Netflix France has now confirmed to us that season three (due to air before this year's Tour) will be the final Unchained season. In a statement provided to us this lunchtime, Netflix said:
This will be the final season of the series: after three seasons, we are naturally coming to an end of this cycle. We're very proud of the work we've done and of the public response to the documentary series, which has allowed us to offer a fresh take on this legendary competition. Netflix France will continue to explore new territories in the world of sport.
French newspaper Le Parisien has reported that this summer's third season of Tour de France: Unchained, the behind-the-scenes Netflix documentary, may be its last. The documentary follows numerous riders and teams' journey to and through the race, and it is launched on the streaming platform in the week ahead of the next year's edition.
However, sources have told Le Parisien that Netflix no longer wants to film at the race and, despite nothing being official, the riders, organisers and teams "have started to get used to the idea that Netflix's cameras will no longer be there in June".
One source from a French team told the newspaper: "Usually, at the end of January, we are already contacted by Netflix for filming in the spring with some of our riders. This time, we haven't had a single phone call. It seems that the message is clear."
Another source added: "Frankly, it's complicated for Netflix to renew itself every year. We're still in a repetitive sport: bus, race, bus, hotel, sleep and repeat the next day. And with Pogačar crushing everything, the suspense seems complicated to maintain."
Le Parisien claims the second season's viewing figures were judged "average", quite good abroad but "disappointing" in France, giving the streaming giant a business decision considering the enormous production costs. It isn't all doom and gloom however, the newspaper suggesting that Netflix may film behind-the-scenes at the women's Tour instead.
We've contacted Netflix for comment. Season three is set to air ahead of this year's race, the documentary undoubtedly going to be dominated by Pogačar's phenomenal year, as well as hopefully much of Binian Girmay and Mark Cavendish's history making.
We're enjoying the comments about waxing your chain in a rice cooker. Sredlums reports their waxing is done in an "old electric fondue pan" and works just fine.
"Melt the wax, turn the temperature down a notch, put in the chain, let it sit for a minute or so, stir it a bit, take it out and turn off the heat. That's it."
brooksby: "Mmmm, fondue… I can't get out of my head this image of your wax bubbling away while you dip components into it on a fork…"
It's got to almost be lunchtime now...
Those images of Tadej Pogačar riding the infamous Arenberg Forestduring a Paris-Roubaix-themed training ride have got us all more than a little bit excited about what could be if the world champion adds the Hell of the North to his programme for 2025. Last year, Mathieu van der Poel raised his arms in victory in the rainbow jersey, could Pogačar repeat that feat in a few months' time?
Well, speaking to Sporza, Van der Poel had his say on the prospect of a Pog clash on the cobbles...
"I don't know what his plans are for Roubaix," the Dutchman said. "If he joins us like in the Tour, he will be a tough opponent. But I don't lose any sleep over it. The Tour has already shown that you have to be 110 per cent to beat him. I had good legs, but he still dropped me on the Oude Kwaremont. But the more good riders at the start, the better, because then the race will fall into place."
Van der Poel also confirmed he'll be skipping the road World Championships this year and targeting the mountain bike race instead, the 5,000m+ of climbing in Rwanda likely to see Pogačar a heavy favourite to defend his title in 2025. But first, San Remo, Flanders, Roubaix... you know you want to, Tadej...
You might have seen all sorts of headlines across the media yesterday, from the BBC doing a regional story for every single part of the country, to GB News claiming "Drivers will be 'persuaded to leave the car at home' with new £291million boost for cycling and walking". It's the outlining of funding for active travel in England (excluding London) by Active Travel England. It's not new funding, but did outline where the money will be going.
£222.5 million is to go to local authorities for the development and delivery of local walking, wheeling and cycling schemes, alongside community engagement and training. This is for both 24/25 and 25/26, so worth considering that's not an annual budget.
Bikeability and Sustrans received £30m each for their respective work providing training and maintaining the National Cycle Network. Xavier Brice, CEO at Sustrans, told us: "This funding is a fantastic boost to our work to make the 13,000 miles of routes safer and more accessible for local journeys, whether by foot, cycle, wheelchair or mobility scooter.
"We can now step-up our work with local communities, many partners and governments across the UK, to make it easier for everyone to walk, wheel or cycle for more journeys, growing local economies, providing easy and healthy access to nature and helping people live well for longer."
Meanwhile on Facebook...
Bandol Jaramillo shared this snap with the caption: "Waxing with old rice cooker works just fine."
It gave me great pleasure reading the exchange that followed...
Cyclist 2: "Rice cookers heat too fast and too far. Slow cooker is what you want."
Bandol: "Not if you just leave it on warm setting."
Cyclist 2: "They still heat way too fast and damage the paraffin molecules before switching to warm."
Bandol: "I don't switch on the cook setting, just basically plugging it and it will take about 10 to 15 minutes to fully melt. I can't see how that's fast."
Cyclist 3: "My rice cooker doesn't have a low or high."
Cyclist 2: "10-15 minutes is way too fast to melt the wax. Do you have a multi-cooker like an Instant Pot, or an actual rice cooker?"
Bandol: "Just a normal rice cooker. If you don't flick the cook botton it will just stay on keep warm setting."
Cyclist 2: "Gotcha. I would avoid a rice cooker but to each his own. It takes about an hour to melt in a slow cooker. The rice cooker is going to ruin the wax on a molecular level."
That went on and on for a fair while longer, but was great fun to witness.
For a guide to more conventional chain waxing, check this out...
> Your complete guide to waxing your chain: how to save watts and keep your chain clean for longer
Yesterday we brought you news of a Parliament petition that's nearing 2,000 signatures and asks the government to introduce presumed liability for civil cases from road traffic collisions. In short, that would mean in the case of a collision the less vulnerable party would be presumed liable unless they can prove otherwise.
So, drivers would be presumed liable for collisions with cyclists, pedestrians or horse riders and, also we should point out, cyclists presumed liable for collisions with pedestrians — not that that has put anyone here off, based on a quick look in the comments.
> Petition asks government for drivers to be "presumed liable" for cyclist collisions
Here are some of the replies we got on social media where we asked if it was a good idea:
"Yes. And *LONG* overdue."
"If it helps to make cycling on the roads safer I'm all for it. Hopefully make drivers more aware that there are others on the road who are vulnerable."
"Yes. With my cycle hat on. Yes! As someone who tries to always be a good driver, also yes!"
And some more from the road.cc comments:
Spangly Shiny: "The recent changes to the wording in the Highway Code, specifically outlining the Hierarchy of road users was an excellent first step. Now it requires the obvious follow-up legislation to enforce that hierarchy so that four-wheel Frannie gets to understand his/her place in the order of things trafficky. This from someone who drives around 20-fold as much as I ride."
chrisonabike: "I mean, it's a detail of a detail (if you need this, the bad thing has already happened, AND it doesn't help e.g. stop the driver driving - it's nothing to do with the criminal side) ... but it's something in the right direction."
John G: "Petition signed, letter also emailed to my MP."
C3a: "I agree. Off to sign."
Others rightly pointed out the bit included in the original article explaining how presumed liability is already a thing across Europe, and works effectively. The vast majority of negative replies on a certain social media site either failed to grasp this is in civil proceedings, not criminal; and that, yes, almost all cyclists are absolutely fine (and aware it also means) bicycle riders being presumed liable for collisions with pedestrians.
Any more thoughts on presumed liability? We might be preaching to the choir here, but would you like to see it implemented in the UK?
The petition will run until 18 May and if it reaches 10,000 signatures it will receive a response from the government. If it receives 100,000 signatures it will be considered for a debate in Parliament.