“I had no idea how fast I was going”: Former Conservative leader slammed for hypocrisy on “dangerous cycling” law after driving to Germany with broken speedometer; More “victim blaming” bike tips; Dream Team GB; Thank you Shell? + more on the live blog

Earlier this month, you may remember, former Tory Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith made headlines once again as he led the charge for a new “dangerous cycling” law, proposing an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill that would introduce tougher penalties for those who kill or injure while riding bikes.

The amendment was then backed by the government and had passed through the House of Commons at the time when Rishi Sunak blew the whistle on the general election campaign.

Parliament's prorogation has stalled its progress for now, however, but both Labour and the Conservatives have committed to resuming its passage into law if they win July's election.

> Iain Duncan Smith calls for creation of “causing death by dangerous, careless, or inconsiderate cycling” law

In the meantime, Duncan Smith said he would be approaching Sunak and Keir Starmer to seek assurances that the tougher measures would pass into law later in the year, the longstanding MP expressing his belief that “too many cyclists pretend to be racers” and that “all road users need to operate within the law, including speed limits”.

🚨 This may look like I am in a new crime drama with Sir Iain Duncan Smith...

But it is our investigation into cycling near Regents Park.

Using a speed gun we found some cyclists exceed the 20mph limit for cars, with @MPIainDS calling for a change in the law.@LBCpic.twitter.com/Jg67k5sImA

— Henry Riley (@HenryRiley1) May 15, 2024

It's in that context that a road.cc reader got in touch with a link to an interview Duncan Smith conducted with the Sunday Times back in 2019.

During the ‘Me and My Motor’ feature, which saw the former Tory leader reveal he enjoys driving his Morgan sports car to alleviate the stress of modern politics, Duncan Smith recalled driving to Germany, during his days in the Scots Guards in the 1970s, in a BMW with a broken speedometer.

“The dial was stuck at zero — I had no idea how fast I was going,” he said.

Our reader asked: “As the owner of several fuel-guzzling high-speed cars, could the real motivation behind Duncan Smith’s legislation be that like many of the great British public he just doesn’t like cyclists?

“As Chris Boardman has pointed out 1,700 people were killed by motor vehicles last year. More people are killed by cows and lightning [than cyclists].

> "Dangerous cycling" law will be passed following election, Labour and Conservatives confirm

“This bill will have little effect on road safety but will almost certainly put people off cycling, causing more damage to the environment and the public’s health through inactivity. The UK is the most obese nation in Europe and the cost of treating related diseases like diabetes and heart disease is huge.

“Is the real motivation behind this bill to win votes from the car-loving British public? If the Tory party really do care about road safety, Rishi Sunak should order Iain to do campaign about the importance of speedos in cars.”

So, it turns out Surrey RoadSafe weren’t bluffing when they threatened to release a series of animations “illustrating common car/bike collision scenarios and how to avoid them” (Spoiler Alert: They won’t involve any advice for motorists).

After yesterday’s clip, advising cyclists to ride defensively and in the middle of the lane to prevent oblivious drivers from pulling out of junctions and hitting them, somewhat missed the point and inevitably led to accusations of “victim blaming”, the partnership between Surrey’s police force and the council is back this morning with more helpful hints for where you’re going wrong when a motorist ploughs straight into you without warning.

This time, we’re being told to ride further into the middle of the lane (which is fair enough) to prevent oncoming drivers – who are presumably texting away on their phones at this point – turning right and hitting us:

Cyclists improve your visibility on the road.

Watch our series of animations illustrating common car/bike collision scenarios and how to avoid them.

#2 RIGHT CROSS #HabitsForLifepic.twitter.com/u6m2bGwufA

— Surrey RoadSafe (@SurreyRS) May 30, 2024

Hold on, in the first example, has the driver of the white car just committed an extremely close pass on the cyclist, obscuring the other motorist’s vision in the process? Surely that deserves a mention?

Anyway…

Much like yesterday’s clip, the general view of these animations seems to be that Surrey RoadSafe’s heart is in the right place, but their execution leaves a lot to be desired.

“I understand the point you are trying to raise, but Christ this is terribly put together,” said cycling lawyer Rory McCarron in response to this latest effort.

“Riding primary position comes with its own challenges and that doesn’t necessarily mean a collision in the example given will be avoided when people simply don’t look properly regardless.”

Also:

DRIVERS - LOOK WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

— Andy (@DrVxD) May 30, 2024

“Another day another nonsense video,” added Ryan. “Cyclists aren’t causing these, the cars are. If we cycle in the middle of the road then we’re more likely to get close passed/angry drivers behind us.”

“These are good videos, but they also need to be re-presented and targeted at drivers,” noted Pharmacist on a Pushbike. “Why do cyclists ride in the middle of the lane? To make it easier for you to see them and less likely to hit them.”

Well, better luck tomorrow, I suppose…

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the lack of certainty surrounding the race for much of 2024, not all of the biggest teams in the women’s peloton will be travelling across the Channel next week to race the inaugural edition of the revamped Tour of Britain Women.

Of the Women’s World Tour’s 15 teams, only SD Worx, DSM-Firmenich, Liv AlUla Jayco, and Human Powered Health will represent the sport’s highest level at the four-day successor to the dearly departed Women’s Tour.

> “I feel a real responsibility to get this right”: Former Ineos manager Rod Ellingworth named as new Tour of Britain race director

But that doesn’t mean next Thursday’s start line in Welshpool will be missing some of the UK’s biggest cycling names.

Because, in welcome news for fans across the country, British Cycling has this afternoon confirmed that a six-strong Great Britain Cycling Team will race the renamed Tour’s first edition, led by former world champion and double Women’s Tour winner Lizzie Deignan.

Deignan will be joined by her Lidl-Trek teammate Elynor Bäckstedt, while Bäckstedt will enjoy the opening two stages on home turf alongside her fellow Welsh rider and Olympic gold medallist Elinor Barker (Uno-X Mobility).

Visma-Lease a Bike’s Anna Henderson, who’s endured a tough, injury-prone 2024, will make her comeback from a broken collarbone at the Vuelta in GB colours, and will surely fancy her chances for a stage win.

(Cor Vos/SWpix.com)

Fenix-Deceuninck duo Millie Couzens and Flora Perkins round out what is a very strong national squad.

“It’s always incredibly special to race on home soil where the energy and support from the crowds is unparalleled. For me personally, I am particularly excited that two of the stages will be hosted in Wales on some iconic roads, which will undoubtedly make for a challenging and competitive race,” Barker said after the team was announced.

“The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women comes at an important time in our preparations for a huge summer of cycling. I think I speak for the whole squad when I say we’re extremely motivated to put on a brilliant show in June – we can’t wait.”

British Cycling’s Performance Director, Stephen Park, added: “We know that the team will relish the rare opportunity to race at home, and for the Paris hopefuls among the squad, the event will play a crucial role in the final preparations for the Games.

“We know that they’ll add real strength and stardust to the race and expect fans will be out in force to show their support.”

At a time when one of their biggest rivals, ahem, has been on the receiving end of a lot of flak for upping their prices just as summer commences, indoor training app Rouvy has announced a new flexible off-season payment plan, which includes a refined pausing option and new free version for its users who prefer to ride their bikes outside when it’s nice and warm (I know, the weirdos…).

> “I’ll see you in the winter”: Zwift accused of “taking subscribers for granted” as monthly subscription rises from £12.99 to £17.99 – but company says price hike “necessary” for platform’s development

According to Rouvy, the new plan will “provide the flexibility for users to not pay for the platform when they’re not using it but also to ride indoors should they need to during this period” by enabling every user to pause their subscription for 180 days, with the ability to un-pause at any time (but only once per calendar year).

And if it’s raining and you want to jump on Rouvy for a quick spin while your subscription’s paused, user will be able to ride on the platform for 20km a month free. Daily passes can also be bought for paused subscribers should the poor weather remain and they fancy racking up the static shed miles.

All existing and new users will be eligible for the new Pausing option (which begins on 1 June), and prepaid yearly subscriptions will be prolonged by the number of days the user paused their subscription. And even those who cancel their subscription can still avail of the 20km a month free ‘Rouvy-lite’ version.

“We have always said, and continue to say, that Rouvy helps you be a better cyclist and enjoy the outdoor experience. I believe it makes sense to use Rouvy all year round,” the platform’s co-founder and CEO Petr Samek said.

“On the other hand, we absolutely understand that there is no substitute for outdoor riding with friends. Finally, we want loyal and satisfied customers. That’s why we leave it up to our customers. Ride with us year-round, or feel free to pause during the summer, you’re still part of our community of loyal users and have access to all the benefits we offer as part of our loyalty programme.”

Responding to a recent study which found that 90 per cent of women fear cycling in cities, Dutch e-bike rental brand Swapfiets is launching its new Women’s Cycle Squad initiative on Sunday, providing expert-led group rides in London to “help build confidence and community to encourage more women on two wheels”.

The event will take place this Sunday at Swapfiets’ Spitalfields shop, between 11am and 3pm, kicking off with a meet and greet where participants can chat about any worries they have about cycling in London. A two-hour ride will then follow a route from Shoreditch down to the Thames before a leisurely lap around Hyde Park, and then taking advantage of London’s cycle lanes back to the start.

The route, according to Swapfiets, will stick mainly to “designated cycle lanes for an accessible experience for all levels”.

“The research showing 90 per cent of women fear cycling in urban areas really resonated with me, as I’ve experienced many of those fears myself over the years,” Katarina Hlavata, UK Country Manager at Swapfiets and who will be leading Sunday’s ride, says.

“We’re launching the Cycle Squad programme in direct response, to empower and build confidence for women exploring their cities by bike. Cycling should feel easy, fun, and freeing, not intimidating. By fostering a supportive community and sharing skills, we want to help make that possible for more women.”

Participants can either use their own bikes or one of Swapfiets’ models, and can book for their spot for the ride here on the brand’s Eventbrite page.

Well, that didn’t take long.

Miguel Ángel López – the recipient of a four-year doping ban from the UCI yesterday for using and possessing the human growth hormone menotropin during the 2022 Giro d’Italia – has announced his intention to appeal his suspension, which he believes is based on “manipulated and biased phone call transcripts”.

> Miguel Ángel López handed four-year doping ban for “use and possession” of human growth hormone during 2022 Giro d’Italia

Yesterday, the UCI’s Anti-Doping Tribunal banned the former Astana rider (the type of rider for whom the term ‘mercurial’ was invented) from competition until July 2027, after launching disciplinary proceedings against him last year in the wake of an investigation conducted by the Spanish police and Spain’s anti-doping agency into the Colombian’s links with the suspected doping doctor Marcos Maynar.

According to the Spanish press, a document unearthed during Operation Ilex revealed that López received a dose of menotropin, a human growth hormone that increases muscle mass and eliminate fluids and which is normally used to treat fertility disturbances, before the start of the 2022 Giro in Hungary.

However, the 30-year-old – who has always denied the allegations – came out swinging last night in response to his four-year ban, which he described as “unjustified”, stating on social media that he will appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Team Medellín EPM (@team_medellin)

“Today I have been informed about the UCI decision and the penalty of four years suspension,” the Vuelta and Giro podium finisher, who has also received the support of his home Medellín team (the squad he raced for while in exile in 2023 after being sacked by Astana), wrote on Instagram.

“I deeply disagree with it, understanding that it contradicts previous decisions made by the Spanish courts and the CAS itself, [and] I insist on maintaining that the offence is based on the interpretation of conversations that were biased and manipulated.

“I understand that the violation is non-existent and the punishment is unjustified. I will immediately appeal to the UCI and defend my innocence as I have always done, I trust to return to the competitive world of cycling.

“I appreciate the people who support me, all the positive messages from the fans, and the continuous support of my team and my family.”

> How to get your bike ready for summer — get your pride and joy clean and in full working order for plenty of sunny miles

In case you missed it last night, British Cycling has unveiled its first ever environmental sustainability strategy, which the governing body hopes will ensure it halve its carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2035.

However, in the report detailing British Cycling’s sustainability plans, the spectre of Shell – the governing body’s rather controversial partner since 2022 – looms large, with BC claiming the oil and gas giant is “helping accelerate [its] journey to net zero” through its carbon offsetting programme, supporting its transition to low and zero carbon vehicles, and contributing to the cost of sustainable aviation fuels.

> “A step in the right direction or a nice bit of greenwashing?” Shell-backed British Cycling aiming to halve carbon emissions in six years and achieve net zero by 2035 – as governing body says partnership with oil giant is key to “positive progress”

Unsurprisingly, Shell’s role in what is admittedly a very noble and ambitious plan by British Cycling has divided opinion within the cycling community, with one describing the oil company’s involvement as “greenwashing par excellence”.

“Given Shell is about to cut loads of the (relatively few) staff it has working on renewables, them helping a small governing body cut its emissions means the square root of f*** all,” Josh Morris wrote on Twitter.

“Wasn’t the very concept of analysing ‘sustainability’ through a single oversimplified tariff-based metric one of Shell’s great PR coups?” asked road.cc reader ROOTminus1 in the comments section.

“Allowing people to perform the mental gymnastics whereby planting a few trees in the Sahal region (numbers planted unconfirmed, time until trees cut down/die unavailable) can somehow offset the square miles of open cast mining to harvest rare materials for batteries.

“Or 20 per cent of the same tree accounts for the oil used by a company as fuel and electricity, despite the fact it’s Shell pumping that oil out of the ground and then blaming their customers for the damage they’re causing.

“British Cycling should be doing their part, as should we all, but their MO should be aiding a national reduction in emissions by getting people out of cars (ICE or electric) and onto bikes, not BS creative accounting with CO2e credits.”

However, not everyone was so dismissive of Shell’s intentions at British Cycling.

“You just can’t please some people,” wrote alexuk. “If I were Shell, I’d be so depressed. Would people really prefer they do absolutely nothing, and not sponsor British Cycling?

“I think the masses are all just so brainwashed to hate these companies, that they don’t want to even consider they might not be as bad as certain groups like to make out. I for one am glad that they’re handing over some money to support cycling. Thank you Shell.”

Wonder if that message will pop up on a billboard in Manchester soon?