Anti-LTN group OneWandsworth shared this photo of a temporary road sign in Hammersmith that says cyclists should ride on the footway and pedestrians walk on the cycleway. The picture was shared with the caption: "You can't make this stuff up". Unfortunatley for OneWandsworth there's an explanation for the reverse arrangement, which is actually an old photo from last year. As our road.cc news editor explained at the time...
This was approach to Hammersnmith Bridge before it was fully closed last year (it was already closed to motor traffic but still open to people on bike or on foot), so there's actually a logic about it, was aimed at reducing potential conflict.
— Simon MacMichael (@simonmacmichael) February 1, 2021
Thanks for retweets got this message from the guy’s family: “..we've got the bike back!” https://t.co/C8h1Fce2cx
— Chris Choi (@Chrisitv) January 30, 2021
Here's a good news story...They got the bike back after it was stolen from someone working on a Covid ICU ward while they were on shift. The original social media post said that it had been seen on Facebook Marketplace being sold by a new account based in Islington. There's not yet been a mention of whether the person who stole it has been caught, but still, a nice bit of news for your Tuesday afternoon...
WORLD CHAMPION 🌈🤩
📸@BelgaImage pic.twitter.com/yR64TodNEJ
— Lucinda Brand (@lucinda_brand) January 31, 2021
Het Nieuwsblad reported that this weekend's women's cyclo-cross worlds attracted record viewing figures in the Netherlands and even outdid the men's race. On average, 864,000 Dutch viewers tuned in to watch Mathieu van der Poel win his fourth title. However, the day before 921,000 had watched the women's event. In Belgium, the women's cross hit 800,000 viewers, while the men's event topped 1.4 million — the highest viewing figures for a cyclo-cross event since the 2013 worlds in Louisville.
The head coach of England's men's rugby team, Eddie Jones, says he met with Ineos Grenadiers boss Sir Dave Brailsford to help prepare for the upcoming Six Nations. Jones was full of praise for Brailsford, who he said was "absolutely outstanding". "I've been lucky enough to have a couple of conferences with Dave Brailsford and Arsène Wenger, particularly Brailsford," Jones told Rugby.com.AU.
"I feel embarrassed being at the same table as him. His thought pattern and the way he thinks about preparation and how to take a team forward were absolutely outstanding. I have been lucky enough to learn from those two guys. Arsène - he has got a wealth of experience in how you manage teams and how the longer you stay in the job, what you have got to do to keep your team growing. I picked up a couple of ideas from him."
Brailsford's Ineos Grenadiers start their 2021 campaign at French race Etoile de Bessèges tomorrow. The team selected is typically packed full of big names with Geraint Thomas, Egan Bernal, Michal Kwiatkowski and Filippo Ganna all named on the startlist for the five-stage race.
🗣 @lizziedeignan: "Adding live television coverage really takes it to the next level!"
The Tour of Britain and Women's Tour have announced a new partnership with Eurosport and GCN 🤝
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) February 2, 2021
Eurosport and GCN + will be the only outlets to broadcast the Tour of Britain and Women's Tour in the coming years. Previously, ITV has broadcasted the Tour of Britain but now the race, alongside the women's edition, will be live and exclusive on Eurosport and GCN's platforms.
As part of the five-year agreement the race organisers, SweetSpot, will introduce live coverage of the six-day Women's Tour including additional video content such as previews, features and analysis. Lizzie Deignan, the 2019 Women's Tour winner, said: "The Women’s Tour is already a highlight of the Women’s World Tour calendar with fantastic crowds and support in the UK but to add live television coverage will really takes it to the next level.
"It’s great to see the race has partnered with Eurosport and GCN and it being live means there will be even more exciting racing throughout and adds to the already brilliant atmosphere."
Both events were cancelled last year due to the pandemic but restrictions depending the Women's Tour is scheduled to take place in the second week of June, while the Tour of Britain will run over eight stages during September.
in one week there will be 26 minutes more light per day (compared to today) and the sun will set after 5pm. in two weeks there will be an hour more light every day
— roland barfs (@rolandbarfs) February 1, 2021
Here's a nice reminder for all the UK-based cyclists reading this...We're getting closer to those long, dry (sometimes) summer evenings...Only eight more weeks until the clocks go forward.
Bern has released a new helmet specifically designed for commuters using e-bikes. Off the back of recent data which showed e-bikes had the highest year-on-year growth of all bike categories, Bern wanted to offer an e-bike certified helmet. The brand claims the new Hudson helmet is their safest yet and is rated for use up to 27mph. It provides 10 per cent more impact testing coverage for the most sensitive parts of the brain, as well as 21 per cent more velocity and 43 per cent more impact energy absorbed than traditional standards. It also comes with MIPS to protect against rotational motion and has an integrated LED light on the back to keep you visible. The Hudson is priced at £109.99.
#CCTV spotted a male interfering with a bicycle in #Leyton#E10. SC 5107NE attended location stopped and searched the male. Subsequently arrested the male for going equipped, points & blades, attempted theft of bicycle, theft by finding of a freedom pass & possession of class A. pic.twitter.com/uJUevyOOwb
— MPSSpecials: #StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS #SaveLives (@MPSSpecials) February 1, 2021
Ahí va Richard Carapaz entrenando para estar en forma este 2021. pic.twitter.com/90Kjt89bcQ
— Diego Vos ~ Ciclismo (@diegovos_) February 1, 2021
So what does it take to be one of the best climbers in professional cycling? This fatigue-inducing training footage shows the 2019 Giro d'Italia winner prepping for the upcoming season with some brutal intervals. Some amateur detective work of the graffiti at the start of the video points to the brutal climb being in the Pablo Arenas area of the Ineos Grenadier's native Ecuador...Considering how camera footage usually makes gradients look less severe, it seems fair to speculate this climb looks like it touches upwards of 20% on the ramps.
However, the 27-year-old is filmed making light work of the hill, sprinting out the saddle and only slowing just before the top. Very impressive. Carapaz had another successful year in 2020, proving himself to be one of the strongest climbers at the Tour before narrowly finishing second behind Primoz Roglic at the Vuelta a España.