“Dangerous” and “disgraceful” cycle lane and zebra crossing terrifies residents; Simon Yates “would love to” return to Giro d’Italia as 2026 route unveiled; Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling announced + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
"Swift by name, Swift by nature"
I’m a big fan of pros reminding us they’re utterly insane athletes. I’m also a fan of riders behaving just like you and me. Maybe I just love cycling…
Anyway, after Mathieu van der Poel set pulses racing a few weeks ago with speculation of an Ironman, veteran Ineos road captain Ben Swift has only gone and set a 10k PB…
32:13 is an utterly insane time for the 38-year old (indeed anyone), and for the Brit who has been coy on his future plans. Formally out of contract at the end of the month, rumours have suggested he’ll either become a directeur sportif or secure a one-year contract extension with the Ineos Grenadiers. He’s hardly out of shape in any event.
Should Swift keep riding then the 38-year old will become the last active rider from Team Sky’s inaugural roster in 2010. Heck, he’ll be the last World Tour rider in the peloton who competed in the Olympic Road race in Beijing 2008. Talk about longevity…
Cycling UK announce 100 Women in Cycling winners after controversy of exclusion of trans and non-binary people
Cycling UK have announced their winners of the 100 Women in Cycling competition for 2025. Among this year’s nominees are Mel Erwin, a campaigner with stage four cancer who took part in Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4 earlier this year. In an Instagram post she said she was “beyond proud to be recognised”.
Also nominated was commentator and guide book author Hannah Collingridge, who said she was “dead chuffed” by the award, adding that “I do not work in a vacuum. This isn’t just about me. I get a lot of support from friends and family, and some good people in the industry who support what I do”.
This year’s awards have not been without controversy. Several nominees last month announced they would be declining the award following the decision made by Cycling UK to exclude trans and non-binary people from consideration.
The charity said the decision was made following legal advice based on their interpretation of a recent Supreme Court ruling. They added that “this update to the rules doesn’t alter our strong commitment to supporting all those who cycle, including transgender and non-binary people.
“We truly believe cycling is for all, and we’ll keep working towards that goal.”
None of this of course should detract from the great work done by the award winners that has been recognised this week.
That said, this is a deeply nuanced story with many contrasting viewpoints. You can read more details and all-important context behind the story below.
Campagnolo confirms job losses as part of financial plan after report 40% of staff laid off after third year of heavy losses
A spokesperson for Campagnolo confirmed to road.cc that “Discussions between the company and trade unions are ongoing, with possible positive developments regarding a schedule of meetings that has already been defined.”
A feel good graphic for your Tuesday...
Since 2016, we’ve expanded London’s Cycle Network by over 475% – and there is much more to come!
— Will Norman (@willnorman.co.uk) 2 December 2025 at 10:47
Italian pro retires after nearly having arm amputated
Most professionals retire with relatively banal concerns such as a failure to get a contract at the level they want, or a lack of willingness to continually make extraordinary sacrifices. And then there’s Davide Cimolai…
The Italian lead-out man, most recently contracted to Movistar, had hoped to ride on next year but has endured a torrid year on the bike that nearly ended entirely when his arm was nearly amputated following an infection.
“I was supposed to ride the Giro d’Italia , so I went to the [Tour de} Romandie, and then the worst thing happened. I had a serious infection in my arm, following a wound I’d ignored. I had to be hospitalised and nearly had my arm amputated,” he told bici.pro
“But the biggest problem, ironically, wasn’t the arm itself, but the massive doses of antibiotics I had to take. They weakened me greatly. For example, I had never had an ear infection, but in a few weeks I had three.
“These problems prevented me from reaching 100 percent fitness , which is essential for being competitive and having fun, especially at 36 years old.”
Having spent the season as a lead-out for the winless, departing Fernando Gaviria, the likelihood of a contract renewal was going to be difficult, but the Italian has called it quits. As for the future, Cimolai has hinted at staying involved with the sport, as well as starting a business “in the agricultural sector” without giving further details. My money’s on a vineyard…
> Chris Froome’s retirement limbo leaves the sport of cycling to grapple with a difficult legacy
Pain caves don't have to be a hovel...
*goes off to google “sweat-resistant, wickable rugs”…*
Specialized blames faulty GIF, not AI, for image of bizarre front wheel cassette
Remember when you were reading yesterday’s live blog? Of course you do.
You’ll be familiar then with the mirth and consternation that was caused by Specialized posting a photo of their latest Roval Rapide with a cassette on the front wheel. If not, here’s the link.
Well, our trusty editor Dan has been down the rabbit hole, through and out the other side. Is it dodgy AI? Not quite…
POV: You're reconning the wet Roubaix cobbles
Ever wondered what it feels like to be ?? Wout van Aert on the cobbles of ?? Paris-Roubaix?
He has given us the best look yet with the new Oakley Meta glasses.
? Wout van Aert pic.twitter.com/9UHW8udEgr
— Domestique (@Domestique___) December 1, 2025
Wout van Aert, Oakley Meta glasses, cyclocross and spring training has started in earnest…
Giro d'Italia route analysis: Harder, but better? Faster, but stronger?
The men’s and women’s Giro d’Italia routes were announced yesterday, in a very long and over-elaborate ceremony in Rome yesterday, we just had time to cover it yesterday, but let’s give it a little more attention now.
First the Men’s. Starting with sprint opportunities in Bulgaria, the Giro will return to Italian soil on stage four. The first ‘proper’ mountain test is also the longest stage of any Grand Tour in the past decade, a whopping 246km stage that ends at the summit of Blockhaus.
The second week gets underway with a pan-flat 40km time trial that might be enough to tempt World Champion Remco Evenepoel to attempt the Giro-Tour double. Meanwhile, slightly lower altitude metres than this year might be enough to tempt Jonas Vingegaard to do the same, with the Dane still hopeful of one day becoming only the eighth male rider to win all three Grand Tours.
Regardless, the most dramtic days will come in the final week, with stage 19 surely the race’s Queen Stage with a summit of the Passo Giau one of six summits to be tackled that day. A summit finish the following day to Piancavallo then precedes a final day sprint in Rome.
Besides Vingegaard and Evenepoel, it would be rude not to mention the defending champion Simon Yates. Though a teammate of Vingegaard, Yates was in attendance at the route presentation yesterday, and afterwards spoke to the media of his love for the race and his dream of lining up with the number 1 dossard on his back.
“I’d love to come back. Not many people are able to race a Grand Tour with a number one race number. There’s still a lot of discussions going on behind the scenes in the team about which riders will target the different races. We’ll find out soon.
“It’s a complex puzzle that also includes my role in the Tour de France and other riders,” the Bury rider added to CyclingNews.
UAE are also set to line-up with at least one of this year’s runner-up Isaac Del Toro or Vuelta runner-up João Almeida, whilst other contenders could include the currently team-less Derek Gee, and Movistar’s new signing Cian Uijtdebroeks.
The women’s race is growing again, up to nine days in length and no longer clashing with the men’s Tour de France, to the relief of everyone concerned.
Starting with a flat stage in Cesenatico, the racing highlights will come in Stage 4’s mountain time trial, and Stage 8’s homage to Stage 20 of the men’s race this year, with a summit of the fearsome Colle delle Finestre, and its steep gravel section, before climbing on to the ski resort at Sestriere.
But rather than a procession, the final stage is a hilly stage including passage of the category-1 Montoso. It’s ripe, if circumstances allow, for a breakaway ambush on the final day.
The two-time defending champion is Elisa Longo Borghini who will likely be up against this year’s runner-up Marlen Reusser, and maybe even Demi Vollering. How the women’s best will schedule their racing around a new-look racing calendar we will have to wait and see.
Four ultra-rare Colnagos – including Pogačar’s Y1Rs – go under the hammer at Sotheby’s
Do YOU have £30,000 or so spare? Do YOU struggle to find Christmas presents for the fellow cycling fans in your life? Do YOU love Abu Dhabi-based auctions? Have we got a story for you…
Bernal & Blummenfelt go riding...
Talk about polar opposites, in both a physiological and equipment-related sense. A Tour de France champion and Ironman having fun in Mexico…
"As per usual the cyclist isn't in the cycle lane": plans for a new cycle lane attract derision after featured image shows cyclist not using the infrastructure
Death, taxes, Facebook frothing. The world keeps spinning, the cycle lane keeps provoking.
Today’s highlight comes from Peterborough where the City Council has unveiled plans to introduce a permanent, two-way cycle lane on Crescent Bridge in the city centre.
The cycle lane would replace the existing left-hand eastbound traffic lane between the off-carriageway route and Loverose Way and would have priority access. The proposal also states that the new cycle lane should be the “priority route for future funding” as it will be required to connect the future Thorpe Road scheme into the city centre, as reported by the Peterborough Telegraph.
It should be said that this is just a proposal waiting to be presented by a council working group to a scrutiny committee later this week, and there’s been temporary infrastructure on the bridge before. Which, funnily enough, is the choice of featured image the Telegraph included on their Facebook post…
Cue the predictable comments…
“Love the way this photo shows a cyclist not using the dedicated cycle lane??” wrote one.
“Well it’s working well. As per usual the cyclist isn’t in the cycle lane” added another.
“Sorry can’t fit any cars on that road as it is but why not add a cycle lane I’m sure that will be a great idea”
“Red letter day today! I actually saw a cyclist using the nice new red cycleway on Thorpe Wood!!”
You get the idea.
To be clear, there’s no obligation for cyclists to use the cycle lane, and we’ve often reported on how poorly maintained cycle lanes can discourage people from using them.
Still, kudos are due to the people in the commenters who stuck their heads above the proverbial parapet.
“Perhaps if some of the car driver got on a bike, especially the ones that only travel 3 or 4 miles, it would ease the traffic on crescent bridge,” wrote Michael Fulcher.
“At last!!! The one place in the city that needs a cycle lane for the safety of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians????” added Sharon Sim.
Perhaps the sanity of a less car-centric world is slowly but surely seeping into the rage-bait of local journalism comment sections. Fingers crossed…
"We're not perverts": World Naked Bike Ride cyclist punched off bike by motorcyclist calls assault "occupational hazard" and hopes to change public perception
A little coda to a story we’ve been following for a while which includes this rather unfortunate quote:
“I knew I hadn’t broken anything because I could move my legs. But I had gravel in places I didn’t think you could get gravel into.”
The "dangerous" and "disgraceful" cycle lane terrifying Norfolk residents
Residents of Gorleston, Great Yarmouth have spoken out against a newly installed cycle lane and zebra crossing.
The Great Yarmouth Mercury reports that the measures, installed to improve safety for students going to and from East Norfolk Sixth Form College, have led drivers to complain they are being forced to stop suddenly coming off the roundabout at the end of Middleton Road.
A spokesperson for Norfolk County Council said “The scheme has been primarily designed to improve safe walking and cycling access to and from the local college and the changes made have been positively received.
“We are not aware of any complaints regarding the design, which has undergone a full safety audit and follows best practice guidance.”
But that’s not what the Mercury are hearing from residents.
82-year old Les West said “All they needed to do was trim the roundabout. It is disgraceful for so many reasons.
“Cars come across the roundabout and before they reach it they are on to the pedestrian crossing. Everyone is sick and tired of it. They have made a busy road into a dangerous road.”
Another resident, Jane Barrett, said she “nearly had an accident” when pulling into the roundabout, adding “The crossing is too near the roundabout. It is right on the edge of the roundabout.”
Clive Hurst meanwhile took a more pragmatic view, adding that “If there were traffic lights it would be safe. They are trying to solve a problem that is not there.”
Norfolk Council say there are still some additional measures to be introduced and they will be companied by further safety checks. Hopefully this will be enough to quell local concerns.
And, if you can’t get enough of the opinions of the general public on this matter, then you can enjoy the internet’s best and worst below:
2 December 2025, 09:35
Seamlessly transitioning on the live blog from the global to the parochial...
US imports of Chinese bikes recover slightly amid uncertainty of Trump tariffs
Bicycle imports on the rise since early summer low point, but picture remains uncertain due to controversial economic policy
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Latest Comments
@belugabob I think the (conservative!) Baron John Bird @ Big Issue puts it well: a hand up, not a handout. I think a fairly narrowly focused tax break on specific assistance vehicles should fit that ideal very well! Of course "but rich people can abuse tax breaks". But ain't it the case that the rich are not infrequently rich (or richer) by sharp practice, and that has been true since at least the start of history?
@belugabob following Chris Boardman's rule of "those most affected get to make the decisions but also own the consequences" ... ... I hope they leave a couple of quid from the grant to buy them a card which says "you chose 'do nothing' - your right. But therefore no right to extra cash to try to sort out any congestion, the crumbling road infra which we just can't keep up with, and the health and economic consequences of declining activity in the population".
I feel sorry for the staff whose jobs are at risk.
@sclarke3@talktalk.net there's a bit of a vanity thing going on with a great deal of Walmart money. They are very into their cycling, bikesnobnyc has written a bit about the very cycling company town. My better half got me some leg and arm warmers for my birthday. I look forward to wearing them when the going gets much colder. I did manage to punch myself in the face, twice, when trying to get the right arm one on, a lesson learned and I will try not to do it again.
Drives me mad at the Westminster end of the Embankment cycle lane, where there will often be enough cyclists queuing that you might, shock horror, have to wait for two traffic light cycles before you get through. So many cyclists just jump to the front and expect you to make space for them. Worst example I saw was a pedicab driver who overtook the 50 odd queuing cyclists and then sat blocking the cycle traffic in the opposite direction.
Re: the snarky Geraint Thomas caption "sunglasses that peaked probably a decade prior" - to be fair, that became a bit of a personal brand.
@jackcycles so...disabled people don't want any help....? if you dig any deeper, you'll hit the bedrock
@perce not mum...Petri dish
@jackcycles I see that your empathy is still in the post 🙄
I'd be all for this. A tandem itself would not be specially adapted, but would be necessary given the desire to ride a bike and the disability. It seems to be the same principle if someone wants to buy a ramp - if you can self declare as disabled it's VAT exempt, if not it's not. However, should we stop there ... I have one leg and wear a prosthetic, while my 'good' leg has muscle damage so is weak. To get back to cycling I had to spend double on an ebike than I would have on an otherwise similarly specced non-ebike ... Not adapted (apart from the clipless pedals to make sure my fake foot stays connected to the bike) but necessary for me personally. It would be interesting if the government were to consider other cases if they listen to Lizzi's.
18 thoughts on ““Dangerous” and “disgraceful” cycle lane and zebra crossing terrifies residents; Simon Yates “would love to” return to Giro d’Italia as 2026 route unveiled; Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling announced + more on the live blog”
Is there ever a car lane?
Is there ever a car lane?
The third lane of a motorway?
The third lane of a motorway?
Maybe we’re misreading the
Maybe we’re misreading the Peterborough picture and it’s actually showing cars in the dedicated cycle lane.
Or, more seriously, perhaps the temporary lane wasn’t very helpful for those wanting to turn right at the roundabout (though, to be fair, there is a (circuitous) underpass alternative).
Are there any signs to advise
I can’t see any signs in this photograph to advise that barriered off space is a cycle lane. How would anyone know if that space isn’t for some roadworks?
I don’t know if it was bi
I don’t know if it was bi-directional. There was at least some signage at the other end.
Motorists should concentrate
Motorists should concentrate on the serious problems like drunk and/or drugged killer driving, not the occasional cyclist not in a cycle lane. As far as I can see, there is no way to get back on the cycle lane if you miss the entrance.
Clearly the reason the
Clearly the reason the cyclist isn’t using the cycle lane in the Peterborough Telegraph’s picture is that there’s a bloody stupid Peterborough Telegraph photographer standing in it.
Rendel Harris wrote:
Apart from the fact that they are all cycle lanes, of course.
road.cc wrote:
I’d be more concerned about a sweat-resistant Porsche.
It could be that the cyclist
It could be that the cyclist should have used the lane. Although if they are anything like me, they missed the entry point and are stuck where they don’t want to be !
Raige bait is Oxford
Raige bait is Oxford University Press phrase of the year.
HarrogateSpa wrote:
They do spell it a bit differently, though.
What are those drivers doing
What are those drivers doing on the A452, when there’s a perfectly good M6 right alongside it – provided at enormous cost, I might add.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1CdDo6BiQx1BCjs18?g_st=ac
“…after controversy of
“…after controversy of exclusion of trans and non-binary people…” The best way to stop this ongoing and fruitless controversy is to create specific categories for cyclists who don’t or can’t say if they are XX or XY. Period.
Since this wasn’t for
Since this wasn’t for ‘cyclists’, that would be entirely irrelevant and unhelpful.
But we should know!
But we should know!
… unless they’ve taken the initiative and helpfully displayed their genitals (and everything else), in which case they’re a pervert and we should have nothing to do with them (and probably lock them up, is this right?)
I fell off three times just
I fell off three times just watching Wout’s wet cobble recon.
Cyclist not in the cycle lane
Cyclist not in the cycle lane: perhaps the cyclist thought the road was cordoned off and closed because of works on the bridge.