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Live blog: Harvard University launches major study into distracted drivers, Phil prepares for first Tour de France without Paul, Channel 5 under fire over forthcoming ‘Cyclists: Scourge Of The Streets?’ documentary + more

All today's news from the site and beyond.....
UPDATED Thu, Jul 04, 2019 09:41
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Live blog: Harvard University launches major study into distracted drivers, Phil prepares for first Tour de France without Paul, Channel 5 under fire over forthcoming ‘Cyclists: Scourge Of The Streets?’ documentary + moredriving using mobile phone
03 July 2019, 19:11
03 July 2019, 19:09
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 July 2019, 18:49
It's going to be a poignant Tour de France for Phil without Paul ...
03 July 2019, 18:47
03 July 2019, 18:42
(Puts on Bruce Forsyth voice) "Cuddly toy, cuddly toy?"
03 July 2019, 18:35
Parking, Cambridge style ...
03 July 2019, 12:44
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.

03 July 2019, 12:43
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02 July 2019, 23:26
Peta Cavendish defends husband against critics on social media

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. 

02 July 2019, 23:02
Cavendish says he's heartbroken at being left out of Dimension Data's Tour de France team, but will support teammates nonetheless

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. 

03 July 2019, 07:50
Wrong way!

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 July 2019, 22:06
Last year's Le Tour hero Lawson Craddock left out of EF Education First team

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...

Jack Sexty

Jack has been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of the website including tech, news and video, and also contributed to eBikeTips before being named Editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master's degree in print journalism and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it's a long story). 

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7 comments

Avatar
Organon | 5 years ago
0 likes

Is Chris growing his hair out?

Avatar
burtthebike | 5 years ago
2 likes

"Channel 5 under fire over 'Cyclists: Scourge Of The Streets?' documentary"

As someone who rarely watches television (chewing gum for the mind) I really can't comment on Channel 5's approach, but I hope this title is exceedingly ironic and actually comes to the only possible conclusion that cyclists aren't, but drivers are.

Avatar
Judge dreadful | 5 years ago
3 likes

Yay, another bit of anti cyclist bullshit on mainstream media.

Avatar
Liam Cahill | 5 years ago
0 likes

Seems like a few teams are scrapping leader support for an all-out raid on breakaway stage wins. But still, I agree with peted76, strange to not take Cavendish given his near-constant presence in the media. Add to that his ability to look after himself in the sprints and it just looks strange. 

DiData need a decent TdF showing. You'd have been forgiven for thinking that they hadn't even turned up to the Giro...

Avatar
check12 | 5 years ago
0 likes

Strange descision on the face of it with cavendish. 

Avatar
RobD | 5 years ago
1 like

I was hoping to see Cav at the tour, I thought after a quiet build up he might come in and be a bit of a surprise on a couple of stages, but I guess sometimes the team needs to go with more known quantities.

Avatar
peted76 | 5 years ago
2 likes

Clearly we know nothing about what's going on at Di Data ref Cavendish, however it does seem odd that for the past two years suffering with that disease he's had he's been picked to go to the tour and this year, when he's over it, has been working toward July..(and you'd presume must be showing better numbers) they don't. Makes me wonder other cards DiData have to play at the TdF? It's a team of super domestiques.

It's not been a good year for the team at all, so why not at least send Cav and get the publicity he brings to the team. Or maybe their plan is just to win nothing, hunt for top tens and be noticed by nobody.

 

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