Here's the incident that saw Sam Bennett relegated...
❗🧐 Así fue el empujón por el que Sam Bennet fue sancionado, dándole la victoria a Ackermann #VueltaRTVE29o#LaVuelta20
➡ https://t.co/Nl51bTpHZepic.twitter.com/PtJ35K4SqT
— Teledeporte (@teledeporte) October 29, 2020
After a complaint from another team - whose rider tried to barge into @Sammmy_Be’s train, who defended his position - Sam has been relegated by the race commisaires. https://t.co/JAad3umqF0
— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) October 29, 2020
Deceuninck-Quickstep team manager Patrick Lefevere didn't hold back on his analysis of the incident, saying that his rider was simply "defending his line".
What a bullshit😡. He was in he’s lead out and the @trek rider want to pull him out of it. But we know already a longtime the incompetence of the @Uci var safety first
— Patrick Lefevere (@PatLefevere) October 29, 2020
A lead out has to be respected and @Sammmy_Be defended his line
— Patrick Lefevere (@PatLefevere) October 29, 2020
Others argued that Bennett's actions were inexcusable; especially after the horrific injuries suffered by his teammate Fabio Jakobsen at the Tour of Poland in August. At the time, Lefevere said the team were considering legal action after a manoeuvre from Dylan Groenewegen sent Jakobsen crashing into the barriers during a fast downhill sprint.
I think Fabio Jakobsen will vouch for safety first
— Andres Betancourt (@ekeko1) October 29, 2020
What do you say @PatLefevere ?????@Sammmy_Be pushes the other runner this could have caused an accident, we must sanction this so that the @FabioJakobsen does not happen
shut up! and think better of it— BDNG (@BrianNarvarez) October 29, 2020
Does pro cycling have an anger problem?
Sam Bennett has been relegated for irregular sprinting
Pascal Ackermann is the Stage 9 winner at #LaVuelta20https://t.co/UYdc8OOtcF
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) October 29, 2020
Drama after the bell at La Vuelta as Sam Bennett is relegated from first for irregular sprinting.
The wait for Quickstep's 100th Grand Tour win continues.
The causes of road collision fatalities are really very clear. There is no need for the all too frequent debate.#RoadSafety#VictimBlamingpic.twitter.com/MQq1LTyvwJ
— Andy Cox (@AndyCoxDCS) October 29, 2020
Andy Cox, a Deputy Chief Superintendent, tweeted the pie chart above to address the issue of responsibility in road traffic fatalities.
The post received plenty of attention, with some motorists (and cyclists) suggesting that the chart was oversimplified.
Others praised Mr Cox for taking a firm stance on road safety and rejecting victim blaming.
Way too simplistic I'm afraid
— Paddythevet (@Paddythevet1) October 29, 2020
By definition if it kills someone the driving is not safe. May obey letter of law but that is another matter.
— Paul Luton (@luton_paul) October 29, 2020
History being written by an amazing @Sammmy_Be, who claims Deceuninck - Quick-Step's 100th Grand Tour stage victory at #LaVuelta20 with a perfect sprint!
Photo: @GettySportpic.twitter.com/EDnq1gkp9T— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) October 29, 2020
Sam Bennett won satge nine of La Vuelta, overcoming Pascal Ackermann in the final 50 metres.
Lotto Soudal's Gerben Thijssen was third.
The Team Ineos rider admitted he found it difficult to watch the Giro d'Italia after abandoning following a crash on stage 3.
"Mentally I definitely need the break to just switch off," said Thomas.
"I crashed out of the Giro which was my big goal of the year, so it also feels like I don't deserve an off-season because I never really got into the racing."
Despite the disappointment, Thomas was quick to praise teammate Tao Geoghegen Hart for winning the race in his absence.
"Tao is a great rider, full of potential, he was there to help me try to win initially," Thomas told BBC Radio Wales.
"Obviously I had to go home after three days so he had the opportunity so to finish it off and deal with the pressure which was great for him and the team."
EF Pro Cycling have taken the step of offering contracts to all their existing riders whose current deal expires at the end of 2020.
The team were one of several WorldTour outfits who took the measure of asking riders and staff to take pay cuts earlier this year.
One rider who will continue with the team is Lachlan Morton, who has diversified the team's race programme with participations in gravel and ultra-endurance events alongside the conventional road calendar.
Morton explained the decision to remain with the team in 2021: "There’s a long list of reasons I wanted to stay on this team. The big three are people, opportunities and partners. Having the opportunity to race World Tour events while chasing new and exciting adventures in one team is a dream for me, a dream I’ve only been able to realise with EF."
The company behind heart rate monitoring wrist strap have raised a further $100 million in Series E funding.
Whoop explained the announcement "follows a period of tremendous growth for the WHOOP membership and overall business, and it will unlock new opportunities for the company."
"WHOOP will primarily invest these new funds in product and software development, global expansion, and membership services."
Marketed as a recovery tool, Whoop's straps measure data such as heart rate and sleep quality to inform recovery.
Whoop are the official wearable of EF Pro Cycling and are valued at $1.2 billion.
Stage nine of La Vuelta gets underway in the next few minutes and the profile suggests it should be one for the sprinters.
Sam Bennett starts as favourite but there are a couple of uncategorised climbs near the end of the day where we could see some late attacks.
Such a plus @Hullccnews@Jonestheregen#cllrHale, should we here in #Hull just follow suit for the sake of our young people and #Children???#SafetyFirst#ChildrensLivesMatter
— RANDOMoriginals... (@RandomOriginals) October 28, 2020
The Netherlands takes it’s road safety seriously. Their default speed limit will now be ~18mph on urban streets. Can we do the same? #CitiesAreForKids#SesameStreetshttps://t.co/jCDc6Mtc3t
— The Yellowbrick Foundation (@YellowbrickFnd) October 28, 2020
The Netherlands' House of Representatives this week approved the plan to cut the default speed limit from 50km/h (31mph) to 30km/h (18mph) in built-up areas.
"This is a very strong signal sent in The Netherlands that road safety must be prioritised over speed in built-up areas, even more in areas with a dense concentration of pedestrians and cyclists," said Morten Kabell, co-CEO of the European Cyclists' Federation.
According to the ECF's research, a pedestrian or cyclist being hit by a car at 50 km/h will lead to a fatality in 20% of cases, this falls to just 3% at 30 km/h; a near seven-fold reduction.
In the UK, the default speed limit in built-up areas is 30mph (48kp/h).
After the news yesterday that a controversial ban on cycling on a towpath in Henley was overturned, we asked if our readers thought towpaths can work as a safe and practical environment for both cyclists and pedestrians?
Here are some of your views...
It works reasonably in and around Birmingham. But generally the towpaths are well surfaced and there is enough width to pass pedestrians and other bikes safely
— Daniel Smith (@dasy2k1) October 28, 2020
Not if said towpaths has been designated as a main commuter route rather than making the main arterial road routes between areas more cycle friendly for commuting riders.
— Dan Richardson (@DangleSpanners) October 28, 2020
Can they? Yes.
Do they? Sometimes.
Will they? Probably not.— IBikeHorsham is being be brave or thick skinned (@ibikehorsham) October 28, 2020
The lengths photographers will go for the winning shot @lavuelta📸😍@baixaulistudio recreating Nelson’s Column 2.0 on the Alto de Moncalvillo 😂
Behind the scenes and what the outcome was 👏🏼😍 #LaVuelta20pic.twitter.com/qJ03gJW6dS
— Hannah Walker (@spannawalker) October 28, 2020
Between 2009 and 2019, the number of miles driven on London's roads increased by 3,600,000,000.
Three billion, six hundred million.
Look at this Department for Transport graph and tell me motor vehicles aren't the cause of congestion on our roads.
What would you do? pic.twitter.com/IwEQ5y0eNC
— Cllr Jon Burke (@jonburkeUK) October 28, 2020
The data was highlighted by Hackney councillor Jon Burke and showed a massive spike in the number of miles driven on London's roads between 2009 and 2019.
In 2009 there were still just under 19 billion miles driven in London, but that number had rocketed to nearly 23 billion by 2019.
Councillor Burke is an outspoken supporter of LTNs (Low Traffic Neighbourhoods) and has campaigned for increased cycling infrastructure despite claims from some that it increases congestion.
Before the new LTNs:
* Hackney had 6th highest air pollution death rate of 418 local authorities.
* Children were growing up with stunted lungs
* Highest pedestrian/cyclist casualty rate in London
* Rat-running doubled in 10 yrsI've listened to the people "hurting" from this.
— Cllr Jon Burke (@jonburkeUK) October 28, 2020
It is all about timing @juliensimon85.. 😅 (📺@sporza) #LaVuelta#LaVuelta20pic.twitter.com/McoUhfFfEU
— World Cycling Stats (@wcsbike) October 28, 2020
We will add no more words . Just LOOK at @DanMartin86 through @noaarnon lens. #LaVuelta20pic.twitter.com/ZsEjHVLu9K
— Israel Start-Up Nation / Israel Cycling Academy (@YallaIsraelSUN) October 28, 2020
Nobody can accuse Dan Martin of not trying hard enough. The Irishman finished third on yesterday's summit finish at La Vuelta behind race leader Richard Carapaz and stage winner Primoz Roglic.
”I was tired and the road looked comfortable. Certainly more comfortable than my bike at that moment 😂.” @DanMartin86 reacting to his rather interesting choice of a rest area. #LaVuelta20pic.twitter.com/vHV0MJQZeq
— Israel Start-Up Nation / Israel Cycling Academy (@YallaIsraelSUN) October 28, 2020
🇪🇸 #LaVuelta20
The big battle⚔️#ifeelsLOVEnia💚 pic.twitter.com/wJlIrFhnK0
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) October 28, 2020