Live blog: Cyclists aren’t the “Scourge Of The Streets” says Chris Boardman ahead of tonight’s Channel 5 documentary – they’re people’s family members; Grayson Perry’s blinging bike; TdF latest + more

Some serious face-pulling by The Gurning Kwik Fit team’s Ellie Vivaldi there! She’s won the women’s race just a day after her teammates Julian, Alan and Philip took the top three places yesterday. Chateau!!!

— UK Cycling Expert (@ukcyclingexpert) July 9, 2019

Coming to you live from the most refreshing place to watch the 4th stage
En direct du coin le plus rafraichissant pour regarder passer l'étape 4 #TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/MI0Ar1e5fR

— Tour de France (@LeTour) July 9, 2019

Backaert was first over the line out of the breakaway, and from the peloton Elia Viviani was the best of the rest ahead of Sonny Colbrelli and Peter Sagan. And these people found a more refreshing way to watch the action...  

Going for a very gentle pedal round central London, yes I have got lights in case no one sees me pic.twitter.com/oeaWJQVGdp

— Grayson Perry (@Alan_Measles) July 8, 2019

What do you reckon, do these Ekoi socks worn by Arkea Samsic meet the UCI's rules? As we all know by now, socks must not extend higher than the halfway point between the ankle and the knee. These boys are living life on the edge.

 

 

 

 

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(Neuville-en-Ferrain, France) In a shocking development that has rocked the Tour de France to its very core, border officials announced the discovery of hundreds of non-regulation socks in a car driven by a soigneur from an unnamed team. Police reportedly conducted raids on several team buses in the hours that followed, and multiple riders were escorted out of their hotel by French gendarmes to undergo a battery of sockdoping tests. Several hours later, a second car was reportedly discovered carrying hundreds more pairs of 8” wicking nylon/polyester garments. The incident, christened “Operación Socko” and “The DeFeet Affair” by local media, produced immediate calls for the accused riders to withdraw from the Tour, but as of press time no riders have yet announced their departure. A rumor spreading this afternoon indicates a likely mass protest by the peloton tomorrow, as many riders announced plans to ride sockless in solidarity with their embattled colleagues. (This story is developing…) #cycling #roadbike #bikerace #cyclinghumor #sockdoping #cyclingmeme #bikememe #letour #cat3 #cat4 #cat5 #cat3memes #lesmemesdutour

A post shared by The KOMeme (@cat3memes) on Jul 8, 2019 at 10:23am PDT

Stunning work by the cat3memes Instagram account here. Operación Socko is in full swing...  

Proud mechanics with the bike for @Tim_Wellens today and more to come !
Nice job @Lotto_Soudal @Ridley_Bikes @CaptofCycling pic.twitter.com/roTT72PhC4

— Marc Sergeant (@marc_sergeant) July 9, 2019

We suspect that Ridley had this frame ready before the Tour because overnight, PolkaDot Jersey wearer Tim Wellens magically got a new bike with a fancy new paint job.

It probably wasn't magic pixies that built it up though, more like one of these tired Belgian mechanics!

Bailey Bocutt embarked on the ride with his mum, granddad and members of the EG Cycling Club to raise funds for cancer charities, inspired to make a difference after seeing his cousin battling Leukaemia. 

Less than 1km from starting, however, Bailey hit a large pothole (above) on the A22 near East Grinstead, which according to his mother was "A disgustingly poorly repaired patch that had collapsed." 

9 year old Bailey had a nasty tumble at the weekend doing a 100km() charity ride. I’m sure the cycling community would all like to send him a massive get well soon! https://t.co/kKQQYzXv2v

— Chris Hoy (@chrishoy) July 8, 2019

Bailey was taken to hospital and kept overnight due to the extent of his injuries, but a family friend told road.cc that he is now recovering at home. He received a message of support from Sir Chris Hoy yesterday, and is determined to get back on the bike to complete the ride at a later date. Bailey has already raised over £8,000 for Children with Cancer, Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden, the fundraising page is here. 

There was a couple of crashes today. Subsequently the flat earthers are calling for a ban of stage 3 of the tdf along with road bikes, tarmac roads, lycra, exercise, sweat, downhills, uphills, flat roads, tyres and brakes, as some crashes are caused by too much brakes

— Alex Dowsett (@alexdowsett) 8 July 2019

Dowsett always has an amusing anecdote or two to share, and this one is regarding his previous criticism of an interviewer who asked if time trials should be banned because Chris Froome had an accident on a time trial bike. Some sensible suggestions here...

Tomorrow, I intend to commute by train with a bike. I’m stressed already. And surely that’s not right.

— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) 8 July 2019

Ever tried boarding a Great Western train from Bristol without a reservation booked about a year in advance? Never ends well!