Stagecoach apologises after disabled cyclist harassed by driver for not using cycle lane; Paris "unrecognisable" as cycling hotspot; Van Aert: Remco didn't stick to plan at world champs; Roubaix on-bike highlights; Women's Tour TT + more on the live blog

A long shot… did anyone pick up a Garmin 130 at the first right hand corner 3km in to today’s @thewomenstour ITT? @JossyLowden’s fell off 🤦🏼‍♂️ #MissingGarmin #Oops pic.twitter.com/B0ULoX03Xr

— Dan Bigham (@DanBiggles22) October 6, 2021

Hour Record holder needs better Garmin holder... 

Casper and I are excited to announce that we are expecting our first child! We can’t believe how lucky we are and are so excited to start the next part of our lives together. pic.twitter.com/EA18pw8gWb

— Elinor Barker (@elinorbarker) October 5, 2021

Elinor Barker, who won silver as part of GB's team pursuit squad in Tokyo, has said she was pregnant when she won her latest Olympic medal. The 27-year-old announced the news on social media..."We can't believe how lucky we are and are so excited to start the next part of our lives together. And for the eagle-eyed among you who have done the maths... yep, I was pregnant at the Tokyo Olympics."

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Tim Declercq (@tim_declercq)

Tim Declercq joked "everybody knows I'm not a fast sprinter", sharing the news of his graduation from Vrije Universiteit Brussel at 32 years of age. The Tractor presumably had a train of grateful classmates behind who he'd towed through the course...

Just two days after Roubaix, a scrubbed up Declercq wrote on Instagram: "Everybody knows I’m not a fast sprinter so it took me 30 years to complete my academic career. As my thinning hairline is hidden I could say it kept me everlasting young, but I suppose that’s only on the inside. Still a little bit proud to complete my master Physical Education and Kinesiology Training & Coaching."

Cycling UK and OS Maps have partnered to encourage more people to discover and enjoy the outdoors more responsibly. As part of the work they've made a short film about wild camping, featuring the youngest woman to cycle solo around the world, Vedangi Kulkarni.

She said: "One of the horror stories of the past year and a bit has been of how people have headed to some of this island’s most beautiful locations, spent a magical time overnight, and then just left it in a complete tip."

The video offers advice on where to camp, how to go to the toilet responsibly and picking up rubbish to leave the countryside in a better state than you found it.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Wout van Aert (@woutvanaert)

Wout van Aert has addressed Belgium's tactics at the World Championships, a home race he was favourite to win. Van Aert ultimately finished 11th, meaning Jasper Stuyven was the Belgians' best-placed rider, just off the podium in fourth. Van Aert spoke to Sporza's podcast and questioned Remco Evenepoel's decision to attack so early on in the race.

"It was absolutely not the tactics of the team or the national coach to use Remco so early. He himself chose to attack so early, that early was for [Yves] Lampaert or [Victor] Campenaerts. Because Remco was at the front, they were never able to carry out their task," Van Aert explained.

"It's important that we talk about this again. We will still be in selections together. Remco contacted me, but that was quite short. No major steps have been taken to clear it up, but that will come. Communication is important in every relationship and Remco still has to take steps in that regard.

"What happened at the World Championships will linger, but as a person you have to be forgiving. Otherwise you will make life very difficult. For me, this does not stand in the way of racing together later."

Prior to the race, legend of the sport Eddy Merckx questioned why Evenepoel had been included if the team's goal was to ride 100 per cent for Van Aert. One other spot of Wout news...after Roubaix he confirmed he'd be taking a long break before cyclocross season, so might be returning to action later than in previous years. His perennial rival, Mathieu van der Poel, last week said he'd be beginning his cross campaign in December.

This is Paris, today. In a very short space of time, the city has built temporary infrastructure enabling 1 million daily cycle journeys. If you haven’t visited in a while, some parts are unrecognisable.

Imagine if every person cycling here decided to jump in a car instead. pic.twitter.com/L7jIHVTXWt

— Adam Tranter (@adamtranter) October 4, 2021

Videos from Paris have become a staple of the live blog as the French capital has been transformed into a cycling hotspot thanks to infrastructure first installed in response to a public transport strike two winters ago. The pandemic saw those first lanes enlarged to cope with increased demand. Now, six-in-ten users are new cyclists and, as Adam Tranter points out above, the infra enables one million daily cycle journeys. 

Since election in 2014, the city's mayor Anne Hidalgo has invested more than €150m and aims to double the number of bike lanes.

British brand Velobici has just dropped its new Modernist Thermal collection, with men’s and women’s Thermal Jerseys (£200), Thermal Bib Shorts (£190) and Thermal Baselayers (£65) available. 

"We’ve used a soft and breathable midweight VB/Pro TI1 fabric that provides thermal regulation and four-way stretch for a perfect fit and complete comfort," says Velobici. "The fabric is made from two knitted layers that trap air to enhance the body’s natural thermoregulation." A DWR treatment has also been added to repel water and the close weave should keep the cold air out.

Velobici just received a £400,000 funding boost from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund and says it plans to use the investment to bolster its workforce and facilitate a move to a new sustainably powered factory as it works towards becoming a fully sustainable operation. 

Hi @StagecoachGM

I'm a disabled cyclist. AGAIN today on Oxford Rd one of your driver's harrassed me because I wasn't in the dedicated cycle lane.

My trike is to wide to safely use this lane & I use the road.

I stopped & explained this to your driver

1/ pic.twitter.com/d8U2ZxuZsC

— Harrie Larrington-Spencer (@tricyclemayor) October 4, 2021

Harrie Larrington-Spencer took to social media to highlight one of the many barriers that disabled people face when trying to cycle. As her trike is too wide to safely use the cycle lane on Oxford Road, Harrie rides in the road, sometimes attracting abuse from other motorists.

On Monday she detailed her second incident involving a Stagecoach bus driver where she was "harassed" for not using the bike lane. "My trike is too wide to safely use this lane and I use the road," Harrie explained on Twitter. "I stopped and explained this to your driver. He apparently didn't see a problem with his behaviour, didn't think his behaviour was rude and didn't apologise. There are already too many barriers for disabled people getting active, your drivers shouldn't be another one.

"I'd like a written apology from both yourselves and the driver and I'd like to know what you are going to do to educate your drivers. It's beginning to feel like targeted harassment by Stagecoach bus drivers every time I cycle anywhere."

@tricyclemayor Hi Harrie, please could you DM us confirming the time, exact location and detailing what happened/what the driver did so that we can investigate this for you? Thanks, K.

— Stagecoach Manchester & Wigan (@StagecoachGM) October 4, 2021

 In June, Harrie shared photos of another bus after the driver had beeped the horn at her for not riding in the cycle lane...

Hi @StagecoachGM

I'm disabled and I cycle a trike. I can't cycle safely in most segregated cycle lanes as they are too narrow.

Today this driver beeped at me for it.

All I want to do is cycle in the city without getting abuse.

Please can you have a word please? pic.twitter.com/Bnn5OCxjzR

— Harrie Larrington-Spencer (@tricyclemayor) June 23, 2021

After that incident Stagecoach said it would be reported to depot management who would conduct a full investigation and consult with the driver.