“By a nose”: Dylan Groenewegen has last laugh, wins Tour stage with bizarre ‘aero beak’ back on display; Sprinter bunny hops 60km/h crash; Bikes at polling stations; Cav reaction; Opinion split over Schwalbe’s “revolutionary” valve + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
"About time" or "change for the sake of it"? No surprise as opinion split over Schwalbe's "revolutionary" valve it hopes will be cycling's new tyre inflation industry standard
You might have missed it in the Cavendish chaos yesterday teatime, but Schwalbe reckons it has a “revolutionary” new valve that will be the cycling industry’s new tyre inflation standard. Suvi heard all about it at Eurobike this week, the Clik valves promising: much easier attachment and operation, as well as no risk of air loss and 50 per cent more air flow rate. What’s more, Schwalbe says it can be retrofitted to your existing valves with a conversion kit.
Us cyclists don’t really get involved with endless debates about what tech is best. You’d never catch us arguing over, I don’t know, something like disc brakes vs rim brakes… ah… or the merits of 1x… hmmm, I might need to rethink this. The news has prompted plenty of chatter among our readers, my favourite comment from Sredlums setting the mood early on before everyone had got to their keyboards…
“How is it possible no one has commented on this? It is the perfect set-up for a good fight. Presta fans and Schrader fans fighting [over] which valve should definitely needs no replacement, modernists versus traditionalists, Schwalbe fanboys versus haters, critical thinkers trying to find a design flaw… come on people, step up your game!”
Facetiousness aside, it is of course worth highlighting potential issues with Presta and Schrader, before looking at what Schwalbe says the Clik can address, that only seems like a sensible approach when weighing up claims about a new industry standard.
And while some will question the need to change, would a few more industry standards be a bad thing for cycling, a pursuit packed with so many part sizes and types that vary so marginally? If valves are one such part that would benefit from a standard is an altogether different question admittedly. Enough of my ramblings, let’s dive into your thoughts.
IanMSpencer: “I think that the Presta valve is flawed, too easy to damage — loads of people bend the top when trying to pump with a mini-pump, and Schrader is too bulky for road wheels. So, if this is easier to use, and there is a reasonably cheap converter (which itself can be reused from valve or pump) then it’s a yes from me.”
brooksby: “xkcd did a cartoon years ago, along the lines of two scientists saying there are too many competing standards and that they intend to come up with a universal standard to replace them all. The next panel has them complaining that there is now another competing standard, if I remember correctly. We’ve got Presta and Schrader, and we’ve all got the appropriate pump for our needs. Why do we need another valve standard?”
Said cartoon:
— Jon (@ormondroyd) July 3, 2024
Mike Butcher: “Cycling needs to bring in a standard for all components, whether it’s valves or bottom brackets, there are too many variations out there already.”
Commoner: “Can’t wait until just one is decided on…”
Happy Cycling UK: “Ok. Take my money…”
Steve Clayton: “Nah no point and more pointless crap to sort a problem that doesn’t exist.”
Paul Greendale: “About bloody time someone came up with an alternative to those two daft formats!”
Si: “No one. Absolutely no one has asked for this. Pure change for the sake of it!”
Any more for any more? Speak now or forever hold your silence… or at least until the next story on it…
Introducing, one rapidly updated feature... record-breaker Mark Cavendish's greatest ever Tour de France stage wins
> Record-breaker Mark Cavendish’s greatest ever Tour de France stage wins
Mark Cavendish reflects on 35th Tour de France stage win: "It’s hard to fully grasp"
He’s had time to reflect on the events of yesterday, Mark Cavendish sprinting to victory on stage five of the Tour de France to finally break that stage-wins record. And what a sprint it was — weaving, darting, positional perfection and that all so familiar final burst.
In a release communicated by his Astana Qazaqstan team once the dust had settled, Cavendish admitted that even then it was “hard to fully grasp”.
“We worked towards it, and as a team, we did everything possible to make it happen. We have an incredible team, and I have amazing teammates. Throughout not just this Tour de France but all this time, I felt immense support from the entire team, and today we have the moment to celebrate this success together.
“I am very happy to be part of Astana Qazaqstan Team, where I found friends and, essentially, an incredible family. Today, the team was magnificent, everything was done perfectly, and I managed to win. I believed in success, but the main thing is that the team believed in success, we were on the same wavelength and had a common goal. I received maximum support, and we purposefully worked towards the goal we achieved today.”
General Manager Alexandr Vinokurov added: “Few believed that we would succeed, that Mark’s arrival in Astana Qazaqstan Team would change history, but we believed and did everything to make today’s victory happen. We were close to this last year, but fate had other plans. I believe that real champions should not end their careers after a fall and injury, and I am happy that Mark decided to do another season in the end.
“But we are not going to stop; only five stages have passed, and most of the race is still ahead. We are ready, and we will continue to fight.”
The congratulations continue — former teammates, rivals, friends, commentators and more join the Cav party
Try spotting these on the road today, although they could be out of date by the end of play…
The team has also shared the in-car footage of the moment they found out about the win, sports director Mark Renshaw yesterday explaining that their TV had been cutting in and out so they had a nervous wait…
– Congrats…
– Victory?
– No…
– YES!!! 😂😂😂Unique images from Sports Directors car 🚙. MUST SEE!#TDF2024 #AstanaQazaqstanTeam pic.twitter.com/dLDK98yPc2
— Astana Qazaqstan Team (@AstanaQazTeam) July 3, 2024
Legendary commentator Phil Liggett has been on the mic for all 35 of Cav’s victories, the broadcaster reflecting on the day and admitting, “If I speak too long, I’m going to cry.”
“If I speak too long, I’m going to cry”@PhilLiggett #TDF2024 @MarkCavendish
After coining the “Manx Missile” nickname and commentating all 35 of Mark Cavendish’s Tour de France stage wins, Phil Liggett reflects on the moment. pic.twitter.com/ert2aSG7mF
— NBC Sports Cycling (@NBCSCycling) July 3, 2024
Former teammates and friends from Soudal Quick-Step had messages of congratulation too.
Mark Cavendish’s former teammates and sports directors in our squad had a special message for the Manxman after his historic #TDF2024 win 😃 pic.twitter.com/bM3P5YSQxM
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) July 3, 2024
Meanwhile, at the Israel-Premier Tech bus, Pascal Ackermann was trying to work out how much to bill Astana having been the man Cav followed into the final couple of hundred metres before the launch of his historic sprint.
When your sprint ends up leading out the record-breaking @LeTour stage win 😉
Congratulations on making history, @MarkCavendish!#TDF2024 🇫🇷 #YallaIPT pic.twitter.com/6miafAGsfG
— Israel – Premier Tech (@IsraelPremTech) July 3, 2024
"Bicycles are very narrow and they're not going to get wider": Councillors slam plans to widen "dangerous" cycle lane, asking "why are we spending money on things they don't use?"
Incredible skill from Tour de France pro to bunny-hop sprint crash at 60km/h
Somewhat lost in the Cav chaos was Mads Pedersen’s crash, Lidl Trek confirming that the Dane suffered no fractures after hitting the barriers hard during the sprint. The team said: “He will continue to be monitored overnight and a final decision on whether he can start Stage six will be taken tomorrow morning.”
Then, in a positive update the team have since confirmed that Pedersen will start stage six, despite suffering a heavy impact to his left shoulder and back, the former world champion posting on social media that “Ice baths are my best friend these days”.
It happened as Cav was launching his sprint up front, French pro Axel Zingle pulling off a quite audacious crash-escaping display of skill. Just watch the bunny hop.
It was all about Cavendish’s win, but check out the bunny hop over a crashed out Mads Pedersen. pic.twitter.com/NACAYOGmKj
— Aaron N. Chamberlain 🤽🏻♂️ (@elmachuca) July 3, 2024
Shades of Peter Sagan bunny hopping Fabian Cancellara as the Swiss powerhouse fell on the cobbles at Paris-Roubaix in 2016 although, if anything, Zingle’s was even cleaner. Italian pro Andrea Palini pulled off something similar at the Tour of Slovenia back in 2017, Zingle’s instincts kicking in as Pedersen hit the barriers.
The Cofidis rider barely even broke stride (if one can have a ‘stride’ on a bike), looking about in apparent relieved disbelief having dodged disaster.
Recalling the incident, or at least the split second when it happened, Zingle said: “It happened very quickly. I had finished my job for Bryan [Coquard], I had moved aside. For me, the race was already over even though I was still going at 60 km/h. I didn’t expect to have a fall in front of me.
“I was coming too fast to brake, and I didn’t want to fall. I had my hands in a snug fit, I was ready so I tried and it went through. I felt that I had touched him, I hope I didn’t hurt him. But he has strong skin, I hope he’ll be in good shape tomorrow!”
"Such a nice guy to break my record": Eddy Merckx congratulates Cav
Writing on Instagram, Eddy Merckx congratulated Mark Cavendish for breaking his Tour de France stage wins record, The Cannibal calling it a “historical achievement” and saying it’s “such a nice guy to break my record”.
The Insta story has been shared on Axel Merckx’s account too, so no doubts about the legitimacy of the words. Others, in an extremely on-brand move for cycling, used Strava, Remco Evenepoel calling it a “legendary day for cycling”.
Michal Kwiatkowski wrote: “I am not crying, you are… Chapeau Mark Cavendish.”
"We don't need a stage ruined because of a basic photo taken on a phone": Tour de France fan almost brings down Jonas Vingegaard while stepping into road to take photo of speeding peloton
Echelons to make an appearance on third sprint stage of the Tour de France?
Around 90km to go on stage six, Lotto Dstny have just made the first (admittedly pretty half-hearted) attempt to stick it in the gutter and split the race in the crosswinds. The winds aren’t particularly strong around Dijon, but the flat, open, straight roads look prime for echelon action. We’ve heard the team cars telling their riders to stay alert, it could be an exciting couple of hours.
Highlight of the day remains Mathieu van der Poel pulling off the coolest way to get on a bike I think I’ve ever seen. 10/10, no notes…
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) July 4, 2024
Comment of the day
Literally “Clik bait” https://t.co/BQmXxfP4Tk
— James – making Insurance easier – Downes (@james_downes) July 4, 2024
It wouldn't be an election without? Bikes at polling stations!
Election day means one thing — bikes at polling stations!
🗳️ Riding to the polls today? Let’s pedal together!
Share your photos of #BikesAtPollingStations with us and remember to tag us—and don’t forget your ID! 🚲 pic.twitter.com/BttsIcgz2k
— Cycling UK (@WeAreCyclingUK) July 4, 2024
Get your photos in the comments, and if you’re still undecided…
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> General Election 2024 — What do the main parties promise for cycling and active travel?
We're heading for a sprint — after crosswind fears don't come to much
If you haven’t had enough fun at the polls today…
Tesco tells cyclist who complained about broken and blocked bike racks outside shop that "working racks are never full" and "not considered high priority"
"By a nose": Dylan Groenewegen has last laugh, wins Tour stage with bizarre 'aero beak' back on display
We never doubted the aero beak. Promise. In all seriousness, Dylan Groenewegen’s sixth Tour de France stage win, and first since 2022, is almost certainly down to his legs and Jayco AlUla teammates, not a watt being saved by an aero nose cover.
With that said, top work Jayco’s social media team…
Dylan Groenewegen wins by a nose 👃 pic.twitter.com/wZSO45ZWNH
— GreenEDGE Cycling (@GreenEDGEteam) July 4, 2024
Despite looking strong at the front of the peloton for much of the run-in, Cavendish and Astana were nowhere to be seen at the finish, the history-maker coming home in 20th place. Jasper Philpsen was again the nearly-man in second place, the Belgian getting pipped by Groenewegen on the bike throw. The Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter has however now been relegated for cutting off Wout van Aert during the sprint, meaning it’s second place for Biniam Girmay.
After the finish, the Dutchman’s nose for victory was there for all to see, ‘Batman’ as he has been dubbed in recent days celebrating with his teammates and the latest frontier in questionable aero tech shining bright…
Groenewegen en zijn vader, wachtend op de definitieve uitslag… pic.twitter.com/10h6n9pacs
— Marijn Abbenhuijs (@MarijnAb) July 4, 2024
We never got an answer from the UCI on Groenewegen’s claim that he had been told to remove the aero beak on stage three to Turin, but he was seen wearing it again on the past two sprint stages.
On Monday, he told his own team’s cameras, “I need to put if off, from the UCI… that was a big surprise! I think they saw me not pedalling and said, ‘this is not fair, we need to stop these fast sunglasses’.”
He then told ITV’s TV cameras: “I like the glasses. In sprinting you want to [be as] fast as possible and if you can change small things, that can change a lot.”
In a development that did not help the ridiculing it has been on the receiving end of online, we spotted the nose cover up on Scicon’s website priced at an eye-watering €350. Not that you’ll be able to buy one yet, the “flexible and adjustable nose pad” currently unavailable — although Scicon is more than happy to notify you when it’s back in stock.
With that said, if it guarantees me a Tour de France win, maybe it’s worth stumping up for? I’ll give it a shot and report back. It’ll make an interesting review if nothing else…
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Latest Comments
Farage has said at least one thing that is true "Never trust a tory. I'll repeat that, NEVER trust a tory." And he was right, which is why Refuk is full of ex-tories.
@mdavidford while it can, I think of nonsense as more of a "pick your own" (hence bunch-servings) affair rather than BS, which is more like to arrive by itself in a steaming mess, or pile/heap.
I thought nonsense came in piles, rather than bunches.
@EastLondonCyclingNut I wouldn't be keen to find non-cyclists in my shoes - there wouldn't be room, even though they're fairly "walking-friendly" SPD ones. Not sure if public hire bikes change much. But I do think ultimately things only change when there's a significant fraction of the population with "skin in the game" - either because they cycle regularly themselves or more likely because they know their friends and *children* / other relatives do...
"Christie continued to follow the victim and drove the van into the back wheel of the bike."
Generally, I get off my bike and walk in pedestrianised areas. Cyclists and pedestrians in close proximity do not mix well. I'd be pretty pissed off if cars decided it was okay to use a cycle lane because they didn't want to use an alternative, legal route.
@EastLondonCyclingNut I'm going for 'very suspicious' on this one- Trollfinder General Is this the increased sympathy where the driver attacks the cyclist causing serious injuries and is rewarded with the joke non-custodial sentence; or where the driver murders the cyclist in the most horrible manner and the Shyster Defence Barrister offers the mitigation that 'he didn't intend to do it and expresses remorse'?
@Rendel Harris Unfortunately the idea that subjective "lived experience" trumps everything else in every situation is now quite popular and widespread. I once had an extremely depressing conversation with someone who insisted my opinion on a matter - a matter in a subject on which I'm well educated and have spent a great deal of time carefully considering my positions on - was worthless, incoherent, and irrelevant since I was straight. No attempt to engage with the substance - I was straight, so nothing I said could possibly be correct. It got more depressing still when I pointed out that actually I'm Bi I just don't go around draped in a Pride flag at all times, and the numpty came back in to work the next day and had completely changed his mind and decided actually I was stunningly insightful - I asked how he could rationalise thinking the same argument was wrong one day and right the next despite the argument, the evidence, and the person making it being completely unchanged expecting some kind of attempt to obfuscate or explain, but nope he just came out and said "but I didn't know you were Bi then, now I do, so it's valid now". They live among us.
@mitsky afaik most 100 point cases are dodgy businesses where the keeper regularly gets 3-6 points for failure to identify because they make no effort to know who is driving pool cars. And either don't actually drive (hence not worrying) or are on company policy that covers anyone... I suspect the solution to this would involve seizing vehicles when they 'don't know who was driving'...
I think one of the biggest factors in increased sympathy for cyclists is the fact that so many people increasingly Lime and other hire e-bikes. It’s an easy and attractive gateway into cycling that suddenly puts non-cyclists in the shoes of cyclists, and naturally makes them understand their perspective.
25 thoughts on ““By a nose”: Dylan Groenewegen has last laugh, wins Tour stage with bizarre ‘aero beak’ back on display; Sprinter bunny hops 60km/h crash; Bikes at polling stations; Cav reaction; Opinion split over Schwalbe’s “revolutionary” valve + more on the live blog”
Clik – fantastic idea. Presta
Clik – fantastic idea. Presta valves in particular are terrible. The fact that adapters are available so you don’t need to buy new tubes and pumps is critical.
Exactly. Whilst there have
Exactly. Whilst there have been “new ideas” that were simply a modified version of either Presta or Schrader (don’t forget Dunlop valves were another standard since consigned to history) this design is more in depth, and is also minimalist in size. Muc-Off released a coreless valve (tubeless specific) around the same time – but uses a ball valve in an otherwise Presta standard body. Not a problem for MTB but a bulky item like that would be scoffed at by road riders.
This Clik system is an easy retrofit for tubeless and inner tube Prestas with a removeable core. It’s light and minimalist and does away with valve caps for those weight weenies who never use them. And as of 2030 will become an open standard to adopt. And is easy to revert if you decide it’s not for you. I’m up for trying it out, especially for tubeless systems.
Unfortunately, Dunlop valves
Unfortunately, Dunlop valves are still alive in some regions. I’m a bike mechanic in Switzerland, and I regularly see them on cheap bikes from large department stores. I even had one group of bike tourers from Austria who were searching for spare tubes and were disappointed that I didn’t have any with Dunlop valves! My advice is always to switch the tubes for Schrader valves. I definitely agree that Presta is too fragile and Schrader too bulky, so improvements are certainly possible.
Yeah but think of the extra
Yeah but think of the extra weight of those adapters – can you get them made out of unobtainium?
But if I read correctly, an
But if I read correctly, an existing Presta pump head works fine anyway. I think I’ll order a couple of these Clik valves for my tubeless road bike just to see how it goes. I don’t mind experimenting a bit for 12 euros.
Not much attention being paid
Not much attention being paid to the road in the Astana team car!
Is that the same Phil Ligget
Is that the same Phil Ligget who defended Lance Armstrong to the hilt and said those who stated he was a druggie, scum and liars? That Phil Ligget?
The revelance to Cav’s #35
The revelance to Cav’s #35 being? Or did you just want another Armstrong rant?
Well nobody can accuse the
Well nobody can accuse the peloton of gifting Cavendish his record-breaking stage, brilliant, and incredibly emotional. That said, Merckx won his 34 stages whilst winning 5 Tours, with no days off, and no coming in 40 minutes down on tough stages. For me that’s different. But, undoubtedly Cavendish is the greatest sprinter in Tour history, chapeau!!
It is difficult, if not
It is difficult, if not impossible to compare the two achievents due to the differing nature of the two riders, along with the eras they are from.
However there’s an old football saying – “you can only beat the team in front of you”. If you transcribe it to suit cycling, it will become “you can only beat the riders beside/behind”. By the Merckx era the Tour was, and has always been since, a 21 stage race. Both riders had effectively the same rate of opportunity depending on editions entered. A stage win is a stage win, regardless of stage profile.
Both Merckx’s long standing record, and Cav’s unique run to break it, are incredible and unrivalled achievements in their own right. Both have earned their titles as legends of the sport owing to their longevity and their abilities to keep winning race after race. Merckx is the GC GOAT, Cavendish the Sprinting GOAT.
It remains to be seen whether Merckx’s GC record will come under threat, but this plucky Slovenian kid Pogacar might have a chance.
If you transcribe it to suit
If you transcribe it to suit cycling
What is suit cycling?
rookybiker wrote:
Perhaps this?
Or for top and bottom:
Or for top and bottom:
https://momentummag.com/riding-in-a-suit/
Is that a Boris Johnson fan
Is that a Boris Johnson fan club meet-up?
You say that, I have seen on
You say that, I have seen on another website’s comment section exactly that suggestion.
Pram cycle – only got a
Pram cycle – only got a twitter link
https://x.com/historyinmemes/status/1808123709590237362
“That’s not a hundred years
“That’s not a hundred years ago” I thought. Then swifltly realised I’ve got old, because instinctively I still think a hundred years ago means something starting with 18…
“Road rage ramming incident
“Road rage ramming incident caught on CCTV
A man has received a suspended prison sentence following an incident of road rage on the A55.”
But cyclists.
Someone call Matthew Briggs and IDS.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cg64z7wx6wyo
And next to it on the BBC’s
And next to it on the BBC’s Wales – North East page:
School bus driver arrested for drug driving – the 45 year old tested positive for cannabis.
While in the local rag (Daily Post) today:
Kiera Ridler was crashed into another car while driving at about 65mph on a 30mph road during a Flintshire car meet. Her vehicle spun and hit and paralysed 23 year-old pedestrian Christopher Rakestraw, who requires round-the-clock care as a result.
Suspended sentence, banned from driving for a piddling 2 years & 10 months.
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/left-man-paralysed-two-others-29472660
But you’re right, it’s bloody cyclists that cause all the problems.
“clipped…”??!
“clipped…”??!
I thought that!
I thought that!
Re getting on a bike, I have
Re getting on a bike, I have seen a couple of senior cyclists with limited hip mobility getting on a bike similar to this. Not sure if that is why MvdP did it.
Presumably not with quite the
Presumably not with quite the same panache?!
Two bikes at our polling
Two bikes at our polling station, but neither of them close enough to the sign to work as a photo. Come on people – put some thought into it! ☹
No dogs, or bikes (nowhere to
No dogs, or bikes (nowhere to park or lock them up anyway) and it’s walkable for me anyway
But plenty of cars though, the average distance to a polling station, at least in urban areas is supposed to be 2 miles isn’t it.?