Liam Owens had just completed the challenging route that stretches from Holyhead to Cardiff with friends from university, when the group decided to have a celebratory drink in a Cardiff Bay Wetherspoons pub.
Rory Fish told In Your Area: "We finally reached Cardiff at about 4.30pm and decided to go to the Wetherspoons there.
"We left our bikes outside and thought they would be safe because there were CCTV cameras around, but when came back we realised Liam's had gone. To make it worse, he had his car keys in the back."
Mr Fish says he doesn't expect his friend will get his grey Avanti Giro bike back, but has urged anyone with information to contact South Wales Police on 101. Mr Fish noted on the group's JustGiving page that they had faced much adversity on route as well as the disappointing ending, writing: "Well we made it through Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons... but not without their ups and downs.
"1x broken arm (James), 1x broken derailleur (Ross), 1x rear wheel buckled but on James’ bike (Ross) 1x bent disc brake (Rory) 1x bike stolen (as we had our celebratory meal in Cardiff - Liam).
"All in all quite the ordeal, but we’d do it all again in a heartbeat to raise more money for these great charities."
Is there anything this guy cannot do?!
Wout van Aert wins stage 5 of the Tour de France 🚀#TDF2020pic.twitter.com/uM5EUwRck5
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) September 2, 2020
It's cyclocross for the win, as the three-time world CX champ has just added a second individual Tour de France stage win to his growing palmarès.
Full stage report here.
If you can, just make your current car your last car, use cars less, don’t buy an SUV and if you have to buy a car make it a small electric one. We need to tackle forced car use and ownership, make streets healthier and safer for walking and cycling and get more public transport. https://t.co/SbJkFfc5dz
— Caroline Russell (@CarolineRussell) September 2, 2020
The Green Party London Assembly Member and Councillor for the Highbury East ward in Islington was replying to a comment about the environmental problems posed by electric cars; and said that a better idea would be to promote more walking and cycling and reduce car use overall, rather than replace petrol cars with electric ones.
"Forced car use""more public transport"
She is literally highlighting the same issues you are. She realises that people in rural areas has no other option and that is why it's called "Forced" it's someone's decision not to provide public transport and that's what needs changing— Cameron Taylor (@cmtlr) September 2, 2020
Not everyone was in agreement, but it appears some misunderstood Russell's point. She added: "That’s why I said we have to make streets healthier and safer and tackle forced car use - many people live in places without public transport and where roads are so hostile you have to be brave to walk or get on a bike."
Another commented that since they had stopped driving due to ill health, their shopping bill had increased; presumably due to more expensive local shops and high costs of public transport. Russell replied: "It illustrates all that is wrong with our transport system that without a car you are paying more for food and essentials. The health and societal dis-benefits of driving are not born by car users which is why these inequalities persist."
Russell is well known for her activism on cycling and walking, and penned a blog for road.cc back in 2018 in which she question if the Met Police were doing enough to bring down the number of cyclists and pedestrians injured or killed on London's roads.
Are we 'forced' into car ownership in the UK? Let us know your thoughts in the comments as always.
Not got a clue what he’s saying but this is fucking brilliant #TourDeFrancepic.twitter.com/O5CEXxqVad
— Bands FC (@_Bands_FC) September 1, 2020
The guest on the show appears to be showing how riders in the peloton shield themselves from crosswinds, and the futuristic augmented reality explainer appears to go incredibly smoothly. Alan Partridge on the Day Today News circa 1994 would be very jealous of this technology...
Any Danish speakers out there who can transcribe the most salient points for us? There's a pair of road.cc socks in it for you!
*We've now discovered this clip was from 2018. Anyone know if they're still using it, and why can't we have it on British TV?
L'étape résumée en une photo 🥱 😂#AllezTotalDirectEnergie⚡ #TdF2020pic.twitter.com/4xl4PnZkmp
— Team Total Direct Energie (@TDE_ProCycling) September 2, 2020
Boring af, if we're being honest.
🇮🇪 ☘️ @Sammmy_Be wins the Intermediate Sprint and the 20 points that go with it. He is now the virtual holder of the green jersey.
🇮🇪 @Sammmy_Be remporte le sprint intermédiaire et les 20 points qui l’accompagnent. Il est donc virtuellement le nouveau Maillot Vert du #TDF2020pic.twitter.com/yvLcHMhyhS
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) September 2, 2020
Sam Bennett has just won the Intermediate Sprint to net himself 20 points, and is currently in virtual green... is this the year Sagan loses his grip on the jersey he has won a record seven times?
🚘 The view from the Tour's first 100% electric lead car, the @SkodaFrance ENYAQ iV!
🚘 La vue de la voiture n°1 100% électrique sur le Tour, @SkodaFrance ENYAQ iV @WeLoveCyclingFR#TDF2020pic.twitter.com/jiTafd2pev
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) September 2, 2020
From today, the new Skoda Enyaq iV will now be at the tête de la Course for the remainder of this year's Tour. The SUV was officially unveiled last night, and has a claimed range of up to 316 miles with the larger battery size option.
In his latest podcast, Wiggins said that Primoz Roglic "looked invincible" yesterday, but hasn't been encouraged by the performance of the newly-named Ineos Grenadiers over the first four days of racing. Wiggins said the departure of coach Rod Ellingworth and the tragic death of directeur sportif Nicolas Portal could have had a big impact.
"There were two big losses there, two major players in the organisation of that Tour de France team", he said.
"Rod wasn't at the Tour de France last year because he'd already left before then, and last year was the first sign even with Geraint Thomas in the team where they didn't look (like) the old Sky train.
"I wonder if they have to start trying to win the Tour in a different way; but two major players, it clearly has an impact on that team."
Walking down the road like he owns it! 🦁 🔥pic.twitter.com/9LfL2WC5XN
— QT@Anon🌟🌟🌟 (@QTAnon1) September 1, 2020
The new venue for the 2020 UCI Road World Championships is Imola - Emilia Romagna! 🇮🇹
🗓Sep 24-27th
🌈 Featuring only elites races in the ITT & Road Race.
📄 More info 🔗 https://t.co/mIixxS4QPm#Imola2020pic.twitter.com/zrqwpyBvSc— UCI (@UCI_cycling) September 2, 2020
According to Gazzetta Dello Sport, Imola was the clear favourite to host because the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari race track will be ideal for ensuring crowds can comply with social distancing rules.
It's also confirmed that there will be no U23 races, with just men's and women's elite time trials and road races taking place - full story to follow.
This is my favourite local cycle lane. It has a choice of surfaces depending on if you're riding a road bike or a gravel bike. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/OyX73FReSq
— Elisabeth Anderson (@velobetty) September 2, 2020
Well something needs to be installed to get rid of this strange wannabe pavé.
According to Tuttobici a decision has been taken and Imola will host the UCI road World Championships 2020.
Official announcement at 13.00 CEST.
— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) September 2, 2020
The announcement from the UCI is expect to be made officially at 12pm BST; but according to Tuttobici, it's already decided that the Road World Championships will now be held in the Italian city of Imola. If true, it will be just over 52 years since Imola hosted the championships in September 1968.
The schedule would see the time trials take place on Thursday 24th September, and the road races on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September. It comes after Aigle-Martigny in Switzerland was forcec to cancel because the scale of the event and impossibility of ensuring social distancing would have made it impossible to comply with latest Swiss government measures, according to the organisers.
There is some racist and really not okay shit going on in the high traffic neighbourhood support groups pic.twitter.com/zv0ZLkIYrf
— Sarah 😷 (@SarahJ_Berry) September 2, 2020
In recent weeks, there have been various reports of vandalism to planters and roadblocks in areas of London where Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) schemes are in place, allegedly from local campaign groups who believe the schemes will increase congestion. One local Facebook group reveals the worrying thought processes of some 'campaigners', with one appearing to compare their plight to the Black Lives Matter protests: "That should get us a bow of the knee", writes the anonymous group member.
⚠ So that the #TDF2020 goes smoothly, adopt good behaviours and respect the guidelines and rules throughout the entire race.
2️⃣m from the riders ⭕
0️⃣ autograph ✍
2️⃣ key actions: use hand sanitiser and wear a mask throughout the entire race. 😷
0️⃣ selfie 🤳 pic.twitter.com/Gqd6OVzJ5D— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) September 2, 2020
No selfies, no autographs, keep 2 metres from the riders and wear masks at all times, say the organisers. Although today's 183km stage finishes in Privas in France's Ardèche department, the least populated of the nation's 95 prefectures, it begins in the bustling commune of Gap in the Hautes-Alpes department, which has been a regular hosting town for Le Tour over the years; so it's likely there will be plenty of locals and tourists trying to catch a glimpse of the action along the way.
Schools are ready to welcome children back for a new term.
Here's how to stay safe on your journey back 👇🏾https://t.co/KSrvFQb0Y0
You should walk or cycle to school if you can 🚴#BackToSchoolSafelypic.twitter.com/Sig9GZaBlJ
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) September 2, 2020
In the updated guidance document for parents of children who have just gone back to school, the government have stressed that pupils should avoid public transport where they can and consider alternatives. On 'using public transport', it says: "Everyone needs to play their part in reducing the demand for public transport. If possible, you should look for alternative transport options, especially walking or cycling, particularly at peak times.
"This will help to ensure that there is enough public transport capacity to allow those who need to use it to travel safely. It will also benefit your family’s health."
The Living Streets guide to walking to school and Sustrans' tips for keeping safe on the school run are both recommended reading for parents.
So surprisingly, wearing your favourite cycling jersey isn't going to get many right swipes compared to sports like rugby and football? You'd have thunk it!
To conduct the study, Golf Support set up 12 identical Tinder profiles apart from the sports kit the person (we assume a male) was wearing, and then made 300 right swipes on the app. They determined which was the most popular by how many matches each kit received... and it wasn't so good for cycling, just pipping rowing and cricket but coming 10th out of 12 with just 70 right swipes. At the top, rugby came first with 208 swipes, football was second with 195 and golf (???) was third with 168.
They also found that listing your favourite sports team in your bio is a big no-no, with 68% saying this was a turn-off... so it's probably best to wait for the date to reveal your love for Jumbo–Visma.
Maybe back it up by saying you have a vintage Colnago with Campagnolo Record on it and spend every night polishing her up lovingly or something? That'll surely win 'em over...