On Monday, Jon Ornée set what he believes is a world record for fastest 100 miles by bicycle (while drafting).
He rode behind a minivan on a NASCAR racetrack for 100 miles in 2:20:46 at an average speed of 42.6mph.
In 2019, Marcin Bialoblocki rode a 100-mile time trial in 3:13:37. Drafting behind a vehicle is obviously a huge advantage and Ornée is applying for it to be a new category.
Ornée was hit by an SUV while cycling in May last year, a near-death experience he says has changed his life.
“I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be cool if a car and bike teamed up for a change and did something spectacular?’”
Ornée’s dad drove the van and he wore a bluetooth earpiece so that he could chat to him.
“Going around a track while staring at the back of a vehicle is a ton of fun for the first couple laps,” he explained. “Doing it for over two hours is somewhat hypnotic. It was good to be able to chat a bit to keep my mind engaged.”
Ornée said the plan was originally to do 42mph on the straights and 40mph on the turns, “but after a few laps I asked him to hold it steady at 42, which felt comfortable.”
Hydration was one of his main concerns, to the extent that he “definitely over-hydrated the 24 hours before the ride.”
He said reaching down for a water bottle at 43mph felt a little sketchy, so he drank from a bottle mounted between his aerobars using a straw.
back at Freeman tribunal where his counsel has just indicated she intends to call 3 further witnesses, and potentially issue a witness summons for a 4th "who has not cooperated"
— Tom Cary (@tomcary_tel) October 8, 2020
Shane Sutton?
Remember his spectacular appearance last November?
Yep that is great.
We do use bikes at events to get through crowds ie Wimbledon or Glastonbury etc #thinkbikespic.twitter.com/030VQd9VpJ— Edmund King OBE (@AAPresident) October 7, 2020
Chris Boardman called this report "irresponsible"yesterday.
Jon Burke - the Hackney councillor who has received death threats over his support for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods - expands on that.
* Cars have increased by 10 million in the last decade.
* Rat-running in London has doubled in a decade.
* Fuel duty has been cut for a decade.
* 50% of London car journeys are <3km; 35% are <2km.The cause of congestion is that big queue of 4x4s at the start of this clip. https://t.co/S9sjqVDjal
— Cllr Jon Burke (@jonburkeUK) October 7, 2020
Mandatory safety features will be introduced in cars to combat speeding in the EU from 2022. The only question is what form they will take.
The BBC reports that the EU is proposing kit that will render the accelerator pedal temporarily unresponsive when the speed limit is reached.
Car makers want a bleeping light on the dashboard.
Oliver Carsten from Leeds University trialled the “Intelligent Speed Assistant” accelerator pedal and said: “It gave us a massive improvement in speed compliance with UK drivers, especially on urban roads.
“We fear that replacing it with a beeping system will just annoy drivers, so they will mute it as soon as they step into the vehicle.”
The issue is being debated today. Whether the system they go for will apply in the UK depends on trade deals and whatnot.
Luca Wackermann sustained injuries including a broken back when he crashed at the end of Stage 4 after barriers were blown across the road, apparently due to the downdraft from a helicopter taking aerial shots of the sprint.
Here's the latest from the medical tribunal of Former British Cycling and Team Sky doctor, Richard Freeman.
Freeman says he destroyed Testogel patches that he ordered to be delivered to the National Cycling Centre in 2011 the same day they were delivered - but hasn't managed to explain why he did so.
He also admitted not being fully familiar with World Anti-doping Code.
Described as "wavy and demanding" in early parts before "a few mild climbs and descents in the closing part lead to punchier bits in the stage finale."
Race situation: Joao Almeida (Deceuninck - Quick Step) leads Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-McLaren) by 43 seconds with Wilco Kelderman (Sunweb) a further five seconds back. There are currently 14 riders within two minutes.
Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) leads the points classification, ahead of Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) and Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers).