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"Organising cycle races in the UK is harder than ever before": Tour of Britain hits back at critics calling race "dull"; Jake Paul seen in Jumbo-Visma kit aboard a Cervélo... no, really; 'Speeding cyclists' talk reaches day three + more on the live blog

In between regular intervals of melting in the September sun and watching multiple bike races, Dan Alexander will be putting together Wednesday's live blog updates...
Wed, Sep 06, 2023 09:11
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SUMMARY

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"Organising cycle races in the UK is harder than ever before": Tour of Britain hits back at critics calling race "dull"; Jake Paul seen in Jumbo-Visma kit aboard a Cervélo... no, really; 'Speeding cyclists' talk reaches day three + more on the live blog2023 Tour of Britain stage three, Olav Kooij wins again (SWpix.com/Simon Wilkinson)
06 September 2023, 07:51
"Organising cycle races in the UK is harder than ever before": Tour of Britain hits back at "dull" racing critics

After three sprints and three Jumbo-Visma-dominated Olav Kooij victories, there have been a few rumblings on social media that this year's Tour of Britain might be a bit boring. Now I doubt any of the thousands of spectators who have lined the route so far thought it boring to see their back yard hosting a bike race of its scale, but some of those watching on from the comfort of their TV-viewing perch have been less impressed.

2023 Tour of Britain stage two, Olav Kooij wins in Wrexham (SWpix.com/Zac Williams)

[SWpix.com/Zac Williams]

Taking to X (Twitter), one fan said it had been "dull", while another suggested "there's nothing interesting" and we "may as well watch a 200-lap scratch race".

"Not sure who designed the route but are they afraid of hills? Pretty dull so far," another said.

Replying to the critics, the Tour of Britain's social media admin pointed out the route was designed by the same team heavily praised for their Kendal 2016, Whinlatter 2018, Burton Dassett 2019, Great Orme 2021 stages (and chucked this Sunday's Caerphilly finale into that bracket too, suggesting they think they've got a winner there)...

"If somebody wants to give us a sizeable seven-figure (near eight-figure) sum to give us the opportunity of doing that, we've got plenty of stages that have never been run before in mind," they added.

The bad news for those who want hills is the next three (very flat) stages look likely to be sprints too, before this weekend's climbing finale in Gloucestershire and at Caerphilly Mountain.

Maybe good things come to those who wait? 

06 September 2023, 15:56
Jesús Herrada wins from La Vuelta breakaway — no change on GC

One of those double race days at a Grand Tour where we get the stage win battle from the breakaway before the GC riders take things up a few minutes later. The final climb wasn't hard enough to split the GC guys, despite Hugh Carthy's efforts, meaning Sepp Kuss will once again be in red tomorrow.

Up the road, Geraint Thomas finished fifth from the breakaway, Jesús Herrada taking a third Vuelta stage win since 2019 by powering away from Romain Grégoire, Andreas Kron and Jonathan Caicedo in the final few hundred metres.

Pure comedy from an overzealous Cofidis soigneur, and an arguably even more overzealous policeman, at the finish...

06 September 2023, 14:24
Simac stage sprint showdown sees star shocked

Anyone got any more S-words to add to that title...

Over at the Annemiek van Vleuten celebration race... sorry, I mean the Simac Ladies Tour, it was former world champion Elisa Balsamo who pipped Lorena Wiebes to the opening road stage of the week. With Charlotte Kool third, that's a proper unofficial sprinters' world championship of a stage, Wiebes probably starting as favourite given her scintillating form this season. 

Let's hope we see another top-tier battle on Friday's second sprint of the week. 

06 September 2023, 14:13
Olav Kooij wins stage four of the Tour of Britain (equals consecutive stage win record)

It's groundhog day...

Four wins from four stages. It's almost like having Wout van Aert on lead-out duty for the fastest sprinter in the race is a solid tactic... more expert analysis on that soon...

The commentary team for GCN+, Matt Stephens and Brian Smith had some not-so-encouraging words for those of you unhappy with the lack of climbing action so far this week...

Smith: Just copy and paste that for tomorrow.

Stephens: It's even flatter tomorrow, Brian! If you thought these days were flat, tomorrow and the next day are extraordinarily flat... I can see this man winning six stages.

Highlight of the day? Whichever farmer arranged the sheep feed in the shape of a penny farthing...

06 September 2023, 14:08
"Cyclists are entitled to use the road as much as anyone else": Councillors and locals blast "discriminatory" 'Cyclists Dismount and Proceed with Caution' signs at temporary traffic lights
'Cyclists Dismount' sign, Malvern Road, Worcester (Dan Brothwell)

> "Cyclists are entitled to use the road as much as anyone else": Councillors and locals blast "discriminatory" 'Cyclists Dismount and Proceed with Caution' signs at temporary traffic lights

06 September 2023, 13:18
The 'amateur sleuths' tackling bike theft in Finland

The BBC has an interesting feature on its website looking into how a group called Bike Patrols is hunting down bike thieves in Finland.

The citizen group, made up of volunteers who spend several hours a day tracking down stolen bikes in the city of Oulu, is trying to cut the number of bike theft cases reported to the police in the city, 1,738 in the past year.

In summer, 77 per cent of Oulu residents cycle, with 42 per cent continuing into the winter months, while it is reported that due to the impressive infrastructure, children cycle to school on their own without issue.

However, the popularity of cycling unfortunately means bike thefts are also prevalent, the local police saying it has to "prioritise investigating more serious crimes". But, Bike Patrols filled the gap and have found a quite incredible 1,298 stolen bikes... in the past year. That's equivalent to 75 per cent of the aforementioned bike theft total.

"People told us where bikes disappeared from. We checked out each location and slowly figured out where stolen bikes ended up in different parts of the city," Ilkka Pulkkinen of Bike Patrols explained.

The full feature is well worth a read...

06 September 2023, 12:35
A titanium treat! road.cc Recommends updated with 10 great products from products from Van Nicholas, Spa Cycles, Landrace, Liv Merida + more
roadcc-recommends-montage-09-2023

> A titanium treat! road.cc Recommends updated with 10 great products from products from Van Nicholas, Spa Cycles, Landrace, Liv Merida + more

06 September 2023, 11:14
Tour of Britain reaction round-up: Hills, no Scottish visit + more

Loads of reaction from you lot this morning, all focused around that 'has the Tour of Britain been dull?' discussion...

60kg lean keen ... : "In north-east Wales we have the Horseshoe Pass (not the only big hill in local area), but the Wrexham stage went east not west? I believe it was because Denbighshire would not play ball, so it was a flatish short stage, it could have been a epic (good weather etc.) but I and so many others turned out and made the day a good one. Let's hope the tour comes back to Wrexham and we can go west for a day in the hills."

Another one here... "As a rider and racing fan, I'm finding this year's Tour of Britain really boring. I appreciate what the organisers have said about choosing venues and routes, but something needs to be done.

"The local authorities who sponsor and fund the event are looking for start and finish venues in high-profile towns and cities as a form of marketing. Perhaps they will look beyond this, to create a more engaging and memorable race, where breakaways and mountain stages will attract greater TV viewing figures and, as a result, more rider interest."

I've got to admit I do have a fair bit of sympathy for the organisers. Road surfaces, disinterested councils, road closures, rider safety etc. there are more than enough issues for people to moan at you about and challenges to overcome.

If the plan's to keep the GC even for this weekend's Gloucestershire/Wales hilly finale, I'm okay with that, I'd say it's less boring now than if Wout van Aert was already leading and in control thanks to an early hilly stage and bonus seconds (if they'd been included). But that's just me... would it be nice if the sprints were more competitive? 100%. Is it the organisers' fault if you give teams potentially six sprint stages and still nobody sends anybody able to beat Jumbo-Visma? The sprinters must all be at La Vuelta... oh, wait...

06 September 2023, 11:54
La Vuelta's secret battle: Filippo Ganna vs Jacopo Mosca
06 September 2023, 09:56
06 September 2023, 09:46
The award for most unlikely ULEZ supporter goes to... Richard Keys?!

Genuinely shocked by this. I just assumed 'Keysy' would be in the other camp, chewing Andy Gray's ear off on beIN SPORTS about "this London mayor Sadiq Khan... or as I've dubbed him... Sadiq Khan't" like he's an underperforming manager of Manchester United. 

06 September 2023, 09:21
'Speeding cyclists' talk reaches (very tired) day three thanks to a loophole-loving lawyer

Late to the party on this one, Mr Loophole...

Apologies for putting this idea into your brain on a sunny Wednesday morning... but I'd say that's a 10/10 guess for what AI Nick Freeman would tweet about the story... ChatGPT Loophole edition, I'm not sure this live blog's ready for that... 

06 September 2023, 09:02
Your thoughts on this year's Tour of Britain

Left_is_for_Losers: "Re this years Tour of Britain — been really impressed with the crowds, you look at the finishes and wonder how it is that professional cycling in the UK is in so much decline?

"It does seem quite a flat route — you would have thought that you could find a few more hills or one more hilly stage somewhere. After the world champs in Glasgow and that success, it's a shame there isn't anything up there. 

"Still — it's great to see pro racing in Britain, so I'm happy!"

SimoninSpalding: "Part of the issue with this year's Tour is also the weather. At this time of year you would hope for a few breezy days that could create some excitement with cross winds, tailwind-assisted breakaways etc. but instead we are 'suffering' the weather we should have had in June and July."

NickSprink: "We also don't have the equivalent of the Alps.  Difficult to find long climbs up to 2000m+ in the UK, they don't exist.  So best we can do is bumpy compared to what is available to the planners of the Grand Tours."

Miller: "It's also worth noting that it is very hard to split up the super-fit and highly coached peloton of professional riders. This is why recent Grand Tours have taken to having weird stages with gravel or ridiculously steep finishes: organisers are trying to find some way to force gaps between riders."

Rendel Harris: "Whilst one can certainly sympathise with the logistical challenges faced by the ToB organisers, and also the fact as others have noted that we just don't have the hills to smash a peloton to pieces, it is pretty ridiculous that after three days we have 56 riders effectively equal first with the leader being decided on his place in the points classification.

"Why are there no bonus seconds on the line or for intermediate sprints, and why no time trial? I realise a time trial has its own logistical problems given that it requires the road to be closed for longer, but surely one could be held in an off-road venue such as a park or stately home grounds? The race is clearly crying out for something to split up the riders so that attacks will have to be made." 

06 September 2023, 08:38
Jake Paul seen in Jumbo-Visma kit aboard a Cervélo

If you don't know who Jake Paul is... congratulations, your life will probably be better if you scroll on past. If you are already acquainted with the fame-driven world of YouTube and celebrity boxing, come right on in...

Jake Paul (Instagram/Jutta Leerdam)

The man whose Wikipedia page is dominated by the 'Controversies and legal issues' section is in the Netherlands and was seemingly convinced into a spin alongside speed skater Jutta Leerdam (who competes as a Jumbo-Visma athlete, explaining the kit and Cervélo crossover)...

Maybe pay-per-view celeb hill climbs or individual pursuits will be the next big thing in the influencer money-making world? Preceded by months of cringe-inducing trash talk and fake 'beef', of course... (I don't mean Quorn)...

Jake Paul (Instagram/Jutta Leerdam)
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.

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42 comments

Avatar
stonojnr replied to Rendel Harris | 1 year ago
0 likes

Because folk would then complain the race is being decided by bonus seconds, not real time gaps.

They've got something that will split up the riders, it's called stage 8.

Avatar
kil0ran replied to Rendel Harris | 1 year ago
4 likes

Last year's race would have been epic, if Mrs Windsor hadn't carked it at an inopportune moment. Two really lumpy days cancelled including what turned out to be a very windy jaunt on the Isle of Wight.

Avatar
mark1a replied to kil0ran | 1 year ago
0 likes

Agreed, stage 7 was passing within 300 metres of my house, and I had a more direct ride route planned to pick up the bunch passing again another 2-3 times on its way east, but it was not to be.

Avatar
peted76 replied to kil0ran | 1 year ago
1 like

kil0ran wrote:

Last year's race would have been epic, if Mrs Windsor hadn't carked it at an inopportune moment. Two really lumpy days cancelled including what turned out to be a very windy jaunt on the Isle of Wight.

An Isle of Wight stage would have been most excellent as long as they kept in the £1 floating bridge at Cowes.... 

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to Rendel Harris | 1 year ago
0 likes

There was a TT in Tamworth last year or the year before for the Womens race. So they can be done if the area wants it. 

Avatar
Left_is_for_Losers | 1 year ago
2 likes

Re this years ToB - been really impressed with the crowds, you look at the finishes and wonder how it is that professional cycling in the UK is in so much decline. 

It does seem quite a flat route - you would have thought that you could find a few more hills or one more hilly stage somewhere. After the world champs in Glasgow and that success, it's a shame there isn't anything up there. 

Still - it's great to see pro racing in Britain, so I'm happy!

Avatar
SimoninSpalding | 1 year ago
2 likes

Part of the issue with this year's Tour is also the weather. At this time of year you would hope for a few breezy days that could create some excitement with cross winds, tailwind assisted breakaways etc. but instead we are "suffering" the weather we should have had in June and July.

Avatar
NickSprink | 1 year ago
1 like

We also don't have the equivalent of the Alps.  Difficult to find long climbs up to 2000m+ in the UK, they don't exist.  So best we can do is bumpy compared to what is available to the planners of the Grand Tours.

Avatar
60kg lean keen ... replied to NickSprink | 1 year ago
1 like

NickSprink wrote:

We also don't have the equivalent of the Alps.  Difficult to find long climbs up to 2000m+ in the UK, they don't exist.  So best we can do is bumpy compared to what is available to the planners of the Grand Tours.

In North east Wales we have the horse shoe pass (not the only big hill in local area), but the Wrexham stage went East not West???  I believe it was because Denbighshire would not play ball, so it was a flat ish short stage, it could have been a epic (good weather ect) but I and so many others turned out and made the day a good one.  Lets hope the tour comes back to Wrexham and we can go West for a day in the hills.

Avatar
Left_is_for_Losers replied to 60kg lean keen climbing machine | 1 year ago
0 likes

60kg lean keen climbing machine wrote:

 I believe it was because Denbighshire would not play ball, 

 

 

This seems to be a primary reason for some not so good routes - our counties are quite small - so it's difficult to run a decent route within the confines of one county etc - I can imagine it makes it quite limiting. 

Suprised not to see more pure sprinters at the race too - given that basically 7/8 stages are sprints you would have thought that would be more opportunity. 

Avatar
Miller | 1 year ago
2 likes

It's also worth noting that it is very hard to split up the super-fit and highly coached peloton of professional riders. This is why recent grand tours have taken to having weird stages with gravel or ridiculously steep finishes: organisers are trying to find some way to force gaps between riders.

Avatar
Steve K replied to Miller | 1 year ago
0 likes

Miller wrote:

It's also worth noting that it is very hard to split up the super-fit and highly coached peloton of professional riders. This is why recent grand tours have taken to having weird stages with gravel or ridiculously steep finishes: organisers are trying to find some way to force gaps between riders.

It ought, though, be easier to split the Tour of Britain field, oughtn't it - given the different levels of rider involved.

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