Welcome to Tuesday's live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
12/03/2019, 17:08
Paris-Nice: Sam Bennett wins stage 3
Revivez le dernier kilomètre de l’étape 3.
Relive the last kilometre of stage 3. #ParisNicepic.twitter.com/dcpHKasN2y
— Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) March 12, 2019
The Irish sprinter proved Bora–Hansgrohe are far more than just a one man band with a solid victory on stage 3. That's his third win of the year so far, following a breakthrough 2018 which included three Giro d'Italia stage wins.
12/03/2019, 16:18
Oops!
Me when I bike race. #parisnicepic.twitter.com/UeHEmVvRnH
— daniel mcmahon (@cyclingreporter) March 12, 2019
12/03/2019, 15:58
Dr Rachel Aldred explores what really lies behind the gender gap in everyday cycling
This Twitter thread from th University of Westminster academic behind the Near Miss Project is well worth a read.
So here's notes for my 'short, no more than 10-minute presentation on why there is to your mind a gender gap in cycling' for @SustransScot roundtable on #WomenandCycling this morning. Bonus: if I run out of time I can refer people to Twitter
— Dr Rachel Aldred (@RachelAldred) March 12, 2019
12/03/2019, 13:41
Official Tokyo 2020 cycling event pictograms revealed
500 days to go until @Tokyo2020
Check out the official Olympic sport pictograms for each cycling discipline! #Tokyo2020#500DaysToGopic.twitter.com/xusc7sSPKm
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) March 12, 2019
Putting it politely, we'd say feedback has been 'mixed' so far on social media...
12/03/2019, 11:49
Lynx have had their say, not it's your turn...
Where do you stand on taking the razor to your legs?
12/03/2019, 11:35
New Brooks Cambium Organic Light saddle launched
The new line of Cambium saddles are lighter and replaces parts of the metal structure of the original Cambium with 'liquid wood' - a biopolymer made from surplus materials that is 100% biodegradable. Vulcanised natural rubber is used for padding with an organic cotton top. It's available now in numerous colours and sizes (C15, C17 and C19) on the Brooks England website, retailing at £120.
12/03/2019, 11:09
Anthony Joshua’s new custom FiftyOne road bike
FiftyOne, the Irish bike brand known for their stunning custom carbon road bikes, has just released details of its latest creation for heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua.
Joshua does a lot of cycling as part of his fitness regime - he brought London to a standstill last year when he was spotted our cycling - and FiftyOne has built a custom carbon frame for the 6’5” boxer.
"It's important to do the bike. I say that because you've still got your cardio-based training, but it takes the pressure off your joints so don't get any wear and tear," explained Joshua in an interview on his training regime.
We can imagine a lot of reinforcing and extra layers of carbon have been used to ensure the frame doesn’t flex and twist under his immense power!
It has been hand painted with a design based around a Lions head on the head tube and Joshua’s 25/7 slogan, a nod to his relentless work ethic, and also his Second to No One (2-2-0-1) symbol.
A brand new SRAM Red eTap AXS 12-speed groupset adorns the frame along with Zipp 303 wheels.
Anthony Joshua will defend his heavyweight title and his unbeaten 22 winning streak on June 1st in Madison Square Garden.
FiftyOne bikes will proudly display Joshua’s bike at the upcoming North American Handbuilt Show in Sacramento. The show runs from March 15-17th
12/03/2019, 10:44
How do you shave 'em?
Apart from being mildly disturbing, this Lynx advert raises some questions.
Firstly, do you shave those legs? And where do you stop?
Answers in the comments below. But please, no pictures....
12/03/2019, 09:42
Biffa provide unwelcome buffer between cyclists and cycle path
Hey @Biffa, I didn’t pay my @wfcouncil tax to build cycling infrastructure so your lorries could have somewhere to park.
I would have minded less if you’d have been emptying the bins, but the fact he was sat in the Chinese having his dinner was a bit rich. pic.twitter.com/oYWoCILrAb
— Matt Noble (@noblematt) March 11, 2019
Biffa have already responded on Twitter to say they're working to resolve the matter, thankfully...
12/03/2019, 09:03
105 miles at 30.5mph!
Michael Kwiatkowski's Strava stats are insane.
After having a rear wheel puncture and getting back to the front of the race, making the front split and then sprinting to 5th, the Polish National Champion uploaded his ride to Strava and the average speed is incredible.
The riders were aided by a cross-tailwind all day and we've seen a few reports of riders spinning out a 55-11 gear! Kudos indeed.
12/03/2019, 08:58
Crosswinds impact dramatic Paris-Nice stage
Strong winds played a pivotal part in shaping the outcome of the second stage of the Paris-Nice stage race, with Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen taking the victory while Mark Cavendish abandoned and Rigoberto Uran crashed out with a broken collarbone.
It was an exciting stage and well worth watching the highlights video below. Today is another similarly flat stage for the sprinters and it should be exposed to the wind again, so could be a nervous day for the peloton but exciting for the spectators.
12/03/2019, 08:42
You can now buy the Porn Pedallers official jersey
The @pornpedallers cycling jersey is now available to buy online. £10 from every sale will be donated to Terrence Higgins Trust. Please support our fundraising efforts to promote HIV awareness and better sexual health for all @THTorguk@THTchampionshttps://t.co/nL5nq8Zp2Jpic.twitter.com/R2XAzU5FDn
— Porn Pedallers (@pornpedallers) March 12, 2019
The x-rated cycling club made international news last week when British Cycling revoked their affiliation with the governing body because their name breaches UCI rules; however British Cycling have since said they will work with them to find a solution as they acknowledge the "excellent work" the Porn Pedallers do for charity. That work has continued as their official jersey is now available to buy, with £10 from each sale going to the Terrence Higgins Trust HIV charity. They cost £60 with stock expected to land in April, and can be ordered here.
12/03/2019, 08:39
Sometimes the UK doesn't look so bad for cycling...
Every day when I meet other cyclists at this intersection we stop and chat about how messed up this is and how someone is going to die. So I made a video for @brisbanecityqld, @TMRQld, @TrevorEvansBne. Cc @cbdbug@space4cyclingbn#bne#cyclingpic.twitter.com/HiDs32ollJ
— Miles McBain (@MilesMcBain) March 8, 2019
This crossing in Brisbane is pretty damn terrifying...
12/03/2019, 08:19
Carnage at Paris-Nice as Cav pulls out and Uran breaks collarbone
A touch of wheels and a fall at #ParisNice leaves @UranRigoberto with a broken collarbone. He'll have surgery onWednesday.
Details: https://t.co/8F6NR1r8yVpic.twitter.com/uM0k4C4Cyq
— EF Education First Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) March 11, 2019
There was a number of dropouts and injuries sustained on yesterday's brutal Paris-Nice stage 2, with Rigoberto Uran ending up with a broken collarbone following a clash of wheels, He'll have surgery tomorrow according t this Tweet from his EF First team.
Unfortunately both @LouisMeintjes& @MarkCavendish are out of @ParisNice.
"The racing was on & I went through a roundabout & I guess I misjudged it a bit. It’s pretty painful and I lost a bit of skin..." - Louis Meintjes
Details: https://t.co/b3YfNDAVY6pic.twitter.com/UUZD1jxgbw
— Team Dimension Data (@TeamDiData) March 11, 2019
Meanwhile Mark Cavendish has also pulled out along with Dimension Data teammate Louis Meintjes, with Cav now fully focussed on "working his way back to full fitness"according to this statement. Highlights reel of the stage below, which was won by Dylan Groenewegen.
Wind, crashes, a stage for strong men, here is the best of the second stage. #ParisNicepic.twitter.com/SogZvTHaz9
— Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) March 11, 2019