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Chasing the Tour de France: Jack Thompson attempts to ride full route in 12 days; Uber Eats dedication; Covid-free Tour; "Wrong road!": Shocked Scots spot cyclist spinning along motorway; New cycle lanes; Praying for echelons + more on the live blog

It's Tuesday and Dan Alexander is here for another day on the live blog and another Mark Cavendish stage win (hopefully)...
Tue, Jul 06, 2021 09:02
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Chasing the Tour de France: Jack Thompson attempts to ride full route in 12 days; Uber Eats dedication; Covid-free Tour; "Wrong road!": Shocked Scots spot cyclist spinning along motorway; New cycle lanes; Praying for echelons + more on the live blogJack Thompson Chasing the Tour
06 July 2021, 15:44
SCENES

He did it again! Three wins for Mark Cavendish at this Tour de France and we're not even halfway. By our reckoning there are at least two and at most four sprint stages left on this year's route, depending on how they are raced. Cav to beat Merckx's record on the Champs-Élysées, anyone?

Speaking at the finish Cav said: "It was an old school, run-of-the-mill, like you're reading a cycling magazine...lead-out. Textbook lead-out. Get the lads on the front, pull as fast as they can so no one can try and come past you.

"We were confident we had the team for the sprint. I'm just humbled, man. I've got the winner of the Tour of Flanders, the world champion who has had the yellow jersey, Michael Mørkøv who is going to the Olympics, the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad winner [Davide Ballerini] and they're all just giving everything. Leaving everything on the road - I have to finish it off.

"I didn't really do anything, other than 150m. It was the team. I have them to thank for everything."

We've missed these post-race dissections...

06 July 2021, 14:36
More bad luck for Ineos Grenadiers

Richie Porte looked the worst affected by this crash at the back of the peloton. Jumbo-Visma were also involved but everyone is back safely in the bunch again. Around one hour of racing to go and it looks like we're heading for a sprint, unless the wind has any late tricks for us... 

06 July 2021, 14:17
Four more years for David Lappartient as UCI President
06 July 2021, 13:47
06 July 2021, 13:40
Another twist in the race for the green jersey: Sonny Colbrelli and Michael Matthews cut Cav's lead

As expected, today's intermediate sprint was too tough for Cav. Sonny Colbrelli took the maximum 15 points on offer after the two breakaway riders swept up the top two places. Michael Matthews got 13, while Jasper Philipsen and Peter Sagan got 11 and 10 respectively.

The result means that Cav's lead has been cut to 25 points by Matthews in second and is 32 to Colbrelli in third. There are 50 points available at the finish to the winner of the stage... 

06 July 2021, 13:09
Chasing the Tour de France: Jack Thompson attempts to ride full route in 12 days

 Seven-day cycling distance world record holder Jack Thompson is underway with another huge leg-shredding challenge. Over the next 12 days he's chasing down the Tour de France, trying to beat the peloton to Paris while riding the route in full. Jack began yesterday in Landerneau as the pros did last weekend and hit 400km with 6,110m of elevation at a incredible normalised power of 315w one day one.

If he can keep up the current rate then he'll catch the peloton in seven days. "The theme of the day was wind and wet roads," Jack wrote on Instagram. "But fittingly the sun came out to play at the end of the day. To me that always represents the light at the end of the tunnel. The body felt great and the power was good, and as a bonus we got through a full 400km so we’re about 50km ahead of schedule going into tomorrow."

As part of his preparation, Jack has been avoiding watching any of the Tour to avoid overthinking the challenge but completed stage one in just under seven hours, about two hours slower than the bunch. I wonder if we'll see a Lachlan Morton x Jack Thompson collab by the end of next week?

06 July 2021, 12:04
Ventoux looking 10/10 ahead of tomorrow's double-ascent showdown

Just look at that surface... 

06 July 2021, 12:03
You Spin Me Round ft. Mike Woods
06 July 2021, 11:49
Virtual literary festival to raise money for south London's famous Herne Hill Velodrome
FHHV VeloFete Literary Fest

Herne Hill Velodrome has a rich history, from hosting track cycling at the 1948 Olympics through to helping many of the current crop of British talent become the riders they are today. Bahrain Victorious' Fred Wright, currently riding the Tour, and Laura Kenny are just two of the current generation of Herne Hill graduates.

To support the velodrome's continued role in supporting participation in the sport, the Friends of Herne Hill Velodrome are hosting another virtual VeloFete to help raise funds for the venue. The festival will run from Monday 12 July to Friday 16 from 6pm to 8pm every night with speakers from across the cycling world, including Dan Bigham, Jack Thurston and Guardian journalist Justin McCurry.

You can book your place on the Friends of Herne Hill website...

06 July 2021, 11:47
06 July 2021, 10:22
Cross your fingers and pray for echelons

Headwind App has clued us up with these interactive stage maps for the Tour de France showing exactly where the wind will be coming from on each day. Take a look at that final run-in to Valence where the road heads north. That is where most of the echelon speculation is centred.

The map also shows you just how long a day it could be for anyone in a small breakaway riding into a cross-headwind all stage. About 50 minutes to go until the riders roll out of Albertville for the start. Bring it on!

06 July 2021, 10:13
Tour peloton Covid-free

Positive tests at the Tour are never going to go down well...especially in the era of Covid...Luckily, there weren't any on the first rest day. At this rate that might be the only way to stop Tadej Pogačar.

After winning the Giro, Egan Bernal tested positive and had to isolate before getting the all-clear for his big meeting with the Pope.

06 July 2021, 09:45
Dedicated Uber Eats rider wades through knee-high flood water in Edinburgh
Uber Eats flood (screenshot via Laura Munro/Deadline News)

It's all going on up in Scotland this morning...I hope this guy got a tip. Confronted with a knee-high flood in Gorgie in Edinburgh, he took his shoes and socks off before wading through the waters so someone, somewhere could get their takeaway.

The Daily Record reports the cyclist was spotted by Laura Munro who lives in the flat overlooking the scene and then started filming while shouting encouragement to the man. Munro posted the video on Facebook with the caption: "Poor wee guy earlier. Took off his socks and shoes so they didn't get wet."

She told the newspaper: "I was looking out the window at the rain and saw a poor guy trying to weigh up how he was going to get out of the street. There were a few times he walked out to look to see a way out that wouldn't get him too wet. It was hilarious, a very Scottish thing to do. It was too funny not to watch."

Uber Eats flood (screenshot via Laura Munro/Deadline News)
Uber Eats flood (screenshot via Laura Munro/Deadline News)

Sunjiv Shah, General Manager for Uber Eats UK confirmed the company is trying to identify the cyclist to reward him for going above and beyond.

06 July 2021, 09:21
Cycleway 4 nears completion

Cycleway 4 will offer cyclists in the capital a continuous segregated route from Tower Bridge to Greenwich. A 3.6km stretch between Tower Bridge Road and Rotherhithe was opened along the Jamaica Road last year and the final touches on this stretch at Creek Road are just being finished now.

06 July 2021, 08:23
Tour de France stage 10: Crosswinds? Green jersey shenanigans? Cav's 33rd Tour stage win?
TdF 2021 Stage 10 profile.jpg

Good news, the rest day is over! The weather is going to be all important today. Looks a tough day for a breakaway with possible thunderstorms and pretty much the full stage into a headwind. 

Also, say it quietly but a few people have been whispering rumours of crosswinds in the final run-in as the road turns north towards Valence. That would be a win for Simon's pre-race stage-by-stage preview where he predicted the wind could be a factor today. Who needs weather forecasts?

One other point worth raising is the intermediate sprint which comes at the top of a climb (4.1km @ 3.7%). Expect to see Bahrain Victorious and BikeExchange putting the hammer down to drop Cav before the green jersey points are decided. The long, steady flatlands afterwards should allow any dropped riders to get back on before the sprint/crosswind carnage in Valence. 

TdF 2021 Stage 10 map.jpg

 

06 July 2021, 07:49
"Wrong road!": Shocked Scots spot cyclist spinning along motorway

Watch this in full screen because of the way Facebook videos come across and get the volume on for some prime Scottish entertainment. These cyclists riding on motorway stories are surprisingly common but are normally just grainy CCTV footage or a snap from a police force, not with this full commentary from a pair of bemused Scots.

"What ya doin! It's a motorway yur on! Ya aff yur f***** heid?!"

"Wrong road? Absolutely!"

And while we can't condone riding down the motorway, slowing down for a chat with said rider is probably to be avoided too...although we were glad to see the phone recording return to the passenger side at the end.

One thing seems likely...that cyclist won't be taking that route again, if only to avoid getting another scolding...

Back in April, a drunk cyclist who was caught riding along the M60 because he "wanted to visit his gran in hospital" was fined £100 for his actions.

Dan Alexander

Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Dan has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too.

Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously, when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace, or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family. Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way, he's a bit strange like that.

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14 comments

Avatar
brooksby | 3 years ago
3 likes

I wanna tell you a story.  Just a little anecdote that really p!$$ed me off last night, and I wanted to share it with you good folks.

Riding home, going along Park Row in Bristol and heading toward the Triangle (posts complaining about by me are many).

The first protected path was miraculously clear so I used it.

The second one, starting by the kebab shop on the corner of Park Street Avenue, see here - https://goo.gl/maps/j18x9Smw67rLA1537 - had entry to it blocked by a bloke sitting in his SUV with the motor running.

Since the traffic lights are about a hundred metres ahead and I wanted to be in the right-hand lane there so I could go round the Triangle and up toward Clifton, I exercised my right not to ride in the protected lane.

A few seconds later a Smart Car (one of the little boxy two-seater ones) came whizzing past me, very close, maybe fifteen metres before he had to stop for the lights.  I used a hand signal (palm up, universal signal for WTAF).  As I moved level to go past him into the ASL he opened his window:

"What?"

"Bit close there, don't you think?"

"I'm a cyclist myself (yes - he really said it!), and don't you think you should have been in the cycle lane?"

"Why? The end of it was blocked by a bloke in his car, and I needed to be here in this lane in less than a hundred metres, so I didn't want to slalom in and out of the wands..."

"Huh - I would have thought you'd be able to manoeuvre properly by now..."

I spluttered, turned away and tried to think happy thoughts.

Now, in hindsight, five minutes later, I realised what I should have said.

What I should have replied, when he opened with "I'm a cyclist myself" was "Then you should know better than to close pass someone like that, shouldn't you?"

Avatar
OnYerBike | 3 years ago
9 likes

Anyone believe the uber eats rider was going "above and beyond" out of choice? Or is it more likely if they hadn't delivered the food, not only would they have not been paid for that delivery, they would probably have been charged the price of the undelivered food and Uber Eat's algorithms would have seen to it that they never got sent on another job again...

Avatar
EddyBerckx replied to OnYerBike | 3 years ago
5 likes

OnYerBike wrote:

Anyone believe the uber eats rider was going "above and beyond" out of choice? Or is it more likely if they hadn't delivered the food, not only would they have not been paid for that delivery, they would probably have been charged the price of the undelivered food and Uber Eat's algorithms would have seen to it that they never got sent on another job again...

this

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to OnYerBike | 3 years ago
5 likes

More then likely he was leaving for work initially rather then delivering as it is a cul-de-sac full of flats and he would have known it was flooded coming in. But the principle stays the same, he had to do it because he would have missed work and been flagged as unreliable on the Apps. 

Avatar
Hirsute | 3 years ago
4 likes

not a good idea to wade through flood water with bare feet.

Avatar
IanMK | 3 years ago
3 likes

That footage is obviously fake. The supposed Scottish bloke appears to be wearing the blue 1990 England World Cup 3rd strip. No way that ever happened.

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Captain Badger | 3 years ago
5 likes

Love this. Cyclist (who clearly is not familiar with road systems or how to use them) is met with torrent of aggression, abuse and scorn, in spite of (whilst in the wrong)  doing no discernable harm. 

Driver who kills someone either through negligence or spite: "Aww dude, could happen to anyone. You'll have to live with this for the rest of your life, you're of good character, you've lived a pristine life until this jekyl and hyde like change, you have my sympathy...."

The driver could of course been a bit more friendly and helpful.

Avatar
Kenbuterol replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
6 likes

Actually, that seems pretty friendly and concerned for a fellow citizen. Glasgow. 

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to Kenbuterol | 3 years ago
2 likes

Kenbuterol wrote:

Actually, that seems pretty friendly and concerned for a fellow citizen. Glasgow. 

i shall bow to your greater experience (welcome btw)

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EK Spinner replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
6 likes

As someone perhaps more familiar with the Glasgow venacular than Captain Badger, let me assure you there is no "torrent of aggression, abuse and scorn" here.

 

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to EK Spinner | 3 years ago
2 likes

EK Spinner wrote:

As someone perhaps more familiar with the Glasgow venacular than Captain Badger, let me assure you there is no "torrent of aggression, abuse and scorn" here.

 

As per my response to our esteemed colleague Kenbuterol

Avatar
Sniffer replied to EK Spinner | 3 years ago
3 likes

Yep. I heard that as concern for a fellow human being and terms of endearment.... Weegie style.

Avatar
Rendel Harris | 3 years ago
3 likes

As he's in a coned-off lane, isn't it possible he's a highways worker going to the work start point? There's machinery waiting up ahead.  He's not actually riding in an active car lane.

Avatar
EK Spinner replied to Rendel Harris | 3 years ago
3 likes

most definelty not the case, access to sites on motorways are carfully planned as part of the works, all staff should be in appropriate PPE already and will always travel onto site in suitable vehicles. On the trunk road network these thins are planned like a military exercises.

He maybe isn't in an active car lane, but he is in the outside lane, so he has had to cross at least one live motroway lane to get there

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