Cycling infra vs the peloton, part two: Bike rack derails Sam Bennett’s Sanremo chances; That Van der Poel attack – and those sofa memes; Cyclocross takeover at the monuments; “There is never a Plan B for cycling” + more on the live blog

I know, I know, it’s Monday morning, but I just don’t think I’ve fully recovered yet from Mathieu van der Poel’s thunderbolt attack at the top of the Poggio on Saturday – a thrilling, jaw dropping moment that may well define an entire era of bike racing.

> Milan-Sanremo 2023: Van der Poel pummels the Poggio to win first Monument of the season

(Or maybe it was all that whiskey I had on Saturday night…)

Anyway… If you thought the flying Dutchman’s attack looked good on the telly, here’s what it looked like on the roadside:

pic.twitter.com/J7M1rFpe5R

— Alberto Facchinato (@Fack1986) March 18, 2023

I dream of going this fast one day…downhill. https://t.co/FWW1cvBhnl

— Will Newton (@InsidePeloton96) March 19, 2023

Cycling, eh? Bloody hell.

Not only did Van der Poel make history by winning Samremo 62 years to day after his grandfather Raymond Poulidor won his one and only monument, he also secured the biggest winning margin – 15 seconds – the race has seen since Giorgio Furlan in 1994…

A special moment for Corinne Poulidor as she realizes her son is about to win #MilanoSanremo, 62 years after her father.🥲

📸IG: sarettacavallini pic.twitter.com/t66k2MKR61

— Domestique (@Domestique___) March 19, 2023

And he set the new fastest time ever on the Poggio, covering the 3.7km iconic climb in five minutes and 38 seconds (that’s a ridiculous average of 39.4kph and an estimated 564 watts, for anyone looking to try it at home) – three seconds quicker than his all-star pursuers, Tadej Pogačar, Filippo Ganna, and Wout van Aert, who themselves were three seconds faster than the previous record time set by Maurizio Fondriest and Laurent Jalabert in 1995.

The best stage racer of his generation
The best time trialist of his generation
Two of the best classics riders of their generation

Milano-Sanremo ❤️🇮🇹
📸RCS pic.twitter.com/YNEzeHTgH0

— Dan Deakins (@DanDeakins) March 18, 2023

That record was also set during the second fastest ever Milan-Sanremo in its 116-year history, with MVDP averaging 45.773kph for the 294km race (a staggering feat do doubt helped by the strong tailwinds along the Ligurian coast, but still).

45.7 km/h average speed 💨🤯

Join the action at Milano-Sanremo 2023 as the peloton tackled the longest race of the year at warp speed! Don’t miss the best of the drama in an intense edition of La Classicissima! 🔥
____
🇮🇹 #MilanoSanremo pic.twitter.com/GfDjF5QE5W

— Velon CC (@VelonCC) March 18, 2023

And, most importantly of all, Van der Poel, Ganna, and Van Aert’s incredibly tight and awkward sofa moment before the podium presentation has proved the inspiration for countless jokes and memes on the interweb, which is what this whole thing is about, really…

So… going anywhere nice on holiday this year? 🤣 #Milansanremo pic.twitter.com/0VPFPC6YYX

— Katy M (@writebikerepeat) March 18, 2023

The one where we won Milano-Sanremo.

#MilanoSanremo pic.twitter.com/JfhmvsawaV

— Anna Mac 🌈 (@AnnamacB) March 20, 2023

pic.twitter.com/ycAahp725n

— MHP (@theun4seen) March 19, 2023

I know that Milan-Sanremo, the Trofeo Alfredo Binda, and a few other events made it a grand slam weekend of sport (see what I did there?), but there was also plenty of other stuff going on around the cycling world too. Here’s what you may have missed on road.cc…

> Cycling UK takes council to court over “unlawful” decision to keep rat-run open

> Sunday Telegraph accused of using divisive rhetoric in “death trap” floating bus stops article

> Campaigners hit out at removal of pop-up cycle lane in Birmingham

> F1 drivers banned from riding bikes on track recce walks

> Near Miss of the Day 855: Driver dangerously overtakes on the wrong side… is let off the hook by the police because she lives abroad

I really can’t believe this happened today 🤯 Soooo happy to take my first ever elite worldtour victory on the road during the Trofeo Binda 🥇🇮🇹😍 This team was in one word just amazing today 💙 Thanks to everyone who helped to make this possible 🫶🏼 pic.twitter.com/Mbpkg77zBi

— Shirin van Anrooij (@x_shirin) March 19, 2023

Of course, Mathieu van der Poel wasn’t the only cyclocross star to win a monument this weekend.

At yesterday’s Trofeo Alfredo Binda, one of the oldest and most prestigious one-day races on the women’s calendar, U23 ‘cross world champion Shirin van Anrooij underlined her position as one of the most exciting prospects on the road with a stunning 25km solo raid to secure her Trek-Segafredo team’s third consecutive victory in Cittiglio.

It was also, amazingly, the 21-year-old’s first ever elite road victory, and caps off a tremendous year for the Dutch talent, who finished 14th overall and won the white jersey at last year’s Tour de France Femmes before taking three World Cup victories and winning the U23 world title during a cyclocross winter which saw her barge her way into a new ‘Big Three’ alongside the sport’s other wonderkids, Fem Van Empel and Puck Pieterse.

VICTORY FOR SHIRIN VAN ANROOIJ!

There she is. What a solo! Amazing effort by Shirin van Anrooij to win the 24th Trofeo Alfredo Binda!#TrBinda #UCIWWT pic.twitter.com/Bp0hG5AYAi

— UCI_WWT (@UCI_WWT) March 19, 2023

“I just can’t believe it, it’s my first victory for the team. I never expected to stay away, I expected them to come back for someone to win in a sprint. Somehow I won this race,” a laughing Van Anrooij said after her breakthrough victory on the road yesterday.

So after Tom Pidcock’s win at Strade Bianche, and Van der Poel and Van Anrooij’s monumental successes at the weekend, I think it’s fairly safe to say that we’re well and truly in the era of the ‘cross-road crossover.

CX World Champions 🤝 2023 one day races

Tom Pidcock = Strade Bianche 🥇
Mathieu van der Poel = Milan-Sanremo 🥇
Shirin van Anrooij = Trofeo Alfredo Binda 🥇

😎 #TrBinda #Milansanremo #StradeBianche

— Katy M (@writebikerepeat) March 19, 2023

I for one welcome our knobbly-tyred overlords…

A cycle route diversion in Belfast, put in place to allow for flood defences to be installed on a popular towpath, will put the lives of cyclists as risk, according to active travel charities Sustrans and Cycling UK.

Considered one of the most popular cycling and walking routes in Northern Ireland, the Lagan Towpath stretches for 11 miles between Lisburn and Belfast and caters for over one million active travellers each year, according to the Department for Infrastructure’s figures (a portion of the towpath also featured as part of the course for the 2008 U16 Ulster cyclocross championships, which saw this humble writer finish third – it was a poor turnout that year…).

For the next 6 months people wont be able to use one of the only safe cycle routes through Belfast

This shows the suggested diversion is not fit for purpose

The failure to deliver any of the Belfast Bicycle Network means there is never a plan B for cycling pic.twitter.com/3pdOHpfCrS

— Cycling UK Northern Ireland (@CyclingUK_NI) February 16, 2023

However, part of the route will be closed for the next five months to allow for the “essential” construction of five miles of flood defences, which the DfI says will protect at least 1,500 homes.

But Sustrans and Cycling UK say the diversion that has been put in place for cyclists affected by the work – taking them along the Ormeau Embankment and into the city centre via the Ravenhill Road, which features a painted, advisory cycle lane often filled with parked cars – is not safe or fit for purpose.

> Government says Belfast bike lanes are “advisory” – after local cyclists claim they are “completely unusable” due to parked cars

“For the next six months people won’t be able to use one of the only safe cycle routes through Belfast,” Cycling UK said on Twitter, alongside an eye-opening video of the proposed diversion.

“This shows the suggested diversion is not fit for purpose. The failure to deliver any of the Belfast Bicycle Network means there is never a plan B for cycling.”

Sustrans have also called on the DfI to install safe cycling infrastructure along the route.

“The diversion put in place, particularly for cycling from east Belfast via the Lower Ravenhill Road and the Lagan Embankment is not safe,” a Sustrans spokesperson said.

“There is an ‘advisory’ cycle lane or painted line along this very busy road which is often filled with parked cars.”

The treatment of cyclists in Belfast by @deptinfra is appalling. Talk of active travel and sustainability has gone on for years – with almost no results. @belfastcc needs to call this out and it needs to be a theme in local elections. Lives are at risk.https://t.co/X8x8B42Bzq

— Duncan Morrow (@duncan_morrow) March 19, 2023

A lecturer at Belfast’s Ulster University, Liam McComish, who cycles to work on the towpath, also told the BBC that the diversion is making him consider commuting by car for the next five months.

“It’s bad for me as a cyclist and it has increased the danger of my commute,” he said.

“It’s made me think twice about whether it’s safe to cycle and I might go back to driving more often because I do feel genuinely at risk.”

> Cyclists call on council to reconsider “unsafe” cycle route diversion

A DfI spokesperson, who noted that the Belfast Marathon will still be able to use a section of the towpath as part of its route on 30 April, after discussions with the contractors, said: “The diversionary route via the Ormeau Embankment/Ravenhill Road is the closest alternative designated cycle route. This route is signposted for pedestrians and cyclists.

“The existing cycle infrastructure on the Ravenhill Road is an advisory cycle lane and therefore parking enforcement is not permissible by law.”

Did something happen on the Isle of Man last week?

Here’s what some of you had to say about cyclist Chris, foggy mountains, complaining (or concerned) drivers, and persistent police officers:

> Cyclists criticise police’s “lack of road user equality” after rider stopped on foggy climb due to motorists’ visibility complaints 

And here’s the original story, in case you missed it for some reason:

> Cyclist stopped by police three times and “told to put bike in van” after a “load of complaints” from motorists on foggy climb

Looks like the lifts at Greenwich foot tunnel – you know, the one “dangerous” cyclists “zoom across” – aren’t functioning today, so at least Tower Hamlets’ councillors can rest easy this lunchtime in the knowledge that there’ll be no illegal zooming, as everyone makes it to work late… 

Nobody in power in London seems to have the slightest care that the ability to cycle across the Thames in east London is collapsing before our eyes. https://t.co/G3d94VPJjU

— Alex Ingram (@nuttyxander) March 20, 2023

Please, talk to me more about antiquated Victorian infrastructure being a problem for motor traffic at the Blackwall tunnel, as I choose between carrying my bike up and down 15m of stairs or paying £1.70 after 9:30AM to cross on the cable car.

— Alex Ingram (@nuttyxander) March 20, 2023

The fact that some Lime bikes are abandoned down there might make some people angry enough to actually do something about it

— Mark (@markvauxhall) March 20, 2023

Looks like it’s going to be 16 miles to work tomorrow, as I go from Dagenham(CS3) to Greenwich Via Tower Bridge and CS4.

— Dagenham’staying@home’Cyclist (@dagenhamcyclist) March 20, 2023

If, instead of building the Silvertown tunnel they’d gone for a simple two lane bore adjacent to the 1967 tunnel, you’d now have a Victorian tunnel that would have been perfect for active travel whilst keeping the motor capacity at Blackwall the same.

Carbrains gotta carbrains.

— Show me a sign (@ShowMeASignBryn) March 20, 2023

> Councillor calls for anti-bike barriers to prevent “dangerous” cyclists “zooming across” foot tunnel 

My guy is channeling 90s boyband and I’m so here for it #VoltaCatalunya102 https://t.co/pS807qOdHC

— Katy M (@writebikerepeat) March 20, 2023

Hopefully questionable casquette style is the only 90s throwback going on in today’s peloton…

Eros Poli. The original style guru with this. pic.twitter.com/YV7PbYrvPW

— Jimmy Banjo (@jamie_and_bikes) March 20, 2023

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to support the recovery of iconic Australian cycling photographer Marcus Enno – better known as Beardy McBeard – who was hit by a driver while riding his bike near his home in Hobart, Tasmania, on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by tobyshingleton (@tobyshingleton)

According to an Instagram post shared by fellow Tasmanian Richie Porte and Shimano’s Toby Shingleton, Beardy “sustained serious injuries which will require surgery, rehab, mental health support, and changes to his lifestyle in the short and medium term”.

The post continues: “Marcus Enno aka Beardy McBeard is a cycling photographer that has captured the world’s highest-profile cycling races such as the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia as well as numerous gravel and road mass participation rides across Australia.

“If you have ridden a Yaffa Classic event, Goodness Gravel, Giro Della Donna, Gears and Beers etc… or been to the Tour Down Under, Cadels, or World Champs there is a good chance you have already met or had your photo taken by Beardy. He is simply an icon of Australian cycling.

“He has beaten cancer and made it to the top of the photography profession, but over the coming months Beardy faces one of his toughest challenges as he recovers from his injuries and works hard to get back to doing what he loves and helping to support his beautiful family.”

The proceeds from the crowdfunder, which has already raised almost A$30,000 on GoFundMe, will go directly to Beardy to cover medical costs, replacing lost income, and contributing towards his recovery.

We love a bit of Strava art on the live blog, from self portraits that even Bob Dylan would find puzzling and fun festive designs to the, ahem, rather more childish end of the spectrum (I’ll leave that to your imagination).

But while most budding Strava artists devote a few hours of riding around town to sketch their masterpieces, a group of friends from Montluçon decided to do it properly – by riding 1,025km across La France Profonde to create a massive velociraptor.

As you do.

It took six days for the friends – Maxime Brugère, Florent Arnaud, Franck Delorme and Nicolas Meunier – and a whopping 44 hours of cycling to bring their dino design to Strava life, between 30 October and 5 November last year.

And today, the velociraptor – which followed the group’s 200km tyrannosaurus in 2020, and a 200km diplodocus the year after – was officially recognised by Strava as setting the record for the largest GPS drawing made on bicycles in the world.

Now, that’s a proper record, Mathieu…

If that wasn’t enough, it turns out the record-breaking friends aren’t just massive Jeff Goldblum fans – they want their drawings to change the world.

“Dinosaurs are proof that such strong species can quickly become extinct and that is what we are currently going through with the sixth mass extinction,” says project instigator Brugère.

“We are the main culprits of this environmental crisis, but also its main victims. As such, the future is in our hands and cycling is one of the best ways to contribute to change.”

See, I told you Strava Art could be serious…

Just when you thought Mark Cavendish’s protracted transfer saga over the winter was done and dusted, with the Manx Missile now firmly settled (if not exactly firing at all cylinders) at Astana, there has been yet another twist in this most convoluted of plots.

As we reported last month on the live blog, the long delay in confirming Cavendish as an Astana rider for 2023 was partly down to a stand-off between the sprinter’s long-running eyewear sponsor Oakley and Scicon, the Kazakh team’s glasses supplier.

Long story short, Cav wanted to wear his trademark specs, Scicon didn’t want the team’s star rider to rep a rival brand.

Eventually, the Italian eyewear supplier gave in, and Cav rocked up for the early season sporting his groovy Oakley Katos.

If you’re going to make such a fuss, at least put them on… Cav at last week’s Tirreno-Adriatico (Zac Williams/SWpix.com)

However, the British champion wasn’t the only Astana rider turned by Oakley’s range of glasses. At the UAE Tour, Alexey Lutsenko made the switch to the Californian brand, and at Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico at least ten of Cav’s Astana teammates were pictured in Oakleys.

Cyclingnews has reported today that the mass exodus from Scicon was sparked by the Italian company terminating its contract with Astana, with the Kazakh team confirming that Scicon is no longer a team sponsor and that they are working on bringing a new partner to the team.

That means that, for the time being at least, Astana’s riders are free to select their own eyewear, while any new sponsor would, presumably, have to factor in Cavendish’s obligation to Oakley and adjust their expectations accordingly.

Scicon are also reportedly preparing a legal challenge over breach of contract and look set to pursue damages. road.cc has contacted Scicon for comment.

All this over a pair of glasses, eh?

I’m sensing a pattern developing during the big early season races this spring…

Earlier this month, a segregated cycle lane – installed to keep everyday cyclists safe as they exit a roundabout – proved a serious hazard during the final kilometre of a Paris-Nice sprint stage, as riders were forced to jink either side of the unmanned concrete divider at over 50kph… with no more than a splash of pink paint to warn them of the potential danger.

Sorry…but this is unacceptable at this speed within 1KM to go…#ParisNice #gotawaywithit pic.twitter.com/wcsG29R6FI

— Brian Smith 𝕆𝕃𝕐 (@BriSmithy) March 9, 2023

> Paint is not protection, pro cycling style

After the stage, Astana’s American climber Joe Dombrowski noted the irony of infrastructure designed to make cycling safer and easier in towns and cities in recent years has actually made pro racing more dangerous.

Ironically all the infrastructure to make cycling safer in cities, makes it more dangerous for us ..

— Joe Dombrowski (@JoeDombro) March 9, 2023

And just nine days later at Milan-Sanremo (we’ll get to that attack on the Poggio soon, don’t worry), it was the turn of the humble bike rack to foil the chances of some of those hoping for monument glory on the Via Roma.

With 34km to go at La Classicissima, as the bunch was steaming towards the start of the race’s finale at the Cipressa, a crash – seemingly caused by a road sign at a crossing and the bike rack jutting out into the road behind it, which, again, was devoid of any marshalling or warning signs – bought a number of riders down, including Irish sprinter Sam Bennett.

Crazy – a bike rack sticking out into the road. Sam Bennett went down in this crash, stayed down a while but hopefully not badly hurt. https://t.co/vLvleWPpl1

— Shane Stokes (@SSbike) March 18, 2023

Thankfully this looks worse than it was. Gutted to miss the finale but happy to have bounced OK. Thanks to everyone who’s sent messages 👌 Be back again next year Sanremo pic.twitter.com/YGKleyGSUD

— Sam Bennett (@Sammmy_Be) March 18, 2023

Fortunately, the Bora-Hansgrohe rider wasn’t injured too badly in the spill, though a team spokesperson later said that he has some back pain and may be a doubt for the Classic Brugge-De Panne on Wednesday, a race he won in 2021.

While most pundits and fans criticised the race organisers for not properly signposting the cycle parking hazard, it seems the Danish commentary team have been reading too much road.cc lately, and suggested a different way of dealing with a pesky bike rack…

Danish commentators suggested that they should have used an angle grinder before the race

— Linus Midtgaard (@LinusMidtgaard) March 18, 2023