It’s been just two weeks since energy drinks company and all-round marketing powerhouse Red Bull acquired a 51 percent stake in Bora-Hansgrohe – a move that promises to double the German squad’s €25 million annual budget and vault it into the cycling’s elite stratosphere of Tour de France-winning outfits – the wheels are already beginning to slowly turn when it comes to the new-look team’s grand plans.
According to German sports media outlet Kicker, Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert are top of Red Bull’s list of transfer targets for the 2025 season.
And while the prospect of Bora acquiring the two Belgian superstars, especially over the course of the same winter, would have appeared highly dubious even a month ago, Red Bull’s takeover of the team’s parent company (expected to be ratified later this month by the Austrian anti-trust authority) has already thrown the cat among the pigeons of pro cycling’s hierarchy.
The two marquee arrivals mooted in the German press also happen to make a lot of sense. Van Aert, of course, has been a Red Bull-sponsored athlete since 2018, sporting the brand’s distinctive colours and logo on his helmet on both the road and the ‘cross field.
(Zac Williams/SWpix.com)
Meanwhile, Evenepoel has a longstanding relationship with Bora’s bike supplier Specialized and, according to Kicker, has been earmarked as the long-term successor to new signing Primož Roglič (a move that was rumoured to have itself been bankrolled by Red Bull) as the team’s primary GC contender in the grand tours.
There is one spanner in the seemingly smooth works, however – both Van Aert and Evenepoel’s contracts run until 2026. But, with the funds expected to be at the team’s disposal courtesy of Red Bull, as well as the opportunity to offload some of the 20 riders out of contract with the team at the end of the year, that shouldn’t be much of a problem, especially in today’s more transfer fee-friendly cycling world.
Whether these rumours end up proving true remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Red Bull’s arrival on the scene looks set to shake up cycling, and leave the sport’s dominant teams, UAE Team Emirates and Visma-Lease a Bike, glancing anxiously over their shoulders.
As high inventory levels continue to tie up even the most profitable sections of the cycling industry at the moment, bike manufacturer Scott has received an almost £140 million loan from its owner, South Korean clothing firm Youngone.
Youngone, which manufactures clothing for global outdoor brands such as North Face and Patagonia, holds a more than 50 percent stake in Scott, with the Swiss cycling company set to use the funds to back its business operation. According to Youngone’s financial statement, Scott recorded a net profit of £36.6 million in 2023, up 26 percent on the previous year.
However, the Korea Economic Daily also reports that Youngone is currently facing a legal conflict with Scott’s founder and current second-largest shareholder Beat Zaugg, after the Korean firm requested an arbitration by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in 2022, following an alleged breach of Scott’s shareholders’ agreement by Zaugg.
Cyclists have once again raised the alarm about scammers using component and groupset deals to take large sums of money from unsuspecting victims shopping on Facebook Marketplace for a good deal.
As with other cases in the past, the scammers used a profile, often a stolen identity, before accepting payment for cycling components or a groupset via PayPal’s friends and family service rather than paying for an item or service, sometimes under the guise of avoiding fees, but ultimately to ensure payments are not covered by PayPal’s Purchase Protection.
Read more: > Scam victims warn cyclists of component and groupset deals on Facebook Marketplace
Over the weekend, Lime Bikes – and the issues surrounding the e-bike hire company’s ‘virtual’ docking system – were once again thrust into the spotlight, and the national press (and no, I don’t mean because Fulham full back Kenny Tete was pictured riding one), with both the Guardian, the Times, and the Telegraph all publishing lengthy think pieces on the pros and cons of the ubiquitous green bikes and their apparent status as a “menace” on Britain’s streets.
While noting the success of bike hire schemes across the country in recent years, the Times also pointed out that ”anger is growing” at e-bikes that “have encountered widespread opposition because of the thoughtless way they are often strewn across pavements at the end of a ride. Pictures of badly parked machines have become a staple of social media.”
In the Guardian, the tone was much the same. “As Lime’s e-bike service has grown,” writes Stuart McGurk, “so have the problems associated with it. Its cycles are left strewn across pavements. Bikes have fallen on to parked cars, causing hundreds of pounds’ worth of damage. One was photographed in a tree.
“Are [Lime] bikes a convenient and sustainable form of transport or a menace clogging up pavements?”
> Wandsworth says it may start impounding Lime e-bikes if pavement parking isn’t tackled
And in the Telegraph, perhaps unsurprisingly, the tone was just as harsh – though the journalist responsible did also note the “profitable and eco-friendly” characteristics of bike hire schemes.
“Of the many plagues currently blighting Britain, dockless cycle schemes are among the most bizarre,” the Telegraph’s article begins. “Who would have guessed that in 2024, one of the many hazards facing parents with pushchairs, wheelchair users, and blind people would be an infestation of lithium-powered e-bikes?”
The dockless nature of Lime’s bikes – which allows users to drop off and pick up their bikes anywhere, rather than from a designation docking station used by the likes of Santander – was heavily criticised in the articles by Sarah Gayton, a campaigner for the National Federation of the Blind.
“We want dockless bikes to be taken off the road. They can have as much technology as they want, they can send people out to retrieve them, but once that bike is dumped on a pavement, it becomes a hazard to the visually impaired. This model does not work,” she said.
> Lime hire scheme under fire as residents claim e-bikes "deliberately" left in "dangerous places"
This criticism of Lime’s dockless approach is nothing new, and has been covered quite a few times over the years on road.cc and our sister site ebiketips.
Last July, residents of the west London borough of Hounslow spoke about what they claim were Lime e-bikes being “deliberately” left in “dangerous places”, as some locals called for the trial of the bike hire scheme to be paused immediately, arguing that it was only a matter of time before “somebody gets killed”.
The previous December, we also reported on the blog that one London cyclist had been given a ‘parking ticket’ for leaving a Lime bike in a car parking pay.
When we contacted Lime at the time, they said users need to “park like your gran is watching” and should “never leave your e-bike in a way that obstructs the pavement or could create an access issue for pedestrians, including those with disabilities or access needs”.
However, a photo sent to us by a reader at the weekend – perhaps inspired by the surge of publicity in the national press – demonstrates quite clearly that Lime’s advice remains largely unheeded.
The photo, sent to us by Robert Smith, shows the unmistakable green machines left clustered around a pedestrian crossing at London Bridge. Which, unless they’re actually all waiting to cross the road themselves, isn’t the best look for the tech brand.
“I regularly commute to work on my bike and hire bikes are also a good idea but not having designated docking stations causes nuisance. Needs to be better regulation,” Robert said.
What do you think? Do the pros of dockless hire bikes outweigh the cons? And is “better regulation” the way forward? Or is just a healthy dose of common sense when it comes to parking your bike required?
Hayman’s a little strict this TDU 😳🤠
No pressure guys! 🙊🙈#TourDownUnder🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/GOR9eeGYfo
— GreenEDGE Cycling (@GreenEDGEteam) January 15, 2024
Ah, I missed this uniquely pro cycling (by which I mean uniquely naff) brand of social media ‘bantz’ during the off-season… Well, at least they didn’t reference Crocodile Dundee this time.
When the ‘cyclists wearing hi-vis’ debate pops off – as it does almost every week during the winter, thanks to the ill-advised safety advice of police social media admins – one thought invariably springs to mind: If cyclists are always told to make themselves visible at night by wearing fifty shades of fluoro, what precautions are motorists taking to make sure they can see us in the dark?
Well, that very question may soon be answered, as the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has indicated that it is planning to review how sight tests are administered this year, by introducing a more reliable eye test that could, according to one agency, take 17 million drivers off the road.
The current eye test requires motorists to be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away in good daylight, with examiners not permitted to check eyesight before sunrise or after sunset, or because of bad weather. But according to the DVSA’s 2023/24 business plan, a public consultation found potential problems with how the eyesight test is performed, including the lack of different light levels.
The DVSA is now engaging with a DVLA Medical Panel to consider introducing a more accurate eye test which meets more stringent standards, potentially scrapping the good daylight rule to make sure that drivers’ eyesight is good enough at all times.
While the new test – that would also focus on dark and fading night vision – is yet to be confirmed, car leasing company LeaseCar.uk predicts that compulsory and regular eyesight tests in dark conditions could soon be introduced this year, which the DVSA hopes will make all journeys safer.
“The skills needed to drive in the dark are different from those needed in daylight, which means more people than ever could see their licences revoked if they fail a potentially new eyesight test,” LeaseCar’s Tim Alcock said in a statement.
“The skills needed to drive in the dark are different from those needed in daylight, which means more people than ever could see their licences revoked if they fail a potentially new eyesight test.
“A staggering 17 million drivers in the UK admit to having trouble seeing in the dark, which could be a huge problem if this new eyesight test is introduced. We expect they could also take a toll on the number of eligible elderly drivers, who are more likely to have eye conditions and fading night vision.”
What do you think? Could this new potential new nighttime eye test make things safer on the road for cyclists, and help move the focus on visibility at night away from hi-vis cycling tops?
Fun fact- we have many 100s of km of cable tunnel under London and we use bikes to get around. All these bikes have been used for recent cable installation and jointing works and they’ve been parked near the pit bottom, in readiness for winching out tomorrow 🚴🚴🏻♀️🚴♂️🚲👨🏻🔧⚡️ pic.twitter.com/tfFysrv1hv
— James Watson CEng, FIET (@EngineerLondon) January 15, 2024
The UCI’s recent decision to clamp down on the increasingly popular use of tilted-in brake levers within the peloton, a move the governing body insists is based on safety concerns, has already been described as “bullshit” by aero aficionado Victor Campenaerts, who claimed the ambiguity currently surrounding what the UCI loosely termed the “extreme inward inclination of brake levers” will simply prompt riders to seek out loopholes to achieve a similar, super narrow position.
And now, speaking at the Tour Down Under – where commissaires were spotted at the women’s race wielding a flimsy-looking 3D printed device while poking around riders’ handlebars – Lidl-Trek’s Quinn Simmons has joined Campenaerts in his criticism of the new regulations, with the divisive American arguing that the UCI should instead focus on other aspects of rider safety that make the sport “over the limit” when it comes to danger.
Fiscalização dos manetes pra dentro começou
Precisava? Não. pic.twitter.com/6bBNRH4qGH
— O País Do Ciclismo (@opaisdociclismo) January 12, 2024
“First of all, I’m very for anything that increases safety,” Simmons, a long-time devotee of the turned-in lever position, told GCN in Australia.
“It’s ridiculous how dangerous our sport is and I think it’s actually over the limit, just the sport in general. It’s too dangerous and we need to change things.
“I think something like this, it’s not really the place that will change so much. It’s the dangerous finishes and the dangerous courses that organisers get away with that causes the crashes. Also, riders doing stupid stuff.”
(Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)
The 22-year-old continued: “It will have changed no safety at all now that my levers are three centimetres out, it just makes it more uncomfortable for me. But in the end, it’s the new rule and we have to play along by the rules of our sport.
“At least now, the super extreme ones will be gone. I just hope that if you’re one-degree off or something they don’t start doing something stupid. If they just enforce the really crazy ones, then it’s okay.”
However, despite Campenaerts and Simmons’ criticism of the new rule, other pros – such as Israel-Premier Tech’s Kiwi climber George Bennett – are in favour of the change.
Bennett descends during last year’s Tour Down Under (Zac Williams/SWpix.com)
“I think it’s a good rule. I think it was getting more and more and more extreme. You started seeing guys riding with one little pinkie wrapped around the bars and you can’t react if someone brakes in front of you,” Bennett said, before referencing a crash at last year’s Tour Down Under.
“I saw last year, as a good example, in this race, first stage, where there was a crash and a guy came in like five seconds later and clipped them all from behind because he couldn’t get to his brakes because they were basically pointing inwards. If no one’s allowed to do it, we’re all at the same advantage and it’s just safe for everyone.”
Meanwhile, Visma-Lease a Bike’s experienced Dutchman Robert Gesink – who’s seen more than a few ‘extreme’ things during his 18-odd years in the peloton – also backed the rule, but did note the method of measuring bar angles could be improved.
“I think in general it’s a good decision because we saw some quite extreme settings. Obviously, those things are designed to be able to brake and control your bike and if it leads to less safe situations then it’s a good thing that there are measures being put,” the 37-year-old said.
“Now we saw the first times of those measurements being done. I’m not sure if that’s a finalised way of measuring yet, it looked quite clumsy with a plastic tool that left quite some range still. But definitely it’s a good first step to check it.”
Temperatures in London's morning commute were sub-zero: -5 °C to -1 °C 🥶
Good to see folk using cycleways #C9/#CW9, #C4/#CW4 and #C3/#CS3😎
(Alt: 40secs video from TfL's traffic cameras 0730-0815 along quoted cycleways) pic.twitter.com/8NENBCaBFm
— London Cycleway C3/CS3's Crowdsourced Count (@CS3Count) January 16, 2024
Ah yes, I was eagerly awaiting the column in the Times on ‘How to turn a positive story on active travel and mental health into a crazed anti-cycling rant’…
> Times newspaper columnist reports new study that commuting by bike is good for mental health... before descending into bizarre anti-cyclist rant about “speeding, semi-psychotic masses”
Speaking of Bora-Hansgrohe’s flawless transition between its two sprinting Sam eras, the German squad’s lead-out star Danny van Poppel offered a, shall we say, rather blunt assessment of Tour de France green jersey winner Bennett’s frustrating second stint at the team, after newbie Welsford quickly made his mark on the opening Tanunda stage of the Tour Down Under today (try saying that after a few beers).
“We did the lead-out often last year but with [Sam] Bennett it didn’t turn out well,” Van Poppel, who is quickly establishing himself as the new Renshaw or Mørkøv of the peloton, said after today’s win.
“New Sam is a powerhouse. He’s a totally different type of sprinter to Bennett – I was waiting for a fast sprinter.
“Sam Bennett is a good friend of mine, but in the end it’s business and we want to win.”
Ouch. With friends like that…
Though I think we should chalk Van Poppel’s savage analysis of Bennett’s late-career dip down to some classic Dutch directness, and a typical ‘win at all costs’ sprinter mentality.
Danny van Poppel, an exemplary teammate 😌 pic.twitter.com/VTJ4BMQTQc
— BORA – hansgrohe (@BORAhansgrohe) January 16, 2024
Nevertheless, Van Poppel explained why 27-year-old Australian Welsford (or ‘New Sam’, as I’m sure he loves being called) can make a big mark at Bora this year.
“He has so much power from the track. When we do a lead out like this, guys like Kittel, Greipel, Welsford, they can do it,” Van Poppel said. “Sam’s only been riding in the WorldTour for two years so everything is new to him and he’s still super hungry. He can be the new sprinter with us, it’s a perfect combination I think.”
Welsford also believes that Bora could be on to something with their sprint train this year, and that the confidence derived from today’s Down Under win – a confidence that was noticeably lacking from Decathlon-AG2R-bound Bennett’s inconsistent 2023 – can act as a springboard for the bigger sprint rendezvous later in the season.
“Sprinters feed off confidence and the only time you can get that is with a good result,” the Tour Down Under leader said.
“For us to get that first win of the season as a team, first race together, is a good sign to see what we can do together. We did a training camp in Mallorca where we did a couple of simulation efforts but you don’t need too much training when you’ve got Danny van Poppel and Ryan Mullen and all the boys in front of you. They’re pretty special.”
Let’s just hope Mullen told his old mate Bennett to avoid the cycling media for a day or two, or else a big competitive Dutchman will have some explaining to do…
Meet the new Sam, same as the old Sam… Except maybe a touch faster.
With Sam Bennett departing for Decathlon-AG2R over the winter, Bora-Hansgrohe’s new fast-finishing signing, 27-year-old Australian sprinter Sam Welsford – or Sam 2.0 – didn’t take long to slot perfectly into the German team’s finely tuned lead-out train, taking the first sprint opportunity of the year on today’s opening stage of the Tour Down Under.
Sam Welsford from team Bora-Hansgrohe takes out top spot on Day 1 after 144.0KMs and three laps of the Tanunda track.@SantosLtd#TourDownUnder
📺 Stream the race now on 7plus: https://t.co/k2Exq3FDwlpic.twitter.com/73vcX9qn5i
— Santos Tour Down Under 🚴🚴♀️ (@tourdownunder) January 16, 2024
On a swelteringly hot day in the Barossa Valley wine country, Welsford – who joined Bora at the start of 2024 after two years with Team DSM – took advantage of the inch-perfect lead-out offered to him by Ryan Mullen and the flying Danny Van Poppel to hold off the late-charging Phil Bauhaus and Biniam Girmay for the victory in Tanunda.
“That was crazy, I am at a loss for words. The boys kept calm and stayed patient and wow, they did an amazing job,” Welsford said at the finish.
“Look at this team here, they’re probably the strongest team on paper. I am happy to pay it off for them they did so much for me.”
YOU LEGEND @sam_welsford! 🎉👏🏼
Your stage 1 winner at the @tourdownunder! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/2hNINwLMkD
— BORA – hansgrohe (@BORAhansgrohe) January 16, 2024
While he appeared calm on the surface as he lined the bunch out in preparation for Welsford and Van Poppel’s final charge, former Irish champion Mullen was perhaps just as focused on making it to the finish and finding a spot of shade, than he was helping his team to the first men’s WorldTour success of the season.
“Off to a great start here at the Tour Down Under. Flawless work by all the boys in the last few kilometres,” a very pale, very un-Aussie Mullen wrote on Twitter after the win.
“Now please excuse me whilst I go and die of heatstroke in a corner.”
With the snow falling this morning back home, I can only imagine what he was going through during the stage…