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Wout van Aert crashes on the Paterberg as Mathieu van der Poel launches monster E3 attack; "This is not safe cycling infrastructure": Cyclist calls out much-criticised painted cycle lane; COBBLES + more on the live blog

Welcome to the Friday live blog! Dan Alexander's in the hot seat, ready for a couple of bike races, news, reaction and more from across the cycling world...
Fri, Mar 22, 2024 09:12
22
Wout van Aert crashes on the Paterberg as Mathieu van der Poel launches monster E3 attack; "This is not safe cycling infrastructure": Cyclist calls out much-criticised painted cycle lane; COBBLES + more on the live blogWout van Aert Paterberg crash (Eurosport/Discovery)
22 March 2024, 14:39
Wout van Aert crashes on the Paterberg as Mathieu van der Poel launches monster E3 attack

A decisive moment at E3 Saxo Classic...

Nothing the world champion could have done about his great rival's fall, Van der Poel already cranking out the watts ahead when Van Aert fell on the Paterberg's early slopes. Thankfully he was quickly up and chasing, returning to the chase group as Van der Poel built an advantage out front, before launching off in search of the Alepcin-Deceuninck rider himself, the Tour of Flanders warm-up act looking like an individual pursuit as it approaches a climax. Who will take the day?

Wout wasn't the only one to hit the deck. Spare a thought for Bora-Hansgrohe's Emil Herzog...

E3 Saxo Classic crash (Eurosport/Discovery)

As I type this Van Aert is bridging across to Van der Poel, potentially giving us a finale for the ages. We'll keep bringing you all the drama as it unfolds...

22 March 2024, 16:33
Axel Laurance sprints to Catalunya victory

Away from the classics it was a second victory of the day for Alpecin-Deceuninck, Axel Laurance taking the fifth stage of Volta a Catalunya.

More importantly, it puts the peloton into a 3-2 lead in the stage victories head-to-head versus Tadej Pogačar. With another testing uphill finish at the end of a challenging day tomorrow, followed by the punchy Barcelona finale, they might well need that headstart.

 

22 March 2024, 15:52
22 March 2024, 15:34
World champion Mathieu van der Poel wins E3 Saxo Classic

He was until he wasn't. In the end, Van der Poel wins by 1:34. To make matters worse for Van Aert, Jasper Stuyven beat him in the sprint for second too. 

22 March 2024, 15:03
Game over?

Just as we were talking up the potential drama to come, the gap's out to 35 seconds now and only heading one way. This looks like Van der Poel's race now... 

22 March 2024, 14:56
Meanwhile, Richie Porte eases into retirement...
 
22 March 2024, 13:01
Wiggle and Chain Reaction websites to be relaunched next week, as Frasers Group aims to become the "no.1 sporting goods retailer in Europe"
Wiggle website shuts down, March 2024

> Wiggle and Chain Reaction websites to be relaunched next week, as Frasers Group aims to become the "no.1 sporting goods retailer in Europe"

22 March 2024, 12:00
22 March 2024, 10:52
Ultra-endurance rider killed in collision during Indian Pacific Wheel Ride across Australia

The family of Chris Barker has confirmed that he was the Indian Pacific Wheel Ride participant who was killed in a collision involving a driver. A second rider was seriously injured in a separate collision a couple of hours later, 7 News reports.

Western Australia Police Force said the incident happened on Thursday 21 March between 5:30am and 6:00am, when the driver of a vehicle, "possibly a truck", hit and killed the 62-year-old, with investigations ongoing.

Aiden Barker confirmed the tragic news on Facebook, writing: "I can't express how sad today is, dad was doing something that he loved. Thanks for the respect regarding today's incident, I can't thank you enough. I've never heard dad talk so much about this one event in my life, today my family lost a great person and so did his IPWR [Indian Pacific Wheel Ride] family. My heart is broken."

It is the second fatality at the event in recent years, ultra-cycling legend Mike Hall killed in a road traffic collision near Canberra in 2017. 

mike hall kinesis2.jpg

> One thousand cyclists ride in Sydney in memory of Mike Hall

That year's edition was cancelled following his death, the race returning in 2018 in memory of the British rider. Hall founded the Transcontinental Race in 2013 and inspired many to participate in ultra-endurance events, also winning the TransAm Race twice and the Tour Divide during his distinguished career.

22 March 2024, 10:46
Why is it so hard to get a bike on a ferry? Plus Strava's 'Weekly Snapshot' row on the road.cc Podcast
road.cc Podcast episode 73 lead image

> Why is it so hard to get a bike on a ferry? Plus Strava's 'Weekly Snapshot' row on the road.cc Podcast

22 March 2024, 10:36
Lora and Neil Fachie mugged of silver medals at Para-cycling Track World Championships
2024 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships tandem team sprint podium (Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)

 [Olly Hassell/SWpix.com]

Lora and Neil Fachie, plus pilot Corrine Hall, were mugged following the opening day of the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio, with their silver medals, passports and money stolen. 

Neil said they are "all okay, other than being shaken" and called it a "sad way to end the day", the mugging happening just hours after they had won silver in the 750m tandem team sprint.

Lora Fachie piloted by Corrine Hall at 2024 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships (Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)

[Olly Hassell/SWpix.com]

British Cycling has reported the incident to the police and made the UCI aware, confirming that three riders "had their possessions stolen" as they returned to their accomodation.

"The three riders are safe and well and are being supported by our staff both on the ground and at home," the governing body said in a statement shared with the BBC. "We have raised the matter with the UCI, the local organising committee and the police."

22 March 2024, 10:19
This NEW wind tunnel-killing cycling tech could make you A LOT faster on the bike

> The future of going fast? Why live drag sensors might be cycling's next big tech craze

22 March 2024, 09:40
Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel renew acquaintances on the cobbled bergs

It's a bit conflicting on E3 Saxo Classic day. On the one hand you've got a personal favourite bike race on the calendar, the Tour of Flanders warm up, attracting a stellar field of cobble-crunching classics stars. On the other hand you've got the fully stocked archives of stories...

E3 Saxo Classic cartoon

> E3 Saxo Classic apologises after being accused of homophobia in backlash to Wout van Aert cartoon

In 2015, the UCI stepped in and said it "was extremely unhappy" with a promotional poster for the race, that referenced Peter Sagan pinching a podium girl's bottom after the 2013 edition with the words, "Who'll squeeze them in Harelbeke?" Classy.

E3 Harelbeke advert 2015.png

At least they learnt their lesson... ah... right... in 2019 the UCI ordered E3 Harelbeke to withdraw another controversial advert that promoted its event using an image showing two women in bodypaint entwined to form a frog, with the headline, "Who shall crown himself prince in Harelbeke?"

> Sick as a frog? E3 BinckBank Classic organisers unveil new poster — and have dig at UCI

You might notice there won't be any coverage of a women's event today. That's because it was scrapped in January as the organisers stated the "economic model for women's competitions is sputtering".

Maybe just maybe any future promotional efforts should focus on a classic classics route fought between the best of the best?

That's right. It's the return of Mathieu van der Poel vs Wout van Aert today, the world champion taking on Visma-Lease a Bike's imperious classics line-up (minus Christophe Laporte). Oh, and that's without mentioning the talent elsewhere...

Arnaud De Lie, Victor Campenaerts, Tim Wellens, Nils Politt, Michael Matthews, Oier Lazkano, Mads Pedersen, Jasper Stuyven, Toms Skujiņš, Ben Turner, Jhonatan Narváez, Stefan Küng, Alberto Bettiol, Fred Wright, Matej Mohorič, Julian Alaphilippe, Kasper Asgreen, Yves Lampaert, Biniam Girmay. 

I hope you're working from home...

22 March 2024, 08:49
"This is not safe cycling infrastructure": Cyclist calls out much-criticised painted cycle lane between door zone and oncoming drivers that "invites conflict"

Last month we first reported the reaction to this newly painted contraflow bike lane that has appeared on King's Road near Kingston, at one of the entrance gates to Richmond Park. The road was formerly two-way, but with parked vehicles reducing the width of the route, plus a constant stream of traffic in both directions, it was often gridlocked. 

As a result, the route was made one-way, with a questionable contraflow cycle lane added to continue to allow riders access in both directions. However, it was slammed a "sick joke" by cyclists when it was first unveiled and attracted accusations that it "invites conflict", the thin strip of painted infrastructure coming right between a row of parked cars whose doors could be opened at any second and oncoming traffic...

Contraflow bike lane, King's Road, Kingston (Chaponabike, Twitter)

The Kingston Cycling Campaign has urged riders to give feedback via the consultation page, another cyclist this week sharing a video of how problematic the route now is...

Ollie has his suspicions as to why this driver failed to spot him approaching, but that's not shown in the video, so we'll focus on the infrastructure layout here. The prevalent point is, however, that he had to "get the attention of a driver" so they didn't drive into him.

"Absolutely zero awareness. This is not safe cycling infrastructure," he concluded. 

'Guess which car door is going to be opened while you're millimetres from oncoming traffic' is not a particularly fun game to play. We probably shouldn't be too surprised given some of the other local infrastructure I've 'enjoyed' in the past. Personal favourite being the one that quite literally runs through a bus stop.

Kingston cycle lane (Google Maps)

Last month, a local cyclist who uses King's Road regularly told us that style of contraflow cycle lane "creates conflict". "There is no space for cars going up, to safely pass cycles coming down," they said.

"This kind of cycling infrastructure invites conflict. Cyclists don't feel safe cycling next to parked cars, and oncoming motorists will think they have some sort of implied right of way to squeeze through the gap."

As mentioned earlier, the road leads up to the Kingston entrance to Richmond Park, meaning much of the traffic using King's Road is heading up to the end, turning left and into the park. A couple of weeks ago we reported the latest calls for through-traffic to be banned from the park, which becomes incredibly busy during rush hour with people using it as a cut-through to Richmond and beyond, but that's another issue entirely...

Dan Alexander

Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Dan has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too.

Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously, when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace, or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family. Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way, he's a bit strange like that.

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22 comments

Avatar
Hirsute | 8 months ago
3 likes

BBB on cameras and gdpr. The first 6 mins covers it, the rest is about journalism exemptions.
https://youtu.be/cfKn0gAmN9M

Also came across this on twitter
Come on
@LancsPolice
this line about having to warn people you’re using a dash or bike cam is nonsense and will be putting people off reporting dangerous driving #cycling

Oh how I laughed at the mention of lancs.

Avatar
wtjs replied to Hirsute | 8 months ago
1 like

Come on
@LancsPolice
this line about having to warn people you’re using a dash or bike cam is nonsense and will be putting people off reporting dangerous driving #cycling

Yes, it's still there now!

I confirm that I understand that dashcam footage falls under the Category of CCTV and as the footage is taken in the public domain, the Domestic Purposes Exemption under the Data Protection Act/UKGDPR does not apply and therefore all users are Data Controllers in their own right. As such you should be informing the public that they are being filmed and should have some form of notification on your mode of transport as you have responsibilities under the Data Protection Act /UKGDPR 

This clearly applies to your legs, if you're standing there filming people engaged in the lawful activity (in Lancashire) of crashing through red lights at 50 mph

Avatar
yourealwaysbe | 8 months ago
0 likes

I'm not really sure why the contraflow on Kings Road in Kingston is there. You can just take New Road -- a few meters parallel -- instead, and stop by the pub on the way.

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to yourealwaysbe | 8 months ago
2 likes

yourealwaysbe wrote:

I'm not really sure why the contraflow on Kings Road in Kingston is there. You can just take New Road -- a few meters parallel -- instead, and stop by the pub on the way.

How would I stop at the Fika cafe for delicious food?

Avatar
brooksby | 8 months ago
3 likes

Just thought I'd share an incident from lunchtime: I was pedestrianising, coming out of a shop onto a footway which goes steeply downhill (one way road going downhill, cars parked on one side) in Bristol city centre (Union Street, for anyone who cares).

I went through the shop doors into their 'lobby' (again: Waterstones, for anyone who cares).

I could see a woman outside in a powered wheelchair going down the far side of the footway and turning right to come into the lobby, when she suddenly shrieked and a bloke (full balaclava) on a food delivery bike (fully duct-taped frankenbike) shot past her at Very Definite Speed going downhill on the footway.

 

(Maybe we've been misjudging wheelywheelybike all this time, or maybe I just spotted a unicorn…).

Avatar
Patrick9-32 replied to brooksby | 8 months ago
3 likes

There is plenty of dicks on home made electric motorbikes doing food delivery, nobody has been disputing that. The difference between that dick riding his bike like a dick and a similar dick driving like a dick is he has skin in the game when it comes to avoiding crashing, he will be hurt too if he hits that woman in the wheelchair where the driver would just have to be the big sad in front of a judge and maybe not drive for a few weeks. 

Is there an excuse for that behaviour? Absolutely not and its damaging for regular cyclists in a way that camera guys reporting drivers could never be. 

Avatar
Hirsute | 8 months ago
5 likes

There is no behaviour from drivers that people will not defend and say you shouldn't be filming, it's nothing to do with you and you don't know the circumstances.

//pbs.twimg.com/media/GJIlnTmXgAA1HMF?format=jpg&name=small)

Twitter thread if you can stomach it.

https://twitter.com/jaj991/status/1770519118858379673

You will likely have to zoom in to see what the issue is.

Avatar
the little onion replied to Hirsute | 8 months ago
3 likes

FML! Genuinely, the worst twitter thread I've seen - I can't believe folks would think that is OK.

 

Motornomativity at its very worst. Both the initial action and the twitter thread.

Avatar
brooksby replied to Hirsute | 8 months ago
4 likes

OMG!  I thought it was going to be a phone or a bowl of cereal… 

 

(I'll give the Twitter thread a miss, thanks)

Avatar
Hirsute replied to brooksby | 8 months ago
4 likes

I can reassure you that the vast majority thought it was appalling.

The twitter author was on the phone to the police when the driver realised he needed to do something about the situation.

Avatar
matt_cycles replied to Hirsute | 8 months ago
3 likes

My word, I was not expecting that! Who in their right mind would think that's safe and a clever thing to do.

Avatar
john_smith replied to Hirsute | 8 months ago
0 likes

What would have happened to it if the air bag had gone off?

Avatar
Hirsute replied to john_smith | 8 months ago
3 likes

It would have died.

Other issues - general distracted driving, heavy braking, steering, swerving, lesser risk likelihood of a front/side/rear collision etc

Avatar
brooksby | 8 months ago
14 likes

Presumably the world might have ended, had they removed parking from one side of the road?

Avatar
the little onion | 8 months ago
19 likes

There is one simple way of preventing abominably bad cycle lanes - create a rule that stipulates that the highway engineers who designed these, and the councillors who approved them, must cycle on these during rush hour, with their kids, before they are opened to the public.

Avatar
mitsky replied to the little onion | 8 months ago
5 likes

100%

Avatar
Steve K replied to the little onion | 8 months ago
1 like

the little onion wrote:

There is one simple way of preventing abominably bad cycle lanes - create a rule that stipulates that the highway engineers who designed these, and the councillors who approved them, must cycle on these during rush hour, with their kids, before they are opened to the public.

Only problem with that is we'd just get no infrastructure.  So they should have to do that on roads where there is no infrastructure or alternative route too.

Avatar
mitsky | 8 months ago
2 likes

My own experience of similar one-way/oncoming motor traffic infrastructure:
https://youtu.be/ZcsSbbe00Ig

Avatar
Jogle replied to mitsky | 8 months ago
3 likes
mitsky wrote:

My own experience of similar one-way/oncoming motor traffic infrastructure:
https://youtu.be/ZcsSbbe00Ig

Did they move over to try to scare you or were they distracted by their phone?

Avatar
mitsky replied to Jogle | 8 months ago
5 likes

I don't think a phone was the issue, but cannot be certain.
To be honest I have no idea if it was an attempt at intimidation as it was a total failure if so.
I think a lot of "aggressive" drivers who may try to intimidate in that way would actually cry like a baby if we cyclists even tapped their window and they would say "Don't touch/damage my car." as if a human hand could do so...​

Avatar
stonojnr replied to mitsky | 8 months ago
2 likes

I don't have video of it except on a Sky Ride, the worst one of these setups ime is here https://maps.app.goo.gl/VsvUohoEzrbM3x5J7

You are riding uphill, totally unsighted to traffic, which is also a main bus route, coming down the hill before the s bend, and they all take the faster racing line through it, so aim for the kerb where the cycle lane is.

I can only imagine cyclists don't get killed there because cycling rates are so low in the town.

Avatar
Miller replied to stonojnr | 8 months ago
0 likes

stonojnr wrote:

I can only imagine cyclists don't get killed there because cycling rates are so low in the town.

I'm in Ipswich from time to time and it's truthfully not a great place to cycle. There's minimal infrastructure, narrow roads and some racetrack roads pretty much through the town centre. You don't see much utility cycling in Ipswich even though Suffolk in general is pretty good for riding.

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