Welcome to Wednesday’s live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
Live blog: Team Ineos to debut at Tour de Romandie in one-off kit; Wiggo does classy; Women’s Paris Roubaix – World champ Anna van der Breggen makes the case, Near miss* – the pro race edition; Happy hour – the drinks are on Victor + more
All today’s news from the site and beyond…
Wed, Apr 17, 2019 17:34
0
SUMMARY
17 April 2019, 17:34
Specialized makes compelling case for Women's Paris-Roubaix
At the launch of its latest Roubaix model last week, US bike brand Specialized also unveiled a women’s version of the bike – and in a video (see above) enlisted the help of world champion Anna van der Breggen and her Boels-Dolmans team mates Christian Majures and Chantal Blaak to make a compelling case for why there should be a women’s version of the race, showing the trio riding through the Arenberg sector of pavé.
As Specialized says at the end of the video, “The Roubaix is no longer just for men. The race shouldn’t be either.”
There are already under-23 and junior versions of the race for male riders – so why not one for elite women too? What do you think?
17 April 2019, 17:34
Don't worry Victor, we still remember
Victor Campenaerts has gone to great lengths to not be remembered as “that bloke who asked a girl out with a chest message in a time-trial.” pic.twitter.com/8qi8aPXpGg
— Andy McGrath (@Andymcgra) April 16, 2019
Campenaerts’ heroics in the velodrome yesterday may have almost banished the memories of when he asked a girl out on a date at the end of a Giro d’Italia time trial by displaying the request on his chest, for which he was fined 100 euros… but fear not, here’s the story from 2017 just in case you’d forgotten!
17 April 2019, 17:34
"Free beer all night long": Campenaerts plans to treat his fans to celebrate Hour Record success
Skip to 1:26:45-ish in the live stream, and Victor appears to offer a free night’s drinking at his local bar back in Antwerp, Cafe Mombasa in the district of Borgerhout. He says: “In Borgerhout, at my fan cafe (Cafe Mombasa) all my fans can drink free beer all night. And if you’re not a fan, you an still become a fan! All night, free beer. Enjoy.”
We might have to make a pilgrimage. If you want to read the full report of how Campenaerts smashed the record click here, to see his history-making bike in more detail head here.
17 April 2019, 17:34
David rides new Specialized Roubaix 2020
David has just got back from Belgium where he’s been riding the brand new 2020 Specialized S-Works Roubaix on the cobbled roads it was designed to tame and conquer, check out his first ride impressions in the video below. If you missed the launch fanfare, here’s everything you need to know about the new Roubaix.
17 April 2019, 17:34
Calorie counting for easter weekend
We hot cross buns! So here’s a tasty fact of the day: One hot cross bun will give you fuel for 22 minutes of cycling. Yum! pic.twitter.com/0A2ehihWS8
— Sustrans (@sustrans) April 17, 2019
How much to burn off a couple of easter eggs as well?
17 April 2019, 17:34
Watch how Giovanni Battaglin builds a steel frame
Giovanni Battaglin, winner of the Giro and Vuelta in 1981, turned his attention to building bikes the following year, and is still going strong today. In a new video series the Italian company is allowing you to go behind-the-scenes to see how a frame is made from start to finish. See more here.
17 April 2019, 17:34
Classy from Sir Brad
Chapeau Victor my man
— Brad Wiggins (@SirWiggo) April 16, 2019
Many are asking the question of how much advantage was gained by Campenaerts breaking the Hour Record at 1,800m of altitude – but Bradley Wiggins has suggested in his podcast (and in this tweet) that he has nothing but praise for his successor. What would Campenaerts have done at sea level? We might never know, but will try to investigate with some expert help over the next few days.
17 April 2019, 17:34
Team Ineos to make ddebut at Tour de Romandie on 30 April - in one-off jersey
Team Ineos will make their debut at the Tour de Romandie in Switzerland on 30 April – and will be wearing a one-off jersey, according to organisers of the Swiss race.
The takeover of Team Sky’s management company, and sponsorship, by the petrochemicals group is due to take effect from 1 May and it had been announced that the new kit would be unveiled at the Tour de Yorkshire, where Chris Froome is racing.
In a tweet, however, organisers of the Tour de Romandie confirmed that Geraint Thomas and co will race for the first time as Team Ineos in the race, which runs from 30 April to 5 May.
The tweet reads: “Breaking news. Team Sky will take to tthe start of the #TDR2019 in the colours of Ineos. A unique jersey that you will only see on the #TDR2019!”
They also tweeted an image of the jersey as part of the provisional start list, as shown in the image above.
@TeamSky prendra le départ du #TDR2019 sous les couleurs d’ @INEOS. Un maillot unique que l’on ne verra que sur le #TDR2019!
— Tour de Romandie (@TourDeRomandie) April 17, 2019
17 April 2019, 17:34
Sam Bennett doubles up at Tour of Turkey
Double trouble!
@Sammmy_Be takes another amazing stage win while teammate @gro_felix finishes second!! #teamworkmakesthedreamwork amazing teamwork! pic.twitter.com/vSBU2HEGDL— BORA – hansgrohe (@BORAhansgrohe) April 17, 2019
The Irishman has taken both of the opening stages at the Presidential Tour of Turkey, winning an uphill sprint finish on day two. The comeback from illness for Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) isn’t going to plan at the moment, finishing 22nd on stage 1 and 94th today.
17 April 2019, 17:34
Near Miss: Pro edition
It’s hard enough to get in a breakaway as it is. It’s even harder when the race motorbikes get involved.
Luckily Liane Lippert has good bike handling skills.
When you’re trying to escape from the peleton but the motor driver doesn’t like you #BPwomen #BP #BP19 pic.twitter.com/aGkfUIkUY2
— Jesse Abeloos (@JesseAbeloos) April 17, 2019
*interestingly since we posted this earlier today the tweet and accompanying video off the moto veering in to Liane Lippert’s path has been taken down.
17 April 2019, 17:34
Specialized makes compelling case for Women's Paris-Roubaix
At the launch of its latest Roubaix model last week, US bike brand Specialized also unveiled a women’s version of the bike – and in a video (see above) enlisted the help of world champion Anna van der Breggen and her Boels-Dolmans team mates Christian Majures and Chantal Blaak to make a compelling case for why there should be a women’s version of the race, showing the trio riding through the Arenberg sector of pavé.
As Specialized says at the end of the video, “The Roubaix is no longer just for men. The race shouldn’t be either.”
There are already under-23 and junior versions of the race for male riders – so why not one for elite women too? What do you think?
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Jack is group editor across road.cc, off.road.cc and ebiketips, overseeing all three sites in the F-At Digital group to make sure everything’s up to scratch. He’s been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of road.cc including tech, news and video, and also contributed to ebiketips before being named editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town, and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master’s degree in print journalism, and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it’s a long story).
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chrisonabike 27 minutes ago
Do that one about "avid cyclist" => "angry motorist" again...
Rendel Harris 27 minutes ago
@andystow "Alright mate, no need to state the obvious"?
eburtthebike 40 minutes ago
"Both the rider and Birmingham Bike Foundry have launched a legal appeal, supported by Cycling UK’s Cyclists’ Defence Fund, arguing that the process employed which led to the destruction of a £6,500 legal e-bike was “fundamentally flawed”." Good to see my money being put to good use. Keep it up! As others have said, if the police can just confiscate and destroy something which has broken no laws with no attempt to contact the owners, there is something seriously wrong that needs to be sorted out in court. I hope the owners are adequately compensated, including legal costs, and the police learn how to test an ebike.
andystow 1 hour ago
@Mr Blackbird and what would you say to cyclists who think there are already too many motorists on the road?
Smoggysteve 1 hour ago
Interesting the article on e-bikes having the statement that many English councils encourage pavement parking at the same time Scotland is moving in the polar opposite direction of fining drivers that do. This isnt just in the major cities either, the area I live in, Houston, Bridge of Weir which are medium sized villages have had people fined for even marginally encroaching walkways with their cars. If only English councils would follow this common sense approach. If they want to bag on about cyclists being on the roads, you have zero argument if you then allow cars to block the paths and cycle lanes you want them them to use instead.
mdavidford 1 hour ago
“And what would you say to motorists who think there are already too many cyclists on the road?” "Get a grip!"?
IanEdward 1 hour ago
Agreed for the most part, especially on mileages. I took a punt and added a Silca Endurance chip AND 1/3rd bottle Synergetic to my wax pot (after seeing a Silca YouTube video suggesting trying this). Still runs clean like a good hot wax, but seems to ladt longer in the wet, I've managed ~200km of mixed gravel and tarmac in a ride, including rain and river crossings, with the chain only just starting to grumble. I would have topped up with pure Synergetic to get me the final few km but as you say, then I would have to deal with the black goo cleanup!
Mr Blackbird 2 hours ago
Media such as the BBC help fuel the resentment towards cyclists. Lizzie Deignan was on BBC breakfast this morning talking about a podcast that acted as a couch to cycle for about an hour programme to encourage people to cycle to get fit and lose weight. The BBC presenters were John Kay and Sally Nugent, who always seem to argue from Daily Mail readers' viewpoint. At the end of the interview, John Kay asked "And what would you say to motorists who think there are already too many cyclists on the road?" A totally meaningless argument, which translates as "What would you say to motorists who believe based on no evidence that any cyclists on the road, slow down their journey and mean they have to allow realistic journey times to reach their destinations while avoiding speeding etc?"