“You’re killing the spirit of the sport”: Pro cyclist says riders are “pulling soccer moves” to get rivals disqualified, as controversial Tour of Slovenia sprint sparks “over-exaggeration” claims + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
It’s been eight years since a certain Slovenian made his pro cycling debut…
Eight years since a scrawny looking Rog-Ljubljana rider named Tadej Pogačar broke onto the pro cycling scene at the Tour of Slovenia, and went on to win the youth classification and finish fifth on the GC, 46 seconds behind Rafał Majka. Little did anyone know what was unleashed upon the cycling world.
As you might say, the rest is history!
21-year-old Turkish cyclist Mustafa Ayyorkun dies after crash in Tour of Iran
Turkish rider Mustafa Ayyorkun passed away on Tuesday after suffering injuries in a crash during stage five of the Tour of Iran last Saturday.
The 21-year-old, who competed for the Continental team Spor Toto, was transported to hospital with a fractured vertebra in his neck after he was involved in a crash with his teammate Ahmet Örken, a ten-time Turkish national champion who fortunately suffered only minor injuries.
According to the Turkish Cycling Federation, Ayyorkun was kept under observation for three days and was initially showing signs of improvement.
Turkish Cycling Federation President Emin Müftüoğlu said: “Immediately after the accident that occurred during the race, our Ministry of Youth and Sports was in close contact with our Tabriz Consulate, the Tehran Embassy, and Iranian officials.
“Since Saturday, we have been closely and meticulously following the process. We received information from the hospital that our athlete had a fracture in his neck and would be kept under observation for three days.
“His health situation was progressing positively. However, the sudden news of his passing last night deeply shocked us all. We are very sad. Mustafa Ayyorkun was a great value for Turkish cycling.”
Ayyorkun was a two-time junior national champion for Türkiye and had been racing for Spor Toto since 2023. His promising career included several strong showings in domestic races as he transitioned into the elite category.
Our condolences go out to Mustafa Ayyorkun’s family, teammates, and the Turkish cycling community.
“Lance is one of the main factors why I’m in the position I am today mentally and physically, so I’m indebted to him for that”
Over 600 cases of dangerous driving in Warwickshire submitted by cyclists in 2025 already, as police share footage of incidents “putting lives at risk” — including a motorcyclist close passing cyclist at 120mph
Warwickshire Police have shared footage captured by cyclists as part of Operation Snap, a national campaign to improve the safety of cyclists and motorcyclists on UK roads. The footage includes examples of dangerous driving that led to fines, penalty points, and mandatory retraining courses for motorists.
One of the most striking examples was a motorcyclist who received three points and a fine for careless driving after passing a cyclist at 120mph near Stratford.
Another driver was ordered to complete a re-training course after overtaking two separate cyclists too closely at speed near Wootton Wawen. Police described these incidents as “putting lives at risk” and reminded drivers to allow at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists, and to leave even more space at higher speeds.
In another case, a young driver narrowly avoided colliding with a cyclist at a junction after failing to look properly. Officers said he was “lucky” to be offered a retraining course instead of a prosecution.
Operation Snap allows members of the public to submit video evidence of dangerous or careless driving, which can include anything from passing too closely to ignoring traffic lights, driving dangerously around vulnerable road users such as cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists, or using a mobile phone behind the wheel.
PC Ken Bratley, who manages Operation Snap in Warwickshire, said: “Thousands of road users submit footage of incidents like this to Operation Snap so that we can take action to stop dangerous driving. Operation Snap plays a major part in making Warwickshire’s roads safer, and we thank all those who have already submitted evidence for us to review.”
> Near Miss of the Day 812: Van driver hits cyclist during impatient overtake on country lane
Since the start of the year, Warwickshire Police have received 634 submissions from cyclists through Operation Snap, with most involving drivers passing too closely. However, the police noted that motorcyclists also report dangerous driving, albeit in smaller numbers.
PC Bratley also reminded the public that footage must clearly show the incident and the vehicle’s registration to be used as evidence.
“The video footage needs to be of good quality where you can clearly see each character of the registration and contain clear evidence of the alleged offence,” he said. “When people submit video footage to Operation Snap they will be informed if the case will be progressed or not, and where the case isn’t evidentially strong the rationale for no further action will be explained.”
The force concluded by urging all drivers to “stay alert and look at least twice for cyclists and motorcyclists, especially at junctions where collisions are most likely to occur,” noting that more than 1,000 cyclists and motorcyclists have been injured on Warwickshire’s roads since 2020.
“Slanderous and emotional blackmail”: Former Vuelta winner Lucho Herrera claims innocence and denies involvement in the disappearance and murder of four Colombians
Colombian cycling icon Luis ‘Lucho’ Herrera has denied any involvement in the disappearance and murder of four individuals in 2002, following allegations made in proceedings before the Bogotá Prosecutor’s Office.
The 63-year-old, who won the 1987 Vuelta a España and is widely regarded as one of the great climbers in cycling history, has dismissed the claims as “slanderous” and “attempted extortion.”
The allegations, first made public in April through confessions by former paramilitary members to Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), have drawn widespread attention and concern in Colombia.
According to witness statements, Herrera allegedly asked paramilitary members to kidnap and kill four people — identified as the Rodríguez Martínez brothers, Diuviseldo Torres, and Gonzalo Guerrero — claiming they were guerrilla fighters living near his property. The witnesses claimed that the victims were later discovered to be civilians.
In a statement released through his legal team, Herrera said: “I face this situation with the calm that comes from speaking the truth. What God, my country, and my people have given me has always been enough — I’ve never strayed down the dangerous, rocky path of greed, much less harmed the lives or property of ordinary people.”
His lawyer, Hernando Herrera, called the accusations “slanderous” and “emotional blackmail,” telling Spanish news agency EFE: “Lucho Herrera is still a national hero and a legend of Colombian sport. He is completely innocent and has no connection to the events in question. It’s up to the Prosecutor’s Office to uncover the truth.”
Lucho Herrera also warned against media sensationalism, adding: “Truth is the most valuable thing a journalist can hold — but when it’s handled lightly, rushed for headlines, or pursued through shortcuts, it can lead down dangerous slopes. Today, just as I did in the most painful and demanding climbs of my racing days, I face this challenge with the same strength — and with the truth on my side.”
Sports Direct accused by Which? of using misleading pricing tactics on its website, raising concerns over RRP practices
Consumer group Which? has reported Sports Direct to the Competition and Markets Authority, alleging the retailer may be misleading shoppers with inflated recommended retail prices (RRPs) that don’t reflect true market rates.
While most of the examples centre on general sportswear, the concerns come at a time when Frasers Group is expanding its footprint in cycling retail.
Frasers, owned by Mike Ashley, added Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles to its retail portfolio last year after acquiring their brand and intellectual property for a reported £3 million — far below initial claims of £10 million. The purchase excluded the retailer’s 447 staff, who lost their jobs as administrators shut down the business. Wiggle’s websites have since been relaunched, with the old orange logo returning and discounts on many products.
> Wiggle website relaunched following Frasers Group takeover (and the old orange logo is back)
Evans Cycles stores, part of Frasers Group, have also hosted massive clearance sales of Wiggle and CRC outlet stock. At its Manchester store, local cyclists shared photos of Kask Protone helmets selling for £40 and e-bikes for £250 last year, alongside cut-price Castelli and dhb kit.
The Guardian reports that Which? said it found suspicious RRPs on SportsDirect.com for brands owned by Frasers, such as Slazenger and Lonsdale. In many cases, the only sellers of these items were Frasers subsidiaries. The Advertising Standards Authority says an RRP should be a genuine market price, not one simply set by the retailer.
Sports Direct did not comment to Which? or the Guardian on the allegations. The Competition and Markets Authority has not yet announced whether it will investigate further.
Is gravel racing really an 'old man’s sport'?
Recently, a GCN YouTube show debated why gravel racing seems to be an ‘old man’s (and woman’s) sport’, with so few young riders. Have they got a point?
“That’s the worst you've seen? Mine looks worse than this after one ride when it’s wet out or when I ride in the fall”
I’m sure anyone who’s taken their bike out through the sketchier parts of the Taff trail when it’s wet in the autumn would agree!
The worst jockey wheel contamination I’ve ever seen.. “my gears aren’t working well” they said
byu/LegoMan1234512345 inJustridingalong
Of course, at the risk of offending live blog reader HarrogateSpa, I’m “over-exaggerating” here, but that’s got to be one hell of a satisfying scrape-off… but is it worth putting your derailleur through all that?
“Looks like a few pints were had”: New bike stands outside pub ruining “beautiful” village and blocking access for “less mobile residents”, locals claim – despite being installed on car parking space
Mara Roldan solos to first pro win at Tour of Britain Women as Faulkner takes green jersey
Mara Roldan of Picnic-PostNL took her first pro victory on stage two of the Tour of Britain Women, attacking solo on the Marske Lane climb with 14km to go and holding off Lidl-Trek’s Riejanne Markus to the finish in Saltburn-on-the-Sea.
Markus chased hard but couldn’t close the gap, finishing 12 seconds behind. FDJ-Suez’s Ally Wollaston won the sprint for third, another six seconds back.
EF Education-Oatly’s Kristen Faulkner finished ninth in Wollaston’s group and takes over the green jersey from AG Insurance-Soudal’s Kimberley Le Court. Faulkner leads Markus by four seconds overall, with Wollaston at 12 seconds.
The 114.3km stage started in Hartlepool, with Le Court crashing early but ultimately able to continue. After the day’s main break was reeled in with 30km to go, repeated climbs and a crash that took down SD Worx-Protime’s Lorena Wiebes and split the peloton left a reduced front group.
Picnic-PostNL had five riders in the lead group and set a hard tempo before Roldan attacked decisively on Marske Lane, quickly opening a 20-second gap. Markus jumped away from the chase group on the rolling final kilometres, closing to nine seconds at one point, but Roldan never let up, powering over Saltburn Bank and only celebrating after crossing the line for a determined, well-earned solo win.
Tomorrow’s stage 3 heads to Scotland for the first time in Tour of Britain Women history, with racing around Kelso.
Dylan Groenewegen wins record seventh Tour of Slovenia stage, as Komac’s failed solo effort leaves Slovenian heartbroken
Jayco-AlUla’s Dylan Groenewegen powered to a record-equalling seventh stage win at the Tour of Slovenia, outsprinting UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s Juan Sebastian Molano and Bahrain Victorious’ Phil Bauhaus in Ormož.
The 172km stage from Majsperk to Ormož featured a five-rider breakaway, including Factor Racing’s Slovenian rider Nejc Komac. With 50km to go, the group had a lead of 2:35.
As Slovenian fans cheered on, Komac went solo on the 4.5km Jeruzalem climb, holding a 54-second advantage with 15km left. But Jayco-AlUla steadily closed the gap in the final 10km, with Komac reeled in with 4km to go.
Jayco-AlUla’s leadout moved to the front at 500 metres, and Groenewegen waited until the last moment on the long left-hand curve to launch his sprint. Despite a strong effort by Molano, Groenewegen held on to secure his second win of this year’s race.
In the overall standings, Q36.5 Pro Cycling’s Jan Christen remains leader, 16 seconds ahead of Uno-X Mobility’s Anders Hallend Johannessen, with Lidl-Trek’s Tao Geoghegan Hart in third at 21 seconds.
The race heads into the mountains tomorrow for a 175km stage from Maribor to Golte, where the climbers will battle on the race’s only summit finish.
Belgian footballer Thomas Meunier says he’d “cycle” to Manchester United… is there room for a new right back in our Footballers Who Cycle XI?
Thomas Meunier, the Belgian defender with a self-professed crush on Manchester United, says he’d be ready to pedal his way from France to Old Trafford if that’s what it takes to join the Red Devils.
“If they ever ask me, I’ll cycle there,” the Lille player told Gazet van Antwerpen with a grin, adding he’d rather ride than risk hating the club he’s adored for years.
Given that, we’re naturally forced to wonder if this bold declaration of two-wheeled love might be enough to earn him a spot in our Footballers Who Cycle XI. Currently, you could say that Lee Dixon’s right back slot in the squad is somewhat secure (it’s ultimately up to the gaffer duo of Mancini and Warnock), but if Meunier does take the scenic route from Lille to Manchester, are we staring at a line-up shuffle?
Of course, it’s not a given that the club will actually want to sign the 33-year-old full-back, and what’s more surprising is that he’s willingly offering to join the team at the moment. Still, if he does end up making that epic commute, it could end up being tough to deny the three-time Ligue 1 winner with PSG a place in our fantasy XI.
You've invested in a great bike lock, but what should you lock it to? Bike racks and stands rated
> You’ve invested in a great bike lock, but what should you lock it to? Bike racks and stands rated
“You’re killing the spirit of the sport”: Pro cyclist says riders are “pulling soccer moves” to get rivals disqualified, as controversial Tour of Slovenia sprint sparks “over-exaggeration” claims and Tadej Pogačar defends “clear victory”
We’re kicking things off with the fallout from yesterday’s dramatic sprint finish at the Tour of Slovenia, where Rui Oliveira’s long-awaited first professional win was wiped from the record books by the race commissaries for what they deemed to be an “irregular sprint.”
Oliveira, who’s been racing for seven years and had never before tasted victory, crossed the line in first place – arms aloft, interviews done, smiles all around – only to be told later that he’d been relegated for deviating from his line in the sprint against Fabio Christen.
The decision didn’t just rob Oliveira of a maiden pro win — it’s sparked a furious debate that’s turned one of cycling’s favourite old clichés on its head: that cyclists, unlike footballers, don’t dive, flop around, flail their arms, and essentially, “exaggerate” to get what they want.
Willie Smit, South African pro and former African road champion, echoed the feeling on Twitter: “Riders are now becoming their own worst enemy. Pulling soccer moves (overexaggerating) in each sprint to get the jury involved. You’re killing the spirit of the sport. The UCI has built a foundation for this to thrive on, it seems. A sad future for the nature of cycling.”
Rui Oliveira himself was gracious but gutted, writing on Instagram: “This is it for me – being fair, crossing the line first and raising my hands. A win I was looking for 7 years. I finally did it, and these moments and photos no one can take from me and that’s what’s gonna make me sleep at night.
“It’s been my most difficult year since I turned pro, for so many different reasons and so many setbacks it was really hard for me to imagine crossing the line first today so I’m just proud of myself to fighting it trough and doing what I did. So it’s all I have to say about today. Thank you to Felix, to all my teammates and staff for supporting me. It was a special day, regardless. I’ll keep chasing it.”
His twin brother, Ivo Oliveira, who also rides for UAE Team Emirates, wasn’t as diplomatic, writing: “If you decide that from now on you have to disqualify riders for something like this, cycling is over! You can start demoting everyone because every day and in every sprint, things like this happen, if not worse, and no one ever gets sanctioned! Rui, for me, you are the winner.”
Tadej Pogačar, also jumped in support of his teammate, commenting under Rui’s Instagram post: “Proud of you brother — for me, it was a clear victory, well deserved.”
More interesting reactions came from fans who took this as a sign that the myth of the “hard man” cyclist, who never flinches or fakes — you know, like your Luis Suárezes and Neymars — is starting to fade away.
Graeme Valters wrote: “The other rider had nothing left to give and knew he was beaten. I’m not sure how it impedes a rider you’re passing in a sprint, it’s not as though he blocked him from coming through from behind! Unjust in my opinion!”
Wouter Minnen said: “Unbelievable how this could be a DSQ. A completely regular sprint.” Sean Paterson added: “What deviation? You could fit another rider between the barrier and Fabio Christen. Plus, Christen was slowing down. What an effen joke. UCI needs to red card itself AGAIN!”
Mihai Simion, popular cycling commentator on social media, posted: “Rui Oliveira relegated after the smallest deviation I’ve seen in my life! He came with higher speed and Christen had enough space to the barriers anywa,y even if he was scared by the cheeky move.”
However, the main talking point, in my opinion, comes down to whether pro cyclists are really immune to the gamesmanship we see in football. For years, fans have argued that cyclists don’t “dive” or exaggerate like footballers – that they simply get up, brush off the dirt, and carry on.
> Why pro cycling needs to ditch its ‘hardness’ obsession
So, does the myth of cycling’s unbreakable warriors still hold up? Or, should we expect cyclists, in the heat of the sprint, to play the same advantage game we see on football pitches around the world? Let us know how you see it down in the comments…
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Latest Comments
Very good.. And if white shorts reflect the aesthetic of where amateur (road) cycling is, I have one more reason why road cycling is dwindling.
I see LLMs as returnung the internet to its proper form. We had stage 1, where we could use the internet to dodge human interaction. Result! Then stage 2, social meeja, where suddenly the internet was about interacting with more people. Boo! Now stage 3: we can dodge the humes again and instead prattle on to chat bots and ask them to plan bike rides.
We are told day in day out that AI is the future, mankind's only way forward. One step at a time, the environmental damage and human costs of AI start to surface. Mega data centres require plenty of electricity to power servers and gazillion of cubic meters of water for cooling, each year. This means more atmospheric pollution and respiratory diseases and less water for humans, animals and agriculture.
It seems we hardly hear of doping cases involving women conti and pro cyclists. Here is the latest data : Of the 20 total professional doping cases recorded in 2025, four involved female cyclists.
I think people are making errors deliberally now!
LLMs help pets to create games: https://www.calebleak.com/posts/dog-game/ I'm coming around to thinking that LLMs are like some kind of fancy gambling machine - creating a prompt is like pulling a lever on a slot machine and hoping you get a dopamine releasing result.
25 thoughts on ““You’re killing the spirit of the sport”: Pro cyclist says riders are “pulling soccer moves” to get rivals disqualified, as controversial Tour of Slovenia sprint sparks “over-exaggeration” claims + more on the live blog”
Absolutely unfair to take the
Absolutely unfair to take the win away from Oliveira, however I think it’s also unfair to accuse Christen of “pulling a soccer move” by overexaggerating. He makes a slight gesture of annoyance at the fact that Oliveira moves towards his line (which he does, but not enough for a disqualification), a natural reaction of frustration. I don’t see someone trying to get their rival disqualified. Target the opprobrium at the race jury where it is deserved.
But Willie Smit should
But Willie Smit should definitely be banned from commentating on cycling for use of the tautologous ‘overexaggerating’, otherwise known as ‘exaggerating’.
For goodness’ sake…can they
For goodness’ sake…can they ban Carlton Kirby for using “for goodness’ sake” too?
And then Sean Kelly for his over use of “it’s a real hard/difficult/complicated one”?
“Driver banned after near
“Driver banned after near miss with cyclist“
Note, the ban isn’t just for the near miss.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cwy32pqv4n4o
Sports Direct pricing
Sports Direct pricing practices ‘may be breaking the law’, Which? says
Consumer group makes claims of ‘some questionable and dodgy pricing tactics’ on retailer’s website
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jun/06/sports-direct-pricing-practices-may-be-breaking-the-law-which-says
“On average, there are five
“On average, there are five bridge strikes every day in the UK, costing about £23m a year.“
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdxkpzgxvx4o
But cyclists…
My goodness, but 23 million
My goodness, but 23 million seems like a bit of a bargain, seeing that it includes other costs, as I understand it, engineering supplies to national rail are often inflated.
You’re looking at it the
You’re looking at it the wrong way, that £23m is increasing the GDP!
120 mph should be a minimum
120 mph should be a minimum of 6 points and possible disqualification.
Only have to show that they are 91 and above which should be easy from the footage.
It should be an instant
It should be an instant disqualification. You cannot ride or drive safely at that speeds on our roads. If he hits a group of cyclists or pedestrians, a horse or any other vulnerable road user he will kill them. Its not even a debate. Its insane that its not an instant ban.
If he hits a car then he will certainly be killed and the poor driver traumatised at the very least for the rest of their lives. We need to stop punishing bad users based on what happens and punish them based on the likelihood of their actions causing harm. A license is a priviledge and should be taken away when you have shown you can’t be trusted.
Sometimes I wonder why I am a
Sometimes I wonder why I am a paid subscriber of Road CC. I don’t have Facebook or Instagram or Youtube on my computer. There are 6 white holes in the above article. I presume they are pictures or something on Facebook or whatever. How I long for the good old days with pictures embeded in the articles.
You shouldn’t need to “have”
You shouldn’t need to “have” Facebook/Instagram/Youtube etc. to see the embedded posts.
If you have an adblocker or similar that blocks anything to do with social media, then that might be the problem.
OnYerBike wrote:
— OnYerBikeI wouldn’t call it a problem, more of a solution. Fewer ads, less tracking and less nefarious data harvesting – surely that’s a good thing.
Except in this case Grasen
Except in this case Grasen apparently wants to see the content that’s being blocked, so it is a problem for them.
“over-exaggeration” Another
“over-exaggeration” Another idiotic phrase like “pre-planned” for which I would happily reinstate the death penalty.
You’re almost exactly correct
You’re almost exactly correct!
You’re very unique.
You’re very unique.
Surely it just means to
Surely it just means to exaggerate too much?
But also, isn’t there a linguistic mechanism whereby the meaning of a word is amplified with a prefix, which then just takes the meaning of the original, which then becomes obsolete? I can’t think of what it’s called though, or of an example.
The definition of exaggerate
The definition of exaggerate is too much, so the phrase over-exaggerate means too much too much. It’s tautology.
eburtthebike wrote:
In general usage I’d agree but there are specific situations in which it’s permissible particularly when comparing to something else, e.g., “It is of course accepted amongst anglers that one exaggerates the size of the one that got away, but he really does overexaggerate.”
Rendel Harris wrote:
That’s quite a unique use of the word.
eburtthebike wrote:
I don’t know, I’ve seen more unique uses
Just because the comments
Just because the comments reminded me of it and it made me laugh, the late Murray Walker: “This car is utterly unique, apart from the one behind it which is identical.”
I’ve told you a million times
I’ve told you a million times….do not exaggerate!
Highlights of the days
Highlights of the days criterium, starts Sunday at 7 on ITV4. Their last Dauphinoise…