Welcome to Tuesday's live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team...
23/07/2019, 12:08
Whoop...
The new Prime Minister ladies and gentlemen.
23/07/2019, 11:37
Cav punctures at Isle of Man Gran Fondo as drawing pins strewn on road
Mark Cavendish, left out of Team Dimension Data's line-up for the Tour de France (how's that working out, guys?) was back on his native Isle of Man at the weekend to ride its Gran Fondo - although his day out was marred by a double-puncture due to someone strewing drawing pins on the road.
Was loving @iomcyclefest yesterday. Savage route, smashing through with @calcrutchlow& blown away with the brilliant organisation.. (and the wind )
Until my ride (and others) was cut short because some miserable twat threw drawing pins on the road. There’s always one! pic.twitter.com/jVd9VpoFDC— Mark Cavendish (@MarkCavendish) July 22, 2019
Home riders Nathan Draper and Sally Walker took the wins in the men's and women's events, respectively, while the third rider home in the men's event was the MotoGP ace Cal Crutchlow, who has a home on the island as well as Tuscany, where Cavendish also has his European base.
23/07/2019, 11:00
Jens' legs don't need shutting up any more
I have found a way I can do the Tour de France again. I can be ready tomorrow @TrekSegafredopic.twitter.com/IuhEFnSiuq
— Jens Voigt (@thejensie) July 22, 2019
...thanks to the Trek Domane+ e-road bike, of course.
23/07/2019, 10:44
G and Luke Rowe's 'Watts Occurring' podcast gets unique artistic twist
Watts Occurring? Episode three now live Loving the artwork @tootalldrisc
> https://t.co/EoRi53smInpic.twitter.com/ZHHkSPNAIR
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) July 23, 2019
Not sure the bodily proportions are quite right, but it's different I suppose... you can listen to episode three of the podcast here.
23/07/2019, 08:43
Police get social media backlash after announcing seizure of e-scooters on Twitter
Our colleagues over at the Safer Transport Team Kings Cross seized four electric scooters today for No Insurance. Remember these are not road legal and cannot be used on UK Roads. #VisionZeroLDN Use the QR code for DfT Guidance. pic.twitter.com/39Ecxf7OUo
— Cycle Safety Team (@MetCycleCops) July 22, 2019
The Met Cycle Safety Team's announcement on Twitter that they've been seizing illegal e-scooters has been met with criticism, with many cyclists expressing frustration that they're being targeted when the city suffers from high levels of congestion due to motor traffic.
Four more cars back on the road tomorrow
— John (@se3john) July 22, 2019
I understand the law, but I can't help but favourably compare the people using these quiet, slow, non polluting, space saving scooters with the screen- distracted drivers in the huge, polluting, over-powered, congestion causing, speeding cars that make our roads so dangerous.
— DCArt (@DavidCoxArt) July 22, 2019
E-scooters are currently illegal in the UK on both roads and pavements, and can only be ridden on private land with permission from the land owner. Recently their safety has been questioned in the national media after YouTube star Lily Hartridge became the first person in the UK to die in an incident involving an e-scooter.
Are the police right to be getting them off the road/cycle paths or should this greener mode of transport be encouraged?
23/07/2019, 08:20
Pinot is now bookies' favourite to win the Tour
We've been having a snoop at the latest odds, and Pinot is now the red hot favourite at 9/5 to win the Tour and therefore become the first Frenchman to do so since Bernard Hinault in 1985.
Despite his stronger performance on stage 15 Geraint Thomas is quite far behind at 7/2, current leader Julian Alaphilippe is at 5/1 and Egan Bernal is 11/2 - do you reckon they've called it right?