Penn Live reports a Pennsylvania man has been given a prison sentence for critically injuring a toddler being carried in her mother's bicycle-pulled carrier. The District Attorney D. Peter Johnson said Tyler Bean-Dowell knew he had hit her and yet still drove off. The County Judge Michael T. Hudcock sentenced Bean-Dowell to one to nine years in state prison and ordered him to pay the $16,000 medical costs.
The incident happened last April when Abigail Martin was riding her bike and pulling her 11-month-old daughter. In the crash her daughter suffered severe head injuries that have required multiple surgeries and it is unknown if the injuries will be permanent.
Bean-Dowell did not stop and told police he hadn't seen the damage to the passenger-side mirror until he was driving home. Parts of the mirror were found on the front seat of his vehicle and there was small shreds of glass on his jacket. He was taken to custody later that day and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault by vehicle last October.
We’ve got the news for you 😃😃@EvenepoelRemco - a winner of 14 races since turning pro - has signed a five-year contract with Deceuninck - Quick-Step, an important step for the future of the team: https://t.co/07mfcGXNWVpic.twitter.com/9cwqllnuaB
— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) April 6, 2021
Today's blog is turning into a Deceuninck-Quick-Step live blog...The big news coming out of Belgium this afternoon is a new five-year deal for Remco Evenepoel. The 21-year-old has enjoyed enormous success since turning pro two years ago, winning the European ITT Championships, Classica San Sebastian and five stage races.
He is currently prepping for his Grand Tour debut at next month's Giro d'Italia where he will start as one of the favourites to win the maglia rosa despite having not raced since his crash at Il Lombardia last August.
"I feel really honoured to put pen to paper for the next five years," Remco said. "As Patrick [Lefevere] told me, this is the longest agreement he has ever signed with a rider. I’m really proud and happy to stay in this wonderful team, where I have already enjoyed a lot of success, and hopefully we can reach our big dreams. I love it here."
Amazing that the fantastic #rondevanvlaanderen is not enough anymore journalist starting new fudge @deceuninck_qst about Sagan. Sorry you can play alone don’t call me
— Patrick Lefevere (@PatLefevere) April 6, 2021
Here's what Patrick Lefevere thought of the rumours linking Peter Sagan to his Deceuninck-Quick-Step team for 2022...Doesn't sound likely does it?
The team has released a behind-the-scenes video of Kasper Asgreen's Tour of Flanders win too...
91-year-old grandfather Bahman is riding the equivalent distance from Land's End to John O'Groats and back to raise money for Roundabout Dramatherapy. This past week he reached the 2,500km mark and has been chipping off 5-6km every day. So far his JustGiving page has raised £2,356 .
A bicycle hangar in Fitzrovia was damaged by thieves who attempted to cut through the lock with an angle grinder or similar tool. Fitzrovia News reports residents have been left unable to access their bikes due to the damage and fearing the offenders will return to try and take the cycles. The chair of the residents association has written to Falco, the hangar's provider, to ask for help in improving security.
"Someone has physically cut into the bike hangar lock (probably with an angle grinder or similar) and has jammed the lock. As a result, one of our residents and others cannot access their bikes," the email said.
"We are very concerned that who ever made the attempted break-in, might try again and be successful in stealing the bikes in the hangar."
The attempted break-in is believed to have happened on Saturday evening and has been reported to the police.
[2/2] The comments and racism directed towards Nacer this last week is absolutely deplorable. There is no place for racism in this world. To the so called 'fans' of cycling that have made these comments, you are not welcome here.
— Jake (@jakey_stewart) April 6, 2021
Nacer Bouhanni has been subject to multiple racist social media messages in the aftermath of his dangerous sprint at Cholet-Pays de Loire. Bouhanni wrote on Instagram: "Hello to all the little jokers who have been having fun for a week writing to me personally or commenting on some cycling sites that I should go back to Africa, that I am a criminal, that I am a north African who needs to be interned and who constantly send me (pig's heads)!
"Know that I was born in France and that I will file a complaint because I've been putting up with this too long and held my silence, this time, I will not let go."
The messages came at the end of a week when the Arkéa–Samsic sprinter was first disqualified and then referred to the UCI's Disciplinary Commission for pushing Jake Stewart into the barriers. Stewart suffered a broken hand in the incident and missed the Tour of Flanders.
@alexdowsettpic.twitter.com/V4zwOKMtTP
— Aaron Freeman (@Aaronfreeman02) April 5, 2021
#ACCPI ha partecipato in prima persona ai meeting dedicati ai nuovi #regolamenti@UCI_cycling grazie al vicepresidente @MATTEOTRENTIN. Nelle riunioni era stato detto che sarebbe stato consentito gettare in #sicurezza le borracce in presenza di pubblico... 1/2 pic.twitter.com/Rrdf9Byhyl
— ACCPI Assocorridori (@ACCPI1946) April 6, 2021
Could we see a U-turn from the UCI over throwing bottles to fans? Michael Schär was thrown out of the Tour of Flanders for chucking a bottle to a group of fans under the UCI's new littering rules. Fans and fellow pros alike were vocal in their anger at the rule and support for Schär who said being thrown a bottle as a kid inspired him to become a cyclist.
Here's a pair of translated tweets from the Italian pro riders' union this morning: "ACCPI vice president Matteo Trentin participated in the meeting re new UCI rules and was told that it will be allowed for riders to throw their water bottles safely in presence of public. We hope that common sense will be used in the application of the rule. We are in full agreement of fining those who throw away litter in an indiscriminate manner. A water bottle given to fans is the emblem of the sport which benefits the planet and of the passion of grown-ups and kids."
When you realize you forgot new UCI regulations. pic.twitter.com/A9icwa1FIX
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) April 4, 2021
We need your help for our new YouTube show road.cc Recommends...Give your favourite cafe stop a shout-out over on the forum and it could get a review from one of our team in a future episode. Whether it's the cake, coffee or both that makes it special, let us know why it's your favourite place for a mid-ride snack.
While you're at it, have a watch of episode one of the new series which features a trip to the Honey & Ginger Farmshop & Cafe in Failand near Bristol.
This weekend at Flanders, the team will debut a special helmet design. A design that pays tribute to essential workers during the pandemic, as nominated by the team’s riders and staff.
Head to the link below for more on our helmets made with @muc_offhttps://t.co/fcx9MU4dKT
— EF Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) April 3, 2021
Did you catch EF Education-Nippo's Muc-Off helmet design at the Tour of Flanders? The team who brought you Palace kits and duck helmets at the Giro wore a design nominated by their riders and staff at the Ronde, featuring the names of key workers, as a way of saying thank you for their ongoing work during the pandemic. Beyond this weekend, the POC helmets will get another outing at Amstel Gold before being raffled off to raise money for the WHO COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
Each helmet is unique and some have particular significance. Team soigneur John Murray nominated his granddaughter, who worked on a COVID-19 ward in North Yorkshire, providing round-the-clock care for patients. American rider Alex Howes will wear his at Amstel Gold, he said: "I’m always amazed and in awe when I encounter someone with an innate and natural instinct to give and serve and wearing these helmets that pay a small tribute to their hard and selfless work is a real honour. The global pandemic rocked all of us, but it also shined a light on how strong and caring many of us can be."
1.7/10. Solid scoring for this. Cars being forced to avoid stationary objects.....what a fucking liberty (yes, I typed that in a Catherine Tate voice)
Whatever next?....cars being forced to turn corners?— Rate My Rant 🚴♀️ (@rant_rate) April 6, 2021
Peter Sagan to QuickStep?
I can’t think of a better plot line right now. It’s like Bobby Ewing taking over The Queen Vic.
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) April 5, 2021
According to L'Équipe, Peter Sagan will be leaving Bora-hansgrohe when his contract expires at the end of the year, with Deceuninck-Quick-Step a possible beneficiary of the three-time world champion's signature. The Slovak's relationship with current team boss, Ralph Denk, is reportedly strained and the French newspaper suggests the rider's agent, Giovanni Lombardi, will have already offered his client to Patrick Lefévère's Quick-Step.
A source told L'Équipe the only potential issues would be Sagan's salary and staff but explained a deal would make "everyone a winner, Peter, because it is the only team capable of making him win more races, and Lefévère because Peter is the one who can help the whole team to win."
This driver was raging angry and her car sounded like it was about to explode, but I could still hear her shout F*CKING BEATLES FAN when she passed. Absolute class. We need more of this pic.twitter.com/X99NjzrozS
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) April 5, 2021
Jeremy Vine is all for novel lines being shouted from passing cars...This clip features a driver in their 60s behind the wheel of a Citroën 2CV with 'It's Only Rock 'N' Roll...But I Like It' stickered on the rear. The pedalling presenter says she was furious, presumably at being held up for a few seconds and yelled "fucking Beatles fan!" out the window as she passed...
No hard feelings from the broadcaster who was impressed by the creativity..."Absolute class. We need more of this. Good luck to her — it was a quality shout," he tweeted.
Who'd have thought it? The Beatles vs Rolling Stones debate inspiring road rage 60 years later.