“There’ll be lots of deals on Facebook Marketplace”: Shocking footage as dozens of cyclists crash in mass pile-up at amateur race branded “straight-up carnage”; New tiny S-Works the latest tech evolution?; Del Toro’s Giro comeback + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
“They’re technically motorcycles”
> Police continue crackdown on illegal ‘e-bikes’ causing “persistent” issues in city centres
Get your Mortirolo running: The Giro d’Italia remains in the mountains for another gruelling climbing day – but will ‘cycling’s toughest climb’ spark any GC action?
The Giro d’Italia exploded into life yesterday as the race finally ventured into the mountains – and there’s no let up today when it comes to climbing.
And if you were struggling on the slopes of the San Valentino (looking at you, Isaac del Toro), then perhaps it’s best to avoid studying the roadbook too closely this morning, thanks to the inclusion of a climb often regarded as one of the toughest in the world: the Passo del Mortirolo.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Over the past three decades, the Mortirolo has earned legendary status at the Giro d’Italia, thanks to its wickedly steep slopes and part in some of the grand tour’s most iconic modern exploits, from Marco Pantani’s myth-making solo win on its second appearance in 1994 (paving the way for the climb to be dubbed the Cima Pantani after the tragic climber) to Alberto Contador’s pink jersey-winning ride in 2015 and Primož Roglič’s capitulation – and Richard Carapaz’s ascension – in 2019.
However, its unlikely the Mortirolo will provide the same drama this afternoon (as much as Carapaz would hope for a repeat of 2019).
Because, like its most recent inclusions in the Giro, in 2024 and 2022, the impact of one of cycling’s most brutal climbs is likely to be neutered by its placement in today’s stage – its summit 48km from the finish in Bormio, and followed by a long drag to a Category 3 climb (yeah, I don’t know what the organisers were thinking, either).
The riders will also tackle the climb from its significantly less brutal Monno side (though 7.6 per cent for 12.6km still sounds hard to me), lacking the really steep gradients associated with the classic Mortirolo.
However, with the GC now wide open and everything to play for, today still promises to be a big day, with the long and tough Passo del Tonale (its 15km length and six per cent average belying its meagre Cat 2 status) offering a testing starter for the Mortirolo main course to come.
And, just to underline the fact that anything can happen at the Giro; the last time the race finished in Bormio, a pink jersey-clad Tom Dumoulin was forced to hastily strip and answer the call of nature, as his GC rivals disappeared into the distance. I’m sure all the big contenders are keeping a close eye on their breakfasts this morning…
“Tough sport at times”: Josh Tarling’s dad says Giro stage winner will “get all the support needed to be back on the road quickly” after race-ending roundabout crash
In the wake of this morning’s news that Josh Tarling has suffered bone and tissue damage to his back, following his hefty crash into a roundabout barrier during yesterday’s Giro stage, the Ineos rider’s dad Michael says thoughts have already turned to recovering and getting back on the road.
“A big thanks for all the messages asking about Josh and wishing him all the best, it’s much appreciated after a long day yesterday,” Tarling Snr wrote on social media.
“Heading home today and will get all the support needed to be back on the road quickly. Tough sport at times.”
Tough sport, indeed.
Ineos Grenadiers confirm Josh Tarling sustained bone and soft tissue injuries to his lower back in Giro roundabout crash – team say “structured rehabilitation plan” will be put in place to support full recovery
Another rider to crash heavily in treacherous conditions during yesterday’s stage, abandoning the race, was Josh Tarling, the young Welsh star who started his first Giro with a bang after winning the time trial stage in Tirana.
The 21-year-old was part of the early breakaway when he slid out on a roundabout, hitting the roadside barrier heavily. Tarling looked to be in considerable pain in the immediate aftermath of the crash and was taken to hospital, bringing an abrupt end to his breakthrough grand tour ride.
And this morning, the Ineos Grenadiers announced that the former European time trial champion sustained bone and soft tissue injuries to his lower back in the crash, potentially ruling him out of action for a considerable period of time.
“Following his crash on Stage 16 of the Giro d’Italia, Josh Tarling was immediately attended to by race medical staff and our team doctor,” the team said in a statement.
“He was transported to a local hospital for a full assessment, where scans confirmed bone and soft tissue injuries to his lower back.
“Josh remained in hospital overnight for observation and will be discharged today.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
“He will continue to be closely monitored by our medical team, with a structured rehabilitation plan in place to support his full recovery.”
A real blow for Tarling, who was in flying form after his stage win and looked set to play a key part for Ineos, infiltrating breakaways and playing a crucial domestique role for leader Egan Bernal.
dhback… I’ll get my coat
> dhb cycling kit is quietly revived by Evans Cycles… and it’s already ‘half price’
Pro cyclist who slid off road and fell 10 metres into ravine in horror crash at Giro d’Italia escapes with “trauma to chin and right buttock” and no fractures, team confirms
Yesterday’s Giro d’Italia stage, the race’s first true foray into the mountains after two weeks of largely GC shadow boxing, had just about everything. You couldn’t take your eyes off it.
For most of the stage, the riders were forced to endure brutal, almost apocalyptic weather conditions and treacherous descents. Josh Tarling made his way into the early break and crashed almost immediately on a roundabout, hitting a barrier hard, ending his race.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Pre-race favourite Primož Roglič crashed yet again, his fourth fall in a week, and stepped off the bike midway through the stage. The other big pre-Giro favourite, Juan Ayuso, rumoured to be nursing an injury, cracked spectacularly and lost almost 15 minutes.
Egan Bernal crashed, got dropped, and fought valiantly back to the group of favourites, only to be dropped again. Richard Carapaz launched a ferocious attack on the final San Valentino climb, as pink jersey Isaac del Toro, newly installed as UAE’s sole leader after Ayuso’s crack, and Simon Yates watched each other.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Wonderkid Del Toro faltered for the first time at this Giro, and lost 1.36 to a rampaging Carapaz, as a dithering Yates worked to limit his losses. Derek Gee looked impressively strong, as did Giulio Pellizzari, now shorn of his domestique duties for Roglič, even dropping Carapaz near the end.
Christian Scaroni and King of the Mountains Lorenzo Fortunato secured a one-two for both XDS Astana and Italy, ending the home nation’s barren run at the Giro. I told you a lot went on.
But the most worrying moment of Tuesday’s stage came on the sodden descent of the Carbonare climb with 100km to go, when breakaway rider Alessio Martinelli slid off the road in a horror crash.
The 24-year-old VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè narrowly avoided the safety barrier as he careened off the road on a right-hand bend, plunging 10 to 15 metres down the ravine, which was covered by trees and branches, managing to slow his fall.
🚴🇮🇹 | Het is opnieuw glijden geblazen. Wat een lelijke val. We hebben inmiddels van Bardiani vernomen dat Martinelli niet in gevaar is gelukkig. 🙏 #giroditalia
📺 Stream koers op HBO Max pic.twitter.com/pzTpPwIKrC
— Eurosport Nederland (@Eurosport_NL) May 27, 2025
According to reports, Martinelli lost consciousness in the crash, but was soon treated by ambulance and mountain rescue staff, who were able to lift him back up onto the road on a stretcher, before taking him to hospital.
Reporting from a motorbike at the race, TNT Sports’ Adam Blythe said in the immediate aftermath of the crash: “The good news is that the ambulance is with him, and the mountain rescue team are lowering a stretcher down to him. But he was a good 15, 10 metres down, fingers crossed he’s okay.
“The ambulance is with him, the medical assistance is there, they’ve got about four or five guys being lowered down to him to assist him.
“The guy that I spoke to said ‘all okay, he’s with the medical crew’. So, fingers crossed.”
While many feared the worst after seeing images of the crash, Martinelli’s VF-Bardiani team soon confirmed that their rider was conscious and in a stable condition in hospital.
And last night, the Italian squad revealed that the 24-year-old, rather miraculously considering the circumstances, escaped his fall down a ravine with no fractures to show for it – just cuts to his chin and bum.
That bit of good news was welcomed by cycling fans on social media, who described the relatively minor list of injuries as a “miracle” and the Italian as a “lucky lad”.
“Moments of fear on the sixteenth stage of the Giro d’Italia, where Alessio Martinelli was involved in a fall, while riding with his teammate Luca Covili, in the central stages of the race,” the team said in a statement.
“Fortunately, medical tests have ruled out any fractures, only trauma to the chin and right buttock.”
And a good story to tell the grandchildren.
“Normally I’d have a bad day and give up”: Tom Pidcock admits “concentrating for three weeks” and riding for GC is “hardest thing I’ve done”, as British star aims for Giro d’Italia top 10 in Rome
After a blistering start to life at Q36.5, it’s fair to say that Tom Pidcock has flown relatively under the radar at the Giro d’Italia so far.
The Olympic mountain bike champion currently sits in 16th on GC, 8.35 down on race leader Isaac del Toro, and has racked up three top five placings, while a crash on the stage to Siena scuppered his chances to win on his favoured gravel roads.
But while his Giro is so far missing the stage victory many expected before the start in Albania, the 25-year-old British star admitted this morning that it’s all been part of the plan – because he’s aiming to finish in the top ten overall in Rome.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Though some onlookers believed his high-profile falling out with the Ineos Grenadiers, and subsequent transfer to Q36.5 last winter, stemmed from the British team’s repeated attempts to turn him into a grand tour contender, Pidcock told Eurosport that he entered this Giro with a clear GC-oriented mindset.
“Every day I’m exploring myself and finding new capabilities, and taking it day by day. I’m a guy who wants to win, but what I want to do is finish in the top ten,” he said before the start of today’s stage, which features the Mortirolo – a climb Pidcock conquered on his way to winning the stage and overall at the Baby Giro back in 2020.
“GC is harder than anything else I’ve done – for me to concentrate for three weeks, normally I’d have a bad day and give up.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
“But this is something I’ve never done before. Yesterday was such a hard day, and to keep going all the way to the finish is just going to make me a better bike rider. And if I’m going to try to win the biggest races, this is good for me.
“It’s definitely a challenge I’m enjoying. It’s difficult to really motivate yourself and dig really deep when you’re not fighting for the win, but I’m now just racing myself.
“My numbers are in some areas the best they’ve ever been, so it just shows how high the level is here.”
Hire bike company that made customer data accidentally available on app says it is treating leak “with utmost urgency”
As the riders approach the Motirolo, we’ll move away from the Giro for a moment and onto the world of hire bikes, where a user of OxyBykes, a bike rental company based in Oxford, Cambridge, and London, has revealed that they were accidentally granted administrative level access to the company’s database earlier this month.
The BBC reported that it has seen screenshots, sent by the anonymous customer, displaying confidential data including names, contact details, and order history.
However, OxyBykes, which operates its own fleet of bikes for both hire and sale, says the security breach had been resolved and that potentially affected customers would be contacted.
The customer told the BBC that they noticed the glitch while trying to contact the company’s support team, after struggling to locate a bike they had rented, finding the data via a button on the mobile app, which they claimed was accessible for a week.
The customer added that they received a WhatsApp message from OxBykes founder Louis Wright after flagging the error, explaining the reason behind it and requesting that they do not release any confidential information.
“We were made aware today that a very limited selection of customer data from a small number of customers may have been accessed as a result of a previously resolved vulnerability,” CEO Tom Widgery said in a statement.
“We are treating this matter with the utmost urgency and are currently speaking to our lawyers to understand the full implications of the situation. We have already taken steps to patch the security flaw and are working to understand the extent of any data exposure.
“We are also reporting the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office and are preparing to contact any potentially affected customers directly.”
Boom! Richard Carapaz launches big attack on the Mortirolo, dropping Del Toro, Yates, Bernal, and Gee – but pink jersey group looks set to regain contact
Richard Carapaz is flying.
The ever-aggressive EF leader, smelling blood after yesterday’s attacking ride in the mountains, has launched his latest move for pink with another stunning acceleration near the summit of the Mortirolo.
That attack quickly dislodged his biggest rivals, including Simon Yates and Isaac del Toro, the pink jersey once again looking under pressure when the pace is upped.
However, despite Carapaz driving it on the steep, twisting descent through the forest, and teammate Georg Steinhauser waiting to pace him in the valley, the Ecuadorian is still hovering around 20 seconds ahead of the GC contenders, including Del Toro, who battled gamely to the summit.
But with 30km of what it essentially an uphill drag to the line in Bormio left, and Del Toro seemingly panicking with Carapaz up the road, inexplicably doing his own chasing despite teammates bridging from behind, there’s plenty of racing still left in this stage. And in this Giro.
Cube launches three new road cycling shoes, including “everyday” model that’s apparently as light and stiff as £150 version
Cube has announced three new road cycling shoes, spanning from the new £300 carbon-soled “pure performance” RD C:68X through to a £100 “everyday” Sydrix shoe that Cube claims is as stiff (and almost the same weight) as the pricer Sydrix Pro (£150).
Read more: > Cube launches three new road cycling shoes, including “everyday” model that’s apparently as light and stiff as £150 version
Cycling UK opens nominations for its 100 Women in Cycling 2025 list
Nominations have now opened for this year’s 100 Women in Cycling, Cycling UK’s annual awards list celebrating the women “pushing for progress one pedal stroke at a time”.
The 2025 list of winners, which in the past have included road.cc stalwart Laura Laker, as well as sporting stars such as Lizzie Deignan and community activists like deaf cycling campaigner Miriam Dubois, will be announced by Cycling UK in the autumn, with nominations remaining open until 5pm on Monday 28 July.
“If you know someone who deserves to be recognised for inspiring others to make cycling part of their lives, it’s time to get nominating,” Cycling UK says. “The awards not only shine a light on inspiring game changers but also showcase the diversity among people who cycle.”
Sarah Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cycling UK, added: “It’s always an immense pleasure to announce the 100 Women in Cycling list. Each year we get the most extraordinary stories of women who have achieved remarkable things, empowering others to ride bikes and be more active.
“This year, our charity has centred its focus on the experiences of women who cycle, by highlighting the barriers that exist and what we can do to improve safety for all who want to get in the saddle.
“It feels more relevant than ever to platform women in this space making cycling more accessible, safe and appealing and I can’t wait to see all the nominations we get.”
Information on how to nominate can be found on Cycling UK’s website.
Are Specialized taking the 155mm cranks trend to the next level? New baby-sized ‘S-Works’ spotted
We know super-short cranks are all the rage these days – Jonas Vingegaard has even been spotted using ridiculously tiny unbranded 150mm cranks this season – but where will this trend for increasingly miniscule componentry end up?
Well, according to a video posted on Instagram by New York cycling clothing brand Ostory, could we soon be about to see the smallest S-Works ever made making its way to a bike shop near you?
Now, we currently don’t know where they got hold of that bike, but it is extremely cool. Cue a bunch of a parents forking out the big bucks so their five-year-old can whizz around the local park on their own S-Works.
“Why stop at the handlebars and cranks? Our new bike is lighter, way more aerodynamic, and fits in your pocket,” Ostroy wrote.
I know they’re joking, but there’s definitely at least one aero enthusiast looking into super tiny bikes as we speak…
The bull is back! Pink jersey Isaac del Toro makes huge statement with stunning attacking comeback win in Bormio, increasing Giro lead with first ever grand tour stage victory
Attack, as they say, is the best form of defence.
And over the last day or so, Isaac del Toro has firmly been on the defensive. The young Mexican, so assured during his first week in the pink jersey, was put on the ropes by Richard Carapaz’s attack to San Valentino yesterday, his formerly secure GC lead whittled away to almost nothing.
And this afternoon, during another thrilling stage in the mountains, on the iconic Mortirolo Del Toro again looked punch drunk, dropping almost immediately off the back of the group of favourites, as Carapaz soared clear.
But with the Ecuadorian marauder finally brought to heel on the long, mostly draggy uphill run-in to Bormio, and the biggest climbs behind them, Del Toro seemed to regain the swashbuckling mojo that had hitherto defined his spell in pink.
Near the top of the third category ascent to Le Motte, instead of biding his time and recovering, Del Toro attacked, viciously. Only Carapaz (surprise) was able to follow, the pair soon bridging across to lone breakaway survivor Romain Bardet – the retiring French hero’s romantic dreams of a farewell victory fading fast.
But not content with his initial show of force, on the fast approach to the finish, Del Toro attacked again, surging clear of Carapaz and Bardet to take his first career stage at the Giro – or any grand tour for that matter – and to lay down a huge marker ahead of the race’s decisive final stages, extending his GC lead by 15 seconds in the process.
He may have been teetering, but he’s not on the canvas just yet. In fact, Del Toro has shown he’s still more than capable of landing a few nifty jabs here and there.
Whether they’ll be able to deliver a knock-out blow remains to be seen, but one thing is clear – we have a cracking Giro on our hands.
Meanwhile, 15 seconds behind the resurgent UAE wonderkid, Simon Yates – who’s slipped to third behind Carapaz – opened up a small gap on a group containing climbing supremo Giulio Pellizzari, Derek Gee, Damiano Caruso (now confirmed as Bahrain Victorious’ leader after Antonio Tiberi’s early struggles on the Mortirolo), Einer Rubio, and the flying young Brit Max Poole, who’s moved up two places to 11th overall.
Tom Pidcock, eyes on a top ten overall, has also moved up to 13th, despite missing the key moves on Le Motte after launching a poorly timed attack on the drag before the climb.
“Sprint racing is brutal. Cat 2/3 is wild”: Shocking footage as dozens of cyclists crash in mass pile-up at amateur race in New Jersey, branded “straight-up carnage”
Here’s another two, this time on-board, angles of that crazy pile-up from earlier this week at the Tour of Somerville.
The three-day cycling event is held every year over Memorial Day Weekend in New Jersey and is the United States’ oldest major bike race still in existence, first run back in 1940 – not that those keen amateurs who hit the deck with five laps to go during the Cat 2/3 crit will care too much about the race’s illustrious history.
Dozens of riders were involved in the chaotic scenes which marred the amateur support race, a touch of wheels sparking a shockingly huge pile-up at 30mph, riders and bikes stacked three or four deep amid the sickening crunch of metal:
“Tough day… Really sorry for those who went down,” rider Serghinio Pachon Bedoya, who posted footage of the crash from within the peloton, which he miraculously emerged from unscathed, said.
“Sprint racing is brutal. Thank God for my guardian angel! Cat 2/3 is wild.”
“The guiltiest thrill when you feel the carnage brush your shin, but you still make it through,” one Instagram user said in response to Serghinio’s unlikely path to safety.
Meanwhile, fellow camera-wielding racer Claudio Marquez, who was among the fallers, landing at the bottom of a huge pile of flesh and carbon fibre, posted his own shocking, close-up clip of the crash:
“I was lucky. Glad to see people get back up. I had to get out of there quickly,” Marquez wrote.
“The sound of carbon crashing brings back all kinds of feelings from my crash last year. I didn’t realise I still have trauma from my collarbone break, definitely still do.
“I got back in the race but didn’t have the heart to keep riding with ‘win’ intensity in the last five laps. Hope everyone is ok! Heal up and see ya on the next one.”
According to Marquez, whose tyre was slashed in the spill, it took the organisers 15 minutes to clear the road and resume the race.
The comments to these eyewatering videos are just as you’d expect, with one slightly less than empathetic cyclist noting that “there’ll be a lot of deals on Facebook Marketplace” after the crash.
“Race crits they said. It will be fun they said,” said another.
“The people who are falling one hour after, are they riding with their eyes closed?”
“Nailed it.”
“That was just straight up carnage!” Now that’s an understatement.
“There’ll be a lot of deals on Facebook Marketplace”: Whatever the pros can do, the amateurs can do better… When it comes to crashing, anyway
Giro d’Italia: ‘There’s been plenty of crashes lately.’
Random Cat 3 race in New Jersey: ‘Hold my beer… and broken bike’:
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The officer's comments unfortunately reflect the reality of UK law. While the Highway Code guidance indeed refers to 1.5m, that is not anywhere in the law. And the criteria in law for proving a charge of careless driving does in fact rest on whether the rider is being "inconvenienced", as the discovered several years ago when the Met prosecuted a taxi driver who nearly hit me when cutting into my lane from the left near Marylebone. The prosecution lawyer was a barely competent newbie who fumbled over his words. The court computer was barely capable of playing the video footage, which kept freezing and crashing. The cabbie had an highly assertive defence lawyer who immediately seized on this point, and argued to the magistraite that I clearly hadn't been "inconvenienced" because I had not stopped or swerved, and had carried on my journey. Never mind that didn't have time to do either of those things, or that I was centimetres from being hit - the magistraite acquitted him on those grounds. That is unfortunately the outrageous reality of actually prosecuting a close pass incident. I know it's popular to blame the police and the CPS for not prosecuting enough close passes ... but the fact is the law is inadequate, and if the driver has a good lawyer then they can likely get off most close pass prosecutions.
Let's not forget the protruding "side" mirror...
HTML rules are clearly only partially implemented
please can we have the ability to use bold and italics for emphasis back as well?
As a Reading resident and cyclist, I can say I cannot think of a single occasion when I have seen a cyclist using the Sidmouth St cycle lane, nor can I think of any reason I'd use it myself. It doesn't connect to any other useful cycle routes. I don't rejoice that some of it is going back to motor traffic but I can see why the council is proposing to do that. Reading could really do with a cycleway to cross the town centre west to east and east to west but I'm not holding my breath on that.
Giant are one of the most trustworthy brands out there when it comes to manufacturing components given that they actually own their own production facilities. None of that matters though when it comes to road hookless, I and most other people won't touch it with a barge pole. We're surely at a stage now where it's toxic amongst consumers and it's only a matter of time before the UCI ban it for racing.
Filling the road with one person per car is using the road space more efficiently, amazing, I never realised that.
I bought a Giant Defy recently and immediately sold off the hookless wheels at a pretty big loss and won't ever do that again. I'm not buying hookless for road ever. Giant in particular has very short list of what tires they test with their rims so it's way too restrictive even if I was going to ride hookless wheels. Which I won't. Very short sighted by Giant.
Insulting someone on the basis of their ethnicity, gender or sexuality is a hate crime, calling them fat isn't. It would be the homophobia, not the fat-shaming, for which he was charged.
There will be new entry in the revised and increased version of the Dutch dictionary : woutvanaerted (adjective), cursed, jinxed woutvanaert (substantive), bad luck that keeps coming back
1 thought on ““There’ll be lots of deals on Facebook Marketplace”: Shocking footage as dozens of cyclists crash in mass pile-up at amateur race branded “straight-up carnage”; New tiny S-Works the latest tech evolution?; Del Toro’s Giro comeback + more on the live blog”
Are the other two discussing
Are the other two discussing whether they can interrupt him yet?