Twitter user Dave McCraw has responded to Surrey Police’s latest social media poll concerning cyclists, drivers and traffic with his own fifth option:
Cyclists! How long are you held up by drivers in an average week? pic.twitter.com/fE7cX5Bb3h
— Dave McCraw (@david_mccraw) August 25, 2022
While the hardy fans who braved the elements on the Pico Jano could barely see the riders as they battled through the rain and low cloud on the first summit finish of this year’s Vuelta a España, by the fog-covered finish line, things (metaphorically, if not literally) were a whole lot clearer.
This newfound clarity not only applied to the GC race – which was turned upside down by three-time Vuelta winner Primož Roglič’s shock 1:22 concession to young upstart Remco Evenepoel – but also, perhaps, to the trajectory of Evenepoel’s entire career.
Unipublic/Sprint Cycling Agency
The precocious Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl rider is, lest we forget, still only 22, and has already amassed victories at major one-day classics Liège-Bastogne-Liège (in typically dominant fashion) and San Sebastian (twice), as well as GC wins in one-week races like the Tour of Poland, Volta ao Algarve and Tour of Belgium.
However, perhaps thanks to the potentially overwhelming pressure placed by the Belgian press on the latest in the long like of ‘New Eddy Merckxes’, this year’s Vuelta appeared to represent a make-or-break opportunity for Evenepoel at the grand tours.
Ever since he turned professional as an all-conquering teenager in 2019, the man from Aalst has faced an incredible level of scrutiny not even reserved for his most successful peers like Tadej Pogačar.
A Belgian superstar in the making, riding for Belgium’s biggest team, he has been criticised by fans, the media, Merckx himself, and even his own management for issues surrounding his weight, his temperament, and (most ludicrously) his failure to compete for the overall win at his first ever grand tour, the 2021 Giro d’Italia, just months after suffering a fractured pelvis while on the cusp of winning Il Lombardia.
has anyone checked in on eddy merckx though
— kate wagner (@derailleurkate) August 25, 2022
But today, in atrocious weather conditions, Evenepoel answered any lingering doubts over his grand tour credentials by accelerating with over nine kilometres left to the summit of Pico Jano.
While only Roglič, Enric Mas, Juan Ayuso (another teenage sensation), Pavel Sivakov, Simon Yates and Ben O’Connor were the only ones who could follow that initial burst, it was Evenepoel’s slow ramping up of the pace that truly shattered the field.
Roglič, seemingly impenetrable in Spain for the last three years, finally looked human as he slowly let the Belgian’s back wheel drift away, the tell-tale signs of Tour de France-inflicted injuries perhaps finally showing after five days of bluffing and winning.
Remco dropping Roglic! Only Mas can follow him. #LaVuelta22pic.twitter.com/GBOqVxLWFi
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) August 25, 2022
By the top Remco was in red: Enric Mas – himself the subject of unrelenting external pressure from Spanish supporters – was the only GC threat who could hang on to Evenepoel’s steady but searing pressure. Ayuso tried in vain to bridge across, but ultimately ceded ground, despite gaining on everyone else, in a tremendous showing by the 19-year-old.
Roglič then led home an eleven-strong group, over a minute and twenty behind what surely constitutes the biggest threat to his Vuelta fiefdom since Pogačar went wandering on the final mountain stages in 2019.
Whether Evenepoel can maintain this level of brilliance remains to be seen, of course, but the race for red is well and truly on.
What an iconic moment. Congrats @JayVine3pic.twitter.com/bOUVROdI45
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) August 25, 2022
While the GC battle started in earnest, Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Jay Vine – a blue blur in the dense fog – timed his own career-defining moment to perfection, attacking from the peloton with ten kilometres left to first rein in the break’s Mark Padun before holding on gamely in the face of the Remco offensive to take the biggest win of his career.
The current Esports world champion – a pro by way of the Zwift Academy – has now made his mark out on the open road after a third-place finish on a stage at last year’s Vuelta, and did so with bravery and panache.
“It’s almost unreal,” the Australian said at the finish. “I’ve been working towards this all year after last year and coming so close. It’s a dream come true.”
This fog really hates Vine. pic.twitter.com/danBWtPgBp
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) August 25, 2022
While the public may not have been able to see Vine as he crossed the line, his win – and the performance of the second-placed rider behind him – capped a day of breakthroughs in the rain and fog.
Could it be @MikelLandaMeana’s day?@lavuelta#RideAsOne#LaVuelta22pic.twitter.com/qc6yM3RhY1
— Team Bahrain Victorious (@BHRVictorious) August 25, 2022
Five minutes later:
Mark Padun arrived in one piece at the bottom of the descent, what a relief! 🙏 #LaVuelta22pic.twitter.com/F74b1nE3RA
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) August 25, 2022
It was a tough watch, and he lost the majority of his lead thanks to some 50p cornering, but Mark Padun made it down the other side of the Collada de Brenes at the head of the Vuelta!
Unfortunately for the Ukrainian, Julian Alaphilippe is still driving it on at the front of the peloton (after descending like it was a lovely sunny afternoon), teeing up a seemingly inevitable Remco assault on the final climb.
Judging by Twitter, everyone else was watching that wet and wild descent through their fingers:
Honestly, I can't watch this. I am terrified #LaVuelta22https://t.co/oEeq7z1Bte
— Sadhbh O'Shea (@SadhbhOS) August 25, 2022
When there's that much water 💦 on the camera lens.. On the descent 😬.. Go on Mark Padun 🇺🇦 rubber side down 🙏 #vuelta2022pic.twitter.com/ChLBeMkfrG
— Neil Anderson (@Mr_Andrrson) August 25, 2022
Padun is descending like he's just learned to ride a bike.
I don't blame him.. absolutely horrendous#couchpeloton#LaVuelta22
— anenglishmaninspain (@AndyElche) August 25, 2022
Not that I blame him - I would be scared to death to descend on that road in the wet
— Brent Graham (@BrentGraham) August 25, 2022
Evie Richards, the cross-country World Champion and Commonwealth medalist has opened up about her career and issues facing female athletes https://t.co/wiSRg9eI8c#evierichards#WomenInSportpic.twitter.com/eMW1R6TILW
— off-road.cc (@off_roadcc) August 25, 2022
#LaVuelta22🏁44 Km to go.
Another crash on the same corner as Cataldo. Several riders down and Fredrik Hagen seems to be injured - we hope for a speedy recovery!#Domestiquelivepic.twitter.com/IFVMLCqUHP
— Domestique (@Domestique___) August 25, 2022
It may be sunny and warm around most of the UK today, but in northern Spain the weather’s pretty grim as the riders prepare to take on the first summit finish of the Vuelta.
Coming into the steep penultimate climb of the Collada de Brenes, a number of riders crashed on a particularly slippery corner, with Israel-Premier Tech’s Carl Fredrik Hagen looking (and sounding) in considerable pain as he lay on the road.
While the Norwegian rider receives treatment, EF EasyPost’s Mark Padun has accelerated off the front of the breakaway, in a bid to get a head start before the next tricky downhill and long slog to the finish at the top of the category one Ascensión al Pico Jano.
Onto the climb of Collada de Brenes and Padun is pushing on from the break while @marco_brnr is leading the chase behind him. 💪🏻
Back in the peloton the pace is on the 🆙 again though and the gap has fallen to 1'39" with 40km to go. #LaVuelta22pic.twitter.com/cVMjJLhaA4
— Team DSM (@TeamDSM) August 25, 2022
Back in the fractured main pack, world champion Julian Alaphilippe is upping the pace for Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl leader Remco Evenepoel.
Padun is out front, he has 1.54 ahead of peloton - he's on a grotty road and it's rain on the camera lens
And LouLou and Quickstep are bossing the front of THAT #LaVuelta2022pic.twitter.com/TXKLH7PnEH— VeloVoices (@VeloVoices) August 25, 2022
Will the young Belgian pull a ‘Remco’ and attack early, after all the pre-stage hype and work from his team?
Or will today provide us with yet another prime example of ‘Roglification’ at the Vuelta?
Surrey’s Roads Policing unit – the owners of everyone’s favourite police and road safety-themed Twitter account– have been having fun this week with the bird app’s poll function.
On Monday, they asked their car-using followers how long, in an average week, they spend in traffic caused by other drivers.
Drivers - in an average week, how long do you spend in traffic caused by other drivers?
Genuinely interested, so please RT for max exposure.
— Roads Policing - Surrey Police - UK (@SurreyRoadCops) August 22, 2022
Of the four options, ranging from ‘less than ten minutes’ to ‘more than 60 minutes’, the results were quite evenly spread: while 31.5 percent of drivers said they were stuck in motorist-related traffic for over an hour a week, just over 21 percent claimed that traffic is but a construct that has little effect on their daily lives.
Yesterday, Surrey Police commenced round two of their social (media) experiment, asking drivers how long they spent per week “in traffic caused by cyclists”.
Drivers - in an average week, how long do you spend in traffic caused by cyclists?
Genuinely interested, so please RT for max exposure.
— Roads Policing - Surrey Police - UK (@SurreyRoadCops) August 24, 2022
Of the 4,290 Twitter users who have cast their votes at the time of writing, 68.4 percent clicked the ‘none’ option, almost 17 percent said ‘one to five minutes’, six percent reckoned people on bikes accounted for five to 15 minutes of their weekly traffic time, while nine percent so far say that cyclists hold them up for MORE than 15 minutes a week.
Highly likely that the 20% folks are delayed by maybe a minute. The 7% and 12% folks are fantasists. pic.twitter.com/Bq9mo4BVVh
— Carlton Reid (@carltonreid) August 25, 2022
Worth stating that when I’m cycling in towns and cities it’s motorists that delay me, both from their sheer volume but also because of the infrastructure — such as traffic lights — designed to tame motorists.
— Carlton Reid (@carltonreid) August 25, 2022
One in ten people thinks they're losing 15 minutes per week to...cyclists https://t.co/iSQi1fwVF6pic.twitter.com/OAj675qpFR
— Ben Horrigan (@BDHorrigan) August 25, 2022
Some users – viewing the cycling-related poll out of context, perhaps – have criticised its existence, though Surrey Police have reliably informed us that they “have a plan”:
Hi Jack, you don’t appear to follow us.
This is part of a two stage poll, the first was a few days ago. There is a plan. Wait and see. Please don’t judge it off one tweet.— Roads Policing - Surrey Police - UK (@SurreyRoadCops) August 25, 2022
Hi George. We can a very impartial poll a few days before which covered point b)
Panic not, we have a plan. ☺️
— Roads Policing - Surrey Police - UK (@SurreyRoadCops) August 25, 2022
Belfast’s ‘Bolder Vision’ for active travel seems to be working out well:
Hi there, we're working to encourage active travel through our Bolder Vision for Belfast - see https://t.co/ogOIb9O5E6& https://t.co/05mMNIZU9n for more info. Thanks
— Belfast City Council (@belfastcc) August 23, 2022
If by bold, you mean almost non-existent:
The answer is none 😞There were 2 miles of protected cycle lanes in Belfast in 2019 & same amount in 2021 #WalkingandCyclingIndex See our report. We didn't count pop-ups as they are temporary but @deptinfra has said they will be made permanent. https://t.co/lbOps3YOR7
— Sustrans NI (@SustransNI) August 25, 2022
This is how bad the cycling infrastructure is in Belfast. @deptinfra is asleep at the wheel of a very large Range Rover. The car remains sacred and active travel is a pipe dream. https://t.co/8roOnFJuLX
— Dominic Bryan (@Domsball) August 25, 2022
What’s this? Yesterday’s Vuelta stage winner Marc Soler being helped on his way to victory by a cheeky bottle from his old mates at Movistar?
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) August 24, 2022
While Soler’s UAE Team Emirates squad ‘officially’ (through their Twitter account) thanked the Spanish outfit for their hand in the mercurial Soler’s solo win in Bilbao, one of the team’s soigneurs was on hand to quickly dispose of the evidence at the finish line:
— Federico (@FefoBike) August 24, 2022
Surely that’s worth half an episode or so in next year’s Movistar documentary series? Especially if Chente García Acosta punched the car roof in anger at the treacherous bottle-gifter, and then deleted the footage…
— tim hayter (@Willowman66) August 25, 2022
While the Ineos Grenadiers’ Ethan Hayter was forced to relinquish the best young rider’s jersey at the Vuelta yesterday, at least he was able to pass it on to his old VC Londres mucker Fred Wright:
6 stages in, and these two @VCLondres members have taken every Young Rider jersey on offer at @lavuelta so far.
📸 from the 2013 @JeugdtourAssenpic.twitter.com/S0vDaohIjx
— tim hayter (@Willowman66) August 24, 2022
Though judging from that chaotic stage to Bilbao, Rudy Molard may be hiding somewhere under Wright’s new white jersey…
How not to review a car in 2022 (or ever, really):
The car culture media machine in all its glory.
Running over bollards ✔️
Driving in the bike lane
Driving on the sidewalk ✔️
Driving over curbs✔️
Driving over medians ✔️
Hilarious reference to hitting pedestrians ✔️"A street legal trophy truck."pic.twitter.com/u0uaQCAe4R
— Tom Flood (@tomflood1) August 24, 2022
Now, I realise that road.cc’s readers aren’t necessarily the target audience for a review of an arrogantly-sized American quasi-monster truck, but even so, this YouTube appraisal– conducted by automotive lifestyle company Hagerty’s Jason Cammisa – surely takes the biscuit when it comes to romanticising the damaging excesses of car culture.
In the video, which is almost certainly aimed at six-year-olds, Cammisa nonchalantly drives the new Ford Bronco Raptor (comfortably the size of your average English village) up kerbs, on the pavement, and in cycle lanes, ticking off the flexi bollards designed to protect vulnerable road users as he goes.
Perhaps he thought he was driving in Stoke-on-Trent?
The next time your DOT refers to this as a “protected” bike lane… https://t.co/8JfmtH2Oxp
— Queen Anne Greenways (@QAGreenways) August 25, 2022
Cammisa then adds insult to bollard injury by casually making jokes about striking pedestrians, that you wouldn’t be able to see anyway from your twenty-foot-high cockpit.
“The off-road ability may be something people don’t actually use, but it pays huge dividends in the real word,” he casually says, sipping on a Slurpee as another bollard bites the dust.
“The Bronco Raptor hits the same potholes, kerbs and pedestrians that all the other cars hit. The difference is, they just don’t exist in this thing.”
Lovely.
But don’t worry, this review certainly won’t have any real-world implications – the video includes, for a whole two seconds, a tiny, tiny warning at the bottom of the screen that the driver is a ‘professional idiot’ and that you should ‘not attempt’ any of his dangerous driving antics.
That’ll be grand, I’m sure.
Maybe he’ll review the Ineos Grenadier next…
“Definitely the strangest but most cheering edition of Open Country I have ever heard ...” @tdfbeefeaters on #alpedhuez today at 3.00pm pic.twitter.com/m8XIRUWSDy
— BBC Open Country (@BBCR4OC) August 25, 2022
We’ve all been there at some point in our cycling lives (some more than others unfortunately), when a motorist attempts to overtake you and your mates out on a group ride.
As the driver pulls up alongside, you look to your right and notice their window’s down, bracing yourself for the almost inevitable volley of abuse or attempt at a smart alec remark about lycra or the Tour de France…
Well, that’s what FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope’s Australian pro Brodie Chapman was expecting when a driver shouted at her and her teammates while training in France yesterday.
Instead of the anticipated “naff abuse”, however, the motorist was in fact complimenting the FDJ riders for their performance at last month’s Tour de France Femmes:
Today while ridining near Plouay in France, and a lady yelled at us out the window of her car. I assumed she was shouting some sort of naff abuse but my teammates said it was “thanks for putting on a show at the Tour!” @LeTourFemmes@FDJ_SUEZ_Fut positive outcome, that
— Brodie Mai Chapman (@Brodie_Mai) August 24, 2022
If only all drivers praised every cyclist they passed on the roads – ‘Great 10-mile PB the other night, keep it up!’; ‘Fantastic commute home on Friday, good call on bringing your coat’ – what a world that would be…
I enjoyed Dan’s take on the not-at-all-over-the-top reaction to Hanley’s newly extended segregated cycle lane so much that I’ve decided to kick off today’s live blog with round two…
Unfortunately, Raging Russell Porter and Desperate Dan Jellyman couldn’t make this morning’s bout (reports suggest that they’ve failed anti-doping tests), but don’t worry as another resident, the less imaginatively named Stewart Robinson, has stepped up to top the bill.
And as far as anti-cycle lane arguments go, Stewart’s is worthy of any pay-per-view event [alright, enough of the wrestling metaphors – Ed.]:
Stewart here complaining about inattentive and incompetent motorists hitting kerbs that keep a cycle lane safe, inadvertently proving why a protected cycle lane is needed.
Thicker than custard and not as bright https://t.co/ay19qe7xLvpic.twitter.com/xex4LeK2cb— Real Gaz on a proper bike (@gazza_d) August 24, 2022
“They've just put new cycle lanes in and the kerb is raised. Cars keep hitting them as they're just in the middle of the road,” says Stewart, who evidently struggled with simple maths at primary school.
“There’s signs on them, but one has already been knocked off from a car hitting it… I’ve contacted the council about one of the signs being knocked off and I’m going to ring Highways to see if we can get the kerbs taken out as there’s going to be more accidents. I’ve seen three vehicles hit them in the last month.
“Cars just come down the road and hit them, because they're just stuck in the middle of the road.”
Ah yes, Stewart, that classic argument against protected cycle lanes: that the poor motorists keep driving into the infrastructure, rather than just the cyclists themselves…
Apparently, the Shelton New Road isn’t the only part of Stoke where drivers are struggling to spot raised kerbs and bollards designed to protect the human beings on the other side:
And another protected kerb drivers in #StokeOnTrent drivers fail to see, yes thats supposed to be a cycle lane pic.twitter.com/yhWHs2UBwm
— Ninja Breadhouse 💙💛 (@NBreadhouse) August 25, 2022
So, the next time someone asks you why protected cycling infrastructure is necessary, just take them to Stoke.