The prelude to the showdown between Olympic double gold winner Remco Evenepoel and newly crowned world champion Tadej Pogačar at the Il Lombardia on the weekend has been hampered, as the incessant downpour and excessive flooding has caused the Italian classic race Tre Valli Varesine to be cancelled after 60km of racing.
The race was supposed to be a reduced distance one with two laps cut. However after three laps around Lombardy , the riders including Pogačar, seemed to stop at the finish line at Varese — which has received an orange warning for thunderstorms — to speak to the race organisers, soon after which the race was abandoned.
Adam Hansen, the president of the riders’ union CPA, said: “The riders stopped during the Tre Valli Varesine due to excessive water accumulation on the roads, which in some sections reached as high as the disc rotors.
“Riders described the conditions as ‘rivers flowing across the roads’, with ‘moving stones and mud on the surface’, making visibility nearly impossible during descents. Faced with worsening weather, they made a united decision to stop for their own safety.”
Other teams also posted pictures and videos of the treacherous conditions, with standing water collecting on the roads and a constant downstream of water from higher altitudes.
Ben Swift from Ineos Grenadiers said: “It’s a massive shame for the race, for the riders, for the fans, for everybody. We tried to come to come to a conclusion with what would happen, we know the weather was going to be bad.
“We don’t mind racing in the rain, but this was extreme. On the downhill on the second or the third lap it was up to the hubs. I somebody crashed there… you don’t want to think what could happen. It was about safety. It’s a shame that actually the weather has improved now but when you descend and you can see manhole covers getting lifted up off the floor, it just wasn’t possible unfortunately.”
Meanwhile, Lidl-Trek’s Tom Skujiņš wrote: “A real pity we couldn't put on a good show today at one of the legendary Italian races. However the flooded roads weren't safe and nobody wants to see riders getting injured. I'd like to thank the Tre Valli Varesine organisers for making the very difficult, but right call.”
Tadej Pogačar also spoke to other riders and the organisers. “We tried to race and did a good race until we could. Then on the last lap, on the downhill, I was in second position behind [Alessandro] Covi and we couldn't see where we were going,” he said before going to his UAE Team Emirates bus for a warm shower, reports Cyclingnews.
“Everybody wanted to stop. It was just a matter of time about when some guy would crash. When there’s standing water, it's not good.
“We understand the organisers — that they want to race — but in the end the riders made the right decision not to. We are sad for the race to not continue, but it’s like this. We talked with the organisers, luckily everybody was reasonable.
“I could see how heavy it was for the boss of the organisation. There were tears in his eyes. This race means a lot to them and it's a beautiful race, but when you can't race you can’t. They understood that immediately. I’m really thankful for that and happy that they decided to end the race.”
The Tre Valli Varesine men's race has been called off due to poor weather conditions. A strong field, including World Champion Tadej Pogačar, were set to compete in this final tune-up ahead of Il Lombardia. 🌧️#cycling#roadcyclingpic.twitter.com/mcVFsQtIde
— Eurosport (@eurosport) October 8, 2024
Race organiser Renzo Oldani also spoke briefly and accepted that safety comes first, saying: “It was a difficult decision. Safety comes first, for the riders and for the spectators. This hurts after a year of hard work but I'll try to encourage my staff and volunteers after the riders promised to be back next year.”
The women’s race, meanwhile, had started earlier and managed to brave the tough weather conditions and finish the race, with Ceratizit-WNT’s Cédrine Kerbaol winning solo ahead of Silvia Persico and Liane Lippert.
What’s news and what’s satire? You never know these days (that’s why you come to road.cc, we hope!), but if you’re interested in some firmly tongue-in-cheek “satirical news” — if you can call it that — a new sketch from Larry and Paul in their series ‘Broken News’ attempted to take a fair few digs at cyclists…
The premise of the story? “Cyclists have today announced that they’re to break away from humanity and form a new master race. The announcement was made by broadcaster Jeremy Vine, who will become their supreme overlord and unquestioned deity.”
⚠️ NEWS: Cyclists are to split from humanity and form a new “superior race” with Jeremy Vine as their god.
👇 #BrokenNews has the details and an EXCLUSIVE interview with HRH @theJeremyVine.
— Larry & Paul (@larryandpaul) October 8, 2024
The reporter goes on to assert the well-known fact that cyclists are better than humans. Why? They have “more powerful limbs, bigger lung capacity, and many have enough disposable income to spend six grand on a f****** pedal bike.”
Ouch.
But that’s the baseline for why cyclists — of course, the millions of cyclists in this alternate timeline — have apparently decided to not identify as homo sapiens anymore, but instead, homo a sullas, Latin for man from the saddle. Or, as Paul says “wheeled man”.
Okay…
What’s special about homo a sullas? They have developed an “inch-thick reinforced perineum, and a second skin — an organic lycra which stretches over the taut, glistening hydraulic meaty thighs of each rider, as well as their firm, generous and heaving cock and balls.”
Coooooool!
If anything, some might argue that the video’s worth the watch just for the insanely ridiculous impersonation of Vine, who gets showered with several titles, His Excellency, the most Holy Baron of Brakes, Shimano Supreme, Prince of Pedals, Sovereign of Saddles — set to rule from atop his penny farthing wearing a crown of 360-degree 4k cameras.
But what do you guys make of the video? All in good fun or a bit too on the nose? Let us know in the comments!
You see someone in a motor vehicle who should be stopping and letting you pass, but you know that they’ve seen you and decided that they’re still going to give it a try, you slow down and just as the two of you are on the collision path, wits take over the driver and they gracelessly stop, but so do you, because of course, you’re the one who’s got the most to lose… But yet, the driver gives you the look saying, “I don’t know where you came from mate!”, or worse, a honk to say, “Come on now, don’t waste my time here”.
I’m sure this exact incident, in some way or the other has happened to so many of us, yet it’s always a pretty disarming moment… This time, it happened on the roundabout junction between the A4020 and Church Road and St George’s Road in Ealing, London to the cyclist who goes by the name of Das_Pig on social media.
“I don’t have airbags. If you don’t look like you're going to stop, I need to brake,” they said. “No need to shout your face off because I prioritised my safety. Another Hats Group driver with an irrational hate towards cyclists.”
I don't have airbags. If you don't look like you're going to stop, I need to brake 🤷
No need to shout your face off because I prioritised my safety. Another @Hats_Group driver with an irrational hate towards cyclists 👎@SafeUxbridgeRd@BetterEaling@EalingCyclists@THINKgovukpic.twitter.com/MNMZ7ycZTx
— Das_Pig (@Das_Pig) October 7, 2024
Several cyclists replied sharing their stories of how many times this has happened to them. One even mentioned the most disastrous hiccup you can face on the bike: Having to pull an emergency stop while being in a big gear and then struggle to get up-up and away.
“I would tend to fluff my restart there. It can sometimes take me an age to get back down the gears after an emergency stop. If only they had waited correctly in the first place, neither of us would have had the unnecessary delay, whilst I fluster and apologise for taking so long.”
Another person talked about how motorists don’t get what it means to be a cyclist, writing: “This is the number one thing car drivers don't get. Hit a car in your car, it's a big bill. Get hit by a car on your bike, it's serious injury or death. ‘Over’ cautiousness is a given.”
Eddie Coldrick also mentioned another instance of poor driving by a Hats Group driver, saying: “I nearly got squashed by a Hats Group ambulance at a pinch point on my bike. Wrote an email to them, but no response. Somehow they are RoSPA [Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents] accredited, but all I see are complaints about their poor driving and disregard for cyclists. RoSPA also ignored the complaint.”
Some other comments:
“You totally did the right thing there mate!”
“Sometimes the drivers know full well they've driven poorly, but like a guilty child who's done something wrong they just blame someone else. There's only you, so they blame you. At least you don't live with them, everything would be your fault.”
“Entitled d*** of a driver.”
What do you guys make of it? If you’ve experienced similar near-miss events like this, let us know!
Strava will no longer let you add URL links to posts and has deleted all links in existing posts, a move that has been criticised by some users frustrated by the inconvenience and impact it could have, particularly on those hoping to raise money for charity.
Users noticed URLs being automatically removed from posts over the past couple of weeks, new uploads no longer showing the link and existing uploads now displaying a 'This content is not available' message.
A quick visit through high-profile athletes' pages shows the new Strava world without links, Chris Froome's much criticised posts advertising mobile banking app Curve now looking like this.
If you hadn’t seen this, the gravel world championship over the weekend had a familiar yet surprising face amongst its riders, 10-time F1 race winner and former teammate of seven (erm, eight, if you ask some) time world champion Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas.
Familiar — because the Finnish racer-cum-rider is known for his love of gravel riding, to the point that one might ask if he’s really more of a cyclist than a driver now, driving Formula 1 cars as his day job and coming back to ride backs as his true passion.
And yet surprising because, what was an F1 driver doing at a gravel world championship?! Don’t get me wrong, he’s more than welcome, it is just — a bit surprising.
But without a contract for next year, and as his current F1 team Sauber gets taken over by Audi next year — it looks more and more unlikely that the Finn will be out an F1 seat. So what’s next for him?
Maybe a chat with ex-Barcelona and Stoke City player Bojan Krkić might be handy?
Question for the pod:
After F1’s Valtteri Bottas swapped four wheels for two this weekend at the Gravel Worlds, which sports star would you like to see get on a bike?#cycling#OnYerBikePod@writebikerepeatpic.twitter.com/okYKM0rXsX
— Sanny Rudravajhala (@Sanny_Rudra) October 7, 2024
Continuing the theme of poor roundabout layouts in the UK on today’s live blog, here’s another one from Stirling in Scotland, as cyclists are worried about the appalling state of the Cornton Road cycle lane (which, let's be honest, is a strip of red paint) before each junction, which gives motorists the right of way and forcing cyclists to stop in order to allow traffic.
Dr Crispin Bennett, who commutes along the route, said: “It causes confusion and conflict, in addition to being dangerous. It always goes against the Highway Code.”
Kevin Simpson, a local resident and father who also cycles the route with his daughter, said: “The danger is from both sides when cycling, especially with my daughter; it’s a lottery that does not favour the cyclist as to what drivers will do.
“Both drivers exiting onto Cornton Road, but worse from those coming off Cornton Road and into a side street without a pause.”
Dr Matt Kidd, another commuter along the road, said: “They cause danger and uncertainty when I cycle to work. Drivers on the whole are considerate and understand that cycles are going to cross the side roads, giving way to me which is nice, but there’s a good deal of uncertainty which is where the risk of an event increases.
“I’ve cycled in many European cities and applaud that vision the council has.”
Sally Stovell, a local resident and mother who cycles with her children to school. She said: “It prioritises cars instead of bikes and it’s a bike lane. It would also make more people use the bike lanes rather than just going on the road.
“Why would you go on a lane where you have to slow down at every junction when you can go on the road and have right of way? Imagine they made cars give way on a main road at every side street. The need to make active travel appealing and work if they actually want people to use it.”
Daily Record reports that Dunblane and Bridge of Allan Green councillor, Alasdair Tollemache has been calling for action on the route for the last two years and says he has been inundated by emails and messages about the issue from concerned cyclists.
Cllr Tollemache said: “Over the last two years, cyclists have contacted me frustrated by the lack of action on this issue. We’re trying to encourage active travel and simply changing the priority at the junctions along the cycle path alongside Cornton Road would comply with the highway code and make cyclists safer. I have pressed the council again this week for a timescale.”
A Stirling Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of these issues on Cornton Road. Officers are assessing what improvements are required to the road and the wider network following the changes to the Highway Code in relation to bike prioritisation. A decision will be taken on this as soon as possible.”
After starting working on bikes at the young age of 15 and then going on to start the now-iconic Italian brand Tommasini Cycles in 1957, legendary frame builder Irio Tommasini died yesterday, aged 91.
Tommasini Cycles shared the news via a Facebook post, writing: “With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Irio Tommasini, who, with his passion and genius, founded our company in 1957.
“Irio, who has left us at the age of 91, lived a life deeply rooted in the world of bicycles since 1948, first as a cyclist and later as a master craftsman. His attention to detail, love for tradition, and constant drive for innovation, which made Tommasini frames true works of art known and admired all over the world, will continue to guide us in the work we do every day, carrying forward the story of Irio and the Tommasini company.”
IrioTommasini (credit: TommasiniBiciclette)
Besides being completely enamoured by cycling from a very early age, Irio, originally from Buriano, gained a hands-on experience in dealing with bikes at a large Milanese cycles company when he was still a teenager. He then moved south to Grosseto, Tuscany where he founded his namesake frame-building company in 1957. In the 1970s, the company expanded its production and sales network in Italy and abroad.
Irio served as an inspiration to many venerated craftsmen who came after him, such as the late Mark Reilly, one of the UK’s most respected frame-builders and widely seen as the country’s leading exponent of using titanium as a material for bicycle frame.
Tommasini frames were and still are appreciated both for their finish and size. Many amateur and professional riders have relied and continue to rely on the company winning with these frames. Today, the company’s workmanship remains artisan thus rewarding experience and choice of the best materials.
> Bob Parlee, founder of legendary US custom frame builder Parlee Cycles, dies aged 70
I know summer’s over, but brat summer? It still lives on!
If you’re as terminally online as me, you’re probably vaguely aware of the cultural storm of British pop star Charli xcx’s 2024 club album ‘brat’ (erm, aka your live blog host’s favourite album of the year!), and how it’s minimal yet garish album cover has basically claimed the colour neon green as it’s own. So this image of the bike lane with that green paint with the lower-caps text and that sans serif font… come on now, that’s a brat-coded bike lane!
when i'm in the lane, yeah i'm biking that (@mvddm on Twitter)
And once again, if you’re as terminally online as me, you might’ve seen the host of TikTok dance videos it’s given rise to, primarily the song ‘Apple’. So it was only a matter of time we’d have cyclists recreate the video.
And it’s not just any cyclists, it’s Ed, James and Tommy, or as they are known by the Instagram account ‘thehairlessbikers’, who cycled the length of Norway and stopped at Bratland to film the dance video!
One of them even got himself a brat green helmet. Wow, sooo brat...
The "impatient" driver was overtaking a stalled vehicle at traffic lights in Blackburn, pulling into the opposite lane and hitting a cyclist described as "very fortunate not to have died".
No I mean it, literally!
Meanwhile, in the cyclist execution chamber pic.twitter.com/WDXEBaVRVg
— The🚴♂️Infra-PM 💚 (@theInfraPM) October 7, 2024
I think Mel C Thompson best summarised how such a dastardly thing probably came to be, commenting under the tweet: “City planners be like: The punishment for making us do these lanes in the first place.”