"Build it and they'll come": Cyclists outnumber cars two to one on Cycleway C9; Manchester United, Tadej Pogačar or Primož Roglič? Ineos reportedly in talks to sign both; David Beckham and Ronaldo compete in pro cycling + more on the live blog

The Department for Transport's road casualty statistics show 91 cyclists lost their lives on Britain's roads in 2022...

> Cyclist deaths fall to lowest level on record, but latest stats show overall road deaths up 10% in a year

A supercut showing the impact of removing a protected cycle lane in Edinburgh. The city should be rolling out bollard protection widely, instead politicians sickly pander to the car lobby, even consulting on re-opening filtered streets to rat runners.

Carsick Edinburgh 🤮 pic.twitter.com/Jh6uHepuxH

— Dave McCraw (@david_mccraw) September 28, 2023

Nothing to see here, just an age-old adage proving its veracity.

A week ago, Cycleway C9, running on the key east-west stretch of commute in west London, between Hammersmith and Chiswick, and making it possible for hundreds, no, thousands of people to commute using a bicycle, was made permanent after 18 months of being temporary.

And already, the number of cyclists have nearly doubled on C9 as compared to the numbers of people driving their cars!

Big news!! C9 has had nearly DOUBLE as many cyclists as cars on it over the last five days. Look at this Telraam data below, or the detail on https://t.co/6ixDcKkn4d

What is C9 and why should you care? A thread! 🧵🪡 (1/4) pic.twitter.com/H6YZHWbGNB

— Cllr Emily Kerr 💚 (@EmilyKerr36) September 28, 2023

According to the Telraam traffic counter of King Street, in the past one week cyclists have outnumbered cars almost by two to one, showing the impact safe, segregated and welcoming infrastructure can have in bringing about a wide-scale behavioural shift.

Channel 5 broadcaster and live blog regular Jeremy Vine also retweeted a video of cyclists outnumbering drivers during rush hour on the stretch of cycleway.

More bikes than cars sometimes. Amazing. https://t.co/aprIAHhpIo

— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) September 28, 2023

But not just that, take a moment to zoom in, and think about the impact it can have on individuals, completely changing their lives. This wonderful video by London Cycling Campaign, shows a stroke survivor, an 86-year-old lady, and a father of three share their stories of joy after the building of C9.

✨⭐ Exactly 1 week since #Cycleway9 was officially made permanent: HUGE CONGRATS Hounslow Council @LBofHounslow ⭐✨

🚲 2500+ people now cycle here every day

🥰 "It's made all the difference": hear what it means pic.twitter.com/uDeVMMirnS

— London Cycling Campaign (@London_Cycling) September 28, 2023

"Before I couldn't do very much, go to shops or anything like that. I felt really stuck at home, because I couldn't keep asking people for lifts," said 86-year-old Clare. "It's made all the difference now. I can go to shops, I can go to Marks and Spencer, I can go to my eye people, I can even go to the hospital at Charing Cross."

"Now, all year round, we go for cycling," said Nick, a stroke survivor, before thanking Sadiq Khan and all the way down.

They proceeded to blow candles on what I would say look very cute and delicious cupcakes topped with an even cuter miniature of a bicycle.

All hail the two-wheeled tool of freedom!

While the uncertainty around the future of Jumbo-Visma has dominated the recent weeks of this silly season, involving the will-they-won't-they merger with Soudal Quick-Step, Remco Evenepoel's alleged hate for the team, and apparently "long-time cycling fan" Tim Cook managing to get himself in the picture too (I hate the name Jumbo-Vismac), but Ineos have now decided to share some spotlight too.

> “Remco hates Jumbo, and Jumbo hates Remco… You should hear what Roglič says about Remco. So that’s not going to work, is it?” Geraint Thomas questions ‘Soudal-Visma’ merger plans

According to Pogačar's agent, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe-owned Ineos Grenadiers had made enquiries at the beginning of the season to sign the two-time Tour de France winner. 

Ah, Ratcliffe and failed bids, here we go again.

Blah blah blah..
Pogacar + Thomas, Rodriguez, Kwiato, Turner, Tarling, De Plus and Sheffield would slap and you know it

— Katie (@medicinexthings) September 28, 2023

Long ago in the distant summer, the CEO of petrochemical giant seemed so sure of getting his hands on the Manchester club that he had reportedly tasked British Cycling's former performance director, Ineos Grenadiers general manager and current Ineos director of sport Dave Brailsford to make them the number one club in the world once again".

(What I would do to live in that timeline, but instead we still have the Glazers, yay!)

> Jim Ratcliffe wants Dave Brailsford to overhaul Manchester United — billionaire behind Ineos sporting empire remains confident of successful bid

We all know how that has turned out, the owners of Manchester United, the Glazers family from the States turned down the bids. So what should Ratcliffe do with all that spare cash lying around? Well of course, sign one of the biggest cycling talents for his cycling team!

Pogačar's agent has now also confirmed that the British team, earlier known as Team Sky and one of the most dominant teams the men's sport had seen until the rise of the all-conquering Jumbo-Visma this year, came knocking between the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana to ask about his situation.

> Jumbo-Visma clean up at the Vuelta – Are they the most dominant cycling team of all time?

The Slovenian men's champion is under contract with UAE Team Emirates until 2027 after turning pro with the side back in 2019, and then instantly giving the world a glimpse of his sheer talent and strength in the Vuelta a España, winning three stages before taking the yellow jersey in the Tour de France in 2020 and 2021.

Tadej Pogacar, Stage 19 of 2021 (Tour de France A.S.O./Pauline Ballet)

Speaking to GCN, Pogačar's agent Alex Carera said: "At this time he is under contract with UAE until 2027. If Ineos are interested in him before that date then they need to talk to UAE Team Emirates.

"For sure they’re interested if he’s not under contract because Ineos’ goal is to be one of the best teams in the world. If you want to be the best then you need the best riders. If they are interested in Tadej they must find a deal with UAE first of all."

Meanwhile, Tadej Pogačar and Urška Žigart, aka the peloton's power couple, have spent the last couple days in the Swiss and French Alps raising money for the children affected by the earthquake in Syria and Turkey, surpassing the fundraising goal and raising over €550,000.

Massive thanks to everyone who followed along and donated as Urska & I joined this year’s #PlumeStrong Cycling Challenge.

We surpassed our fundraising goal together with @plume and have so far raised €550.000 to benefit children affected by the Turkey-Syria earthquake.

1/2 pic.twitter.com/br5op2oZuG

— Tadej Pogačar (@TamauPogi) September 22, 2023

So what's the move now Jim? Use up the money from the failed £5 billion bid for United and try to get one of the strongest riders in the world on your team? Doesn't sound like a bad plan to me...

The “common criminal behaviour” of dangerous drivers around cyclists needs to be eradicated before we “lose a vital transport choice”, says National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman.

The former Olympic champion made the comments in response to a video posted on social media today by the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA), which showed the charity’s founder Lady Bathurst, cycling the length of Britain to raise awareness for the foundation, on the receiving end of an extremely close pass by an oncoming driver overtaking a lorry at speed.

Read more: “This shouldn’t be normal, but it is”: Chris Boardman blasts “common criminal behaviour” after overtaking driver “almost kills” cyclists – “protected by hi-vis” – on charity ride