Just unbelievable.
I was rear ended in stationary traffic (again), by none other than an unmarked POLICE car!@ealingMPS@MPSHounslow@markandcharlie@SurreyRoadCopspic.twitter.com/vO4R5sDS8L— 🚲 Cycle Calm 🛵 (@CycleCalm) June 15, 2022
Not to be too facetious but the "Oh Jesus" really makes this clip...
Getting rear-ended in traffic can't be fun at the best of times, let alone when you turn around and your sheepish bumper is, in fact, the very people whose job it is to keep you safe...
As one reply pointed out there's probably a cake fine to be paid for this. Doesn't seem to have been any damage, but at least go buy that person a coffee...
"oh Jesus. **Biggest sigh ever recorded on camera**"
Classic
— Monkey Bones (@iratesheep) June 15, 2022
I'm glad this was a bump to laugh about and nothing more serious!
— CyclingMikey Rat (not a PO) 🇳🇱🇪🇺🇿🇼🇺🇦 (@MikeyCycling) June 16, 2022
Others called for more serious action...
You've so got to report that, if only for comedy value https://t.co/Aj6viqvFgs
— Mat Burnham (@MatBurnham) June 15, 2022
The circle of Remco #TourDeSuissepic.twitter.com/MLCcofLM9u
— Cycling Memes (@Cycling_Memes1) June 16, 2022
How's that for a 'sprint' finish? The speed of the fast men meant they were fairly unchallenged by the final 100m ramp, but it did make for entertaining viewing...
Tour-bound Jasper Philipsen beat Tour-bound Mads Pedersen, Tour-bound (as a lead out man for Sam Bennett) Danny van Poppel and Tour-bound Fabio Jakobsen. You get the picture — there are a lot of riders sharpening their tools ahead of next month. Jakobsen, who has seemingly got the Quick Step nod over Cav, got a little boxed in and could only manage seventh...
In Switzerland, Quick Step's day got worse...Remco Evenepoel blowing spectacularly on the roads of Cadel Evans' 2009 World Championship win, losing over two minutes to stage winner Aleksandr Vlasov. In Adam Yates' Covid-induced absence, Geraint Thomas showed his class, climbing with the best to finish fourth. Vlasov now holds the race lead, but Thomas is at seven seconds with a TT to come...
And finally, in Slovenia, Team BikeExchange Jayco's Dylan Groenewegen bagged his fifth win of the season, finding form ahead of his return to the Tour de France, while Arnaud Démare won on return to action after the Giro at La Route d'Occitanie.
Aaaand breathe, we go again tomorrow...
My favourite crap cycle lane #richmond#cycling#CleanAirDaypic.twitter.com/jY0LdFlevg
— Stefan Velo 🚲🥷 (@velostefan) June 16, 2022
Earlier we shared some snaps on socials of sunny commutes looking lovely. Here's the other side of the coin...
A prototype military bike made in 1996, and worth an estimated $100,000, was stolen from a Pennsylvania bike shop, according to the Philadelphia Police Department. The news was reported by The Kansas City Star who say a surveillance video shows the suspect walking off with the bike after a break-in at 7:01am on Saturday morning.
Looking at my cycling biased timeline and having been struck down myself lately it seems another covid wave maybe hitting 😖😖 hope it doesn’t shake the tdf harder than it already seems to be doing. What an era to be a bike racer 🤦🏼♂️
— Alex Dowsett (@alexdowsett) June 16, 2022
A group of four climbing-loving riders from the Netherlands are coming to the final stages of a leg-burning goal to ride 100 cols in two weeks. Some simple maths will tell you that means they need to average 7 (7.14285714286 if you want it to be less simple) cols per day. They're currently on day 11, taking in the Télégraphe, Galibier, Lautaret, Izoard, L'Ange Gardien, Vars and Bonnette in 215 punishing kilometres...
They're riding the challenge to raise money for (at least) 10 defibrillators, and are detailing the journey on Instagram and Strava...
In line with team and UCI protocols, @AdamYates7 has withdrawn from #TourDeSuisse2022 this morning after experiencing mild symptoms and returning a positive lateral flow test. pic.twitter.com/QLn7Lr0PDf
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) June 16, 2022
Adam Yates has joined Jumbo-Visma in sitting out the rest of Tour de Suisse after testing positive for Covid ahead of stage five. With the Tour de France starting in just 15 days it remains to be seen if Ineos Grenadiers will change their plan of heading to the race with Yates their GC leader.
Either way, this morning's been a strong reminder that Covid is very much still on the table ahead of the Tour.
Team Jumbo-Visma will not appear at the start of the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse today.
Despite all precautions, corona has crept into the team again.
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) June 16, 2022
I too sometimes find "depsite all precautions, Corona has crept in again". Oh, different Corona...
The team is out of Tour de Suisse following a positive test. A team statement read:
Team Jumbo-Visma doesn't reveal who became a victim of the covid infection. For the time being, the situation has no consequences for the Tour de France shortlist, although we have to wait and see what happens in the next few days.
The adequate action of Team Jumbo-Visma is based on the daily testing of riders and staff so that a possible corona case can be isolated as soon as possible. The use of mouth masks, air purification columns and single rooms is still common practice on the team.
The majority of the team's expected Tour de France line-up raced at last week's Dauphiné, however, Rohan Dennis, Sepp Kuss, Robert Gesink and Mike Teunissen were all believed to be in contention for a spot and racing in Switzerland this week.
The sun's out. In the words of everybody's favourite Channel 4 teenagers "It's well hot""Might be too hot""Might be"...
But at least in the relative cool of the morning, and out of the direct heat in the evening, we're getting plenty of nice commutes. Think of all those winter mornings when it felt sub-zero, had you toiling into a 30mph headwind as it lashed down with rain, sleet or snow...
My commute is better than your commute pic.twitter.com/7PjXWJkqXu
— Ruth-Anna (@bikesandbabies) June 15, 2022
Let the competition begin...
Up for debate... pic.twitter.com/CmrfBfbfgI
— Mark Strong (@ibikebrighton) June 15, 2022
Really ? pic.twitter.com/mHSQ24vQN9
— Cyclotidien (@cyclotidien) June 16, 2022
Ça se discute. pic.twitter.com/4kWgQOuFiY
— Nicolas (@malgravajhoj) June 16, 2022
Nope pic.twitter.com/vLWWhiOalP
— Gavin Hodgson (@gavtris) June 16, 2022
Should all be wearing helmets…. #cyclists#Roadsafetyhttps://t.co/Aokqu45iVK
— Nick Freeman (@TheMrLoophole) June 16, 2022
If anything, I'd say there were too many helmets on show...
Mathieu van der Poel doesn't fancy taking on his great rival in a battle for the Tour de France points jersey next month. Not because he's not up for the fight, just he'd rather target stage wins.
That's the line he gave RIDE magazine, saying: "I'm not going to get involved in the battle for the green jersey. It takes away a lot of freedom, while I want to fully focus on stage wins. Maybe this is something for teammate Jasper Philipsen.
"I don't deny that three weeks of fighting for that green jersey is a heavy mental load. It also takes away some of the freedom. I will therefore not interfere in that battle in this Tour, but I want to fully focus on stage victories. Don't forget that Wout already has a few big Tours in his legs. I think he can handle that combination more easily.
"I'm definitely not going to try it this year."
To mark the five-year anniversary of the Grenfell tragedy, clothing brand Primal is donating 10 per cent of proceeds from sales this weekend to the Grenfell Foundation to help with relief and rebuilding efforts.
"Let's take a moment to remember those who lost their lives, and act to help prevent such a tragedy from happening again," the brand says.
How to make someone’s day, no matter their age 😁 #BaloiseBelgiumTour🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/6ykEvx3bCY
— Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert (@IntermarcheWG) June 15, 2022
England are looking all right at the old cricket thing again (for now) so maybe the ECB won't be scrambling to check this lad's eligibility just yet. Either way, what a take, son!
Lorenzo Rota with the throw, delivering it bang on the money into the catching zone, and the Baloise Belgium Tour spectator making a moment to remember. He will, of course, have more than just the memory to bask in the glory of. As any pro cycling fan will tell you, the team bidon is the most prized souvenir you can win. A prize often hard-earned, with a strong dose of luck required.
Pick your roadside position. The feedzone seems like cheating, but drastically improves your chances. You'll need quick reactions to bat off your rivals (possibly shoving kids out the way in the process), all for your prized possession. A probably soon-to-be defunct cycling team branded bit of plastic.
Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert aren't probably soon-to-be defunct, however, with Biniam Girmay, Jan Hirt and Co. smashing up the big boys on a tiny budget. And they're pretty good at throwing too...