26-year-old Urška Žigart has had quite a season so far. Winning the Slovenian individual time-trial championship (her third time as a national champion), and then second position in the national championship's road race. She was just 75 metres away from her maiden World Tour win at the Tour de Suisse, riding in a commendable solo breakaway and almost managing to hold on till the finish line.
But one of the infamous narratives to have born out of this cycling season was a Flemish newspaper refusing to call Žigart by her name, as it kept referring to her as "Tadej Pogačar's girlfriend".
And if you know anything about Pogačar, he was sure to have a laugh about this, reposting a separate headline on his Instagram referring to him as Urška Žigart's boyfriend. Any better way to handle the weird and inappropriate sexism?
Of course, hand out bottles at the World Championships!
Nothing to see here. Just Urška Žigart's boyfriend 😍 #GlasgowScotland2023pic.twitter.com/ZWnsDwuLXU
— 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships (@CyclingWorlds) August 13, 2023
The perfect reflection of "She's Barbie. He's just Ken"?
But there you have it, girls, if your boyfriend doesn't assume bidon duties on his day off, is he even good enough for you?
I swear pogi delivered my Chinese on Friday night too
— Kate (@Katslikekate) August 13, 2023
Give him a bib 😉great soigneur we would sign him @SaintPiranTeam
— @SaintPiranRicci (@saintpiranricci) August 13, 2023
I wonder if this Pogačar guy has got something else to do with cycling too?
Fans on social media also suggested that the man in the blue cap next to him could be Primož Roglič, who was already speculated to be dishing out hydration to his Slovenian teammate Pogačar during the men's road race championship last weekend.
While I could see the resemblance last time (it was a blurry photo), I personally don't see it in this footage, but what do you think? Were Slovenia's two stars of men's cycling there supporting the women's team yesterday?
Belgian fans, 2023 worlds, Glasgow (Thomas Maheux/SWpix.com)
A quick roundup of your answers to whether you thought Glasgow Worlds was a success or not.
Adventuredean: As a fan of cycling and a tourist currently sitting in a Cafe in Edinburgh, the super world's were a huge success for me. I stayed in fort Bill, Glasgow, peebles, and Edinburgh. Got to watch everything. downhill, flat land, and track racing (the paratrack racing being included was also great) and more.
I also got to see lots of Scotland and be a tourist away from the cycling action.
A fantastic experience all around.
Miller: Although away from home on holiday (nowhere glamorous) I watched as much of the Worlds as I could and loved all of it. My highlight was the end of the men's RR with MvdP sliding out, restarting, ripping off that Boa dial, and still winning by a mile. That concrete planter he slid into should get a commemorative plaque.
darnac: I think the Glasgow World's have generally been a great success, though, mind you, the weather helped a lot...
And from Twitter, Chris Williams wasn't particularly in favour of the twisty-turny city circuit for the men's road race, writing: "Hopefully the UCI will clampdown on course design after the horrific city centre circuit round Glasgow."
I didn't know Montréal was one of the great cycling cities of this world, and my ignorance (blasphemy, I know) was gladly cured last week when cyclists on social media were raving about the "incredible" cycling network in the Québécois city, thanks to a video doing rounds.
> "It exists, and it's beautiful!": Cyclists rave about Montreal’s "incredible" cycling network
I was glad to see that the tweet, has now made it to CNN, playing along on the side screen as the Mayor of Montréal was being interviewed.
I've always had a goal of getting a :30 second ad on mainstream media, turns out despite the piece not being an actual ad this is the perfect ad.
Thanks @cnn for sharing and @Val_Plante for real leadership. pic.twitter.com/RaXxP3AK2D— Tom Flood (@tomflood1) August 13, 2023
"It is a position that at one point, we need to say, that even though this is not a popular measure, I have to do it," said Valérie Plante, the Mayor.
"I'm confident that with other mayors [this will be successful]. This is why the C40 network that I want to bring forward is so important. Whether it's Los Angeles, Milan, Paris, New York, London, Montréal, we can work together saying 'we need to do the right thing' for the future generation."
With Toronto getting its own rad as hell "bicycle" mayor, who arrived at her swearing in ceremony leading hundreds of cyclists, and Montréal's network getting its recognition and pat on the back, seems like Canada is making much needed progress towards building better cycling infrastructure.
The vouchers, worth £50 each towards the cost of repairs and maintenance, were aimed at helping people in England get unused bikes back on the road as former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps put active travel at the heart of the country’s recovery from the pandemic.
Some 500,000 vouchers at a cost of £25 million were initially promised when the scheme was launched in May 2020, although the number actually released to the public in four tranches between July 2020 and April 2021 stood at 400,000.
Here's the answer to the question cycling nerds have been asking. Which UCI World and Pro teams were the most successful at the Glasgow Cycling Championships?
Most medals in the Mega World Championships by team ( ♂️, ♀️ and Devo teams combined across Road, Track and MTB):
10 |🇬🇧INEOS Grenadiers
9 |🇧🇪Alpecin Deceurnick
8 |🇳🇱SD Worx
7 |🇧🇪Quick Step, 🇫🇷FDJ, 🇫🇷Cofidis
6 |🇳🇴UNO X, 🇦🇺Jayco Alula, 🇩🇪Canyon//SRAM
5 |🇳🇿Bolton Equities https://t.co/5Wtg2f7yqz— Stats Goddess - Dani (@Stats_Goddess) August 13, 2023
This one is courtesy of an email from road.cc reader Rob Ainsley, who had asked to do a roundup on the blog after "the dreadful incident at a Pembrokeshire campsite over the weekend, where a driver clearly lost control of a Ford Fiesta and ended up ploughing into some tents".
"Several of the news accounts are so scared of putting anything that might suggest what obviously happened – that an actual human driver was involved - that they’re writing nonsense about self-driving cars", wrote Ainsley.
The BBC's article, as pointed to us by Ainsley, is titled "Newgale campsite crash: Three people in hospital". It ticks the first box — not even mention of what crashed in the title.
Let's look at the first sentence: "Three people are in hospital after a car crashed into a campsite and injured nine people, police have said." He even singled out this particular sentence further down: "...said the car tried to brake as it came down a hill."
No mention, by the BBC, of anyone being in the car until the last paragraph and no mention of a driver at all.
— BucksOAPeCyclist (@Melodeonista) August 14, 2023
Really highlights our cultural problem of car brain. It’s endemic. No mention of the driver causing this, which is insulting for the innocent victims who are mentioned. Really traumatic for the people involved.
— Leicestershire Loves Cycling (@LeicsCountyBike) August 14, 2023
Next on Ainsley's list: Sky News. The reporting in question? "...described how the car was going"at unbelievable speed into a 30mph zone", lost control after it tried to brake, hit a family's tent with a baby as it rolled three times, before it rested on top of three people.
Final entry on the list: Wales Online— "...the car was a blue For [sic] Fiesta which was travelling from Roch towards St Davids with a number of occupants inside when it lost control and veered off the road".
So Ainsley's question, which I pose to you all now, is that why are news organisation so scared to even insinuate that a driver was at fault for a crash? Why are cars treated as objects with a mind of their own capable of losing control, acting upon their own will, and injuring human beings without another human behind the wheel?
Down at Darlington today. The footway on woodlands road is being dug up, so pedestrians are being diverted onto the cycleway. That's fine.
Why the "cyclists dismount" signs though. Surely advising them to use the road would be better?
Do better pic.twitter.com/eOIm9JU5Fa— Real Gaz on a proper bike: gazza_d [at] toot.bike (@gazza_d) August 14, 2023
Would it be more convenient to get off the bike and walk your cycle through the cycle lane (since it'll be in use by pedestrians as well), or just cross the road to join the right lane and ride there?
"...The Tarmac SL8 is 15% lighter and 6% more compliant than the SL7, has an improved stiffness-to-weight ratio to the tune of 33% and is 16.6 seconds faster over 40km (25 miles)."
So how did Belgium's Lotte Kopecky (left) on her rusty, old Specialized SL7 beat Netherlands' Demi Vollering using the brand-new cutting-edge SL8?
Huh, maybe cycling is also about the rider? I bet Kopecky's victory has the Tarmac SL8 marketing team sweating right now...
It was all blossoms after the race between the two SD Worx stars at the finish line though, with the Dutch just finishing 7 seconds behind the Belgian and celebrating shoulder to shoulder with her teammate at the podium. Vollering even proclaimed that "Kopecky was by far the strongest".
"I gave everything, so I’m happy with this second place," said Vollering, who herself has had one of the greatest cycling seasons in memory, topped off with her most recent win at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. "Lotte [Kopecky] was by far the strongest and she rode very well, so hats off to her. As for me, I’m exhausted. I really gave it my all, so I’m happy with this second place... I hope that I will do better next year".
The festival may have ended, but the party lives on! If you were there, comment your favourite UCI Worlds 2023 moments below!
For me it was the moment that I realised that my volunteer pass would allow me onto Stirling Castle esplanade to watch ALL the time trialists come in (even when I wasn't on shift). I got to see moments like Anna Henderson delighted with her result. pic.twitter.com/m3RkQYPO1W
— Phil Ward @thnurg [at] mastodon.social (@thnurg) August 14, 2023
The coronation of Her Majesty @LotteKopeckypic.twitter.com/jqJGW6WqdK
— Nick Jones (@NJones) August 14, 2023
Tidball’s win in the men’s elite scratch race was one of the most exciting sporting events I’ve ever watched - electric atmosphere! pic.twitter.com/tQJ7uU8KkM
— Martin McKay (@martin_mckay) August 14, 2023
The peloton coming through my village pic.twitter.com/7iCZ9hudgn
— garry fitzpatrick (@garryfitz26) August 14, 2023
Dan Walker, as you might know, was involved in a gnarly and horrifying crash back in February, putting him in the hospital bed for a few days and out of his presenting duties.
The incident led to an eruption of an assortment of cycling debates — cycling on bike lanes, wearing helmets, so on and so forth. But thankfully, the Channel 5 presenter survived, and is back on his back (which was again subject to 'no hi-vis backlash').
> Dan Walker "glad to be alive" after being hit by a driver while cycling
In a new update, Walker told the Sun that a police officer said to him: "Another 50cm and it essentially runs over your head."
Camera footage of the near-fatal accident in Sheffield showed him being thrown off his bike after a driver hit him with his car on a busy roundabout, with his bike being crushed under the vehicle.
He said that he doesn't have any recollection of the incident, so he wasn't suffering from "any sort of flashbacks or anything like that", but was "thankful" that he was back on his bike.
He added: "It’s amazing how quickly your face heals. I had the crash on a Monday and I think I presented the RTS Awards the following Wednesday, then I was back on air I think the next Monday."
> Why is Dan Walker’s claim that a bike helmet saved his life so controversial?
Oh silly me thinking that Wout Van Aert is going to have a stellar season after winning E3 and finishing arm in arm with teammate Laporte at Gent Wevelgem, albeit controversially, back in March.
It has been a painful few months since then — an unfortunate puncture at Flanders, an agonising three weeks at Tour de France, and another second place finish at the Worlds. It's not bad at all, but it's not what he would have hoped for. But hey, who's to say he's still not the most loved Belgian racer?!
This is just not true lol. Doesn't matter what happens, Wout is and will always be the most loved cyclist in Belgium
— Alexander🇧🇪 (@mcfc_Alexander) August 13, 2023
"Pure. Dead. Brilliant."
Pure. Dead. Brilliant. #GlasgowScotland2023🏴 pic.twitter.com/aLlnS970uz
— 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships (@CyclingWorlds) August 13, 2023
Goosebumps.
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, the first ever to host all of its disciplines at one event in Glasgow, Scotland, has finally come to a close. The curtains have drawn on this celebration of cycling in its purest form, with the best of the best striving for the undisputed mantle and the glory of a champion.
From months of anxiety amongst residents regarding road closures, to protests, to riders clashing with the media, these last two weeks had everything.
Here's some reaction from the rider, the fans and the locals which road.cc garnered last week:
And here's some reaction from online:
To have this variety and this amount of world class sports on the doorstep has been an absolute privilege. Fantastic feat of organisation. Very very well done.
— Kate Crichton🏴 🇪🇺 #SaorAlba (@kate_crichton) August 14, 2023
Tremendous atmosphere just in the city as a by stander. It took the pain out of school uniform shopping getting glimpses of history for our kids to see. Fantastic!
— smiling urbanist (@smilingurbanist) August 13, 2023
An incredible World Championships
A festival of the sport
Chapeau Glasgow https://t.co/zNeIMF3FEI
— Harry Gray (@HarryHamishGray) August 14, 2023
All of us right now:
— Hodson and Hudson Fan Club (@sturmeyarcher3) August 13, 2023
So road.cc readers, my question to you: Was Glasgow 2023 a success? What were the highs, what were the lows, what were some pleasant surprises, and what could have been better?
Let's see if I can explain this right. It's a grill mount. For a bicycle. A portable grill which can be mounted on your bicycle. I think I'm getting it.
Let's see what the description reads: "Looking for a unique way to BBQ while cycling? Then the crackling grill is just right for you! This innovative grill attaches to your bike so you can grill while you pedal. Whether you're grilling burgers for a picnic or hot dogs for a cookout, the Bike Mount Grill is the perfect solution for enjoying a delicious meal on the go.
"The crackle grill is easy to use and set up, so you can start grilling in no time. And because it is powered by charcoal or gas, you get the delicious grill taste that everyone loves. So leave the portable grill on the left and pedal with the crackle grill!"
For the bikepacker who wants to have everything, this is certainly a, erm, mouth-watering option.
This grill by Knister, a German brand, also says that it comes with leather protection to protect handlebars from scratches (how thoughtful!), and fits 99 per cent of all bike handlebars. Yeah that figure is always totally believable isn't it!
But while it may seem like a ludicrous attachment, it does fill me with some joy to see that manufacturers are considering cyclists for even the silliest products and showing that you can show up to your friend's barbecue not in a 4x4, but on a bicycle. I hope there's someone on this big blue world who really needs this product and manages to get their hands on it.
But are you wondering how's the riding experience with a literal grill hanging off your handlebars? Knister says it's very similar to riding with a basket in the front. And if it feels slightly lighter, the company recommends you to carry food or charcoal in the grill. You know, for the barbecue.
Another bonus, but crucial info: "Every Knister Grill has a wing screw to secure the grill grate, so the grate cannot jump out while riding." German efficiency at its best?
While the road.cc team was away at the weekend, Simon was making sure the news hustle never stops.
First up, ULEZ drama — Signs of division in the Labour party regarding the controversial charge for drivers with polluting cars are only deepening.
> Labour reportedly drops plans for nationwide ULEZ rollout
An architectural practice in Glasgow has launched a campaign calling for safer junctions in Scotland’s largest city after one of its staff members was killed in a crash involving a lorry in January. It is calling on local cyclists, pedestrians and drivers to help it gather data at the locations in question.
And then, some serious mountain bikers versus roadies clash took shape at the World Championships, with Tom Pidcock, Mathieu van der Poel and Peter Sagan in the thick of it.
Lotte Kopecky's terrific season just got even better, and Pidcock cements himself as a bonafide do-it-all star.
> Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky caps phenomenal season by winning World Championship road race
And finally, cycling has got some new fans.
> Police Scotland hail “unique” World Championships as mega-event draws to a close