Same cycle lane, different driver, same near miss...but The Sun asks "who's in the right?"; Reaction to Ed Laverack's Sa Calobra-conquering KOM; "I started to hyperventilate": Remco relives Liège; One week 'til Giro time + more on the live blog

Best commute to work ever! 😉

I know from personal experience that #Chile is making enormous strides in #cycling culture, but this is next level stuff! 🏔🚴🏻‍♂️🏡#Valparaiso | @bicicultura 🇨🇱pic.twitter.com/ZUaRZZ09Be

— Anders Adamsen (@anderspreben) April 26, 2022

"One thing I’ve learnt today is how valuable taking people along on a journey can mean," Ed told his social media following. "The KOM on Sa Calobra is one thing, training, creating videos, sharing the little details on socials to hopefully help or give people something to relate to somewhere is a massive passion.

> Most competitive Strava segment in the world? Ed Laverack smashes Sa Calobra KOM

"I saw that today. Not just from the folks at the top of the mountain, but the groups of cyclists on the road, asking 'did you do it?' Having no idea who these people were made me slightly emotional, but it makes everything I do so fulfilling and worthwhile.

"Professional cycling isn’t the only way to make a living by doing what I love to do. Right, I’m off for another lie down."

What's next?

Bealach next!

— Ed Laverack (@edlaverack) April 28, 2022

We all know who is right, but The Sun isn't interested in that. Just wants to stir it.

— Steve Western (@IlminsterSteve) April 29, 2022

West Midlands Walking and Cycling Commissioner Adam Tranter provided the most succinct answer to The Sun's "who's in the right?" nonsense..."The give way markings might provide a clue" he suggested...

Don't go bringing common sense to The Sun's 'debate', Adam...

Over on Facebook, Robert Skedgell had the pick of the comments: "One of the most serious problems with the driving theory test is that it's been made easy enough for Sun readers to pass"...

Here in the live blog comments section, kinggill offered some always-appreciated local knowledge: "Before the A38 route was opened, the council announced in the media that cars would have to 'give way' when crossing the cycle route (as if one could ever just swing across the Bristol Road!). It caused fury online as per usual 'causes more pollution for me to idle my engine' etc. It is a great route but always heart-in-the-mouth moments at those junctions; a pity as it's one of the few places in Brum where you can pick up a bit of speed."

brooksby did a good job of summing up how most (all) of us feel: "I honestly don't understand. How is it 'open to debate'?  Cyclist on cycle path, therefore having priority; motorist approaches 'give way' lines. Motorist doesn't give way, either through a conscious decision or because they just weren't looking. Either way, motorist at fault. End of discussion."

While chrisonatrike wondered if the real meaning of The Sun's 'debate' is: "whether cyclists should be allowed anywhere roads - or indeed at all".

Exclusive - Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos bid more than £4bn for Chelseahttps://t.co/s9kGd79emB

— Matt Dickinson (@DickinsonTimes) April 29, 2022

We regret to inform @AvVleuten sustained a broken right wrist during a training crash on Thursday.

She underwent surgery at @Rijnstate last night, and is already on track for a full recovery. Send her all of your best wishes everyone! 🙏

More info 👇

— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) April 29, 2022

Annemiek van Vleuten will be out of action for the foreseeable having broken her right wrist during a training crash in the Netherlands, Movistar has confirmed. Last Sunday's Liège–Bastogne–Liège winner underwent surgery last night at the Rijnstate Hospital in Arnhem, with no return date yet discussed.

Despite this, the team says Van Vleuten should still be able to be fit in time for the Giro d'Italia Donne and the inaugural Tour de France Femmes, in July.

Excuse me, don't mean to interrupt, but it's ONE WEEK TO THE GIRO D'ITALIA! ONE WEEK I TELL YOU! 😮🇮🇹🌸🤌🤩 #Giro105

— Katy M is counting down to the GIRO (@writebikerepeat) April 29, 2022

Countdown

A few days on from his breakthrough Monument success, Remco Evenepoel sat down with Belgian media outlet Sporza to talk through his triumph, including his accidentally high cadence and post-race hyperventilating. 

"I accidentally switched two teeth smaller instead of bigger. That caused panic for a while, because my cadence was very high," the Belgian sensation said of his thermonuclear attack...

Remco made La Redoute great again! 🚀 #LBL pic.twitter.com/pfZ2XVRmcc

— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) April 24, 2022

 "I had a day like the time trial in Algarve. I didn't really hear anything around me because I was so in the zone. Only what they said in my ear came to me. The only thing I felt and heard was when I saw my trainer Koen Pelgrim standing on top. Only at that moment did I look away from the road. He was screaming like the other supporters.

"But I just didn't realise what was happening in the last 200 meters. You can ask my family: I was really hyperventilating after the finish."

Yesterday's live blog featured the video of a cyclist using the A38 cycle lane in Birmingham, with its lane-crossing turnings and not-looking motorists...

The clip was fairly uncontroversial, I don't think that's up for debate. A cyclist riding along the route was forced to brake hard after a driver, coming from the left, didn't check to see if anything was coming and pulled out across the rider's path. A fairly common occurrence for anyone who uses a bicycle to negotiate the UK's road network, unfortunately.

The Sun newspaper did not see it that way...

We really didn't want to give their social post the slightest air of promotion, so here's a picture of it instead (with Jeremy Vine's thoughts on the "but who's in the right?" ridiculousness)...

But who is in the right?
😡😡😡 pic.twitter.com/VvOvRRQ5gd

— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) April 28, 2022

Amongst the replies: someone who thought the cyclist was riding the wrong way down a one-way street (no, really), "It's a horrible thing to have to say but in this instance the cyclist is absolutely 100% in the right", and this handy advice...

Anyone who doesn't know the answer to this should send their driving license back to the DVLA ASAP.

— CyclingInASkirt (@CyclingInASkirt) April 28, 2022

But that wasn't the end of matters as, in reply to Vine, another rider who has footage from the very same Birmingham cycle lane, said he'd "nearly died there" yesterday afternoon.

You can hear my brakes go on very early, in assumption the driver will stuff up … because they so often do. 👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/5sEueresBc

— Michael Brown 🌍🇺🇦 (@bikelawman) April 28, 2022

It seems running the gauntlet of crossing motorists is just part and parcel of using this infrastructure...

In the words of yesterday's cyclist: "Even when you think you're cycling in a safe place, there are drivers around to show you, you never are."