Love them or hate them? Wout van Aert uses handlebar bag; Pete Buttigieg’s White House spin; Vintage Prince Philip bike polo pics; Matthews wants more respect in peloton; ‘Gravel sunglasses’; Jakobsen back racing + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Fabio Jakobsen "excited to be back" racing nine months on from horror crash at Tour of Poland
Fabio Jakobsen will make his return to the peloton next week at the Tour of Turkey, nine months on from the horror crash in Poland which left him in a medically induced coma. Jakobsen says he’s just excited to be back racing and isn’t putting any pressure on himself to win races just yet.
“I’m doing quite well building my condition back up and it feels good to be on the bike living like a professional cyclist again,” he explained. “When I came back from Poland I was not even in a state to look after myself so my family did that for me. They are everything to me. I will be forever grateful. After spending more than a week in a hospital bed unable to move, now being able to start racing again is the deepest valley to the biggest high of my career. I’m really looking forward to it.
“The thing I always had in my mind is one day it will become a little bit better. Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after but if I quit then I won’t get there so I keep focusing on the future and going day by day. Mentally it was hard. Now I realise to get through those things makes you stronger.
“It changed my view. The small things and simple things: spending time with family, spending time with my teammates at training camps, talking with the staff and being able to ride my bike is the most amazing thing again.”
The Deceuninck-Quick-Step sprinter said the crash and rehabilitation process helped bring his teammates closer and he is grateful for their support over the past nine months. “It pulled us together, everybody has supported me on my way back,” he continued. “It was emotionally touching for me and the others. To be able to do a couple of days training with the group and spend time with them at the dinner time makes the normal, simple things really special. I enjoyed it a lot.
“I’m of course excited and a little bit nervous. It’s going to be the first time I’ve been back in the bunch. I’m looking forward to it and even though I’m a little bit scared, I still want to do it. The next goal will be to win a race but I think the biggest achievement is that even after what happened, I still enjoy it.”
Gravel Epic: Haute Route goes off-road for multi-stage gravel cycling events in Switzerland and Morocco
Gravel Epic is hoping to bring the spirit of the Haute Route – a multi-stage, timed and fully supported road cycling event – to the gravel world. The 2021 routes in Marrakech and Switzerland will offer two challenging options for riders looking for some post-lockdown adventures. Gravel Epic Switzerland will be held in the Swiss canton of Valais on the weekend of 25-26 September and will take in the stunning Alpine scenery through gravel tracks, forests and small farm roads. Climbing segments will pit riders against each other with a GC format similar to all the biggest races you watch the pros ride…
Both the Swiss event and the Atlas Mountains route just outside Marrakech (7-9 October) are fully supported with aid stations and mechanics. “The cycling market has changed so much in the last few years and by expanding our portfolio of events we want to offer unique experiences to cyclists from all horizons. We wish to stay true to our values and DNA and are focusing on delivering exceptional events in iconic destinations,” Haute Route CEO Julie Royer explained.
“While gravel participation is growing fast in Europe, we want to bring something new to the scene and offer a multi-day race with a true sense of adventure. This is what we know how to do best and we want to put our 10 years of experience in Haute Route towards the success of a new series in gravel.”
Handlebar bags
If I’ve misread the room and you’ve all actually got strong opinions on handlebar bags then by all means have a vote…If not you can tell me how ridiculous this poll is in the comments…
Wout van Aert gives handlebar bags the thumbs up
Wout van Aert uses handlebar bags so all you “just use your pockets” haters can take note. 😏 pic.twitter.com/bDK6FtLDYs
— Grace (@thisisgrace) April 8, 2021
Admittedly you don’t need extra storage space when you’ve got a team car and half a dozen willing teammates to fetch you anything you could possibly need…However, now back in training, Wout van Aert has been converted to the nifty handlebar bag. Unsurprisingly, with this being cycling, there has been no shortage of horrified replies…
“Cervélo S5 with handlebar bag!? Something is definitely going wrong in this world,” was Patrick Toutain’s assessment. But does anyone really care about the ‘right’ way to carry your food and spares? Apparently so…
For the love of Christ https://t.co/ZcBaHFtS2m
— Simon Warren (@100Climbs) April 9, 2021
Not gonna fit many Percy Pigs in there though is he
— tom owen (@tomowencc) April 8, 2021
Vintage cycling (well, bicycle polo) with Prince Philip
The Duke of Edinburgh – Prince Philip at a bicycle polo match 1967 …. #RIPPrincePhillip pic.twitter.com/T5q3wE7SWL
— classicretro (@classicretro) April 9, 2021
Here’s the part where we find a way to relate big story of the day to cycling… and a throwback to when Brompton earned themselves the Prince Philip Designers Prize, awarded annually to recognise a lifetime contribution to design.
For anyone who may have ended up on this blog without speaking to anyone or reading anything else in the media today, the Duke of Edinburgh passed away this morning aged 99.
Panaracer looks for UK brand ambassadors
Tyre manufacturer Panaracer is looking for UK-based riders to represent the brand and wants to hear from all types of cyclists, from road racers through to those who simply use their bike to get around. Panaracer hopes the Ambassador Programme will “create a community of riders and adventurers who are stoked on the brand and can inspire others to get in the saddle”.
“We are really excited about this program and to engage with the cycling community in this way,” said Jeff Zell. “I can’t wait to welcome this crew of ambassadors and support them in their adventures.”
If this sounds like something you’re interested in then apply on Panaracer’s site before April 30.
"In terms of the peloton, respect between the riders has definitely gone": Michael Matthews compares racing the Classics to boxing
Had a great laugh with @RealStephens check it out 🤣 https://t.co/dPy4FS2YB3
— Michael Matthews (@blingmatthews) April 7, 2021
Michael Matthews told Matt Stephens’ Unplugged podcast he thinks the behaviour in the peloton is getting worse by the year. The Aussie returned to Team BikeExchange at the start of this season and enjoyed another consistent Classics campaign, finishing sixth at Milan-San Remo and fifth at Gent-Wevelgem. However, having turned 30 at the end of last year, Matthews says he has witnessed significant changes to the peloton in recent years.
“In terms of the peloton, respect between the riders has definitely gone,” he said. “When I first turned professional it was really like there were guys in the peloton you looked up to and if they said something, that’s what you did even if you were in a different team. Even for me coming back into the Classics again, every year it is just getting more and more crazy. Cycling now has just turned into more like a boxing match than a bike race.
“It is quite difficult to go out and race your bike now in these Classics when there is just zero respect in the peloton for each other and, it doesn’t matter who you are, someone is going to bomb underneath you in a corner or take you out, or headbutt you, or elbow you or anything.”
Matthews finished just outside the top-20 at the Tour of Flanders. Earlier in the day Yevgeniy Fedorov and Otto Vergaerde were kicked out of the race for a clash at the front of the peloton. Eurosport commentator Adam Blythe branded the pair “muppetts” for their stupidity.
More of your handlebar bag thoughts...
The handlebar bag fans amongst you have widened the gap on our poll…77 per cent of you say you’re a fan…
The same class as the long cycling socks over the winter tights.
— routier’s (@routier_s) April 9, 2021
Yes. Because WvA rides a fully-integrated bike. For everyone else handlebar bags are a nightmare of cables, frame scratches and faff.
Luckily I have a rather cool one – some would say a game-changer – on the way… https://t.co/s55ph6UVdd
— Mike Stead (@tweetymike) April 9, 2021
Deceuninck-Quick-Step one-two at Itzulia Basque Country
🔥🐺THE WOLFPACK🐺🔥
🤩EZIN ZARA HAIEN KONTRA JOAN!
¡DOBLETE HISTÓRICO DEL @deceuninck_qst !
🤩We can hear @PatLefevere celebrating from Ondarroa!
🏆 @BancoSabadell #Itzulia2021 pic.twitter.com/nW1kLC7tMA
— Itzulia Basque Country (@ehitzulia) April 9, 2021
It’s not everyday you see this…Similar scenes to Richard Carapaz and Michal Kwiatkowski at last year’s Tour de France for Mikkel Frølich Honoré and Josef Černý today in the Basque Country. I wonder if we will get an answer to the question of how they decided who gets the win?
Tomorrow’s final stage has seven categorised climbs packed into just 111km of racing and ends at the climb of Arrate where stage one of last year’s Vuelta a España finished with Primož Roglič winning the first of his four stages…
One for your scrapbook!
A Wolfpack exhibition in #Itzulia2021!
Photo: @GettySport pic.twitter.com/jznEzZOpEk— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) April 9, 2021
Covid restrictions making kids go to great lengths to watch their team...
What a great picture. #dumbartonfc pic.twitter.com/cHYFS7RlbD
— David Goldie 🏡 (@Dumsch_Goldie) April 8, 2021
You’ve got to feel for the lad on the right…
Last week it was gravel pumps...Now it's gravel glasses...
Last week when we were deciding which devillish April Fool’s story to go with we shortened it down to a final shortlist of three…One of which was a gravel turbo trainer. I fear we’re getting closer to that becoming a reality by the day. Last week we also brought you Lezyne’s new gravel-specific pump (yes, it also inflates road tyres). This week’s ‘gravel-specific’ product of choice is Scicon Sport’s new glasses…
Designed with a semi-rimless frame and interchangeable lenses, the Gravel Sports Lifestyle model looks like a solid pair of glasses. They’ve got SCN-PP™ True Vision Lenses for optical clarity and protection on and off the bike as well as an interchangeable nose pad. They look pretty smart too…what makes them gravel glasses remains a mystery however…
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Latest Comments
I have been using e-bikes myself and running fleet e-bikes for a good decade now and I am certain that Bosch batteries are 100% safe. From what I have researched, Bosch have zero record of any of their batteries catching fire or having thermal incidents.
The BBC seem to get ‘confused’ a lot; they confuse genocide and ‘self defence’ for example.
@Chris RideFar You also said "If these things aren’t true for you, then you should ignore what saddles pro’ riders are using", so you were rather definitively saying that people over 65 kg with non-aero riding positions who don't ride 30 hours a week and don't put out 300 W for hours on end shouldn't consider the saddles pros use.
@Rendel Harris That's great. If you read the section of my comment that you quoted, I said "These saddles *might* not work for you if..." I did not say "*will* not work". Yep, everyone is different.
@mikecassie it's amazing to read your comment about the chamoise.. for me it's the best i ever had till now. Tryed assos, sportfull, spatz, craft, agu. The fit and compression are excellent to so are the grippers. I would never had bought le col without the strava discounts.. But build quality is absolutely horrible !
@mctrials23 Yes, Had issues with the stitching on all my le col bibs..😬 but got them replaced twice..
@ grumpyoldcyclist I had a reply from the BBC last year on this issue when it reported someone knocked down by a Surron-style bike as having been hit by an ebike, they acknowledged they were mistaken and changed the wording in the story, so you never know.
@Chris RideFar Better tell the 75kg Matthieu Van der Poel that...I have a Fizik Antares that came with my bike when I bought it secondhand (it previously belonged to a Paralympic gold medallist who fulfilled all your criteria), I'm 85kg, ride fifteen hours a week, don't have an aero position (saddle is only 8cm higher than stem) and very definitely don't push 300W for most of the day and it's the most comfortable saddle I've ever had. It's a very personal decision of course and won't suit everybody but too many people are put off pro racing saddles because they think, as you say, they're only for pro level riders when they could suit perfectly.
Just call them electric motorbikes, or e-motorbikes. Stick a battery in a car and your still a motorist, but stick a battery in a motorbike and suddenly you're a cyclist - why?
Note: These saddles might not work for you if you don't meet all of these requirements: A. Ride at least 30 hours per week. B. Have a minimal amount of your weight on the saddle because 1) your bars are super-low for maximum aerodynamics, 2) you're pushing 300+ watts into the pedals most of the day, 3) you weigh at most 65 kg. If these things aren't true for you, then you should ignore what saddles pro' riders are using and find something that's more appropriate for your type of riding style, frequency and physique.
41 thoughts on “Love them or hate them? Wout van Aert uses handlebar bag; Pete Buttigieg’s White House spin; Vintage Prince Philip bike polo pics; Matthews wants more respect in peloton; ‘Gravel sunglasses’; Jakobsen back racing + more on the live blog”
Since when did riding a bike
Since when did riding a bike to work become a huge political statement?
Well I look forward to the
Well I look forward to the next time Boris rides a bike and isnt then accused of exactly the same thing,but maybe that says more about politics than it does riding a bike
I don’t even mind too much if
I don’t even mind too much if they do contrive a photo op to show them riding a bike – at least it’s pointing the way towards making bike commuting more socially acceptable.
Its a tough one. There is an
Its a tough one for the original article. There is an argument that it might have been a photo op (although some people have stated he makes that ride alot and it just hadn’t been spotted before) and then the fact he has potentially one or two suburbans slowly following him so green options are lost.
As for Boris, the last big moans for his bike ride (from both sides) was again the amount of cars needed to carry him and his detail to the Olympic park AND /OR the fact we were in a lockdown with all the arguments about stay and exercise locally that was raised by that. The fact his press dept refused to give details out probably didn’t help the situation either way but then it is not the first lockdown rules confusion generated by Politicians actions compared to apparent rules and probably won’t be the last.
Yesterday’s live blog
Yesterday’s live blog literally carried an article making jokes about the President of Turkmenistan riding a bicycle for a photo op,and also for no relevant reason then included a picture of someone giving the bird to Boris.
Or maybe Wednesdays live blog when Biggins was pictured against Sadiq Khan riding a bike, a picture I believe was taken on car free day last year,but was tailed like Boris is,with a protection detail in a gas guzzling 4×4.
As I say I look forward to politicians from all parties & views being supported when riding a bicycle and not accused of cheap photo ops and publicity stunts.
So you don’t think the
So you don’t think the Turkmenistan President was doing a photo op and we should listen to him as he is on a bike? Compared to the Buttigeg one? And the Johnson pic was showing the difference between a Politician in a fully totalaritism state going for a bike ride and the one in a Free Speech one (well until Boris and his pals add addendums to their new Protest acts anyway.) It was one of the top replies to the original twitter article about the Turkmenistan “ride out” but was it needed….
As for the Sadiq Khan one, I don’t have your extensive memory of the pic or the circumstances but if the press were alerted well in advance and he didn’t cycle any other time, then it was a staged photo-op. Whether those are good or bad things is obviously down to people to make a decision.
Edit: Just relooked at the photo of Biggs/Khan you referred to and it is the DM that chose those pics. So I suspect they were trying to use it to show “look, he is on those Lycra Louts side against us honest drivers like Biggins”. The same article where Biggins stupidly moaning about Tax for drivers compared to cyclists whilst bragging about whizzing around in an (untaxed) electric vehicle.
And for what it is worth, cycling when he was Mayor was one of the few times I actually thought Johnson was genuine rather then his standard calculating pretend-boofoonery charade he has cultivated since his spell on HIGNFY. He would do it regularly without press attention and just got on with it. (Including when he almost got taken out by the lorry) The same seems to be for Buttigeg. For all the apparent staging in the video which has swayed alot of people, he apparently cycles alot with no fanfare.
No, of course it was a photo
No, of course it was a photo op for the president of Turkmenistan, my point is we should not let partisan politics judge how we decide whether a politician riding a bike is a simply a good or a bad thing,just because of which brand of politics they represent.
Those Republican supporters criticising Buttigieg,have as much right to do so if on the other side of the political divide the fallback position to any conservative politician shown riding a bike is the distrust it’s a sham of a photo op or results in that kind of attitude behind Boris being shown the bird photo demonstrated.
I want to see more of the reaction of the photo of Dutch PM Mark Rutte cycling to parliament to resign from his position, which caused not a stir in Holland, well not the bike riding bit at least, not because of which brand of politics the guy represented, we’d label him centre right FWIW, but because it was a perfectly normal natural completely unremarkable thing to have done.
And that’s all riding a bike should be about, not whether you are left or right politically.
At least nobody had to be
At least nobody had to be tear gassed for these photo opportunities.?
His trick there is to not
His trick there is to not make it look like a photo opp by being driven somewhere to ride his bike a short distance for the cameras. He is an untrustworthy man who operates on the basis of imagery over action. So it’s right to be suspicious of the liar.
which one Tom? Multiple
which one Tom? Multiple people have been mentioned and as they are all politicians, your last line doesn’t help either.
In a country where it’s every
In a country where it’s every True Patriot’s doody to drive a truck the size of Milwaukee, riding a bike to work is a massive statement.
Drinfinity wrote:
Snik snik. He said “doody”!
Unfortunately I am seeing
Unfortunately I am seeing more and more ginormous pickup trucks in Yorkshire. Most of them, the purpose is to satisfy the driver’s vanity, not to move several large bags of potatoes.
hawkinspeter wrote:
It is when I do it, don’t worry about that!
Not the first time he is on a
Not the first time he is on a bicycle and he is open for critique: https://twitter.com/SecretaryPete/status/1365336780644511748
https://twitter.com/Dumsch
https://twitter.com/Dumsch_Goldie/status/1380263517702479872?s=19
Spectacular use of bikes to watch live football. Dumbarton v East Fife, I believe. Kudos to all (even the lad, er, branching out).
Feel sorry for the young lad
Feel sorry for the young lad on the far right. Needs a bigger bike…
Bar bags: normally don’t like
Bar bags: normally don’t like them because they can foul cables and light fittings but Wout doesn’t have that issue (I’d imagine all the cable routing is internal on that bike)
Surely only a matter of time before we get aero version – hey, perhaps the UCI could mandate all the pros carry a basket for gel wrappers and empty bottles…
In 2018 I rode to Roubaix to
In 2018 I rode to Roubaix to watch a stage of the Tour on my CAAD9. I had to ditch my out-front Garmin mount to fitted a KLICKfix bracket to take my Altura bar bag. It held all I needed for my two-night stay in a room above a bar opposite Roubaix town hall, including a 10.1″ tablet. I relocated my Garmin onto the stem and all I had in my jersey pockets were a couple of energy bars and a couple of gels. It worked a treat.
Once back home it was a 10 minute job to remove the KLICKfix and refit the out-front. No cable or light problems. I wouldn’t fit a bar bag for a couple of laps of Richmond Park but there’s definitely a place for them.
This is how I usually roll. I
This is how I usually roll. I’m probably not a proper cyclist, but I do over 5000 miles a year.
Clearly not with that frame /
Clearly not with that frame / tape colour combo !
I took a chance, and sort of
I took a chance, and sort of like it. I have purple tape to go on next.
Purple !
Purple !
You have expunged all doubt now !
Why is the mirror on the left
Why is the mirror on the left? Just curious. And, which model is it, and any good?
Sprintech road race mirrors,
Sprintech road race mirrors, bought a pair and put one on each of my bikes, I love them. Discreet, but give a good view of anything coming up from a distance, I use them as a sort of early warning before a shoulder check.
Interesting – 20g according
Interesting – 20g according to sjs cycles. Might try that out.
Are they wing mirrors or door mirrors ?
I’ve tried the Sprintech
I’ve tried the Sprintech mirror, but found it difficult to keep adjusted in the right position (I only used one on the right-hand side). I also had the same issue with the Italian Road Bike Mirror which is a similar design. I prefer the Cateye BM-45 as it’s easy to re-adjust to keep it in the perfect position.
Thanks. Not as aesthetically
Thanks. Not as aesthetically pleasing though but at 12.99 worth a punt.
Sriracha wrote:
It’s on the left because I live in the USA. And yes, it’s a Sprintech as others mentioned. It’s pretty good, clear and very light. It does move around if bumped at all, but generally stays put while riding. I’ve lost it (and found it again) a couple of times when it’s popped out of the socket, so now I have a short piece of black string also connecting it to the bike.
I love a bar bag on rides of
I love a bar bag on rides of 100miles plus! Always carry a Ginster’s in there.
Rapha Nadal wrote:
“Ginsters”??? <shudder>
Isn’t that what garages are
Isn’t that what garages are for?
Only if you’re stopping.
Only if you’re stopping. Which i rarely do as i have everything in my bar bag!
Prince Philip’s polo bike has
Prince Philip’s polo bike has no brakes!! Can you imagine what the Daily Wail would have to say about that?!?!
Prince Philip’s polo bike has
Prince Philip’s polo bike has no brakes!!
I see the joke but, seriously, are cycle polo bikes fixed wheel? The tribute to DoE strikes just the right note- well done road.cc!
…because Trump never (ever)
…because Trump never (ever) did anything purely for a cheap photo opportunity…
The controversial subject
The controversial subject there isn’t bar bags.
Percy Pigs??? Tangfastics FTW!
One of them contains actual
One of them contains actual pig and it’s not Percy Pig.
Mmmm – actual pig….
Mmmm – actual pig….
If you’re that way inclined, though, there are lesser Haribo that are vegetarian, and still much preferable to those pink abominations.
‘Gravel Sunglasses’ –
‘Gravel Sunglasses’ – seriously? what next? Gravel Socks? sick to the back teeth of all the Gravel hype, give it a rest for God’s sake!!
rdaddict wrote:
You joke…
Condor Merino Gravel Socks
Gravel Socks
https://www.castelli-cycling.com/gb/men/accessories/cycling-socks/p/452004121P-030