Welcome to your Wednesday live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
15/05/2019, 17:24
Giro d'Italia: Ackermann doubles up to win Stage 5, Roglic maintains lead
It was a bit of a wet one today. Read our report here.
15/05/2019, 15:49
Giro latest - peeing it down
Start in the rain in Frascati today #Giro -Follow the live: https://t.co/YwNaoGwI5O |
Oggi partenza sotto la pioggia da Frascati #Giro - Segui il live: https://t.co/YwNaoGwI5Opic.twitter.com/KldAsb9FgK— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 15, 2019
The sun seems to have migrated across to the UK for once, because it's pretty wet in Italy at the moment. In absence of Tom Dumoulin after his abandon at the start of today's stage it appears his teammate Louis Vervaeke is flying the flag admirably for Sunweb, as he leads the race with under 40km to go.
Approaching 40km to go and @LouisVervaeke is still flying the flag for us at the front of the race. Live data on screen thanks to @VelonCC is looking ! pic.twitter.com/EjIaskwAeD
— Team Sunweb (@TeamSunweb) May 15, 2019
15/05/2019, 14:14
British Cycling unveils new Mental Health Strategy
British Cycling has unveiled a new Mental Health Strategy for the Great Britain Cycling Team that will see its medical staff take a preventative approach to managing athletes' mental health and wellbeing. Find out all about it here.
15/05/2019, 13:19
Tom Dumoulin has abandoned the 2019 Giro d'Italia
.@tom_dumoulin abandons the #Giro d'Italia during the transfer to Km 0 | @tom_dumoulin abbandona il #Giro durante il trasferimento al Km 0
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 15, 2019
After having a nasty crash on stage 4 yesterday, it appears the pain is too much for the 2017 champ to continue. He got as far as making it to the transfer to the start of the stage before calling it a day.
15/05/2019, 12:40
Wiggins sticks his oar in, day 2
Sorry, @FlechaExtra x pic.twitter.com/BhdvboEh8t
— Brad Wiggins (@SirWiggo) May 15, 2019
We're thinking this might become a regular thing, but Sir Wiggo is at it again "talking to me phone like a complete idiot" as the man himself describes it. Today he's predicted Caleb Ewan to take the win on Stage 5 of the Giro, saying he's getting better every day.
15/05/2019, 12:05
UCI investigating Alessandro Petacchi for blood doping, Italian denies allegations
Alessandro Petacchi is the biggest name from cycling so far to be linked to the Austro-German blood doping investigation codenamed Operation Aderlass, and is one of four individuals the UCI has today confirmed are under investigation for potential anti-doping rule violations.
The Italian, who retired in 2015, is being investigated for alleged doping in 2012 and 2013, when he rode for Lampre. His leadout man there was Danilo Hondo, who on Sunday admitted his involvement in the blood doping ring.
The other three people who, like Petacchi, have been provisionally suspended, are ex-pro Borut Bozic, now assistant sports director at Bahrain Merida, the team’s rider Kristijan Koren, who had been racing at the Giro d’Italia, and the UAE Team Emirates rider Kristijan Durasek.
Petacchi was linked yesterday by French newspaper Le Monde and Italy’s Corriere della Sera to Mark Schmidt, the former Gerolsteiner and Milram team doctor at the centre of Operation Aderlass, which hit the headlines after arrests were made at February’s Nordic Skiing World Championships.
He denied having undergone illegal blood transfusions, saying: “I found out from you that this Mark Schmidt was team doctor at Milram when I ride for them [2006-08]. Maybe he treated the German athletes: I’ve never seen or met him. I’ve never been to his clinic, in Germany or elsewhere. I’ve never had a blood transfusion. And I have no idea of the reason why my name may appear in this dossier.”
Regarding his former team-mate, Petacchi said: “I’ve always considered Hondo a friend, we exchanged messages wishing each other well just a few months ago and there’s no reason for a vendetta. I really don’t know how to explain such a huge falsehood.”
15/05/2019, 12:43
Swedish e-scooter share company Voi announce expansion across 150 cities with new e-bike range (and they only launched 8 months ago)
Fledgling micro-mobility company Voi, best known for their shared electric scooters in cities across Europe, are expanding and have now also launched e-bikes alongside their new generation of e-scooters. Full story on eBikeTips.
15/05/2019, 13:10
Conor Swift joins Andre Greipel's team Arkéa–Samsic
Connor Swift, l’actuel champion de Grande Bretagne, court désormais pour notre équipe !
Le coureur de 23 ans rejoint notre formation pour épauler nos sprinteurs. Il débutera demain à l’occasion des Quatre Jours de Dunkerque.
https://t.co/8jthMAEcPg#WelcomeConnorpic.twitter.com/wdfl6NSLTd— Team Arkéa Samsic (@Arkea_Samsic) May 13, 2019
As the Pro Continental team have a Tour de France wildcard, this could pave the way for Swift to get himself into the race this year as Greipel's lead-out man.
15/05/2019, 10:36
"He will give it his best shot": Dumoulin cleared by Sunweb medics to start Giro stage 5
Team Sunweb physician Stephan Jacolino updates on @tom_dumoulin.
pic.twitter.com/RYPzQKJRkM"medically>— Team Sunweb (@TeamSunweb) May 15, 2019
Dumoulin was involved in a nasty crash yesterday that left his GC hopes in tatters and is still suffering with his knee, but it's been confirmed he will start stage 5.
Team Sunweb physician Stephan Jacolino said: "Medically speaking he is cleared to race, but the day's eventuality is dependent on how much pain his knee brings. Hopefully it goes well and the pain subsides as the day goes on."
15/05/2019, 10:09
Utrecht tops global cycling city index
The Dutch city of Utrecht has topped a new Bicycle Cities Index from German insurer Coya which ranked 90 cities around the world on cycle-friendliness. Read more here, and watch the video below to see some of the infrastructure that helped it secure top spot.
15/05/2019, 09:40
More doping suspensions hit the Giro
Kristijan Koren will not start today's Giro stage after the UCI published more potential Anti-Doping Rules Violations following the Aderlass investigation.
This is all linked to the case where a skier was caught in the middle of a blood transfusion and it's already implicated several pro cyclists and some managers.
Koren, who rides for Bahrain Merida, finished 2'47" behind yesterday's winner. He'll be joined on the naughty step by Bahrain Merida Sports Director Borut Bozic, though his sanction seems to have been from when he was a rider, not during his time in management.
More to follow.
15/05/2019, 09:52
How safe is your helmet?
15/05/2019, 09:03
The CPA are calling for media and team motorbikes to keep their distance from riders in pro races
It's not just the public concerned with close passes it seems, as the CPA (Cyclistes Professionnels Associes) have announced that riders have brought it to their attention that motorbikes, especially those from the media, are getting up too close to the action. The president of the CPA Gianni Bugno sayds: "The safety of our girls and our boys is fundamental, same as the correct execution of the race. The competitive result must be as fair as possible, it cannot be compromised by drawings, which, even if for few seconds can affect the regular development of the event. The riders themselves are asking the motorcyclists, especially those from the TV, to stay at a greater distance from them, whether they are ahead in or in pursuit. The technology we now have at our disposal allows excellent quality shots even at a greater distance than that what, unfortunately, is becoming habitual. We demand greater attention to this intolerable problem, which creates risks for the safety of the athletes, influences the development of the competitions and jeopardises the real value of the athletes."
There is a UCI Security Commission meeting in June where the UCI will bring up the campaign, saying they will push vehemently for stricter rules to be put in place to avoid collisions such as the nasty example above.
15/05/2019, 08:55
Tour of California stage 3 highlights
The stage was won by Deceuninck-Quick Step’s Remi Cavagna, who made an attack about 70km from the finish and managed to pull away for an emphatic solo victory.