“We couldn’t see where we were going”: Pogačar leads safety charge as Italian classic cancelled mid-race due to excessive flooding, with “water as high as disc rotors”; Valtteri Bottas’ gravel obsession; brat summer cycling edition + more on the live blog

The prelude to the showdown between Olympic double gold winner Remco Evenepoel and newly crowned world champion Tadej Pogačar at the Il Lombardia on the weekend has been hampered, as the incessant downpour and excessive flooding has caused the Italian classic race Tre Valli Varesine to be cancelled after 60km of racing.

The race was supposed to be a reduced distance one with two laps cut. However after three laps around Lombardy , the riders including Pogačar, seemed to stop at the finish line at Varese — which has received an orange warning for thunderstorms — to speak to the race organisers, soon after which the race was abandoned.

 

 

 

 

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Adam Hansen, the president of the riders’ union CPA, said: “The riders stopped during the Tre Valli Varesine due to excessive water accumulation on the roads, which in some sections reached as high as the disc rotors.

“Riders described the conditions as ‘rivers flowing across the roads’, with ‘moving stones and mud on the surface’, making visibility nearly impossible during descents. Faced with worsening weather, they made a united decision to stop for their own safety.”

Other teams also posted pictures and videos of the treacherous conditions, with standing water collecting on the roads and a constant downstream of water from higher altitudes.

Ben Swift from Ineos Grenadiers said: “It’s a massive shame for the race, for the riders, for the fans, for everybody. We tried to come to come to a conclusion with what would happen, we know the weather was going to be bad.

“We don’t mind racing in the rain, but this was extreme. On the downhill on the second or the third lap it was up to the hubs. I somebody crashed there… you don’t want to think what could happen. It was about safety. It’s a shame that actually the weather has improved now but when you descend and you can see manhole covers getting lifted up off the floor, it just wasn’t possible unfortunately.”

 

 

 

 

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Meanwhile, Lidl-Trek’s Tom Skujiņš wrote: “A real pity we couldn't put on a good show today at one of the legendary Italian races. However the flooded roads weren't safe and nobody wants to see riders getting injured. I'd like to thank the Tre Valli Varesine organisers for making the very difficult, but right call.”

Tadej Pogačar also spoke to other riders and the organisers. “We tried to race and did a good race until we could. Then on the last lap, on the downhill, I was in second position behind [Alessandro] Covi and we couldn't see where we were going,” he said before going to his UAE Team Emirates bus for a warm shower, reports Cyclingnews.

“Everybody wanted to stop. It was just a matter of time about when some guy would crash. When there’s standing water, it's not good.

“We understand the organisers — that they want to race — but in the end the riders made the right decision not to. We are sad for the race to not continue, but it’s like this. We talked with the organisers, luckily everybody was reasonable. 

“I could see how heavy it was for the boss of the organisation. There were tears in his eyes. This race means a lot to them and it's a beautiful race, but when you can't race you can’t. They understood that immediately. I’m really thankful for that and happy that they decided to end the race.”

The Tre Valli Varesine men's race has been called off due to poor weather conditions. A strong field, including World Champion Tadej Pogačar, were set to compete in this final tune-up ahead of Il Lombardia. 🌧️#cycling #roadcycling pic.twitter.com/mcVFsQtIde

— Eurosport (@eurosport) October 8, 2024

Race organiser Renzo Oldani also spoke briefly and accepted that safety comes first, saying: “It was a difficult decision. Safety comes first, for the riders and for the spectators. This hurts after a year of hard work but I'll try to encourage my staff and volunteers after the riders promised to be back next year.”

The women’s race, meanwhile, had started earlier and managed to brave the tough weather conditions and finish the race, with Ceratizit-WNT’s Cédrine Kerbaol winning solo ahead of Silvia Persico and Liane Lippert.

You see someone in a motor vehicle who should be stopping and letting you pass, but you know that they’ve seen you and decided that they’re still going to give it a try, you slow down and just as the two of you are on the collision path, wits take over the driver and they gracelessly stop, but so do you, because of course, you’re the one who’s got the most to lose… But yet, the driver gives you the look saying, “I don’t know where you came from mate!”, or worse, a honk to say, “Come on now, don’t waste my time here”.

I’m sure this exact incident, in some way or the other has happened to so many of us, yet it’s always a pretty disarming moment… This time, it happened on the roundabout junction between the A4020 and Church Road and St George’s Road in Ealing, London to the cyclist who goes by the name of Das_Pig on social media.

“I don’t have airbags. If you don’t look like you're going to stop, I need to brake,” they said. “No need to shout your face off because I prioritised my safety. Another Hats Group driver with an irrational hate towards cyclists.”

I don't have airbags. If you don't look like you're going to stop, I need to brake 🤷

No need to shout your face off because I prioritised my safety. Another @Hats_Group driver with an irrational hate towards cyclists 👎@SafeUxbridgeRd @BetterEaling @EalingCyclists @THINKgovuk pic.twitter.com/MNMZ7ycZTx

— Das_Pig (@Das_Pig) October 7, 2024

Several cyclists replied sharing their stories of how many times this has happened to them. One even mentioned the most disastrous hiccup you can face on the bike: Having to pull an emergency stop while being in a big gear and then struggle to get up-up and away.

“I would tend to fluff my restart there. It can sometimes take me an age to get back down the gears after an emergency stop. If only they had waited correctly in the first place, neither of us would have had the unnecessary delay, whilst I fluster and apologise for taking so long.”

Another person talked about how motorists don’t get what it means to be a cyclist, writing: “This is the number one thing car drivers don't get. Hit a car in your car, it's a big bill. Get hit by a car on your bike, it's serious injury or death. ‘Over’ cautiousness is a given.”

Eddie Coldrick also mentioned another instance of poor driving by a Hats Group driver, saying: “I nearly got squashed by a Hats Group ambulance at a pinch point on my bike. Wrote an email to them, but no response. Somehow they are RoSPA [Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents] accredited, but all I see are complaints about their poor driving and disregard for cyclists. RoSPA also ignored the complaint.”

Some other comments:

“You totally did the right thing there mate!”

“Sometimes the drivers know full well they've driven poorly, but like a guilty child who's done something wrong they just blame someone else. There's only you, so they blame you. At least you don't live with them, everything would be your fault.”

“Entitled d*** of a driver.”

What do you guys make of it? If you’ve experienced similar near-miss events like this, let us know!

If you hadn’t seen this, the gravel world championship over the weekend had a familiar yet surprising face amongst its riders, 10-time F1 race winner and former teammate of seven (erm, eight, if you ask some) time world champion Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas.

Familiar — because the Finnish racer-cum-rider is known for his love of gravel riding, to the point that one might ask if he’s really more of a cyclist than a driver now, driving Formula 1 cars as his day job and coming back to ride backs as his true passion.

> Valtteri Bottas says "refreshing" cycling "more fair" than Formula One as you don't need best bike to win

And yet surprising because, what was an F1 driver doing at a gravel world championship?! Don’t get me wrong, he’s more than welcome, it is just — a bit surprising.

But without a contract for next year, and as his current F1 team Sauber gets taken over by Audi next year — it looks more and more unlikely that the Finn will be out an F1 seat. So what’s next for him?

Maybe a chat with ex-Barcelona and Stoke City player Bojan Krkić might be handy?

> Can he ride it on a cold rainy night in Stoke? Ex-Barcelona (and Stoke City) footballer Bojan launches new gravel bike brand

Question for the pod:

After F1’s Valtteri Bottas swapped four wheels for two this weekend at the Gravel Worlds, which sports star would you like to see get on a bike?#cycling #OnYerBikePod @writebikerepeat pic.twitter.com/okYKM0rXsX

— Sanny Rudravajhala (@Sanny_Rudra) October 7, 2024

 

 

 

 

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After starting working on bikes at the young age of 15 and then going on to start the now-iconic Italian brand Tommasini Cycles in 1957, legendary frame builder Irio Tommasini died yesterday, aged 91.

Tommasini Cycles shared the news via a Facebook post, writing: “With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Irio Tommasini, who, with his passion and genius, founded our company in 1957.

“Irio, who has left us at the age of 91, lived a life deeply rooted in the world of bicycles since 1948, first as a cyclist and later as a master craftsman. His attention to detail, love for tradition, and constant drive for innovation, which made Tommasini frames true works of art known and admired all over the world, will continue to guide us in the work we do every day, carrying forward the story of Irio and the Tommasini company.”

Irio Tommasini (credit: Tommasini Biciclette)

Besides being completely enamoured by cycling from a very early age, Irio, originally from Buriano, gained a hands-on experience in dealing with bikes at a large Milanese cycles company when he was still a teenager. He then moved south to Grosseto, Tuscany where he founded his namesake frame-building company in 1957. In the 1970s, the company expanded its production and sales network in Italy and abroad.

Irio served as an inspiration to many venerated craftsmen who came after him, such as the late Mark Reilly, one of the UK’s most respected frame-builders and widely seen as the country’s leading exponent of using titanium as a material for bicycle frame.

Tommasini frames were and still are appreciated both for their finish and size. Many amateur and professional riders have relied and continue to rely on the company winning with these frames. Today, the company’s workmanship remains artisan thus rewarding experience and choice of the best materials.

> Bob Parlee, founder of legendary US custom frame builder Parlee Cycles, dies aged 70

The "impatient" driver was overtaking a stalled vehicle at traffic lights in Blackburn, pulling into the opposite lane and hitting a cyclist described as "very fortunate not to have died".

> Drug driver who caused horrific crash which seriously injured cyclist avoids jail, given 10-month suspended sentence