Has your area seen more cyclists during the pandemic?
📕 Read more: https://t.co/VxAcCutlZgpic.twitter.com/u1wZPkP8J9
— World Economic Forum (@wef) October 11, 2020
The World Economic Forum have put together some stats on the increases in cycling since the outbreak of COVID-19, with Europe described as a "cycle superpower". Finland is leading the two-wheeled race by spending €7.76 per person on cycling infrastructure; while the UK is fourth in the European table with a spend of €4.80 per person.
Outside of Europe, the US has seen a 121% increase in bike sales, while the the Colombian capital Bogota now has 80km of new cycle lanes.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Froome says that he only narrowly made Team Sky's squad for the 2011 Vuelta a Espana, and thought it was his last chance to stay in the sport.
"At the moment going into the Vuelta I didn't even know if I was going to get selected to ride (the Vuelta). I think I only got one of the last positions on the team", said Froome.
"I really went there with the mentality that I'm going to give this race everything I have. It's probably my last opportunity to stay in professional cycling."
Froome added that he was originally sent to help Bradley Wiggins win the red jersey... and of course the rest is history, after Froome was finally awarded victory for the 2011 Vuelta in 2019 when Juan José Cobo's doping was uncovered, in what was his first of seven Grand Tour victories.
While we're all for promoting cycling and walking as much as possible, the A367 into Bath probably isn't the most enticing of roads for new or returning cyclists and ramblers. Spotted by our own Dave Atkinson this morning, he says the sign and the actual experience of cycling or walking on the road is something of a juxtaposition: "It's a single carriageway A-road with a 60mph limit where that sign is. There are no footways, and it's uphill so you can only do about 10mph. Probably about the least joyful place you could ever wish to walk or cycle", says Dave.
It's nice that Bath and North East Somerset Council are optimistic, but without some major changes the road probably won't be a 'joy' to cycle on for the foreseeable...
Moving on from fantasy streetwear-influenced cycling jerseys to the reality of rampant capitalism, inevitably EF Pro Cycling's crazy Giro jersey is commanding some crazy prices after selling out in record time...
£599.99 is the highest price we've seen so far, while some are already up for auction with bidding in excess of £200 already. We've also seen the bib shorts priced at over £300, and even the water bottle for £100.
On Rapha's website, the range was only offered exclusively to Rapha Cycling Club members when it went on sale last Friday; but it was also available on the Palace Skateboards website, where all the collab items have long sold out. The whole range sold out in record time according to EF Pro Cycling team manager Jonathan Vaughters, who said on his Twitter account: "Amazing how fast it sold out. Don’t think I’ve ever seen something like this in cycling. Ever."
Since @EFprocycling and @PalaceSkate did a collab, I took advantage of giving the whole peloton a transformation.
HERE'S A THREAD, ENJOY 🙃— stycle_design (@StijnDossche) October 11, 2020
@MitcheltonSCOTT x @OffWhtpic.twitter.com/uunEyGvSX4
— stycle_design (@StijnDossche) October 11, 2020
What if all the teams on the World Tour hooked up with uber hip streetwear and luxury fashion brands? Stycle Design have imagined what it would be like if this became a reality, making a number of notable team jerseys a little louder with a smattering of extra street cred...
@deceuninck_qst x @Stussypic.twitter.com/Gb1YH63rdP
— stycle_design (@StijnDossche) October 11, 2020
@INEOSGrenadiers x @dailypaperpic.twitter.com/dYmBN8IOoV
— stycle_design (@StijnDossche) October 11, 2020
@NTTProCycling x @patagoniapic.twitter.com/n8HbIPq0Ve
— stycle_design (@StijnDossche) October 11, 2020
@WMNcycling x @VANS_Europepic.twitter.com/oj1fAx3Jot
— stycle_design (@StijnDossche) October 11, 2020
Some of the fantasy pairings include Quick-Step x Stussy, Ineos x Daily Paper and Canyon/SRAM x Vans. What team and brand would feature on your ultimate fantasy jersey?
I really hope one day very soon, Haringey will be bold enough to create streets for people, and not just through traffic. Well done @hackneycouncil@HackneyLivingStpic.twitter.com/cRrailFrsr
— Catherine Kenyon (@cmdkenyon) October 11, 2020
In reality it rarely does, as is evident from these bustling scenes on a pedestrianised street in Hackney.
Colnago say they are "honoured to share" the young Slovenian's victory with us - amazingly the first time a rider on a Colnago-branded bike has won Le Tour - in the form of a $30,000 (just over £23,000) limited edition V3Rs in yellow livery that is almost an exact replica of the bike Pogacar rode on stage 21. There's also a white version too (for 'just' $20,000), which Pogacar of course piloted on the first 19 stages before that victory to end all victories on the stage 20 time trial.
The bike(s) that snatched Tour de France victory at the last minute
Because it's been 116 years since a rider as young as Pogacar has won the Tour, Colnago are making just 116 each of the yellow and white V3Rs replicas: "available to the most discerning cycling collectors", say Colnago. Each one will be numbered and signed by Ernesto Colnago himself, and will also come with a case including a commemorative jersey, cycling cap and signed letters from Pogacar.
The spec is top of the range of course, with a full Campagnolo Super Record EPS groupset, direct mount rim brakes and Bora WTO 33 wheels to "offer the exact riding experience as the world’s top professionals". If you're in a very fortunate financial position and want to find out more, you can sign up for info on the Colnago website.
Busy doing your last round of home visits before being plunged into some sort of new lockdown that will differ depending on whereabouts you live? Here's what you missed in the world of cycling...
Mark Cavendish in tears after Gent-Wevelgem: “That’s perhaps the last race of my career”
Coroner calls for parking restrictions after cyclist’s death
Police close case in which Norfolk cyclist injured by rope strung across path
Giro d’Italia Stage 8: Alex Dowsett takes impressive victory from the break
Simon Yates out of the Giro d’Italia following positive Covid-19 test