Now it's just a rumour, but the swashbuckling Dutch in rainbow jersey who's spent the last few weeks setting the bogs of the cyclocross season on fire could potentially not show up at all at Florence on 29 June when all riders line up for the Grand Départ.
With confirmation of his participation in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the final classic of the season before the Grand Tours and Olympics commence, it's being hinted that instead of showing up for a week or so, he might head straight to Paris for the Olympics.
As it looks like now, Mathieu van der Poel will not be present at this year's Tour de France also like Wout van Aert.
Mathieu van der Poel will probably focus on the whole classics season until Liege Bastogne Liege and then the Olympics, La Vuelta, and Worlds.
📷: fellusch pic.twitter.com/RDYRAMTYFX
— Lukáš Ronald Lukács (@lucasaganronald) January 10, 2024
Sorry what? I heard the phrase "climb back into bed"...
The miseries of getting out of bed on chilly mornings like these and the never-ending allure of the warm, cosy blanket aside, this bike lane which I can only describe as truly bizarre gets the top billing on today's episode of the UK's most wonderful cycling infrastructure.
You are cycling on a 2-way cycle lane, and are greeted by this.
What is the correct action? pic.twitter.com/Y0Sn5tjLdW
— Owen de Visser (@Owen_de_Visser) January 10, 2024
Next to the University of Birmingham on Bristol Road, someone had to paint this tapestry of road signage, only after someone devised this mishmash in their heads and sketched it out. So let me see if I can get this right. Double broken white lines mean give way, so I watch out for any oncoming cyclists, then take a mandatory right, but with the shared space pavement gate closed off, I'm supposed to turn back and go the way I came from?
The sad part is that it seems that the authorities are aware about this interesting cycling provision. Esther Barnes, a cyclist from Birmingham said that she has already reported this infrastructure and was told that action would be taken to improve the bike lane signage. However, Owen de Visser, another Brum cyclist and art gallery director who orginally shared the picture, said that the place had been like this since November.
He added: "Of course cyclists are supposed to go through the barrier, then dismount until reaching this 'shared' lane. I'd suggest pedestrians can be forgiven for not noticing the bike signs here."
Nope. It's been like this since *at least* November.
Of course cyclists are supposed to go through the barrier, then dismount until reaching this 'shared' lane. I'd suggest pedestrians can be forgiven for not noticing the bike signs here.
I just push it this stretch now tbh pic.twitter.com/I1DrimU56e
— Owen de Visser (@Owen_de_Visser) January 10, 2024
Cyclists on social media, as you'd expect, are losing their heads over this apparent piece of road. Tom Poole wrote: "Take a right, into Tesco, grab a bottle of wine, pay leave," while @Dutchy280 suggested doing your best Tadej Pogačar impression: "Pull an wheelie followed by a bunny hop, end with a JC on the handbars into Tesco Express of course."
Or how about this suggestion from Tom Lawton: "Track stand at the end to rapturous applause from the onlookers, before celebrating with a bottle of Diamond White from Tesco."
If there was ever a clear indication to turn around, go home & climb back into bed...
— davidshawcurran [at] aol.com (@davidshawcurra1) January 11, 2024
And finally, ding ding, we have the right answer!
Pedestrianise the street; add new continuous cycle lane here. pic.twitter.com/aJKh80HF8O
— brixton hatter (@BrixtonHatter) January 10, 2024
After the many Amazon vans and bin lorries blocking cycle lanes over the years, it's a much more discreet grey culprit this time around, perched nicely on a new, shiny bike path. It would be interesting if all the drivers could solve their parking problems by just letting councils build more of them then...
Shiny new segregated cycling lane ✔️
Van parked over it making it unsafe & almost unusable ❌ pic.twitter.com/eUgPjvZhrs
— Francesca Savage 🚲💕 (@francesca_kms) January 11, 2024
Yeah that makes sense I guess.
Gather round, the awards season (and no, I'm not talking about the archaic Oscars or the silly Grammys) is in full flow and today, we are announcing the best cycling clothing of the year — all the jerseys, jackets, shoes, tights, and of course, shorts, that impressed us over the year and truly offer something which others don't. So if you're looking to pick something up, be it to hastily get some Merino wool to ward off the chill or prepping early for the summer, you know where to look.
Southwark Council is set to replace 105 car parking spaces with 147 new e-bike and e-scooter bays. According to Southwark News, the council said it would “discourage bikes being abandoned on pavements” and contribute to lower carbon emissions.
There are currently 82 e-bike and e-scooter bays in Southwark. The new bays will cost £200,000 to install, which will be funded using parking fees and fines.
Councillor James McAsh, cabinet member for climate emergency, clean air and streets, said the increase in parking bays for e-bikes and e-scooters is, “good news for local people who are increasingly opting for sustainable transport options.
Read more: > Southwark Council replacing over 100 car parking spaces with e-bike and e-scooter bays
Bora-Hansgrohe is a team with big ambitions, and is sending some truly big names to the Tour de France, including the team's new star and former runner-up at Le Tour Primož Roglič. Other names include the 2022 Giro d'Italia winner Jai Hindley, and the effervescent climbers Dani Martínez and Aleksandr Vlasov, making it one heck of a strong team — possibly even the strongest Bora have ever sent to a GT?
Roglič has had the maillot jaune in his sights for so long, coming so close to winning it in 2020 only to falter at the decisive final time trial stage and lose the jersey to his countryman Tadej Pogačar. But since then, while Pogačar has only got better, getting closer to realising his otherworldly natural potential each year, the rise of the no-nonsense Dane Jonas Vingegaard, with a resolute of steel and almost ubermensch-like capabilities has made it feel like Roglič's chance has come and gone.
But obviously being a top rider, this is exactly the mindset he'd be running from, believing in himself and his chances of another successful year in 2024. Especially now, in the new pastures of the German team Bora, where he's all but sure to enjoy being the primary GC contender.
But what about the dark horse making his debut, the maverick rider from Soudal-QuickStep Remco Evenepoel? The Belgian has faced a turbulent last couple of months, with team boss Patrick Lefevre and his own father not helping his cause. His legs giving away out of nowhere at the Vuelta as he tried to defend his winner's jersey from the year before also didn't. But he's still coming off the back of a season in which he won the men's time trial world championship and successfully defended his Liège–Bastogne–Liège title.
Evenepoel at 2023 Tour de France (Zac Williams/SWpix.com)
He told Het Nieuwsblad: "The last couple of months have been very difficult. I was dragged into all the transfer stories. I didn't ask for it. I listened too much to all those stories. That way I lost a lot of confidence.
"I took two extra weeks of rest. I needed it to forget everything that happened in 2023. I can go full gas again on the bike. Knowing I'll ride the Tour motivates me to follow my diet and training 100%."
So is it all going to go down the wire? Pogačar vs Evenepoel vs Vingegaard vs Roglič? The Tour de France for ages, with fireworks the likes of which we've never seen before?
An update to the weekend's Near Miss of the Day 885, with North Yorkshire Council telling road.cc that a warning letter was issued to the taxi driver “to remind him of his obligations” and that, “in the event of any further concerns, we may consider the driver’s suitability to hold a licence”.
Dedication made this.
Challenges made this.
Podiums made this.Introducing our 2024 kit and our new partnership with apparel market leaders, MAAP.
Our ninth season on the road awaits🚀
🔗 https://t.co/LxjT3A6Yetpic.twitter.com/OeJXmZBH2f
— Lifeplus - Wahoo (@LifeplusWahoo) January 11, 2024
After launching what I think is most likely to go down as my pick of the new kits bunch, EF's social media account manager is making a meal out of the Golden Globes meme-able gifs.
“EF Pro Cycling has matching socks in their kit this year” @efsockcheckpic.twitter.com/80OaM6UaZj
— EF Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) January 10, 2024
And in case you missed the most glorious, vibrant and just for some reason very-pleasing-to-look-at cycling kit of 2024, worry not, I've got you covered.
On this team, we embrace the exhilaration that racing brings - our 2024 @rapha kit embodies that spirit. pic.twitter.com/M7AjNtZUSq
— EF Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) January 4, 2024
There's no shame to admit that I may be wrapped in a jumper AND a hoodie while hogging the heater right now, but these last few days of clear weather have been itching me to get out on the bike. And year after year, there's just heaping piles of evidence that if there's a good network of cycling infrastructure, cyclists will be there, come rain or snow. You know, how the saying goes...
This morning it was literally freezing as I headed to work along C9 🚴♀️
And yet it was full of fellow cyclists - taking kids to school, heading to work, pedalling to meet friends.
Build it and they will come 👏@HounslowCycling@willnormanpic.twitter.com/D0Goqqev6z
— Charlotte Baker (@charlie_baker23) January 10, 2024