“Cask strength stupid”: Fans react to suggestion Tour de France riders “lack the strength to race a proper bicyclist” on a normal bike; Egan Bernal reportedly mulling retirement + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Straw man arguments
What would Valtteri Bottas have to say about this? Comfortably the most absurd opinion we’ve seen in months…
Maybe this person’s experience of cycling is solely on an e-bike, where they’ve become accustomed to a motor doing most of the work and neutralising the differential of physical human capacity.
I would link to the post only it’s been deleted. Thankfully, the replies remain, some earnest, some silly…
“I was a pretty decent amateur cyclist. Reached the highest pinnacle of amateur road cycling – USAC cat 1. I’ve finished on the podium at an age-based national championship. I’ve raced UCI races. And in my prime, the power (watts/kg) that Tadej holds for an hour …. I could hold for exactly 4 minutes. Tadej, Remco, Demi, etc are utter freaks of nature.”
“Great news! You can literally go buy the exact bike the fastest rider in the world rides, and the historical times for all the courses are easily available, so you can test this theory yourself. Let us know how it goes!”
“That’s industrial-grade dumb and reflects almost zero knowledge of pro cycling. Or exercise science.”
“Clearly, you haven’t seen what happens when a world tour pro shows up on a random Strava segment.”
“Bradley Wiggins did a documentary about training on Mount Teide in Tenerife. Two chaps on his crew were pretty good club cyclists and did the climb in 58 and 59 minutes. Wiggins did it in 35, which is about how long it took me to drive up. TdF riders are supermen.”
“Can you show me on the doll where the professional cyclist hurt you?”
And on it goes, our Monday morning chuckle sorted!
Incidentally, Valtteri Bottas finished his ‘commute’ from Kuala Lumpa to Singapore yesterday. I’m aware when we first posted this there was a suggestion in the comments that I was deploying some hyperbole. But I maintain that riding more than 400km off-road in four days between Grand Prixes is insane.
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Pity the Grand Prix clashes with the Gravel World Championships being held this weekend, otherwise you’d count on the Finn making another appearance with partner Tiffany Cromwell…
Dorian Godon wins!
After a hot spring followed by a cool summer, the French fast finisher has warmed up again this autumn, winning the GP Lazio a couple of weeks ago and triumphing again at Gran Piemonte in a bunch sprint after Isaac del Toro was reeled in in the final 3km.
As you might notice though, ‘bunch sprint’ might be a slight exaggeration if only three riders were unimpeded by a crash in the final corner…
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Plans for a new cycle circuit unveiled in Cardiff... but council decline to fund it
Remember last week when the Welsh Government announced a proportion of £2 million would be spent on a “closed road cycling circuit” but we didn’t really know what it was? Well, we have an answer!
Cardiff Council have identified land in Leckwith, close to the Cardiff City Stadium and existing International Sports campus, which they think would allow for a looping track with around 1.5km in tarmac, depending on the precise design they choose.
The council say the proposal is supported by “national governing bodies for cycling, triathlon, athletics and community sport”, but that construction of the circuit would also cost around £4 million. And to make matters more complicated, they’re not funding it.
Instead, the council say “the new facility is subject to external capital funding being secured through the Tour de France legacy programme, planning permission and approval of a future Full Business Case by Cardiff Council.” Cardiff Council would provide the land and “oversee the delivery” of the circuit, but would instead look for a “third-party” to operate the circuit.
“The focus would be on delivering a financially sustainable operating model, maximising external grant funding, securing appropriate private sector investment, protecting affordable community access, delivering a vibrant year-round programme of activity, supporting regional and national sporting events, enabling continuous reinvestment in the facility and protecting the long-term sporting and community purpose of the project.” There is no suggestion from the announcement that the circuit would be free to the public.
The council are due to debate and vote to continue building a business case for the circuit next week, and you can read the entire background report on the circuit here.
A couple of points to note: this pitch has not arrived out of the blue. We’ve seen various governing bodies recently begin lay the groundwork for better investment in cycling facilities, with an open letter to the Prime Minister signed by all the relevant ‘stakeholders’ you could think of.
Secondly, whilst the Grand Depart of both the men’s and women’s Tour de France is a catalyst for this investment, the construction of a new circuit wouldn’t be complete until long after the race has been and gone.
This means there remains a challenge in harnessing and maintaining grassroots interest in the sport, between the races next summer, and whenever the circuit may open – an appendix to the Cabinet report has a best-case scenario of “Early 2028” for delivery of the circuit.
So there we are, much to be encouraged by and to celebrate, but a few question marks over funding, feasibility and accessibility to the general public. Same as it ever was!
Overshoe season is coming...
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I suppose there’s always the turbo trainer…
Camprubi on police motorcyclist crash: "These things happen and happen and happen and nothing changes"
Strong words, a threat of police action, but it seems like not much will come of the collision with a police motorcyclist at Tre Valli Varesine.
Transfer talk: Hayter's new deal, Bernal on the way out?
It’s the time of the season where we talk about jerseys, riders and the interchanging of the two. We’ll start with a British transfer that was confirmed yesterday. Ethan Hayter, after two seasons at Soudal Quick-Step, has signed a contract with Pinarello Q36.5.
Now 28, the Brit has refined his reputation as a time trial specialist, winning British national titles and coming within a second of winning the opening time trial of this year’s Vuelta a Espana. He’s also a four-time world champion on the track and brings a decent kick in a reduced bunch finish.
“I’d describe myself as a bit of an all-rounder. The last couple of years have been more focused on time trials, but I’ve also sprinted from small groups and I really enjoy harder races and stage races.
“At the Vuelta, after coming so close in the time trial, it was nice just to get stuck into the racing and go for it. That’s something I want to keep doing.
“Pinarello Q36.5 was one of the teams I really wanted to join. From the outside, it looked very well organised and like a team that was progressing really nicely. I know a few of the riders already and I felt it would be a really good fit for me.”
Best of luck to him. Moving into the speculation side of things, there are reports suggesting Filippo Ganna could leave Netcompany-Ineos for Lidl-Trek, despite having a contract for next season.
The German team have brought forward the retirement of a couple of their riders to create space on their roster, and Daniel Benson says the move is more likely than unlikely at this point. Potentially aiding that move is the similar mid-contract transfer of Giulio Ciccone, he of “photo-finish-gate” from Lidl-Trek to Pinarello-Q36.5. Quite a knot to untangle there.
But by far and away Benson’s biggest scoop is the suggestion that Egan Bernal is considering retirement. The Colombian Giro and Tour winner has a contract offer from Netcompany-Ineos, but has not been able to recapture his best results since sustaining life-threatening injuries when he crashed into a stationary bus in 2022.
> Egan Bernal’s recovery from life-threatening horror crash detailed in medical research paper
Still, the Colombian did eventually make a full recovery and has top-10’d Grand Tours whilst winning the occasional stage. But retirement at 29 was not something many people were expecting. One to watch!
Good infrastructure, bad infrastructure
Active travel giveth…
The South Leytonstone Low Traffic Neighbourhood in Waltham Forest looks excellent.
Early benefits show:
🚗🚗76% reduction in traffic
🚲🚲172% increase in cycling
🚸🚸safer speedsAnd I love the sustainable drainage & planting 💚☘️🌱🌳🌹🌻🌷
— Will Norman (@willnorman.co.uk) 8 October 2026 at 10:20
Active travel taketh away…
In case you missed it!
Cor what’s Jack like eh! So swept up in a world of number plates and horrific AI memes he neglected to share the big news of yesterday… that Primoz Roglic won a bike race!
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Roglic claimed his first European championships in the time trial by beating Bruno Armirail by six seconds in his native Slovenia. Coupled with a Vuelta podium, it’s not bad going for a 36-year-old who was hit by a driver two months ago.
In the women’s race there was distinctly less jeopardy, with two-time reigning world champion Marlen Reusser triumphing over Demi Vollering by 23 seconds despite a hilly course.
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Reusser’s win however, coupled with Vollering’s triumph in the road race, means the European Champion’s jersey will be entirely invisible in the women’s peloton next year. Not sure that’s quite what the race organisers would have wanted.
Today there’s just one bit of racing, the Gran Piemonte. Defending champion Isaac del Toro returns as favourite with World Champion Brandon McNulty on his team, with Romain Gregoire and Giulio Pellizzari among his rivals, or Michael Matthews if he can hang on.
One final bit of racing housekeeping, today’s race is organised by RCS, who also organise the Giro d’Italia and Il Lombardia, so hopefully we won’t be seeing scenes similar to earlier in the week…
Aero MTB is here!
No one ask a Surrey-based rider what they think of this…
It’s a brave new world, and I don’t know if I like it.
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One assumes apoplexy.
*Vigilantism is not the answer, vigilantism is not the answer, vigilantism is not the answer* If I keep telling myself, then I might believe it, because I sure as hell don't believe: "he has now been brought fully to account for his crimes"
@EK Spinner You're correct, as he is outside the car the insurers have no liability for the assault. Hopefully the victim will be compensated via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, although sadly that won't involve any penalty for the thug.
@2wheelsRbetterThan4 - toupeé, (or maybe touché?)
Most of the time it is impossible to distinguish between road.cc and the anti-cycling rags they spend all their time quoting.
Incredible. The first video showing the attack shows that Ian Brown was perfectly peaceable, threatening no-one, and Hedley grabs him by the neck and throws him to the ground, hitting his head and knocking him unconscious. Hedley leaves him motionless and clearly seriously injured, and drives off. But doesn't go to gaol. Hedley avoided a jail sentence “by the narrowest of margins” according to the Sheriff Fergus Thomson. By the narrowest of margins i.e. if it had been anyone but a cyclist.
@Didsbury would his car insurance be paying out on any compensation claim. He is out the car, as per any other individual on foot when he commits the assault, not sure that the fact his car is there would be relavent.
I have a couple of observations. (and many more opinions !!) 1. After the assault the victim was still in front of the car yet idiot was able to drive away, so you didn't "have to move him". 2. With there being no custodial sentence imposed I am going to assume that he (and his lawyer) expressed all sorts of regrets, remorse and apologies in court prior to sentencing. With the level of remorse being demonstrated to reporters outside the court is the jusge permitted to review his sentencing.
I hope a civil suit for damages will follow this conviction and that Hedley's insurance premiums will sky rocket. It will be no recompense or consolation to the victim but may balance up the ludicrously light sentence given by the court.
(I'd take the dog over Mr Clark, anyway.)
19 thoughts on ““Cask strength stupid”: Fans react to suggestion Tour de France riders “lack the strength to race a proper bicyclist” on a normal bike; Egan Bernal reportedly mulling retirement + more on the live blog”
Re the TDF Vs ordinary cyclist claim.
This sort of thing happens a lot. Probably because elite sports people often make it look so easy. It is impossible to appreciate the talent and skill required until you try it yourself.
A few weeks ago a supporter of my local div 1 football club commented on BBC Sports HYS that their new winger was fast enough to win an Olympic 200m medal. He was making this judgement by comparing the winger to other div 1 footballers. In reality he would probably not make the GB women’s team.
About 10 years ago I took part in a club group turbo training session. Part of this entailed a 12 minute sustained effort. Afterwards the fastest time triallist of us said how pleased he was with his average power (I can’t remember the figure, but I think it was in the range 325 – 350 watts), to which the coach replied “Excellent. An average TDF rider would only be able to sustain that for 3- 4 hours!”
@Mr Blackbird Coach was a bit high in his estimation there if it was 325-350W, Pogacar’s highest recorded three hour output is 299W, so an average Tour de France rider 10 years ago…
@Rendel Harris I suspect my power recollection is wrong in that case – after all I was new to cycling and wattage didn’t mean much to me. I’m pretty sure the coach knew his stuff.
But the statement gave a good illustration of the huge gulf in ability between decent club and top professional cyclists.
@Rendel Harris “recorded” doing some heavy lifting there. That 299W was a random training ride that Pogacar decided to make his power data public. We don’t know exactly what he, or most other pros, are pushing during races.
A brief google found this article, which suggests a professional in the top 10% of the professionals studied (a mix of World and Pro team cyclists) would have a 4 hour mean maximal power of around 325W. https://www.wattkg.com/power-records/
There have been a couple of cases of real power data being released. This article reports “[Mikkel] Bjerg had posted an average power of 350w […] for the first three hours of Paris-Roubaix” https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing/paris-roubaix-power-analysis-2026-wout-van-aert/
Similarly, this article reports Baptiste Veistroffer averaged 323W across a 163km stage (mostly a solo breakaway), lasting 3h 41min https://www.bikeradar.com/news/baptiste-veistroffer-shares-stats-behind-144km-tour-de-france-solo-break
So whilst the upper end of the range (350W at four hours) might be optimistic for the “average” TdF rider, it’s probably closer to the truth than suggesting 299W for three hours is representative of what an average pro would be able to sustain in a maximal effort. Somewhere in the range 325-350W for 3-4 hours does actually seem about right for the average, whilst exceptional riders like Pogacar would be higher still.
@OnYerBike Thanks for the interesting article link (table below for any interested), as you say it does show that the top 10% of pros manage 4.63 w/kg over four hours, but that only extrapolates to 325W if the rider is 70kg, and of course a lot of them are well below that, e.g. Vinegaard 60kg so his power over four hours would be more like 279W at that w/kg. Note also that the average for the bottom 90% is “only” 3.83 w/kg, so the average 68kg (World Tour average weight) rider in that cohort would be putting out 260W over four hours. So I’d still argue that across the average of the peleton, with 10% capable of about 325W over four hours and the other 90% about 260W, a figure for the whole peleton of around 280-290W would be more realistic.
@Mr Blackbird I remember years ago taking my daughter to see the start of a stage for a post-TdeF race in France. We watched the Départ Fictif, and my daughter asked “why are they going so slow?”. I pointed out that I would barely be able to keep up with them even at that speed…
Erm, it was 300km a couple of days ago. I know inflation is persistently high, but I didn’t realise it was that bad.
@mdavidford Must have gone the long way round, from Strava he did 56.6km day 1, 161.91 day 2, 161.00 day 3 and finished with a frankly paltry and lazy 40.16 final day.
Yes – he gives the total – 419.67km – in his post above. Point being, though, that the ‘hyperbole’ comments were when the claim was that “300 km in a week” was insane. Obviously 420km in four days rates somewhat higher on the insanity index, but that’s a different discussion.
[Not sure how much higher – is the distance per time to insanity relationship linear, or exponential? Or perhaps even, er, hyperbolic?]
That said, I’ve done about the same distance as Valtteri in three days (albeit not on gravel), and I don’t think I’m insane (others here may have other opinions). I’m certainly not a super-fit top-level athlete.
@mdavidford Fair point. Yes I’ve done about the same as part of riding 1038 km in 10 days, which did strike me round about day six as being slightly insane, but to be fair and slightly lower my insanity index it wasn’t on gravel and I didn’t bookend it with three days of qualifying and then racing a Grand Prix motor car.
@Rendel Harris There was a bit in the bicycle hating Guardian, a nice little read, part of his justification was to acclimatise to the heat and humidity, which if he was in a better car might have been worth it. Good luck to him, chapeau.
World tour races are averaging around 42 – 44 kph. I too can cycle that fast. For about 30 seconds…
@NickSprink 30 seconds! is that all, I can do it for nearly 3 minutes on one of our local descents 😉
Don’t know what that reddit user’s complaining about – at least it isn’t a puddle full of leaf mulch with a bush growing halfway across it, like it would be round here.
@mdavidford exactly, looks pretty spacious – why look, you can fit a bike through sideways.
Is it just me or is Roglic riding an invisible unicycle in that podium pic?
@chrisonabike Well, at first glance I thought it was Sir Kevin Sinfield in the picture. Now in the TdF v ordinary cyclist claim, he might have a little bit of a chance.
Away to remedial French class with you.
That flooded road clip certainly beats mine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-WYxz0J6Hw