Jeremy Clarkson claims “ridiculously dangerous” roundabout is “fine because I have a car, not a child’s toy” in dig at Jeremy Vine – but Cycling Mikey says former Top Gear host is “the child” + more on the live blog

Sunday marked Luke Rowe’s first Tour of Flanders as a sports director for Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale – and last night the French team posted a brilliant, behind the scenes look at a particularly stressful 15 minutes behind the wheel for the former Ineos road captain and rookie DS, as three of his riders crashed in quick succession.

Warning – The following clip may contain some classic Rowe swearing and the occasional, bizarre attempt at Franglais:

 

 

 

 

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Ah, the chaotic joys of the team car…

Work on a new footbridge, which will replace a crossing deemed too narrow for cyclists and pedestrians to use safely, is set to begin in July, Somerset Council confirmed this week.

Despite forming part of National Cycle Route 3, the current crossing, which links Morrisons supermarket with Coal Orchard in Taunton, does not meet the Department for Transport’s guidelines for a cycling-compliant bridge, forcing cyclists to dismount and push their bikes.

Last August, Somerset Council’s planning committee approved plans for a 4m-wide, “more cycle-friendly” bridge. Tender documents, published in January, suggest the replacement bridge will cost up to £2m, a sum partly funded by the government’s Future High Streets grants.

> Council shuts down cyclists’ calls for “urgent repairs” to “slippery and very uneven surface” at notorious cobbled roundabout, as ‘no funding available’ despite crashes

Councillor Mike Rigby has told the BBC today the scheme is in the final stage of design and work on its construction was “likely to begin in July”.

However, despite initial plans indicating that the bridge would be completed by November, a council spokesperson noted that there are still “a number of stages to go through”.

“Some of the foundations of the existing bridge will be adapted and used, and the rest will be removed in stages,” the spokesperson said.

“We can’t confirm the installation cost until the detailed design process is complete.”

> Nigel Farage lashes out at “cycle lanes that no one uses”, accusing councils facing bankruptcy of wasting “tens of millions” on cycling infrastructure

Mountain bikers Lars Forster and Nino Schurter have hit out at the UCI and Warner Bros. Discovery after they were both slapped with a €860 fine for jumping on the podium following the opening round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Brazil at the weekend – in protest at the decision to reduce the sport’s traditional five-rider podium down to three.

Over the last three decades, since future Tour de France winner Cadel Evans’ breakthrough on the scene, cross-country mountain bike podiums have featured five riders instead of the usual three, a unique feature of the sport which advocates say provides an opportunity for smaller teams and younger riders to share some of the limelight.

However, Warner Bros. Discovery, which is responsible for the organisation, broadcast, and promotion of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, decided that from 2025 the podiums would be reduced to three riders.

This change, the UCI and WBD say, was “developed through a thorough and transparent process, reflecting our commitment to aligning mountain biking with broader sporting standards”.

 

 

 

 

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But on Sunday, Forster and Schurter, who finished fourth and fifth in the elite cross-country race in Brazil, stood on the podium after the officials had left to protest the move, in the wake of a campaign supported by over 120 riders, including double Olympic champion Tom Pidcock.

“This action was planned in advance, all the riders were behind it and we didn’t harm anyone,” Forster said in a statement.

However, the UCI didn’t take so kindly to the move, fining the two riders 800 CHF (€860) each for standing “on the podium without the organisation’s permission”.

“I can cope with the fine because it was a very successful campaign that generated a lot of attention,” a nonplussed Forster continued.

“Such a fine won’t stop us from continuing to fight for our interests. Because we will divide the fines among all athletes, we can continue until Warner Brothers takes our concerns seriously and hears our voice.

“We continue to believe that we will achieve our goal of preserving the five-men/women podium. All athletes stand together, and with our rider alliance, we have a strong common voice that stands up for the tradition of mountain biking and the concerns of the athletes and teams.”

Why don’t cyclists use the cycle lane? Because there’s a new bus stop smack bang in the middle of it.

This, ahem, unique take on the genre, sent to us by our own Jo Burt, is courtesy of Preston Park in Brighton:

“Less a floating bus stop, more moored at anchor in the bike lane,” Jo said. Indeed.

> Could Garmin’s new front light with built-in 4k camera rival Cycliq? £459.99 Varia Vue with auto-incident detection launches

I don’t whether it’s because I was distracted by the Tour of Flanders – and all the beer and frites Belgium can offer – over the weekend, but it’s been proving difficult to keep up with the economic chaos unfolding over in the United States at the moment.

However, one thing is certainly clear – Donald Trump’s retaliatory decision to add a further 50 per cent levy on imports from China, on top of the 54 per cent tariffs already announced (that’s 104 per cent for anyone struggling to keep up), is not good news for the cycling industry.

Speaking to Heatmap, a news agency focused on climate change, Jay Townley, a founding partner of the cycling industry consulting firm Human Powered Solutions, said before yesterday’s announcement that “we’re out of business because nobody can afford to bring in a bicycle product at 100 per cent or more in tariffs”.

> “My industry cannot survive”: Tern Bicycles facing $1 million Trump tariff charges for e-bike shipments, as its US manager urges bike industry to “blow up” Republicans “with letters”

According to a 2021 study, 87 per cent of all bikes in the United States comes from China, making it “one of the most import-dependent and China-dependent industries” in the country. Fewer than 500,000 bikes out of 10 million are even assembled in the US, with virtually none manufactured there.

“We do not know how to make a bike,” Townley told Heatmap. “When it comes to manufacturing, all of that knowledge resides in Taiwan, China, Vietnam. It isn’t here.”

Rick Vosper, from the Bicycle Retailer and Industry News also told the publication that, in recent years, Chinese factories had become “very proficient at shipping goods from third-party countries” in order to avoid European anti-dumping duties, as well as tariffs imposed by Trump during his first term.

“Many Chinese companies built bicycle assembly plants in Vietnam specifically so the sourcing sticker would not say ‘made in China,’,” he said – though Vietnam, along with Cambodia and Taiwan, are now also subject to sky high tariffs, putting increasing pressure on the industry.

> Trump’s tariffs might just tip the bike industry over the edge

Nevertheless, Townley noted that, depending on inventory, it will be another 30 or 40 days before prices started shooting up for customers, with PeopleForBikes’ Matt Moore adding that “now is a great time to avoid a likely increase in prices”.

Meanwhile, the National Bicycle Dealers Association, which represents cycling retailers, is exploring the possibility of lobbying politicians for the first time in decades, with the aim of convincing them to oppose the tariffs or at least explore some alternatives for the industry.

But, despite these plans, Townley said he was recently asked by a new board member at a cycling organisation “what we can do” about Trump’s tariffs.

“I said, ‘You’re out of time’. There isn’t much that can be done. All we can do is react.”

In a week dominated by two towering pillars of the cycling season, Scheldeprijs offers some much-needed respite from the frenetic energy and tension of the Ronde or Roubaix, and provides the sprinters with an opportunity to shine during the spring classics campaign.

And so it proved during the women’s race just now, as Elisa Balsamo saw off the charging but fast-fading Charlotte Kool to nab her fourth win of the season and continue her very consistent run of one-day results.

 

 

 

 

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Balsamo, Lidl-Trek, and their fellow sprinters were made to work for it this time, however.

In what could prove a dress rehearsal before Saturday’s stint in Hell, Zoe Bäckstedt surged clear on a stretch of cobbles with 25km to go, taking her cyclocross rival Marie Schreiber with her.

The British star’s attack eventually saw a dangerous-looking group form, featuring Balsamo’s teammate Anna Henderson, Sarah Roy, Julie De Wilde, and Femke Gerritse, while Ireland’s Amelia Tyler managed to latch on after being in the morning break.

With Schreiber piling the pressure on at the front for her SD Worx colleague Gerritse, the attackers at one point looked destined to content the finish and upset the sprinters. But with just under a kilometre to go, following a last-ditch attack by Bäckstedt, they were engulfed by the peloton.

As Balsamo launched off Clara Copponi’s lead-out with 200m to go, Picnic PostNL’s Kool – still hunting her first win of the season – came charging around the outside. However, the Dutch sprinter, wrestling with the bike, faded fast within sight of the line, and former world champion Balsamo, smooth and steady, had enough left in the tank to take another impressive win.

> Elderly driver who crashed into cyclist for “unknown reasons”, leaving rider with broken back, handed suspended sentence

‘Hey Tim, fancy doing some motor pacing on the cobbles before the weekend?’

‘Sure, sounds good.’

‘But how about we do it in a completely unnecessarily extreme, Guy Martin-style manner for Red Bull’s social media channels?’

‘Okay, I suppose…’

 

 

 

 

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62kph! On the Paris-Roubaix cobbles! Behind a weird off-road buggy thing!

That looked… fun.

Energy gels and drinks company Science in Sport has been unveiled as British Cycling’s new official nutrition partner in a four-year deal, the governing body announced this afternoon.

In the build-up to LA ’28, SiS will supply products to 140 riders across seven disciplines, while working on developing new “cutting-edge nutrition solutions” with British Cycling to help with training and racing, as well as supporting health and well-being.

British Cycling also says the deal will see SiS products available at grassroots level, while the partnership will also involve “added benefits” for members, including exclusive discounts and giveaways.

“We know how valued Science in Sport products are by our members, with many already seeking them out as part of their training and racing,” British Cycling’s chief commercial officer Darren Henry said in a statement.

“Together, British Cycling and SiS are working to challenge the idea that sports nutrition is only for the pros. With early access to new products, behind-the-scenes R&D opportunities, and practical education, this is fuel for everyone.”

Tim Merlier may be the European road race champion, but he’s also quickly making Scheldeprijs, widely regarded as the unofficial sprinters’ world championships, his own, blasting his way past Jasper Philipsen in the final 50 metres to secure his second consecutive victory in the Belgian semi-classic.

 

 

 

 

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Merlier’s stunning sprint came, however, from a greatly reduced bunch, after a touch of wheels right at the front of the peloton with around 11km to go resulted in a mass crash bringing several riders down, with one Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider ending up in a ditch while a Soudal Quick-Step rider appeared to hit his head off a road sign.

Though the crash reduced the peloton to about 40 riders, most of the big-name sprinters emerged unscathed, and in a typically chaotic finale in Schoten, Philipsen launched early up the left-hand side.

The nine-time Tour de France stage winner, however, proved no match for Merlier, the European champion thundering through the middle to comfortably secure his second Scheldeprijs in a row, and take his seventh win of what’s already proving to be a staggeringly successful season.

Is Scheldeprijs the sprinters’ world champs? Maybe. Is Merlier the fastest man in the world? Well, at the moment, it’s hard to argue with that.

Oops. Just when Alex Aranburu thought he had taken his first win of the season, in the Spanish champ’s jersey, at his home race – and helped in no small part by João Almeida’s dodgy cornering at a roundabout – the Cofidis rider has been stripped of his victory and relegated to 10th for taking another roundabout the wrong way.

The TV footage shows Aranburu entering the final roundabout of the race on the right-hand side, despite a rather lazy barrier half-blocking the road and marshals pointing him towards the left lane entering the junction.

While everyone else went left, the Spanish rider’s off-course detour ultimately proved pivotal as he gained an insurmountable gap, eventually winning the stage by three seconds.

Until that is, the commissaires stepped in to relegate him and award Groupama-FDJ’s young French hope Romain Grégoire the win.

Cue an appeal from Cofidis in three, two…

After two days of time trialling and sprinting, the Tour of the Basque Country finally entered the kind of terrain it knows best: short, steep hills.

And it didn’t disappoint. A flurry of attacks on the final climb, the 10 per cent Lazkaomendi, exploded the bunch, as Alex Aranburu, Romain Grégoire, and race leader Max Schachmann took turns sticking the knife into their rivals, eventually drawing out a select group of GC favourites including João Almeida, Enric Mas, Mattias Skjelmose, Florian Lipowitz, and Ilan Van Wilder.

 

 

 

 

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After a rapid descent, Spanish champion Aranburu and Almeida found themselves off the front with just under two kilometres to go to the finish in Beasain. But a misjudged exit from a roundabout by Almeida – which saw the UAE Team Emirates rider almost end up in the barriers – gifted Aranburu the opportunity to drift away on his own.

The Cofidis rider, a canny opportunist but not a prolific winner, wasn’t going to let the chance slip away, powering to the finish to take his first victory for the French team – and his first win in the Spanish champ’s jersey – as Grégoire led the group home three seconds later.

Blimey, they like keeping you on your toes in the Basque Country, eh?

On Wednesday evening, I clocked off the live blog, safe in the knowledge that Romain Grégoire had been awarded stage three of the Itzulia Basque Country after Alex Aranburu’s relegation for a late, late off-course detour on the wrong side of the roundabout, giving him an unfair advantage over his pursuers.

However, in another twist hours after the stage finished, and following protests from Aranburu’s Cofidis team and a VAR process so lengthy I even heard Gary Neville was close to complaining about it, the race jury decided to reinstate Aranburu as the stage winner.

Why? Because apparently the signage was incorrectly installed on the wrong side of the roundabout and Aranburu had, in fact, entered the junction from the side indicated in the race roadbook.

 

 

 

 

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“Following the initial footage received, we made the decision to disqualify rider number 51 for ‘Deviation from the race route constituting an advantage’, as the images appeared to show that the rider had taken the roundabout in a way that was deviating from the signposted route,” the commissaires said in a statement last night.

“However, after receiving and reviewing additional evidence, including data from Veloviewer, the roadbook, and the team, it became clear that all available information indicated that the roundabout in question was to be taken in the manner chosen by the Cofidis rider.

“In accordance with Article 1.2.064 of the UCI regulations, which states that ‘Riders shall study the course in advance’. In this case, the rider correctly followed the indicated path.”

Glad to hear that’s finally cleared up. We hope.

Though I’m not sure Filippo Ganna – who was denied a win at the Volta ao Algarve this year after being one of the few riders in the bunch to read the roadbook and know where he was going during a chaotic finish – will be too happy with all this U-turning…

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Top Gear fence…

 

 

 

 

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Read more: > James May says driving a car doesn’t give you any “extra rights on the roads”, as he claims cycling in cities is “efficient and quick”, but driving is “very boring” 

Of course, Jeremy Clarkson isn’t the only one unconvinced by Transport for London’s plans to make Holland Park roundabout safer for cyclists.

Last year, we reported that the then-Conservative MP for Kensington, Felicity Buchan, described the plans as “ill-thought through” and potentially leading to “increased traffic congestion, increased pollution, and rat-running”.

In April 2024, a report into the proposed scheme, commissioned by the Holland Park Avenue Traders Association, concluded that the planned improvements to the west London junction would displace traffic onto residential streets and hinder local businesses, while separate analysis carried out by groups opposed to the scheme also called into question TfL’s collision figures.

However, the report was roundly criticised by cyclists on social media, who dismissed its findings and the ongoing campaign against the active travel scheme as “absurd faux outrage” concocted by a “notorious anti-cycling group”.

And it looks like that “notorious” group are still at it, the Daily Mail reporting that a combination of 44 local businesses and 10 residents’ association united on Saturday to protest against the scheme, arguing that there is “no need” for a cycle lane to run through the junction.

Carolyn Arnold, chair of the Clarendon Cross Residents’ Association, told the Mail that her group was “deeply concerned about the impact of traffic displacement”, claiming that the scheme “threatens to compromise the safety of cyclists and pedestrians, many of whom are schoolchildren, families, and residents on their way to local shops, friends, and places of worship”.

“We recommend upgrading the two existing cycle routes around the outside of the roundabout, which could deliver TfL’s cycling objectives much more quickly, at lower cost and without jamming up the roads,” she said.

Meanwhile, local retailer Kevin Farrow argued the project is “simply absurd” and would lead to “more congestion, not less”.

“We currently have safe existing cycling infrastructure on the roundabout which can be easily enhanced with better signage. This scheme seems extremely bizarre,” the business owner said.

“As a local retailer I feel this would just add further pressure to my business, at a time that is already proving very challenging.”

Responding to the protest, the London Cycling Campaign’s Simon Munk said: “Every time a new cycling scheme comes along in London, there are those who suggest it will be terrible for businesses, residents, buses.

“Yet this very rarely turns out to be the case. No scheme that changes roads is ever perfect, but there is clear and widely accepted evidence on the need for changes for safety and health.

“We need to learn to respect evidence and listen to communities better, but not let those who will always oppose cycling – as some of those protesting do – slow or stop progress to make London, Holland Park included, safer and healthier.”

And Jeremy Vine’s reaction to the protest? He reckons it’s “confirmation” that the project is a “great idea”…

(Before we start, how about that for a cycling headline holy – or unholy – trinity…)

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been treated to some typically sensible opinions on cycling from Captain Sensible himself, former Top Gear presenter – and cyclist – James May.

In a recent interview with the London Cycling Campaign, May branded councils who refuse to install cycling infrastructure “t***s”, criticised the Telegraph’s anti-cycling agenda, and said driving in London is a “totally pointless activity”.

> James May tells councils to stop being “t***s” and build more cycle lanes

So, it was really only a matter of time before his ol’ mucker Jezza intervened, during a break from his all-encompassing farming duties, obviously, to restore the equilibrium with a classic anti-cycling jibe which used to be reserved for Sunday nights on BBC One.

And the battleground Clarkson chose to renew his depressingly familiar Top Gear antics? London’s Holland Park roundabout, a junction described by the capital’s walking and cycling commissioner Will Norman as “one of the most dangerous on the TfL road network”.

Last year, we reported that Transport for London had proposed a series of changes to the roundabout in Shepherd’s Bush, a junction where six people were seriously injured in collisions between 2020 and 2023, with 59 people, including 14 cyclists and pedestrians, injured in total during the same period.

TfL says the plans, which would connect to earlier Cycleway 34 works, involve installing new protected two-way cycleways, a new 45-metre section of bus lane, and new signal-controlled cycle crossings, with the government body’s modelling predicting that the scheme would not have a “significant” impact on motorists or bus journey times.

> Cyclists slam report by “notorious anti-cycling group” claiming proposed bike lane on “one of the most dangerous junctions” will lead to more collisions and 800% increase in congestion

And earlier this week, after seeing a new drawing of the proposals, another broadcasting Jezza, Jeremy Vine – broadcaster, road.cc Podcast guest, and someone who frequently uses the roundabout by bike – was full of praise for the plans.

“THANK GOD someone is at last taking seriously the safety of vulnerable road users,” Vine tweeted.

“Having a Grand Prix here every day is ridiculous. I’m speaking as one who uses it constantly, and it’s a huge barrier to happy commuting.”

Cue Clarkson and his usual car-brained commentary.

“I use it frequently too. And it’s fine because I have a car, not a child’s toy,” the motoring journalist replied on Tuesday night.

That reply, which has already attracted 10,000 likes on X, was greeted with the kind of euphoria not seen in England since Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick in 1966, with Clarkson fanatics rushing to describe the outrange enthusiast’s unoriginal comment as “brilliant” and “top tier”, with one even claiming “we are not worthy of this level of comedy” (come on fella, value yourself a bit higher than that).

Of course, not everyone was bent over in stiches at Clarkson’s unparalleled comedic genius (unparalleled for six-year-olds in the school playground, to be clear).

Camera cyclist Cycling Mikey – who Clarkson branded a “sneak” this time last year – hit back by telling the presenter: “You are the child.”

While Vine simply replied this morning with: “Oh God.”

Our sentiments exactly, Jeremy.