Karma for driver covering plates to cut through LTN; Pidcock beats Van Aert for first Ineos win; Bike lane birth; Nibali fractures wrist; Cycling filmmaker's last ride; Photo finish; Italian Job Giro announcement; Good policing + more on the live blog

𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱: First pro road win 🔓

Congratulations, @Tompid #BP21 pic.twitter.com/PRjlInc5EI

— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) April 14, 2021

That was special. Chapeau Tom. Despite the esteemed company he was up against in Wout van Aert and former European road race champion Matteo Trentin, Pidcock said he was confident in his sprint even if the chasing group got a little too close for comfort.

"I always start such sprints with confidence," he told Wielerflits at the finish line. "Wout took over very hard on the way and I had to drive an insane power to keep up with him. But maybe he pushed it a little too hard. In the run-up to the sprint, I got a bit nervous because of the riders following behind. I waited and waited, and got a bit trapped when Wout turned on, but in the end I had the space and I could pass him. I already had a good feeling for the race, because I had trained well recently. I'm glad it went so well."

You can't outwit Highbury's LTN cameras. Deliberately obscuring your number plate can lead to the serious offence of perverting the course of justice, a £1000 fine & community service punishments. Don't be like this moron - a lot of us record our rides & will report you! DN57 WXW pic.twitter.com/lhRx4dS71n

— Highbury Cyclist (@HighburyCyclist) April 13, 2021

This driver thought he was being clever covering his number plates to cut through an LTN...Little did he know, that cyclist he overtook had a camera and pulled up just in time to deliver a swift dose of karma..."Got your face too, well done"...

Highbury Cyclist said he'll be reporting this driver and even did some digging to find the vehicle is untaxed too...

Untaxed too. pic.twitter.com/ZNOuPP3QLQ

— Highbury Cyclist (@HighburyCyclist) April 13, 2021

He’d have got away with it too if it wasn’t for you meddling cyclists! Love it

— PassPixi (@PassPixi) April 13, 2021

I've noticed this new illegal habit of cars & delivery vans covering up their number plates while in #LTNs.
Here's one I caught in #Brixton hill area in #sw2, but I've seen others.
I wonder what @LambethMPS @lambeth_council & @clairekholland are doing about this?@RailtonLTN pic.twitter.com/adnXD7Em6G

— Olly Hatch Esq,. (@OllyHatch) April 13, 2021

 Back in February we covered some similar antics, caught on camera by the Warwick Road Action Group, when a van driver decided to get out in the snow and spend a couple of minutes covering his number plates...In that time he could have probably just driven the proper way around...

UCI relaxes rules on throwing waste a touch, first offence no longer = automatic DQ in a one day race/time penalty in stage race but cash fine and UCI points hit https://t.co/IDJcdhyiGR

— the Inner Ring (@inrng) April 14, 2021

We will have more to follow on this shortly but the UCI has slightly softened its stance on punishing riders for chucking water bottles. Fines and docking of UCI points will be the go to sanction for first offences at one-day races before disqualification the second time. At stage races the second infringement will be a one-minute time penalty and the third a disqualification. Riders are going to have to pick which kid gets their bottle very carefully...Sorry mate, I've already given one bottle away today. 

Evans Cycles has partnered with cycleGuard to offer customers 15 per cent discounts on insurance plans that cover theft, vandalism, accidental damage and up to £2,500 of clothing and accessories. Business director at Evans, Mark Brown, says it should be part of their duty as the "UK's leading cycling retailer" to "provide customers with products and services that will help them to enjoy the ride".

"We are incredibly excited to be working with cycleGuard as it not only allows us to offer protection to the increasing number of cyclists on the road, but also peace of mind that their bike is covered, should the unfortunate happen," he said.

There is more than enough adrenaline here for your Wednesday lunch break...

Three years ago Marc Bracke discovered this 16 Y old Hungarian unpolished diamond. She first raced in our development team, but quickly joined the UCI continental team. Today we’re sad to see her go, but we’re proud she’s going to the number one team in the world : Team SDWorx👊 pic.twitter.com/KVVtpO39Fb

— Doltcini - Van Eyck Sport - Proximus (@DoltciniVanEyck) April 13, 2021

Doltcini-Van Eyck director Marc Bracke is currently awaiting the UCI Disciplinary Commission's ruling on his sanctions for being found guilty of violating the UCI Code of Ethics after complaints of harassment from two female riders. Marion Sicot and Sara Youmans both filed complaints after Bracke requested photos of them in "panties and bra" and "bikini."

Flanders Classics, the organiser for many of the major Belgian cobbled races, also requested Bracke didn't attend their races earlier this month. This post was put out by his team's Twitter account, leading to criticism from fans, with one asking "are you drunk?"

This is actually a really bad tweet and if you don’t know why, maybe you should do some research. Just a thought

— Robyn (@robynjournalist) April 13, 2021

🤮 pic.twitter.com/spkZ6cEhbW

— TipsNstars (@tipsnstars) April 13, 2021

Came across this funeral in Dublin today. Paddy Cahill was his name. He was well loved and respected by the sound of things. Bicycle-drawn hearse brings cycling advocate on his last journey
via The Irish Timeshttps://t.co/SKAVON5hrh pic.twitter.com/DmlDxYhPhi

— Ronan McGreevy (@RMcGreevy1301) April 12, 2021

Cycling advocate and filmmaker Paddy Cahill sadly passed at the age of 44 after a long illness. His dying wish was to be carried by his brother Conor on a bicycle-drawn hearse for one final ride through the streets of Dublin. The Irish Times reports that dozens of cyclists joined the cortège on the way. 

Paddy made cycling documentaries with Dutch blogger and fellow cycling advocate Philip de Roos on cyclingwith.com, including an interview with former mayor of Amsterdam Job Cohen. The pair were well-known among Dublin cycle commuters as Paddy was often seen filming from his bike's specially built front carrier which allowed him to film other cyclists while Philip pedalled behind.

In a 2013 interview, he explained his love for cycling. "There is something about cycling that promotes a gentle pace to the conversation. The city becomes another character which in turn affects the conversation," he told The Irish Times.

"There are loads of good reasons to cycle for society and the individual but I don’t cycle for health or environmental reasons. I cycle because it’s the quickest, most convenient way to get around and it makes you happy."