Mark Cavendish’s 2021 bike auctioned off by former team, as fans slam “shameful” move; Tadej Pogačar set to race the 2024 Giro d’Italia – and the cycling world is divided; Cambridge Uni spot easier to secure than bike hangar space + more on the live blog

‘Tis the season for professional cycling teams to have a rummage around at the back of the service course, open a few dusty boxes, and sell off anything that won’t be of any use come January and the new season.

Last week, we reported that Tadej Pogačar’s snazzy Colnago TT1 time trial bike, along with a host of the iconic Italian brand’s V3Rs road bikes, are up for auction as part of UAE Team Emirates’ annual Christmas clear out.

> You can buy Tadej Pogacar’s official UAE Team Emirates Colnago race bike

And now, after miming their way through Celine Dion’s back catalogue, it’s Soudal Quick-Step’s turn to sell off a few race-worn bikes and left-over kit from the last few seasons.

And for the memorabilia-hunting cycling enthusiast with deep pockets and who doesn’t mind the odd scratch, it’s a real treasure trove.

Remco Evenepoel’s Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 – raced to victory at this year’s UAE Tour – is currently sitting at a bid of just under €8,000, while Julian Alaphilippe’s Tour de France bike has just hit €6,000 and Kasper Asgreen’s 2023 SL7 is currently available for a touch over five grand. A signed Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio jersey, meanwhile, has almost hit the €200 mark.

But there’s one bike up for auction that’s caught the attention of cycling fans more than any other – Mark Cavendish’s 2021 SL7, used by the Manx Missile as a spare the year he pulled off one of cycling’s great Lazarus-style comebacks, equalling that Tour de France stage win record and taking the green jersey after several years in the winless wilderness.

The SL7 was also used as a training bike by Cavendish during the 2022 season, when he was unceremoniously left out of that season’s Tour while on the cusp of history, in favour of Fabio Jakobsen.

> Mark Cavendish "not part of our project" — Patrick Lefevere confirms Cav will leave Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl

Of course, Cavendish – who, it was announced over the weekend, won’t riding the Giro d’Italia in 2024 as he prepares for one last crack at victory No. 35 at the Tour – eventually ended up at Astana this year, nabbing an emotional Giro stage win in Rome before crashing out of the Grande Boucle just as he began to hit his stride in the sprints.

However, while the 38-year-old has his sights firmly set on the season ahead, it seems that some of his fans still have a hard time forgiving and forgetting his messy second departure from Patrick Lefevere’s Soudal Quick-Step team over a year ago.

(Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)

And, with the Belgian team now auctioning off Cavendish’s bike, it turns out that cringey lip sync kit reveal videos aren’t the only thing that can divide the internet…

“Making money out of him now? Remember how dirty the team did him in 2022?” Cav fan Mehdi commented under the team’s Instagram post advertising the auction.

“Kick him to the kerb but still try to make a buck off of his legend! You guys are a real piece of work! If it weren’t for Alaphilippe, this team would have nothing going for it!” an even more forthright Dennis concurred.

“Shameful,” added Mike. “Abandoned him and now looking to profit.”

(Chris Auld)

“You guys should be ashamed of doing this!! Are you guys giving him the money for the bike?” Martin asked, while Franco creatively dubbed the Belgian squad “the Soudal Quick Buck Team”.

“Just think how much more it would have been worth if he had broken the all-time record on one of these! Instead it will be done on a Wilier in 2024,” said Heyuguyz. “Massive marketing opportunity missed for Specialized, I’m sure they must pissed.”

“Aye right, not a chance, Wilier bike from 2023 or 2024 would be a far better choice and I bet they have the decency to leave Mark with the winning bikes,” says Chris.

Meanwhile, Ceramic Senor pointed out that “surely it should be Cav’s to sell. His bike, his wins, you drop him and continue to make money off him. Shitebag move.” Bit strong, but okay.

However, at least it wasn’t all one-sided in the comments, with Les noting for balance: “Surely it’s the team's bike to sell and let’s be honest, Cav isn’t exactly skint.

“If he wanted the bike I’m sure they’d have worked something out. It’s normal for teams to sell off the bikes at the end of the season.”

And you thought the whole Alaphilippe singing into a water bottle thing was divisive…

After a day packed with speculation, and some frivolous live blog polling, Tadej Pogačar has confirmed that he will ride both the Giro and the Tour next year, before focusing on a maiden rainbow jersey at the world road race championships in Zurich, setting the Slovenian up for a possible tilt at cycling’s iconic ‘triple crown’.

At UAE Team Emirates’ Spanish training camp today, the 25-year-old confirmed that he will kick off his season later than usual on 2 March at Strade Bianche, before taking on a truncated spring campaign including Milan-Sanremo, the Volta a Catalunya, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The Tour of Flanders, Flèche Wallonne, and Amstel Gold – all won by Pogačar this year – are not part of the Slovenian’s plans he builds up to the Giro-Tour double.

After his two grand tours, Pogačar will head to the Paris Olympics, before turning his attention towards the worlds and his usual season-ender at Il Lombardia.

“I am now not so young anymore and I think I can do two grand tours,” Pogačar said this afternoon. “I could probably do it before but now is a nice time to do a new challenge in my career. I think everybody wants to do the double and it is one of the hardest things to achieve.

“I think the main goal from all the GC riders that already won some grand tours, is to have all three of them. This is something to have in your palmarès, so let’s see how it goes with the Giro and how it goes with the Tour. Let’s not think about the double, let’s just go to enjoy racing.”

While he may not be thinking about the double as yet, Pogačar could become, if all goes to plan, the first rider since Stephen Roche in 1987 to win cycling’s triple crown – the Giro, Tour, and world championships in one season – with the punchy course in Zurich suiting the Slovenian down to the ground.

And if there’s anyone in the current peloton who can manage the triple crown, it’s Tadej Pogačar.

“OIympics are a bit so-so, but of course World Championships is one of the main goals for next year,” he said.

Meanwhile, the results from this morning’s poll are in, and it seems that the vast majority of you are backing Pog’s attempt to expand his grand tour horizons – which could possibly culminate in one of the greatest seasons we’ve ever seen…

Roll on 2024.

Out with the old bold new look, and in with the new bold new look…

Well, that’s what Pinarello are telling us anyway, as the iconic Italian bike brand this afternoon unveiled the new paint job that will grace the Dogma F road bikes set to be raced by the Ineos Grenadiers during the 2024 season.

And, according to Pinarello, the 2024 Dogmas represent a “bold new look” for Ineos, making a radical, earth-shattering move from the “brigade red and navy blue design” of this season to a “more striking” orange and black combo.

Yep, that’s right – the “bold, eye-catching new look” is orangey red and black. Instead of red and navy.

Even by Ineos’ risk-averse, marginal gainy standards, “bold” is a bit of a stretch, surely?

Spot the difference – Geraint Thomas riding this year’s “old” look, which is completely, utterly different than the 2024 design. Apparently…

What’s more, the reintroduction of a radical black colour palette allows Pinarello to reduce the bike’s weight by a whopping 16g.

“The return of black to the palette means we’ve been able to reduce the amount of paint we use on the frames, with only the lightest coat being applied to our black T1100 1K carbon, which brings with it weight (and watt)-saving benefits,” says Fausto Pinarello.

What will they think of next? Dark red?!

Oh dear, we’re now into that horrible period of the winter when, thanks to the sport’s calendar year contracts and sponsor obligations, pro cycling turns into your local club ride for a month, packed with horribly mismatched kits and equipment.

pic.twitter.com/YkXaNFA4to

— 𝓪𝓱𝓻𝓭𝓲𝓬𝓽 (@ahrdict) December 18, 2023

And leading the way in the hideous Frankenstein kit stakes is Bora-bound Primož Roglič, whose yellow and green training camp monstrosity boasts an added layer of intrigue following the very public spat that has engulfed the German outfit and Jumbo-Visma over Cian Uijtdebroeks’ future in recent weeks.

A clash in more ways than one, then (I’ll get my coat).

What the hell is this? pic.twitter.com/GZyaCwZMyo

— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) December 18, 2023

While cyclists in London launch their latest campaign to secure adequate bike hangar storage, a new provisional agreement has been reached between the EU Parliament and Council which will ensure that two cycle parking spaces will be allocated for each flat in new residential buildings.

The revamped and strengthened Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which is set to be officially rubberstamped by the European Parliament and its member states early next year, aims to “strengthen the EU’s efforts to decarbonise buildings across the whole Union”.

According to the European Cyclists’ Federation, the legislation will also be “no less than ground-breaking for bicycle parking norms” across the EU, and represents an “important recognition for cycling as a climate-friendly and energy-efficient means of transport”.

> Worst bike racks — from the useless to utterly unusable places to park your bicycle

The directive will ensure that for any new residential building or one undergoing major renovation that includes more than three car parking spaces, at least two bicycle parking spaces will be provided for every residential unit.

With an average household size of 2.3 persons in the EU, this should mean that almost everyone will have access to cycle storage (while a non-legally binding part of the legislation stipulates that the rule of two bike spaces per residential unit should also “ideally” apply to buildings without car parking).

Meanwhile, in non-residential buildings with more than five car parking spaces, bike parking should represent at least 15 percent of the average or 10 percent of the total user capacity of the building. Spaces for larger cycles, such as cargo bikes, should also be taken into consideration, with these changes set to come into effect by 1 January 2027.

UAE team emirates: calm, relaxing ride on their team camp
Tadej Pogačar: pic.twitter.com/SkkeNIGIzG

— Katie (@medicinexthings) December 17, 2023

Meanwhile, over at Intermarché’s training camp:

Training on 23% gradient 🥵 pic.twitter.com/UhForS3PvF

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

I reckon that’s the off-season well and truly over now – makes my legs hurt just watching that…

Your monthly reminder that, just because someone works for a professional cycling team, doesn’t mean they can’t be guilty of the odd bit of terrible driving (and, as history shows us, cycling team staffers can make some of our Near Miss of the Day motorists look like saints)…

Checking into my hotel in Valencia, found a friend. pic.twitter.com/O0NkYVzrf1

— Justin Britton (@Justin_Britton) December 17, 2023

Cheers Puck! 🍻 #ICYMI pic.twitter.com/7dQ1eK4MKD

— Cyclocross24.com (@cyclocross24) December 17, 2023

Sterling work there from the 21-year-old, who finished second at yesterday’s ‘cross World Cup round in Namur behind the rampant Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado.

Meanwhile, Tom Pidcock – who capped off an encouraging return to cyclocross with a thrilling through-the-pack victory at Namur, after finishing second the day before behind the irrepressible Mathieu van der Poel at Herentals – didn’t seem as impressed with his podium offering:

Big win. Bigger beer! 😅🍺

Cheers to @tompidcock on that classy victory in Namur #CXWorldCup 🍻 pic.twitter.com/9a4Tzwz1If

— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) December 17, 2023

Few more wins Tom and you’ll be downing them in no time…

A popular local bike shop has fallen victim to a shocking attempted burglary during which a car was rammed into the shopfront twice, causing heavy damage to the building and writing off high-value stock inside.

The attack on Godleys Cycles & Triathlon Equipment in Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, happened in the early hours of Sunday morning, with owner Paul Godley telling road.cc that no bikes were stolen, but “more than a dozen are buried under the rubble and damaged beyond repair”.

Read more: > Bike shop targeted in “lawless” raid attempt, major damage as car rammed into building twice

Plus, here’s your usual Monday morning catch-up on the all the goings-on from around the cycling world at the weekend, including the latest in the never-ending Chris Froome Channel 5 soap opera…

> "It's a Christmas miracle!": Charity's £5,000 stolen bicycle returned days on from break-in

> Chris Froome downplays war of words with team owner, claims criticism of bike set-up and performances "blown out of proportion"

> Police insist regular action taken to tackle violent bike robberies after coming under fire for advising victim to avoid route in future

> Wearing earphones while cycling — is it allowed? What does the Highway Code say?

> “F*** cars forever”: Comedians unite in demanding safer cycling conditions after peer killed while riding a bike

> This springy suspension saddle provides "unparalleled comfort for your rear end", claims its inventor... plus tech news from Zwift, Colnago, Factor, Mavic, Basso + more