Welcome to Wednesday's live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
03/07/2019, 20:11
03/07/2019, 20:09
Harvard University launches major study into distracted drivers
Q: "Are things getting better or worse with distracted driving?"
A: "They’re getting worse."
This piece is worth reading ... and the eye-opener is that in may US states, while texting at the wheel nay be banned, using a handheld mobile isn't.
Read the full article here.
03/07/2019, 19:49
It's going to be a poignant Tour de France for Phil without Paul ...
Grass is cut, bags are packed, Brussels tomorrow. The NBC team will be great, but my 47th Tour will be different. It will be a great race this year and it will honour Paul's name. But who will make my coffee at 06.30 every day for next month?
— Phil Liggett (@PhilLiggett) July 2, 2019
03/07/2019, 19:47
03/07/2019, 19:42
(Puts on Bruce Forsyth voice) "Cuddly toy, cuddly toy?"
Not how I planned to get one of these this year Merci @MaillotjauneLCLpic.twitter.com/QVJI742g1V
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 3, 2019
03/07/2019, 19:35
Parking, Cambridge style ...
Mums all parked up for a picnic. Christ's Pieces, Cambridge. Just now. pic.twitter.com/HKVoqEzhQD
— Cab Davidson #FBPE (@gnomeicide) July 3, 2019
03/07/2019, 13:44
Channel 5 under fire over 'Cyclists: Scourge Of The Streets?' documentary
Channel 5 is being criticised on social media today after it emerged that the network is screening next Tuesday evening a documentary under the title 'Cyclists: Scourge Of The Streets?'
Clearly, it's impossible to judge the programme until after it airs, but the title doesn't eexactly fill us with hope that it will be sympathetic to people on bikes.
We'll have more on this shortly but in the meantime, this tweet is one of manyy outlining concerns about the show on Twitter.
Dear Media - where do I even begin with this. having a show like this https://t.co/VQzuVfgQke is not helpful to moms like me (or any other human)- who CYCLE. We are human beings. Parents, families. friends. colleagues. HUMANS. @Chris_Boardman@ShanazeReade
— CycleCharterCoord (@CyclingCharCoor) July 3, 2019
03/07/2019, 13:43
DealClincher: £2,600 off this brilliant Specialized Roubaix Pro
Clik here to view.
Fancy yourself a shiny new road bike? The Roubaix is perfect for bumpy UK roads and this one comes with the marvelous Dura-Ace R9120 groupset and Roval CL 32 carbon tubeless-ready wheels.
03/07/2019, 00:26
Peta Cavendish defends husband against critics on social media
How do you know any of those things? You are speculating based on no fact.
— Peta Cavendish (@petatodd) July 2, 2019
She also took time to respond to some fans, including the poor chap below, and judging by the comments being retweeted is also frustrated with the way Dimension Data handled the selection process.
Don’t be sad Evan! I understand how you feel and it’s tough right now...but you must keep your chin up. Mark is safe, fit and well and we can’t wait to see you cheering him on again really soon. https://t.co/5MahKpTJkO
— Peta Cavendish (@petatodd) July 2, 2019
03/07/2019, 00:02
Cavendish says he's heartbroken at being left out of Dimension Data's Tour de France team, but will support teammates nonetheless
1/4 Well what can I say? I’m absolutely heart-broken by the decision that means I won’t be @letour this year. As I have done for my entire career, I targeted a specific time to be at peak form. This has pretty much always resulted in me hitting my goals or coming damn close.
— Mark Cavendish (@MarkCavendish) July 2, 2019
30-time Tour de France stage winner Cavendish is the most high-profile omission from this year's race, and this will be the first year since 2006 he hasn't started. In a thoughtful Twitter thread, Cavendish praised his team's charity efforts with Qhubeka but explained that it hurts all the more because he believed he was approaching peak form:
"I’m absolutely heart-broken by the decision that means I won’t be Le Tour this year. As I have done for my entire career, I targeted a specific time to be at peak form. This has pretty much always resulted in me hitting my goals or coming damn close.
"Predominantly at the most beautiful, special race that is Le Tour de France, where 30 of these victories have defined my career. After a long, difficult fight back from trying to compete for the whole of last season with Epstein Barr Virus and after following a specific training program to peak in July, I feel I was in the perfect place. Nevertheless, I truly came to (Team Dimension Data) with the purpose of making a difference, by mobilising entire communities in Africa with bicycles through our incredible charity Quebuka.
"Though I won’t be there, as always I’ll be supporting my teammates with all I have, wishing them safety and success in France and hoping we can get even more children on bicycles. Thank you all for your support."
Clearly a popular face at the Tour, hundreds have commented that Cavendish will be missed this year, including Koen de Kort of Trek-Segafredo and Joanna Rowsell Shand.
Will miss you here mate. Not the same without you
— Koen de Kort (@koendekort) July 2, 2019
Ever the professional. Will miss watching you race this year.
— Joanna Rowsell Shand (@JoRowsellShand) July 2, 2019
03/07/2019, 08:50
Wrong way!
When @AdamBlythe89 takes the peloton the wrong way at the @BritishCycling national champs and it makes it onto @ladbiblepic.twitter.com/CyOqafGfqv
— Hannah Walker (@spannawalker) July 2, 2019
We missed this from the British Road Champs last week, but according to Hannah Walker it appears Adam Blythe lead most of the peloton the wrong way at this particular junction... where were the marshals though?
02/07/2019, 23:06
Last year's Le Tour hero Lawson Craddock left out of EF Education First team
United. Motivated. Confident.
It’s nearly @LeTour time and we’re ready.
Here’s your first look at our team for the big lap around France (via Belgium ) this July.
Details: https://t.co/xxtKwS0spQpic.twitter.com/GNFTRqgnCz
— EF Education First Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) July 2, 2019
Craddock fractured his scapula on stage 1 of last year's Tour de France, but battled terrible pain to finish the tour and unusually becoming the first rider to complete every single stage in last place (he also raised huged amounts for charity for his efforts).
Unfortunately his heroic efforts in 2018 weren't enough to earn him a place on the team this year, and there was also no call-up for Taylor Phinney. We heard a few rumblings that perhaps Lachlan Morton's huge victory at the GBDURO last week was simply a very very hard training ride ahead of the tour, but it appears that wasn't to be with Morton also not making the roster. Probably for the best...