Live blog: Jess Varnish loses employment tribunal case, Wiggo does 10 year challenge… like a fine wine; West Mids cop does close pass challenge; More Campag 12-spd; Yorkshire UCI Road Worlds sportive; new Rapha shoes?; Sound of 80km/h on a bike + more

Jess Varnish, the former Olympic track sprinter, has lost her employment tribunal case in which she was seeking to prove that she was an employee of British Cycling and UK Sport at the time she was a funded athlete, rather than an independent contractor.

Sky Sports News reports that a short statement issued this evening by her management, which said: "Judgement was received at 1700 today and it has been found that Jess Varnish was neither an employee or a worker of either British Cycling or UK Sport."

Had Varnish, who is due to give birth to her first child this week, won the case, she would have been free to pursue a claim for unfair dismissal in relation to being dropped from the Olympic Podium Programme in 2016.

A decision in her favour had been expected to have profound implications for the way Olympic athletes across all sports are funded.  

Read our full report here

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No limits
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— ⓑιcιcletⓞ (@Bicicleto_ZGZ) January 14, 2019

Some say they can see Paul McCartney in this pothole.. can you?https://t.co/cepJOoyT3a@PaulMcCartney

— Lancashire Post (@leponline) January 15, 2019

Made us think of this for some reason...

The Jena was launched in late 2018, and you can now get your hands on one at your nearest dealer or various online shops. Designed with Wilier's racing-comfort geometry, the Jena is supposed to be easy-handling and reactive and adaptable to multiple types of riding. A slacker head tube angle and a rear triangle optimised to absorb shock add to the comfort, and tyre clearance is up to 44mm on a 700c wheel and up to 48mm on a 650b. 12mm thru-axles and a removable front derailleur bracket to run 1x completes the package - head over to Wilier's website for more info.  

Jena / Free to choose from Wilier Triestina on Vimeo.

 

 

 

 

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Because there hasn't been much on the socials this week from @rapha we thought we'd throw in the spy shots of their new kicks, spotted on @lachlanmorton by the keen eyed Andy of @fameandspear and @bikeradar There's a cut in the lateral forefoot region that unless it's due to Morton upsetting a koala (they have epic claws) we can only assume is to ease some pressure from swelling. We're on the hunt for more shots and will feature them again once we have more details (and less damage) on them. Side note, if you're not already check out Andy's account @fameandspear The guy takes some sensational shots and had a great coverage of the women's TdU. • • • • • #velokicks l #cycling l #cyclingshoes l #newshoesday l #cycling l #velo l #bici l #ciclismo l #roadracing l #roadcycling l #instabike l #instacycle l #cyclingpics l #bikestagram l #cyclingkit l #kitspiration l #kitdoping l #bestcyclingkits l #bicicleta l #rideyourbike l #cyclelife l #cyclingstyle l #hypekicks l #hypekit l #bikeshoeart l #cyclingsnob l #rapha l #rapharcc l #raphaclimbershoes

A post shared by Velo Kicks cycling shoes (@velokicks) on Jan 15, 2019 at 11:10pm PST

These were spotted on the feet of Lachlan Morton at the Tour Down Under. They don't come with a tear on them as far as we know, and those laces are very unusual. If they're definitely a thing, we'll be keen to see the production versions... Although, as Harrogate Spa points out in the comments below the most likely explanation is that the shoes have been deliberately slit at the sides because they are too narrow and the laces have been done up like that because the shoes don't fit. So maybe not a new thing after all. No doubt we'll find out soon enough.

Another shortened stage because of the heat – it's been 42° in Adelaide this week – and another flat one for the sprinters. Could Elia Viviani make it two from two? Find out below...

#OpClosePass...just to prove that with some drivers it really doesn't matter who you are or what you're wearing PC Hodson, was on the receiving end of this #closepass into oncoming traffic whilst testing this #ebike in full uniform, in Sutton Coldfield, driver reported #S3RTA1988 pic.twitter.com/Iq6c9UXSep

— West Midlands Police Road Harm Reduction Team (@WMPRHRT) January 15, 2019

The West Midlands Police reported in this Twitter post that the officer was even beeped at by one driver who said he "shouldn't be in the middle of the road" - to which they said the evidence will be "interesting in court". WMP also caught plenty of driver's failing to stop at crossings for pedestrians.