Geraint Thomas or Liz Hurley – who wore the safety pins better? Giro highlights as Ganna doubles up; Boardman calls BBC report on LTNs “irresponsible”; Going Underground with Milltag; Feature film on Phil Liggett coming soon + more
SUMMARY
Another big day on the Giro - Here's what to look for
Anyone fancy riding 225km with a 23.4km category 1 climb that tops out just 11.6km from the finish? No, us neither. But we certainly fancy watching it.
After stage 4 was won by millimetres in a sprint finish, the general classification riders will be out to play again today, but we don’t expect them to contest for the stage win.
The lumpy profile lends itself to a day for the breakaway and enough teams get a representative up the road in the day’s early move, it will be one that goes to the finish line. In the early stages look for some of the pure climbers infiltrating the break. They will be looking to ride the wheels until that big final climb where they can then attack.
@MitcheltonSCOTT DS Brent Copeland says today’s a day Yates has marked out before the race, but a lot could depend on the weather ☔️ 💨 pic.twitter.com/IJlxTpXCeN
— Orla Chennaoui (@SportsOrla) October 7, 2020
In the general classification, British hopes now rest on Simon Yates, Tao Geogheaen Hart and James Knox. Yates’ DS has said that today is one that Yates had marked so we’ll be looking for him to make a move.
We’ll also be looking for EF Pro Cycling’s stage 3 winner Jonathan Caicedo to steal the two seconds that would put him into the Maglia Rosa.
Today will be anything but dull.
Long injury list for rider taken down by gust from low-flying helicopter
After yesterday’s Giro stage was narrowly won, the cameras cut back to somewhere inside the final kilometre. Two Vini Zabu – KTM riders were lying in the road, one tangled in an advertising banner and barriers surrounding them.
Initially, we thought that this could have been a similar incident to the horrific Tour of Poland crash where the force of riders hitting the barriers sent other barriers flying into other riders.
But a short time later it became apparent that a race helicopter had been flying too low over the course and the downdraft created by the rotor blades had pushed the barriers into the road.
While one of the riders eventually finished the stage, Luca Wackermann (pictured) suffered a concussion, broken nose, cuts to his face, cuts to his dental arch, deep cuts to his left knee, heavy bruising and a suspected back fracture.
Did anyone catch the crash that happened in our groupetto with 800 meters to go @giroditalia when the helicopter sent the unsecured barriers flying into riders just inches away from me? One of them on a stretcher to the hospital. @cpacycling @UCI_cycling @DLappartient @ANAPRC_
— Brent Bookwalter (@brentbookwalter) October 6, 2020
As you can imagine, the riders that saw the incident weren’t best pleased.
Liggett film to document the commentator's coverage of forty eight editions of the Tour de France
The veteran commentator has certainly seen a lot of great racing, called some of the sports most dramatic wins and given us some of cycling’s most memorable commentary.
Who can forget Liggett’s reaction to Stephen Roach appearing unexpectedly from a sea of race vehicles atop La Plagne in 1987? Liggett has also had some more controversial moments, especially his praise and defence of Lance Armstrong but the film looks at more than just Liggett’s commentary, exploring how an amateur racer became one of cycling’s greatest commentators.
“The film explores in detail, the life story of a very complex individual,” says co-creator Eleanor Sharpe.
“Apart from the fame and adulation of his many followers, this is a humble, dedicated man, passionate about so many issues. He is a great raconteur, with a dry wit. Phil gives of his time unstintingly and his interests range far more widely than the cycling enthusiast might know.”
Liggett says that he feels “incredibly lucky and grateful, that I turned my hobby into a way of life. It wasn’t until we started scanning the archives that I was really aware of how full my life has been and how privileged I have been to be a part of this wonderful sport and pastime of cycling. I knew that both Nick and Eleanor could be trusted to handle my story and share it with the world.”
The film has its world premiere at the 2020 Adelaide Film Festival with the major release set for February 2021.
A positive COVID case forces CCC-Liv to withdraw from Belgian semi-classic
A positive case that CCC-Liv believes was contracted while its team was inside the supposedly secure race bubble has forced the withdrawal of the whole team. That includes one of the pre-race favourites Marianne Vos.
Team doctor Tessa Backhuijs said that “all riders and staff members in the team bubble were double tested prior to the Brabantse Pijl. The results from both tests were all negative. We shared this information with the UCI in good time as prescribed by the UCI. In the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, however, when the riders and staff were already in the team bubble which was intended to be safe, we were alerted by a test lab that one of the test results turned out to be positive after all. We then took our responsibility on Wednesday morning and decided to keep the entire team out of the race.”
It's nearly lunchtime
Giro di Tavola! The recipe inspired by the 2nd stage, “Fileja alla nduja” together with Chef in Camicia. Local wine selection by @GardiniLuca.#Giro pic.twitter.com/NobzSXI3pl
— Giro d’Italia (@giroditalia) October 7, 2020
And this would be perfect.
From Camelbaks to a hydration aircraft tanker.
The question of how to stop water bottles from jettisoning themselves out of cages might seem like a simple one. Just use metal cages.
James Huang has also asked in an article for CyclingTips why there is no safety standard for something that has the potential to and often does, cause crashes like the one that forced Geraint Thomas to abandon the Giro d’Italia.
Camel-back systems you say? Looking forward to seeing your proposals for a mid-air refuelling system to re-fill mid-stage. Or we could have one domestique with a huge camel-back and six hoses. Like a cow’s udder.
— Michael Hutchinson (@Doctor_Hutch) October 7, 2020
But this is cycling, and no pro cyclist worth their salt would have metal on their lightweight race bike. Heavens no! Michael Hutchinson posed the question regarding an alternative and as you can expect, the answers have been brilliant.
Why stop with a team car? We could use an actual tanker aircraft.
— Michael Hutchinson (@Doctor_Hutch) October 7, 2020
Our vote goes to the hydration car. Sounds perfectly safe to us.
Anyone need an apartment-mount disc brake?
Now, us laughing at a typo is the definition of “people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones” but we did have a chuckle at this one.
Boardman calls out BBC for "irresponsible" reporting on LTNs
This is incredibly irresponsible journalism… https://t.co/a2EfOv6MxE
— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) October 7, 2020
The BBC report spoke to a delivery driver that is “unable to deliver his parcels” due to some roads being closed as part of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods that are aimed at preventing side streets from becoming rat runs for commuters.
While the report then spoke to residents that were very happy to have quiet residential roads, the overwhelming focus seemed to be negative.
The report also failed to note that the thing causing the congestion were the cars themselves. It seems that Boardman has a very valid point.
Pidcock wins eMTB World Championships
He has done it, @Tompid is the new elite E-mtb world champion !! #TRINITY #iamspecialized pic.twitter.com/r3S1SHo2zH
— TRINITY Racing (@TrinityRacing_) October 7, 2020
It was a muddy one it seems and it’s going to take a world champion effort to get that skinsuit clean again.
“Tongue out and say AAAAAAH” @Tompid The new Elite E-MTB World Champion @UCI_MTB #Leogang2020 @TrinityRacing_ #iamspecialized all on https://t.co/qXLSJWCbCy pic.twitter.com/9Xknash44A
— simon wilkinson (@swpixtweets) October 7, 2020
Going Underground ... with Milltag
The trainspotters amongst you … well, those specialising in the London Underground, and the District Line specifically … will no doubt recognise the pattern in this jersey being officially launched from Milltag later this week.
Been working on a little something PT II⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Full announcement on Friday 17:00⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
In the meantime, can you name that line?From the latest edition of @rouleurmagazine @benedict13 pic.twitter.com/RAUJHwRA3T
— Milltag (@Milltag) October 7, 2020
Matching caps, socks, scarves, bags and … it’s 2020 after all … face masks … can be found on the TfL Museum website.
Giro d'Italia highlights as Filippo Ganna solos to win
Ineos Grenadiers have had to adjust their sights at this year’s Giro d’Italia after Geraint Thomas left the race yesterday – and today, Filippo Ganna, winner of the opening time trial on Saturday, added a stage win on the road after getting in the break then launching a solo attack.
“There were strong riders in the breakaway, even riders who aren’t far down on GC. Our initial plan was not for me to go away today but I went with Salvatore Puccio and we managed to reach the escape,” he said afterwards.
“He has advised me all day. He doesn’t win races himself but he’s a real leader of the team. He’s like a brother for me.
“Yesterday I received a message from Geraint Thomas who told me to break away. With the advantage I had at the top of the climb, I tried to not take too many risks but in some curves in the downhill, I’ve seen the wall from too close.”
The last time Ganna won a race that wasn’t a time trial? Paris-Roubaix U23 in 2016.
Who wore the safety pin dress better? G or Liz Hurley?
Looks like Geraint Thomas’s sense of humour is intact, judging by this Facebook post.
Who wore it best? 🤦♂️🙄
Thanks again for all your messages. Initial x rays came back fine, but further scans Tuesday…
Posted by Geraint Thomas on Wednesday, 7 October 2020
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Latest Comments
Really? Even if we allow that it's five days, rather than a full week, it's only averaging 37.5 miles a day. Taking out his imperial century leaves him an average of a whopping, er, 22 miles to do on the other four days.
@tomlew I think Terry's reply is a bit more sensible than yours. It's easy to make any light look like that with the right camera settings and a long enough exposure time. Suggesting it has to be photoshopped to achieve that effect suggests a poor understanding of how cameras can be used. As for the colours... the grass is green, the tree bark is brown... *shrug*. White balance setting on the camera can affect colours too, do you consider that "tweaking"? You have to choose a white balance, you can't take a photo without the white balance set.
@OnYerBike for sure, there's congestion and ULEZ zones, but I don't remember any "investigative journalism expose's" looking into the inexorable rise of the motor vehicle and it's detrimental effect on society. There have however, been multiple "war on motorist" and "parking wars" style programmes...with a string emphasis on how hard done by, the motorists are. Having said that, I find it baffling that dockless schemes were allowed to go ahead - especially as the "Boris bikes" weren't.
@Boopop The correct question is: What makes you think the world actually looks like in that photo? Can't you really see how distorted the contrast is, how badly unreal the colours are, how unbelievably white anything illuminated is etc.? Either the photo was doctored or it was taken to present a VERY distorted picture. Either way, they knew exactly what was getting published and sorry, but with professional marketers and multi-million budgets I just don't believe in innocent ignorance. And I do feel responsible to spot such obvious BS.
So they're unsuitable for gravel, simple as that. A gravel wheelset that can only take champagne gravel and an official system weight limit of 100 kg is in my book a road wheelset. At best. As seen, if the force is relatively high, even a 72 kg system weight will wreck the rim. Who hasn't ever dinged a rock or made a mistake while selecting a line and hit something with a bone-jarring thud? You want your rims to survive that. What's a 100, 200, 300 gram weight saving worth if it costs you the race or worse, you end up in hospital? Thanks for the fair review and the warning!
@tomlew That was my first thought but we don't know the effective ISO, f-stop, or exposure time. It is a meaningless photo without that information. The real test is how many drivers flash their brights at you :-)
@BroomBroomBroom "These are profit-seeking enterprises taking over pavements..." Aren't they currently seeking profits in the sense of "not making any yet"? I think the issue is that mass public cycle hire schemes don't even cover their costs from the actual users. (High costs because relatively fragile, portable property, and an "attractive nuisance" for youth. Low income because they're competing with "free" - many people have access to bikes and/or feel that bike stuff should be very cheap). So they need things like council funding, advertising etc. That can be an issue because - unless the money is from the local authority - their motivation is not particularly aligned with the cyclists OR the locality. And worse - in these cases doesn't much of the money still come from venture capital? So I don't think they're necessarily great. But as the article notes - two things can be true. I bet a *far* greater acreage of footway is in fact covered by the products of profit-seeking enterprises. That is vehicles which are definitely illegal there*, completely immovable when stopped, more dangerous when moving. * Oh sorry, it's only illegal in practice when you've got a policemen or two there to witness them being driven there and they're bothered - and they'd probably get in trouble with their boss if they did.
Make sure you put the soft side of the velcro straps against the paint. Get it wrong and you'll have a lasting reminder on your top tube...
@riggbeck I'm a skinny 5'10" and go for Small in Sportful and Lusso (if anything the Lusso straps were a bit too long and loose)
I enjoyed the cyclist apparently riding through a red light on camera (5:19) and, for a bit of BBC balance, the police van parked on the pavement (4:35).
33 thoughts on “Geraint Thomas or Liz Hurley – who wore the safety pins better? Giro highlights as Ganna doubles up; Boardman calls BBC report on LTNs “irresponsible”; Going Underground with Milltag; Feature film on Phil Liggett coming soon + more”
Re Liv, Are they stating they
Re Liv, Are they stating they believe it was contracted in there though?. From the quoted bit it is stating that the tests done before were initially negative so they went into the team bubble, (An area that they can prepare and chat without much social distancing i’m guessing). Then one of the tests actually came back positive and because they were in the bubble, it then meant they all could be so had to pull out. If it was postive beforehand, she wouldn’t have been allowed in and the rest would have been ‘safe’.
False positive??
False positive??
The Apartment brake mount isn
The Apartment brake mount isn’t a new one from this company, it has come up many times because they must be using some sort of translation software that isn’t working correctly, they are all Flat mount, so that is being translated as Apartment Mount.
Similar to Flat pedals, Flat Shoes, Flat Bars…etc
Just type it into their search bar and it’ll show you, anything that would normally say flat has been changed. https://www.wiggle.com/?s=apartment
I just assumed that as it was
I just assumed that as it was Ultegra it was posher than a flat mount.
Presumably the own-brand stuff comes with bedsit mounts.
Another badly written phrase
Another badly written phrase in the BBC article.
Usage mate, car usage. If they decide they don’t want to own a car because they realise they can do without, then it is a bonus.
Top comment is the reply to the person moaning his 10 minute journey now takes 30 minutes.
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:
Actually in London it is very much a stated aim of TfL and the GLA to reduce car ownership and to encourage those who want to use cars to use car clubs etc. This is to reduce the number of streets made unsafe by having wall-to-wall car parking and to remove the “temptation” of car ownership to use it when walking or cycling is a viable alternative. So the phrase is perfectly accurate.
And long term they need to do
And long term they need to do that simply because there is no space for everyone to have one.
However for the LTN’s, as they are 6 month trials, they are not expecting car ownership to be changed during it.
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:
[/quote]Could walk it in half an hour.
Yep. but the bike would also
Yep. but the bike would also do it in 10 minutes as well in most cases. 15 if taking your time.
I see Tom Pidcock is not
I see Tom Pidcock is not longer seen as a proper bike rider is some peoples definitions.
Well done Tom.
That boy can do anything!
That boy can do anything!
Apart from beat VdP or WvA.
Apart from beat VdP or WvA.
I do wonder on the the tactics in this racing as you obviously have a power assist but cannot change the bike and the battery. So the amount of assist to enable the battery last the course must be a variable for the rider to decide. Do you use it early on to save your self for the push at the end or do you save it and use it more when tiring? I’m asuming the battery won’t last the whole race on full assist for example. (Obvioulsy there will be times when it won’t help anyway)
The disappointing thing about
The disappointing thing about Tom Pidcock is that he used to plant trees to offset the carbon emissions from his travels, and now he’s signed for one of the world’s biggest polluters, and is taking their dirty money.
There’s no doubting his talent, but unfortunately he has sold out his principles.
HarrogateSpa wrote:
— HarrogateSpaDid he really have principles? Planting a few trees so supposedly offset your carbon use smacks of tokenism to me. And would it really make much difference if he signed for a different (but still polluting) team?
Most pro and serious amateur racing cyclists willingly sacrifice any environmental concerns (do they have any?) for their sport. Amateurs think nothing of travelling the length of the country to ride a muddy CX or race a 3 minute hill climb, flying to the Canaries or Balearics for training trips or other overseas events. And we know pro riders travel all year round, living in hotels and being followed by cars. Teams have 35-70 staff at the Tour, a massive bus, any number of cars all chasing around France and they won’t even stop to consider the environmental impact of their food bill.
Listening to a recent podcast about the TdF and the environment, virtually every pro cyclist talked only about discarded gel wrappers and bidons, as if unsightly litter on the roadside was the main cause of climate change. Puppets.
You realise posting the same
You realise posting the same thing over and over and over again actually has a carbon footprint?
If you really want to do something about climate change I have a suggestion for you…
Rich_cb wrote:
Don’t respond to the trolls
Don’t respond to the trolls on here regarding the LTN’s guys – JUST DON’T.
EddyBerckx wrote:
If a road.cc subscription would allow me to block trolls I would subscribe today.
uBlock Origin and a custom
uBlock Origin and a custom filter will do that for free.
The trouble is then you miss
The trouble is then you miss them “discussing” between themselves. It is almost like when online games send all the cheaters to the same server.
I’ve had enough trouble with
I’ve had enough trouble with trolls on other forums, including being stalked around the forum when they returned under a new username. I simply don’t need that sort of thing where I get wound up and annoyed.
A million thanks for this.
A million thanks for this. Been working through killfile extensions trying to find one that works on road.cc
The BBC is institutionally
The BBC is institutionally anti-cyclist. They never report any of the studies showing the massive health benefits, the reduction in noise, pollution, congestion and climate change of a switch to cycling from driving, despite regularly having features on those subjects.
As an organization which
As an organization which partially operates as the propaganda wing of Government, their purpose is the same as that of the Government-allied press – to ensure that any positive noises that politicians may have to make towards cycling are immediately negated by constant negative press. “Democracy” will do the rest – can’t do it, see, the people don’t want it!
Luca Patrono wrote:
If that is the case, why is the Govt so keen to kill it?
They make threats towards it
They make threats towards it in order to ensure it toes the line. I don’t think it’s homogenous, which is why I said “partially”.
brooksby wrote:
— brooksbyThey don’t want to kill it, they want to sell it off, like they did with all the other community owned assets. To do that, they are deliberately running it into the ground and making it less popular so that very few people will oppose it when it is sold off cheap to Murdoch.
eburtthebike wrote:
And selling it off means it’s easier to control. This current Govt have cowed the BBC with early threats, so management has bent to bullying in the hope that the tiger eats them last.
The MO of the Tories has been laid bare over decades.
The Tom Pidcock tongue pic
The Tom Pidcock tongue pic has to be a candidate for sports photo of the year. If that award doesn’t exist, please invent it road.cc.
Agree. Although the one of
Agree. Although the one of him holding the small hand he found out on the circuit is more amusing.
Might have to spray some road
Might have to spray some road.cc socks gold and stick them on a plastic base. What a trophy
On topping up bidons and
On topping up bidons and camelbaks: Where is it written that elite cyclists must be able to get topups from somewhere else? We used to have a fiercely independent streak. (We all cherish the story of the TdF rider who broke his fork, walked to the nearest blacksmith, made his own replacement fork, then got sanctioned by the authorities for letting the blacksmith’s lad work the bellows).
Just require that riders use a secure source of liquids. If that makes topups harder, sod it, they’ll have to wear a 4 litre camelbak on long hot stages. Isn’t that a greater test of athleticism?
Roach?
Roach?
Would that be the same rider who was a contemporary of Shawn Kellie? What about this Kris Froam fella? Or Breadly Weggans? Did the person who makes up the names on the Pro Cycling Manager game write that paragraph?