Local paper accuses British Cycling of “censoring” village named Three Cocks; Never ask ‘why is Tadej Pogačar going so slow?’; Down the Koppenberg at 70km/h; Jockey wheels have left the chat; Vuelta S6; 20-year wait for cycle path + more on the live blog

Imagine for a second you’re riding a bike in the hills above Monaco when suddenly ahead you see what must be a mirage. A rainbow jersey-wearing Tadej Pogačar is in the distance, gently pedalling up the Col d’Èze as you easily close the distance and catch up with the world champion.

No, it’s not a mirage, it’s really the four-time Tour winner. You probably start to wonder if you should go straight home, hand in your notice and start planning how you’re going to get on the startline for the 2026 Tour de France, if this is how easy it is. Then, bang. You’re snapped out of your daydreaming as those rainbow bands are now a disappearing blur of colour and watts as Pogačar thrashes off on an interval and you’re left wondering if the last 20 seconds even happened, or if you should be concerned about the contents of your bottle.

Anyway, at least you got a funny TikTok out of it…

We are ready for the final part of the season. 🌈🖤

🎥: samu_actis pic.twitter.com/O7TcKdKmH7

— Lukáš Ronald Lukács (@lucasaganronald) August 27, 2025

[samu_actis/TikTok]

Some monstrous uphill sprints were on the menu as Tadej returns to training following his post-Tour holidays, a defence of his World Championships crown looking fairly inevitable on the 5,000m of climbing Rwandan course this time next month, even more so now Jonas Vingegaard has gone back on the idea of making his debut at the race. A fifth consecutive Il Lombardia win looks likely too and would crown (once again) one of the most impressively dominant seasons ever seen in pro cycling. 

So, no, if you do happen to stumble across Mr Pogačar soft pedalling and sipping his water, don’t get your hopes up. Like everyone else on planet earth, you’ll get dropped soon enough.

Following on from yesterday’s protest during the Vuelta team time trial, a spokesperson for Israel-Premier Tech told us the team respects “the right to protest peacefully”, but Wednesday’s mid-stage demonstration compromised the safety of their riders, people on the race, and the protesters themselves.

Israel – Premier Tech respects everyone’s right to freedom of speech, which includes the right to protest peacefully, but we absolutely condemn the dangerous acts of the protesters on stage 5 of the Vuelta a España which not only compromised the safety of our riders, race personnel, but the protesters themselves.

The team continues to work with race organisers and relevant authorities to ensure our safety at the Vuelta a España and all races and ensure any protests do not impact our safety, nor our right to race.

 The team had 15 seconds taken off their finishing time, bumping them up from 19th to 14th on the stage, Vuelta boss Javier Guillén clear that the race organisers want to file a complaint with the authorities over the protesters’ actions.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Kings of the Flemish Mountains (@kings_of_the_flemish_mountains)

Thankfully this appears to have been part of an event with a road closure in place. Poor bike… 

Personal injury lawyers Simpson Millar have been in touch to tell us Google searches for ‘Lime bike leg’ are up 388 per cent in the past three months and up 159 per cent in the past week. 

The seven-day jump follows a London-based doctor last week telling The Telegraph they see “at least one patient a week” with leg issues related to electric hire bike use, ranging from fractured shins to serious knee injuries. 

Unlike experienced cyclists, who consultant orthopaedic surgeon Alex Liddle said are more likely to suffer “high energy” trauma such as head, chest, or multiple limb fractures after collisions with drivers, Lime-related incidents are usually “low energy” — people losing balance or having the bike fall on them while stationary, the bikes’ heavier weight often cited as a factor.

“It’s almost always the lower limbs, from ankle fractures to tibia [shinbone] fractures, and soft tissue injuries around the knee — we don’t see many injuries from the knee upwards, but we’ve had the odd cracked pelvis,” he said. “However, it’s normally fractures either at the top of or in the middle of the tibia.”

Commenting on the spike in searches, Mark Howarth from Simpson Millar was keen to point out Lime bikes and other electric hire bikes “aren’t inherently unsafe” and the number of injuries remains extremely small, as a proportion of total rides.

“The term ‘Lime bike leg’ has stuck, but these kinds of injuries could happen on any heavy e-bike,” he said. “Reports suggest that accidents involving e-bikes can result in serious leg injuries, similar to the kind of injury you might see in a motorbike accident. Lime bikes aren’t inherently unsafe — they meet the same safety standards as other shared e-bikes. But their weight and design, combined with the fact that they operate one of the largest fleets in cities like London, could mean these injuries show up more frequently in their case.

“The term has stuck because Lime is highly visible, not because their bikes are uniquely dangerous. Riders should be aware that heavy e-bikes in general carry a higher risk of serious leg injuries in a fall. Using them carefully, wearing protective gear and following road safety guidance is essential.

“We are seeing growing concerns about serious injuries linked to hire bikes, particularly e-bikes that are heavier and faster than standard cycles. First-time users often receive little to no safety instruction before riding, which can contribute to misuse or loss of control, especially in busy urban environments.

“As shared mobility schemes continue to expand, it is essential that safety keeps pace. Operators have a legal responsibility to ensure their bikes are fit for use, well-maintained and clearly labelled with guidance for safe riding. If someone is injured, it is important to seek medical attention and report the incident as soon as possible, as this can be crucial not only for recovery but also for establishing the facts if legal action is needed.

“The UK is making progress, but the gap between recorded risk and perceived safety remains wide. Until cyclists can ride without fear of injury or intimidation, we must continue pushing for accountability, legal protection and better public infrastructure.”

Thoughts?

> Driver claims cyclist punched him in face and threw bike at car, causing £1,000 worth of damage, after motorist hit him “at about 2mph”

> Chris Froome seriously injured in training crash, suffering five broken ribs, a back fracture, and a collapsed lung

Some industry news from the Netherlands where DutchNews reports major bike manufacturer Accell Group is closing a factory in Heerenveen and moving that facility’s production to Hungary.

The factory currently produces around 20 per cent of the company’s bikes, Accell looking to streamline production after several challenging years and inventory woes.

> Brighter days ahead for bike industry? Raleigh owner reports inventory levels back to normal

Raleigh and Lapierre are two of Accell’s brands, the factory move set to see 160 jobs lost in Heerenveen.

“Decisions that lead to redundancies are never easy, and we recognise the impact this has on our people,” CEO Jonas Nilsson commented. “We will do our utmost to inform and assist affected employees in the best possible way. In our new set-up, we will be able to better leverage our scale and capabilities across production, logistics and operations, supporting our full portfolio of iconic brands.”

> “Fans insult and spit at them”: Israel – Premier Tech manager claims rider “cried for half an hour” after pro-Palestine protest at Vuelta, as race director says “violent” course intrusion “ceases to be a just cause”

Why does it do this?
byu/reviewtechhentai inbikewrench

That looks like a stiff link to me, although a hell of a lot of maintenance and replacing of drivetrain parts should probably follow too. 

Stage six and the Vuelta peloton is about to enter its fourth country of the week. Four countries, Jeremy… that’s insane. It’s possible that the breakaway will get to fight out the stage victory, 10 riders currently five and a half minutes clear with 38km to go. Naturally, with a finish in Andorra, there’s plenty of climbing before the finish, Jay Vine and Lorenzo Fortunato licking their lips at the way today is playing out.

EF have British rider James Shaw and Irish teammate Archie Ryan up there too, several others in the break, such as Torstein Træen, Bruno Armirail and Louis Vervaeke likely eyeing up Jonas Vingegaard’s red jersey too. It’s unlikely the Dane will be too bothered about keeping that (and all the post-stage responsibilities that come with it), so we may well get a stage win and new race leader from this breakaway. 

Andorra is calling, prepare for tax-free booze and ciggies, and shots of empty ski chalets. it’ll be a ‘home’ stage for many in the peloton today, who’s going to make it a victorious one?

When you buy fake kit from China or an embarrassing mistake? Fingers crossed someone from Rapha will get back to us on this interesting photo doing the rounds on Facebook.

A campaign is urging East Lothian Council in Scotland to finally deliver for active travel after two decades of waiting. The B1345 between Drem railway station and Gullane has no pavement, nor cycling infrastructure, the Drem-Gullane Path Campaign urging local politicians to finally provide a safe walking and cycling route.

“The B1345 is a danger zone — cyclists face serious hazards such as fast-moving vehicles and sharp bends, and there are no pavements to protect pedestrians,” campaign spokesperson Iain V. Monk told us this morning. “Our message to Councillor Hampshire is simple: the council has the power to act, and we are calling on it to do so — now.”

The campaign points out the need for a safe walking and cycling route was first identified way back in 2005 during early consultations for East Lothian Council’s Core Paths Plan. However, now two decades on, the council and local MSP is still calling on a key landowner to negotiate a solution to make the path a priority. Urging the council to finally act decisively, Mr Monk has written to the council’s leader to demand action.

“20 years is far too long to wait for something of such clear and undeniable public value,” he explained. “From schoolchildren to commuters, everyone stands to gain from a safe route between Drem and Gullane.”

> Cycling a couple of miles to work enough to boost heart health by as much as 30%, new study finds

There’s nothing sweeter than a win on home roads 🇦🇩

It’s a special stage win for Jay Vine at the Vuelta as Stage 6 is clinched in Andorra 🌟 pic.twitter.com/j4p3NvmaRN

— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) August 28, 2025

Andorra resident Jay Vine got a home win of sorts, proving his class from the breakaway to take the third Vuelta stage victory of his career. On a mixed day for UAE Team Emirates, Vine’s success was the high point, Juan Ayuso losing contact, shipping 11 minutes and almost certainly seeing his GC hopes over before the first rest day. João Almeida will be undisputed leader from here on in. 

Jonas Vingegaard has ceded the red jersey, something he won’t be too upset about. It’s a long three weeks and fewer interviews and podiums, with more time recovering, will surely be a plus in the long run.

Norwegian climber Torstein Træen has claimed red and now leads the GC ahead of his breakaway companions Bruno Armirail, Lorenzo Fortunato and Louis Vervaeke. Træen has a 2:33 advantage to Vingegaard and is 31 seconds ahead of second-placed Armirail.

There was another demonstration during today’s stage, this time by Assemblea Nacional Catalana calling for an independent Catalonia. It had no impact on the riders.

⬛️⬜️❌ CATALUNYA NO ÉS ESPANYA

Els ho hem deixat clar a Olot, al bell mig de la carretera, just abans del pas dels ciclistes de La Vuelta.

No podran amagar ni silenciar el nostre clam: INDEPENDÈNCIA! pic.twitter.com/2MWw2AMIFR

— Assemblea Nacional Catalana (@assemblea) August 28, 2025

Another normal Thursday on the live blog. 

According to the local newspaper Brecon and Radnor Express the all-powerful dictators at British Cycling have “censored” their lovely local village named Three Cocks.

The amusing article notes the event listing for Ras Ieuenctid De Cymru – Junior Race of South Wales says the opening two stages are based out of Three C**** in Powys. No word if there’s a petition we can sign or a campaign to support, although we’re going to get in touch with British Cycling (mainly so we can put in the most surreally ridiculous request for comment).

There’s a chance it’s actually the organiser who has done it, so we would want to give British Cycling the chance to defend itself amid such serious cockblocking allegations. We’ll bring you more on gonadgate later…

EDIT: British Cycling never got back to us. What could they possibly be up to that’s more important than responding to our question about Three Cocks?

We’ll leave you with stonojnr from the comments section… “Well ToB are going through Cockfield on Wednesday and have a KOM planned in Semer (which means to sow, but not necessarily one’s own oats), planned up the wrong hill mind, but that’s for another mass debate.”