“Cyclists purposefully blocking roads, riding two or three abreast,” claims Grimsby auction house in bizarre clip; Second pro hit by driver on Time Trial day at the Tour de France; Breakaway day at the Tour + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
The internet in 2026...
In the olden times of five or more years ago, people might keep diaries, write letters, or reserve some opinions for a private social media account or a conversation with friends. But 2026 is the podcast age, or at least the age of the podcast aesthetic.
Far be us to dismiss the importance of industry-specific media. But why a house clearance-specialist auction house in Grimsby is uploading opinions on bike lanes we cannot fathom. Don’t worry though, our presenter insists he has “many friends who are cyclists.”
Saying that, we can fathom it. The simple answer is that it’s content, designed to attract attention and eyeballs that can be monetised either through Meta or increased interest in their business.
Other such though-provoking videos posted by the auction house include ‘Should Cyclists & Mobility Scooters have Insurance?’, ‘Defending the family windbreak’ and ‘Are we still allowed to have opinions?’
Depressingly, a quick scroll back through their archive shows they used to do a lot more auction/house clearing-related posting, but that the engagement numbers were dwarfed by the videos that lean into more inane, culture war-adjacent topics.
So here thrust before us is a Grimsby auctioneer riffing about cyclists for views. It’s worth noting that Grimsby does not have the greatest record when it comes to cyclists, having tried to implement a ban on cyclists in the town centre only to discover their signs are in the wrong place…
There’s also a very understandable urge to ignore the whole shebang, but it’s worth giving a mention to the hundreds, and I mean hundreds, of comments that have come out to defend cyclists riding two-abreast and not always using a cycle lane…
“The speed that a cyclist rides at dictates where a cyclist rides. Cycle lanes and shared paths are not for fast moving cyclists ‘Shared roads’ are.”
“Why do motorists speed when there are signs everywhere telling them what speed they can do?”
“They are never in the middle of the road unless turning right. They may be in the middle of the lane. Were this speaker a qualified driver he would know that. Council tax pays for roads, so every tax payer in town pays for roads whether they own a car or not. More drivers drive on the footway than cycle users.”
“If a dedicated cycle lane is available, I’ll use it unless it’s littered with debris / potholes and there are no cars parked over it. If I’m approaching a junction, roundabout or otherwise restricted section of road, I will be positioning myself in the middle of the lane to protect myself (prevents cars approaching from the rear forcing their way past you when there isn’t safe room), as advised by the Highway Code.
“It’s not rocket science, it’s about common sense and respect for each other on the roads.”
Thanks internet. In the meantime, I’m off to submit my latest opinions for approval…
Adam Yates
With teammate Tim Wellens and Uno-X’s Anders Halland Johannessen for company, Adam Yates comes home 26 minutes down, making it comfortably inside the time cut. Here’s hoping he rests up…
From dispatches: Tired Askey
Our thanks to Ryan for this photo of today’s 4th place
Meanwhile, Mads Pedersen finished in the top-10 to just about hold on to green…
1. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), 452 points
2. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech), 445 points
3. Biniam Girmay (NSN), 361 points
Jasper Philipsen wins!
Lidl-Trek took control but Lotto then move up for Huub Artz, leading under the flamme rouge but then Josh Tarling launches, he gets a slight gap and leads into a 90 degree turn but they’re all on his wheel.
Finally, with 250m to go Alpecin come up to the front with Mathieu van der Poel who perfectly pilots Jasper Philipsen and in this reduced bunch sprint, no one comes close. After two weeks of trying the fast man has his stage win, and hold on has he got the green jersey as well?
Olav Kooij was second but a bikelength behind, Lewis Askey I think came home in third.
Stoppable Stuyven
Agonising for the Belgian who’s caught with 3.5km remaining, the wait goes on!
The counter attacks continue on this uphill kicker, Visma’s Per Strad Hagenes makes a move but Lidl-Trek are all over him.
Simmons then counters whilst Van der Poel moves up on the wheels.
2.5km to go
Inside 5km
Stuyven has 12 seconds and the flyers have started behind. They can see him right there!
Unstoppable Stuyven?
With the caveat that there’s a short uphill section in the final three kilometres, this looks like it’s going Stuyven’s way. A failed attack by Ben Healy was the death knell for cooperation among the quintet who have now been swallowed up by the Kooij-Pedersen group.
The gap is coming down slightly though, and the Chocolatier will take a 30 second advantage into the final 10km. Alpecin, Jayco and Decathlon are working to bring him back.
Mads tightens green grip, Stuyven goes solo
Edward Planckart couldn’t even come off Pedersen’s wheel at the intermediate sprint, a comfortable Pedersen victory. Despite Lidl-Trek’s best efforts to prevent him, Jasper Philipsen led the chase behind, limiting Pedersen’s gains to 16 points. But straight after the sprint, Jasper Stuyven went solo and got a gap!
The Belgian hasn’t won a race since Milan-Sanremo five years ago, is today the day to break the duck?
21km remain, 24 seconds is his gap over a cooperating quintet, and 1’07” over the rest of the escapees.
40km to go...
Right, what a crazy race situation we now have. Mads Pedersen has wrestled free and taken five riders with him – Ben Healy, Michal Kwiatkowski, Felix Engelhardt, Jasper Stuyven, and Edward Planckaert who you suspect will try and outsprint the Dane for maximum points at the intermediate sprint.
There is then a 38-rider group comprising both Olav Kooij and Jasper Philipsen just over a minute behind. Actually make that 37 as Aaron Gate, the Kiwi rider and oldest Tour debutant this year has just gone off the front.
The peloton and grupetto have come together and are crusing along five minutes behind. Well, cruising as much as an elite peloton at the Tour de France can.
But one man not cruising is Adam Yates. The Brit is reportedly suffering from an upset stomach and is low on energy. He’s on a one-man mission at the back of the race to make it home within the time limit. Best wishes to him…
What’s wrong with Adam Yates?!?
He was with the main group after a hard start to the stage, but came to a near standstill during Stage 17 of the Tour de France 2026!
🇫🇷 #TDF2026 | July 5-July 27 | Every Stage on SBS 📺 pic.twitter.com/f7QlBRPVUQ
— SBS Sport (@SBSSportau) July 22, 2026
Sacked for lycra
A bizarre story has been brewing in Turkey, where a provincial Governor was removed from their post for sharing photos of himself cycling in lycra.
Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli, governor of the Ardahan province, said in response to his dismissal that he will “keep on pedalling”, and a petition to reinstate him has attracted 10,000 signatures, according to the BBC.
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However, the criticism appears to be bipartisan, having been dismissed by Conservative President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following criticism from the Social Democrat opposition who accused him of “wearing cycling tights all day” at the expense of his duties.
But Çiçekli’s answer to his critics, prior to his dismissal was clear…
“I do sports in sports clothes.”
G's Gilet mentioned!
Pfft, I’m starting too think Ryan will take literally any opportunity to talk about Pedro Delgado…
Mad Mads
65km to go and after a brief move from the peloton involving Matteo Jorgenson and Ben Healy came to nowt, Mads Pedersen attacked once again.
The gap to the peloton is down to 20 seconds and in no time at all the Dane has made the jump, and with Quinn Simmons they’re powering the front group along. But Pedersen’s acceleration has sparked a flurry of attacks to such an extent that the ‘peloton’ is maybe only 35 riders or so in strength. This race has suddenly exploded.
61km remain, and now Pedersen attacks from the break! Healy and Van der Poel are first to jump on his wheel. We’re still more than 30km from the intermediate sprint.
Meanwhile a word for Adam Yates, the Bury climber looked uncomfortable at the back of the peloton and has now dropped back to the grupetto. Hopefully it’s nothing serious.
Motonormativity strikes again
So many attacks, Mathieu van der Poel, Jasper Stuyven and Josh Tarling were among the engines trying to get away but none of it stuck. A Mads Pedersen acceleration from the peloton to try and join them just brought the whole race back together. But Pedersen then paid for his efforts on the short, final climb of the day and a split in the peloton formed.
And it was a big split, 50 riders at one point 45 seconds behind including Isaac del Toro, Tom Pidcock and 9th, 10th, 13th and 14th on GC. They all turned to Lidl-Trek though with the engines of Derek Gee-West, Mathias Vacek and Toms Skujins there to usher their green jersey back into the peloton.
But now the break is allowed to re-escape. There are some strong engines there, including the aforementioned trio at the top of this post but there are also a lot of climbers including Egan Bernal, Jai Hindley, Einer Rubio and Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet. I hope they know that the high mountains arrive tomorrow.
Other riders up the road worthy of mention (in my humble opinion) include Quinn Simmons, Pablo Castrillo, Alex Baudin and Matej Mohoric.
The question now is how motivated will the sprinters in the peloton be to bring them back. You suspect Lidl-Trek will be content to let the break snaffle up as many green jersey points as possible to protect Pedersen’s lead in that competition, whilst Biniam Girmay has been dropped. Alpecin-Premier Tech are unlikely to ride for Jasper Philipsen whilst Van der Poel is up the road so that puts the onus on Decathlon CMA-CGM (for Olav Kooij).
96km, the gap is still only 40 seconds.
From dispatches: "The driver didn't know what he was doing"
New cooling techniques
Oh dear, this might be the death of the short-lived ‘From dispatches’ series, if it was to ever be a series. Ryan’s tip for today, Fred Wright has crashed along with Tom Pidcock and Lenny Martinez. All three got up quickly and made up the 40 second gap to the peloton, though Wright seems to have some road rash on his shoulder and legs.
140km to go, and fellow Brit Max Walker is in a group 10 seconds up the road but this break is far from settled, the attacks continue as the first categorised climb begins.
Stage 17 preview: Break vs Sprint
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Scathed
The BBC can be hit-and-miss when it comes to their two-wheeled reporting, particularly in relation to distinguishing between e-bikes and illegal electric motorbikes.
However, we have a pleasant, if cycling-adjacent, surprise this morning of a deep-diving investigation into pavement parking, and the criticism of accessibility.
The BBC’s Data Unit have found more than half of English councils actively encourage drivers to park on pavements, despite the concerns of disability campaigners.
And only five of those 84 councils have plans to remove their pavement parking spaces.
A Local Government Association spokesperson said councils “have to balance the needs of all users”.
“Sometimes, especially on older or tightly built streets, they have to allow some pavement parking – for example to ensure emergency vehicles, refuse trucks, and buses can safely pass,” adding they welcome new government proposals to give councils more powers to tackle “obstructive parking.”
The struggle for nationwide safer streets is definitely a marathon not a sprint, a motorway not a lane.
Deja vu for mandatory hi-vis
Ryan’s just rang from the mix zone at the start of today’s stage and is full of gossip!
Firstly, a source from Pinarello-Q36.5 told Ryan that the driver who struck and injured Xandro Meurisse “didn’t seem to know what he was doing” and appeared distracted at the wheel. Meurisse was shaken by the crash but seems fit and well enough to start shortly.
There’s been consternation from several teams about yesterday’s TT course, namely that it was dangerous and poorly organised. One rumour going around the paddock is that the host town of Evian paid so much money to host that the organisers felt constricted as to what sort of course they could design.
As Ryan reported yesterday Thymen Arensman would have been in the hotseat for a while had he not ‘done a Delgado’ and missed his start time. Asked about the incident Geraint Thomas says the Dutchman and the team “just lost track of time.”
And finally, if you’re into betting, put a pound or two on Fred Wright. The Brit has reportedly targeted today’s stage and has looked much more reserved this morning, declining multiple interview requests.
You heard it here first!
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Latest Comments
@lemonenema Good job that Ms.McGowan is not asking, as far as the evidence above goes, for any sort of quota system then, isn't it? She's talking about increasing the opportunities for black women to participate in the sport and removing any barriers that may exist to them reaching their greatest potential, not simply enforcing an X% black women representation regardless of ability.
Driver expected to drive in accordance with the highway code. I can see why he was vexed by that!
Leaving aside the joke sentence, how on earth did someone with a history of mental problems, substance abuse and serious crime involving motor vehicles manage to obtain a licence and then employment driving the most dangerous vehicle on the road? Who did the vetting and when are they resigning?
The short bio at the bottom of the blog reads : "Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master’s degree in print journalism, ..." He now contributes to road.cc live blog where he demonstrates an inclination towards biased communication, pejorative language and emotionally loaded writing.
@Rendel Harris Be careful what you wish for - we know where a lot of historic British sporting brands have wound up and there are things worse than non-existence.
When was the last time did elite male and female marathon runners complain about the lack of diversity in their sport? Whoever pretends to become a pro cyclist must have power, endurance, stamina, self-confidence. And more. Race and faith don't intefere with data and results. American wokeism is the last thing the women's pro peloton needs at the moment. Instead, live broadcasting, TV rights and sponsors are most welcome.
If by 'positive' you mean 'loosing strays at undeserving commenters and then doubling down on it', no - sorry to disappoint.
Not sure why that's a relevant question though - I as far as I can see, nobody has suggested any kind of 'quota' system - they're simply talking about removing barriers so that those of equal ability have equal opportunity. Do that, and equal representation will more or less take care of itself anyway.
Regarding the lack of diversity in the femmes, yes there should absolutely be equal opportunities for all regardless of ethnicity, but (as with all equality arguments) this should absolutely not be at the cost of ability and achievement. Having equal representation for all ethnicities is totally unfair for the riders who earn their place. Equal opportunity is not the same as equal representation.
@chrisonabike All the political parties are populist - they don't exist to serve their community/area/country, they exist to serve themselves and their party. There's a word I'd use to cover them all beginning with c but I won't spell it out here.
21 thoughts on ““Cyclists purposefully blocking roads, riding two or three abreast,” claims Grimsby auction house in bizarre clip; Second pro hit by driver on Time Trial day at the Tour de France; Breakaway day at the Tour + more on the live blog”
I thought that the lengthy technical downhill section on narrow roads was a poor piece of organisation. It was inevitable that faster riders with their team car would catch up with team cars of slower riders. Riders passing each other was a bit of a lottery at times. The camera motorbikes struggled to get out of the way at times.
Barry Shitpeas (Philomena Cunk’s sidekick) was a very prescient character. Basically a quarter-wit expressing ignorant opinions without any understanding of the issues at hand, with ample doses of Dunning-Kruger.
He “never thought of that” and “some of my best friends are” . Sounds like he doesn’t think of much and is just blinded by his hatred into inventing things. Why is road.cc giving him air space!
The Grimsby man’s views are symptomatic of the inherent unfairness of cycle lanes taking away and suffocating the freedom of other road users.
If you’re on wheels, you should generally share the same road space (except for designated off-road areas). It annoys other road users if cyclists don’t use the rubbish, unfit for purpose nonsense that councils have installed at great expense. Because many drivers haven’t experienced these awful facilities themselves, they mistakenly identify cyclists as self-entitled wind-up.merchants, rather than people just trying to avoid poor infrastructure.
Agree that cycle lanes are pretty poor “infra”.
But although that “taking away and suffocating the freedom of other road users” is a weird phrase *…
… there is a “fairness” perception at work here.
But simply “riding like a car” won’t fix it at all! That means cyclists fall foul of the psychological “cheater detection” mechanism: we’re using the same space but not playing by the same rules (not paying “road tax”, we can filter past etc. )
Cyclists are visibly an “other” and people have been shown to expect “respect” (submissive behaviour) in those circumstances. But cyclists can’t help being “provocative” – we’re “in the way”!
People may tolerate cyclists where they’re a rare occurrence. But for mass cycling either the cyclists have to be in their own distinct space OR motorists have to be cued to be “guests”. So not many of them, cyclists likely to be in the majority, speed reduced to that of cycling, in environments where there isn’t an expectation of rapid progress such as residential areas with plants etc.
* I think that’s not even in the heads of most who are irked by cyclists. Reminds me of Monty Python – “Help, help, I’m being repressed!”
For one it sounds like that concern is only for the road users who are a lot “more equal than others” (by design) – the motorised ones. And in reality NO “freedoms” are being lost! In fact the reverse is true: the growth of mass motoring has literally taken away freedoms. Like the freedom to get places – other than by driving (dual carriageway in the way now). And the freedom from serious “inconvenience” – but not “being delayed by a few seconds” / having to walk a few extra tens of meters than the minimum possible – inconvenience to vulnerable road users includes injury to health or even death…
I’m a cyclist and many of my friends are house clearance auction specialists. Surprisingly they aren’t all arses. Maybe it’s the Grimsby factor?
Wasn’t it Grimsby where that tosser mayor banned all cyclists within 40 miles of the town centre?
.
Good idea asking Google
Do that one about “avid cyclist” => “angry motorist” again…
@jackcycles There is no taking away or suffocating freedoms of other road users. Drivers are still free to drive. They are not and nor have they ever been free to to drive wherever they want, however they want. A cycle lane has never prevented someone from driving to a place they could previously drive for unless the plan was always to pedestrianise somewhere. What do you think about bus lanes and taxi lanes?
I don’t disagree that ideally cyclists simply share the road with cars. There is no question of joined up infrastructure or why cyclists aren’t using the shit infra they are provided. The massive issue with that is that drivers aren’t getting better, they are getting worse. Its nothing to do with cyclists and their behaviour and everything to do with motorists being absolutely unwilling to share the road with cyclists.
I see this every time I go out on the bike. I see it every time I take my kids out on the back of the bike. Doesn’t matter that I have small children on my bike, a large proportion of drivers couldn’t care less and will bully me and put our safety in danger purely because they have the power in our dynamic. The other day within 1 minute of leaving my front door I saw a driver nearly hit the curb on a straight road because he was looking at his phone and then a middle age man cut the corner of a road I was coming to the end of so much that I had to swerve to avoid him.
Drivers won’t change so we have to remove them from the equation. They have to be treated like the children they are. If you can’t share then we will take it away.
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?”
“And what would you say to motorists who think there are already too many cyclists on the road?”
“Get a grip!”?
@Mr Blackbird and what would you say to cyclists who think there are already too many motorists on the road?
@andystow
“Alright mate, no need to state the obvious”?
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.
But of course:
And they can’t possibly consider removing car parking to:
Best to engineer the space to remove all people, that’s better for everyone.
Who wants a Nazi branded balance bike?
https://shop.tesla.com/product/balance-bike-for-kids
Balance is a bit off-brand for Musk, isn’t it?
Is that a Russian “z” symbol represented by the front wheel? Or is it an “s” – and is the back wheel the same?
Motornormativity, quite a mouthful, inn’t? will end when British drivers will no longer be able to fill up their tanks and pay their car loans off. With the American war in the Middle East along with the net-zero madness, this will happen sooner rather than later.
Motorists cause considerable delays to cyclists in cities and towns.