“We’re not riding a f***ing sportive, are we?” Tom Pidcock hits out at decision to scrap Vuelta stage win and tells pro-Palestine protesters: “Putting us in danger won’t help your cause”; Driver meltdown over “woke” £27m bike lanes + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
The quickest ‘can’t park there, mate’ mate in history?
One rainy morning Voi bike ride in, and Edi.Bike – a cycling campaign group in Edinburgh – have already fallen victim to the classic, geofence-contradicted cry of ‘Oi, mate! You can’t park there!’
First proper ride on a Voi bike and already had a ‘can’t park there mate’ from a business owner 😅 (The geofence doesn’t lie!)
— 🚲 edi.bike | weekly news digest (@edi.bike) September 3, 2025 at 10:08 AM
I’m sure the Telegraph will be all over this…
From sunshine to showers (but expect another sprint)… Stage two of the Tour of Britain gets underway in rainy Stowmarket
While Tuesday’s opening stage of the Tour of Britain in Southwold was one for sunglasses and short sleeves (or at most a light jacket), the glorious sunshine that greeted the riders has given way to cold, damp conditions, and plenty of rain jackets and overshoes, at the sign-on in Stowmarket:
🇬🇧 #TourOfBritain | ST 2
🚩 Stowmarket
🏁 Stowmarket
🛣️ 169.3km👉 Another big chance for the sprinters — @MatevzGovekar and the TBV lead-out train are ready to make the most of it.#RideAsOne #rideforGino @TourofBritain pic.twitter.com/0oK4o955kf
— Team Bahrain Victorious (@BHRVictorious) September 3, 2025
Despite the inclement weather, today’s flat 169km loop around mid-Suffolk (which also finishes in Stowmarket) should provide another opportunity for the sprinters, following Olav Kooij’s last gasp win yesterday.
That is, if the 40kph gusts expected in the afternoon don’t make it through the hedges and blow the peloton to bits. Surely there’s an open, echelon-friendly section somewhere in Suffolk?
Vinted find of the day: A Mike Burrows carbon wheelset – for just £230
Vinted, as we told you last month, is staking its claim as the new home of cycling bargains, after the online marketplace officially added bike, e-bikes, and parts to the items which can be sold on its app, while also providing door-to-door shipping.
And while Pinarellos, Cannondales, and Treks have all been popping up on the second-hand site over the past few weeks, one item in particular caught our eye this week:
Yep, that’s right. A Vinted seller is flogging a pair of 1990s Mike Burrows carbon fibre wheels for just £230.
Created by the fabled British bike designer to go with his early groundbreaking, super-compact Giant TCR and aero MCR frames from 1997, the seller helpfully tells us that the wheels are in very good condition and will “fit any racing bike and spin very nice, no buckles at all”.
> Remembering the Giant MCR, one of the first truly aero road bikes that ripped up the UCI rule book
Right, now I just need to wait for a ’97 MCR to pop up on Vinted and I’m good to go for next year’s time trial season…
“Our focus here is on our sport, not on politics or any particular position in this matter. I respectfully urge you not to endanger either us or yourselves”
As pro-Palestine protests ramp up at the Vuelta, and with the race passing through the Basque Country today, things could soon get even messier:
> “We’re just cyclists doing our job”: Anti-Israel protest causes crash at Vuelta, as rider says peloton “feels in danger”
“Cyclists are not involved in political or social disputes – they are simply doing their job: racing”: Riders’ union president Adam Hansen urges pro-Palestine protesters to keep riders safe, warning “actions that endanger athletes cannot be accepted”
Riders’ union president Adam Hansen, an outspoken advocate for increased safety measures at races in recent years, has weighed in on the anti-Israel protests which have become a prominent fixture at this year’s Vuelta, urging activists to ensure that the peloton is never put at risk.
This morning, Simone Petilli, the Intermarché-Wanty rider who crashed when pro-Palestine campaigners ran onto the road and into the middle of the bunch during yesterday’s Vuelta stage, admitted that the peloton feels “in danger” due to the demonstrations, which are taking place in protest against Israel-Premier Tech’s continued involvement in cycling’s biggest races.
And now, former pro Hansen, the president of CPA riders’ union, has echoed Petilli’s appeal that the peloton is simply “doing our job” and therefore shouldn’t be put in danger by protesters.
“The CPA wishes to express its full support to the riders following yesterday’s incident, where a protest on the road caused a crash during the race,” Hansen posted on X/Twitter today.
“We remind everyone that cyclists are not involved in political or social disputes — they are simply doing their job: racing. Their safety must never be put at risk.
“While we respect the right to peaceful protest, actions that endanger athletes cannot be accepted. Rider safety must remain the highest priority.
“The CPA stands firmly with the riders: they just want to race in safe conditions.”
Teams urge Israel-Premier Tech to pull out of the Vuelta due to “increased security risks” – as riders tell organisers they will continue as long as protests are peaceful
The tension at the Vuelta has ratcheted up a notch this morning, with reports emerging that several teams have called for Israel-Premier Tech to pull out of the grand tour, due to the “increased security risks” associated with their continued involvement in the race.
With the Vuelta peloton set to take on a tough loop based around Bilbao in the Basque Country, one of the hotbeds of pro-Palestine support, Daniel Friebe has reported from the ground that a number of riders told representatives from the CPA riders’ union that they would prefer if Israel-Premier Tech withdrew.
A meeting between the team representatives, the CPA, and race organisers took place at the start line to discuss the issue.
[Credit: Daniel Friebe, X]
Elia Viviani, a CPA rep, told Friebe that riders said during the meeting that they would race today as long as the expected protests are “peaceful”, and that if the race gets stopped, the peloton would reassess their options.
Viviani has also said that the CPA wouldn’t demand that IPT’s riders should pull out, insisting that “we wouldn’t go against our colleagues”.
Meanwhile, Friebe says he has heard anecdotal reports of Israel-Premier Tech riders being insulted in the peloton and on groupchats for “their assumed political views”.
“Strong feeling among riders this morning was that they want UCI to intervene,” Friebe posted on X/Twitter. “They feel exposed on an issue that’s beyond their knowledge/expertise/desire to expose private position.”
We’ll have more on this when we get it.
First protest of the day hits the Vuelta before Kilometre Zero
We always knew there were going to be protests today.
So, it’s no surprise that the first one duly arrived before the riders had even left the neutralised zone, as banner-waving protesters gathered on the road, bringing the peloton to a very early halt.
Fortunately nobody was hurt, and the protesters were very quickly cleared. The race is now underway, with green jersey points-hunting Mads Pedersen currently leading the charge up the road, as the pace remains high on the early climbs.
Dragons, race results, Welsh flags, and lots of gold… It could only be Geraint Thomas’ special edition Tour of Britain Pinarello Dogma
On yesterday’s live blog, we shared a video of Geraint Thomas’ custom-painted Pinarello Dogma, designed to mark the retiring Welsh legend’s final outing as a pro at this week’s Tour of Britain.
And now here’s a closer look at the machine G will be using as he rides off into the proverbial sunset in his home city of Cardiff on Sunday.
And boy, is it fancy…
Well, there had to be a dragon somewhere, didn’t there?
Not that a bad CV, that one. And a fitting final bike for a rider who’s helped shape British cycling over the past two decades.
Rain, potholes, car drivers being where they shouldn’t, and more rain: Welcome to the Tour of Britain, part two
Yesterday, a burst water main led to a quickfire route diversion. And this afternoon, the Tour of Britain peloton has been treated to two other mainstays of the British cycling experience: rain and terrible drivers…
Around 40km to go in Stage Two, and the four-man breakaway still holds a 2-minute advantage in wet conditions! 🌧️
📺 Watch the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men LIVE on ITV4 and YouTube#ToBM | @LloydsBank pic.twitter.com/UyBkwR0FLT
— Lloyds Tour of Britain (@TourofBritain) September 3, 2025
With the rain pouring down constantly on the narrow, pothole-laden roads of mid-Suffolk, two drivers also found their way onto the course as the peloton approached.
Luckily, the race’s motorbike riders were on hand to make sure the route-invading motorists were pulled well in and that the bunch could pass them safely, with the exception of the odd dirty look thrown in the drivers’ direction.
Welcome to Britain, everyone.
Fancy a new seven grand Pinarello? You’re in luck, because Geraint Thomas is holding a retirement raffle…
Perhaps inspired by his old mate Wiggo’s promise to draw the raffle numbers on the Champs-Élysées, Geraint Thomas is holding his own special raffle.
Marking the end of his career at the Tour of Britain, ‘G’s Final Race Raffle’ aims to raise funds for the 2018 Tour de France winner’s Geraint Thomas Cycling Trust by giving away some fancy tech and memorabilia, including a seven grand Pinarello.
The trust’s mission is to get 5,000 kids on bikes by 2028, supporting 32 community groups and a number of individuals since it handed out its first grant three years ago.
Raffle tickets are £5 each (and available here), with the top winner set to receive a brand-new Pinarello F-Series F7 Di2 bike worth £7,000. Which is well a fiver’s donation, I reckon.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Four other winners will nab one of the still pretty cool runner-up prizes, which include two pairs of signed SunGod glasses, a pair of special-edition QUOC shoes (of which only two have ever been made), a signed KASK Elemento Ineos helmet, and a signed Ineos Grenadiers team bundle.
Every single ticket sold will help GTCT get more kids on bikes, and can be bought here.
Let’s hope Geraint’s asked Wiggins to do the draw…
Suffolk, so good: Olav Kooij makes it look all too easy, as Dutch sprinter makes it two from two at Tour of Britain with dominant win in Stowmarket
Olav Kooij really likes the Tour of Britain, doesn’t he?
After a twitchy, nervous day on the sodden lanes of mid-Suffolk, the Visma-Lease a Bike sprinter secured his second win in two days – and the sixth Tour of Britain stage victory of his career – with a perfectly timed, powerful sprint in Stowmarket.
Bruce Rollinson/SWpix.com
On a tight, fast run-in punctuated by a late crash which brought down several riders, including Ineos GC hopeful Thymen Arensman, Kooij looked to be caught out of position as the Bahrain-Victorious lead-out for Matevž Govekar took control in the final kilometres.
But Kooij, confidence oozing from the Dutchman following his opening day win, kept calm, silkily drifting towards the front as Bahrain wilted.
And just like yesterday, when Tord Gudmestad almost caught him out with a surprise early move, Kooij remained patient when the Ineos Grenadiers’ British champion Sam Watson launched his own long-range sprint.
But when he finally went, Kooij was gone. Powering past the fading Watson on the slight drag to the line, the 23-year-old comfortably beat Flanders-Baloise’s Tom Crabbe by several bike lengths, as Watson managed to hold on for third and Irish champion Rory Townsend took fifth.
Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
Just how dominant is Kooij at the Tour of Britain? Well, put it this way. After securing back-to-back wins to kick off this year’s race, the Dutchman has won a staggering six of the ten Tour of Britain stages he’s started.
And the way he’s riding, you wouldn’t bet against him improving on that 60 per cent hit rate over the next few days.
Landismo and Landismo Jnr
Is there anything more romantic in cycling than a Mikel Landa attack on a steep climb, at the Vuelta, in front of his adoring Basque fans?
📢 𝐋𝐀𝐍 – 𝐃𝐈𝐒 – 𝐌𝐎
😍 Landa attacks on El Vivero! | ¡Mikel Landa, al ataque en el Vivero!#LaVuelta25 pic.twitter.com/qfnW97b0lL
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 3, 2025
The Spanish climber is currently out in front, alongside Santiago Buitrago, in the final 40km of today’s stage, as a chasing group containing Mads Pedersen and Eddie Dunbar looks like it’s going to be caught soon by the peloton.
But before Landismo made its way onto the Alto del Vivero, a mini-Mikel served as the warm-up act on the iconic climb:
Maybe Ayuso got wind that the kid has already been snapped up by UAE?
The other side of Landismo
No dream Basque win for Mikel Landa unfortunately, the Soudal Quick-Step climber dropping out of the breakaway with back problems:
❌La espalda de Mikel Landa dice basta y Santiago Buitrago se marcha solo en la cabeza de carrera en la etapa 11 de #LaVuelta25 a falta de 32 kilómetros para la línea de meta en Bilbao.#vueltartve3s en directo en @La1_tve y @rtveplay https://t.co/Mid7B2zOG9 pic.twitter.com/kXhlyR1ZuN
— Teledeporte (@teledeporte) September 3, 2025
Oh, Mikel, why do you always have to scupper our dreams?
More protests hit the Vuelta, as Palestine flag-waving spectators appear to throw things at riders on finishing straight in Bilbao and Tom Pidcock forced to duck under barrier on climb
More pro-Palestine protests have hit the Vuelta this afternoon, as flag-waving spectators appeared to throw items at the breakaway just before the finish line in Bilbao, and other activists stood holding a banner across the final climb.
As escapees Santiago Buitrago and Mikel Landa made their way across the line, ahead of the final lap around the Basque city, protesters at the side of the road began throwing what appeared to be pieces of paper.
🏁- 37,8 km | Stage 1⃣1⃣ Etapa 1⃣1⃣
💚 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐚 𝐝𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐞
1⃣ 🇪🇸 Mikel Landa – @soudalquickstep | 20 p.
2⃣ 🇨🇴 Santiago Buitrago – @BHRVictorious | 17 p.
3⃣ 🇩🇰 Mads Pedersen – @LidlTrek | 15 p.👋 @skoda_es | #LaVuelta25 pic.twitter.com/WyeUUhIX0e
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 3, 2025
By the time the chasing group, containing points-hunting Mads Pedersen, reached the same point, the road was filled with the items, while the group was forced to slow as officials moved onto the road to deal with the protest, appearing to push back the barriers in the process.
The slow-down meant Pedersen was unable to lead the group across the line at the intermediate sprint, though it seems the organisers have given the Dane the maximum 15 points on offer.
Nueva protesta por la presencia del equipo @IsraelPremTech en #LaVuelta25 a 27 kilómetros de la línea de meta de la etapa 11 con final en Bilbao.
🔴#VueltaRTVE3s en directo en @La1_tve y @rtveplay https://t.co/Mid7B2zOG9 pic.twitter.com/rcUhwdY5vo
— Teledeporte (@teledeporte) September 3, 2025
And then, on the final time up the steep Alto del Vivero, two protesters stood on the road holding a banner as the favourites passed, with Tom Pidcock among the riders forced to duck under the banner.
Vuelta stage in Bilbao to have no stage winner due to protests at finishing line – with GC times to be taken with 3km to go
Today’s stage of the Vuelta will not have a stage winner, the organisers have announced, due to safety concerns stemming from the pro-Palestine protests at the finishing line in Bilbao.
GC times will be taken at 3km to go, with the riders expected to race as normal until then, though they will not cross the finish line at all. The announcement was communicated to the riders with around 15km to go.
We’ll have more on this when we get it.
> Vuelta finish scrapped after pro-Palestine protest in Bilbao, with no stage winner and GC times taken 3km out
“Another waste of public money for the few”: Motorists in meltdown after £27 million spent on city’s “valiantly woke” cycle lanes “regardless of the suffering of others” – but cyclists say spending is “nowhere close to being enough”
The news that £27m has been spent over the past two years improving Sheffield’s walking, wheeling, and cycling infrastructure hasn’t gone down well with the city’s drivers, it seems, who have branded the active travel investment a “ridiculous waste of money” that is “destroying everything” and leading to the “suffering” of locals.
So, a pretty normal response, then.
As reported by the Sheffield Star, according to a Freedom of Information request, £27,157,322 has been spent in total on schemes throughout the city, including the controversial ‘Dutch-style’ roundabout at West Bar.
Opened in December, after almost two years of construction work, and months of delays, Sheffield’s Dutch roundabout at West Bar (only the second of its kind in the UK) aims to “make it easier for those on foot or on their bike… [while managing] the speed of traffic using the roundabout, increasing safety for everyone”, the council’s transport committee chair Ben Miskell said at the time.
However, while cyclists in the city described the new layout as “100 per cent safer for cyclists” compared to the mayhem that preceded it, others labelled it an “expensive disaster area” and evidence of the local authority “pandering to the few again that don’t even pay to be on the roads”.
Nevertheless, three-time Olympic team pursuit champion Ed Clancy, in his role as South Yorkshire’s Active Travel Commissioner, said the West Bar scheme “demonstrates Sheffield Council’s ambition and commitment to being at the forefront of design that gives people more freedom and choice about getting around”.
“New walking, wheeling and cycling projects are happening right across South Yorkshire, creating better places and more opportunities for us all to move more and move differently,” the 39-year-old said in December.
According to Sheffield City Council’s response to the FOI request, the £27m-plus figure spent over the past two years includes schemes that are still in development, and covers drainage and planting to reduce the risk of flooding.
The FOI request also asked the council to provide details of the number of cyclists using the schemes before and at the end of the two-year period. The local authority says it only tends to do counts after new cycle lanes have been running for a year, with no “post-scheme data” currently available for the recently finished projects.
“All schemes are funded through the current programme include an economic assessment before approval and increases included within that assessment are based on historical evidence,” the council said.
“The only route that has been substantially completed in the last two years is the route from Townhead Street to Neepsend and that is currently going through snagging (sorting out minor problems) and requires signing.
“The substantial completion only took place a few months ago, and while every scheme has a monitoring and evaluation period, we tend to look at numbers and make comparisons one year on from completion. To summarise – to date there is no post-scheme data.”
The council was also asked if it had any other method of measuring the success, or otherwise, of the works.
“Every scheme in progress or built recently has a monitoring and evaluation plan which will have a section comparing data,” the council replied.
“In some cases, schemes will rely on pre- and post-scheme manual counts, in other cases, it will use this, plus data collected by automatic counters, some of which have been in place many years.”
And while the number of cyclists availing of Sheffield’s new active travel infrastructure is yet to be determined, there was one number – £27m – that set the Sheffield Star’s Facebook comments section on fire.
“So that’s how much it costs to shut down a city centre these days,” said Dave Spooner.
“£27m quid. About £1m for every person that uses it,” added Nigel Short.
Christine Shaw echoed Nigel’s opinion that the infrastructure is underused, writing: “These cycle paths are ridiculous waste of money. I never see anyone on them and I have actually seen cyclists on the pavement when there is a cycle path next to it.
“It’s about time the council woke up to this farce they have created and spent our money on something worthwhile.”
On the other hand, anti-cycling bingo enthusiast Christopher Chapman is annoyed that all those pesky cyclists (who don’t exist, according to Christine and Nigel) keep getting all the nice infrastructure, while holding drivers up all the time.
“Yet more for cyclists, that do not have to have a licence, insurance, or to pass a test,” he said. “Many do not adhere to the Highway Code, think they own the road, seen riding side by side, or in convoy, and slowing motorists. Whomever pays for this, it is another waste of public money for the few.”
“So glad to know my taxes have been well spent, and I still have money left to repair my car after travelling on Sheffield’s well-kept road system,” added Mark Charlton.
“Why are authorities being allowed to destroy everything like this?” asked Alec Aubrey, presumably implying that making a city safe for people walking or cycling is akin to full-scale destruction.
> “A light-hearted joke”: Labour shadow transport secretary addresses backlash over cycling comments
“What about people who can’t ride a bike?” queried Gerald Manterfield, ignoring the fact that the schemes are also geared towards walking and wheeling.
Meanwhile, Anne Griffiths latched onto a buzzword we haven’t heard for a while
“Oh so very valiantly WOKE…. regardless of the suffering or discomfort of others, maximum Brownie points (Greenie points?) towards your WOKE credentials,” she wrote.
Brilliant Anne, top stuff. Great use of capitalisation, too.
Thankfully, some cyclists were on hand to provide some fact checking.
“These monies came from central government specifically for these projects. It isn’t the council’s money. But I guess people just like to moan without looking at the background,” said Heike Becker.
And Debora Waser added a bit of enthusiasm for the council’s plans, writing: “Awesome! Fully support more infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians. More please!”
However, Peter Atkin pointed out that Sheffield still has a long way to go when it comes to creating a safe, connected active travel network.
“Building roads only attracts more cars and makes people use them more/further,” he said. “The same follows for cycling infrastructure. See the Netherlands for proof.
“Whatever has been spent here is nowhere close to being enough and nor is it planned with any cohesive design. It’s all bits and bobs and half measures. Again, anyone that’s visited many European countries will understand.”
Well, considering someone chipped in with ‘Vote Reform’ in the comments, I’m not convinced Peter’s European line of thinking will hold much sway…
Tom Pidcock proves his GC credentials by dropping Jonas Vingegaard (briefly) on chaotic, truncated day at Vuelta a España – where bike racing came second to the outside world
On a strange, chaotic day in the Basque Country, we were reminded that some things are bigger, more important than bike racing.
But, in the same way that doping stories were swept under the rug just as quickly as they landed on the floor with an almighty splat back in the 2000s, cycling has proved adept at moving on sharply when world affairs start encroaching on the sports pages.
Unipublic / Cxcling / Antonio Baixauli
So, let’s talk about the racing, shall we?
Because, while it won’t be remembered for anything that happened out on the road, stage 11 of the 2025 Vuelta a España could well be the day that Tom Pidcock definitively introduced himself as a bona-fide GC contender.
On the final climb of the Alto del Pike, after the new 3km finish line had been announced, the British star launched a ferocious attack, which only red jersey Jonas Vingegaard could follow.
Then, it happened. Pidcock joined an extremely small, elite group of riders – led by Tadej Pogačar – who have dropped Vingegaard at a major race.
⛰ 3️⃣ 𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐄 𝐏𝐈𝐊𝐄
💥 Tom Pidcock, the best on the Pike Bidea climb!
💥 ¡Tom Pidcock, el mejor la subida a Pike Bidea!
💙 @loterias_es | #LaVuelta25 pic.twitter.com/Ye2N4kttE5
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 3, 2025
And while it was on the kind of short, steep climb he’s always excelled at, Pidcock’s performance on the Pike – combined with his steadily improving performances throughout this Vuelta – underlines his new-found capabilities as a GC contender at grand tours, and proves the final podium in Madrid is well within his grasp.
But, unfortunately for British fans dreaming of a red jersey bid, Vingegaard is Vingegaard, and the Dane regained contact with the Q36.5 leader over the top of the climb.
The pair (Vingegaard aware of the truncated finish, Pidcock apparently oblivious) then worked together on the descent to the 3km mark, gaining around 10 seconds on their nearest rivals.
Welcome to the grand tour club Tom, we’ve been expecting you.
Of course, as impressive as Pidcock was, all the headlines will focus on the protests against Israel-Premier Tech’s continued involvement in the Vuelta, which forced the organisers, with just 15km to go, to scrap the finish and divert the riders away from the centre of Bilbao.
That decision, prompted by the rowdy scenes which occurred first time up the finishing straight, underlines the fact that – try as it might – cycling cannot simply shut the curtains on the horrors of the outside world.
Especially when, as many would argue, the sport is showcasing a nice, sanitised version of that very world from inside the house.
“We’re not riding a f***ing sportive, are we?” Tom Pidcock hits out at decision to scrap Vuelta stage win and tells pro-Palestine protesters: “Putting us in danger won’t help your cause”
Tom Pidcock, it’s fair to say, wasn’t happy in Bilbao this afternoon.
The British star may have dropped Jonas Vingegaard and the rest of the Vuelta’s GC favourites with a powerful attack on the Alto del Pike, moving him onto the overall podium and underlining his newfound grand tour credentials following a series of impressive performances in the mountains.
But the Vuelta organisers’ decision to end the stage with 3km to go, with no winner declared, due to safety concerns prompted by the pro-Palestine protest taking place at the finish line opposing Israel-Premier Tech’s presence at the race, meant that Pidcock was denied the opportunity to race for just the second grand tour victory of his career.
And, judging by his demeanour at the finish, the 26-year-old was not impressed by that late, late call.
“It’s hard to describe the disappointment to be honest,” he told reporters at his team bus.
“I felt like today was my day. I feel like there should always be a finish line, we’re not riding a f***ing sportive, are we?”
Unipublic / Cxcling / Antonio Baixauli
Pidcock, who was also forced to duck under a banner held by two protesters standing on the road on the Alto del Vivero, appeared to continue riding past the 3km mark, as Vingegaard slowed – something he said was down to a simple lack of awareness of his surroundings.
“I was just doing a Tom Pidcock thing. I knew the finish line was at 3km, I just didn’t know where 3km was,” he admitted.
“I was too busy rotating with Jonas and we passed through there and I realised there wasn’t going to be winner. So, anyway…
“I think a lot of people talk about what’s on paper. And I’m not saying I would have won, but I had a good chance to win. It’s a disappointment, but I don’t want to waste any energy on it. There’s a long way to go.”
Asked whether he was scared when passing under the banner on the Alto del Vivero, Pidcock said: “No, not really. By that point, we were racing.”
“I think it’s not easy,” he continued, reflecting on the decision to scrap the finish. “The Vuelta did what they could, the organisation, to keep us safe. I don’t want to say anything political, I’m going to get in trouble.
“A lot of people have held back from talking about it publicly, but it is a bit scary sometimes in the peloton. I think as long as our safety is first, we can continue racing. And that’s what we’re here to do. Bike racing has got nothing to do with what’s happening.
“Putting us in danger isn’t going to help your cause. That simply isn’t going to help what they’re protesting for. Everyone’s got a right to protest whatever they want, but putting us in danger is not the way forward.
“From what I was told, today was going to be the biggest day of protests, so I think from now on it might be better.”
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Latest Comments
@belugabob Arguably it's easier this way - we don't actually need to do anything to the streets except stop drivers driving down every scrap of tarmac. Where I live, a few well-placed bollards would make walking/cycling/scooting the quicker option and safer, while maintaining 100% vehicular access - just not allowing through routes in every direction.
Sweet dreams from Bike@bedtime! Thank you for featuring this classic beaut.
@jackcycles wait a minute... I'm getting a sense of déjà vu ... **Khan!** Also on Mr. Stops - despite being at Hackney (which have done some good work) I believe he's been ... skeptical... of cycle infra. Perhaps he's of the vehicular cycling "I can so why can't everyone else" cult? Apparently he's also been involved with the National Federation of the Blind UK - a fringe group who managed to get some of the bigger groups on board a campaign taking aim at bus stop bypasses. (They believe these will cause havok for the visually impaired, despite these uncontroversially working in many places abroad. And indeed in the UK, for decades - but just not under that name.)
@chrisonabike - I agree, but my point was more about the reluctance/pushback involved, rather than the effectiveness/safety of any schemes that are/might be rolled out
Trams would be great! Wonder what happened to them...
Serious injuries as defined in statistics span from an uncomplicated fracture of a forearm bone to catastrophic multiple injuries that result in death in subsequent weeks and months. Consequently without further analysis they may be quite misleading, it may be that the statistics disguise what would otherwise have been fatal injuries at the roadside due to effective early treatment by first responders and subsequent trauma care OR that they reflect an increase in injuries at the lower edge of the severity spectrum OR neither. From the numbers alone we do not know and so are not in a good position to draw inferences about the seeming fall in deaths and rise in reported serious injuries.
@chrisonabike The intense resistance Network Rail seem to put up against absolutely any infrastructure project near the railways that would lead to more passengers on the railways is perpetually baffling to me.
@jackcycles Sorry Vincent, but your legacy will be to be remembered as a grumpy failure and pub bore, who twists facts to suit narratives and has never knowingly been correct about anything in his miserable life.
@mdavidford Surely we have been Norman since 1066?
@mdavidford Surely we have been Norman since 1066?
40 thoughts on ““We’re not riding a f***ing sportive, are we?” Tom Pidcock hits out at decision to scrap Vuelta stage win and tells pro-Palestine protesters: “Putting us in danger won’t help your cause”; Driver meltdown over “woke” £27m bike lanes + more on the live blog”
If it were 27 pence, the same
If it were 27 pence, the same people would complain. Now, tell them how many cm of motorway can be purchased for £27 million
motorways ThAt wE pAy FouR!!
motorways ThAt wE pAy FouR!!
Motorways that everyone pays
Motorways that everyone pays for. Cyclists pay income tax and vat, which are used to fund road building
Although not directly relevant, around 85% of cyclists also pay motor vehicle tax because they own cars / motor bikes etc as well as bicycles. Most motorists are either ignorant of this or choose to ignore it because it suits their brain dead dog whistle argument.
I am given to understand that
I am given to understand that the use of alternating capital letters indicates sarcasm.
Well. You learn something
Well. You learn something every day.🙂
Well that, and it’s Clem…
Well that, and it’s Clem…
Arguments don’t need to make
Arguments don’t need to make sense or have any grounding in reality. They just need to be vague and appeal to other knuckle draggers who can parrot them as their “common sense” opinion.
Yes but thats for the poor
Yes but thats for the poor hard done by motorist who has no infrastructure built for them.
Possibly the quickest shouted
Possibly the quickest shouted “house” in the history of anti-cycling bingo. Well done Sheffield!
£27m? Not even a single crumb from the transport budget’s table, but vastly better value for money than 99% of transport schemes.
‘seen riding side by side, or
‘seen riding side by side, or in convoy, and slowing motorists’
Cyclists must only travel stacked into giant pyramids, waterski-style, to avoid unnecessary delay to motorists.
alexcr wrote:
This sounds like it would make a curious AI-created picture.
However perhaps you mean something like this – which would probably be workable on “ebikes” of either kind?
Inverted pyramids of piffle?
Inverted pyramids of piffle?
I often wonder if road.cc is
I often wonder if road.cc is for or against cycling. Why print all that nonsense?
I went and had a look at the West Bar roundabout. It’s good – it works the way it’s supposed to. When I was there, it didn’t seem “controversial”, everyone was just geting on with navigating it calmly.
Good (short) article, good
Good (short) article, good video showing it’s navigable without stopping!
I think you highlight much of the “good” (actually what should be standard, if we expect any of this to do what it should).
“not much traffic here” – there have to be low “maximum motor traffic limits” *before* these are applied. They can’t just be installed hoping they’ll act as traffic calming, that’s a recipe for motorist complaints, perhaps aggression and certainly no “8-80 cycling”.
“continuous footway and cycle track” – this should just be how we do “non-motor-vehicle infra” and side streets – everywhere. Including “narrow the entrance to single-vehicle width” it seems – how it should be.
Details (just on the roundabout) which aren’t right – these are small but they’re important as they all help the goal:
Does the road in the middle have “adverse camber” to slow motorists? If not why not?
Why are the cycle tracks visually interrupted at some of the islands? They should just continue in red all the way round. (I’m guessing as the “tactiles” used are red, but that should be sorted – clarity of design…)
On main cycle paths we should be installing smooth asphalt surfaces, not blocks/bricks. (Those may be appropriate in “low traffic streets” as part of signalling to drivers this is an area to be going dead slow in, but not on “routes” for cyclists where making good progress is the goal).
The above should just be “how it’s done”. Standard, not “award-winning”…
On reading this article I was
On reading this article I was wondering why are they publishing all this excess negativity on a cycling site. I’d like to see the opposite, instead of all the anti-cycling comments instead publish an article on how great a new piece of cycling infrastructure is and highlighting the benefits of the new system.
In the process, it would be
In the process, it would be informative to have the works schedule (completed in 2 years) and the budget allocation (27 mil) for a multi-modal round-about.
Garmin told me at the w/e
Garmin told me at the w/e that I had a new PB – highest heart rate ever.
At my age, that’s not a record I am trying to achieve !
Ironically I got more wet
Ironically I got more wet following the ToB round yesterday than I did today, it just happened the race were just ahead of the rain yesterday, whereas today they werent. Though it was still sunny in spots.
If they’d wanted echelons for the cross winds they should have done a Tour of old RAF bases, and there are a few in Suffolk, as they’re generally very exposed to the wind & very little cover to hide behind, weirdly they routed between at least 3 of them too today.
Will the UCI add to its SAFER
Will the UCI add to its SAFER agenda – disruptive protests and bicycles pilferage?
Sheffield star is amateur
Sheffield star is amateur hour as far as anti-cyclist comments go. For the real crazies you need to go to Sheffield Online, who rip off the star and other articles then send them to the mob with no comment moderation at all.
Pidcock’s remark was funny,
Pidcock’s remark was funny, and I do very much sympathise with him, but I would point out to Tom that even sportives do have a f*cking finish line. Strange day.
For those inerring sport and
For those inferring sport and politics are wentirely separate – didn’t stop mass boycots / bans of people in the apartheid era… Suspect banning a WT team due to the name of their sponsor will trigger eye watering litigation for the UCI. Might have to invent new sock / handlebar rules to get the money to pay the legal costs
What a bunch of a-holes. Just
What a bunch of a-holes. Just vanity, following the latest trend; being told what to be angry about. If they actually cared or wanted to make a difference, they’d be outside the embassy or influencing their elected representatives; not hassling sportsmen trying not to die, while racing on public roads. I’m sick of seeing those flags everywhere, so fatigued.
If they actually cared or
If they actually cared or wanted to make a difference in stopping a Western-backed Middle Eastern nation from killing tens of thousands of civilians, they’d get more bang for their buck protesting outside UAE embassies about their actions in Sudan and Yemen which somewhat dwarf the war crimes going on in Gaza.
If they also wanted to watch some cycling while protesting peacefully and without endangering people trying to do their jobs, there’s also the bonus that the UAE team is actually state-owned and therefore linked to that state’s military actions in a way that a team part-owned by an Israeli private citizen is not.
IPT is owned by a multi
IPT is owned by a multi-billionaire who is very close to Netanyahu and Israel’s corrupt leadership. They are sponsored by Israel’s Tourism Ministry and their kit is emblazoned with the symbol displayed on Israel’s flag (sportwashing).
How one can have pride in a state which intentionally murders civilians and starves children to death is beyond me…
AFAIK UAE has not
AFAIK UAE has not
– Forcibly occupied and settled someone else’s country.
– Been in breach of international law for 77 years by refusing to allow refugees to return to their homeland.
– Ignored numerous UN resolutions since 1967 declaring its occupation of the West Bank and Gaza illegal and requiring withdrawal
– Attacked every one of its neighbours and most of them repeatedly
– Developed a nuclear weapon in contravention of international law
– Openly advocated the forcible explulsion of the indigenous inhabitants.
– Propounded a racist idelogy (Zionism) which priviliges one ethnic group and systematically discriminates against its indigenous inhabitants
UAE’s actions in Sudan are awful and should be condemned too, But that is not a basis for absolving Israel of its sins. They will be repaid – one way or another.
Crazyhorse wrote:
But they are not being condemned, they are being celebrated. As is Bahrain and XDS.
alexuk wrote:
Oh, you poor little thing. People in Gaza are probably a bit fatigued at being bombed and shelled and shot at every day and seeing their families and friends killed around them, their homes being destroyed and now being told they are going to be forcibly deported from their homeland, but you’re “so fatigued” at seeing some flags. Thoughts and prayers with you at this difficult time.
TBF they didn’t specify
TBF they didn’t specify *which* flags – perhaps it’s the white ones with the red cross that are causing the ennui?
Don’t forget the starvation..
Don’t forget the starvation…
Thanks – we’re doing those
Thanks – we’re doing those things too! But thanks for the advice – we will proudly fly the Palestinian flag until the occupation ends.
I love cycling but some things are more important. Those sportsmen need to develop a moral backbone and refuse to ride for IPT or to allow them in the pro peleton. IPT are bringing shame on our sport!
Palestinain cyclists are are deliberately targeted by the IDF – they are probably sick of that too…and of Israel’s genocide, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid.
Whilst people were upset at
Whilst people were upset at flags and protests this is what – we know – happened in Gaza just yesterday.
At least 44 Palestinians, including 33 in Gaza City, have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza since dawn.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports at least 113 Palestinians killed and 304 injured in the past 24 hours. 33 Palestinians were killed and 141 injured while seeking aid. The total recorded death toll since October 7, 2023 is now 63,746 killed and 161,245 injured.
Six more deaths, including one child, were recorded over the past 24 hours due to starvation and malnutrition, bringing the total since the start of the war to 367, including 131 children.
The Government Media Office in Gaza reports that since the launch of Israel’s offensive on Gaza City on August 13, Israel has detonated at least 100 robotic vehicles laden with explosives in the streets and conducted more than 70 airstrikes killing 1,100 Palestinians and wounding 6,008.
Israeli forces escalated aerial and artillery strikes across Gaza City—especially Al-Daraj, Sheikh Radwan, and Zeitoun—killing at least 53 residents. Prime Minister Netanyahu declared the war had entered its “decisive stage,” while Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said ground operations were expanding “into places we have never entered before” and the army tightened its encirclement of Gaza City. The military has mobilized 60,000 reservists, with another 20,000 set for extended service.
Strikes hit civilians sheltering in so-called “humanitarian zones”:
Khan Younis (Al-Mawasi): Drone strike killed 11 people queuing for water, including seven children. Around the same time, the Israeli army spokesman was on X urging Palestinians to relocate there, pitching it as “safer” and with “better humanitarian services, particularly food and water.”
Al-Daraj: Israeli forces bombed a three-story home, killing at least 11 people, including three children and two women from the Al-Hour and Al-Af families. Civil Defense says seven children remain trapped under the rubble—one of them a baby just 18 months old.
Tel al-Hawa: 16 killed, including three children, in a pre-dawn strike.
Journalists: Rasmi Jihad Salem was killed in Gaza City, while Iman Ahmad Al-Zamli was killed in Khan Younis while searching for water.
Witnesses reported massive explosions rocking Sheikh Radwan as Israeli forces pressed deeper into the city.
Israeli quadcopters fired incendiary bombs at two ambulances parked at Sheikh Radwan Clinic, the Civil Defense chief in North Gaza tells Drop Site.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club reported today on dire conditions in Israeli prisons, describing starvation, disease outbreaks, medical neglect, and systematic repression. Weekly raids, inadequate food, and denial of medication for chronically ill detainees have led the group to warn of a looming “health disaster.” With over 10,800 prisoners, including 450 children, the group called these conditions war crimes requiring urgent international action.
The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities reports that about 40,500 children in Gaza have suffered “new war-related injuries” during the war, leaving more than half of them—or at least 21,000—disabled.
Horrific.
Horrific.
Does pidcock understand, or
Does pidcock understand, or even care, what the protests are about?
Like most athletes, only interested in no. 1
To be fair he did say he didn
To be fair he did say he didn’t want to comment politically as he didn’t want to get into touble. The media is a minefield. If you ask him privately about all this it might be different and I expect the majority if not all the riders support the humanitarian cause underlying all this.
The problem is it can go from humanitarianism to politics to anti-religious groups accusations faster than he goes down hills. It should all be at the humanitarian level imho, and that’s it.
I entirely agree and I can
I entirely agree and I can completely understand why any public figure (athlete, writer, musician etc) who is not a politician would want to avoid stating their views on this or a number of other hot button issues. It’s not pusillanimity, it’s simply the fact that in the rather ghastly social media age in which we live it’s absolutely guaranteed that anything you say will be twisted around and used to portray you as antisemitic/zionist, transphobic/misogynistic, communist/fascist or whatever. It’s both understandable and excusable if someone decides they just want to keep their head down and get on with their job.
Selfish car drivers again,
Selfish car drivers again, telling us that because they don’t use cycle paths (except for parking), they should not be built. They forget that they are built with taxes from hard-working cyclists.
What the protesters
What the protesters conveniently forget is that they started the war when Palestine attacked Israel, killing 1200 people.
kingleo wrote:
If you seriously think that this war only began on October 7, 2023, then boy have you got a lot of history to catch up on.
Semantics but I think history
Semantics but I think history packages the more violent periods into “wars”; of course that doesn’t mean the conflict and killing stopped in between.
(People are keen to pick a “first cause” and “who started it” of course…)