BREAKING: Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo set to be cancelled? Froome leads Portal tributes; Cofidis boss threatens hunger strike; C4’s Jon Snow breaks quarantine for bike rides + more on live blog

Chris Froome, whom Nicolas Portal guided to four Tour de France victories, has led tributes to the Team Ineos sports director, who died from a heart attack today at the age of 40.

My thoughts are with Nico’s wife and children tonight. He was the kindest, happiest guy I knew and always lived life to the fullest. Rest In Peace Nico pic.twitter.com/vfYF9slMQ3

— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) March 3, 2020

Among those also taking to social media to express their shock and grief at the passing of someone who clearly touched those with whom he came into touch through his work were riders he worked with at Team Sky and, subsequently Team Ineos, Peter Kennaugh and Tao Geoghegan Hart.

My first room mate as a pro. I Can’t believe the news of Nico Portal passing away my thoughts and love are with his family who he cherished more than anything. The friendliest most genuine, kind person you could wish to meet, words can’t explain how much he will be missed x

— Peter kennaugh (@Petekennaugh) March 3, 2020

I never met someone Nico didn’t have time for. I never met someone who didn’t think the world of Nico. He was a true inspiration. His energy, his humility & his passion for life shone so brightly. Nico Portal, it was an honour to work with you. We will all miss you immensely.

— Tao Geoghegan Hart (@taogeoghegan) March 3, 2020

Tributes have also been paid by, among others, Eurosport cycling anchor Orla Chennaoui, the UCI, and the Tour de France – a race where, besides Froome’s four wins, Portal also acted as sports director in the past two years when Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal won the yellow jersey.

Nico Portal was a rare being in professional sport - a gentleman who always had time and a smile for everyone. I first met him a rider and through all his success as a DS, he never seemed to change. A kindly father, and father figure. My heart goes out to his family and the team.

— Orla Chennaoui (@SportsOrla) March 3, 2020

The thoughts of everyone at the UCI are with the family, friends and everyone @TeamINEOS after the tragic loss of Nicolas Portal today.

RIP Nicolas 💙 pic.twitter.com/9ojNLsaww2

— UCI (@UCI_cycling) March 3, 2020

We are saddened to hear of the sudden passing away of Nicolas Portal, who played a vital role in numerous Tours in the last few years. The organisers of the Tour de France offer their sincerest condolences to Nicolas’ family and friends as well as @TeamINEOS. pic.twitter.com/vqW2NTdZ9G

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) March 3, 2020

This is how they trial bike parking in the Netherlands.

With fietsvlonders…

Invented in Rotterdam and spreading across the country, the fietsvlonder is a platform that temporarily swaps one car parking space for 8 bikes.

If successful, the curb is permanently adjusted, and it is moved to another location. @GemeenteDenHaag Vice Mayor @RvanAsten explains. pic.twitter.com/y7VPsaeedH

— Dutch Cycling Embassy (@Cycling_Embassy) March 3, 2020

Good old fietsvlonders.

Japan's Olympic minister has said that the Tokyo 2020 Games could be postponed until later in the year, reports the BBC.

The Games are due to be held from July 24 to August 9, but Seiko Hashimoto said it was possible it could be pushed back as Tokyo's contract with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) only calls for the Games to be held within 2020.

“We are doing all we can to ensure that the Games go ahead as planned,” she added.

A statement from the International Olympic Committee said: "We have full confidence that the relevant authorities, in particular in Japan and China, will take all the necessary measures to address the situation. The rest is speculation."

According to a report in the Guardian, life expectancy would rise by a year if fossil fuel emissions were cut to zero, while if all ‘controllable air pollution’ were cut, it could rise by more than 20 months.

More on air pollution.

Beryl – the award-winning business formerly known as Blaze, whose Laserlight can be found on London’s Santander Cycles fleet – moved into the urban bike-sharing sector last year with a scheme in Bournemouth and Poole.

A scheme in Hereford followed and they’re now launching in Watford.

There’ll be a gradual rollout of 200 bikes, followed by 100 e-bikes later in the year with bikes available to pick up and drop off at up to 70 marked ‘Beryl Bays’.

Riders can choose Pay-As-You-Ride (£1 unlock fee + 5p per minute), Minute Bundles (no unlock fee and bundles starting at 100 minutes for £5) or Day Passes (24 hours of unlimited riding for £12).

Trips that end outside a Beryl Bay are charged a £5 fee to encourage responsible parking.

For more information visit beryl.cc/bikeshare.

Beryl CEO Phillip Ellis, said: “We are delighted to partner with Watford Council to make sustainable travel around the town as easy as possible. We’re eager to demonstrate how a high-quality bike share scheme can reduce barriers to cycling, be it as part of a commute to work or for leisure. Our service also offers control and order to busy streets as riders pick up and drop off Beryl Bikes in marked bays.”

Riley Evitts is going to do 800km from Melbourne to Adelaide. He’s eight.

10 Daily reports that he’s been training for nearly a year, doing 150km on Saturdays with his grandfather, Paul Turnbull.

Riley apparently came up with the idea for the ride when he was five, after meeting round-the-world unicyclist Ed Pratt.

"He had a really big adventure and I really wanted to do a big adventure like that as well."

Riley and Turbull will leave Melbourne from Marvel Stadium on March 22 and arrive at Adelaide Oval on March 30. They’ve scheduled a rest day in there too.

He’s raising money for the Little Heroes Foundation, which supports seriously ill children.

Simple question.

Bicycle Tracks Puzzle 🚲

These tracks were left by a bike. Which way did it go?

Left ⬅️ or Right ➡️ pic.twitter.com/rwFeUFndzT

— Tamás Görbe (@TamasGorbe) March 1, 2020

If you've made up your mind, here's the answer.

And here's an explanation.

Time for an update of this 101 year old bike ad. pic.twitter.com/VkvrSxoU3u

— Lloyd Alter (@lloydalter) March 1, 2020

Four teams remain confined in a hotel following the coronavirus scare at the UAE Tour: Cofidis, FDJ, UAE Team Emirates and Gazprom.

In a statement, Cofidis president Thierry Vittu said that the situation is, “really not normal.”

“We are held against our will in a place we have not chosen and for an unknown period of time,” he said. “It is this last point that is the most difficult to live with: we constantly hope that things will get better soon and nothing happens.”

He says: “When you meet someone from the hotel in the corridor, they run away... that brings me another comparison: we are treated like plague victims. Our rooms have not been cleaned since we arrived five days ago. You have to go to the elevator and there is a cart and we get sheets, soaps, towels.”

Vittu adds: “It would be good for the media to take hold of our situation, just to add pressure where it is needed. But hey, morale remains good, this story will end well one day.”

Notre président @ThVittu a tenu à s'exprimer sur la situation difficile vécue par l'équipe sur l' #UAETour, en confinement depuis 5j sans réelles explications. On leur envoie plein de courage en espérant une issue favorable rapide. Réaction à retrouver ici https://t.co/aQxKbvKnQA pic.twitter.com/SadeHxJEnx

— Team Cofidis (@TeamCOFIDIS) March 3, 2020