Pogi-Roubaix: Is Tadej Pogačar ready for Paris-Roubaix debut? World champ teases cycling world with Arenberg training clip, as teammate shouts “Not too fast!”; Are “box-ticking” painted bike lanes “more trouble than they’re worth”? + more on the live blog

‘Paint is not protection, paint is not protection…’

Here on the live blog, we’re well used to muttering that popular cycle lane mantra under our breaths, as we dodge parked cars and close passing motorists along (what’s supposed to be in theory) a dedicated cycling route – but which, in reality, constitutes nothing more than a lick of green paint on the road, ready to be ignored by drivers everywhere.

As we’ve seen over the years, nowhere is that mantra more prescient than in Belfast, where just two miles of properly protected and separated cycling infrastructure, last updated six years ago, exist – and where, according to recent government research, only a third of the locals believe that cycling in their area is safe, and 60 per cent reckon there is a lack of safe cycle paths.

Last month, the two-wheeled backlash against the apparent government apathy towards improving the city’s cycling network reached fever pitch, after Northern Ireland’s infrastructure minister John O’Dowd announced that £580,000 was set to be spent on upgrading one of Belfast’s only existing protected cycle paths… instead of, you know, building new ones.

> “You can’t make this stuff up”: Cyclists furious at government’s “easy, non-car disruptive” decision to upgrade “the one bike path we already have”… in city with only two miles of safe cycle lanes – as diversion forces riders onto busy road and footpath

“There are just two miles of protected cycle lanes in all of Belfast,” the Northern Ireland branch of Sustrans said at the time.

“Why spend more than half a million pounds in ‘improving’ this well-used foot and cycle path, when there is nothing of this standard in North and West Belfast? Please build the network!”

“It’s an easy and non-car disruptive thing to do. Gives the impression of investment in sustainable infrastructure without being in any way effective,” agreed cyclist Phil.

That mind-boggling decision came just a month after O’Dowd’s Department for Infrastructure produced a series of videos encouraging commuters to cycle to work instead of driving, in a bid to ease the city’s infamous congestion problems.

These videos extolled the “stress-free” virtues of the city’s painted bike lanes… one of which was captured on tape completely blocked by parked cars (though the DfI refrained from pointing that particular drawback out in their promo, surprisingly).

> “At least that part of the campaign was realistic”: Government video encouraging people to cycle to avoid “traffic chaos” shows cyclist riding past bike lane blocked by parked cars

And now, disgruntled cyclists have once again taken to the local press to criticise Belfast’s stop-start, leisure-focused approach to cycle lane design, branded a mere “box-ticking exercise” that makes cycling in the city “intimidating” and “frustrating”.

“A cycle lane here is basically a white line sprayed onto a busy road which is completely useless,” Colin O’Carroll, a National Standards cycling instructor, told the Irish News at the weekend.

“Take the Crumlin Road where the cycle lane is lined with parked cars and that’s dangerous because it’s pushing cyclists into the traffic. The DfI need to implement a protected cycle lane along these routes so there is a physical barrier that vehicles cannot cross. The ones we do have start and stop mid-route so that’s pointless as your having to exit and enter heavy traffic along the road.

> Allowing taxis in bus lanes over Christmas a “huge step backwards” that will “put cyclists at risk”, say cycling campaigners

He continued: “Motorists are supposed to give cyclists a two-metre gap when overtaking, but on every journey I’ll have at least one close pass where a motorist is not respecting that space, be it to try and avoid some traffic congestion or simply road rage from the mentality cyclists shouldn’t be on the road.

“It’s especially intimidating for those with little experience who try to implement cycling into their daily commute.

“I was in Melbourne recently and they had lined the inside lane with a raised kerb to separate it from the traffic. It was normal to see parents with two young children all on their bikes cycling in this busy city, whereas it’s rare to see it off a greenway here due to safety concerns.

“Here there seems to be more of a focus on providing greenways for those wishing to cycle for leisure instead of improving the cycling infrastructure along our arterial routes.

“The DFI does not fundamentally understand what is needed. Cycling lanes are treated as little more than a box-ticking exercise. It’s frustrating for the cycling community.”

> "I get more abuse on my bike than in my work": Cyclist death sparks MP to highlight "dire situation of underinvestment" in cycling, urges some drivers to change "irrational attitudes"

Meanwhile, Belfast cyclist Kerry Lynn, who rides a cargo bike with her three children, says the wait for safe cycling infrastructure has made the school run a “nightmare”, and called for the changes to the Highway Code implemented in the rest of the UK three years ago to protect vulnerable road users to also be introduced in Northern Ireland.

“As a mum of three young kids, we’re out and about in the neighbourhood every day, either as pedestrians or on the cargo bike and safety is my biggest concern,” Kerry said.

“We live just a few hundred metres from the school, but navigating that residential area can be a nightmare. Just last week we were cycling to the library which includes a couple of hundred metres on the main road and as I was entering one motorist came flying past and cut us off and all we had were helmets to protect us.

“I find the cycle lanes on my route more trouble than they are worth. They feel like little more than a box-ticking exercise.

“Updates to our road rules, like the ‘Hierarchy of Road Users’, make so much sense to me because it highlights our individual responsibilities relative to what we’re using to get around.

“A heavier vehicle with higher speeds should carry the most responsibility and care to help protect the most vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. It’s all about mutual respect and kindness.”

> “If they can’t build cycle lanes, devolve bloody powers to us and we’ll do it”: Belfast Council slams Northern Ireland government’s “joke” delivery of cycling infrastructure – as just 2.8km of bike lanes installed in two years

Meanwhile, Andrew McClean, Cycling UK’s Northern Ireland lead, noted that people have expressed a “desire to cycle” in Belfast – but that desire is not translating to more cycling trips, simply because safe infrastructure is not there.

According to the DfI Roads Eastern Transport Plan Engagement Survey, cycling was the preferred mode of transport for future trips to work or education, with 64 per cent of respondents saying they wanted to cycle to work, education, or other activities, more than any other mode.

However, the report also showed that 60 per cent of respondents believe that there is a lack of safe cycle paths in the country, hindering their ability to ride a bike safely and confidently.

“We know that nearly half the people in Belfast want to cycle more. We also know from the government’s own survey data, that cycling is the number one preferred way to get around for commuters in the city and the surrounding areas,” he said.

“However, the majority of people agree there aren’t enough safe cycle paths, and only a third of people in Belfast think it’s safe to cycle in their area. That’s because there are only a couple of miles of dedicated cycle paths in the whole of Belfast.

“There’s still a complete lack of urgency around building safe, dedicated cycle paths, despite warm words from the government. Rolling out 20mph as a default speed limit, and updating the Highway Code to include some of the changes implemented three years ago in Great Britain, would help.”

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Egan Arley Bernal Gomez (@eganbernal)

It’s been a long three years for Egan Bernal.

On 24 January 2022, the former Tour de France winner – who, in July 2019 on the Col d’Iseran, appeared for all the world to represent cycling’s future – narrowly escaped death following a horrific, high-speed crash into the back of a parked bus during a training ride.

Since then, the Colombian climber has desperately attempted to regain the spark that enabled him to dazzle on the sport’s biggest climbs and win the 2019 Tour and 2021 Giro d’Italia. Much of that period has been a slow, painful slog, Bernal’s former effervescence flattened – especially in his old stomping ground of the grand tours – as a new generation of sparkling talent emerged.

However, with stepping away from the sport a distinct possibility throughout 2022 and even beyond, Bernal – ever the fighter on the bike – has battled his way back to something at least approaching his old self.

A 2023 focused on re-finding his legs gave way to a much more encouraging 2024, which included top tens overall at Paris-Nice and the Tour de Romandie, a podium spot at the Volta a Catalunya, and a sharp, spirited display at the front of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. At the Tour de France, lingering back problems, however, only served to reinforce the belief that the 28-year-old’s best days were behind him.

But after a long period of rest, and amid whisperings that 2025 would see him back to his best, it’s fair to say Bernal’s started the year in roaring form.

A maiden Colombian national time trial win on Thursday – his first victory since standing on the top step in Milan at the end of the 2021 Giro d’Italia – was followed on Sunday by a stunning solo attack to win the road title, cueing emotional scenes in Bucaramanga.

El sueño de un hermano, la victoria del otro. Egan Bernal es el nuevo campeón nacional de ruta, y su hermano Ronald lo recibe entre lágrimas. Más que un título, es el reflejo de años de lucha juntos. ¡Esto es ciclismo, esto es familia! pic.twitter.com/3tdJ9MN6wd

— Camilo Uribe (@Uribecycling) February 9, 2025

Can those home wins open the floodgates? According to Ineos, Bernal is set to target the Giro d’Italia this year and, his team reckon, could well challenge for the podium.

If Bernal were to battle for pink in May, and even win, it would surely complete a comeback to rival Greg LeMond’s post-hunting accident return to the top at the 1989 Tour de France. And, with the Colombian champion’s jersey on his back, and after the three years he’s battled through to get to this point, you wouldn’t bet against him.

> Patent suggests new electronic MTB drivetrain from Shimano is imminent

We are waiting!!!

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— jbarry881.bsky.social (@jbarry881.bsky.social) February 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM

As predicted, social media is nonstop Pogi-Roubaix chat this afternoon – he’s such a tease, that lad.

Static bike maker Wattbike is seeking investment from new backers, the business having been utilising short-term loans amid slumping turnover and significant losses since the pandemic.

However, the brand has told us it is optimistic about its future, with “sales up more than 35 per cent year-on-year since September”.

Read more: > Wattbike seeks investment following years of losses and falling sales, but static bike brand insists “significant improvements in financial performance” recently

It was a busy weekend of racing around the world (or as proved the case for many teams at the crisis-stricken Étoile de Bessèges, not racing), as Arkea-B&B’s Kevin Vauquelin took advantage of the mass exodus from the beleaguered French stage race to win the final two stages, the shortened summit finish at Mont Bouquet and the race-ending time trial, to take the overall victory.

Meanwhile, Bahrain Victorious’ Colombian climber Santiago Buitrago secured the first GC victory of his career after dominating at the Volta Valenciana with two stage wins.

 

 

 

 

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And at the UAE Tour, Elisa Longo Borghini once again dominated on Jebel Hafeet to nab her second overall success at her team’s home race, as SD Worx’s Lorena Wiebes crept ever closer to that landmark 100th career victory with three sprint demolitions on the flat.

Over at the cyclocross, meanwhile, Lucinda Brand was determined to end her stunning winter on a high, beating in-form Inge van der Heijden at the Krawatencross, while Laurens Sweeck outduelled Toon Aerts and Eli Iserbyt.

After all that, there’s no rest for the wicked, however, as the Tour of Oman continued this morning, with its first summit finish on Eastern Mountain.

BOOM! David Gaudu wins the third stage of Tour of Oman! #TourofOmanhttps://t.co/AohgvtL5DU pic.twitter.com/A5PlDpMBDy

— Eemeli (@LosBrolin) February 10, 2025

And it was Groupama-FDJ’s David Gaudu who put down the first emphatic GC marker, before the race’s decisive final day on Green Mountain, with victory at the end of a pulsating battle with UAE Team Emirates’ Adam Yates.

After attacking constantly on the 4.8km climb, Gaudu was forced to fend off a late, seemingly perfectly timed charge by the British climber, kicking ahead of Yates in the sprint to the line to win by one second, taking the race lead in the process.

Damien Howson continued Q36.5’s encouraging start to the season with third, five seconds behind, while Valentin Paret-Peintre finished fourth, 13 seconds down, as his Soudal Quick-Step teammate Luis Vervaeke ceded the leader’s jersey after being dropped in the final 3km.

But with the Gaudu-Yates show getting off to an enthralling start, the second act on Wednesday will be very interesting…

Dodgy WhatsApp message alert…

> Sacked health minister hoped cyclist asking for more cycle lanes would be “mown down by an HGV” in “disgraceful” WhatsApp messages