Insulate Britain confirms protesters sat in major London bike lane to stop motorists using it; Cav calls fan with Manx Missile tattoo; What does it take to be a pro?; Marginal pains; Belgian beef; Follow the sign; Pic of the week + more on the live blog

Huston ! On a un problème ! 😬😬

ou

Quand un opossum s'introduit dans ton garage... 😬😅 pic.twitter.com/VIlzVWAUHV

— Miss Cat 🐾 (@misscathsy_2) October 24, 2021

You see what I did there? Possibly, possombly? I can see the tumbleweed rolling across the live blog. Don't all have a go at once...

Here's your screenshot before the admin changes it...don't know how they build their fences in Cambridge, but that's one crazy crime prevention tactic...

What are professional cyclists capable of?

⚡️Power output values attained by 188 cyclists (144 male and 44 female) from 7 teams between 2013-2021. Soon at @IJSPPjournal!

With @mmateo_march @The_Teun @RobLamberts @xabimu @PallaresJG @david_barranco @ZabalaMikel @alexis_gandia pic.twitter.com/y84Aa1hXa4

— Pedro L. Valenzuela (@pl_valenzuela) October 25, 2021

Click on the photo to go through and see what sort of numbers you'd need to clock to be a pro rider. Yeah, not sure I'll be hitting them anytime soon (ever)... 

The now familiar scene begins of #InsulateBritain protesters now getting pulled out of the road pic.twitter.com/zYuDtatrEE

— Damien Gayle (@damiengayle) October 25, 2021

Insulate Britain soon got back to us to address the images of protesters sat in a bike lane on Southwark Bridge this morning. The group said it "certainly wasn't to stop cyclists" and emphasised that riders were allowed through at all their protest sites. 

One of our readers also reported cycling through at 9:30am without any problems. The group's press team said they were "pretty sure it was to stop motorists". In fairness, most people assumed this was the case anyway...

I'm assuming that is to stop cars driving through the cycle lane as anyone on a bike can just get off and wheel the bike around them on the pavement?

— Richard Chambers (@dukeofted) October 25, 2021

Although some questioned if even blocking part of a cycle lane was acceptable, considering people on hand cycles, cargo bikes, trikes and trailers would struggle to get past.

No, not everyone 'can get off and wheel the bike around them on the pavement'. A fast increasing minority use trikes, cargo bikes, trailers, hand-cycles etc.

— Chris Weekes (@cjweekes) October 25, 2021

Got Dave Brailsford on my knee.👍#marginaljoints pic.twitter.com/3z4RQdmDyk

— Rob Whittle (@PolkaDotRob) October 25, 2021

Fair play, Rob. That's some tribute. Was the needle a marginal pain or more serious?

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jasper Stuyven (@jasperstuyven)

The fallout from Belgium's home World Championships continues...Jasper Stuyven, who finished fourth at the event in his home town of Leuven, has spoken to Het Nieuwsblad and shone further light on Remco Evenepoel's behaviour during and after the race.

Stuyven questioned those around the young Belgian and said he needs to learn when "he can and cannot say things". Milan San-Remo winner Stuyven also revealed the 21-year-old didn't turn up to a debrief in the days after the race. 

"Everyone was there, except Remco," Stuyven explained. "He was aware, but didn't think it was necessary. I think that is a shame, especially because he thought it necessary to say things on TV. That stuck with some of us. I think that Remco should sometimes be slowed down by his entourage. He still has to learn when he can and cannot say things. Also, a super-strong rider – which he certainly is – should realise that some things should remain internal.

"In the first place, he should have ridden a different race. What he did – ride full in the early break, gesticulate and be omnipresent until the final started – any sub-topper can do. But even if he had spared himself, he would never have ridden away from Alaphilippe."

Last week, Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx downplayed talk he dislikes Evenepoel, insisting he's a big fan and doubling down on his assertion that the young talent should not have been selected for Belgium's team when the goal was solely to help Wout van Aert. Evenepoel raised eyebrows by attacking early in the race, going in the breakaway and subsequently getting dropped when the group returned to the peloton.

🙈😂 pic.twitter.com/K2afyCIdi9

— Sara 🚴‍♀️😷 (@SaMcDuff) October 24, 2021

Mark loved my Tattoo so much he called me. Not every day you get to FaceTime your hero. Thank you so much @petatodd for setting it up and for @MarkCavendish for the call. Still in a bit of shock and awe. Wow!! pic.twitter.com/bGac7Xqkhs

— Paul James 🇯🇪 (@JerseyPaul90) October 23, 2021

 Paul James made a bet at the start of 2021. If Mark Cavendish won a race he would get a tattoo of the great sprinter somewhere on his body. As we all know, Cav won once, and nine more times afterwards, giving Paul plenty of time to decide where he was going to put his new splash of ink.

He wasn't disappointed about it either, proudly calling the artwork "[An] Ode to my idol Mark Cavendish who overcame adversity to prove he's still the GOAT. Hopefully he likes this". Well, he did like it. Cav called Paul on FaceTime and said he loved it. 

Paul shared the news on social media: "Mark loved my tattoo so much he called me. Not every day you get to FaceTime your hero. Thank you so much Peta (Cav's wife) for setting it up and for Mark for the call. Still in a bit of shock and awe. Wow!!"

Seems there's no motivation like making someone look at your face for the rest of their life...