“You can’t polish a climate turd, but you can sprinkle it with active travel glitter”: Cyclists slam proposals for ‘bike bus’ through controversial tunnel; Pogačar makes a splash (literally); Decisive Tour de France time trial + more on the live blog

Just when you thought you’d seen every weird, head scratching proposal in the world of active travel, Transport for London go and reveal their plans for a ‘bike bus’ to shuttle cyclists through the forthcoming, and much-maligned, Silvertown Tunnel in London.

And no, I’m not talking about the kind of bike bus that sees children cycle to school in a mini parent-led peloton.

According to TfL, who announced a consultation on the plans yesterday, a “bespoke” shuttle bus could run every 10 minutes under the Thames and carry only cyclists and their bikes, which would either be brought onto the bus or loaded onto a trailer behind it.

Pedestrians would not be able to use the bus, with conventional zero-emission buses set aside for them.

The cycling shuttle bus idea comes after TfL said back in 2019 that it could not afford to build a walking and cycling bridge between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf, and that it would be “unsafe” to allow cyclists to ride through Silvertown Tunnel, which will open in 2025 and link the Royal Docks and Canary Wharf with north Greenwich.

The new tunnel has been the subject of vociferous criticism over the years, with campaigners and councillors claiming that it will encourage car use, result in more lorries entering London, and increase pollution.

However, TfL says that the shuttle bus is the best option for cyclists crossing the river in east London as services could be tailored to “uncertain demand”. People on bikes can currently use the cable car – which is free in the morning – or walk their bike through the Greenwich or Woolwich foot tunnels, though frequent lift closures often mean cyclists are forced to carry their bikes up and down the stairs.

> Greenwich foot tunnel bike commuters face months of carrying bikes up stairs

TfL also says that they are considering in the future a cross-river ferry service which could be used by pedestrians and cyclists, though several attempts at a high-speed ferry service have been dropped in the past due to costs.

Praising the proposals for the Silvertown Tunnel shuttle bus, Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, said: “These plans will mean that cyclists will benefit from easier travel between the Greenwich Peninsula and Silvertown, enabling more people to make the switch to active travel and helping to build a better, greener London.”

However, despite Norman’s praise, cyclists on Twitter have been scathing – to put it mildly – of the ‘bike bus’ plans.

Just repurpose the Silvertown Tunnel for cyclists and public transport. https://t.co/ypAGssgzlR pic.twitter.com/Lx73fGM5s1

— Victoria Rance (@VictoriaRance) July 17, 2023

“This is 2023. The climate is at a tipping point. We must reduce car use by 27-40 percent according to London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s own carbon plan. So putting bikes on a bus instead of creating bike lanes is bonkers. Please repurpose the Silvertown Tunnel, the sooner the better,” wrote Victoria Rance, a local teacher and the founder of the Stop the Silvertown Tunnel Coalition.

“I do also think that bus is ridiculous. It will be a huge disruption to people’s journeys,” added another Twitter user. “If there is enough demand for a bus then there should be enough demand for a bike path.”

“A city which cannot afford to build a dedicated bridge or tunnel for cycles and pedestrians, but dedicates countless billions to new infrastructure for more cars. Embarrassing,” wrote Nick.

It’s pants. Let us walk and cycle through it. Simple. All this ULEZ etc, and this is happening round the back of city hall. Why not build our bridge from Canary Wharf that was cancelled? How do you lot sleep at night if you’re as worried about emissions etc as you say you are?

— Andy Lloyd-Williams (@A_LloydWilliams) July 17, 2023

Some noted that, despite TfL’s claims that the bike bus will cater to all types of cycles, the potential difficulties in manoeuvring cargo bikes, non-standard bikes, and hand cycles off the bus.

“Doesn’t this just have all the same issues as the cable car, which also has a door on one side?” wrote Alex.

Having great fun imagining my cycle with the heavy pannier on it being a pain to get into one of those racks.

It's amazing just how many problems trying to park a cycle to move it across a river creates.

— Alex Ingram (@nuttyxander) July 17, 2023

Others, meanwhile, have referred to the proposals as “deeply impractical” and a “ham-fisted” attempt at “bikewashing” the Silvertown Tunnel project.

“Evidence that whilst you can’t polish a climate turd, you can sprinkle it with active travel glitter,” Jon chipped in (rather poetically, I may add) on the proposals.

“Silvertown Tunnel will likely increase, rather than decrease, greenhouse gas emissions, will, at best, redistribute air pollution rather than decrease it, will cause induced traffic, and is incompatible with the targets for climate action  linked to the 2015 Paris accords.”

But otherwise, it all sounds great, yeah?

So, what’s the alternative?

If this administration genuinely cared about creating a cycle crossing here, and genuinely thought a bike bus was a good solution, they'd already be running a bike bus through the existing Blackwall Tunnel. And maybe the Rotherhithe Tunnel too. 2/n

— Stop the Silvertown Tunnel Coalition (@SilvertownTn) July 17, 2023

“Repurposing the tunnel would be so much better. Or building the cycle bridge,” argued the Greenwich branch of the London Cycling Campaign.

“All Silvertown will bring is more pollution and more congestion. It is incompatible with a responsible climate policy in its current form.”

I don't know about you, but he's definitely taken that 22nd day in yellow 💛#TDF2023 @JumboVismaRoad pic.twitter.com/bRA4ZbkiFh

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 18, 2023

Monstrous, stunning, alien, on another planet – whatever way you want to describe it, after two weeks of a Tour de France of the finest of margins, a rampant Jonas Vingegaard took just 22 kilometres to completely blow the race to pieces, putting a whopping 1.38 into Tadej Pogačar to place at least one foot (and maybe a couple of toes) on the final podium in Paris.

Questions may be asked this evening about Pogačar’s decision to change bikes at the foot of the Côte de Domancy, but it was clear throughout today’s eagerly anticipated time trial that Vingegaard – extremely aggressive from the start ramp – was in the midst of delivering one of the Tour’s all-time great individual performances, the first WorldTour TT victory, remarkably, of his career.

Because, it must be pointed out, the Slovenian was on fire too – he beat third-placed Wout van Aert (a rider perfectly suited to today’s demanding route) by 1.13, and almost caught his two-minute man Carlos Rodríguez, who finished 12th himself.

One of the greatest time trials in Tour de France history 🤯

Jonas Vingegaard wins Stage 16 with an insane display of strength - finishing 1' 38'' ahead of Tadej Pogačar 😲
____________
🇫🇷 #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/bdiC2wyqCu

— Velon CC (@VelonCC) July 18, 2023

But, just like when Pogačar blitzed his way up La Planche des Belles Filles almost three years ago, it really didn’t matter what anyone else was doing today. Vingegaard, who chose to remain on his TT bike throughout the 22 kilometres, was all-action on the climbs, electric on the flats, and riding like he was on rails on the sweeping descents.

He was simply unstoppable. And the 1.48 that separates the Dane and Pogačar now seems insurmountable.

Of course, there are still days to race and mountains to climb (not least tomorrow’s Col de la Loze, the ‘roof’ of this year’s Tour), and Vingegaard’s first haymaker at this year’s race, on the Marie Blanque, was almost undone just a day later by a resurgent Pogačar.

But after two weeks of jabs and shadow boxing, it’s hard to see how the Slovenian can recover from such a devastating – and morale-killing – blow.

“I was feeling great today, I think it was the best time trial I’ve ever done. I’m very proud of the victory,” the yellow jersey said after the finish. “I think even today I surprised myself.”

You’re definitely not the only one, Jonas.

22.4km of potentially Tour-deciding racing await…

⏱ Tick, Tock...

💛 Get ready!
🤍 Soyez prêts !#TDF2023 | @TISSOT pic.twitter.com/VtDJWXqakA

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 18, 2023

Early/late starters Sam Welsford and Alex Edmondson have claimed that it was a barrage of vehicles which prevented them from reaching the start ramp of today’s Tour de France time trial on time.

“I was taking off my ice vest and I rolled up and they said ‘go go’,” Welsford, whose embarrassment was compounded by his crash on the first corner, explained after the finish.

“We rocked up and it was a long way to get to the start from the paddock. There were lots of cars in the way and that slowed us down.

“We got there and it was okay, and next thing you know they were calling us to the start line and we had to take off our ice vests and put on our helmets and go. I think we just missed it by a couple of seconds but it’s not ideal for this kind of time trial.”

Follow Australian Edmondson added: “The special thing is though that the crowds are unreal. It’s the biggest bike race in the world for a reason.

“It’s obviously not the best to miss your start on a time trial, especially at the Tour de France, but we didn’t do it on purpose.”

Don’t worry too much lads – as I noted earlier, you’re in good company when it comes to mucking about and missing your start time at the Tour:

Sam Welsford was a few seconds late for his start today. It happens, in 1989 the previous year's winner Pedro Delgado turned up 2m40s late to the prologue in Luxembourg pic.twitter.com/RVgQka8x7o

— the Inner Ring (@inrng) July 18, 2023

It’s fair to say that Sam Welsford’s first ever time trial at the Tour de France couldn’t have got off to a more inauspicious start if he’d tried…

The Team DSM sprinter, and his teammate Alex Edmondson, somehow managed to rock up late to the start ramp (a trick known in pro cycling circles as ‘pulling a Delgado’), the countdown timer beeping down as Welsford made his way up the steps, with the race officials simply waving him off on his merry, and slightly embarrassed, way.

😅 @sam_welsford a bit late for the start...

😅 @sam_welsford légèrement en retard pour prendre le départ...#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/gNWqFGK08Y

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 18, 2023

Oops.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, the Australian – finally underway – immediately crashed on the very first corner, a slippery bend that brought down three of the first ten riders down the ramp.

Remi Cavagna set the first important benchmark: 35:42, 37,64 km/h average speed. Pogi and Jonas can do this at more than 40 km/h. #TdF2023 pic.twitter.com/mL5M2qTHs0

— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) July 18, 2023

Of the non-tardy members of the peloton, Soudal-Quick Step’s TGV Rémi Cavagna is currently in the hotseat, covering the 22.4km hilly course in 35.42, 24 seconds clear of former world champion Mads Pedersen.

Now, Tadej and Jonas, please, please, please, turn up on time, okay?

Ah, the old Failing to Supply Driver Details trick, and then not pleading guilty despite all the evidence pointing to the contrary… Looks like it’ll just end up with you having an extra six points on your licence and forced to cough up over £1,200 in fines and costs.

This driver was reported for Without Due Care but the registered keeper (RK) failed to respond & was reported for Failing to Supply Driver Details.
RK then entered a Not Guilty Plea but found guilty at Trial 5/7/2023 Taunton Magistrates

£660 Fine
6 points
£620 Costs
£66 VS pic.twitter.com/VyD9ehHpGA

— ASPolice Roads Policing (RPU) (@ASPRoadSafety) July 18, 2023

But don’t worry, because anti-cycling Twitter will claim you left “plenty of room”, so that’s some consolation…

Plenty room there.

— Sean Kelly (@89skj) July 18, 2023

For what?

— obey the master (@scamdestroyer20) July 18, 2023

Typical entitled cyclist I want the whole road and nothing but. Their is nothing wrong with that pass. Cyclist got well over a handle bars width to the car. Yet another anti car policing unit who get their promotions through how many people they prosecute. Police then wonder why

— Paul Wright (@PaulWri89662714) July 18, 2023

Some of the replies to this really worry me. The amount of idiots who don't understand what's wrong here is simply horrifying.

— Liam Tucker (@LiamTucker) July 18, 2023

The Tour de France is the greatest sporting event in the world, and you’ll never convince me otherwise #tdf2023 pic.twitter.com/092yyiE0KU

— Myles Smith (@mylessmith33) July 18, 2023

> Tour de France TV broadcasts urged to give stage winners more airtime over GC battle

CPA riders’ union president Adam Hansen has called on broadcasters to give riders and sponsors the “exposure they deserve”, after stage 15 winner Wout Poels got around two seconds of airtime as he celebrated crossing the line on Sunday in Saint-Gervais – before the television director abruptly cut back to the GC group.

What do you reckon? Would split screens – showing both the breakaway and the GC battle, as Hansen suggests – solve the problem and provide fans with a better viewing experience?

Or is the sometimes chaotic nature of watching pro cycling on television, and the inability to cover every aspect of the action as it unfolds on the road, part of its charm?

For example (and I know this doesn’t apply to the Wout Poels case), how many times have you excitedly shouted at the TV ‘Where did they come from!’, when a rider seemingly appears from nowhere at the pointy end of a race?

Or what about bringing in, at least on online platforms like GCN, a choice of which group you want to watch, like the old ‘Player Cam’ function on Sky Sports’ football coverage.

What’s the UCI’s number again?

Right folks, it’s time. After yesterday’s much-needed rest day, one of the tightest and most hotly contested Tours de France in years returns this afternoon, with a tough, complicated 22.4km time trial in the foothills of the Alps.

It may be the only effort against the clock in this most rouleur-phobic of Tour routes, but they don’t call it the Race of Truth for nothing. Today, Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard will take a break from their two-week-long roles as each other’s shadows, tactics and bonus points set aside, and leave everything out there on the road, the yellow jersey on the line.

And, if I’m honest, I have no clue who’s going to come out on top.

Because, as Simon noted in his Tour preview, time trials may be the race of truth, but today’s mix of short, sharp hills and fast rolling terrain proves that the truth can often be complex.

The early climb on today’s course, the Côte de la Cascade de Coeur – 1.5km at eight percent – will precede around 12km of flat-out effort on wide roads with sweeping bends, until the main event, the Côte de Domancy, which the riders will tackle in the last six kilometres of their TT effort.

At 2.5km and an average gradient of 9.4 percent, with sections of more than 15 percent, the Côte de Domancy is roughly the equivalent of tackling Belgium’s famous Mur de Huy twice, and raises arguably the all-important question of today’s time trial – to change bikes or not to change bikes?

For cycling fans of a certain age, the Domancy is also synonymous with five-time Tour winner Bernard Hinault’s dominant victory at the 1980 world road race championships in Sallanches, when it was climbed a staggering 20 times over the course of a brutal 268km that saw only 15 riders finish. So you know it’s going to be hard.

In many respects, today’s mixed terrain time trial has echoes of that Tour-upending final TT at La Planche des Belles Filles in 2020, something which may fill white jersey Pogačar with confidence as he heads to the start ramp this afternoon, and the whole of the Jumbo-Visma crew with dread…