Timmy Mallett pedals up UK's steepest road; Huge finish line crash causes debate; Bike porn; Cycling in focus at local elections; May the 4th be with you; Climbing Sa Calobra; Forget panniers, wheel a suitcase; Giro countdown + more on the live blog

Over on a Dorset active travel group on Facebook a post has attracted a fair few comments. It is titled: Do you think there is a class divide over active travel? You've probably heard the line about cycling being a middle class sport before, or that only those with plenty of disposable cash can afford the top-end carbon bikes and Rapha kit...but when a car (and fuel) costs so much, why has the humble bicycle attracted such a reputation? Is there a distinction to be made between 'sport cycling' and active travel?

Here are some of the comments:

"Not a class divide more a financial divide. It gives mobility to the less well off."

"I would say the class or financial divide is real, I generally see far more cyclists and bicycles ridden costing several thousands of pounds. Just last weekend I saw a family of four enjoying a Sunday ride on matching ebikes, what appeared to be Giant Fathom E+ or visually similar. The sub-segment of Lycra-clad enthusiasts being the most obvious example of this. Yes, there are some that embrace the cost effective means of travel that is to be had on two wheels. I in my past have been one of these folks, it was short-lived. Unfortunately the placement of cycle lanes thus far does show a certain bias to user groups."

"I think this question is too generic and undefined to really get any useful feedback on it"

"Yes, I don't know how people afford to run cars. Ok my bike was a bit of an investment for me but still cheaper than most second-hand cars and I don't have to pay out for fuel costs and parking at work. But we weren't well off growing up so my parents didn't have regular access to a car until my teens so I grew up a lot more independent than some of my peers and am used to getting about under my own steam."

"When I grew up on a council estate I cycled as it was an affordable option. Today I cycle because I enjoy it. Very different bikes too. But in each case I cycled."

New kit, who dis’ 👌
👌
The Maglia Rosa of #Giroditalia is so iconic so we’ve switched out our traditional pink colours. This limited edition kit will be available on @rapha soon!

Maybe you’ll see us in Pink at the Giro 👀👕 pic.twitter.com/WaI41TAOKe

— EF Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) May 4, 2022

 EF Education-EasyPost and Rapha's annual maglia rosa deviation kit announcement is here (why not give us another bank holiday, eh?) 

Two years ago it was the Supreme special, then last year the 'switch out kit'...

> Expert trolling of UCI rules as Rapha and EF Education-Nippo unveil new kit

This year, Vaughters' boys have gone for a very classy-looking black (with every colour under the sun) number. Kind of how 'paintings' by toddlers could look if the spray and pray approach actually worked...we like it...

Your Giro countdown is under the two-day mark...

"I pedalled up it fully laden with my panniers, art stuff and me," Mallett wrote on Strava. "I even videoed it as I panted... And I managed it! I have officially pedalled up the steepest street in the world." (Unfortunately Guinness World Records might have something to say about that)

"That'll do. I am an athlete! Harlech castle is stunning perched on the craggy cliff top. Artists through the years have painted it and so did I today. The lovely team at the castle took photos and pointed me to the rocky but where the view is amazing. It was. I sketched out and tonight I'll work something up in my hotel room.

"Then I discovered a puncture. In the back tyre. It was tricky getting the small hand pump to make any difference. At which point Joe arrived. Joe lives in Harlech and we headed down the steepest hill to his house to use the big foot pump.

"Clearly I hadn't got rid of all the thorn via after a cuppa the tyre was going down again. So another new tyre [tube] was needed and I'm so glad Joe was there to lend assistance and encouragement.

"Joe also had as good tip. To head to Ynys for a view like no other. Straight across the water to Portmerion and over to the mountains of Snowdonia. Amazing. Especially as the sun came out and the afternoon was bathed in warm full sunshine. My day is done. I'll be painting this evening."

2/2 Again it wasn’t my intention so I apologise for what happened and sincerely hope all involved are ok.

— Sam Welsford (@sam_welsford) May 3, 2022

@daftdon

idiot I Edinburgh

♬ original sound - Donald Alexander Ste 

Cycling UK got in touch with the following message ahead of this week's local elections...

You've only one day left to ask candidates where you live what they'll do, if elected on Thursday, to get more people cycling. 

Cycling UK is asking people to email the candidates for your council to ask whether they support their manifestos for cycling. Cycling UK has contacted every candidate to ask them, but many haven’t committed yet. 

Find out where the candidates for your council stand, it only takes a few minutes to ask whether they support our manifesto. 

They want your vote on Thursday, so if you want councillors in your area to push for safer cycling and to get more people cycling, email them now to ask them what they’ll do to make that happen. 

We are proud to present our new TT1 time trial bike, developed in collaboration with the professional cyclists of the @TeamEmiratesUAE
The new Colnago TT1 will debut racing at the next @giroditalia #ColnagoTT1 #Colnago #LaBicicletta #giro #GiroDItalia #uaeteamemirates #polimi pic.twitter.com/hfxb6FfcS8

— Colnago (@Colnagoworld) May 4, 2022

Yesterday's opening stage of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque probably would have flown under the radar for all but the most committed racing fan. A race with a smattering of WorldTour talent, but mainly pro and continental teams. However, the sprint finish on day one has been thrust into the spotlight after a frightening crash as the sprinters lunged towards the line.

🇫🇷 @arviddekleijn flies to second place on stage 1 of #4JDD, avoiding danger in a hectic final 🥈 #HumanPoweredHealth pic.twitter.com/GDJLp5VZBb

— Human Powered Health (@HumanPwrdHealth) May 3, 2022

Lotto-Soudal's Arnaud De Lie thought he saw a gap between Brit Dan McLay and Sam Welsford. Aussie Welsford poked his elbow out to shut the door, only to nudge the surging De Lie into McLay, causing one almighty fall. Ultimately, Welsford was relegated, Arvid De Klijn — who somehow evaded the contact — won, and De Lie crossed the line on his back in sixth (but later abandoned the race with concussion).

So...what to make of it?

Despite some pointing blame at the finish...

As long as organisers break the parcours guidelines and add bends in the final sprint, we're destined to have sprint deviations. #4JDD

— Benji Naesen (@BenjiNaesen) May 3, 2022

That was disputed by one of the riders involved (and most-badly impacted), McLay, who also stuck up for his rivals too...

1. The finish was pretty straightforward, I’ve not seen many more simple than that and I don’t think the road had much to do with the incident. For the rest of the parcours there was plenty of things we could talk about.

— Dan McLAY (@McLAYDan) May 3, 2022

3. I’m more or less ok incase anyone is interested

— Dan McLAY (@McLAYDan) May 3, 2022

Back at home, others had different views on the incident...

Clear elbow by Welsford. Minor deviation but it did clearly cause the crash. There was a gap, Welsford closed it, if anyone's at fault it's Welsford. De Kleijn definitely deserves a relegation for the elbow, though #4JDD

— Jens Dekker (@jens_dekker) May 3, 2022

Another race another serious crash, fortunately seemingly without serious injury. Blame is an interesting topic. ~19/20 crashes are rider error, a mistake in the heat of battle which is only human 1/2

— Dan Martin (@DanMartin86) May 4, 2022

Hardly ever is a crash intentional but the stakes, pressure and desire to win are higher than ever meaning less caution is take = more crashes. Whoever causes the crash will feel terrible. There’s no reason to point the finger 2/2

— Dan Martin (@DanMartin86) May 4, 2022

What do you think?