Delft is on its fifth straight day of rain, yet the bike lanes are still full.
“The only interesting number for cyclists is the minutes of travel time, not the millimeters of rainfall.” - @copenhenken
Make cycling the most convenient option, and people will do it rain or shine. pic.twitter.com/Kq6bQvV9bM
— Modacity (@modacitylife) October 6, 2020
#Giro Stiamo ricevendo tantissimi messaggi di supporto. Luca Wackermann è cosciente e a breve vi informeremo sulla situazione. Grazie di cuore 💗
We are receiving a lot of messages of support. Luca Wackermann is conscious and soon you'll know the full story. Thanks 💗#ForZabùpic.twitter.com/g2300zKbpo— Vini Zabú - Brado - KTM (@ZabuBradoKTM) October 6, 2020
#Giro Luca Wackermann didn't finish the stage. The strong wind has made a fence fly in the middle of the road. We will update you soon#ForZabù
— Vini Zabú - Brado - KTM (@ZabuBradoKTM) October 6, 2020
Citracca on RAI 2: "The helicopter was flying too low, the movement of the air blew up the barriers. Wackermann was send to the hospital, he was barely conscious - is not clear if he had broken his pelvis or femur. Barriers weren't tied properly"#Giro
— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) October 6, 2020
Etienne Van Empel was also involved, but managed to get to the finish.
🔻 The last, uncertain km, Stage 4!
🔻 L'ultimo, combattutissimo, chilometro della Tappa 4!#Giropic.twitter.com/BhXJoh71UB
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) October 6, 2020
Speaking after the stage finish, the stage winner Arnaud Démare said: “Behind my dad's scooter I often train for the last jump. Today it paid off but I wasn't sure that I'd won when I crossed the line. It was so tight. It's fantastic to have won a Giro stage already in the first days of the race.”
Meanwhile race leader João Almeida grabbed a couple of seconds at the intermediate sprint.
“I tried to go for the time bonus at the intermediate sprint,” he said. “I can be fast in a small group. I am very happy to wear the Maglia Rosa another day.”
Arnaud Demare edged out Peter Sagan by a matter of millimetres in today's sprint finish.
Today's photofinish #Giropic.twitter.com/wUtyYvfjD8
— the Inner Ring (@inrng) October 6, 2020
Fair to say the Frenchman knew what was coming on this stage.
🎙️ @ArnaudDemare: "Yesterday, we were in the gruppetto waiting for today. I won't be the only one interested in the sprint but we know @BORAhansgrohe can make things hard in the climb."#Giropic.twitter.com/FcyWgGCkGN
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) October 6, 2020
Impressive job by Peter Sagan and BORA-hansgrohe on #Giro Stage 4 as they drop several sprint rivals by upping the pace on the Portella Mandrazzi climb 💪
On the same 4km section...
Sagan: avg 420w & 29.5kmh
Gaviria: avg 340w & 26.4kmhFollow live data: https://t.co/V1cH8whCIYpic.twitter.com/5cQJLPrzel
— Velon CC (@VelonCC) October 6, 2020
"An evil bidons revolution" ... ? Why not, I don't think anything in 2020 could surprise us any more.
— Simon MacMichael (@simonmacmichael) October 6, 2020
In October 2019, David Brennan encountered a queue of slow-moving traffic on his commute to work in Glasgow.
As he filtered up the inside, one driver appeared to take exception, accelerating to within inches of Brennan’s rear wheel.
This video features a lot of swearing.
“I thought I was in danger and reacted to the fast approaching vehicle by slapping the bonnet with the palm of my hand,” he said.
“The driver got out and was incredibly aggressive, hurling abuse at me. He pushed me and then punched me in the face. I was left with a swollen lip and in a state of shock.”
Brennan reported the incident to police. He said he had video footage from front and rear facing cameras, plus a witness from the driver of the vehicle behind who confirmed that the man had driven at him.
Brennan repeatedly chased the force and was eventually told that the driver had been given a written warning.
After later seeing the footage online, the police told Brennan they were going to investigate ‘further criminality’.
This turned out to be Brennan’s own behaviour. He was given a written warning stating that he ‘Did shout and swear causing fear to others’.
After taking advice from Cycling UK and Cycle Law Scotland, and with Cycling UK committed to covering legal costs through its' Cyclists’ Defence Fund Brennan appealed the warning.
Seven months later he was informed that the case had been dropped as it was ‘disproportionate’.
Cycling UK is calling for significant changes in the way vulnerable road users are treated in Scotland.
Jim Densham, Cycling UK’s policy and campaigns manager in Scotland, said: “David’s experience on the road that morning must have been frightening and the shock compounded by his subsequent treatment. Too often we hear of people who are out enjoying a cycle ride but experience a dangerous situation through no fault of their own.
“Dangerous incidents reported to the police on the road must be dealt with fairly and they must recognise that people who cycle are vulnerable road users. We believe that helmetcam and dashcam technology can help the police do their job and that’s why we are calling for Police Scotland to introduce a straightforward system which enables anyone to submit this footage.”
Things that could have saved me a lot of time in my youth.
Turin inventor slashes pump track costs with cardboard solution: https://t.co/vx3vWbZeHOpic.twitter.com/CkQyUMxrN2
— marksuttonbike (@marksuttonbike) October 6, 2020
Confirming Geraint Thomas's withdrawal, Ineos Grenadiers Doctor Phil Riley said: “Geraint had an MRI and a CT scan this morning which revealed a small undisplaced fracture in the lower part of the pelvis which wasn’t picked up on the X-rays yesterday. As a precaution he will be withdrawn from the race as it's an injury that could easily be aggravated.”
Thomas said: “It’s so frustrating. I’d put so much work in to this race. I did everything I could and feel like I was in just as good, if not better shape, than when I won the Tour. I was feeling really good. So for it just to end like this is gutting.
@giroditalia according to @Gazzetta_it sources @GeraintThomas86 won’t take the START of stage 4 today after yesterday crash @INEOSGrenadiers
— Ciro Scognamiglio (@cirogazzetta) October 6, 2020
Ineos Grenadiers have reportedly since confirmed that Geraint Thomas won't start Stage 4 of the Giro d'Italia following his crash in the neutral zone of Stage 3.
Further scans this morning revealed a fractured hip.
The obvious question is: could Thomas race the Vuelta a Espana later in the month?
Physically, it's impossible for us to say, but he'd most likely be allowed.
The UCI needs to give permission but it has happened before.
Don’t forget the evil cycling lobby monthly meeting is next Friday at the parish hall, everyone please bring something for the buffet (but not that horrible coleslaw again Jill I swear to god I will ban you)
— Hannah 🚲 (@theeyecollector) October 1, 2020
T-shirts and other clobber available here.
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One of the big concerns about having fans in football stadiums is not them sitting around in the stands - it's how they get there in the first place.
The Sun reports that Premier League clubs are considering hiring out bikes so that people can get to grounds without using public transport.
They hope that this could convince public health officials to allow fans back into grounds again.
Asi vivió la familia de Jonathan Caicedo su victoria en el @giroditalia x @ESPNBike@mario_sabato@PROFE_RESTREPO
📷#alexcardenaspic.twitter.com/qX1VFe6xwh— Victor Hugo Pena/ OLY (@victorhugopenag) October 6, 2020
2020 you can just do one now🤬Thanks for all your well wishes though guys🙌😘 pic.twitter.com/UTm0JKs1Uz
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) October 6, 2020
Nothing too obviously remarkable terrain-wise. That hefty looking climb only averages 4%.
This year's edition of the Giro is promising toddler-at-mealtimes levels of messiness though, so who knows what'll happen.
Let's start with a quick recap.
Already ahead of his rivals after the opening time trial, Geraint Thomas was sitting pretty in the Giro d'Italia at the start of Stage 3.
He then fell heavily while still in the neutral zone when a water bottle that had become dislodged from another rider’s bike got stuck in his front wheel.
The latest from Ineos Grenadiers is that he doesn't have any broken bones.
However, he lost contact with the main group 10km before the final climb and lost 11 minutes.
It was a bad day for Simon Yates too. Distanced on Mount Etna, he lost three minutes.
So where does that leave us?
João Almeida (Deceuninck-Quick Step) leads overall on the same time as yesterday's stage winner, Jonathan Caicedo (EF Pro Cycling).
Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-McLaren) is in third, 37 seconds back and then it's another five seconds to Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb).
Former winner Vincenzo Nibali (Trek-Segafredo) is also conspicuous in sixth, 55 seconds back.