⚠️ Weather warnings have been updated ⚠️
Get the latest here 👉 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs
Stay #WeatherAwarepic.twitter.com/PnVatWxYfT
— Met Office (@metoffice) February 11, 2021
The Met Office have been accused of singling out cycling as a particularly dangerous activity, using a graphic to depict a cyclist crashing due to icy roads. In the graphic, which was shared to their 832,000 Twitter followers, a car driver also momentarily slips but stays in control. The message says cyclists should consider not riding their bikes, but drivers should just take care.
Critics have said the post doesn't address the dangers of driving, while jumping to the worst conclusion about cycling. One reply asked whether it would not be better to encourage people to not drive two ton vehicles during dangerous weather? Another shared a video of a Tesla rolling out of control down a steep hill and crashing into another vehicle, while another said: "Why single out cycling not to do? I would guess that far more injuries are occurring from people slipping while walking and far more damage and injury is caused by out of control cars in these conditions. So blinkered."
Okay @metoffice. Now show how many people get hurt when a car hits the ice please https://t.co/0U4GUp5cDN
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) February 11, 2021
While ice can be a hazard for cyclists, the correct risk controls such as gritting cycleways can mean that cycling will be safer than driving. In fact, cycle couriers @pedalmeapp were able to do delivery work that drivers weren't https://t.co/OsNVs0q0mx
— London Cycling Campaign (@London_Cycling) February 11, 2021
🧊 Tunnel Closures, Monsal Trail ❄️
Due to large icicles and icy conditions on the ground, tunnels on the Monsal Trail will be closed from today for safety reasons.
Please do not enter the tunnels until they are safely re-opened.
Stay warm and safe everyone, brrrr! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/MCzitQwbgv
— Peak District National Park (@peakdistrict) February 11, 2021
It’s here, it’s here, it’s finally here 🤩🤩🤩
The much-anticipated official 🌈 World Champion Replica Jersey 🌈 is now available on the Deceuninck - Quick-Step webshop: https://t.co/61GRdaxpsG
Photo: @BeelWoutpic.twitter.com/TNEYoY76fm— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) February 11, 2021
Fresh off the back of winning the opening stage of Tour de la Provence with the help of Julian Alaphilippe, Deceuninck-Quick-Step have announced you can pre-order a World Champion replica jersey from their webshop. The debate on whether you should earn it has been done to death, so i'm not saying anything. The collection includes a replica jersey, vintage T-shirt, hoodie and navy blue T-shirts...
Talking of iconic jerseys, here's Quick-Step rider Davide Ballerini on the podium at Tour de la Provence in a colourful number...
Quite the leader’s jersey for @ballero_94 in #TDLP21😁 pic.twitter.com/5sNqzZCkgp
— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) February 11, 2021
¡Gracias a todos! Por conectarse con #ElMundoRuedaXSeñal🚴♂ para vivir el arranque del Tour de la Provence por @SenalColombia. Los esperamos mañana a las 8 a. m. con la segunda fracción. pic.twitter.com/bCdQ6FH6LK
— Señal Deportes (@SenalDeportes) February 11, 2021
Deceuninck-Quick-Step's Davide Ballerini won the opening stage of Tour de la Provence with a last gasp effort to overhaul Arnaud Démare as the finish line loomed. Ballerini came around Démare in the final 50 metres to take victory after his teammate Julian Alaphilippe, who had been in the breakaway for most of the day, was reeled in with 2km to go. The World Champion managed to set up Ballerini's sprint with one last effort. Nacer Bouhanni was third.
Wow, wow, wow!!!!!!!!
First day of racing, first victory for #TheWolfpack!@ballero_94 gets a perfect lead-out from his teammates and wins the opening stage of #TDLP21!#WayToRide#No1in2021pic.twitter.com/ojIQkUIaMB— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) February 11, 2021
We've received a lot of requests to salt footways. It would be impractical & financially draining to salt them, as roads are our priority. Post salting of footways & cycleways will be carried out on a priority basis during severe weather, as resources permit.
— Medway Highways (@MedwayHighways) February 10, 2021
Medway Council has been criticised for saying that salting roads is their priority during the cold weather and to also salt bike lanes and footways would be "impractical and financially draining." The council was responding to requests asking them to start salting footways. Medway Council tweeted: "We've received a lot of requests to salt footways. It would be impractical & financially draining to salt them, as roads are our priority. Post salting of footways & cycleways will be carried out on a priority basis during severe weather, as resources permit."
On Monday, Transport for London shared pictures of their new bike lane gritter, named after Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty. Chris Gritty has been out salting the capital's bike lanes this week.
Pedestrians and cyclists please use cars. https://t.co/204At1yMPN
— Makecyclingsafeagain (@Makecyclingsafe) February 10, 2021
A long-winded and polite way to say "Sod off, people who walk or cycle!"https://t.co/61zqbdfAZU
— 🚲 Will #BeMoreMike 🇬🇧🇿🇦 (@WilliamNB) February 10, 2021
Matteo Trentin on Cyclingnews about CPA decisions and riders criticism: "No one can say they weren’t informed so maybe spend less time on TikTok and be proactive when it comes to making cycling safer"
— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) February 11, 2021
UAE Team Emirates' Matteo Trentin has launched an extraordinary rant at his fellow professionals, saying they should "spend less time on TikTok and be proactive when it comes to making cycling safer." Trentin was one of the only pro riders, alongside Philippe Gilbert, who attended the UCI meetings this winter where new rule changes were discussed. The Italian said that over 800 professional riders were notified by email in November of the potential changes but less than 20 have opened the email and downloaded the documents.
"No one this time can say that they weren’t informed," Trentin told Cyclingnews. "I’m sorry to say that they need to check their emails and download the new rules. To tweet that they were not informed is easy but emails were sent to over 800 riders and I can tell you that only 16 riders downloaded the information. If someone wanted to disagree when the proposals were made, they had many chances but there was very little response.
"I’m quite angry about what is now being said. I don’t know who they want to blame but it can’t be me, Phil (Gilbert) or the CPA. Not this time. Maybe riders should spend less time on TikTok and be more proactive when it comes to making their workplace a safer place."
The UCI has formally banned the super-tuck position for descending on the top tube as well as the TT position in road races. There will be a period of education up until April 1 during which riders will receive warnings. However, beyond that date systematic punishments will come into effect with riders potentially being suspended from competition for breaches. The sport's governing body also announced new regulations on the disposal of rubbish during races and a standardisation of race barriers.
Quick follow up to the Zwift story. We've had another message from a father of a child whose account got deleted as the virtual cycling platform requires guardians to update consent details or children's accounts would be deleted. Tom said: "Zwift has played a significant part in our children's cycling progress - I couldn't have let my 12-year-old ride 250 miles in a day, on the road, last summer! Especially given the paucity of safe places for them to ride in our community, especially on their own, Zwift gives kids an opportunity to ride in safety, in all weathers.
"The ‘gamification’ of riding appeals particularly to their sense of fun, and riding virtually has taught them a heck of a lot about the sport, and about their own abilities. As busy parents, we don’t get to ride as often as we’d like, resources are finite and most of the value we get from Zwift, is from their visionary (and no doubt commercially astute) support for a member’s children being able to access the platform as part of Mum or Dad’s subscription.
"We only wish that the administration of it could be a little easier (children losing their 'drops' is a traumatic event!) and that other platforms, known for deleting accounts set up for youngsters, would make a similar effort to find ways to support and encourage the next generation with provision of their own.
"One day, a cut-down incarnation of Zwift, with a low-cost, easily adjusted kids indoor bike, could transform the contribution of bike racing and other sports to younger kids’ PE curriculum. Imagine, a whole class of little people riding in the school hall, with their ride projected onto a screen!"
To be fair to @sarahjolney1 it was a quite specific (if loaded) question. She's been very supportive in #ActiveTravel discussions, so this is looking like a bit of radio click-baiting rather than a particularly incisive (or useful) interview.
— Richmond Cycling Campaign (@RichmondCycling) February 10, 2021
According to Royal Parks, Richmond Park is indeed a sports venue : "Try your hand at power kiting, horse riding or golf, or hire a bike for some off-road cycling along the Tamsin Trail." Then there are the rugby pitches, the duathlon...
— Merton Cycling Campaign (@CyclingMerton) February 10, 2021
🔥 #LaVuelta21🔥
🇪🇸 11 salidas y metas inéditas / 11 new start and finish cities
🛣 6 etapas llanas, 2 llanas con final en alto / 6 flat stages, 2 flat with high-altitude finales
⛰ 11 etapas de media y alta montaña / 11 hilly and mountain stages
⏱ 2 CRI / 2 ITT
🏁 3.336,1 KM pic.twitter.com/2ANp4jbFvG— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) February 11, 2021
The route for the Vuelta a España has been announced with the usual steep climbs, new mountains and...even some stages for the sprinters. The race starts in Burgos with a short ITT and ends away from Madrid for the first time in seven years, with another race against the clock in Santiago de Compostela. There looks to be a few opportunities for the sprinters early on before the peloton reaches the high mountains on stage nine with the summit finish to Alto de Velefique. Stage 17 takes the riders up the famous Lagos de Covadonga via a new climb at Collada Llomena. On the next day comes the stage with the most climbing as the pros slog their way over 5,000m of elevation. Stage 18 finishes up Altu d’El Gamoniteiru, the highest paved road in Asturias, averaging 9% for around 15km...
🔥 Etapa 18 | Stage 18 🔥
🚩 Salas > Altu d’El Gamoniteiru 🏁
🚴 159,2 km🇪🇦 Una etapa que tendrá un desnivel acumulado pocas veces visto antes en La Vuelta 😈
🇬🇧 A stage with an elevation gain rarely seen before in La Vuelta 😈#LaVuelta21pic.twitter.com/aIXOkwyqJK— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) February 11, 2021
— pictures of the end (@neighbours_wifi) February 10, 2021
Gaz Emmerson was first diagnosed with a rare form of bone and tissue cancer at the age of 21 and has beaten it three times. However, a fourth diagnosis that the cancer had now spread to his lungs, lymph nodes and brain has inspired Gaz to tick off some bucket list challenges including cycling Land's End to John O'Groats. The Shropshire Star reports that incredibly, Gaz is training for the challenge while having chemotherapy and still plans to complete the ride in June. So far, his JustGiving page has raised over £17,000 to help Sarcoma UK research his illness.
Gaz is hoping to complete the route in 13 days and will be joined by his dad Andy, wife-to-be Zoe and three best mates. "This is currently a hugely underfunded area," Gaz explained. "The charity gets no government funding whatsoever and because of that treatments and survival rates are not moving forward quickly enough. The first line drugs used to treat Sarcomas were developed 40 years ago.
"I want to get my story out there and raise awareness, and for people to get checked. If I'd gone to a doctor a bit sooner I might be in a better situation."
Same story in Southwark - just too cold ☹️ https://t.co/FFmnXsa25upic.twitter.com/91oXpbRNmu
— London Cycling Campaign (@London_Cycling) February 11, 2021
Good to see cyclists still getting out and about even during this cold snap. On Tuesday's live blog, Lorenzo Barone gave tips on how to keep riding even in -50°C...Or for something closer to home check out our winter cycling survival guide...
“It’s not a sports venue” – MP urges Richmond Park cyclists to slow down; Sarah Olney says some park users “need to think about the impact of their behaviour on others” https://t.co/xllJs8y88s#cyclingpic.twitter.com/paeoNyAqpw
— road.cc (@roadcc) February 9, 2021
On Tuesday, Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney urged cyclists to take more care when riding in Richmond Park, stressing "it's not a sports venue." Olney is a cyclist and is often pictured on social media taking her children to school by bike, and rode to Westminster to take part in a Parliamentary vote last June. However, she pointed out in an interview with Radio Jackie that she believes people are put off riding their bikes in Richmond Park by the behaviour of some cyclists...
"I would just implore cyclists, especially if they're in the park – which is a national nature reserve, it's not a sports venue – to be thoughtful. They need to observe the Highway Code, speed limits and they need to think about the impact of their behaviour on others," she said. Fair enough?
Since publishing our story on Tuesday we've seen plenty of comments saying cars are the real problem in Richmond Park because they cause congestion (seen in the story below) and that Olney hasn't asked drivers to follow speed limits and the Highway Code.
"A noisy polluting shambles": renewed anger over heavy congestion in Richmond Park. https://t.co/hUQvciOTR2#cyclingpic.twitter.com/N9kdi8aIe1
— road.cc (@roadcc) October 19, 2020
Jeremy Vine even had his say...
I'm confused — when I cycle in Richmond Park, I get overtaken by a line of cars breaking the speed limit. Now the local MP says the *bicycles* are going too fast?https://t.co/46azUwPDXc
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) February 10, 2021
On Twitter, Martynhopping said: "I’d rather moan about the dog off leads near the deer, walkers trying to get as close to the deer for selfies or the overpriced tasteless coffee from Colicci’s." And, Ben Aston asked: "Why are motor vehicles permitted in Richmond Park nature reserve?"
That's "Schrödinger's cyclist theory", only a person on a bike is capable of simultaneously travelling too slow (holding up cars) and too fast (coming out of nowhere and flying past pedestrians at 600mph)
— Stuart Baillie (@StuInNorway) February 10, 2021
However, for balance, there have also been plenty of comments to the contrary...
A lot of hypocrisy here. This is exactly the what-aboutery cyclists get from motorists. RP _is_ a park and not a velodrome. Just as cyclists expect (demand?) respect from motorists, so we should expect to give the same...
— Jeremy Maccelari (@jmaccelari) February 9, 2021
Please... let's not pretend cyclists... I am often in the park...not all of you do it but most of you fly around like it's a training track and you know it!!
— Carla McCall (@fofamccall) February 10, 2021