Mark Cavendish says he will be meeting Deceuninck-Quick-Step team boss Patrick Lefevere soon to decide his future with the team. Cavendish has enjoyed a successful return to the team where he enjoyed some of his best years and has now podiumed on nine occassions in 2021. However, Lefevere recently said the Manxman would not ride the Tour de France as it is too hard...
"I'll see Patrick soon, and then we'll see what happens to me in the short or long-term. I've been in the top-four 12 times this season and I didn't expect that at my age. It's going better than anyone expected," Cav said.
Speaking after finishing second at Elfstedenronde behind Giro d'Italia stage winner Tim Merlier, the 36-year-old said it was a dream to be back with riders such as Remco Evenepoel working for him.
""It was an absolute dream to be with these guys today, they controlled the race and were perfect. I even had the honour of having Remco working for me at the front. Even at my age, it’s something I can be proud of. All this motivated me to give everything today."
A New Zealand-based hardware chain, Mitre 10, has apologised after a staff member posted on Facebook threatening to hit cyclists with their vehicle...screenshots of the comments showed the worker liking a comment saying it is "perfectly legal" to "quickly mow down an aggressive cyclist or pedestrian" as long as you are "on and off the footpath within 10 seconds".
The worker also shared an event, seemingly in retaliation at last month's liberate Harbour Bridge protest which saw Auckland cyclists campaign for a cycle lane on the route. The event the worker shared was called 'Liberate the Lane - Cycle Lane Special' and showed a cyclist sat on the ground after a crash with the caption "I'll be polishing my bull bars for this!"
Other posts in the event also encouraged violence against cyclists..."Bring the truck around here when you're done … and I'll wash any blood or evidence away for you," the NZ Herald reports one person wrote. While, another asked: "Does Mitre 10 sell tacks? Asking for a friend"...to which the staff member said they do and "I get a discount".
Mitre 10 has apologised for its employee's behaviour and says it told the person to remove all posts on the topic from their profile but did not say if they had been sacked. "We are disappointed that they have caused offence to the cycling community and we absolutely do not share their views. To be clear, Mitre 10 does not tolerate bullying, racism or any other discriminatory behaviour," Mitre 10 said in a statement.
Have you ever wondered how it feels to be @mathieuvdpoel on his @canyon_bikes mountain bike?
Well, this first-person downhill run might give you an idea! Wheelies incoming... 😍🤟 pic.twitter.com/8lbO8B82Fb
— Alpecin-Fenix Cycling Team (@AlpecinFenix) June 7, 2021
Hot take of the day...Mathieu van der Poel is very good at riding bikes...Like compatriot Tom Dumoulin, Van der Poel is also back in action on the road in Switzerland this week as he builds towards the Tour de France and a possible mountain bike gold at the Olympics. Today's stage looks well-suited to the prodigious Alpecin-Fenix star, although Julian Alaphilippe may have something to say about that...
We'll keep you updated on the action and results throughout the day here on the live blog...
Tom Dumoulin was back racing bikes yesterday after a prolonged break from the sport since January. The 2017 Giro d'Italia winner returned with a respectable 16th place in yesterday's opening stage TT and the Dutchman has opened up on his reasons for taking a step away...
"The problem of the last three years was that I lost the pleasure in my job and the race," he told Het Nieuwsblad. "I had forgotten what I liked and didn't like. Now I know that again. That period without racing was very instructive for me. I know again what kind of rider Tom Dumoulin is."
Now back in the peloton, the 30-year-old is not putting any pressure on himself and did not elaborate on any long-term goals other than to compete in the time trial at the Olympics in Tokyo this summer. Dumoulin wants to reach the form that saw him finish second on the La Planche des Belles Filles penultimate stage time trial at the Tour de France last summer and admits he was surprised by his form after so long off the bike.
"Although I have to say that I was shocked when I got back on my bike for the first time after a few months of no training. After two weeks, I did a test and was surprised by the result. The talent has certainly not disappeared. That is also the reason why I have made the Tokyo Olympics a goal.
"My plan is to be as good in Tokyo as I was then [Tour de France stage 20]. I also believe it's possible. Of course everything will have to fall into the right place and you can ask yourself if I have enough time to grow to my very best level, but I am confident that it will work."
Sunday morning cycling through the centre of Amsterdam with the 6-year-old. 2-year-old in the bucket on the front of my bike. Just thought I’d share. pic.twitter.com/eWe7Wt04xq
— Orla Chennaoui (@SportsOrla) June 6, 2021
Check out our most recent Drink at Your Desk episode when Orla told us all about the cycling culture in Amsterdam and why she loves her cargo bike so much...
E-scooter rental trial begins in London:
- 500 across 5 boroughs initially
- Limited to 12.5mph
- Can only be dropped off in designated bays
- Drivers licence needed
- Basic safety course before 1st use
- 3 different companies with 3 different apps@itvlondonpic.twitter.com/2iGuncX8oc— Sam Holder (@samholdertv) June 7, 2021
A 12-month trial of e-scooter hire in a group of core London boroughs begins today with more areas expected to join soon. City of London will not be involved however, as it postponed its participation until July 5 over administrative concerns. Canary Wharf, Richmond, Ealing, Hammersmith, Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea are all signed up to the scheme which will allow the public to hire the scooters for use at up to 12.5mph on the roads and cycle lanes of the capital.
One of the operators signed up to the trial, Lime, will charge £1 to unlock the scooter with a fee of 16p per minute. Thoughts? Are you pleased to see the major e-scooter trial get underway?
To mark the 50-day countdown to the Tokyo Olympics, British Cycling has outlined a plan to reboot grassroots racing following the disruption caused by the pandemic and lockdown restrictions. Aiming to make the sport "more accessible, diverse and welcoming than ever before", the Everyone Wins campaign will follow the journeys of novice riders making their first steps in the racing world.
The campaign will help the governing body meet long-term goals for its eight cycling disciplines, including doubling the number of Go-Ride coaching clubs for kids, increasing female participation by 40 per cent and under-16 participation by 50 per cent by 2026.
In the short-term, British Cycling says it is working with other event organisers, including parkrun, and colleagues in the government to highlight the challenges of organising large events so soon after restrictions have been eased.
"Grassroots bike racing is the foundation of our sport, and it is essential that everyone from all backgrounds can feel comfortable and welcome at events, whether they are competing, volunteering or supporting," British Cycling CEO Brian Facer said. "Our Everyone Wins campaign will help to showcase this alongside personal stories as riders start their competition journey, regardless of where they finish in the race.
"Over the last year we have seen the number of people riding bikes skyrocket. As grassroots events begin to get back up and running over the coming weeks and months we want to broaden the base of individuals who take part, breaking down barriers and perceptions and widening access to help us to lay the foundations for future success."
Hmm… this sign seems unofficial? 🤨 pic.twitter.com/BV0hQXOpFg
— Thomas O. Cornwallis (@UrbanistTOC) June 6, 2021
At least it doesn't tell them to dismount...
Omg someone set fire to the planters by Florence Park. Just seen @OxonFireRescue leaving.@Charlie_Hicks_@TheOxfordMailpic.twitter.com/cFQlYhtv2M
— Just Think (@JustThinkOXON) June 6, 2021
Just Think Oxon, a prominent pro-active travel campaigner in Oxford, took these pictures of the burnt-out planter near Florence Park in the south of the city early yesterday morning. On a happier note, just hours after the fire brigade had been called to put the fire out members of the community showed their support for LTNs by decorating the planter with posters and signs...
❤️ this! Just a few hours after an arson attack required a visit by fire fighters, Cowley has fought back with the very best show of community spirit 😀 pic.twitter.com/fzgMolxJ12
— Tom Hayes (@CllrTomHayes) June 6, 2021
Councillor Tom Hayes condemned the arsonist: "Starting fires in neighbourhoods while people sleep is unacceptable. Risking people’s safety is horrible. Fire crews had to put out flames, our police need to deal with arson while being stretched by Covid-19. Our public sector and communities shouldn’t have to put up with this."
The motives and identity of the vandal remains unknown but it is not the first case of LTN vandalism that we have seen in recent times. In January, drivers in Levenshulme, Manchester, filmed themselves ramming planters off the road. Local residents rallied to clear up the mess before Chris Boardman, Greater Manchester's cycling and walking commissioner, insisted they would not be intimidated by vandals.
Oxford's LTNs also recently attracted some bizarre news coverage after a music producer put up a £1,000 reward for the safe return of a gnome that was stolen from a planter. Despite the sizeable incentive, PC Plod is still missing.