Live blog: James Hayden back on the road after attempted robbery; Cyclist has leg chopped off by lawnmower blade; Owain Doull set to ride first Grand Tour; London's 'safer junctions' aren't safe enough; Zwift announce Yorkshire Worlds course + more

A cyclist whose leg was sliced off by a lawnmower blade that fell off the back of a passing truck has sued the Ford Motor Company reports the Metro.

The University of Maine history professor’s lawsuit says the mower was defective because its blade could drop from an upright position to a deployed position while being moved.

Godfried was struck with such force while out riding with his son that the blade severed his leg. His life was saved by Arica Gagnon, a nurse who was en route to the beach with her children when she saw the accident, and stopped to use a towel as a tourniquet.

The professor’s injuries were too severe to recover from, and he ended up losing his left limb above the knee.

The Podcast is BACK for #LaVuelta19

We'll have a daily podcast hosted by @millarmind and @nedboulting

R E V U E L T A

It'll be in the same place as our TDF pod for those of you who have already subscribed  pic.twitter.com/sBv96nBJN3

— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) August 23, 2019

Earlier this month we reported how Hampshire had been labelled the most dangerous county for cyclists after police officers attended 567 collisions in which cyclists had been injured in a 12-month period.

The Argus now reports that Sussex is even more dangerous.

“Hampshire claimed to hold the record earlier this month with 567 crashes in 2018,” reports the newspaper. “But newly released data from Sussex Police surpassed that figure with a total of 600 crashes.”

For 140 of those, the cyclist was listed as “vehicle one.” They were listed as the second vehicle 442 times, as the third vehicle in 17 cases and the fourth vehicle in just one incident.

Sussex Police Freedom of Information officer Roger Brace said: “We cannot however report if the cyclists recorded as vehicle two, three or four were in collision with a car or not.

“It could be as simple as being knocked off by a car door opening or being clipped by a bus in Brighton.”

We’ve no real clue why he said this. Neither of those things sound any less dangerous to us.

London Cycling Campaign say that inadequate schemes are being brought forward simply for the sake of checking boxes.

The @MayorofLondon has committed to a "Vision Zero" of no serious/fatal collisions by 2041. But how will he get there with "Safer Junctions" that aren't safe enough? Sign our petition, tell the Mayor to do safer, better junctions, faster: https://t.co/stKlLlkSgt pic.twitter.com/6atngpU7aB

— London Cycling Campaign (@london_cycling) August 23, 2019

All ready for @TourofBritain which starts along the road @LongridgeTowers 9th September #farm #tourism #cycling pic.twitter.com/W0Bshx2pmx

— Elliot Gray (@Elliott_DG) August 22, 2019

Formerly notorious junction will become a picnic area with a sound stage as part of ‘Reimagine’ event.

Full story here.

"If I have to choose, I would say that both [Primoz] Roglic and [Miguel Angel] López are two cyclists especially motivated for La Vuelta,” Alberto Contador told Eurosport. “I think that perhaps they are the two top favourites.”

Bradley Wiggins agrees.

"I think on paper you would say that’s how it’s looking to be shaping up, but in cycling, as we’ve seen this year really, anything can happen, crashes or just the form guide really.

"I would never discard Valverde either, he is so consistent over the years – oldest man in the race and I think he is going to be ever-present as World Champion, riding the Vuelta as World Champion of Spain, I think it doesn’t get much better for a Spanish rider."

From the Enve Builders Summit held in the US recently. Pick your fave from these 20 bikes listed right here.

See the gallery here

At ICA we believe in taking responsibility and facing the music . Why we say that? Because today , a confusion and mistake by our side has cost our Israeli rider @itamare890 a DNF at #tourofdenmark #pndkr19 . pic.twitter.com/RMSeaarILa

— IsraelCyclingAcademy (@yallaACADEMY) August 22, 2019

Itamar Einhorn of Israel Cycling Academy ended up being disqualified from the Tour of Denmark... because his Directeur Sportif told him the wrong start time for his individual time trial. Arriving ten minutes later than his designated 15:08 start time, Einhorn still rode but ended up outside of the time limit so is now out of the race. Although he says "I blame no one" in the tweet below, we've a feeling that might have been said through gritted teeth... 

Their latest recruit Dan Martin will hope for some better organisation when he begins racing for the Pro Continental team.

Things like that can happen. Nicki tried to appeal but rejected. We Have zero complaints. It’s on us. Itamar: “I feel bad of course, not able to help the team here. But I blame no one”. pic.twitter.com/UBVoLVchbV

— IsraelCyclingAcademy (@yallaACADEMY) August 22, 2019