Froome v Celebs Zwift race; US racer flags YouTuber’s response to Instagram post about race struggles; Costa offers bizarre excuse for refusing to serve people on bikes at drive-through; Police wrongly claim arresting bike thief would be entrapment + more

Not exactly in Froome's class, but decent.

PROGRESS! @wattbike @GoZwift

If I race you now, @chrisfroome, I’d win the downhills! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Q5BhOBf8q7

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) May 14, 2020

If you're thinking in W/kg, it's worth pointing out that KP's a big guy (6ft4in, 1.93m).

As for the other cricketers, Flintoff often rides around Cheshire and in 2014 took on a 1,200km ride along the Trans-Amazonian Highway.

He was also credited with saving the life of a fellow cyclist on a 2012 charity ride. Hopefully such actions won't be necessary on this occasion (not least because social distancing measures mean he won't actually be anywhere near any of the competitors).

Darren Gough took to cycling for the 2016 Channel 5 series, Tour de Celeb.

The most significant cyclist-cricketer of recent times is probably Matt Prior, who set up the One Pro cycling team. However, he and Pietersen are not what you'd call 'great mates' after falling out during an Ashes tour.

Chris Froome is to take on a host of celebrities in a live Zwift race on Sunday night.

The charity event has been organised with former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen to raise money for Wheels for Heroes.

The aim is to raise enough for 1,000 bikes for NHS staff.

“Kevin actually made the suggestion to do a charity event on Zwift back in April, so I’m really glad we have managed to get this off the ground,” said Froome.

“Our NHS workers have been truly inspiring, but with travel restrictions, it’s still difficult for them to travel to and from their place of work. These new bikes will truly make a difference and provide a safe means for our NHS workers to travel safely during COVID-19.”

‘The Race’ will see Froome take on Pietersen and other celebrity guests on Zwift’s Volcano circuit.

Participants will be gridded at the start with riders setting off at intervals dictated by the results of their FTP tests.

Those taking part will include Mel C, Olly Murs, Ryan Giggs, Andrew Flintoff, Lee Westwood, Maro Itoje, Steph Houghton, Darren Gough and Kirsty Gallacher. 

The Race will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Arena and Mix, as well as Zwift’s YouTube channel at 7.30pm.

It will be hosted by Laura Woods, Romesh Ranganathan and Matt Stephens.

Can't wait to see Froome hopping out of the way of 90mph bouncers in the return leg.

Dr Ian Walker, the environmental psychologist who features semi-regularly on this website in one capacity or another – most recently for becoming the Guinness World Record holder for the fastest crossing of Europe – has a bit of time on his hands fairly imminently.

His plans seem fairly self-explanatory.

I've decided to do something silly next week #screwyoucovid pic.twitter.com/u2BkxdpkkN

— Ian Walker (@ianwalker) June 4, 2020

The Sheffield City Region is planning over 620 miles of accessible walking and cycling routes by 2040.

Plans include a high-quality segregated cycle route along the A6178 to connect Rotherham, Meadowhall and Sheffield.

The network will also feature nearly 200 square miles of low traffic neighbourhoods.

Today @SCR_Mayor & @DameSarahStorey reveal #ActiveTravel plans for South #Yorkshire. Developed with local authorities & 4000+ public comments, the plan includes:

🚲1000km of routes
🚶‍♂️ 800 safe crossings
👨‍🦽 320km2 of low traffic neighbourhoods
https://t.co/RQ6SDdo2fV pic.twitter.com/Z0vXZzhrz3

— Sheffield City Region (@SheffCityRegion) June 4, 2020

Mayor Dan Jarvis said: “Active travel has always been at the heart of my transport vision for South Yorkshire. The benefits walking and cycling bring to all aspects of our lives are great and I am proud of how quickly we have developed this plan alongside our local authorities. Active travel is good for our health, good for the planet and good for the economy.

“We are in the midst of one the largest public health crisis in a generation and as we recover from coronavirus, we have an opportunity to change

“No one wants to return to gridlocked roads and polluted town centres, and this landmark strategy sets out how we can build back better. The aim should not be to go back to the status quo, it should be to make this a moment of fundamental change for our region and our country.

“Active travel should be part of an even wider strategy – a green new deal to transform our economy, create millions of new jobs, and counter the economic damage the pandemic has caused.

“I am pleased that the Government is allocating emergency funds to enable us to make space for pedestrians and cyclists in the age of social distancing, but this money must be released promptly.

“In the short term, we need to take the pressure off a stretched public transport system which is running at a fraction of its normal capacity, and prevent the gridlock which will be caused by people turning to their car. In the long term, we need sustained funding for active travel to enable us to deliver a green new deal for South Yorkshire.”

Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner, said: “During the first year of my appointment there has been an unwavering commitment to create this plan and I am delighted we can now publish it for all to see.

“Our local authorities have risen to the challenge to create an ambitious plan and are committed to redistributing road space and enabling active travel in a way that hasn’t been seen before. Our plan gives a clear goal – a network of routes linking up low traffic neighbourhoods.

“During the coronavirus pandemic we have seen an even greater demand for safe space for walking and cycling, as social distancing reduces public transport capacity and people look to maintain new exercise habits that were formed at the height of the lockdown.

“Creating space for active travel is creating space for everyone. It means that not having access to a car will no longer be a barrier to getting around. From safe streets for children to get to school, to pavements free from inconsiderately parked vehicles that block the way for people in wheelchairs and parents with pushchairs, walking and cycling provision ensures everyone can enjoy they place they live and travel safely and easily to the places they want to go.

“I was pleased to see the response from Government to the letter written by Mayor Jarvis and I about prioritising active travel in the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic but we need this money now so we can begin to make our roads more pleasant places to be for those on foot or on bikes.”

If you ever watch cycling videos online (which you do), you’ll almost certainly have happened across Australian YouTuber, Durianrider, at some point.

Durianrider – real name Harley Johnstone – is known for having, shall we say, robust opinions on many things.

He’s been involved in several controversies. The last time we reported on him he said he’d been 'ambushed' and assaulted in public by someone known to him.

This week Cory and Justin Williams of the L39ION cycling team in Los Angeles have been speaking on Instagram about how race has affected their opportunities and about what they're doing to effect change. (You can find Cory here and Justin here.)

Cory has published the following Durianrider reply to one of his posts.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m glad I can show you all examples right away... this guy is a joke @durianriders 💀

A post shared by Cory Williams (@nationsnumber1beast) on Jun 3, 2020 at 1:04pm PDT

We’ve heard that several recent posts on Durianrider’s own Instagram account have been reported by users. Some have been taken down, but he is still trying to engage with Williams despite having been blocked – even going so far as to ask him to appear on his podcast.

He also seems to have been replying using his girlfriend’s account after being blocked.

Turkmenistan's president loves cycling ("velosport"), he bloody loves it. Here he is walking around a giant monument erected to cycling as a song about cycling is performed in the background pic.twitter.com/3EjmaZgJz7

— Peter Leonard (@Peter__Leonard) June 3, 2020

In 2013, the Independent reported that Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow had ordered all citizens to buy bikes in preparation for a mass event.

Before you get any ideas about emigrating, we should probably add that human rights groups say Turkmenistan is one of the world's most repressive regimes.

Frankie is a female blue and yellow macaw who would often ride along perched on Michele Scarponi's shoulder or helmet during his training rides.

After Scarponi was killed in a road traffic collision in April 2017, his friend and fellow pro, Luis Angel Maté also went for a ride with her, at one point saying, "How much we miss our friend, eh?" before she flew off.

It seems she's gone for a ride with Antonio Nibali this week.

Beautiful - Frankie is back. Riding with Antonio Nibali now. https://t.co/GEeXpIDQwx

— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) June 4, 2020

Detective Superintendent Andy Cox, the Met’s head of road safety and transport policing, has got involved.

@theJeremyVine I am keen we resolve this for Joey and provide an appropriate level of service. Please can you send me the relevant details including reference numbers and I’ll make sure the matter is looked into. Thank you.

— Andy Cox (@SuptAndyCox) June 3, 2020

He’s not yet saying the force was definitely wrong with its ‘entrapment argument.

It seems he’s rather wisely reserving judgement until he’s heard the explanation first-hand.

It certainly appears so Lenny. Though sometimes face value understanding doesn’t always understand the full details. Though I’ll ensure we properly look into this now and take whatever action possible.

— Andy Cox (@SuptAndyCox) June 3, 2020

A mental health nurse whose bike was stolen has been told by police that it would be entrapment if they were to intervene after she found it for sale online.

Joey emerged from a 12-hour shift on Wednesday to find that her bike had been stolen. The theft was caught on CCTV.

She later found the bike for sale on Gumtree, but the police response has now left her feeling that she put, “too much work into it.”

Gumtree also refused to take the ad down.

Joey’s case has been taken up by Jeremy Vine, who says unless they review that decision, she will be left having to buy her own bike back.

My brilliant neighbour Joey is a mental health nurse.
Last night her bike was stolen.
It turned up on Gumtree - but when she gave police the name and address of the thief, they said they couldn't help because her investigative work would make it entrapment.
This is NUTS. pic.twitter.com/AmyxsWGzWi

— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) June 3, 2020