Need a bike repair after crashing? Bizarre cycle lane outside Evans shop; MORE riders out of Giro with Covid as rain wreaks havoc; Pubs to stay open for longer during World Championships in Scotland; Maintenance mishaps + more on the live blog!

What on earth is going on in Italy?

> Giro d'Italia crash chaos as furious Alberto Bettiol taken out by staff member running across road

It's been a chaotic day so far at the #Giro - in the confusion after a crash rider Alberto Bettiol unfortunately collided with a support team member trying to help another rider who was down. 😬 pic.twitter.com/QiLNikeWhv

— GCN Racing (@GcnRacing) May 16, 2023

It's with a heavy heart and a head hung in shame that I have to announce, we have failed at our "a week without Jeremy Vine on the blog" challenge for the third week running.

> Van driver narrowly avoids hitting cyclist, yells "f*** off" at Jeremy Vine

Rain lashing down as riders struggle with poor visibility at Giro d'Italia stage 10 (GCN/Eurosport)

Rain, spray, wind, and snow. Giro's not being kind to the peloton.

UAE Team Emirates' João Almeida has now said that "most of the peloton" is sick at the moment.

"Not stress but I think most of the bunch is pretty sick. Me too. It's not great with the conditions but we have to deal with it and try to improve," said the Portugese cyclist, who had to withdraw from Giro last year after testing positive for Covid, and is currently fifth in the GC standings.

Meanwhile, Bora-Hansgrohe has also confirmed that Aleksandr Vlasov, who's sixth in the general classification, is also suffering with a sickness, although the sickness is yet "unknown".

Testing for Covid and withdrawal from the race if positive is still up to the teams, with no explicit rules or guidelines provided by the organisers. Yesterday, Intermarché-Circus-Wanty's Sven Erik Bystrøm tested positive for Covid, but the team initially said that he would continue in the race as he didn't have any symptoms.

However today morning, the decision was reversed after he developed symptoms overnight. 

A total of nine riders have already withdrawn from Giro d'Italia, the first Grand Tour of the season so far, including the former race leader and world Remco Evenepoel.

> Remco Evenepoel OUT of Giro d'Italia with Covid

Walking and cycling could get much better in the Royal Docks in east London, with a new accessible bridge set to be built, next to the 50-feet high Royal Victoria Dock footbridge, which has been criticised for being difficult to use as it requires users to climb several flights of stairs at each end or cram into unreliable lifts.

According to MyLondon, The new bridge will be funded via a £233 million loan from public body Homes England, and will start from the same location as the current bridge on the northern side of the dock, giving access to City Hall, ExCel and the Elizabeth line/DLR/Bus interchange at Custom House station.

The new bridge will be funded via a £233 million loan from public body Homes England, and will start from the same location as the current bridge on the northern side of the dock, giving access to City Hall, ExCel and the Elizabeth line/DLR/Bus interchange at Custom House station.

The new designs reveal an elegant, step-free bridge which skims the water in a ‘Double S-curve’ shape, with ample space for both cyclists and pedestrians. The zig-zag design creates a striking crossing experience while allowing for seating areas where people can rest and take in views across the dock.

The design allows the bridge to rise at a gentle incline across the water, making it fully accessible for all, and letting small boats pass underneath. The bridge will also open at its mid-point with a double bascule mechanism, allowing full use of the dock by large vessels.

Quickest update in the history of road.cc...

Derbyshire County Council confirmed to road.cc cyclists WILL be able to ride up to the road closure (and then turn back down) but reminded cyclists to take care as the road will not be completely traffic-free!

> Cyclists CAN enjoy Snake Pass during latest landslip repairs, council confirms

Adam Hansen, president of the CPA riders union has just confirmed that the stage is under talks of being shortened, and that a majority of riders have chosen to do the final 70km of today's stage amidst the weather conditions.

#giro To confirm, Stage 10 of the #Giro @giroditalia is under talks of making the stage shorter due to 3 degrees and rain at the top of the climb. 80km/h Gusty winds is predicted also at the top, plus landslides I head too. All stakeholders are there. The riders choice was to…

— Adam Hansen (@HansenAdam) May 16, 2023

If this was to go through, it could be a blow for any team strategising for a breakaway, and essentially boil it down to a straightforward sprint. But it's not like a race has proven me wrong before!

While I can't help but smile at the maglia rosa-clad G, there's another G who's thinking "not again".

It's that time of year folks https://t.co/AN9AMKcNrR pic.twitter.com/RiC6R5gqkx

— Geraint Thomas (@geraintthomas) May 15, 2023

This Geraint Thomas, a lecturer in visual effects at USW was tagged by several official accounts and received hundreds of congratulations messages, when our Geraint Thomas won the Tour de France in 2018.

Now it's happened again at the Giro! Enjoy this wholesome exchange between the two Geraints from five years ago:

You’re welcome pic.twitter.com/Xs3i0OhROB

— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) July 30, 2018

The virus seems to be spreading way quicker than anyone thought...

Unfortunately, Domenico Pozzovivo and Mads Würtz Schmidt won’t take the start of stage 10 today.

Domenico tested positive for Covid this morning. Mads has returned negative tests but hasn’t been feeling well since yesterday and isn’t in a position to start.
__
🇮🇹 #Giro

— Israel – Premier Tech (@IsraelPremTech) May 16, 2023

Am I surprised? No. Am I disappointed? Yes. Could the race organisers have reinstated the mask mandate quicker and provided better precautionary guidelines? Maybe.

And as I was going to hit publish, this just in...

However, Sven Erik Bystrøm started to develop symptoms on the night of Monday to Tuesday. As a precautionary measure and in order to preserve his health, he will return home to rest. (2/2)

— Intermarché-Circus-Wanty (@IntermarcheCW) May 16, 2023

Did you think I wouldn't have any updates from the Giro's rest day to kickstart the blog?

Geraint Thomas, who will be wearing the pink jersey when stage 10 of the Italian Grand Tour resumes today (oh, masks are compulsory again, in case you missed it) after Evenepoel pulled out, didn't believe at first that Evenepoel actually had Covid.

"He messaged me just before the announcement," the Ineos Grenadiers rider said. "At first, I kind of thought, 'Is he winding me up a bit? Telling a bit of a joke?' After the whole Roglič stuff, as well. But then obviously came the announcement, and it was a bit surprising."

A new jersey tomorrow morning then 👀 Let's see what we can do about keeping it. But gutted to see @EvenepoelRemco go home like that. The race will miss you mate #Giro pic.twitter.com/W0D3IhFj2F

— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) May 15, 2023

On the weekend, Thomas had joked about the Slovenian having the virus, after rumours had been flying like cyclists in choppers after a stage, but those rumours were quickly put to bed by Jumbo Visma.

The Welshman will look to extend his lead today, currently just two seconds ahead of Roglič, with Thomas' teammate Geoghegan Hart further behind. Now with Evenepoel out, the Giro d'Italia probably represents Ineos Grenadiers best bet to win a Grand Tour this season, with the team already having five riders in the top 15.

Geraint Thomas arriving to stage 10 in Pink #giro pic.twitter.com/25EoQ3c5EO

— Lia (@quellaLia) May 15, 2023