Viral tweet sums up bizarre anti-cycling whataboutery; More "As a cyclist..." fun; Feel good Friday; Peloton share price plummets; Bike thief sentenced; Quick-Step build Remco's Grand Tour dream team; EF partners with women's team + more on the live blog

This cracker of a reader letter in the York Press came to our attention today, and we're so glad it did...John Zimnoch from Osbaldwick agreed with another letter (which argued active travel closures only shift traffic elsewhere) and said they cause extra pollution by increased time-delaying traffic jams.

His conclusion? "Better to listen to a taxi driver than a car-hating cyclist. It seems the only way to get things back to normal with sensible traffic plans is to vote the Lib Dem/Greens out at the first available opportunity. Common sense would then take over at Gillygate and Bootham - and some blue badge parking would be regained."

John got some pushback by fellow readers, the aptly-named 'Stop Complaining' replied: "Other cars make it harder for taxis to navigate roads and traffic. What's a good way of reducing the amount of cars on the road? Oh wait, more people cycling and walking." I like Stop Complaining already...

HGV Driver added: "Looking around me, I see car after car, usually with one occupant, just going to work a mile or two up the road. The vast majority of which could cycle if it was more attractive. If more of those journeys were undertaken by other means, there would be more space for those who must use a car. Half term was a perfect example of how to reduce congestion!"

To infinity and beyond! said: "His letter doesn't merit actual discussion of the subject, the use of the pathetic slur "car-hating cyclist" shows us where he's coming from and it isn't from a position of balance, consideration or validity. Dismissed."

The RideLondon Classique will keep its reputation for being one of the most lucrative races on the women's racing calendar when it returns as a three-day format next year. VeloNews reports the race organiser plans to keep its €100,000 (£85,565) prize pot in 2022. 

The Classique has been outgunned by the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift's €250,000 (£213,956) total prize pot, however the three-day British race represents better euros per kilometre than any race on the women's calendar.

"We absolutely intend to carry that through, it’s so important. It’s wrong to say we’re not having a men’s event and so we lower the prize money," race director Hugh Brasher told VeloNews.

> "Thanks Essex, we love you, from Surrey x": NIMBY locals love RideLondon relocation

The race hasn't been held since 2019 due to Covid, but will return next year as part of RideLondon's relocation to Essex.

Just when you thought you'd heard the last of it...the appeal against the decision to permanently strike Richard Freeman off the medical register has been adjourned, a new date has not yet been set. JMW Solicitors LLP is representing Freeman and made an application for an audio recording of the initial disciplinary hearing to be heard by the judge before the appeal took place. The General Medical Council objected to the request for the audio to be heard. 

> Ex British Cycling and Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman to appeal being struck off Medical Register

In March, former British Cycling and Team Sky doctor Freeman was found guilty of ordering banned testosterone for an unmaned rider. He lodged an appeal a month later.

"Cyclists should stay off pavements" pic.twitter.com/sDLaYPdWa7

— abperson 🇪🇺 (@abperson_cycle) November 4, 2021

I make that 18... 

EF Education First is expanding its sponsorship for 2022, taking on co-title partnership of the TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank women's team. All women racing for the team will be paid at least the men's WorldTour minimum salary.

"We’re excited to be part of this team and to help these amazing riders reach their goals. The salary component is incredibly important to all of us, because it allows the riders to pursue the sport full-time," said Maria Norrman, global chief of staff at EF Education First. "We can’t wait to help add the next chapter in this team’s great history."

The team has lofty aspirations, led by former investment banker turned Canadian pro racer, Linda Jackson. Jackson says the team aims to be a top five WorldTour team within a few years and wants Olympians and world champions from the team too.

Deceuninck-Quick-Step are building their dream team to help Remco Evenepoel compete for Grand Tour victories, starting with the signing of Belgian climbing talent Louis Vervaeke from Alpecin-Fenix. Vervaeke finished 20th at the Giro this year and is expected to be one of the key pieces in the Evenepoel winning a Grand Tour jigsaw.

"We have a long-term vision to fight for a Grand Tour overall victory, and for that we also need strong helpers for the mountains," Lefevere said. "Louis possesses a lot of qualities, can support our leaders on the climbs and can maybe go for his own chance whenever an opportunity arises. We hope to give Louis a nice environment in which he feels well and where he can further develop."

Remco seems to be enjoying his off-season (and that Pizza Hut sponsorship)...

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Remco Evenepoel (@remco.ev)

Peloton's stock plunged by as much as 33 per cent in pre-market trading this morning after it posted bigger-than-expected losses and slashed its earnings outlook. Peloton stock closed at $86.03 per share last night, but was trading down 32.6 per cent at $57.98 this morning.

Business Insider reports the drop was partly influenced by the company announcing its disappointing first-quarter fiscal earnings, reporting a net loss of $376 million. The home exercise class brand also slashed its forecasts for sales and subscribers to between $4.4 billion and $4.8 billion, compared to an earlier prediction of $5.4 billion.

At the end of the summer, Peloton announced it would be slashing the price of its bikes after posting worsening losses for the fourth quarter of its 2020/21 financial year.

Ladies and gents: “keen cyclist” The Lord Peter Cruddas. This guy even cringes at his own lie. Sad. pic.twitter.com/AOQ1BLGa2D

— The Department of Parks & Recreation 🦌 (@ldnparks) November 4, 2021

Yesterday it was a talkRadio caller justifying his subsequent anti-LTN rant with that familiar qualifying statement, "as a cyclist...". Ediz, despite "cycling most places", took issue with the "agenda" of LTNs pushing traffic away from one neighbourhood to another.

Sorry, Ediz, we've had a higher bid...a bid from the House of Lords in fact...

Lord Peter Cruddas is today's "keen cyclist" suprisingly against cycling infra. He's the founder of online trading company CMC Markets and was named the richest man in the City of London by the 2007 Sunday Times Rich List. The Lord was nominated for his peerage last year by a certain Boris Johnson (whatever happened to him?) and subsequently donated £500,000 to the Conservative Party.

That's the background info, here's the meat of what he said...

"To clarify, I am a keen cyclist myself and during the lockdown I even bought myself a new bicycle," he told the House.

With that out the way, Lord Cruddas went on to make his main point..."To clarify my concerns, I am only referring to the temporary cycle lanes and if they become permanent they will be even more of a nuisance...in that context it seems to me that given the government has given emergency funding to TfL during the pandemic, there is an opportunity to contribute to any debate about their continued existence in a meaningful way."

So...what do we make of that?