While desperately hoping not to give any cyclist-bashing local councillors here in the UK any ideas, just look at the size of this speed bump spotted on a Norwegian cycle path!
I’d say this sign is an understatement pic.twitter.com/boj8AEwgiu
— Anders Hartmann (@andershartmann) May 10, 2023
Not sure the sign does that justice. Hit that one too hot and you'll land in Sweden...
Ideally it would be a bit steeper, just for maximum launch angle, but top marks for the don't give a f delivery of just plonking a great big mass of different coloured tarmac onto the existing surface like some poor B-list celebrity's attempt at icing a cake on Bake Off. No handshake for this.
At least make it a table top so you can jump it pic.twitter.com/5hQKyGXgsA
— CycleGaz™ (@cyclegaz) May 11, 2023
Anyway, in my book the Parisian cycle lane speed bumps one mayor claimed were for cyclists' own protection are still undefeated...
Well done LukeB for winning comment of the day by pointing out my unapologetic inconsistencies...
> How fast?! Road bike 10-mile time trial record broken at 51.6km/h average speed for 18:41 clocking
An imperial distance covered at a metric speed - does that count? https://t.co/Ufy3DDwmIU
— LukeB_MTB @mastodon.social (@LukeB_MTB) May 10, 2023
To quote the man who rocked Los Angeles’ underground literary scene half a century ago as he depicted the American society like no one had done it before him:
“People run from rain, but sit in bathtubs full of water”
Photo: #Giropic.twitter.com/dBqCDxE5DX
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) May 10, 2023
At least it's better than a dismally shoehorned sponsor shout-out...
Why just be aero when you can be aero AND shiny?
You might remember this Kogel Bearings cage from the live blog the other week, well, Gustav Gullholm has got his hands on the finished product... a custom polished SRAM RED AXS XPLR derailleur with matching prototype Kogel Kolossos Aero cage.
"While we can debate how much faster it actually makes you, I'd say it's a fact that it'll at least make you look fast AF!" Gustav reckons.
Oh, and for the pleasure of putting down a refundable $10 deposit you can be first in line for when Kogel puts it into production. I'll leave that for any of you who found a winning lottery ticket down the back of the sofa last week...
Double crash pain for Remco yesterday, here's what the team's doctor had to say about his condition...
Soudal Quick-Step Doctor Toon Cruyt talked about @EvenepoelRemco’s condition after the two crashes in which he was involved during stage 5 of the #Giro. pic.twitter.com/tzP6Ukp9Ag
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) May 10, 2023
> Remco Evenepoel crashes after loose dog runs into Giro d'Italia peloton
Slip 'n slide across the line of stage five
Don't you know you might find
A better race to win
It's a work in progress... with this much reaction, fallout, medical updating and speculation from yesterday's Giro stage to round up it's probably best we get cracking...
[Zac Williams/SWpix.com]
Team DSM's Alberto Dainese was relegated, bumping Cav up to fourth place on the stage, the commissaires deciding the Italian's dangerous sprinting had caused the pile-up. Dainese was also fined 500CHF and lost all the points he gained on the day for the points classification.
"We accept the jury's decision and once again hope those who crashed in the finale are okay," Team DSM later said in a statement.
Back at the Astana Qazaqstan team hotel, Cavendish said his injuries weren't too bad and that he had received a phone call from Dainese...
"The circumstances after that…it's sprinting. Alberto has called me. You know, it's part of sprinting, I just hope everybody else who crashed is OK, I saw some stretchers and that," he said.
[Zac Williams/SWpix.com]
"I've had my wounds cleaned up, and my knee's a little bit sore, but I don't think there's anything broken. We haven't checked that out yet, but I don't have the pain of anything broken.
🇮🇹 VIDEO: @giroditalia@MarkCavendish talks on this crazy Stage 5 ⬇️#Giro#GirodItalia#AstanaQazaqstanTeampic.twitter.com/7PpgLnp7or
— Astana Qazaqstan Team (@AstanaQazTeam) May 10, 2023
AG2R Citroën's Andrea Vendrame was the rider seen on the stretcher, his team confirming that the Italian has no broken bones, but "a deep wound that requires stitches as well as skin abrasions on his left shoulder".
"I crashed after crossing the finish line," Vendrame said. "Luckily, I didn't break anything. We were coming at 60 km/h and Mark Cavendish crashed. His bike was thrown to the left of the road and I couldn't avoid it. I found myself in the barriers. These are never good moments. I will do everything to get the best possible treatment this evening with the medical staff. I hope to be at the start tomorrow, that's my goal for the next few hours. It would be heartbreaking to leave the Giro d'Italia."
Arkéa–Samsic's David Dekker was also involved and was able to return to the team bus after picking himself up.