Welcome to Wednesday on the road.cc live blog with Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
27/02/2019, 13:39
A cyclist in Thailand had to make a quick getaway when he was charged by an angry elephant, reports the Bangkok Times.
The incident, captured on the dash cam in the pick-up truck driven by the cyclist’s father, happened in Thailand’s Khao Yai National Park.
The rider, 20-year-old Nattawat Popwandeeruechakul, said: "Senior cyclists of the A2Bike team invited me to join them on a trip through Khao Yai. I had never been in Khao Yai, so I joined in.
“There were seven cyclists with two vehicles following us.
"I was concentrating on the tarmac when I heard heavy footsteps and felt the ground shake. I looked up, and was shocked by the sight of a wild elephant running toward me.”
Initially frozen with panic, he jumped off his bike, and running, carried it back to his father’s pick-up truck and jumped in the back.
The elephant – apparently called Yoyo and prone to fits of anger at tourists’ vehicles, but who has supposedly never hurt anyone – headed back into the jungle.
27/02/2019, 12:11
Team Sky announce 'formal collaboration' with Garmin
Team Sky has agreed a partnership with @GarminFitness, a world-leader in GPS technology, for the 2019 season.
> https://t.co/QMkFkMfj7Rpic.twitter.com/AIg9KO6JnC
— Team Sky (@TeamSky) February 27, 2019
Sky have been using Garmin headunits for years so this looks like it's simply a case of Garmin agreeing to supply the computers rather than Sky buying them.
Of the deal, Team Principal, Sir Dave Brailsford said that “technology is key to successful performance and at Team Sky we are always looking for new ways to improve our training and in race experience with the best products."
“Our coaches and riders know that in Garmin we have a best in class partner for our many different needs. We trust their products. They are reliable, intuitive and state of the art. But importantly we look for partners that will innovate to develop new tools and methods for the future. We think the potential is huge and that this exciting partnership opens up a new world of possibility for us to explore together.”
The team will be supplied with headunits from the Edge series and Varia RTL510 rearview radar for the riders training bikes.
But this could also be a way back into the pro ranks for Garmin who haven't been a headline sponsor since the Garmin-Cervelo days.
We'll keep our eyes on this one.
27/02/2019, 11:30
Josh Ibbett 3rd in 650 mile race
Josh Ibbett, Transcontinental winner, has just finished third in the unsupported non-stop 650 mile BikingMan Oman ultra-cycling race. Kudos Josh!
He rode the event on his Mason Cycles Definition with 50mm carbon Hunt wheels and WTB Exposure 30mm tyres, with Miss Grape bikepacking bags and rocking a SRAM Force 1 groupset.
27/02/2019, 11:11
Anyone bring a bucket and spade?
Vamos a la playa pic.twitter.com/62aXnXk7Kg
— the Inner Ring (@inrng) February 27, 2019
The wind is picking up over at the UAE Tour with echelons splitting the peloton and sand being blown across the road.
27/02/2019, 11:03
Kennaugh hits back at UCI fines
Don’t forget taking away uci points, fine is one thing, penalising the way we race though.
— Alex Dowsett (@alexdowsett) February 27, 2019
Peter Kennaugh, the Bora Hansgrohe rider is responding to the UCI's new fines which penalise riders for throwing their water bottles away. The UCI are also penalising riders that are late to sign-on, docking them UCI race points
The Manx rider has a valid point. Most bottles are collected by fans and used. We certainly have a fair few bottles!
27/02/2019, 11:00
Specialized's feathery light new race shoes
In case you missed this news yesterday, Specialized launched its lightest and most expensive ever road cycling shoes.
We got our hands on the heavier and cheaper of the two models, the S-Works Exos (if £450 is cheap) and run through all the key details in this video.
27/02/2019, 10:57
Grey the new black? Stunning Canyon TT bike
Black is SO boring! Could grey be a good replacement? It's similarly stealthy and looks good on a modern aero bike like this Canyon Speedmax TT racer.
This is a custom painted bike by one a Canyon employee so no, you can't buy it I'm afraid. Shame.
27/02/2019, 10:54
New Hexband is a light and tough lock claims its makers
Ottolock has launched its new Hexband lock which is intended to be lightweight and compact yet able to withstand “ shearing tools such as snips and cable cutters” which makes it a lock strong enough for quick stops, as only powered devices will cut through it.
That means it 'should' be okay for popping into the shops or cafe, when you might leave your bike for just a few minutes, or locking your bike to a car rack, rather than locked up outside the office or your house for hours.
The lock comes in three lengths with the 30in lock weighing a claimed 250g. It’s constructed by using six stainless steel band layers and wrapped in an internal Dupont Kevlar outer. It’s available in 18”, 30”, and 60” lengths and priced at $65, $75, and $95 MSRP respectively - we’re waiting on UK prices.
27/02/2019, 10:47
Pro cyclists who throw water bottles away could be fined £750
Pro cyclist who throw away their water bottles now face a fine of as much as 1,000 Swiss Francs (£750) under new rules introduced by the UCI.
UCI commissaire Philippe Marien told Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad: "Dropping a water bottle into the canal or leaving trash on the road is no longer acceptable in this day and age.
"We have to stop those riders who leave their garbage everywhere. We have to stop those who, just after they ride next to the team car, immediately throw their bottle in the air."
"World Tour pros have an exemplary function. With higher fines, we want set standards and head in a responsible, ecological way."
Three levels of fines will apply to riders who do not dispose of their bidons in designated zones – 200, 500 and 1,000 Swiss Francs (respectively £150, £375 and £750).
Marien added that the heaviest fines would be imposed on riders who throw their water bottles into the crowd, endangering people.
"A rider who throws a half-full or empty bidon, that is life-threatening. We do not want to see that anymore," he said.
27/02/2019, 10:41
Like a weird cycling version of a Maypole...
World U23 and British Elite Cyclocross Champion Tom Pidcock has been taking his off-season training pretty easy with a few short laps around a tree.
Can any of you better the CX star for skillz?
27/02/2019, 10:15
Ben Swift discharged from hospital
Team Sky's Ben Swift has been discharged from hospital a week after a training crash on Tenerife that left him with a ruptured spleen.
Some really good news. Had final scans today and have all come back good. Finally after a long week in hospital I have been discharged and will be on my way home tomorrow. Got to take my time but already excited to get back at it. Thank you everyone for the concern & well wishes
— Ben Swift (@swiftybswift) February 26, 2019