Welcome to Monday's live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
Pro cyclists split over whether e-racing is a proper sport; Junior BinckBank Classic winner lies down before crossing the line in over-exuberant victory celebration; how three former pro cyclists got on at the London Marathon + more
29/04/2019, 18:06
29/04/2019, 18:03
Team Sky become Team Ineos tomorrow - and they (and outgoing sponsor) are getting misty-eyed
Love them or hate them - and they are a team that divides opinion as no other since US Postal - today marks the end of an era in professional cycling that has seen Team Sky dominate the Tour de France, with six wins in the past seven editions.
While Team Sky will essentially continue in its current form - albeit with a new owner and sponsor, with Ineos officially taking over from Wednesday but its logo appearing on the jersey from tomorrow at the Tour de Romandie - both the team and the outgoing sponsor (which previously also sponsored British Cycling) have been getting a bit misty-eyed about it all, as these videos show.
Six Tour de France wins and millions of people inspired to cycle over ten years. It’s been an amazing journey @TeamINEOS#RideOn#LifeAtSkypic.twitter.com/V8KwG9pklf
— Sky (@SkyUK) April 29, 2019
An incredible journey, 10 seasons in the making. We couldn’t be more proud to have raced as @TeamSky. Thank you pic.twitter.com/n3qEwSaBkT
— Team Sky (@TeamINEOS) April 29, 2019
29/04/2019, 17:49
That Telegraph article blaming cyclists for polluting the countryside is never going to get old, is it?
Tricky to get all of this into jersey pockets when cycling but thankfully they’re pretty stretchy @Telegraphpic.twitter.com/MLJGUox1Bg
— FlatStanley (@flat__stanley) April 29, 2019
29/04/2019, 14:37
So that's a No then, Conor?
— Conor Dunne (@conordunnealot) April 29, 2019
The super-tall Irishman used to race for now-defunct Team Aqua Blue, who suffered their fair share of mechanicals that were largely blamed on racing with 1x setups. While there's more to riding a bike than pro racing, it appears the facepalm emoji would suggest the front mech certainly ain't dead according to Conor...
29/04/2019, 14:09
Team Sky has ridden last race - but 2017 kit (or near enough) back for one more
Team Sky may have ridden their last race at Liege-Bastogne-Liege yesterday - but their kit (the 2017 version, at least, or something very close to it) will be worn by the riders at the Tour de Romandie which starts tomorrow.
Officially, Ineos doesn't take over the team - and its sponsorship - until Wednesday 1 May, which is when the new kit will be launched (minus, we're guessing, the signature blue line).
With all but the opening day of the Swiss race taking place under the new sponsor, Ineos is the name Geraint Thomas and co will be wearing at Romandie ... and provide a last glimpse of the colours that have dominated the Tour de France in recent years.
29/04/2019, 13:28
29/04/2019, 13:27
Basketball ... on unicycles
⠀
Cycle-basket
⠀ pic.twitter.com/carcoQoP4e— ⓑιcιcletⓞ (@Bicicleto_ZGZ) April 27, 2019
29/04/2019, 13:17
Middlesborough artist demonstrates the power of the penis for pothole prevention
God bless you, Middlesbrough https://t.co/kxQtahw3hZ
— Pete Mitchell (@peter_nhs) April 26, 2019
The anonymous urban artiste decided to doodle dongs around some particularly bad potholes in the Middlesborough area and... hey presto, the council quickly filled them in! Speaking to the BBC, resident Resident Brad Nicholson praised "the power of the willy" to give the council visual reminders that Britain's roads need some serious TLC.
29/04/2019, 12:25
There's celebrating, and then there's...
Andresen Tobias Lund winner of E3 for juniors @E3BinckClassic@StadHarelbekepic.twitter.com/TALRMVJwqJ
— Alex Vandevyver (@VandevyverAlex) April 27, 2019
This rather odd victory celebration at the Junior BinckBank Classic one-day race was performed by 16-year-old Tobias Lund Andresen, who found that he had time to get off his bike, sink to the ground and then walk across the line with his bike held aloft. Some have accused the youngster of arrogance and over-exuberance in victory, while others have put it down to a young lad who's just proper excited to win a race.
29/04/2019, 12:12
Britain's Kye Whyte takes maiden BMX World Cup win in Manchester (and there was a spectacular crash in the heats)
Great Britain's @kye969 produced a stunning display in Manchester to win round two of the @UCI_BMX_SX World Cup 2019!
Read the full report from a fantastic second day https://t.co/zWySNzmNI4#UCIBMXWCpic.twitter.com/TnrwdYcdpP
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) April 28, 2019
19-year-old Whyte won in round two of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup yesterday, and said of his victory: “This is the best day of my life, I reckon! I thought that – without being cocky – if I could get amongst the top three, with the track speed I’ve got, I thought I could win. I’ve made world cup finals before, but I’ve only ever finished last! It’s been a great day.”
There was also a mega crash in the heats of the men's elite event, with no one escaping apart from France's Joris Daudet who rode away for an easy win. Watch it here on the BBC's website.
29/04/2019, 12:03
Campaginers are placing red cups between car and bike lanes to show how there needs to be more protection
From Beacon St going east before HPP an area in need of protection. Today, advocates around the world are placing red cups along bike lanes where protection is needed. The #RedCupProject is in honor of Dave Salovesh, a D.C. advocate killed while riding his bike. We #DemandMore. pic.twitter.com/zj5ZsjGCqi
— Bike Newton #mobilitylanes #2019Goals (@BikeNewton) April 26, 2019
Bike Newton, a cycle safety campaign group based near Boston in the US, laid out red cups to demonstrate how motor vehicles shouldn't encroach on bike lanes. Unfortunately this was the scene a few hours later...
Sadly the scene at 7:30 am. There is no reason cups should have been knocked over. No vehicle should have been driving in the buffer. This is the most direct route for people biking into downtown. It needs protection. (Yes we have picked up all the cups and will recycle) pic.twitter.com/dhj97cad7g
— Bike Newton #mobilitylanes #2019Goals (@BikeNewton) April 26, 2019
"No vehicle should have been driving in the buffer", say Bike Newton. The hashtag #redcupproject is doing the rounds mostly in the US, but the call for action is global, say campaigners.
29/04/2019, 11:57
29/04/2019, 11:29
70's Pissei style
Unfortunately-named Italian cycling apparel brand Pissei have unveiled their latest collection, paying homage to the 1970's. With the jersey and shorts available in two different colours, Pissei say the kit "has an influence of disco dancing", with a regular fit, breathable mesh at the rear on the jersey and flat straps on the bibs for extra comfort.
The kit is available now on Pissei's website.
29/04/2019, 08:56
Cycling has made the list!
We've made it!
Cycling is in the top 6 ways that you can exercise in the most middle-class way possible according to the tongue-in-cheek website The Daily Mash!
"Practical, A-to-B cycling is for poor people. Instead, ride a £10,000 bike around country lanes in a large group, holding up traffic for miles until you reach a village tea shop where you loudly say you’d buy the local vicarage if it wasn’t for your ‘bloody commute’."
Other ways include boot camp in the park, wild swimming, underwater weightlifting, outdoor spin class and finally, a 5k run with your children.
We'll stick to our 10-grand bikes, thanks!
29/04/2019, 08:30
Is e-racing a proper sport? Pro cyclists have their say
To any haters on this, it’s a lifetime closer in reality than fifa is to football & there’s some serious money invested into fifa e-sports.
Crucially this is gamifying exercise which can never be a bad thing & may also provide a small stepping stone into people racing outdoors. https://t.co/dhnl12Cnu4
— Alex Dowsett (@alexdowsett) April 26, 2019
Alex Dowsett says the Fifa (the football game) comparison is wholly unfair on bike e-racing, as it's "a lifetime closer in reality"; the idea being that a very very good indoor cyclist could actually have a chance at turning pro in real life, whereas that would never be the case for someone who is really good at Fifa.
Nikki Brammeier, however (who ran the London Marathon this weekend), isn't so keen...
Is this for real? Seriously this is not what professional cycling is about. I was inspired to race after watching my hero’s push themselves to their limits outdoors on the road, in the woods, in a field. I don’t think I would have felt the same sat watching a screen of avatars https://t.co/FABulxfzYq
— Nikki Brammeier (@NikkiBrammeier) April 26, 2019
Her reply was met with plenty of opinions for and against, with some even saying the British Championships was great to watch...
I didn't think it'd make for a great spectacle but actually, the British National Championships Final races were great to watch - it definitely has potential as a spectator sport - unlike standing on the roadside for 2 hours to see the peleton for 5 seconds!
— vonobox (@vonobox) April 26, 2019
What do you think, should we accept static bike racing as equal to road and track racing?
29/04/2019, 08:09
How three pro and ex pro-cyclists did at the London Marathon
40,000 runners took to the streets of London for one of the world's biggest 26.2 mile foot races yesterday, and in amongst them were some cyclists whose names you may well recognise. Husband and wife Matt and Nikki Bramameier (the former last rode for Aqua Blue and is now a coach, and Nikki is still a professional road racer) crossed the line together in a time of 3:53:28. We will give an extra tip our hat to former Olympic track cyclist Chris Newton, though, who finished in a mighty impressive time of 2:45:24!
29/04/2019, 08:20
No, definitely not...
Would you trust someone to jump over you?pic.twitter.com/u4C8dQu6nN
— Awesome Cycling (@AwesomeCycling) April 28, 2019
