Team calls for Giro to be stopped after two weeks’ racing; De Gendt feels organisers are ‘hiding things’ regarding Covid-19 situation; 17 police motorbike racers associated with Giro-E test positive; Video: James May builds a bike + more
SUMMARY
Today's stage of the Giro d'Italia
Stage 12 is 200-and-odd very hard kilometres.
Organisers say it follows the same route as the Gran Fondo Nove Colli, if that means much to you.
They say: “With the exception of the first and of the last 25km, the remaining 150km do not even feature a single flat metre to let the bunch catch their breath.
“The route is an endless succession of climbs and descents, with double-digit gradients at points, often on narrow and worn-out roads.”
Fuglsang backtracks
We reported yesterday that Jakob Fuglsang has been letting off a bit of steam in his daily column in the Danish media.
The recurring theme is that he is disappointed-to-angry with his team.
Our favourite line was the utterly brutal one about Oscar Rodriguez. “It’s not like I’m disappointed with him. I probably would not have expected more, but you are allowed to hope.”
He also said of Vincenzo Nibali (presumably partly in jest): “He doesn’t say hello to me. Maybe he’s jealous of me.”
Then there are his comments about Sicily.
It’s important to note that these were produced with the assistance of Google Translate.
Jakob Fuglsang about Sicily. Yep, I can now see why Nibali might not say hi to you at the start. 🙈 #Giro pic.twitter.com/89xbobJDpR
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) October 13, 2020
Fuglsang has now pulled a very modern version of the old “I’ve been misquoted” in a bid to minimise the damage.
Fuglsang declares his love for Italy and says the journalist who’s helping with his daily blogs during the Giro has been distorting his words https://t.co/74oZHuPjx3 (🇮🇹)
— the Inner Ring (@inrng) October 14, 2020
He said: “The translations with Google Translate, believe me, are not so reliable. I love Italy and that translation does not reflect my thoughts.”
You can certainly lose a bit of nuance with any translation – particularly one generated by computer software. Not sure that explains everything though, Jakob.
Video: James May builds a bike
“A new bicycle – the most exciting thing you can buy.”
Lotto-Soudal riders discussing whether or not to start today says Thomas de Gendt
According to Thomas de Gendt, Lotto-Soudal signed the start list today but have since been discussing whether or not to ride on the team bus.
De Gendt: “I don’t feel like racing today, the situation is trending the wrong direction and it feels like the organizer conceals things. We’re having discussions between riders wether we should start.”https://t.co/udXWmXFV7V
— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) October 15, 2020
It’s been reported that 17 police motorbike riders associated with the Giro-E tested positive for Covid-19.
Race organisers said the officers were separate from the main race, but de Gendt seems sceptical.
“I thought it was much safer in the Tour. I never felt unsafe there at any point. But I have the feeling that the organisation is hiding things and giving it a twist.
“There is a lot of money involved and for sponsors it is very important that we go to Milan. They are waiting for the government to make a decision and those decisions come too late.”
VecchioJo is aimlessly pedalling about
I’m late on this, but I’m posting it because there’s every chance some of you will have missed it too.
NTT Pro Cycling – Africa's only top flight team – could fold with implications for the Qhubeka charity
The BBC reports that Japanese telecommunications company NTT has pulled out of sponsoring Africa’s top cycling team, for whom Domenico Pozzovivo is currently sitting fourth overall in the Giro d’Italia.
🇮🇹 #Giro
🚆Stage 11 of @giroditalia was a day for the fast men but for our team it was one to rally around our leader, Domenico Pozzovivo.
We continue to make history for our team as he retains 4th spot on GC, as we continue to fight for our future.#BicyclesChangeLives pic.twitter.com/Me0MrXt3nm
— NTT Pro Cycling (@NTTProCycling) October 14, 2020
Team principal Doug Ryder said the team was, “struggling to keep the lights on.”
They’ll need a new sponsor in place by November.
“We’ve literally got three to four weeks, so the clock is absolutely ticking. We hope we can find somebody who can keep us going.”
NTT Pro Cycling was formerly MTN-Qhubeka and Team Dimension Data and is still connected to the Qhubeka charity which provides African students with bikes.
“This is our tenth year in solid partnership with them and we’ve helped [give more than] 100,000 bicycles to individuals and give them hope, opportunity and change lives,” said Ryder.
“The team has given that initiative global exposure. We will continue to support Qhubeka, no question, but if the team doesn’t exist then it will severely impact Qhubeka as a whole.”
RCS says the 17 police officers who tested positive for Covid-19 were "exclusively engaged in the escort of Giro-E"
We alluded to this earlier when reporting on Thomas de Gendt’s suspicions that Giro d’Italia organisers RCS Sport are ‘hiding’ things with regards to the spread of Covid-19 at the race.
It’s been reported that 17 police motorbike riders tested positive, but RCS says these particular officers were only tasked with covering the Giro-E e-bike race, which finishes an hour before the main race each day.
A spokesperson said:
“With reference to the stories that appeared in the press relating to the Coronavirus status of Polizia Stradale officers at the Giro d’Italia, it must be highlighted that the reported cases only concern personnel exclusively engaged in the escort at the Giro-E, an event with organization, logistics, hotels, timetables and starting locations completely separate from those of the Giro d’Italia.
“It was found that the cluster would have originated in the technical escort team. As for the escort policemen on the Giro d’Italia, who follow autonomous prophylaxis dynamics, the recent Covid tests carried out have all returned negative responses.”
Rule No.1 of stick bottles: at least *pretend* that you want the bottle
🗣 @brismithy: “Bit of a naughty moment there from Movistar” 😬
🇮🇹 #Giro d’Italia
📺 Eurosport 2
💻📱 Uninterrupted coverage: https://t.co/JYR4KRpjve
📃 LIVE blog updates: https://t.co/VpDTPFpU4C pic.twitter.com/mL4iMI2vM4— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) October 15, 2020
Mini orcas: not a deterrent to parking in cycle lanes
We’ve been sent some photos of school run time on Bounds Green Road this morning. Who could have predicted that installing mostly ‘mini-orca’ cycle lane segregators, designed to be driven over, rather than wands would not stop people from driving over them into the cycle lane? pic.twitter.com/YHBvwWftkf
— Haringey Cycling (@HaringeyCyclist) October 15, 2020
75-year-old former marine completes North Coast 500 for PTSD charity, raising over £13,000
Jonathan Thompson set off on 5th October to complete his mammoth challenge, and accompanied by a small support team, he conquered the brutal 500 mile route around North-West Scotland within a week.
A former Royal Marine, Mr Thompson was raising funds for the PTSD Resolution charity, describing PTSD as “a dreadful affliction”. He trained six times a week leading up to the event, making use of a road bike and a Wattbike Atom, and faced hilly terrain mixed with typically dreadful Scottish weather during the challenge itself. Doubling back from John o’ Groats on the final days to avoid the busy A9, the total distance was extended to 542 miles.
Mr Thompson originally aimed to raise £10,000, but has already smashed that target with the running total now over £13,000 – if you want to donate the fundraiser is still live here, and you can find out more about the PTSD Resolution charity here.
What's your GSI?
Global stress Indicator: GSI
Health, emotional stress, relationship health, financial stress, endocrine function, neurological fatigue, viral load, sympathetic/ parasympathetic function all arguably more important than ‘outputs’ as they affect outputs. GSI+TSS=holistic coaching— Nathan Haas (@NathanPeterHaas) October 15, 2020
Thames Valley Police releases images of two men officers would like to speak to following 27 bike thefts in Marlow
Between August 1 and September 8 a total of 27 bicycles were stolen from three locations across Marlow.
The thefts occurred from outside Sainsbury’s supermarket in West Street, from Higginson Park, and from outside Marlow Railway Station.
Sergeant Robin Hughes, of Marlow’s Neighbourhood Team, said: “As part of our enquiries, I would like to speak to the two men shown in the images as they may have information which could assist us. If you recognise them or believe you are either individual, please contact police.
“Many of the bicycles stolen were locked so if you have to leave your bicycle in public I would urge you to please ensure you double lock it as securely as possible in a recognised secure cycle parking area, which is well lit and is covered by CCTV. Use two good quality locks, at least one of which is a D-lock and remove or secure any removable parts.
“It is also advisable to get your bike securely marked and registering it at BikeRegister. Please take the same steps at home to ensure your bicycle is secure.”
If you have any information about the incidents please contact the 24-hour non-emergency number 101 quoting the reference 43200271523.
Jhonatan Narvaez wins Stage 12 of the Giro
Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadiers) has won from the break on a day of miserable weather in the Giro d’Italia.
The Ecuadorian was one of two riders who had seemed set to hold off the peloton to contest the win. However, the unfortunate Mark Padun (Bahrain-McLaren) suffered a puncture immediately after the final climb of the day.
EF Pro Cycling calls for Giro to be stopped after two weeks' racing
Eurosport reports that a proposal from EF Pro Cycling to stop the Giro d’Italia at the second rest day because of “a clearly compromised bubble” has been refused by the UCI.
A proposal from @EFprocycling to halt the #Giro d’Italia, because of “a clearly compromised bubble”, has been refused by @UCI_cycling.
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) October 15, 2020
The team wrote to request that the Grand Tour end this coming Sunday, with winners declared as per their positions at that point.
It said that following a series of positive tests at the first rest day, “it must be expected that further illness will result.”
Mitchelton-Scott and Jumbo-Visma have pulled out of the race. Regarding finishing the Giro early, the letter says that, “it would be better for the Giro and the UCI World Tour…(if) this be done in a systematic, holistic way versus a chaotic withdrawal on a team by team basis.”
The UCI denied the request with its president David Lappartient arguing, “we now face a challenge to finish the season and this can be achieved by continuing this spirit of collaboration and unity in professional cycling.”
EF says it will leave the Giro if the team returns even one positive test – and may even call it a day before that happens.
“While we hope to remain in the race until an official early finish, should anyone on our team test positive, or should the riders and staff grow uncomfortable with the situation, we will leave the race at that time.”
UCI says there will be extra screening of Giro teams
Responding to EF Pro Cycling’s request that the Giro d’Italia be cut short (see below) the UCI has said there will be additional general screening of teams on Thursday and Friday, on top of the testing due on the second rest day (Monday).
15 October 2020, 08:31
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Latest Comments
@Rendel Harris Agree, I am baffled that the 84 year old who is now banned from driving for year can then start driving again without a retest. We should be re-tested regularly.
@mitsky Just checking the figures and apparently the 2026 average cost is £58,000 per year per prisoner; worth noting that is only the direct cost, you then have to factor in ten years of lost tax income from the prisoner, ten years that the prisoner is making no contribution to society as a worker or as a consumer, plus the fact that if they were the primary breadwinner very likely the costs will include benefits for their family as well. None of which should be a reason for keeping violent recidivists out of prison of course, nor drug/drink drivers who kill, but it is a factor worth considering for lower-level offences.
@Surreyrider I ride in Surrey a fair bit and absolutely many do look like that but the point is they all *think* they're driving perfectly reasonably (as one discovers when remonstrating with someone who's skimmed one by 30cm, "I gave you masses of room") so deterrent penalties have little effect. That's why we need to strike at the root cause and actually train drivers properly and test them stringently (and more than once over the course of a potential 70+ years of driving, it's absolutely absurd that competence and knowledge in what for most people is the activity in their life that will run the biggest risk of killing people you never have to have your qualifications renewed).
@mitsky Imprisonment currently costs over £50k p.a. per prisoner and obviously that will rise over the course of a ten-year stretch with inflation. Regarding culpability and mitigating sentences etc, of course I'm not against condign punishment for drivers who kill (and cyclists on the tiny, tiny handful of occasions when this happens), including prison as appropriate; I was objecting to the ridiculous and oft-repeated demand of MM that drivers who kill cyclists must get ten years, "no excuses, no exceptions".
Hey, but their wool blend cycling adjacent t-shirts are/were fantastic.
@Surreyrider Still the boss. Ride one, you'll see why
@Smoggysteve "Most would happily ride on the roads and be treated with respect by drivers". But people aren't - and as far as I can see they won't be. Not until there is a lot less driving and it's slower around cyclists, and far more people driving have "skin in the game" eg. they sometimes cycle and their friends and family do also. That's what leads to the model - which is perhaps most advanced in NL - where cycling, walking and driving are all seen as separate normal transport modes. Their needs, vulnerabilities and any dangers to others are considered. And *that* leads to "mix / share when possible, separate when necessary". But "possible" is "where your 10-year old would be safe to cycle unsupervised" - so very few motor vehicles, going slow! And AFAICS everybody - even "existing cyclists" - is happy with the result. (I dunno about a few pro cyclists - but don't they tend to have training camps in different counties anyway?)
@quiff as an Edinburgh resident I can confidently say he's speaking without moving his lips in one sense: - while as I noted in a separate comment there *is* now some real separated cycle infra, all the examples i can think of have *at least as much space* for pedestrians. The rest of the "cycle infra" is essentially similar to the situation in the rest of the UK: eg. bus lanes*, cycle lanes and shared use paths (eg. "build" infra by sticking up a sign). Edinburgh is one of the places with a moderately extensive network of former railways which have been converted to "shared use" paths (completely motor traffic few). However though shared they are not narrow by UK standards. And this is all effectively a "free extra" for all non- motorised users, not like the "sign a cycle path" where pedestrians do lose space. I think this all comes from the "popular understanding" of cycling in which ultimately cyclists are the "other". They don't fit "motor vehicle" or "pedestrian" (including wheelchairs on the very rare occasions people think about that). Thus "cyclists are cheating" in multiple ways! They shouldn't get their own space as "there aren't enough" of them. And "they can just use the road / path". But being able to *choose* "on the road" or "on the footway" (shared use path) is clearly unfair - nobody else gets to do that! BUT of course even if they did pick just one of road OR pedestrian space it's still not fair anyway because they're "too slow" for the road (don't pay "road tax" etc...) and "far too fast" for pedestrians... * Though some existing cyclists may appreciate them when there are few buses, buses and bikes are a very poor mix for several reasons.
Whilst a shame for any employees, their bib shorts had the worst chamois pad I’d ever encountered, utter waste of my money. Even though they were Strava challenge discount purchases, still a waste of money.
Thanks, just going to have to suck it up. Got next week off and will take the easy, if expensive option...
14 thoughts on “Team calls for Giro to be stopped after two weeks’ racing; De Gendt feels organisers are ‘hiding things’ regarding Covid-19 situation; 17 police motorbike racers associated with Giro-E test positive; Video: James May builds a bike + more”
De Gendt is right, I’d never
De Gendt is right, I’d never noticed how close Sicily is to mainland Italy. Why isn’t there a bridge?
Because it would be, by some
Because it would be, by some margin, the world’s biggest suspension bridge. In an earthquake prone region, subject to crosswinds.
As I understand it, a bridge has been approved and subsequently cancelled a few times, because of cost and risk.
I think Mr De Gendt needs to
.
I’ve watched the Italian Job.
I’ve watched the Italian Job… Fuglsang better tread carefully. It would be a shame if he entered a tunnel at speed and met, say, a bulldozer.
Mr May, that was crap, the
Mr May, that was crap, the front brake hose (probably cable) should not pass behind/under the frame, it will end up catching on the front tyre you muppet
“follow autonomous
“follow autonomous prophylaxis dynamics”
Is it just me that this phrase conjures visions of some giant robot condom laying waste to Neo-Tokyo?
It is just me? As you were then.
I think Mr Fuglsang needs to
I think Mr Fuglsang needs to learn the difference between speaking out loud and his internal monologue. Its like the journalist has tapped into his thoughts prior to going through his internal censor. Unless of course he’s like that all the time.
[blockquote]autonomous
I don’t know what this is, but I suspect my wife wouldn’t like to find out I’ve been watching it.
I think I’ve got one of their
I think I’ve got one of their Peel Sessions on cassette.
Love the sticky-bottle clip.
Love the sticky-bottle clip. But let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. I imagine the conversation went something like this:
Hector: What is it? What’s in the bottle, guys? What’s the drink?
Soigneurs: [After some discussion] Er, we think it’s our secret recipe: a nutritious mix of cold tea and beetroot juice.
Hector: Eeeeuch!
(But in Spanish, natch.)
Maybe it’s my eyes but maybe
Maybe it’s my eyes but maybe someone should tell Marlow rozzers that all 3 pictures are the same man….
Nah, bottom pic the geezer
Nah, bottom pic the geezer has thick sideburns which isn’t in either of the top two pics. They are wearing the same coat and rucksack though but that might be the scummers uniform of choice.
Looks like the “extra
Looks like the “extra screening” was actually Covid testing, I’ve seen a number of teams being tested after today’s stage
James May needs to sort out
James May needs to sort out that front brake cable….it’s routed incorrectly…..