Alto de Gamoniteiru 😍
Stage 18 of #LaVuelta21 finishes on this remote climb in the Asturias, which is being used for the first time in the race's history. Rarely dropping below 10% it ramps up to 17% on that final brutish sweep beneath the weather station. Another gem 🇪🇸🚵♀️🐂 pic.twitter.com/HLVcMrRGmB
— Felix Lowe (@saddleblaze) August 13, 2021
Thursday September 2...get it in the diary.
Disappointing driving from this gentleman in a Virgin Media cable broadband van… pic.twitter.com/jvaBzD1Urm
— The Department of Parks & Recreation 🦌 (@ldnparks) August 12, 2021
The Department of Parks & Recreation is a regular on our live blog with their vids of dangerous driving in Richmond Park and occasionally police officers stopping cyclists for speeding...no, really.
They're back with another incomprehensible driving gem, this time from a man behind the wheel of a Virgin Media van. As you watch the clip you expect to have to wait a little longer for the action considering how little room there is between the cyclist and vehicle ahead.
Nope. Mr van driver just can't wait any longer behind the pesky cyclist keeping up with traffic and forces his way in front, barely able to fit between the gap. At least he got to wait at the next set of lights for a few seconds longer...when the rider catches up he asks the driver to give cyclists more room.
Here's the moment. What's it going to be? An apology? Nah, let's double down on that one...
"I do give cyclists plenty of room. You also need to keep to one side as well. You can't take up a whole road". You can't take up the whole road on your skinny road bike...wait until he hears he's driving a van with two spare seats.
— The Department of Parks & Recreation 🦌 (@ldnparks) August 12, 2021
Transport for London will begin construction on south east London's first major protected cycle route on Monday. Cycleway 4 will build upon earlier sections completed between Tower Bridge Road and Rotherhithe, with the finished route connecting local communities in the Greenwich area and Central London via accessible active travel.
Once created, the route will include 1.4km of two-way protected cycle tracks as well as pedestrian crossings at Gosterwood Street and Grinstead Road. The works also include upgrades to existing pedestrian crossings and wider footways and a new public space at New King Street, with new trees and seating.
Heidi Alexander, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: “Thousands of people are already benefiting from new and upgraded cycle routes across London, and the next phase of Cycleway 4 will make a huge difference to those cycling around Deptford. Making it easier to walk and cycle in the capital is key to a green and sustainable recovery from the pandemic, and it’s really exciting that this key route between central London and Greenwich is going to be improved.”
7 Day Record Attempt: 13th - 20th September 2021. #2
Sponsor: @Thomas_Franks_
We now have a confirmed date for my second attempt at the 7 day record.
We’ll be doing it in Aberdeenshire again on a slightly shortened route.
Huge thanks to @Thomas_Franks_ for their support pic.twitter.com/1rRAQVxSFd
— Josh Quigley (@JoshQuigley2026) August 12, 2021
Josh is back from the knee injury that forced him to abandon his first crack at the seven-day cycling distance record...September 13-20 is the new date...one month to go.
Look at those details🔎🤩 pic.twitter.com/ysR0OOod26
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) August 13, 2021
Oh yes. We wondered if Cervélo would be making a special visit to Burgos to sparkle up Olympic champion Primož Roglič's TT machine...they certainly did not disappoint. Will Primož be getting a golden aero lid too?
Check out Richard Carapaz getting a first glimpse at his golden Pinarello Dogma on yesterday's live blog. Which do you prefer?
— Piotr Ignaczak (@PiotrIgnaczak) August 12, 2021
Larry Warbasse made the most of his Tour of Poland breakaway by photobombing a couple having their wedding pics taken on the route. The American's escape was doomed with all the big teams chasing to set up a queen stage sprint victory for João Almeida, but Warbasse didn't arrive in Bukovina Resort empty-handed...He'll be immortalised on these newlyweds' mantelpiece for the rest of time...
After the stage the AG2R Citroën rider wrote on Twitter: "If our breakaway couldn’t make it to the line at least I got a good photo op out of it." What. A. Pic.
Sto lat młodej parze od Larry'ego Warbasse!
///
Larry Warbasse photobombing newlyweds like a... pro!
fot. Szymon Gruchalski@AG2RCITROENTEAM@larrywarbasse#tourdepolognepic.twitter.com/oOZslblZxK— Aleksandra Górska (@miss_gorska) August 12, 2021
You'd think these two would be quite happy with the snap...more so than the Philadelphia newlyweds who had their pictures taken at the very moment the city's naked bike ride went past...
Another cracker on the wedding theme from the archives was at the 2014 RideLondon when a cycling-mad couple briefly broke off their progress on the 100-mile ride to tie the knot.
Tom Pidcock will not be rushed into Ineos Grenadiers' Tour de France plans next year and will target the classics and more success on the mountain bike scene instead. A Giro d'Italia debut is also a possibility for the 22-year-old sensation who won gold in Tokyo.
"For the moment, the goal is the classics but I certainly do want to transition to riding GC at some point," Pidcock said ahead of his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a España this weekend. "I’m not riding it [the Tour de France] next year. Maybe I’ll ride it in 2023. It takes more time and energy and is a much more high-pressure environment. There’s no rush to go that way soon."
As for this season, Pidcock's big goal is the road race World Championships in Belgium in September as well as a first crack at Paris-Roubaix, a race he won as a junior and U23.
Friday 13th folks. I’ll be taking it extra careful today 🤕🤣👍 #Friday13thpic.twitter.com/cPADVbgh3m
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) August 13, 2021
Take a rest day, G!
I'm torn: do i love it or do I hate it? I can't tell...Bahrain Victorious has released pics of its new limited edition Vuelta a España kit. Along the same lines as EF Education-Nippo avoiding clashing with the pink jersey at the Giro, Bahrain have switched out their usual reddish orange jersey to respect the race leader's red. The kit has been designed by Alé and promotes awareness about obesity and diabetes. It features the quote, "exercising 30 minutes a day reduces your risk of diabetes by 25 per cent".
Elsewhere on the jersey, as news editor Simon pointed out, there's a hint of TikTok to that TBV colour scheme...and just below the noble healthy lifestyle messaging is a Bapco sponsorship. That would be *checks notes* the Bahrain Petroleum Company...
Quick bike change from Matt Gibson of @RibbleWeldtite#TourSeriespic.twitter.com/8jXPvyk6dK
— Scottish Cycling (@ScottishCycling) August 12, 2021
What do you do when you need a new bike mid-way through a town centre crit when your heart rate's through the roof and your legs withered to jelly 20 minutes ago? If your Matt Gibson you casually roll to the side and gracefully remount on your new steed, barely breaking stride. That's got to be worth a couple of bonus points...
It seems the Tour Series is the place to go for elite bike changes, back in 2017 a 17-year-old Tom Pidcock entertained the Durham crowds with his skills...first the bike change...
And then the skidzzz...
Skids aren't just for kids. 📷: kev fox pic.twitter.com/r5ikRocIGW
— Tom Pidcock (@Tompid) May 28, 2017
What ever happened to Pidcock? Haven't heard about him for a while...
This is the BEST NEWS! So many times I’ve felt in danger on my bike from drivers on Church Street. It is not suited to heavy traffic at all. Although I am concerned about where this traffic diverted traffic will to go on the already congested Hackney streets. https://t.co/UbDJBMsz3u
— Seán McGovern (@SeanMcGovernX) August 12, 2021
After a week of two abreast noise and social media spats, let's start Friday on a positive. Labour MP Diane Abbott shared the news that in her Hackney constituency, cars, vans and lorries are to be banned from the high street during the day to encourage cycling and walking. Only buses, emergency vehicles and blue badge holders will be able to access the street between 7am-7pm from September 20 as part of a plan to improve air quality and road safety.
Transport for London has funded the 18-month scheme and there is hope from some that the high street can copy others nearby, such as Orford Road and Francis Road in neighbouring "mini Holland" Waltham Forest.
What's more, the reaction was pretty positive...even taking into account the abuse and opposition that Abbott gets as standard under every tweet.
I used to live on Church Street, one of my favourite London neighbourhoods. A Church St without the speeding cars would have been wonderful!
— Anton Chiron (@AntrimChicane) August 12, 2021
24 years too late for me but pleased for the current locals. Hat tipped.
— Andy in the Peaks (@Andymo444) August 12, 2021
And although most of the top replies feature the usual anti-LTN arguments: traffic displacement, what about those who need access etc. but even the pockets of negativity were weighed out by sensible replies...
Yes. Walking and wheeling will be easier and more pleasant. Blue badge holders will still be allowed 24/7
— Ben Collier (@benjyminty) August 12, 2021
There is a car park on Church street. It is not being closed down.
— Hackney LCC (@hackney_cycling) August 12, 2021
Citation needed.
— Frank Adorno (@lidf2014) August 12, 2021