#TDF2021 - Pogacar has Polka dot bike as spare bike today#LFRLivepic.twitter.com/H5czMSRjKu
— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) July 16, 2021
I for one would love to see the garish nightmare of the yellow jersey riding a polka dot bike. I've also just realised that the final podium picture will be Pog (barring disaster) with his yellow, white and polka dots next to one other (let's say green jersey wearer to avoid tempting fate)...
Since the 2012 Olympics in London, Brompton has been providing GB athletes with their folding bike transport for getting around the various training centres and Olympic villages. Now, with the help of Brooks England, Team GB bikes and saddles are available to the public for purchase.
Featuring a more classy red, white and blue paint job than Lord Sugar's Union Jack Pinarello....the GB Brompton has a red-lacquer finish with white and blue detailing and Brooks C-17 saddle featuring the roaring lion logo of Team GB.
The Brooks Team GB C17 All Weather Saddle is available online for £140 and both bike and saddle are in store at the Brompton Junction shop in London.
🚴♂️ A strong chasing group.
🚴♂️ Un imposant groupe de poursuivants.#TDF2021pic.twitter.com/6DIoqcsTBh
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 16, 2021
Today's stage 19 route is one of those Grand Tour stages that should be a sprint, but at this point in the race with everybody physically and mentally exhausted - the breakaway has a good chance. Six riders went up the road early on - Matej Mohoric and Simon Clarke amongst them.
Now, a 14-man second group has blown up any hopes of a quiet roll to Libourne...Mads Pedersen, Jasper Stuyven, Davide Ballerini, Nils Politt and Mike Teunissen are just five of the names involved. Another move with Alejandro Valverde and Greg Van Avermaet has just been caught.
I only went out for a half-hour spin but have come back feeling like a boozy Brit who's fallen asleep on the beach in Lanzarote all afternoon. As much as anything this is to remind me not to get sunburnt tomorrow, but here are some of our best guides on hot weather riding...
Featuring some pictures that'll hurt just looking at them...Cycling survival — how to avoid sunburn & stay comfortable
Cycling sun protection: 5 easy ways to look after your skin
And if you feel the weather's finally worth picking out a fresh, new jersey — here are some of the best summer jerseys
Right, time for a cold shower and some water...
The central Dutch village of Maartensdijk is now home to the world's longest solar bicycle path. At 330m long it is made from blocks of concrete topped with a thin transparent layer that allows sunlight to strike solar cells housed in the blocks. The pilot project hopes to see if such dual-use roads can be used to create solar energy while also serving active travel.
"It's very important. We want to be climate-neutral in 2040, and then you have to dare to use innovation, and this is very innovative," Arne Scaddelee told Design and Development. "We have a very full province with not much room, and for that reason you have to try dual use. So if you can use roads to generate energy, you have a double advantage."
Solar bike paths are already used elsewhere in the Netherlands, but officials from Utrecht say this is the longest one yet.
🤩 From one legend to another. Respect!
🤩 D'une légende à une autre ! Respect !#TDF2021pic.twitter.com/Jeuj13ZAmH
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 16, 2021
Eddy M made a big prediction at the start today: Tadej Pogačar will win five more yellow jerseys. It's hard to argue with that...
The Met police driving like a madman to stop a cyclist for “speeding”(24mph) in Richmond Park…. pic.twitter.com/Kx03vJ2nn2
— The Department of Parks & Recreation 🦌 (@ldnparks) July 16, 2021
This police officer was keen to have a word about speeding with a cyclist in Richmond Park this morning, he even got the full blue light treatment...The speed limit in the park is 20mph (32km/h), something which is regularly broken by motorists. This rider was apparently riding at 24mph (38km/h) when he was stopped for a word...
"It's your safety," the officer can be heard explaining, before waving at the cyclist who stops to film. When asked if he told the rider to slow down, the officer walks off, says something inaudible, followed by, "but, yes".
The officer then drives off, ignoring the questions about stopping speeding motorists.
While speed limits on public roads only apply to those driving motor vehicles, the Royal Parks are able to apply the 20mph limit to all users, including those on bikes. Back in 2013, questions were asked after police fined a young cyclist for speeding in the park.
The discussion around road safety has continued since then, with many riders calling for through traffic to be banned. A recent 'code of conduct' for cyclists using the park was widely criticised, with one campaign group co-ordinator saying it cannot address the "real hazard" of motor traffic.
The Department of Parks & Recreation shared these videos from shortly after today's incident and accused the police officer of an "epic double standard"...
Fifteen minutes later. 1600kg at 24/25mph. pic.twitter.com/1AVBDvZUww
— The Department of Parks & Recreation 🦌 (@ldnparks) July 16, 2021
Our local anti-LTN campaigners are really *really* horrible people
there is oil everywhere- dying plants, dangerous and filthy for kids walking to the school just next to this. Grim. pic.twitter.com/yblScrV3NS
— Rachel Mantell🧡 (@Rachel_Mantell) July 16, 2021
there is oil everywhere- dying plants, dangerous and filthy for kids walking to the school just next to this. Grim. This was the scene at an LTN in Tulse Hill, Lambeth this morning after vandals doused the planters with oil. It's the most recent incident of LTN vandalism in the area. Last month, vandals painted over 'no car' signs with white paint.
This is appalling behaviour. Who would do this? https://t.co/mq4AeHEJP6
— Will Norman (@willnorman) July 16, 2021
On a more positive note...
On the flip side these planters in Maidstone Hill Greenwich have been lovingly looked after by local residents... pic.twitter.com/511uoYRcWO
— Meristem Design (@MeristemDesign) July 16, 2021
LUZ ARDIDEN | 1990 - 2021 | #TDF2021pic.twitter.com/fRHBi1AOPh
— ammattipyöräily (@ammattipyoraily) July 15, 2021
The times are in...Pog, plus Richard Carapaz and Jonas Vingegaard for that matter, set the fastest times up Luz Ardiden since Lance Armstrong's infamous 2003 stage-winning attack. Yesterday's stage was considerably easier than the other most recent times on the list. It was 30km shorter and had less climbing than the Armstrong time and was 80km shorter than the Schleck time of 2011, which may account for the speedy ascending.
Yesterday's Clown of the Day was, I think, showing off to his embarrassed passenger in the back seat. If you have a problem with my road positioning I'd be delighted to hear from you. #LondonCyclingpic.twitter.com/cx8cre0n0b
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) July 15, 2021
This driver can do it all...encroach into a cycle lane, hoot a cyclist riding sensibly and safely, ignore potential hazards, get in an argument, lose the argument, resort to 'mind your business', speed off...and get stuck at the next set of lights. Jeremy suspected the driver's passenger was getting a bit embarrassed by the showing off...
“Shut your mouth” = I’m wrong and I know it
— Bripod (@Bripod1983) July 15, 2021
You do have to wonder what the driver was hoping for? To get Jeremy out the way so he could race up to the red light for maximum waiting time? The presenter has recruited a few clowns to his circus recently, including one person driving down Kensington High Street on the phone...without hands on the wheel.
However, Jeremy will do well to outshine our favourite clown...There's never a bad day to rewatch 'Clown takes a pratfall'...Glorious.