Welcome to Tuesday's live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
09/07/2019, 19:16
Cyclist's aren't the 'Scourge of the Streets' - they're people's family, says Chris Boardman
Chris Boardman, the world and Olympic gold medal winning cyclist turned cycling campaigner, has said ahead of tonight's Channel 5 documentary that cyclist's aren't the "Scourge Of The Streets" - a reference to the programme's title - but members of people's families.
Boardman who remains a policy advisor to British Cycling in addition to his principal role as Greater Manchester's cycling and walking commissioner, was speaking in a short film for the governing body ahead of the programme, which airs at 9.15 this evening.
Cyclists aren’t the ‘scourge of the streets’. They are mothers, fathers, grandparents and children all doing their bit to make Britain a healthier, greener and more liveable place.
Share this video from @Chris_Boardman to help us make our message loud and clear to @channel5_tvpic.twitter.com/PDkRGEjsRi— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) July 9, 2019
09/07/2019, 16:40
Chateau, Ellie!
Some serious face-pulling by The Gurning Kwik Fit team’s Ellie Vivaldi there! She’s won the women’s race just a day after her teammates Julian, Alan and Philip took the top three places yesterday. Chateau!!!
— UK Cycling Expert (@ukcyclingexpert) July 9, 2019
09/07/2019, 16:35
Viviani wins stage 4 photo finish
@eliaviviani wins in the sprint!
@eliaviviani s'impose au sprint !#TDF2019pic.twitter.com/80cmyzvR3Z— Tour de France (@LeTour) July 9, 2019
It's two in a row for Deceuninck–Quick-Step, as Elia Viviani beats Alexander Kristoff and Caleb Ewan to the line with Peter Sagan finishing fourth - full story on the site coming soon.
09/07/2019, 15:18
Tour stage 4 latest: Frederik Backaert wins intermediate sprint, Viviani picks up points, drunk people in a paddling pool
Coming to you live from the most refreshing place to watch the 4th stage
En direct du coin le plus rafraichissant pour regarder passer l'étape 4 #TDF2019pic.twitter.com/MI0Ar1e5fR— Tour de France (@LeTour) July 9, 2019
Backaert was first over the line out of the breakaway, and from the peloton Elia Viviani was the best of the rest ahead of Sonny Colbrelli and Peter Sagan. And these people found a more refreshing way to watch the action...
09/07/2019, 13:11
That's an amazing front light on Grayson Perry's bike ...
Going for a very gentle pedal round central London, yes I have got lights in case no one sees me pic.twitter.com/oeaWJQVGdp
— Grayson Perry (@Alan_Measles) July 8, 2019
09/07/2019, 12:43
Graham Obree* joins the TdF peloton
An Un-identified Rolling Object goes on the attack
Attaque d'un Objet Roulant Non Identifié #TDF2019pic.twitter.com/DP0sEfVdB6
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 9, 2019
*Probably not Obree
09/07/2019, 12:05
Arkea Samsic's dangerous socks
What do you reckon, do these Ekoi socks worn by Arkea Samsic meet the UCI's rules? As we all know by now, socks must not extend higher than the halfway point between the ankle and the knee. These boys are living life on the edge.
09/07/2019, 10:48
Quick-Step confirm Kasper Asgreen is fit and ready for stage 4 after yesterday's crash
Here he is!@k_asgreen, happy to continue #TDF2019 and to get a morale-boosting visit from his beautiful family before the start of the stage. pic.twitter.com/fpT9JqLmVc
— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) July 9, 2019
Thankfully Asgreen came off far better than his bike, which was literally cut in two after he crashed deep into yesterday's stage. He went to hospital after gingerly crossing the line but has been given the all-clear to continue today.
09/07/2019, 11:24
Important sock length update
Stunning work by the cat3memes Instagram account here. Operación Socko is in full swing...
09/07/2019, 11:25
The never-ending podium handshake
The never ending podium handshake, featuring @KNiewiadomapic.twitter.com/0TASutjUhY
— Coreen Mazzocchi (@mazzok) July 8, 2019
Canyon-SRAM's Kasia Niewiadom found herself locked in a seemingly infinite handshake as she collected the Maglia Rosa yesterday, in a test of endurance on a par with the 100km stage she'd just completed. A captivatingly akward watch...
09/07/2019, 10:58
Tim Wellens' Tasty KoM Bike
Proud mechanics with the bike for @Tim_Wellens today and more to come !
Nice job @Lotto_Soudal@Ridley_Bikes@CaptofCyclingpic.twitter.com/roTT72PhC4— Marc Sergeant (@marc_sergeant) July 9, 2019
We suspect that Ridley had this frame ready before the Tour because overnight, PolkaDot Jersey wearer Tim Wellens magically got a new bike with a fancy new paint job.
It probably wasn't magic pixies that built it up though, more like one of these tired Belgian mechanics!
09/07/2019, 11:04
Brad on a bike: Cav approves
Absolutely crying with laughter watching @SirWiggo on the moto for @Eurosport_UK’s @LeTour coverage. Along with bike racing, he was made to do this. His Instagram Stories are absolute gold too. Not just for laughs, his knowledge is impeccable pic.twitter.com/3IvkvHJ05o
— Mark Cavendish (@MarkCavendish) July 8, 2019
09/07/2019, 08:49
9-year-old crashes less than 1km into a 100km charity bike ride due to "disgustingly repaired" pothole
Bailey Bocutt embarked on the ride with his mum, granddad and members of the EG Cycling Club to raise funds for cancer charities, inspired to make a difference after seeing his cousin battling Leukaemia.
Less than 1km from starting, however, Bailey hit a large pothole (above) on the A22 near East Grinstead, which according to his mother was "A disgustingly poorly repaired patch that had collapsed."
9 year old Bailey had a nasty tumble at the weekend doing a 100km() charity ride. I’m sure the cycling community would all like to send him a massive get well soon! https://t.co/kKQQYzXv2v
— Chris Hoy (@chrishoy) July 8, 2019
Bailey was taken to hospital and kept overnight due to the extent of his injuries, but a family friend told road.cc that he is now recovering at home. He received a message of support from Sir Chris Hoy yesterday, and is determined to get back on the bike to complete the ride at a later date. Bailey has already raised over £8,000 for Children with Cancer, Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden, the fundraising page is here.
09/07/2019, 08:46
So much going on in one photo...
Chilling in the presidential suite #lifeontheroadpic.twitter.com/Xnacsdgw2b
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) 8 July 2019
Epic tan lines, an empty takeaway carton, some suspect art on the wall, and who knows what's going on to right of G's bedside!
09/07/2019, 08:43
Alex Dowsett's winning Tour de France Twitter so far
There was a couple of crashes today. Subsequently the flat earthers are calling for a ban of stage 3 of the tdf along with road bikes, tarmac roads, lycra, exercise, sweat, downhills, uphills, flat roads, tyres and brakes, as some crashes are caused by too much brakes
— Alex Dowsett (@alexdowsett) 8 July 2019
Dowsett always has an amusing anecdote or two to share, and this one is regarding his previous criticism of an interviewer who asked if time trials should be banned because Chris Froome had an accident on a time trial bike. Some sensible suggestions here...
09/07/2019, 08:40
"Scraping the bottom of the barrel"
This really is scraping the bottom of the barrel!!
— Paul Taylor (@Paultaylor66) 9 July 2019
This 'documentary', which has been called "45 minutes of hatred" by journalist Peter Walker, airs tonight unfortunately...
09/07/2019, 08:39
We feel your pain Chris...
Tomorrow, I intend to commute by train with a bike. I’m stressed already. And surely that’s not right.
— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) 8 July 2019
Ever tried boarding a Great Western train from Bristol without a reservation booked about a year in advance? Never ends well!