Thomas De Gendt launched a solo attack from the break with 60 kilometres remaining of today’s opening stage of the Volta a Catalunya, covering 163 kilometres and starting and finishing in Calella – and the Lotto-Soudal rider now finds himself with a lead of almost three minutes on his rivals.

@DeGendtThomas, guanyador de la primera etapa de la #VoltaCatalunya 2019.

De Gendt, ganador de la primera etapa de la Volta 2019.

De Gendt, Volta 2019 Stage 1 winner. pic.twitter.com/fFcEf0AgHK

— Volta a Catalunya (@VoltaCatalunya) March 25, 2019

Among the big names the Belgian put time into today were Alejandro Valverde, fourth overall and 2 minutes 56 second down in fourth place overall, and Team Sky’s Egan Bernal, a further 1 second back.

If you're after one, guess that does make the two grand plus 40 quid a month price tag seem a little fairer...

@emmachamberlain at her soul cycling class. pic.twitter.com/bcRWeK1p3o

— just merder. (@StasaZlatanovic) March 24, 2019

You might remember an 'interpretive spinning' vid doing the rounds on social media a few weeks ago. Well now here's the synchronised version...

Jason Kenny has recounted to the BBC the near miss he and his infant son Albie encountered while out cycling last month.

As we reported at the time, the six-time Olympic champion tweeted that he had been on a Sunday bike ride with his son when they were “almost run over by a van driver who drove at us, then proceeded to angrily inform me it was my fault we nearly died.”

Eurosport reports that Kenny expanded on the incident on BBC One today, saying: “Someone felt they had right of way and decided that gave them the right to kind of jump on the throttle and drive at us, which was a scary experience.

“I’m a bit annoyed at myself because I lost my temper at the time. We had a heated debate about the incident and then the person drove away.

“I think there seems to be a bad feeling against cyclists and it’s really strange because they’re only people,” he continued.

“We met a young boy and young girl who recently lost their mum, and it’s really sad when you see that side of it. She got hit by a car and that’s someone’s mum, not just a cyclist. It is really sad when you see the consequences of that.

“This person has obviously just seen red, ‘I’ve got right of way, I’m going to go’, and you might have right of way technically – whether you do or don’t is often debatable – but it doesn’t give you the right to smash someone and potentially kill someone, which is what is going to happen if you run someone off their bike.

“I think it’s just taking a breath and think about the consequences,” he concluded.

What blasphemy is this? One of the world’s most iconic cycling brands appears set to launch an e-bike.

Colnago is using social media to tease the arrival of its new E64 Performance, which we’ll go out on a limb and guess is the company’s attempt to tap into the rapidly growing e-bike market.

e-bikes are very much the SUVs of the car world with every manufacturer seemingly keen to add at least one to their range to not miss out

We've asked Colnago for more details but they just shrugged their shoulders in reply.

A new bike is coming very soon! https://t.co/rFjZ7dTFUE. Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/TkvUUUeBXs

— Colnago (@Colnagoworld) March 25, 2019

Brentford today ... angry guy in grey car can't see why he should wait till it's safe to overtake ... hoots horn, shouts abuse ... and 100 yards later I'm in front again anyway. What is the point? pic.twitter.com/RRu5rosVP4

— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) March 24, 2019

This time it's a driver who doesn't get the concept of taking the lane (and is caught soon after he risks an overtake on the clogged up London street anyway)

Apologies it's in super annoying meme form (we couldn't find the original source) but this is too good not too share!

Last week, Friends of the Earth accused Ineos and its owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe of "greenwashing" after it was confirmed the petrochemicals firm was buying Team Sky's management company from Sky and 21st Century Fox with effect from 1 May.

Today, its Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion who is taking aim at the Brexit-backing billionaire, referencing Team Sky in a tweet that links to a Greenpeace article claiming that Ineos will close a plant in Middlesbrough if forced to comply with EU anti-pollution laws.

Billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe can buy Team Sky, sponsor the Americas cup, and fund fracking.

But he 'cannot justify' upgrading his chemical plants so they don't pollute our air and water.

What a guy.https://t.co/rp9nWp2ZXt

— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) March 25, 2019

Once secretive, Ratcliffe's backing of teams in yachting and cycling and an attempt to buy Chelsea FC last year, as well as his status as Britain's richest man, have seen the raising of both his and the company's profiles.

Anti-fracking campaigners are reportedly planning to protest against Ineos when the team debuts under its name at May's Tour de Yorkshire - a shape of things to come once Geraint Thomas, Chris Froome and their team mates sport the company's logo on their jerseys?

With so many pinch points on today's stage, it was inevitable that there would be a few crashes but the hardest hit was Chris Froome who lost out on any potential GC hopes after a nasty crash inside the final 40km. He eventually rolled in with a small group 14 minutes down, though that should give him some freedom to go for a stage win should he recover sufficiently.

BLOWING UP THE GIRO from Science in Sport on Vimeo.

Science in Sport have released a video charting Chris Froome's legendary solo stage victory on the Colle delle Finestre on his way to Giro victory last year. Definitely worth 6 and a bit minutes of your lunchbreak...

Michael Kolar, who rode alongside Peter Sagan at Bora-Hansgrohe until he retired last year, has been out on a recce of the course of the men's road race at September's UCI Road World Championships - and says it will suit his fellow Slovakian, who won the rainbow jersey three times in a row from 2015-17. Here's the video from Yorkshire 2019.

"Absolutely loved the course, amazing landscape... I think it'll be for the classics type rider, exactly to suit @petosagan in my eyes"@BoraHansgrohe's @MichaelKolar_ came to Yorkshire to take a closer look at the parcours for @yorkshire2019. Watch how he got on #Yorkshire2019pic.twitter.com/wtVUlnyPAy

— Yorkshire 2019 (@Yorkshire2019) March 26, 2019

The German government says it "stands by" an advertising campaign aimed at encouraging young people to wear cycle helmets but which has been accused of sexism.

As we reported on Sunday, an image in the campaign, shot by the acclaimed British fashion photographer Rankin, had come under criticism on social media since it showed a model wearing just a cycle helmet and a bra.

Other pictures in the initiative - which are accompanied by the slogan, "Looks like shit. But saves my life." have also attracted negative comments online.

But according to the Associated Press, transport ministry spokeswoman Transport Ministry spokeswoman Svenja Friedrich said yesterday that the whole point of the campaign was to grab attention, and she also highlighted that male models were involved.

“We can absolutely understand the criticism from various sides, but we still stand by the images,” she added.

The longest day on our race schedule took us from the bustling streets of Milan to the sunny coastal town of Sanremo. Along the way, #PinkArgyle animated #MilanoSanremo.

The latest episode of #EFGoneRacing brings you along on the first Monument of the season Watch now. pic.twitter.com/R7Bs0dAB0L

— EF Education First Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) March 26, 2019

In association with their kit sponsor Rapha, the team have produced this snazzy video to chart their 2019 Milan-San Remo journey...

Won't be buying a bike from there then! pic.twitter.com/GxdcXuftRW

— LukeB_MTB (@LukeB_MTB) March 23, 2019

A tweeted picture of a pro-Brexit sign displayed in the window of a Welsh bike shop has – predictably – divided opinion, although not in quite the way you’d expect.

“I DON’T MIND BEING POORER AS LONG AS WE ARE OUT OF THE EU FOR GOOD”
proclaims the prominent sign in the window of East End Cycles in Colywn Bay, North Wales (not to be confused with shops of the same name in London and Edinburgh) which also points out that people under 70 won’t remember rationing and living on bread and dripping… er, no.

The main focus of online debate so far - hasn’t been around the rights or wrongs of Brexit or indeed any inconsistencies of the poster’s argument (someone has picked up on the …ahem, slight, over-estimate of the current UK population) but whether it’s valid to say you won’t be spending any money with East End Cycles because you don’t agree with the sentiments or undermining free speech by taking your money elsewhere, a somewhat moot point given that most of those commenting live at the other end of the country and quite a few of them are assuming East End Cycles is in the East End of London.
Conwy voted 54% to 46% for Brexit in the 2016 referendum. East End Cycles in Colwyn Bay does not appear to have a presence on social media, but you probably guessed that.

The reasons for it may not be all so positive, but the BBC reports that Asmara has unintentionally turned itself into a great place to ride a bike. Factors such as conflicts, diplomatic isolation and lack of funds to buy cars for the average Eritrean have led to the situation, but with cycling easily being the most popular sport in the country, brought over by the Italians in Eritrea's colonial days, you don't see too many locals complaining. The few cars that are on the streets are often old and buses are even few and far between, meaning the bike rules in Asmara. 

The feature also details how Eritrea is one of the only countries in the Horn of Africa with an extensive environmental policy, with the government limiting plastic production and usage, running reforestation campaigns and distributing bikes imported from Dubai and China.

The country has also produced numerous pro cyclists, including Daniel Teklehaimanot Girmazion who last rode for Team Confidis. 

There was a slow moving vehicle on the cycling path earlier this week. Turned out to be a two-person bike which is part of a social project, aimed at reducing loneliness. pic.twitter.com/eBmRiJRniZ

— Sjors van Duren (@Sjoess) March 26, 2019

Although you might not get the same levels of patience in some countries...

Report says walking and cycling “must remain the best options for short urban journeys.”

Full story here.

While cycling today I met John from Altrincham, originally from Flixton. He can't walk more than 60 metres now but on his e-bike he happily covers 20 miles! @WalkRideAltypic.twitter.com/xZQkdh9K1E

— Urmston Bee Network (@BeeUrmston) March 27, 2019

Court hears that 2009 brain injury triggers aggression when he drinks alcohol.

Full story here.

Up until 2011, he was with T-Mobile/HTC; in 2012 he was with Team Sky; from 2013 to 2015 he was Quick Step; and he’s been with Dimension Data since then.

At the start of the season, Mark Cavendish said he was starting to feel strong after two seasons where he felt he was, “in races, but not racing,” as a result of Epstein Barr Virus.

However, he withdrew from Paris-Nice earlier this month and Dimension Data say they don’t know when he’s going to race next.

Cavendish is currently four short of Eddy Merckx's all-time record of 34 Tour de France stage wins. It seems a way off, but his long-time team-mate and friend Bernie Eisel says he can “definitely” still get there.

Speaking to the BBC, Eisel said: "The record is what drives him and why he is still in the sport.

"If we look back, he has won probably 150 races and 30 stages in the Tour, [he is] a world champion on the track, on the road, and pretty much won a stage on every tour out there and won one-day races.

"He doesn't have to do it any more, but he is chasing that record. Of course, that creates a lot of pressure but he is dealing with it."

He added: "I think if we look back at Cav, he has been doing it for almost 15 years, in different teams, different line-ups.

"I think together with [Dimension Data team-mate] Mark Renshaw, they are the best lead-out man and best sprinter together."

Image above is from the Now You See Me campaign video.

Full story here.

We're at the London Bike Show today checking out what's new and hot in the bike world, and this speedy Cervelo S5 Disc has caught our eye. 

View this post on Instagram

The @teamsunweb edition of the rocket that is @cervelocycles S5 #cervelos5 #cervelo #cycling #bikes #bikeporn #londonbikeshow #sunweb #aero #fast

A post shared by road.cc (@road.cc) on Mar 29, 2019 at 7:05am PDT

Labour peer says he’s considering introducing a private members' bill to force cyclists to have licence plates.

Full story here.

Figured Ryan’s fine, albeit making a fuss, what kind of write off state is the car in though? https://t.co/RByF6jajck

— Alex Dowsett (@alexdowsett) March 28, 2019

The Irish rider's luck hasn't been good so far this year.

After coming back from a virus, the Trek-Segafredo rider was hit by a car while on a rest day ride before E3 Harelbeke. He'll miss today's race, but as Alex Dowsett points out, what about the poor car? 

At least throw the bike in my direction eh?!

Got back up and on to my spare bike but unfortunately I was down too long and so wasn't able to rejoin the bunch to help my @BiglaTeam in the finish. #UCIWWT#AG3daagsehttps://t.co/YM1Gzhfvhw

— Lizzy Banks (@ElizzyBanks) March 28, 2019

Here's one to add to the highlights reel of cyclists throwing bikes. Problem is, that wasn't even Longo-Borghini's bike. 

The Italian rider later apologised for the incident 

Michael Rammell removed this video from Facebook because... well, because far too many people were being colossal arseholes in the comments.

1: So my crash footage has been doing the rounds today. Hitting over 1,300shares on Facebook with 111k views. @theJeremyVine was also kind enough to share it too. I’m happy for it to be seen, provided it inspires a positive discussion about genuine road courtesy and kindness. pic.twitter.com/ilUVaw8l5w

— ThatBerkshireCyclist (@cyclist_that) March 28, 2019

Sample Facebook comment:

There are a number of comments just like this one (such a shame): pic.twitter.com/z0r8fkufZV

— ThatBerkshireCyclist (@cyclist_that) March 28, 2019

And here's the background.

For those that didn’t see my original post over on my Facebook page, here’s the accompanying text that sets out the days following the incident and what’s happening next. It’s long! In summary, I’m forgiving and forgetting. Just thankful to be okay. pic.twitter.com/zm0uANa6Nx

— ThatBerkshireCyclist (@cyclist_that) March 28, 2019

Rarely one to mince his words, Deceuninck – Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere has told Humo that junior road race and time trial world champion Remco Evenepoel is too fat.

He says the 19-year-old Belgian star is 4kg overweight.

Did they bite?
Let's just say that Jeremy clearly knows his viewers and twitter followers well enough to know how to make their knees jerk so fast they don't have time to remember what the date is.

What do you make of the news that's just come in that the Government is planning a car-free day on May 17 to help tackle pollution?

Anyone found driving a private vehicle on that day will be subject to arrest and prosecution. Too much? #jeremyvinepic.twitter.com/rkPZpnj6Lu

— Jeremy Vine On 5 (@JeremyVineOn5) April 1, 2019

Shame it's not true though.

The guys and girls at off-road.cc list the products that could be suspected as an April Fools joke at first glance....

Lord Winston suggested the need for cyclists to have number plates after he was challenged by an ‘abusive rider’.

What do you think? Do we need license plates for cyclists to improve road safety? pic.twitter.com/nMeiPIshGr

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) April 1, 2019

Whatever your views on his son's contribution to the Brexit process (who is often seen cycling around London himself), Johnson snr did a reasonably good job of discrediting professional rabble rouser Piers Morgan on the subject of compulsory licensing for cyclists, appearing on Good Morning Britain earlier. Morgan also appeared to get confused with the differences between travelling on foot and pedalling a bicycle during the debate, describing cyclists as "invisible people marching around anonymously on your bikes". 

The Worlds first electric track bike - The eLiminatorhttps://t.co/EBRAOzn3YQ

Developed to beat the Hour Record by 10 seconds
250W of power designed to get out of the Starting Gates and gain every advantage for an Individual Pursuit
Indoor GPS compatible for velodrome Strava pic.twitter.com/THhtXttYBT

— RibbleCycles (@RibbleCycles) April 1, 2019

The eLiminator "was developed to beat the Hour Record by 10 seconds", delivering 250W of power to get you out of the starting gates in a flash.

The £80 cage includes a free three-month subscription to VEL's AquaFlo App (£12.99 per month then-after), which learns your hydration requirements and suggests sipping intervals based on your effort and the environmental temperature. When the volume of the bottle dips below 250ml, nearby trusted rehydration stations will be suggested on your head unit (we're hoping somewhere with nice cold beers).  
Before long climbs or starred segments, your head unit will suggest shedding the required amount of liquid so you can go for a PB with just enough hydration on the bike and no extra weight. 

It's currently "not quite ready for production" if you click to buy on Sigma's website. We're hoping it will be shipping out by April 1st next year though...

 

 

 

 

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Exciting News. Today we can officially announce that we have completed the purchase of the Belvedere Hotel on Switzerland’s Epic Furka Pass. . Back in October we formally submitted a plan in conjunction with AF Engineering to develop the hotel into a 77 Bedroom cycling hotel and retreat. . Opening in November, each room will have its own Soigneur and massage therapist, and each meal will be cooked for you based on your current W/KG. . The really exciting part, we realise it’s a long way to climb at the end of a ride, so we are installing a world first bike lift. We’re drilling an enormous hole directly under the floor of the hotel, where we will fit a lift for you and your bike. We will also build a new tunnel to connect the lift directly with Obergoms, so you never have to even ride the climb to stay at the hotel. . Looking forward to welcoming you all soon. . @cauldphoto

A post shared by Band of Climbers (@bandofclimbers) on Mar 31, 2019 at 11:17pm PDT

The Belvedere Hotel will be transformed into a cyclist's paradise with masseurs, mechanics, soigneurs and meal plans tailored for your watts per kg! And if you're too tired from hill reps to make it back up, a bike lift will do the hard work for you.

It's almost too good to be true!

Utterly disgusting, typical @CambsCC car-supremacy. Big wide road for motorists to drive at high speed, next to crumbling path with obnoxious and illegal exclusionary barriers for people walking and cycling. A1301 Hinxton. pic.twitter.com/p7kOZIKzz5

— bostonian_abroad (@walking_boston) March 31, 2019

Just some really bad infra courtesy of Cambridgeshire County Council. 

Should national champion's jerseys be awarded for eRacing? Tom Pidcock sparks Twitter debate. 

Careless driver who left cyclist in coma is roads police officer with the MET. 

Taunton cycle safety operation sees police stop 24 cyclists and three motorists. 

9 reasons to be cheerful as the clocks go forward this weekend.

The bookmaker Betfred has been forced to withdraw a game called Virtual Cycling that it introduced earlier this week after industry regulator the Gambling Commission said it was investigation it, reports the Guardian.

The game was launched yesterday – the same day that new rules came into force slashing the maximum stake on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs), which have been criticised as helping fuel problem gambling, from £100 to £2, reports the Guardian.

In the game, punters use a coupon with a layout similar to a roulette table to “bet on when an animated cyclist travelling around a track will be overtaken by virtual competitors, based on numbers corresponding to sections of the track,” with a maximum stake of £500.

There are concerns that Betfred and rival bookmaker Paddy Power, which has also launched a roulette-style game, are using them to try and circumvent the new rules on FOBTs, which have proven hugely profitable for bookmakers since their introduction in 2001.

Betfred told the Guardian: “We’ve taken down Virtual Cycling to allow further discussion with the Gambling Commission.”

4iiii and Chipolo have unveiled the world’s first integrated bike tracking feature embedded in to a power meter. Chipolo tracking will now offered as a standard feature in the 4iiii Precision range of crank-based power meters, adding some extra security to your bike as well as accurate power measurement. 

If you're US-based and/or happen to be going to the Sea Otter Classic Bike Show, 4iiii will be hiding their power meters around the grounds from April 11th-13th, and participants will win one if they are able to find one of the 'lost' power meters. There are 30 to be won, and you can't say it's not a novel way of promoting the new product!  

… Or mabye, bikedriver. Another word needed for cycling commuters in response to driver aggression towards "cyclists" says Dame Sarah Storey. 
You can read the full story here

For the first time, Panini of Modena will be producing a Tour de France sticker album to coincide with the 100th year of the yellow jersey being used to mark out the overall leader, reports French publication Le Journal du Dimanche. The announcement was made in secret to the French press last weekend, with a photo of 2018 winner Geraint Thomas and the Champs-Elysées used on the promo poster. 

We're not sure if you'll be able to get it in the UK yet, but if not these might just be worth heading out to mainland Europe for.

Panini has previously collaborated with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport (see main picture above for Team Sky), with Bora--Hansgrohe sprinter Sam Bennett revealing that there was "nearly a riot"among the team's riders over the stickers.

Because I won’t go on the show. https://t.co/3PmIfQnpyy

— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) April 1, 2019

Although we'd love to see Piers Morgan try to make himself sound in the least bit coherent in a debate on cycling with Chris Boardman, we can't blame The Professor for not entering into a 'discussion' that is bound to be anything but sensible where Piers is involved.

Boris Johnson's father appeared on the show yesterday to fight the cycling corner in a debate on licensing cyclists. Johnson said it's a "crazy idea", to which Morgan described cyclists as "invisible people marching around anonymously on bikes."

Lefevere told Belgian news site Humo that the 19-year-old Belgian prodigy, who came third in the time trial at Vuelta a San Juan in January, was 4kg overweight and "too fat" last week - and Wiggins has described the comments as out of order on the latest addition of his Eurosport podcast. Wiggins said: “It's not great for a young 19-year-old kid. It's not the best man-management.

“When we think what has happened in football, in terms of Mourinho losing dressing rooms and the players being more powerful than managers now, cycling is still stuck in the dark ages. I say stuck in the dark ages but it should be like that. Managers are there for a reason. But it's kind of how football used to be. The manager making his public statement about a rider in order to put him in his place. But time will tell, and as Matt (Stephens, in previous comments) said we don't really know the full ins and outs of it."

Wiggins' guest on the show Matt Stephens commented: “Maybe, as Brad said, it's an old-school way of putting him in his place, perhaps there has been a bit too much attitude on board, I don’t know, but it is a rather unorthodox way of trying to pull somebody back into line, especially in the current climate of trying to look after the mental welfare of young riders.”

BTN BikeShare is expanding, with 120 new bicycles hitting the city's streets this month. https://t.co/EmE9pma5s7

— B & H Independent (@BrightonIndy) April 1, 2019

120 new bikes have been added to the existing fleet. 

We’re having a new bathroom installed. This is Trevor, our Bora Hansgrohe plumber who is fitting the wet room. pic.twitter.com/8Lrc8cRPU2

— Duncs (@dunks517) April 3, 2019

Fickaskåp's new wallet is an update of the brand's original waterproof Phone and Valuables wallet launched last year, and promises more features and more capacity while retaining the functionality of the previous design.

It has a fold out design, with a separate weather-proof zipper pocket plus internal money and credit card slots. The touch-enabled phone pocket is 100% waterproof, and it's touted as "the perfect companion for longer day or multi-day adventures where efficiency is everything". 

The crowdfunder has 51 days to go and has currently raised £1,874 of their £11,000 goal. With a £24 backing you can get a regular-sized wallet and the large size is £26, with an estimated delivery of August '19. Check it out on Kickstarter here.  

Here’s the “cycling/pedestrian” lane right in front of the Straiton retail park. I had to lift my bike so I didn’t puncture any tyres pic.twitter.com/ARu4x2OzL7

— antonia.geo (@antgeo5) April 2, 2019

Could it be the 'best' worst infra ever? This abomination of a cycle and pedestrian path in Midlothian would certainly take some beating... 

A cyclist in Yorkshire sustained what police described as minor head injuries when two men tried to steal his bike in Bridlington.

The incident happened on Friday 15 March close to the bowling green off Queensgate..

The victim sustained bruising but managed to get away from his assailants, together with his bike.

According to police, one suspect is described as white, 5’ 6” and has a shaven head. He was dressed in a black hooded top, black tracksuit bottoms and dark footwear, while the other was 5’ 8” with a dark blue tracksuit and dark footwear.

Anyone with information is requested to contact Humberside Police on 101 quoting reference number 16/39125/19.

A simple idea for cyclists to voluntary state they're careful, consensus and insured road users by wearing HiVis vests with an unique registration number. @transportgovuk@THINKgovuk Good cyclists will wear it. pic.twitter.com/p090IJOVaS

— Stop Leftist Hate (@StopLeftistHate) April 2, 2019

We think this has done the rounds before, but the could-be-a-parody account 'Stop Leftist Hate' is at it again with the bizarre idea to make cyclists wear high-vis bibs with registration plates. The account holder, with a profile pic of Winston Churchill who abolished road tax in 1937 and the hashtag #iamtommyrobinson in his bio, also calls for cyclists to pay road tax in the comments with seemingly no hint of irony. 

The Express and Star report that former track champion and now commentator Hugh Porter (pictured above with Chris Hoy) has put down a £20 bet on his boyhood team to win the FA Cup. Porter said: "If we (Wolves) won the competition it would be special and mean so much to the city.

"Winning the FA Cup would be special."

While it might be a desperate angle for this Wolves-supporting writer to mention the Old Gold on a cycling website, I reckon it's just about fair game...

Need to get a cycling cat. Reckon @Wiggle_Sport sell them? https://t.co/ltIyv49ivi

— Darren Willsher (@darrenwillsher) April 2, 2019

The story of Dean Nicholson, who was cycling around the world before a cat decided to follow him and wouldn't leave his side, has resonated far and wide - good news stories are hard to come by nowadays. Wiggle appear open to the idea of selling feline companions, judging by the reply to this enquiry...

Read more about Dean's story on yesterday's live blog. 

After teasing us this morning with a preview, Shimano have revealed that testing bikes out with wheelies, flying drones, reading his own book and sneaking treats from the vending machine are all apparently part of Sagan’s ‘very serious’ training regime.

We also wonder if his Bowie-like rate of appearance changes are also part of the strict routine. The latest facial hair styling reminds us of someone computer-animated and Italian...

Let's open this up to a poll. Ladies, do YOU have a partner who reduces you to cold fury by leaving their bike in the hallway? https://t.co/XpvoBuWpZ3

— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) April 4, 2019

The journalist and broadcaster's poll has revealed plenty of contrasting answers, with many female respondents saying they are the ones leaving the bike in the hallway. Is it a domestic problem in your abode? Do let us know in the comments...

Marcos Garcia, celebrating 7 years ago on Estacion de Valdezcaray and today in Thailand. He didn't win any of these races. Poor guy, he never learns... pic.twitter.com/Lo3rMxtwkl

— Mihai Cazacu (@faustocoppi60) April 3, 2019

Let's hope its third time lucky for Marcos Garcia.

At least he's not the only guy who's had a premature celebration.

Pippo Pozzato celebrates win but Blel Kadri had already won

Cyclist starts celebrating win early - and gets pipped to the line

Premature exultation as Spanish rider Eloy Teruel celebrates California win a lap early

Never mind chaps, it happens to the best of us...

Two way bike roundabout, anyone? pic.twitter.com/kZmLbd3Rtg

— maidstoneonbike (@maidstoneonbike) April 2, 2019

What could possibly go wrong?

Sky news reports that Lenrey Briones was taken into police custody, after four people had been attacked in the past month and being left with severe injuries. He allegedly rode up to his victims and slashed at them with an edged weapon, Captain Dan Randolph said: "The suspect instilled fear in this community". 

The judge said that an early guilty plea "might well have made the difference".

Full story here.

Cycling shorts served to add an aerodynamic burst of downtown cool to crisp tailored blazers and super-starched shirts https://t.co/eJr6ztGcmX

— British Vogue (@BritishVogue) April 4, 2019

Chamois-less 'cycling shorts' for people trying to be hip just won't go away, and it seems some of the biggest names in fashion are trying to convince women with too much money that they're bang on trend again. While the subject of the article on British Vogue's website is hideous we will reserve our appreciation for its writer Ellie Pithers, who has managed to shoehorn in an impressive number of cycling references. 

The first rider to the top of the Oude Kwaremont during the men’s Tour of Flanders on Sunday will win €5,000 to donate to a charity of their choice.

The new initiative between Flanders Classics and the Belgian National Lottery is a tribute to Belgian rider Stig Broeckx who spent six months in a coma after a crash involving two race motorbikes at the Tour of Belgium last May.

As well as the €5,000 for the first rider to the top, the Lottery will be providing an additional €5,000 for a charity of Broeckx's choice.

First London cargo bike convoy! The times they are a changing. @TeamLondonBdg@ecargobikes@Jesse_Norman#Cargonauts#CleanAirpic.twitter.com/rbjn2Ywp3M

— e-cargobikes (@ecargobikes) April 4, 2019

While the previous post is extremely disappointing to see, here's some more positive cargo bike news. 

The actor and TV personality, best known for playing Lukewarm in Porridge, told BBC Wiltshire that he was mugged of his mobile phone outside of a Covent Garden restaurant on Wednesday night: “I was calling an Uber. It was quarter to midnight and I was on my phone.

“I was looking down towards Trafalgar Square and I was seeing where he was, how far away, and suddenly a hooded cyclist came by and stole my phone – just took it out of my hand.

“The terrifying thing is now, in London, there are so many stabbings, so many thefts. Apparently this happens all the time but it was such a violation.

“I shouted very loudly because I have a very loud voice. But it was quarter to midnight and no-one was around really. So he got away.”

Sporza reports that AG2R La Mondiale's Oliver Naesen is suffering from bronchitis and reckons he contracted it after getting drenched with Champagne after Gent-Wevelgem last Sunday.

Naesen finished third in the race and celebrated in customary style with winner Alexander Kristoff and second-placed John Degenkolb.

It doesn’t seem like the Belgian is too bad though. He finished 19th at Dwars door Vlaanderen earlier in the week.

The Tour of Flanders is on Sunday.

Rik Verbrugghe ... or Sir Ian McKellen?

It's always a bonus when a team whose rider has won a big race has a film crew documenting it from the inside - and we can't wait for the full version of EF Education First's behind the scenes video of Alberto Bettiol's victory at the Tour of Flanders yesterday.

Judging by the trailer, it's going to be a cracker.

“Man, I can tell you they were the longest 14 kilometres of my life.”@AlbertoBettiol, take a bow. pic.twitter.com/e6OWGg4NwY

— Rapha (@rapha) April 8, 2019

@CUttrupLudwig gives you insight in the #RVVWomen finale as only she can do. Sit back and enjoy ... #RVV19#UCIWWT@BiglaTeam@UCI_WWT#onehappydeadfishpic.twitter.com/h8MzxjqHGw

— Ronde Van Vlaanderen (@RondeVlaanderen) April 7, 2019

The Team Bigla Pro Cycling rider, who finished third in the Tour of Flanders women's race, gave a highly entertaining interview complete with blue language, questionable idioms, screaming and gusto that Brian Blessed would be proud of (watch it above). We'd be in favour of every pro cycling race ending with a Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig summary, and hopefully a career in commentary awaits! 

Ultra-Low Emission Zone #ULEZ begins today. It’ll help reduce lethal & illegal levels of air pollution in central London by targeting most polluting vehicles. We look forward to seeing positive impact extended across rest of London soon. #LetLondonBreathehttps://t.co/yQTMGN6Z2Mpic.twitter.com/kb6c7RxQSU

— LdnCyclingCampaign (@london_cycling) April 8, 2019

Despite some opposition to its implementation (perceived lack of help for small businesses and the fact that black cabs are exempt, to give two instances) generally London's new Ultra Low Emission Zone has had plenty of positive reaction so far. 

“We’re really keen to put #cycling at the heart of the ongoing transformation of London Bridge as a transport hub and a place for modern commerce."

- Jack Skillen, Director of Team London Bridge https://t.co/hwg3OUTFEZ@TeamLondonBdg#bikesforbusinesses#ULEZ#mobility

— Cities Today (@Cities_Today) April 8, 2019

Cycling in Haringey this morning with the kids was a dream...it was calm, we didn’t get stuck in traffic, and the air actually felt less gross than normal! A beautiful mix of first day of the Easter holidays and the Ulez I reckon. Just imagining if it was like this every day! pic.twitter.com/bEJbDahLN4

— Catherine Kenyon (@cmdkenyon) April 8, 2019

The highest-placed finisher we've found who has uploaded their ride so far is 10th-placed Greg Van Avermaet, and it gives some idea of the brutality of the day's racing - 276km, 42.3km/h and 2,100 metres of climbing. Other notable uploads so far are Wout van Aert, Michael Valgren (who titled the upload 'worst legs ever' after a disappointing ride), and Tim Declercq. 

'Because you can't see it, you don't know how bad it is.'

Sadiq Khan defends new laws which will cost drivers of older cars £12.50 to drive into central London. It's hoped this will improve the city's air quality and reduce air pollution-related health issues and deaths. pic.twitter.com/Dmd25L1kQV

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) April 8, 2019

According to London Mayor Sadiq Khan almost 1,000 people a year in London are hospitalised with asthma caused by pollution - and he has said this morning that the new Ultra Low Emission Zone, or ULEZ, is part of the solution. The charge will be £12.50 a day to drive into central London, and all diesel vehicles plus most cars that are over 14 years old will be liable to pay. In more good news for cyclists and pedestrians, Transport for London also predict that traffic will be cut by 5% in Central London. 

It won't improve air quality.
Just another cash cow.
The big trucks still need to make their deliveries to sustain dense populations such as cities...

— Robert Lofthouse (@author_rob_76) April 8, 2019

The charge has been called a 'tax on the poor' by some, and a notable exception are London Black Cabs - Uber and other private hire firms will have to pay. Do you think ULEZ is fair, or other the other hand, does it not go far enough? Let us know your thoughts in the comments... 

A Peterborough man who was handed an on-the-spot £80 fine for riding his bike at walking pace while carrying his two-year-old daughter has asked why officers cannot use their discretion when handing out fixed penalty notices. The enforcement firm patrolling the area covered by the city’s Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) keeps the money it collects as part of its contract with the city council. Full story here. 

Commuting to your place of work or study is immensely satisfying and there are lots of positives, from the obvious health benefits to beating public transport delays and queues and the freedom it provides... but we have a few bugbears, and it turns out from the comments section that you all do too! Read our round-up of commuting gripes here. 

More than 6,000 people have signed a petition for a velodrome to be built in Birmingham ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The city was awarded the event in 2017 after the original host city, Durban, pulled out of staging the multis-sports event for financial reasons.

Birmingham’s successful bid was based on using existing venues such as the Alexander Stadium for athletics and the National Exhibition Centre for boxing, judo, table tennis and freestyle wrestling.

But the track cycling events are due to take place 130 miles away, at the Lee Valley Velodrome in London - whicch, by pure coincidence, has a capacity of around 6,000 people.

The petition will be handed to Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, on 15 April.

David Viner, who organised the petition, said: “The Commonwealth Games are going to be a superb opportunity for Birmingham and the West Midlands but it is such a shame that the track cycling is to be held in London.

"The new aquatics centre in Sandwell with 5,000 seats for the Games and retaining just 1,000 seats afterwards is a perfect example of how a competition velodrome arena, costing £35m, with a similar seating plan could have been built for 2022.

"Councillor Ward has an open mind and has engaged with us. Now we hope the feasibility plan will prove there is a strong case for a modest training and development velodrome arena, with room in the track centre for multi-community based sports including disabled and sight impaired sports.

"We have benefited from firm support from many local people and we thank every person who has supported the petition.

"We have velodrome experts on hand and there is still time to get the velodrome built in time for the Games,” he added.

"I think it is important that our campaign is viewed as working with Birmingham City Council to get a velodrome and get a great legacy. The campaign is not just a protest."

Although as some have already pointed out on social media... was it really the wheels that deserve all the plaudits? The rider Alex Paton might have something else to say about it! Full story here in any case. 

Froome sat down with Rosberg to talk through his career and notable victories in detail. Some interesting comments about his support of Bradely Wiggins between 15:30 and 19:00, and the whole 50 minute podcast is definitely worth spending your lunch break on.  

The bike is very distinctive with team colours and a super slammed stem, so with any luck Bibby's bike will be too hot to handle for the bottom feeders who stolen it. With a position like that hopefully the thief will end up with some pretty bad back and neck problems if he/she attempts to ride it...

Painted cycle lanes may make roads more dangerous for riders, says Australian study

Painted cycle lanes may make roads more dangerous for bike riders, according to a new report by Victoria, Australia-based Monash University.

The study, reported on here by the Herald Sun, followed 60 people who regularly commute by bike in Melborune and followed them on their daily routes.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/bicycle-lanes-no-guarantee-of...

Deputy head of prehospital emergency and trauma research, Ben Beck, said that the lanes made cyclists more liable to be subjected to close overtakes.

“Specifically, passing events on roads with a bicycle lane and a parked car were on average 40cm closer than events on roads with no bicycle lane or parked cars,” he explained.

“The magnitude of that ­difference is quite substantial. As someone who cycles myself, we all know that a painted lane next to parked cars is not a safe space.”

The solution he proposed? Unsurprisingly, create more protected cycle lanes for riders.

Rosie Pham, who took part in the study, said: “It’s scary and luckily nothing’s happened to me but there’s been a lot of near-misses, and when people yell, that scares me and I wonder if they are going to hit me.” 

The Scottish brand encourage us to bike to work with this inspiring video. 500 calories per day burnt on just a six mile commute, hundreds of pounds saved a month and a reduction in carbon footprint equivalent to a transatlantic flight each year are just some of the reasons given. 

Traditional tweet #ParisRoubaixpic.twitter.com/G7aJv55ugh

— ProCyclingStats.com (@ProCyclingStats) April 10, 2019

It's cobbles or nothing!

So after falling off twice trying to get up Hardknott Pass yesterday I have got the fear about the @fred_whitton. Please consider sponsoring me for the Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team. It is insanely hard and I am not very good at cycling https://t.co/TJablxoKh2pic.twitter.com/ynNGJc4Ugh

— John Woodcock (@JWoodcockMP) April 8, 2019

An MP from Cumbria will next month ride what many consider to be the UK’s toughest sportive – the Fred Whitton Challenge, covering 114 miles and taking in climbs including the Hardknot and Wrynose Passes.

The event, first held in 1999, is on the doorstep of Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock, who is aiming to raise money for the Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team.

On his page on Virgin Money Giving, he says: “So everyone says the Fred Whitton is one of the very hardest one-day amateur cycling challenges out there – and I’m doing it as my first 100-plus mile sportive. Which I realise is nuts. 114 miles and ten of the biggest climbs in the Lake District - some with 30 PER CENT GRADIENTS.

“The Fred was started 20 years ago in memory of a legendary Cumbrian cyclist. It is pretty jammy to get a place in the ballot but I’ve just fallen off twice trying to get up Hardknott – which you do after 100 miles – and now I have got the fear.

“The event raises money for a number of brilliant local and national charities – I’ve chosen to focus on the Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team whose volunteers give an amazing service to stricken climbers and walkers on the fells from their base outside Broughton-in-Furness in my constituency.”

The owner of the Chicken Dinnerz Youtube account, who describes himself as a ‘cyclocross racer and editor of silly videos’, does his own version of Roubaix in Blighty in tribute to the famous race. He explains: “We don’t really have mountains in the UK so it’s hard to do Tour de France or Giro d’Italia-style riding.

“What we do have is grey skies, terrible roads and quite a few cobbles, so I thought I’d do my own version of the Paris Roubaix.”

Chris Froome says he had issues trusting Bradley Wiggins at the 2012 Tour de France due to experience of previous year's Vuelta. 

He made the disclosure to ex-Formula 1 driver Nico Rosberg for an episode of his Beyond Victory podcast which also includes the pair discussing issues such as training and the pressures faced in their respective sports.

The 23-year-old Dane captured the public's hearts with her storytelling of the Tour of Flanders, in which she described how the peloton were going full gas and said she was a "dead fish" at the end. She also gave a similar interview to the Danish media, and her enthusiasm comes across just as well in her mother tongue. Watch it on TV2 here. 

For those of you that haven't seen the English language version, here it is below...

Here's some speculation to start your morning off, courtesy of an email we got from Wahoo... what could it be? The Elemnt and Elemnt Bolt have consistently rated well with our reviewers but any negative comments usually refer to the mapping capabilities. Something more trail-orientated perhaps? We'll have the full story tomorrow. 

There’s an energy bar brawl brewing.

On March 6, Clif took out a full-page ad in the New York Times challenging rival firm Kind to go organic, offering help and 10 tons of free organic ingredients

In a tweet, Kind replied: “It’s deceptive to try to pass off organic brown rice syrup as healthy. We’d be happy to meet with you and share why we focus on making snacks that always lead with nutrient-dense ingredients like whole nuts, whole grains & whole fruit – instead of sugar.”

Forbes reports that Kind is now setting up a pop-up where visitors will be able to use a mobile device to see the sugar content of common nutrition and energy bars and also explore the different types of sweeteners used in these and other processed foods.

Come say at our pop up. April 10th & 11th. 579 Broadway, NYC. 10AM – 6PM. pic.twitter.com/Xx2IAh96nv

— KIND Snacks (@KINDSnacks) April 9, 2019

Watch the footage here.

ABANDONS

Étape 3 @ehitzulia

Jonathan Castroviejo »Team Sky
Patrick Bevin »CCC Team
Steve Cummings »Team Dimension Data
Adam Hansen »Lotto Soudal
Ángel Madrazo & José Fernandes »Burgos-BH
Steff Cras »Team Katusha - Alpecin#Itzulia#lesrppic.twitter.com/bpRUO1azA1

— WSFR Cyclisme (@WSFR_Cyclisme) April 10, 2019

Cummings of Dimension Data suffered a broken clavicle on stage three yesterday, according to this update on the team's website from Dr Samuel Fisser: “Steve crashed around 25km into today’s stage 3 of Itzulia Basque Country and had to stop the race. After further examinations, scans revealed that Steve has a fracture of the left clavicle. Fortunately, at this stage surgery will not be required as part of his recovery process. We will continue to monitor Steve until he has made a full recovery."

Sky's Castroviejo has suffered a broken right clavicle which requires surgery according to their team doctor, and also some smaller fractures including a rib and his left wrist. He should be heading home from hospital today.   

You might have seen on yesterday's live blog that we teased a teaser from Wahoo who said 'something new' was coming today... forgive us for being a little underwhelmed but it turns out the surprise was the very good Elemnt Bolt but just in blue or pink limited edition colourways. They're the same price as the standard edition at £199.99, click here if you want to buy one. 

#ParisRoubaix

It's that time of the year again
Recon of 'the Hell of the North'pic.twitter.com/K4g6PrhSsX

— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) April 11, 2019

Just three days to go before the brutality begins...

The new bike provides 20mm front and 11mm rear suspension travel and is claimed to be able to “absorb in average 42% of the vibration coming from the ground that directly means an increase in comfort and bike stability,” and can be automatically or manually controlled. Full story here. 

Factor's new online 3D Prisma Studio offers 2,688 different possible colour combinations and finishes. You can create the custom frames on their O2 Equipe and Classic models, in either disc or rim brake versions. You can choose everything from the base frame, panels and logo, choosing from nine different colourways across gloss and matte finishes, with seven metallic equivalents. New colours will also be added over the next few months.

Head over to the Prisma Studio on Factor's website to start making your own cool colour combos...

The Northern Echo reports that North Yorkshire is keen to avoid mistakes made for the 2014 Grand Départ of the Tour de France.

These include a failure to provide toilets on the categorised climbs of Buttertubs Pass and Grinton Moor.

Richmondshire District Council leader, Yvonne Peacock, said: “There wasn’t much that went wrong with the Tour de France, but there was a bit of a mix-up with who was providing the toilets and they didn’t turn up. That’s a situation that we will ensure is not repeated for the World Championships.

“We know that people will be heading to Grinton Moor and Buttertubs as it is absolutely spectacular seeing the bikes going up the climbs.”

In 2014, about 30,000 spectators turned up on Buttertubs alone, so you can see why they’re keen to address this.

The gist is they actually make life worse for cyclists.

Full story here.

Full story here.

Active Lives survey aims to provide snapshot of the nation’s sport and physical activity habits.

Full story here.

The Swiss have stockpiled coffee and other provisions since World War One in preparation for shortages should any other national emergencies break out, and now the government want to phase out coffee from the list by 2022 because they don't deem it essential. The explanation on the Swiss Federal Council website reads: "The national economic supply has checked the maintenance of today's compulsory storage of coffee. She came to the conclusion that coffee is not vital according to the criteria that apply today. That is, coffee contains almost no calories and therefore does not make any contribution to food security from a nutritional point of view. The risk of supply disruptions is also rated as low. The growing areas are spread over three continents and the harvests are possible all year round. The continuation of the compulsory storage of coffee is therefore no longer justified from a supply policy perspective." 

Who wants to tell them that they're wrong? 

Yesterday, the City of Amsterdam opened a new 1,300-space “fietsenstalling” (bike parking facility) at the Amsterdam Noord Metro Station.

Such investments make good business sense for Dutch transportation agencies, as they increase ridership and revenue.https://t.co/AUPoHI9xjRpic.twitter.com/gCZyuzJLva

— Dutch Cycling Embassy (@Cycling_Embassy) April 11, 2019

With room for over 1,300 bicycles, the new 'fietsenstalling' connects commuters to the city via the Noord Metro station. The handy bird-based guide to help commuters locate their bikes is a smart touch, and there are also dedicated spaces for cargo bikes.  

A new study has calculated the per kilometre cost of driving, cycling and walking in the EU.

Eltis reports that the parameters used were:

1. Environment
2. Travel time and vehicle operation
3. Health, accidents and perceived comfort
4. Perceived safety and discomfort
5. Quality of life, tourism and infrastructure

They concluded that each kilometre driven by car incurs an external cost of €0.11, while cycling and walking represent benefits of €0.18 and €0.37 per kilometre.

Extrapolated to the total number of passenger kilometres driven, cycled or walked in the European Union, the cost of driving is about €500 billion per year.

Due to positive health effects, cycling is an external benefit worth €24 billion per year and walking €66 billion per year.