚲 (@EricEatsPickles) June 25, 2023
“It would help greatly if lorry drivers stopped putting cyclists in the red zone when they overtake, because you know the cyclist doesn’t just miraculously disappear when the lorry starts to overtake,” wrote Steve.
“Rather sounds like you’re pumping the blame onto cyclists,” wrote Barry. “How can I not cycle in the “red zone” if the truck comes up behind me?”
Lorries kill far too many cyclists on our roads.
What should @London_Cycling do about it…… I know let’s blame the cyclists.— CuriousDuck (@Wil_bike) June 25, 2023
Quite a few replies accusing LCC of victim blaming and to them I’d say:
Don’t pick a fight with an HGV.
There’s no use being right if you’re dead. https://t.co/S08DtZCdaj— Michael Polom (@pmmikes) June 26, 2023
What do you reckon? Was the LCC’s tweet offering some “common sense” advice or did it strays dangerously close to “victim blaming”?
Speaking of responsibility on the roads…
“Cyclists should take responsibility for their own safety!”
“OK then”
[- takes primary position
– runs helmet camera
– reports dangerous drivers
– demands separated cycling infra]“No not like that”
— Stuart Helmer (@stuarthelmer) June 26, 2023
Tour de France team news bonanza! Egan Bernal returns to Tour for Ineos, as Jumbo-Visma announce strong team in support of Jonas Vingegaard
With the Grand Départ set to take place in Bilbao in five days, it’s been a busy morning for Tour de France team announcements, with Ineos, Jumbo-Visma, Movistar, UAE Team Emirates, and Lidl-Trek all revealing their eight-man teams set to take on La Grande Boucle, with AG2R and Alpecin-Deceuninck’s press released scheduled for later today.
(Note to self: We should start calling it ‘Yellow Monday’. That could catch on…)
🗣️ “We’ve selected an exciting group of riders that bring a mix of skills and experience. The strength of this team will lie in the way we take on the race, and how we approach each stage.”
Get the pre-#TDF2023 thoughts of Rod Ellingworth and our riders: https://t.co/rDcuyi51xN pic.twitter.com/9cXBYFAjMo
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) June 26, 2023
The headline news is 2019 winner Egan Bernal’s return to the Tour for the first time since 2020, in what will also be the Colombian’s first grand tour since his horrific training crash last year.
The 26-year-old will be joined in the Basque Country by Ineos Grenadiers teammates Tom Pidcock, hoping to build on his Alpe d’Huez triumph last year, Tour debutantes Ben Turner and Carlos Rodriguez, and experienced heads Jonathan Castroviejo, Omar Fraile, Michal Kwiatkowski, and Dani Martinez, who will be aiming for a decent GC position.
Although let’s hope they’re not taking directions to the start from Ineos’ PR team, otherwise they might end up in Italy judging by the email sent to us…
Oops…
Meanwhile, back at the Tour, as expected Jumbo-Visma announced a strong – albeit Primož Roglič-less – team, with defending champion Jonas Vingegaard set to be supported by last year’s green jersey winner Wout van Aert, Dylan van Baarle, Sepp Kuss, Tiesj Benoot, Christophe Laporte, Nathan Van Hooydonck and Wilco Kelderman.
Ready to ride their dreams. 💭
✨ Jonas Vingegaard
✨ @WoutvanAert
✨ @DylanvanBaarle
✨ @TiesjBenoot
✨ @LAPORTEChristop
✨ @seppkuss
✨ @W1lcokelderman
✨ @NVHooydonckVoice on – the story is told by our riders. 🗣️#rideyourdreams #tdf2023 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/uaaPKbJEYZ
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) June 26, 2023
They just couldn’t resist a fancy video, could they?
Top marks for imagination, however, go to Lidl-Trek, who brilliantly captured the essence of their new sponsorship deal by announcing their teams for the Tour and Giro Donne using a screenshot of a supermarket receipt:
Don’t forget your receipt! 🧾
We’re taking some excellent international produce @LeTour and @giro_donne 🍎 pic.twitter.com/AycdGVQuim
— Lidl-Trek (@TrekSegafredo) June 26, 2023
Brilliant stuff. Mads Pedersen AND Giulio Ciccone for a fiver? Bargain.
Onto the other big contender for the yellow jersey this July, Tadej Pogačar, who will be supported in his quest to reassert his Tour dominance by UAE Team Emirates comrades Mikkel Bjerg, Felix Großschartner, Vegard Stake Laengen, Rafał Majka, Marc Soler, Matteo Trentin, and Adam Yates.
Here we go 🇫🇷! We’re excited to reveal our lineup for @LeTour #TDF2023:
🇩🇰 @mikkelbbjerg
🇦🇹 @gro_felix
🇳🇴 @VSLaengen
🇵🇱 @majkaformal
🇸🇮 @TamauPogi 🏆🏆
🇪🇸 @solermarc93
🇮🇹 @MATTEOTRENTIN
🇬🇧 @AdamYates7 #UAETeamEmirates #WeAreUAE pic.twitter.com/NpTSTNn5Ot— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamEmiratesUAE) June 26, 2023
And last, and probably least, if we’re honest, Movistar announced another decent line up in support of some juicy behind the scenes footage for their doc – I mean, Enric Mas’ yellow jersey bid…
🇫🇷 #TDF2023 | @letour_es
🏡 > 🗼 Bilbao – Paris, 1-23.7🎟️ @EnricMasNicolau
🎟️ @MatteoJorg
🎟️ @Nelsoliveira89
🎟️ @pedrero_antonio
🎟️ @Rguerreiro94
🎟️ @muehlberger_94
🎟️ Gorka Izagirre
🎟️ @aranburualex📙 https://t.co/tpGBucU3ag pic.twitter.com/2gcqlBLWDF
— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) June 26, 2023
Here is this morning’s Tour team news in full, to help you with your Fantasy Cycling picks:
Ineos Grenadiers: Egan Bernal, Jonathan Castroviejo, Omar Fraile, Michal Kwiatkowski, Daniel Martinez, Tom Pidcock, Carlos Rodriguez, Ben Turner
Jumbo-Visma: Jonas Vingegaard, Wout van Aert, Dylan van Baarle, Sepp Kuss, Tiesj Benoot, Christophe Laporte, Nathan Van Hooydonck, Wilco Kelderman
UAE Team Emirates: Tadej Pogačar, Mikkel Bjerg, Felix Großschartner, Vegard Stake Laengen, Rafał Majka, Marc Soler, Matteo Trentin, Adam Yates
Lidl-Trek: Mads Pedersen, Jasper Stuyven, Alex Kirsch, Juan Pedro Lopez, Giulio Ciccone, Tony Gallopin, Quinn Simmons, Mattias Skjelmose
Movistar: Enric Mas, Matteo Jorgenson, Nelson Oliveira, Antonio Pedrero, Ruben Guerreiro, Gregor Mühlberger, Gorka Izagirre, Alex Aranburu
Sir Jim missed a trick there…
To celebrate 25 years of @INEOS, we called on the INEOS sporting family to help announce our exciting #TDF2023 lineup 🤝
Meet our team 💛 pic.twitter.com/PNvzCSzt74
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) June 26, 2023
Now that would have been some way to announce that Ineos had finally completed their takeover of Manchester United, by roping Marcus Rashford in to announce Ben Turner’s place in their Tour squad… Those pesky Glazers, ruining the fun again.
Berlin cyclists block road in protest against city’s “scandalous” decision to suspend cycling infrastructure projects to protect car parking spaces
Demo on Schönhauser Allee this morn to protest the CDU-led city government’s decision to halt all cycling infrastructure projects lest they upset motorists. Traffic backed up for miles behind this. 🚲 pic.twitter.com/xVsWKWCLlk
— Ciarán Fahey (@ciar_nfahey) June 26, 2023
Now that’s a protest.
This morning’s two-wheeled demo on Berlin’s Schönhauser Allee, which according to a local reporter backed up traffic “for miles”, was held in response to the news, reported on the blog earlier this month, that the city’s Senate was pausing all cycling infrastructure schemes – in order to protect car parking spaces.
“All projects that endanger even one car parking space or result in the loss of one or more lanes are to be temporarily suspended,” an email sent to a local borough by the CDU and SPD-controlled Senate read.
That stance backed up the comments made in April by newly installed Senator for Transport Dr Manja Schreiner, who claimed “it does not always make sense to deprive motor vehicles of lanes in order to transform them into cycling facilities across the entire width”.
The decision to scrap cycling schemes in Berlin has since been described by campaigners in the German capital as “evil”, “scandalous”, and “likely to cause more road deaths”, with today’s protest representing a noticeable escalation in the opposition against the Senate’s position.
Ben Healy’s Irish champs-winning attack: A story in three parts
Ben Healy is a pretty decent bike rider, isn’t he? The 22-year-old has enjoyed a cracking 2023 so far, mixing it with the best in the world at the Ardennes Classics, before beating them at the following month’s Giro d’Italia, all while cementing his place within the current crop of swashbuckling, all-or-nothing, do-or-die long-range attackers.
And, during yesterday’s scorching hot Irish road race championships just outside Dungannon (top tip for all racegoers: always bring sunscreen, even if it’s lashing down when you leave the house), Healy underlined his newfound status as one of cycling’s most exciting solo marauders by attacking and riding clear of a group containing Sam Bennett and Ryan Mullen with 90km of the race still remaining – a scintillating move captured throughout by Mrs Mallon on the hill:
Going…
Going…
Gone.
At the finish, a bemused Mullen asked Healy – who ended up winning by over four minutes – why he attacked from so far out. He won’t be the last to ask that question, I’m sure…
More Tour team news: Astana announce “lead-out carriage” for Mark Cavendish, while Greg Van Avermaet misses out on farewell Tour de France berth for AG2R Citroën
Yellow Monday continues on the blog today, as Astana Qazaqstan announced the team that could well propel Mark Cavendish to a history-making 35th Tour de France stage win.
🇫🇷 ROSTER: @LeTour
🇰🇿 @AlexeyLutsenko3
🇰🇿 Yevgeniy Fedorov
🇬🇧 @MarkCavendish
🇳🇱 @ceesbol1995
🇪🇸 @iamdlax
🇪🇸 @LLEONSANCHEZ
🇮🇹 Gianni Moscon
🇨🇴 @haroldtejada1 #TDF2023 #AstanaQazaqstanTeam pic.twitter.com/RFcBzaURdE— Astana Qazaqstan Team (@AstanaQazTeam) June 26, 2023
Don’t worry, I’m busy trying to find the lead-out train too…
Wait… Is that something resembling a tiny leadout train even?!?
— Stine Momo (DJ Momo/Momo Lamarr)❤️🔥 (@stinemomo) June 26, 2023
A lead out carriage 😅
— Dan Deakins (@DanDeakins) June 26, 2023
It’ll certainly be interesting to see how this Astana lineup, which features Cees Bol as the only rider truly at home in the hustle and bustle of a sprint finish, will handle the flatter days Cavendish will surely be targeting, with Luis Leon Sanchez (who took on the lead-out role at the Giro) and possibly Alexey Lutsenko and Gianni Moscon likely to lend their engines to keeping the former world champion in position towards the end.
🇫🇷 @LeTour
Vincent Lavenu présente l’effectif et les objectifs ici : https://t.co/FzYVMK0zLf
Vincent Lavenu sets the goals and explains the selection here: https://t.co/FzYVMK0zLf#AG2RCITROËNTEAM #RoulonsAutrement #RideDIfferently #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/3Rq07KxCDa
— AG2R CITROËN TEAM (@AG2RCITROENTEAM) June 26, 2023
Meanwhile, Greg Van Avermaet misses out on the chance to ride one last Tour before retiring, as AG2R Citroën have opted for a strong team led by GC contender Ben O’Connor, while Benoît Cosnefroy, Aurélien Paret-Peintre, and Nans Peters expected to be in the hunt for stage wins.
𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 🇫🇷
🔥 8 coureurs représenteront nos couleurs sur @LeTour :
🇫🇷 Mathieu Burgaudeau
🇳🇴 Edvald Boasson-Hagen
🇧🇪 Steff Cras
🇫🇷 Valentin Ferron
🇫🇷 Pierre Latour
🇮🇹 Daniel Oss
🇸🇰 Peter Sagan
🇫🇷 Anthony Turgis#TDF2023 #AllezTotalEnergies pic.twitter.com/MrCRKgoBDy— Team TotalEnergies (@TeamTotalEnrg) June 26, 2023
Peter Sagan will, however, enjoy one last crack at the Tour, despite his crash at the weekend’s Slovakian national championships. The three-time world champion will be joined by fellow veteran Edvald Boasson-Hagen in the TotalEnergies team.
Imagine Cav, Sagan, and Boasson-Hagen all battling to be in the mix for one last nostalgia-laden stage win? It’ll be like 2011 all over again…
“Go and protest properly!”: Cyclist pushes Just Stop Oil protestors off the road to make way for traffic
As the climate change and environment activist group Just Stop Oil started their tenth week of protests in the country’s capital this morning, things came to a head when a cyclist decided to take matters into his own hands and started pushing and pulling the protestors, telling them to “f****** move” and “go and protest properly”.
However, Just Stop Oil responded to the incident by telling road.cc that “We need everyone, including cyclists, to join us on the streets”.
Read more here: > Cyclist pushes Just Stop Oil protestors off the road to make way for traffic
I can’t keep up with all these announcements…
8 coureurs prêts à en découdre avec @LeTour . De Bilbao à Paris, ils donneront tout !
🇫🇷 @GuilmMartin
🇪🇸 Ion Izagirre
🇫🇷 @bryancoquard
🇫🇷 @AxelZingle
🇫🇷 @alexisrenard_
🇫🇷 @PerezAnthony1
🇫🇷 @victorlafay
🇩🇪 @simongeschke https://t.co/XPlAc80B1W #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/x28hm2X788— Team Cofidis (@TeamCOFIDIS) June 26, 2023
Fun fact: Cofidis haven’t won a stage of the Tour de France since Sylvain Chavanel beat Jeremy Roy in a two-up sprint in Montluçon, way back in 2008 (the race, incidentally, that inspired today’s blog star Lance Armstrong to make his ill-fated comeback to the sport).
I wouldn’t bet against 24-year-old French prospect Axel Zingle ending that 15-year drought over the next three weeks…
10 tech highlights from Eurobike 2023
Check out what was on offer in Frankfurt this week (and no, we’re not talking about the beer and currywurst) at the biggest cycling trade show in Europe:
2024 Tour de France Femmes set to start in Rotterdam, according to reports
With a brilliant month of racing on the roads of France set to get underway on Saturday, thoughts are already beginning to turn to next year’s Tour de France Femmes which, according to reports from the Netherlands, is expected to start with a time trial in Rotterdam.
Dutch cycling site Wielerflits reports that organisers ASO are planning on announcing the 2024 Grand Départ before Saturday’s start in Bilbao, after meeting with a delegation from Rotterdam over the last few days.
If true, the news will mean that both Tours de France will get underway on foreign soil next year, with the men’s race beginning in Florence for its first ever Italian Grand Départ.
ASO/Fabien Boukla
Wielerflits also reported that, unlike 2022 and 2023, the Tour Femmes will not overlap with the men’s Tour. Thanks to the close proximity of the Olympic Games, the first stage of the week-long race will reportedly take place on Monday 12 August, the day after the Games ends.
According to the site, following an opening time trial in Rotterdam (which hosted the men’s race in 2010), the first road stage will take the riders to The Hague, before an expected trip from Valkenburg through Wallonia on the way back to France.
The Tour Femmes’ reported Dutch start in 2024 could also be followed by the return of the men’s race soon after. Rotterdam, The Hague, and Valkenburg will again form the centre of this proposed Grand Départ, which is expected to take place in 2027, though a decision has yet to be made by ASO.
“A controversial figure diving into a controversial topic... nothing to see here”
It seems that Lance Armstrong’s attempt to poke his nose into an ongoing culture war has gone down about as well as his ride to Sestriere did in the press room at the 1999 Tour de France.
“Show me you are desperate for publicity and to seem relevant, without actually saying you are desperate for publicity and to seem relevant, Mr Armstrong,” brooksby noted in the comments.
Armstrong has nothing of value to contribute imo
— Etape 22 (@Etape22) June 26, 2023
“A controversial figure diving into a controversial topic… nothing to see here,” said NickSprink, while mark1a wrote: “I’ve said this before, I’m ambivalent about Armstrong’s actual doping, at the time I do believe it was a level playing field at the top. However what I find unforgiveable is his treatment of others and their reputations and careers he tried to destroy, LeMond, Simeoni, O’Reilly, Walsh, etc.”
He should have a chat to Greg Lemond about ‘cancel culture’.
— Nathan Wind (@Dura_Ace) June 26, 2023
“Voldemort isn’t wrong in so much that he is in a unique perch that allows him to give very little F’s nowadays,” wrote a rather less scathing peted76.
“Although some people feel very strongly about his having a voice nowadays after all the bad stuff, other people actually do welcome his voice. So while he may be polarising, we should not discount that he does have a strong influence within the cycling community, glaringly obvious by the coverage around Brad, Cav, and his VIP bike holiday trip in Mallorca last year.”
> Why was Mark Cavendish riding with Lance Armstrong this week?
Meanwhile, HarrogateSpa was busy pitching story ideas for road.cc:
“I would like to read an article about the controversial Lance Armstrong… Everesting… with/without wearing a helmet.”
Now, throw in Jeremy Vine and we have ourselves a live blog masterpiece!
“He’s lecturing people about fairness in sports?” Lance Armstrong says he is “all too familiar” with being cancelled and is “uniquely positioned to have these conversations” as he enters trans athletes row
Alright, hands up – who had ‘Lance Armstrong says being “cancelled” makes him “uniquely positioned” to weigh in on the trans participation in sport debate’ on their bingo card for the week leading up to the Tour?
No, me neither.
But that’s what happened this weekend, as everybody’s favourite disgraced former seven-time Tour de France winner “fearlessly” (his words) decided to dive headfirst – for the sake of podcast content – into what he described as the “sensitive” and “polarising” conversation around trans athletes.
> British Cycling updates transgender policy, introduces new “Open” category
Have we really come to a time and place where spirited debate is not only frowned upon, but feared? Where people’s greatest concern is being fired, shamed or cancelled? As someone all too familiar with this phenomenon, I feel I’m uniquely positioned to have these conversations. pic.twitter.com/De7xs3PUq3
— Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) June 25, 2023
“Have we really come to a time and place where spirited debate is not only frowned upon, but feared?” Big Tex tweeted yesterday, advertising a new special series of his The Forward podcast, which will include guests such as Caitlyn Jenner, among lots of typical LA-style ramblings, I presume.
“Where people’s greatest concern is being fired, shamed, or cancelled? As someone all too familiar with this phenomenon, I feel I’m uniquely positioned to have these conversations.
“Of all the controversial and polarising subjects out there today, I’m not sure there are any as heated as the topic of Trans athletes in sport.
“Is there not a world in which one can be supportive of the transgender community and curious about the fairness of Trans athletes in sport yet not be labelled a transphobe or a bigot as we ask questions? Do we yet know the answers? And do we even want to know the answers?”
Lance Armstrong is lecturing people about fairness in sports? Lance. Armstrong? Lance, Fucking, Armstrong?
— David (@uniondesign) June 25, 2023
“That was Lance Armstrong reporting on fairness in sport. Next up, we have Satan to discuss fire safety this summer.”
— Kirsty Webeck 🦈 (@KirstyWebeck) June 25, 2023
He’s uniquely positioned to have a terrible take. Someone give this man a soapbox!
— Erin Dougherty (@Grl_Food) June 25, 2023
Naturally, Armstrong’s reference to the “fairness of trans athletes in sport” has raised more than a few eyebrows on social media, prompting attorney and activist, and fellow Texan, Brian Cuban to tweet that “a guy who cheated, then tried to ruin the lives of those who spoke truthfully about his role in ‘the fairness of sports’ might not be the right mouthpiece for this discussion.”
But it’s Armstrong’s claim that he can now instigate these types of polarising culture war conversations because he too was “cancelled” – in other words, banned for doping and shunned from the sport for a relentless campaign of bullying and intimidation against anyone who spoke out against him – that has struck many as the most bizarre aspect of a frankly bizarre situation.
Not the fact check. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/uNObZ92NBL
— Ryan Shead (@RyanShead) June 26, 2023
Even Twitter, that bastion of online credibility, had to intervene over that particular claim, adding some fact-checking context to Armstrong’s tweet.
“Lance Armstrong was not ‘cancelled’,” Twitter said. “Armstrong was the most dominant and successful professional cyclist in history, until 2013 when he was found to have been doping and was stripped of his titles and awards. Armstrong himself later admitted to cheating for over a decade.”
Eddy Merckx and Marianne Vos may beg to differ over the whole ‘most dominant and successful’ part of that statement, but still, you know it’s bad when Twitter is taking you to task.
At his height, Lance Armstrong was so powerful that he could destroy the careers of journalists who were questioning whether he was cheating. He had them cancelled. And it didn’t matter that he WAS cheating and they were right. They didn’t retroactively get their careers back. https://t.co/7bsPkGleAy
— Neil Shyminsky (@neilshyminsky) June 25, 2023
“Just a reminder: Lance Armstrong wasn’t disproportionately punished because he took more drugs than everyone else,” added cycling writer Peter Flax with his own fact-checking context tweet.
“He became a pariah because he tried to destroy people who got in his way and because he has only pretended to accept responsibility for being a world-class asshole.”
Lance Armstrong (specifically) taking to Twitter (specifically) to plug his podcast (specifically) looking at “both sides” (specifically) of ‘the debate’ around “fairness” (specifically) of trans athletes (specifically) is just about the most June 2023 shit I can imagine.
— Mike Rugnetta (@mikerugnetta) June 26, 2023
However, at least it’s nice to see that Mellow Johnny appears to be taking the backlash well…
Climb down from the high horse Matthew. I’m actually not lecturing anyone rather bringing all sides to the table and inviting rational and open dialogue. And I might add, having a conversation that almost nobody dares touch. If they stream podcasts up in your rarified air, check… https://t.co/QAcHASpG7o
— Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) June 26, 2023
I for one can’t wait to hear reality TV contestant Armstrong’s next “cancelled” take on a culture war topic on his own podcast, as he publicises his latest big-money cycling trip for rich people in Mallorca.
Anything for the grift I suppose…
26 June 2023, 09:14
26 June 2023, 09:14
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@Paul J Van Schip certainly seems a bit of a dick, but he's a European and multiple World Champion on the track, pretty sure you don't get there without having some talent in your legs.
Poor Vincent cannot get over the simple fact that given the choice people prefer dedicated cycling spaces, rather than pretending to be cars like vehicular cyclists.
What is the point of the fancy air sensor if it can't account for changing weather conditions?? If all you care about is a delayed approximation of aerodynamic watts in steady conditions, you don't need any special sensors for that. Just your speed on a decently flat course is enough to approximate rolling resistance and drivetrain losses. And the rest must be aero. If you assume a less aero body position at the same watts, your speed will drop while rolling resistance also drops, which means approximated aero watts goes up. And that's enough to demonstrate what you've shown in your testing protocol ("I sat upright and the number went up a little while later").
Your correction is accurate - it's almost always been "the (lack of) thought that (doesn't) count". "Massive" - less than a billion a year spent on active travel (trying to catch up / building a network across the entire country) Not massive - 6 billion every year (2026-2030) spent on road *maintenance* of existing "already built, goes everywhere, very convenient" road network for inactive travel Ultimately the reason "cycle infra" is *needed* is those unbelievably colossal amounts spent every year (and for more than a century now) on making mass motoring not just viable but apparently the "best choice" for most journeys. As the Dutch and others have shown, the majority of people *are* prepared to cycle and even mix with very light, slow local motor traffic *if* cycling is also made safe and convenient for the whole of their journey (including secure parking at both ends). (The history of the financial drivers of the current situation are a complex topic but note that while people complain about "crumbling roads" and underfunded motor infra - with some reason - by us continuing the fuel duty escalator freeze (for example) we're actually helping motorists pay *even less* for that activity / subsidising more of the cost of driving than ever.)
yes, but people will still object - which was my point.
So ' Priority of Road Users' and 1.5 metre clearance at 30mph has been been reduced to 'sharing'? NCN route 2 here in South Hams is an absolute scream with white vans, tractors and total idiots who refuse,or are totally incapable,to reverse on high Devon banked lanes ...means you have to get off and pedal back to a passing place....could be at that all day...so I don't bother...
@MaxiMinimalist Agreed. The big problem I see now is today's parents grew up being driven to their schools, and therefore, see private motor vehicles as the only viable form of transport. The vast majority of UK infant and primary schools have a catchment area that is within easy walking distance from home to school. Yet, the traffic caused by pupils being driven to/from school is astonishing. Banishing the "School Run" should be a priority for all schools.
When I was a kid (that was during the previous millenium when phones were connected to a plug in the wall), I rode my bicycle to school, music academy, sport grounds, parties even during the winter. The government didn't have to spend, correct that, didn't have to think of spending massive amounts of money to build cycling specific infrastructures. Over the past 3 or 4 decades, cars have grown bigger, taller, safer (for their drivers) and faster. Meanwhile, motorists have become abusive, aggressive, hypersensitive to people moving on two wheels, aka cyclists. Spending billions upon billions on new infrastructure won't address the crux of the matter. Sadly.
Obree had some actual talent in his legs though, in addition to his bike/aero engineering talent.
Малко като опит за доказване е излязло... Никой няма нужда от толкова голям въртящ момент и мощност на шосеен велосипед с тънки гуми, които дори трудно ще предават тази мощност върху пътя. А ако има и ограничение от 25 км/час е още по-безмислено.
47 thoughts on “Lance Armstrong says he is “all too familiar” with being cancelled as he enters trans athletes row; “Just not good enough”: Buses, motorbikes, and parked cars spotted on British nationals course; Is HGV advice “victim blaming”? + more on the live blog”
Even a stopped, cheating,
Even a stopped, cheating, vindictive and attention-desperate clock might be right twice a day.
I’ve said this before, I’m
I’ve said this before, I’m ambivalent about Armstrong’s actual doping, at the time I do believe it was a level playing field at the top. However what I find unforgiveable is his treatment of others and their reputations & careers he tried to destroy, LeMond, Simeoni, O’Reilly, Walsh, etc.
You were wrong before and you
You were wrong before and you’re wrong now.
EPO has very different effects on different riders, depending on their natural haematocrit levels.
I believe he took doping to
I believe he took doping to whole new levels.
Neil Shyminsky wrote:
So obviously Armstrong knows all about alleged cancellations in the trans athlete debate…
“Show me you are desperate for publicity and to seem relevant, without actually saying you are desperate for publicity and to seem relevant, Mr Armstrong”.
A controversial figure diving
A controversial figure diving into a controversial topic… nothing to see here
Usual incompetence at the w/e
Usual incompetence at the w/e with drivers unable to overtake.
All the time in the world to get past a single rider but they failed to plan and ended up slamming on instead. At least they aborted which was better than the one going past 5 or 6 who caused me coming the other way to slam on !
Note to group – ride 2 or 3 abreast and take the lane !
Shared a “WTF?” moment with
Shared a “WTF?” moment with the driver of an oncoming Caterham yesterday when the driver behind me decided to pull out and overtake a solo cyclist (me) very slowly (didn’t even seem to drop a gear), up a steep hill on a narrow lane, when the Caterham was about 20 metres ahead.
Also seen recently – a car parked on the pavement next to zig zag lines. Someone had slipped a note under the windscreen wiper and I couldn’t resist having a read. Alas, not a tirade from a beleageured pedestrian, but a note from another motorist complaining that if they hadn’t been so selfish in their parking, and had moved up a bit, there was space for another two cars.
Coming out of Wellesbourne on
Coming out of Wellesbourne on Sunday, watched two cars in front overtake a cyclist going up the steep hill towards Langley. Car no.1 was a learner driver, branded car, with a clear road – supervisor allowed a pass with about 18″ of clearance. Car no. 2 was a ditherer who did one of those “Seen Cyclist – Must Pass a Cyclist” moves going fully onto the other side of the road – in spite of a car already in vision thundering down the hill – however, given the choice between a head on and cutting up the cyclist, they bravely chose risking the head on – inches to spare at a closing speed of about 100mph – downhill guy was claiming his priority.
I would like to read an
I would like to read an article about:
Ideally:
Ideally:
Bonus – and what Jeremy Vine / Cycling Mikey / Nick Freeman thinks about it.
If I’m more careful about one
If I’m more careful about one thing than any other on the road, it’s not getting into the red zone of lorries, and it’s the one thing I will repeat over and over again to anyone who asks advice when thinking of taking up commuting by bike. On the roads in London where I usually encounter them I will try to prevent being put in the red zone as they come up behind by taking a primary position; this usually results in frequent prolonged blasts from their klaxon and being followed with an enormous juggernaut bumper a foot or so off my rear wheel. It would be good if the LCC (who, to be fair, have done great work on campaigning for Direct Vision standards for lorries in the capital) could run a parallel campaign reminding lorry drivers that when they see cyclists up ahead it’s their duty not to place them in the red zone. Many of the fatal cycle/lorry incidents in London are caused by drivers who had the cyclist in plain view, sometimes for minutes, but then closed up and put them in the blindspot, with subsequent tragic consequences.
Lorries scare the crap out of
Lorries scare the crap out of me when they go past. I can hear/feel them coming and tense up as they roar along beside me. 1.5m feels a lot closer when it’s a lorry!
In this fantastic tech-laden world, with heavy rules and checks for lorry drivers, how is there not a dictate that all lorries are fitting with a device that emits a loud noise when there is an object in the red zone? Feels like it would be a relatively easy thing to create.
HoldingOn wrote:
It already exists, Volvo will be rolling it out on their HGVs from September this year:
https://www.volvotrucks.co.uk/en-gb/news/press-releases/2022/jun/new-safety-system-to-protect-cyclists-and-pedestrians.html
Some cars already have it too, if you look carefully when filtering up the inside of a line of traffic you will see some new cars have a flashing red triangle that appears in their wing mirror as you approach, letting them know that there may be someone in the blindspot. Great technology that hopefully will become compulsory on all new vehicles in the not too distant future.
I wonder how configurable it
I wonder how configurable it is.
Volvo are leaders in truck safety (their advanced braking system is phenomenal to see) … I’m sure they’ve considered things like trailer length and the different turning characteristics of these trailers, along with headboard swing for close / long coupled trailers.
But … I wonder if they have considered noise?
The sensor cone formed by the warning system for a 45ft trailer will be significant at the rear of the trailer if it’s to cope with cyclists approaching from the rear.
Would a cyclist be lost in the noise of pedestrians walking down the footpath adjacent to the road, or lost if filtering?
Will the driver be able to turn it off? My car has a safety system such as this and it can be disabled. It can also be drowned out by turning the stereo up …
These are rhetorical … unless you work for Volvo Trucks . [I didn’t download the pdf]
Rendel Harris wrote:
Exactly this.
Saying this (and what LCC said) is not a ‘hands-up’ to the mighty driver; it’s a message of realism to identify what we can do to reduce risk from others. It doesn’t prevent or place an absolute limit on that risk, it just reduces it.
And, yes, it needs the message to drivers of HGVs that:
The onus is still on the driver.
Similarly, I tell my kids to be careful using their mobiles in public; the onus is still on would-be muggers not to rob them of their mobiles.
“As a straight white man I
“As a straight white man I feel I am uniquely placed to shout my opinions on oppressed groups!”
How dare you sir. Unrepentant
How dare you sir. Unrepentant drug cheats are a valid minority. Any day he’ll have his unique colour – rotten gold – added to the Pride Flag.
Secret_squirrel wrote:
rotten gold or tarnished gold – mmmmm
Patrick9-32 wrote:
now now – if you do enough research I’m sure there a few countries where straight, white men are oppressed.
ErnieC wrote:
The UK for instance, but they are not alone, we are all oppressed by the tory gang.
eburtthebike wrote:
But that’s classist oppression rather than racism.
ErnieC wrote:
Try cycling. OK, not a country…
I cringe every time I see a
I cringe every time I see a fellow cyclist riding INTO the red zone, which happens far too often. If this tweet makes just one of them think again about riding up the inside of lorries/ buses and sitting in their blind spots then it is a big thumbs up from me.
Yes, it is the driver’s responsibility to check the blind spot before manoeuvring but it won’t help you to remind them of that when you are under their wheels. Never ride into danger and personally, if a driver puts me in their blind spot then I will move out of it. Rather move and be delayed by a few seconds than stay put and remain in danger.
I don’t exactly ride in heavy
I don’t exactly ride in heavy, built-up, urban areas, but I can literally count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen a cyclist put themselves in the “red zone”. As for the number of times I’ve seen a HGV driver put a cyclist in the “red zone”? There aren’t enough grains of sand on the beach…
My experience is different, I
My experience is different, I see plenty of cyclists riding into and through red zones on a regular basis. Every time a cyclist rides up the inside of a lorry / bus at traffic lights when they can’t access an advanced stop box at the front, they are doing exactly that and that is something I see at least once on almost every ride through London. Yes, I have seen and personally experienced HGVs putting cyclists into the red zone, at no point did I say that wasn’t an issue as it clearly is. When I am put in this situation then the first thing I do is take action to get out of the red zone.
ASLs where the lorry pulls up inches from your bike’s rear wheel and puts you in the red zone in front of the lorry are a real bugbear. Apart from that, I can honestly say that it is rare that an HGV / bus puts me in a red zone these days, possibly because after a massive scare with a lorry when I was about 15, I have always positioned pretty centrally in the lane when pulling up at junctions to prevent a lorry from pulling up alongside.
The scenario where road
The scenario where road design comes into it is feeder lanes into ASLs – guaranteed to encourage cyclists to ride alongside HGVs by using the read as designed.
This. This happens frequently
This. This happens frequently in London. So much so that Im think, it would be reasonable to ban feeder lanes in areas with a large truck volume.
Casual or commuter cyclists quite often just waltz down the feeder “coz it’s marked for me” without stopping to consider if maybe they shouldn’t.
I mean.. Voldemort isn’t
I mean.. Voldemort isn’t wrong in so much that he is in a unique perch that allows him to give very little F’s nowadays..
Although some people feel very strongly about his having a voice nowadays after all the bad stuff… other people actually do welcome his voice.. so while he may be polarising.. we should not discount that he does have a strong influence within the cycling community. Glaringly obvious by the coverage around Brad, Cav and his VIP bike holiday trip in Mallorca last year.
London Cycling Campaign wrote
If you brake sharply aren’t you making yourself more vulnerable, in that as you brake you are moving (relatively) all the way back along the side of a very long vehicle, the driver of which supposedly never saw you in the first place*…?
*Also – if a lorry driver passes you and puts you in the lorry risk zone, one would hope that they saw you before they’d put you in the Zone?
Cyclist is travelling forward
Cyclist is travelling forward.
Truck is moving forwards.
If the cyclist brakes, truck forward speed appears to increase relative to the cyclist.
Cyclist appears to be in reverse… relative to the truck.
If the braking action of the cyclist is sufficient, they may clear the length of the truck without issue.
Maybe an easier analogy.
We’ve all seen video of a free falling parachutist (A) being taken by another free falling parachutist (B)
A pulls the ripcord, and appears to fly backwards, to gain height in relation to B.
Have they?
Nope.
It’s because A has suddenly decelerated while B is travelling at the same speed, so to B, A has gone backwards.
Same thing happens with a bike and truck, only not at 120mph / 5000ft …
The HGV thing is nothing new,
The HGV thing is nothing new, see the condescending signs aimed at cyclists that are plastered all over the trucks themselves. All this advice seems to assume that it’s the cyclist riding up the inside of the HGV, but (in my anecdotal experience) for every one time that happens, I bet that at least ten HGV drivers will overtake a cyclist, forget all about them as soon as the cab’s passed them, then move left.
In all my years, I’ve never once purposely placed myself in the “red zone” of an HGV – however, a HGV driver will put me in their “red zone” at least 3-4 times a week. Maybe this message should be aimed at them.
To me that is a close pass
To me that is a close pass issue rather than a red zone. Close passes or partial passes where they then cut off your front wheel by moving back left too soon are a big problem not just involving HGVs but also cars, vans and every other type of vehicle. They most definitely need addressing but personally I wouldn’t define them as a red zone issue. I think this different definition of a red zone problem explains a lot of our different experiences.
The Met Police used to have,
The Met Police used to have, maybe still do, a big prime mover that you could sit in and see what the driver can see. I learned two things from that – the drivers have many mirrors to show them the red zone. They are trained to do a mirror check before they move off, but if you scoot in front/alongside after they’ve checked the relevant mirror, it’s not going to end well.
Seconldly, and most alarming to me, was the visibility to the near side – you’re visible up close in the red zone in the mirror, but if you’re further left, you’re not. Giving space just puts you in hiding. If the cab/trailer are angled at all, then the driver will see even less.
I always check to see if I can see the driver – they’ll not object to you making sure that you can be seen. If I can’t see the driver, and know that he’s seen me, then I’ll need to see a physical impediment that will stop the lorry moving, else I’m not going anywhere near it.
It is an interesting problem
It is an interesting problem with camera mirrors – Merc are very keen on these – they are a one way system, there is no handy screen on the rear of the lorry with a camera pointing at the driver!
IanMSpencer wrote:
The other problem with camera mirrors is that the driver cannot vary the view by moving their head. Another “we have some electronics as a solution, now let’s find a problem” fail. I can’t understand how they are an improvement over a mirror, tho I suppose the images might be recorded.
I’m an ex-lorry driver.
I’m an ex-lorry driver. Nearly 15 years driving everything from 7.5t to 75ft non-devisible loads. I’ve done stuff from multi-drop parcels, through to containers, to tippers, curtainsiders, double-deckers; steel, kitchen worktops (and that stuff is fecking evil to carry); haz-chem where a drop will severely feck you up, to 20,000 litres of stuff where half a litre could wipe out a town.
I’ve done day runs, night trunking and tramping.
I’ve not done drawbars, skips or demountable.
Many people do not understand how blind a goods vehicle is to the nearside. Its even called blindside by drivers, as the visibility is horrendously low.
Mirrors, even kerbside, wide angle and front kerb only portray a small section of the picture down the blindside.
It is the drivers responsibility to ensure the blindside is clear … but that is far easier said than done.
I hated London with an absolute passion.
It’s almost a sensory overload; you have to be aware of everything going on … before it happens.
Hazard perception and reaction id absolutely key.
If you are fully loaded, you can be in 4th gear by the time you hit walking pace; 6th by the time you hit the pace of a reasonable cyclist … and all the time it’s mirror 1 glance > windscreen > mirror 2bs glance > windscreen > mirror 3bs glance mirror 2 look > windscreen > mirror 1 look > windscreen > mirror 2bs glance mirror 3bs look … and you’re not even out of 2nd gear yet.
The picture constantly changes, and sometimes you can be really unlucky and be looking in the wrong mirror at the wrong time.
I would not consider it victim blaming to say to fellow cyclists that being on the blind side is *not* a good idea.
I would also say to drivers that if they can’t get passed cleanly, don’t try to get passed at all.
I would encourage riders to approach a local haulage firm or driving school and see if they could help out by letting you sit in the drivers seat that has been adjusted for you … experience is the best teacher.
Many of truck drivers ride bikes too.
Never go up the inside of a truck.
If you find yourself being overtaken and the truck starts slowing … do what you can to get out from the nearside. Speed up / slow down / unclip and be ready to bail on to the pavement, with or without the bike.
If you are filtering, filter down the right side, as wide as you can, and pull up in front of the driver … if you can see them they can see you. Wave at them… make sure that they have seen you.
They don’t want to kill you as much as you don’t want to be killed.
Be careful when approaching a truck turning right as the rear overhang can cut through your lane and trap you.
Stuff that we shouldn’t have to do, but until there is a better way if moving goods about, we have to learn to coexist with these things.
.
.
Many thanks for sharing the lessons from your extensive experience – very valuable.
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Great post. I’ve only ever
Great post. I’ve only ever driven trucks around the yard when I was a YTS trainee HGV mechanic and never with a trailer but that taught me to never go up the inside of a truck unless you know for sure you can get past it and the next few vehicles before traffic starts moving. You have to treat artics especially carefully and I always think twice before filtering past them.
I find most artic drivers give me loads of space when passing but the few who cut back left before they’ve got past always get reported (for all the good it will do).
Not to be pedantic, ust for
Not to be pedantic, just for clarity in your excellent post, 6th para “passed” = past, I think.
Totally agree with this post.
Totally agree with this post. Most collisions happen around junctions. If A truck is at a junction or stop (traffic light etc) don’t cycle up the side. Let the driver do the manoeuvre. Driving a lorry in an urban environment is very challenging. If you do go to the front of a truck move forward, look back and make eye contact with the driver. Let him/her know you are there. It makes their job easier.
I think the British riders
I think the British riders need to stop moaning. Over the water, the riders in county Tyrone were racing on *fully open* roads in the Irish championship. They had escort motos and cars, ambulance and broom wagon to try clear the way during the race.
I think perhaps the PSNI closed the finish straight for the final lap, but that’s about it.
This is a rubbish take and
This is a rubbish take and you know it. I’ve no problem with racing on open roads with motos/marshalls etc, and neither do hundreds of other regular racers, but if you’re on a race the organisers say is “closed roads” that needs to be adherred to 100%. Because on a “closed roads” race every rider is under the impression they don’t need to keep to the left, and have use of the whole road. If riders come barreling round a blind turn in the right hand lane and a car comes the other way because a marshall wasn’t paying attention, people are going to end up dead. This really shouldn’t be that controversial. Both open roads and closed roads races are fine for their own purposes, but they both need to be done properly, there is no margin of error.
Whilst I do not like victim
Whilst I do not like victim blaming, we are the potential victims, and in the (more than likely, it sometimes seems) event of a lorry driver being negligent and putting us in danger, we do need to take steps to keep ourselves safe
Did you really mean that *not
Did you really mean that *not* in the last line?
Not checking out the red zone is rather like not checking your parachute before your next sky dive. You can protest all you like that you shouldnt have to do it because it was the packers responsibility – but the ground/lorry doesnt care when it splats you.
I will take this opportunity
I will take this opportunity to recommend David Walsh’s Seven Deadly Sins.
It’s a cracking read.
I do hope the cyclists of
I do hope the cyclists of Kensingon and Chelsea are paying close attention to what happened in Berlin.