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"Full kit wan...that's Cav!": Mark Cavendish surprises punters riding in London; Lefevere continues Sam Bennett feud; Shapps stays; Bumper Drum & Bass On The Bike; Special edition kit; road.cc on Greenpeace's 'Wall of Change' + more on the live blog

Dan Alexander is here for your Thursday dose of live blog action, taking you one step closer to the weekend
Thu, Sep 16, 2021 09:02
20
"Full kit wan...that's Cav!": Mark Cavendish surprises punters riding in London; Lefevere continues Sam Bennett feud; Shapps stays; Bumper Drum & Bass On The Bike; Special edition kit; road.cc on Greenpeace's 'Wall of Change' + more on the live blogMark Cavendish (Roy Badical/Twitter)
16 September 2021, 16:07
Cav reaction: Does he HAVE to wear Quick-Step kit to the shops? + Bumping into pro rider stories

Lots of love for the Cav story. Martin had his own, "full kit wan...Oh! It's..." moment. 

The photo also raised the question of when is a pro contractually obliged to wear team kit? At a race? Obviously. Training? You'd think so. Pop to the shops? Taking the kid for a tricycle around the park? To be fair, if I got all that free gear, I don't think I'd ever be out of it...

wycombewheeler commented: "Love the idea that every time Cav (or any of the others) get on a bike they must be in team kit. Training ride - team kit. Return from dropping the car for a service - team kit. Pop to the supermarket - team kit. Think about using a london hire bike - better have team kit with you."

Rendell Harris added: "I wonder if when he pops to the supermarket he's only allowed to go to Lidl?"

We also had a few stories of readers bumping into (not literally, I hope) pro riders...

the little onion used to see the GB track stars often: "I used to regularly ride on the roads in south Manchester and Cheshire, and would often see the GB track riders out and about. Always friendly.  Though seeing Chris Hoy pull away from a traffic light was impressive, even if he was barely putting any effort into it. His thighs were bigger than my waist!" If you think his legs are big, wait until you see what that wasp did...

Kapelmuur said: "Same here, Geraint Thomas lived near me and I'd often see him out training. He always waved and said hello. The same went for the other Sky riders. It amused me that Olympic gold medallists and World Tour race winners always acknowledged me while many club hacks would ride by as though I was invisible."

PRSboy tried descending with the shark..."My only pro cyclist encounter was Team Astana headed up by Nibali when I was having a breather at the top of a climb in the Dolomites.  Tried to follow them down the other side of the pass, frankly I did not see which way they went and I am a man who prides myself on descending!"

Any more?

16 September 2021, 15:01
Cyclist attacked by occupant of passing car in the Western Isles

The Press and Journal reports Western Isles Police are looking for witnesses to come forward after a cyclist was attacked by the occupant of a passing car in the Newmarket area of Stornoway. Police belive a number of other road users may have seen the assault at around 4pm on Wednesday and encouraged anyone with information to contact officers in Stornoway.

16 September 2021, 14:11
Everyone's favourite g̶r̶e̶y̶h̶o̶u̶n̶d̶ whippet welcomes Rein Taaramäe home from La Vuelta

 

16 September 2021, 13:58
Lithuanian government backs 'bicycle streets'
Vilnius (Google Street View)

Forget Cabinet reshuffles for a second, Lithuania's government has voted through 'bicycle streets'. These will allow those on bikes to use the entire width of the road and limit other vehicles to 30km/h...

You may be wondering why that's so deserving of the 'bicycle street' tag? Transport Minister Marius Skuodis said it's so "cyclists don't have to keept to the side of the street, in other words, they are an equal to all other vehicles." I guess it's nice to have it in writing...

Some Lithuanian cyclists have said their towns and cities need to do more to become bike-friendly, and that segregated infrastructure would be more helpful than 'bicycle streets'. "Unless the surrounding infrastructure gives a sense that cyclists are safe here, then what’s the point? It only distorts the situation," head of the Lithuanian Cyclists Association Paulius Bakutis told BNN News.

Right, you can go back to smiling about Dominic Raab...

16 September 2021, 12:29
Alex Dowsett gets stuck
16 September 2021, 12:05
16 September 2021, 11:28
Patrick Lefevere hopeful of finding Cav agreement
2021 Tour de France Cavendish - 1

Last night Patrick Lefevere had something else to say about the Cav contract conundrum. Forgive the fairly shoddy translation, he tweeted: "Water too deep between Mark Cavendish and Deceuninck-Quick-Step? We're not talking about a bag of fries. How deep? 1cm or 25m? With a little good will, you always find a bridge." 

Earlier in the week, the 36-year-old was offered a one-year extension with the Belgian team. That was before Lefevere popped up in the Belgian press saying Fabio Jakobsen is their man for the Tour de France next year and that Cav is looking to cash in on his success...

Meanwhile, the Manx Missile was pootling around London in full kit...

16 September 2021, 11:23
Josh Quigley nears halfway point of seven-day cycling distance record attempt

Josh Quigley should pass the halfway point of his challenge today...still looking strong. 

16 September 2021, 10:34
"From now on, he will ride every race": Patrick Lefevere continues Sam Bennett feud, says sprinter will be selected for every race possible until the end of the season
Patrick-Lefevere

Sam Bennett avoided a hefty pay cut by riding for Ireland at the European Championships on Sunday. The race meant the Irishman hadn't gone three months without racing, meaning Patrick Lefevere was unable to slash his salary...1-0 Bennett.

The Deceuninck-Quick-Step boss isn't one to go quietly however, and hit back today by saying Bennett will "ride every race" the team can possibly get him to. Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, Lefevere said: "From now on, he's going to drive every race we can set him up in. On Sunday he will also participate in Gooik, on Tuesday he will start in Vichte plus everything that comes afterwards. He himself wanted it that way.

Lefevere joked he's even sorry the end of season races in China are no longer on the calendar...it's the latest barb from the outspoken Belgian. Last week, he accused Bennett of "playing with my balls in public". Less amusingly, he also compared his rider's upcoming return to Bora-Hansgrohe to "women who return home after domestic abuse". Bennett has maintained a dignified silence since pulling out of the Tour de France with a knee injury that his boss said was a mental weakness, not a physical problem.

16 September 2021, 10:20
road.cc on Greenpeace's 'Wall of Change'
road.cc Greenpeace Wall of Change

road.cc's Tass found herself on Greenpeace's 'Wall of Change', a celebration of the group's work over the past 50 years...and, of course, she's repping the road.cc kit. Does that make us famous?

You can add yourself to the wall over on Greenpeace's website...bonus points if you get us in there too...

16 September 2021, 09:51
16 September 2021, 09:38
Rudy Project marks Sonny Colbrelli's European Championships win with special edition Nytron helmet
Rudy Project European Championships special edition Nytron

Sonny Colbrelli was rocking his new European champ's kit in Italy yesterday, including matching helmet and shades, thanks to Rudy Project. Bahrain Victorious' helmet supplier came up with this special edition design to celebrate its rider's win. The artwork has a nod to Colbrelli's Italian National Championship win too, with the tricolore on the rear. 

As we said yesterday, it's just a shame that 10/10 Italian kit won't be seen again...

Sonny Colbrelli (credit: Rudy Project/Bettini Photo)
16 September 2021, 09:29
Drum & Bass On The Bike goes big...bumper Bournemouth beach edition

Dom Whitting's nationwide Drum & Bass On The Bike tour attracted its biggest crowd yet...can't be long before someone shuts this down for having too much fun. 

An Amsterdam vid would be top of our wishlist, and Dom said he's already looking to speak to the local critical mass to get out there. Keep your eyes peeled...

16 September 2021, 08:55
Reaction to Boris Johnson keeping Grant Shapps as Transport Secretary

Thoughts? Happy to see Shapps stay? What should the priority be moving forward? 

16 September 2021, 07:51
"Full kit wan...that's Cav!": Surprised punter spots Mark Cavendish in full Deceunick-Quick-Step kit taking a spin through the capital

My favourite part of this is the sheer number of adults, myself included, genuinely disappointed not to have caught a glimpse of their hero. Anyone see Cav in London, yesterday? 

Roy Badical did, and snapped this quick picture before Cav presumably used the slipstream ahead and danced off into the distance...

Roy said: "He was his agile self but stopped at all the lights! I did have a very fun twenty seconds pretending he was my lead out man though. Only had time for a little chat with him while the light was red. Also completely coincidentally did get his autograph last weekend at the Tour of Britain!"

Someone show Eddie Marsan this strange photo of one of our most famous cycling faces, waiting at a red light...

Dan Alexander

Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Dan has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too.

Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously, when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace, or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family. Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way, he's a bit strange like that.

Add new comment

20 comments

Avatar
Hirsute | 3 years ago
1 like

I see the 9sp chain thread has disappeared - perhaps it was sent back to Amazon.

Avatar
Rendel Harris | 3 years ago
2 likes

Riding through the Brecons a few years back, saw a guy at the traffic lights going the other way in full Sky kit. Me: "Would you look at that sad bugger, full Sky replica kit, he looks like an OK rider but I mean Jesus, oh my God look he's even got a Dogma in Sky colours, get a life!" Mrs H: "Isn't that Luke Rowe?" Me: "Oh. Yeah. Suppose I'll allow it this once then."

Avatar
chrisonabike | 3 years ago
2 likes

When your best hope is Grant Shapps...

Dunno if Boardman could / would take a national role?  Andy Burnham was saying he'd stick in Manchester last I heard but if he had another crack at leader maybe he'd bring Chris along?

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to chrisonabike | 3 years ago
0 likes

chrisonatrike wrote:

When your best hope is Grant Shapps...

Dunno if Boardman could / would take a national role?  Andy Burnham was saying he'd stick in Manchester last I heard but if he had another crack at leader maybe he'd bring Chris along?

Or they could bung Chris some money to work as a consultant - just run ideas past him and get a thumbs up or thumbs down from him.

Avatar
Awavey replied to chrisonabike | 3 years ago
2 likes

I thought Boardman had a national role of some kind as I remember discussing it on here, as I didn't think it was a good idea as it would spread his existing commitments too thin, and a national view just wouldnt cater for local differences, as in what London needs is radically different from what outside London needs, and what you wanted were more people like Chris, but in local roles.

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
1 like

Yes (not spreading too thin) and not entirely (local approach). Definitely need local knowledge / understanding of people's travel needs in the existing environment - to get local buy-in if nothing else.  But the actual infra only really works for mass active transport if it's (high quality) standard.  Otherwise you have the status quo e.g. "that's not what people want here" (e.g. none), or it's unsafe because everywhere has their own conventions so the road design's not legible, or its unsatisfactory because "in Stroud we think cycle lanes on dual carriageways are fine and also 50cm wide is plenty".

We have "standards" but I believe it's the usual - a combination of "guidance" rather than "must", very low "minimums" and a tangle of where this actually applies / who is responsible. I doubt think we're so wooly when it comes to designs for cars though, but I'm not a designer (links to UK stuff listed here and a review of the Dutch version here).

Avatar
ktache replied to chrisonabike | 3 years ago
1 like

Well there is always Michael Green...

Avatar
chrisonabike | 3 years ago
1 like

Love the drum and bass, I imagine this is like Kryptonite for some folks.  On the phones - check, more than one abreast - check, on the pavements - check, no hands - check, wheelies - check, having fun - double-check.

Although I wouldn't normally condone any of this sort of thing.

Avatar
Mungecrundle | 3 years ago
0 likes

"road.cc on Greenpeace's 'Wall of Change'"

Wall of change or first against the wall when the glorious revolution comes?

Avatar
Hirsute | 3 years ago
3 likes

drink driver struck cyclist before fleeing scene

https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/19582378.colchester-drink-driver-str...

only 2 years in jail.
 

Avatar
Seagull2 replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
1 like

shocking 

Avatar
Bungle_52 | 3 years ago
3 likes

Quote "You may also run into Cav, casually weaving through traffic in full Quick Step regalia, which happened to me today. So there’s that!"

I won't but I wouldn't be surprised if some driver did. I hope he got home safely.

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
3 likes

I wonder if he was riding to a chat with Matt Stephens for his Sigma sponsored coffee rides. Hope so as they were great fun, especially his one with Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig.

Avatar
wycombewheeler | 3 years ago
3 likes

Love the idea that every time Cav (or any of the others) get on a bike they must be in team kit.

Training ride - team kit

Return from dropping the car for a service - team kit

Pop to the supermarket - team kit

Think about using a london hire bike - better have team kit with you.

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to wycombewheeler | 3 years ago
9 likes

I wonder if when he pops to the supermarket he's only allowed to go to Lidl?

Avatar
racyrich replied to wycombewheeler | 3 years ago
0 likes

Maybe he's proud of being in Quickstep.  A few years ago when at Quebeka he was training in Essex in plain black kit. Maybe he was behind with the washing 1

Avatar
PRSboy | 3 years ago
18 likes

Love the Cav story. 

Bloody cyclists, dressed up like they do the tour de France or something....

Avatar
the little onion replied to PRSboy | 3 years ago
2 likes

i used to regularly ride on the roads in south Manchester and Cheshire, and would often see the GB track riders out and about. Always friendly.  Though seeing Chris Hoy pull away from a traffic light was impressive, even if he was barely putting any effort into it. His thighs were bigger than my waist!

Avatar
Kapelmuur replied to the little onion | 3 years ago
4 likes

the little onion wrote:

i used to regularly ride on the roads in south Manchester and Cheshire, and would often see the GB track riders out and about. Always friendly.  Though seeing Chris Hoy pull away from a traffic light was impressive, even if he was barely putting any effort into it. His thighs were bigger than my waist!

 

Same here, Geraint Thomas lived near me and I'd often see him out training.   He always waved and said hello.

The same went for the other Sky riders.   It amused me that Olympic gold medalists and World Tour race winners always acknowledged me while many club hacks would ride by as though I was invisible.

Avatar
PRSboy replied to the little onion | 3 years ago
1 like

the little onion wrote:

i used to regularly ride on the roads in south Manchester and Cheshire, and would often see the GB track riders out and about. Always friendly.  Though seeing Chris Hoy pull away from a traffic light was impressive, even if he was barely putting any effort into it. His thighs were bigger than my waist!

My only pro cyclist encounter was Team Astana headed up by Nibali when I was having a breather at the top of a climb in the Dolomites.  Tried to follow them down the other side of the pass, frankly I did not see which way they went and I am a man who prides myself on descending!

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