“It’s official, post-ride beers are good for you”: Tadej Pogačar’s agent claims he indulges in the odd pint to “recover and relax”; Cyclist and pet cat suffer dangerous close pass from coach driver who allegedly had “nowhere to go” + more on the live blog

Well, if he can do it, surely I can too? *completely ignores the fact that I can’t any of the other things he can*

But the point still stands — I still have a couple things in common with arguably the best rider of this generation, the Slovenian wonder machine who just seems to keep getting better and better with each race, Tadej Pogačar. The first one being that we both don’t mind drinking a pint of the good stuff after a hard day’s work, the other… well, I’ll get back to you on that.

In an interview with the Dutch news publication HLN, Pogačar’s agent Alex Carrera said that the freshly crowned champion of Giro d’Italia sometimes drinks beer after finishing races.

When asked if it was indeed true, Carrera, who’s also the agent of other names in the peloton such as Cian Uijtdebroeks and Jasper Philipsen, said: “It hasn't happened yet in this Giro. But yes, before. The evening before the final stage of the Volta a Catalonia, Tadej talked to me for a long time and drank one beer.

“One won’t hurt. It is conducive to recovery and helps to relax. Cycling has changed a lot in recent years, but the rider's head is still more important than the legs. By the way, who won the final stage in Catalonia?”

If you’re looking for the answer, it was indeed Pogačar who won the sprint finish on the streets of Barcelona, after a week of utter domination where he won four stages out of the seven, in what would be his first stage-race GC win of 2024.

And as you’d expect, cycling fans are chuffed at this latest information, with one person on social media saying: “It's official boys. Post ride beers are good for you!”, while another added: “Beer and cycling go together like chammies and seats.”

> “He can shut his mouth”: Marc Madiot slams “small, shabby” Jumbo-Visma boss who claimed that French riders were drinking “large beers” on rest day

Another thing we can be certain of now is no chance of Pogačar moving to Visma Lease a Bike, given boss Richard Plugge’s dislike for brews, or at least his riders having one.

Anyone know of any team bosses super-chill with their riders drinking beer? How about Marc Madiot, who told Plugge to “shut his mouth” after he pointed out that the French team’s riders were drinking beer on the rest day at last year’s Tour de France? Folks, you heard it here first, Tadej Pogačar to Groupama-FDJ, here we go!

Marc Madiot approves this message. Jumbo doesn't...

— Margeride (@Fmargeride) May 31, 2024

In the meantime, maybe Pogačar can try and get Tom Pidcock to down a couple pints with him… Or maybe he just doesn't like Amstel.

> “He’s a Yorkshireman and that’s not beer”: Tom Pidcock STILL unimpressed with Amstel’s offering – even after finally winning the beer’s race

The bizarre story of a cyclist who was accused of fleeing an amateur French stage race after allegations of motor doping were levelled against him has taken another turn, after the cyclist - Giovambattista Iera - has furiously denied all allegations of wrongdoing through a statement distributed via his lawyer. 

Through lawyers, Iera says he has "already been convicted by the press without any evidence", strongly denying that he cheated at Les Routes de l'Oise stage race or played any part in assaulting the race director...

Read more: > "I did not run away or strike an organiser": Cycling film actor accused of motor doping denies any wrongdoing, while race director still "upset" following alleged incident

Former winner of the 8-day French stage race Critérium du Dauphiné, Chris Froome, after finishing almost 18 minutes behind the 20-year-old explosive Groupama-FDJ rider Lenny Martinez at the Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes, is set to start this year's race on Sunday. Anyone got the odds for betting on any new excuses? I mean, disc brakes are so 2021...

We're looking forward to what promises to be a thrilling week of racing at the @dauphine 👊

🔹 Former winners @chrisfroome and @jakob_fuglsang feature in the IPT line-up
🔹 First starts in the race for @DerekGee7 and @MasonHollyman #Dauphiné 🇫🇷 #YallaIPT pic.twitter.com/lf6qAHgI1J

— Israel – Premier Tech (@IsraelPremTech) May 31, 2024

Almost everybody who has ever jumped aboard a bicycle has, even for only a fraction of a second, fantasised about competing in a Grand Tour like the Giro d’Italia. There’s a unique excitement that comes with the idea of soaking up the sights and sounds of one of cycling’s greatest events, whilst competing against the world’s best bike riders.

Of course, the reality is that such experiences are reserved for the very few – those talented, dedicated and lucky enough to be among the riders selected to compete. Mere mortals can get close with Grand Tour-themed sportives or leisure rides that give a taste of the experience, but they never get to feel the same adrenaline-fuelled excitement of true competition.

But there is another way...

> Get to know BKOOL — the great value cycling simulator that allows you to relive the whole Giro d'Italia virtually

For episode 78 of the road.cc Podcast, we donned our reading glasses, grabbed our bikes, and headed over to the National Cycle Network, that underfunded, unwieldy, often fractured, but very important collection of routes, lanes, and paths used by cyclists across the UK and which forms the central subject of Laura Laker’s brilliant new book, Potholes and Pavements.

After an in-depth behind the keyboard chat with Laura, we then turn our attentions in part two to the upcoming general election, and what its outcome may mean for cycling and active travel, with Dr Maya Singer Hobbs, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research, a think tank that earlier this month claimed the UK was “travelling in the wrong direction” when it comes to transport.

> Making our way around the National Cycle Network (and why it’s really all about the people you meet) with Laura Laker + Is active travel in Britain heading in the wrong direction?