Cyclists warned about ‘dooring’ drivers – while staging protest calling for protected bike lanes; Harry Styles cycling in one direction; Pro cyclists in civvies; Tour of Turkey monster climb; 47-year-old ex-doper wins stage race + more on the live blog

Last night’s story on Worcester’s “non-inclusive, shambles” kissing gate has inspired some cyclists on social media to post their own examples of not-quite-bike-friendly entrances to shared-use paths, including this cracker from Derbyshire’s Erewash Canal, complete with ironic welcome sign: 

Never miss an opportunity to post this beauty. pic.twitter.com/NxfHPTDLLo

— CycleNotts² (@CycleNott) October 10, 2023

Labour — almost certainly the next government — will build townhouses in first ten years in power, Sir Keir Starmer to say in today's speech. Doctors' surgeries, schools, transport links and shops to be "hardwired" into plans.

15-minute cities, then!

— Carlton Reid (@carltonreid) October 10, 2023

And before the conspiracy theories jump up and start shouting, Carlton continued: “15-minute cities DO NOT involve permits to visit shops etc The urban design concept provides amenities nearby so residents don't need to drive places, but can do so when needs must.

“Expect local councils to get more powers and more cash to create Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, although they definitely won't be called that. Tory antipathy to people-friendly streets — a recent, misguided policy — will fade to grey before disappearing as if it never happened.

“LTNs and 15-minute cities etc will disappear, but in name only. When shown the reality, most people will prefer to live in, you know, liveable communities. The byword will be ‘walkability’ — places where it's easy to walk to everything you need. Why do some hate this concept?”

Let the (hopefully) conspiracy-free rebranding of LTNs and 15-minute cities commence…

Well, Mount Babadag certainly lived up to its billing, scattering riders all over its 10 percent-plus gradients and weird clinker-based road, as out front Astana’s Alexey Lutsenko continued his late-season tour of redemption by coming out on top against Bora-Hansgrohe’s Ben Zwiehoff in an attritional battle at the summit of the savage, picturesque climb.

Lutsenko, who has followed up an underwhelming Tour de France with wins at the Circuito de Getxo, Memorial Marco Pantani, and the Asian Games time trial, grimly rode away from the impressive Zwiehoff – who had pushed the pace for most of the final section of the 18km climb – in the final kilometre, eventually putting 12 seconds into the German after a carefully calculated ride on the hour-plus test.

Alexey Lutsenko conquers Badabag to win Stage 3 of the Tour of Turkey! 🗻#TUR2023 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/r4g0smYbj8

— Eurosport (@eurosport) October 10, 2023

The finale proved to be head-to-head battle between Astana and Bora, who decimated the field over halfway up the climb, with Lutsenko’s teammate Harold Tejada finishing third, 27 seconds down, and 23-year-old Czech Tour winner Florian Lipowitz holding on for fourth, ahead of Q36.5’s Matteo Badilatti and Green Project-Bardiani’s Giulio Pellizzari.

Behind that front six, separated by less than a minute and a half, the gaps turned into chasms, with UAE Team Emirates’ pre-stage favourite Jay Vine the highest profile casualty on a climb where there was simply no place to hide.

Though, with only 16 seconds separating Lutsenko and Zwiehoff at the top of the GC, the Tour of Turkey’s organisers will be relieved that their experimental leg-breaker of a summit finish – one that could perhaps eventually forge its own identity as one of the sport’s toughest tests – did not also turn out to be a race killer.

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La Tropicale Amissa Bongo 2024 cancelled

The 17th edition of the Tropicale Amissa Bongo will not take place in next January

This decision, in agreement with the authorities, is dictated by a rethinking of the priorities for the coming months, in the context of the renewal of… pic.twitter.com/skf53NmuZ6

— Kayishema Tity Thierry (@TityKayishema) October 9, 2023

The African racing scene has suffered a blow this week with the news that La Tropicale Amissa Bongo, a week-long stage race which usually takes place in January, has been postponed for the foreseeable future amidst the uncertain political situation in Gabon.

The race, won by TotalEnergies’ Vuelta stage winner Geoffrey Soupe earlier this year and a launching pad for the careers of the likes of Biniam Girmay, Natnael Berhane, and Daniel Teklehaimanot, is named in honour of Albertine Amissa Bongo, the daughter of former Gabon president Omar Bongo, who led the country from 1967 to his death in 2009, and the sister of recent deposed president Ali Bongo.

Bongo has been under house arrest since late August, following a military coup which brought an end to the 56-year-long rule of his controversial family in Gabon.

And yesterday, as the new regime promised free elections sometime in 2024, Rwandan journalist Kayishema Tity Thierry confirmed that the race, set to take place between 22 and 28 January, which bears the Bongo name will not go ahead.

“The 17th edition of the Tropicale Amissa Bongo will not take place next January,” he posted on social media.

“This decision, in agreement with the authorities, is dictated by a rethinking of the priorities for the coming months, in the context of the renewal of the institutions of the Republic of Gabon.”

We’re fewer than 20 kilometres away from the foot of Mount Babadag, the 18km, 10.3 percent average monster that serves as the frankly savage finale to stage three of the Tour of Turkey this afternoon.

With nine kilometres of the final climb averaging over 12 percent, sections that hit ludicrous numbers, a rough surface, and even a cobbled section for good measure, the Babadag has the potential on paper to make the Angliru and Zoncolan look like measly bumps on the road in comparison.

Just to underline how tough this summit finish is going to be, Carlton Kirby has already uttered the phrase ‘coping strategy’ three times in the first two minutes of the live coverage.

Get the popcorn out, we could be in for a lunchtime cracker. Or at least an hour of pro cyclists struggling to ride their bikes in a straight line, anyway…

There have been murmurings about this signing for a while – in fact, we reported it on the blog almost a month ago, before all that Visma-Soudal merger nonsense even kicked off – but the news was finally made official this morning: ‘El Tractor’ Tim Declercq has signed for Lidl-Trek after seven seasons with Soudal Quick-Step.

The 34-year-old Flemish rider has been an almost constant presence on the front of the peloton in the classics and sprint stages – controlling things for his teammates and killing breaks at will – since joining Patrick Lefevere’s squad from Topsport Vlaanderen in 2017.

The tractor, pulling everyone along at the front, as usual… (SWpix.com)

And while the merger rumours have finally been quashed, Declercq’s departure to Lidl-Trek – where he has signed a deal that runs until the end of 2025 – signals another move away from Soudal Quick-Step’s traditional classics-oriented approach to a more stage racing-focused lineup in the service of Remco Evenepoel.

El Tractor, meanwhile, may be in different colours next year, but it is unlikely his role in the bunch will change, as he aims to keep things nicely under control for Mads Pedersen and Jasper Stuyven in the spring classics.

A rider that needs little introduction, because you've seen him lead the peloton for countless kilometers! 🚜

Welcome to the Team, @Tim_Declercq 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣

📰 https://t.co/qlld4BMGVr pic.twitter.com/WbQTfQYUJM

— Lidl-Trek (@LidlTrek) October 10, 2023

“I think Lidl-Trek is a growing team with great values,” Declercq said. “They ride attractively and are stepping up their game every year. I’m super excited to join them.

“It seems a bit like the Lidl logo is chasing me during my career! But, I think it’s great for cycling that such a big firm wants to invest in cycling. That they chose the Lidl-Trek team to sponsor only shows that it’s a super professional team with great values.

“Of course it will be very strange to leave Quick Step after all those years. Some people of the staff and riders really became friends after all this time, and I’ve got some great moments together. On the other hand, the last few years the team has also not been the same anymore and I really look forward to a new challenge.

“I know most of the Belgians quite well, and I think we will have a lot of fun during training camps. I also look forward to working for every rider the team wants me to, but for sure I hope to be of value to Mads Pedersen in the classics and the Grand Tours.”

On a more important note – that is definitely my favourite of the jazzy retro Lidl-Trek transfer t-shirts (and to be fair, the quality has been high). Could you send a medium over to the road.cc office, Lidl? Cheers.

Yes, yes, I know Cav and co. are still racing in Turkey, but for cycling traditionalists like myself, the weekend of the Tour of Lombardy and Paris-Tours means only one thing: the road racing season is over!

And for Geraint Thomas, Filippo Ganna, Thymen Arensman, Ben Swift, Pavel Sivakov, Laurens De Plus, and the rest of the Ineos Grenadiers Giro d’Italia squad, that apparently also means sampling the high life in Monaco – from chilling on a yacht (I wonder if it’s Sir Jim’s?)…

Its that time of year where I stop checking cyclists Insta posts..

They are in Monaco and I’m in Bedfordshire… no I’m not jealous at all 😭 pic.twitter.com/PKOXjdcSZM

— Anna Mac 👑🪱 🌈🖤 (@AnnamacB) October 9, 2023

… to hitting the night club (Monte Carlo’s white shirt shops won’t go out of business anytime soon, by the looks of things).

End of season bants with the Giro boys #squad pic.twitter.com/0HqKIwJ4sR

— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) October 9, 2023

Hashtag bantz from G and the lads, lads, lads…

Of course, the October holiday season has also ushered in another round of every cycling fan’s favourite – and toughest – game: Name the pro cyclist in their civvies…

Me trying to recognise pro cyclists in civvies. 🤔 https://t.co/qJcLaWz5hR pic.twitter.com/u2Ih3j874w

— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) October 10, 2023

It’s mad that they’re easier to recognise when they’re wearing sunglasses, helmets and exactly the same kit than when they’re just in normal clothes.

— Kazimierz Kapusniak (@letmeseethatkaz) October 10, 2023

Now, be honest – would you recognise De Plus if he were standing beside you in Tesco?