Schofield was interviewing Luke Griggs, chief executive of the brain injury charity Headway, about improving the safety of e-scooters; when according to Headway, the presenter made it known that he "felt strongly about making helmets compulsory when riding e-scooters and bikes" due to the experience of a family member.
During the segment on This Morning, Schofield said the family member suffered life-changing brain injuries following a bike accident, saying: "I would not think about going on my bike without my helmet.
“We have an extended member of the family who had an accident on a bike and sustained life-changing brain injuries, so it is inconceivable for me."
"And also the money it costs the National Health Service a year, for people who have been riding bikes without a helmet on and have brain injuries because they did not have a helmet."
According to various tabloids, people on social media flocked to agree with Schofield, saying that e-scooter and bike riders should be made to pay 'road tax' and wear helmets, amongst other laws that are yet to exist. Although, we couldn't help but spot that he caused a bit of a helmet row himself back in the summer of 2014...
@Schofe tut tut Phil where is your safety helmet?
— Lynn White (@LynnW1960) August 10, 2014
@Schofe helmet Philip helmet!!!!!
— Debbie Hutchinson (@debhutch24) August 10, 2014
We're not sure if Mr Schofield thinks that quad bikers should be exempt from helmet-wearing, or if he's had a complete U-turn on the issue in recent years; but luckily it appears he managed to come through this ride without burdening any health services in the UK or the Algarve...
We're sure it's because he just wants to be closer to Monaco residents Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome* to go for some nice bike rides, but in any case it's been confirmed that Britain's richest man is swapping Britain for the tax-free microstate.
The Guardian report that Ratcliffe changed his tax domicile from Hampshire to Monaco earlier this week, which will save him around £4 billion a year in tax payments according to estimates. Imagine how many Richie Portes and Tom Pidcocks he could sign for the Ineos Grenadiers with all that extra spare cash?
*Until January 2021 when he moves to Israel Start-Up Nation anyway
MUST..NOT...HAVE...CYCLIST...AHEAD...OF...ME pic.twitter.com/KEwMiExB3u
— Joe (@Joe_then_W) September 24, 2020
We understand this danger has been reported to the police by the cyclist they couldn't stand to have waiting in front of them.
Alex Dowsett finished ninth to make it two British riders in the top 10, and Hour Record holder Victor Campenaerts finished eighth. Here are the final times and standings:
1) GANNA Filippo (Italy) km 31.7 in 35:54.10 average speed 52.978 km/h
2) van AERT Wout (Belgium) +26.72
3) KUNG Stefan (Switzerland) +29.80
4) THOMAS Geraint (Great Britain) +37.02
5) DENNIS Rohan (Australia) +39.76
6) ASGREEN Kasper (Denmark) +47.13
7) CAVAGNA Remi (France) +48.35
8) CAMPENAERTS Victor (Belgium) +52.81
9) DOWSETT Alex (Great Britain) +1:06.38
10) DUMOULIN Tom (Netherlands) +1:14.06
The e-scooter firm Voi recently won a contract for the largest share scheme in Europe, that was set to expand across the West Midlands; but after numerous complaints about alleged near misses with pedestrians, the scheme was suspended in Coventry after just five days, and Voi are now funding police patrols in Birmingham to monitor usage.
Voi say their scooters are "safe, convenient and environmentally friendly" but add that "a few anti-social people" were "deliberately and persistently breaking the rules", report Birmingham Live. Voi will now cover the costs of the extra police work needed to increase patrols, which will include checking users are sober and that they hold a valid licence, in accordance with the UK's e-scooter trial rules.
A Voi spokesperson said: "We are passionate about shaping cities for people, reducing pollution and breaking traffic gridlock across Europe and now in the U.K. But we can only do this if people treat this new form of transport with care and responsibility.”
Threatening to kill a councillor because you can’t drive your car exactly where you want, when you want. Appalling
— Diane Abbott MP (@HackneyAbbott) September 25, 2020
It appears the row over LTNs has sunk to a new, despicable low - more to follow on this ugly developing story later this afternoon.
WOW WOUT!@WoutvanAert🇧🇪 turned around an 11 second deficit at the intermediate split to a 10 second advantage at the finish!
New best time is 36:20.82.#Imola2020pic.twitter.com/dxbhcAsE8R
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) September 25, 2020
!!WORLD CHAMPION!!
🌈 🇮🇹 🌈 🇮🇹
Filippo Ganna takes gold for Italy.#Imola2020pic.twitter.com/xApD0oKpZQ— UCI (@UCI_cycling) September 25, 2020
...because the hugely talented Wout van Aert stormed into the lead, before Filippo Ganna bested his time by 26 seconds to claim the world title. Rohan Dennis could only manage fifth, with Stefan Küng in third and Thomas in fourth.
⏱️Men's World Championship time trial result ⏱️
🥇 @GannaFilippo🇮🇹 35:54:10
🥈 Van Aert 🇧🇪 +26"
🥉 Küng🇨🇭 +29"
4. @GeraintThomas86🇬🇧 +37"
5. Rohan Dennis 🇦🇺 +39"pic.twitter.com/XoItxZ2if7— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) September 25, 2020
At the intermediate check, @GannaFilippo is fastest, with Rohan Dennis +20".
They are currently 1-2 on the course, with @GeraintThomas86 still in the hotseat at the finish. pic.twitter.com/Vg8nmcJVBN
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) September 25, 2020
Geraint Thomas is currently fastest, with Filippo Ganna and Rohan Dennis still to finish. Ganna is currently besting his Aussie teammate by around 20 seconds.
36:31:12 ⏱️
It's a fantastic TT from @GeraintThomas86 and he sets the time to beat at #Imola2020@GannaFilippo& Rohan Dennis are approaching the intermediate time check pic.twitter.com/b29xSSzIeo
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) September 25, 2020
Doktoren hebben me verzekerd dat er geen andere risicos zijn mocht ik er nog een keer op vallen dan voor de breuk.
— Annemiek van Vleuten (@AvVleuten) September 24, 2020
The defending world champion has insisted that doctors have assured her there is no greater risk is she falls on it again than before she suffered the fracture; but some on social media have said that riding on with the injury could be setting a bad example.
I don’t like how this sport champions injured cyclists as “heroes” and “warriors” for riding through an injury that they should be looking after.
A broken wrist here, a punctured lung at the TDF. At some point we need to discuss where the line is between warrior and dangerous..
— Rita Skeeter Robyn (@robynjournalist) September 25, 2020
Can’t help but feel she shouldn’t be allowed for the safety of the other racers.
— Jim Cameron (@jmcmrn) September 25, 2020
With nasty injuries the theme of the day so far, should Van Vleuten be allowed to race?
Ahmed Badreddin Wais from Syria 🇸🇾 rolls down the ramp as the first of 57 riders set to start the Men Elite Time Trial in #Imola2020.
Good luck, everyone! pic.twitter.com/EsYdDBfQEB
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) September 25, 2020
Wais has competed in the last three world championship time trials, and is first down the ramp this year. The 29-year-old fled Syria in 2014, reuniting with his family in Turkey before gaining refugee status in Switzerland. Due to the "physical and emotional toll" of his ordeal, Wais didn't start competing again until 2017.
Sending healing vibes your way! We know you’ll be back stronger than ever soon enough❤️
— Zwift (@GoZwift) September 25, 2020
Get well soon Chloe. I don't think any of us have any doubts that you'll be back as strong as ever.
— Daniel Lloyd (@daniellloyd1) September 25, 2020
You are an incredible competitor. Sending you lots of best wishes for your recovery ♥️
— Joanna Rowsell MBE OLY (@JoRowsellMBE) September 25, 2020
We'll spare you the gory image again (it's further down the page) but Joanna Rowsell Shand, Daniel Lloyd and the folks at Zwift are among the hundreds who have sent healing vibes to the American today.
As it appears the launch of a different brand new product from Specialized hasn't gone to plan so far, here's a Diverge with the new 13 speed Campagnolo Ekar groupset on it instead.
Specialized mixed with Campagnolo has become a bit of a rare beast in recent years, but this announcement sees the two back together on the flagship adventure bike from the Big S. The Diverge LTD Carbon with Ekar 1x is priced at £6,400, and should be available soon.
Continued evolution.
Introducing a quartet of new Grenadiers to complete our 2021 roster:
🇬🇧 @Tompid
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) September 25, 2020
The Australian, who just finished a career-best third at the Tour de France, will jump ship from Trek-Segafredo to join Ineos for 2021, reuniting him with the team he rode for under the Team Sky banner between 2012-2015. The team have also confirmed the signings of Tom Pidcock, Dani Martinez and Laurens De Plus.
Last weekend Sir Dave Brailsford said he was looking to rebuild the team after a disappointing Tour de France, bringing in "some experience and some new young talent"; and these four transfers certainly fit the bill, after already confirming that Adam Yates will also join from Mitchelton-Scott.
On Porte, Brailsford said: “Richie’s richly-deserved podium at the Tour de France once again demonstrated that he’s one of the best riders in the peloton. He’s a world class climber, time triallist, and if you are building a team to be competitive against the world’s best then you’d want Richie Porte by your side.
"We already know how each other works, he knows how we race, and with the wealth of experience that Richie now has he has so much to offer the team. We really are extremely pleased to welcome him back!"
Pidcock is currently in Italy for his first world championships, most recently posting a course recce video to his Instagram Stories. He commented: “I am incredibly excited and proud to be signing for the Ineos Grenadiers. Like so many British cyclists of my generation, I have always aspired to race on the road with this team - to me, the best in the world.
“I just want to keep racing, learning and growing as a bike rider, and having the opportunity to do that in this team is amazing. I feel like I’m ready for the WorldTour but also excited to keep exploring multiple disciplines with the support of this team behind me.”
Today's the day! 🌈⏱️
Here are the start times (UK) for the INEOS Grenadiers competing for their nations in the #Imola2020 Men's Elite TT:
⏱️@GeraintThomas86 - 14:24
⏱️@GannaFilippo - 14:52
⏱️Rohan Dennis - 14:54 pic.twitter.com/JXC7BX2IzH— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) September 25, 2020
The Australian's Tour de France-winning teammate Geraint Thomas is off half an hour before him, with Filippo Ganna starting at 14:52.
*WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT*
I remember thinking what if I can get my bike can I still win? The first thing I remember was asking @JimMiller_time if I was done.. Then I looked down and saw my leg.
Thank you for all the well wishes ❤️
I’ll be back pic.twitter.com/UvJ8AnfIne
— Chloé Dygert (@chloedygert30) September 25, 2020
As we reported yesterday, the 2019 world time trial champion was on track to defend her title in Emilia Romagna, but went straight over a barrier after losing control of her bike on a descent. The footage was terrifying and early reports last night suggested she was conscious and communicating with doctors, but Dygert appears to be through the worst after posting an update on social media this morning... although she's been left with a monster gash on her left leg, and it's a relief she didn't attempt to get back on her bike.
USA Cycling have also released a new statement on the 23-year-old's condition, saying: "As a result of Chloe Dygert’s crash in today’s World Championship Time Trial, she has sustained a laceration to her left leg. She is out of surgery, resting comfortably and is expected to make a full recovery.
"Thank you everyone for the well-wishes and we ask that you please respect the privacy of [Chloé] and her family at this time."
Oh dear Wivenhoe. And what an unfortunately named Councillor...🤣 https://t.co/TQPQpJ6uRA
— SophieStickaloafie (@stickaloafie) September 24, 2020
Residents of Wivenhoe, which is apparently known for its 'creative arts scene', have been treated to some life drawing on their neglected roads recently, as a host of phallic paintings have appeared around a number of the town's most dangerous potholes.
Wivenhoe ward councillor Mark Cory told the Gazette: “I can laugh at the new graffiti, but being let down for months and months by Essex County Council is more offensive to me.
“I have reported these potholes over the past year, they filled some, but left many to grow larger and more dangerous.
“It is unacceptable Essex County Council had to be shamed into action.”
An Essex Highways spokesman confirmed efforts would be made to do some 'make safe' repairs around the potholes and cover the graffiti, but insisted the best way to report road defects was by using Essex Council's 'report a pothole' function on their website. He added: “Drawing pictures around defects in a road can be both distractingly dangerous to drivers and offensive to passers-by, especially children.
“It doesn’t make any difference to our road maintenance priorities as we deal with defects using a risk assessment process that enables us to deal with the worst problems first."
If Essex Highways are prompted to act fast, it wouldn't be the first time a glans-themed protest has succeeded in speeding up pothole repairs. Back in 2015, we reported on another anonymous anti-pothole campaigner based in Greater Manchester who claimed that his artwork was yielding results; however Bury Council said the clean-up jobs were costing money that could be used to repair roads.