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Live blog: Jess Varnish loses employment tribunal case, Wiggo does 10 year challenge… like a fine wine; West Mids cop does close pass challenge; More Campag 12-spd; Yorkshire UCI Road Worlds sportive; new Rapha shoes?; Sound of 80km/h on a bike + more

All today's cycling news from the site and beyond.....
16 January 2019, 19:17
Jess Varnish loses employment tribunal case against British Cycling

Jess Varnish, the former Olympic track sprinter, has lost her employment tribunal case in which she was seeking to prove that she was an employee of British Cycling and UK Sport at the time she was a funded athlete, rather than an independent contractor.

Sky Sports News reports that a short statement issued this evening by her management, which said: "Judgement was received at 1700 today and it has been found that Jess Varnish was neither an employee or a worker of either British Cycling or UK Sport."

Had Varnish, who is due to give birth to her first child this week, won the case, she would have been free to pursue a claim for unfair dismissal in relation to being dropped from the Olympic Podium Programme in 2016.

A decision in her favour had been expected to have profound implications for the way Olympic athletes across all sports are funded.  

Read our full report here

16 January 2019, 18:24
What's he pointing at? Yet another Campag Super Record EPS 12-spd sighting

There's no escaping Campagnolo's 12 cog at the moment. This time it's courtesy of Campagnolo and UAE Team Emirates - at the Santos Tour Down Under. Shouldn't he really be pointing at the bike? Anyway at this rate there isn't going to be much point in Jack going to the official launch in a few weeks… only joking Jack. 

16 January 2019, 17:13
It's never too late to start riding...
16 January 2019, 17:12
16 January 2019, 16:40
No.

16 January 2019, 16:23
Cycle route on Wigan's busiest junction opened by Chris Boardman

The vision of Greater Manchester's Cycling and Walking Commissioner is slowly being realised, with this new cycle scheme in Wigan now up and running. 

 

 

16 January 2019, 16:17
16 January 2019, 16:06
Storck Aerfast_Pro (1)
Storck now selling direct in the UK with new website

It's now a whole lot easier to get hold of a Storck bike in Blighty, as the German brand have just launched their UK website, selling directly. The full range is stocked, and you can make orders from tomorrow - click here to have a look. 

16 January 2019, 15:44
16 January 2019, 13:18
Yorkshire 2019 UCI Road World Championships logo
Sportive launched as part of 2019 Road World Championships, with 5,000 set to take part in Yorkshire

In what could be the most highly anticipated sportive of 2019, the Human Race have today officially announced a mass participation ride will take place before the pro world champs on the 22nd September 2019. Starting and finishing in Harrogate, the course will take in the Yorkshire Dales and will give cyclists the chance to ride the same route as the pros before they battle it out for the world title. 

A big demand is expected for the 5,000 tickets, and a ballot will open on the 4th March. You can register your interest now on the official event website, and if you're ballot entry is successful ticket allocation will be on the 20th March. There are three routes to choose from, with the longest at 145km, the middle diatance at 98km and the short route 72km. 

It's the first time the worlds have taken place in the UK for 37 years, therefore this sportive could be a "once in a lifetime opportunity" according to Human Race CEO Nick Rusling. 

16 January 2019, 12:48
unnamed
Wilier's full carbon Jena gravel bike now available to buy

The Jena was launched in late 2018, and you can now get your hands on one at your nearest dealer or various online shops. Designed with Wilier's racing-comfort geometry, the Jena is supposed to be easy-handling and reactive and adaptable to multiple types of riding. A slacker head tube angle and a rear triangle optimised to absorb shock add to the comfort, and tyre clearance is up to 44mm on a 700c wheel and up to 48mm on a 650b. 12mm thru-axles and a removable front derailleur bracket to run 1x completes the package - head over to Wilier's website for more info.  

Jena / Free to choose from Wilier Triestina on Vimeo.

16 January 2019, 12:39
Vittoria Bussi's record-breaking hour captured in new video

Bussi's helmet and clothing sponsor Endura have just released this video showing how she broke the women's UCI hour record back in October. 

16 January 2019, 12:22
New Rapha shoes?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Because there hasn't been much on the socials this week from @rapha we thought we'd throw in the spy shots of their new kicks, spotted on @lachlanmorton by the keen eyed Andy of @fameandspear and @bikeradar There's a cut in the lateral forefoot region that unless it's due to Morton upsetting a koala (they have epic claws) we can only assume is to ease some pressure from swelling. We're on the hunt for more shots and will feature them again once we have more details (and less damage) on them. Side note, if you're not already check out Andy's account @fameandspear The guy takes some sensational shots and had a great coverage of the women's TdU. • • • • • #velokicks l #cycling l #cyclingshoes l #newshoesday l #cycling l #velo l #bici l #ciclismo l #roadracing l #roadcycling l #instabike l #instacycle l #cyclingpics l #bikestagram l #cyclingkit l #kitspiration l #kitdoping l #bestcyclingkits l #bicicleta l #rideyourbike l #cyclelife l #cyclingstyle l #hypekicks l #hypekit l #bikeshoeart l #cyclingsnob l #rapha l #rapharcc l #raphaclimbershoes

A post shared by Velo Kicks cycling shoes (@velokicks) on

These were spotted on the feet of Lachlan Morton at the Tour Down Under. They don't come with a tear on them as far as we know, and those laces are very unusual. If they're definitely a thing, we'll be keen to see the production versions... Although, as Harrogate Spa points out in the comments below the most likely explanation is that the shoes have been deliberately slit at the sides because they are too narrow and the laces have been done up like that because the shoes don't fit. So maybe not a new thing after all. No doubt we'll find out soon enough.

16 January 2019, 09:00
The sound of 80 Km/h on a bike… Brilliant, but also pretty terrifying..

Ever wondered what a peloton sounds like coming past at over 80km/h? Check out this hairy clip from the Tour Down Under...

16 January 2019, 09:45
Tour Down Under Stage 2 highlights

Another shortened stage because of the heat – it's been 42° in Adelaide this week – and another flat one for the sprinters. Could Elia Viviani make it two from two? Find out below...

16 January 2019, 08:55
Bradley Wiggins reveals the toll athletic endeavours have taken on his appearance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thought I’d jump on the band wagon! #10yearchallenge

A post shared by Sir Wiggo (@bradwiggins) on

The Ten Year Challenge has been sweeping social media recently, and Wiggo decided to get in on the act... What can we say, it's tougher at the top than it looks.

16 January 2019, 09:03
West Midlands Police carry out Operation Close Pass in full uniform... and are still close passed

The West Midlands Police reported in this Twitter post that the officer was even beeped at by one driver who said he "shouldn't be in the middle of the road" - to which they said the evidence will be "interesting in court". WMP also caught plenty of driver's failing to stop at crossings for pedestrians.

16 January 2019, 08:50
Jeremy Vine films couple's charming ride through London

Britain's foremost cycling-friendly broadcaster caught this on his action cam during the morning commute. 

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

Add new comment

11 comments

Avatar
hawkinspeter | 5 years ago
3 likes

Now they know how many potholes it takes to fill the Albert Hall.

Avatar
HarrogateSpa | 5 years ago
0 likes

Those shoes don't fit properly, so he has deliberately cut them at the point where they are too narrow. I've done the same to my cycling shoes. He's added the laces to try to keep a tight fit.

Avatar
Legs_Eleven_Wor... | 5 years ago
4 likes

It doesn't really matter whether the cyclist is a policeman or not, because the British driver knows that the sanction is going to be relatively light.  In no other sphere of life of which I'm aware, can you in effect deliberately (or negligently) come within inches of killing another person (or crippling him or her for life), and still expect to receive a £100 fine.  

The oft-cited example is to compare what would happen to you if you indiscriminately fired a handgun into the crowd, whilst walking down Oxford Street.  The drivers' rebuttal is that firearms are illegal in the UK whilst cars are not, and also, that the purpose of a firearm is in fact to kill, unlike motor vehicles.

Well, quite.  So let's take the example of an object that is not designed to kill, the ownership or possession of which is entirely legal.  I dunno.. a frozen turkey.  Buy a turkey, walk down the street swinging it above your head, yelling at people to get out of the way.  What will happen?  You will be arrested, make the front papers of probably every tabloid in the country, and will receive either a hefty fine, or else a short custodial sentence.   If you actually hit and injure someone, that time spent at Her Majesty's pleasure will be appropriately lengthened.

Only in the context of the motor car, is the offender dealt with, with such indulgence.   

Avatar
burtthebike replied to Legs_Eleven_Worcester | 5 years ago
3 likes

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

It doesn't really matter whether the cyclist is a policeman or not, because the British driver knows that the sanction is going to be relatively light.  In no other sphere of life of which I'm aware, can you in effect deliberately (or negligently) come within inches of killing another person (or crippling him or her for life), and still expect to receive a £100 fine.  

The oft-cited example is to compare what would happen to you if you indiscriminately fired a handgun into the crowd, whilst walking down Oxford Street.  The drivers' rebuttal is that firearms are illegal in the UK whilst cars are not, and also, that the purpose of a firearm is in fact to kill, unlike motor vehicles.

Well, quite.  So let's take the example of an object that is not designed to kill, the ownership or possession of which is entirely legal.  I dunno.. a frozen turkey.  Buy a turkey, walk down the street swinging it above your head, yelling at people to get out of the way.  What will happen?  You will be arrested, make the front papers of probably every tabloid in the country, and will receive either a hefty fine, or else a short custodial sentence.   If you actually hit and injure someone, that time spent at Her Majesty's pleasure will be appropriately lengthened.

Only in the context of the motor car, is the offender dealt with, with such indulgence.   

Bloody whingeing cyclists!  Look, we've promised you a thorough review of road law, in 2014, and we've actually done the bit about blaming cyclists, so just shut up will you.angel

Avatar
Hirsute | 5 years ago
2 likes

These drivers must have thought they were in west sussex or gloucestershire

Avatar
grumpyoldcyclist replied to Hirsute | 5 years ago
0 likes

hirsute wrote:

These drivers must have thought they were in west sussex or gloucestershire

 

or Cheshire perhaps?

Avatar
bike_food | 5 years ago
3 likes

Least I know what to do now to get my videos of close passes looked into, application for police force in the post.

Avatar
mrchrispy | 5 years ago
5 likes

Some drivers (generally gammons) really do not give an actual about how dangerous it can be.
I had to take a lane to avoiding some rather extreme pot holes this morning and some old gammon insisted on squeezing past despite standing traffic 50m ahead.  Politely (it was hard) asked him why so close and didn’t he see the potholes, his reply...... "yes he saw them and he hopes I die".

Probably still angry over brexit.

 

Avatar
Kendalred | 5 years ago
9 likes

Jeez - if plod in full uniform are being close-passed then we are well and truly knackered.

Avatar
PRSboy replied to Kendalred | 5 years ago
8 likes

Kendalred wrote:

Jeez - if plod in full uniform are being close-passed then we are well and truly knackered.

Indeed.  A driver who not only close passes (to whom you might give the benefit of the doubt and say they are simply incompetent or ignorant) but actually beeps at a policeman and criticises them shows a whole new level of stupidity and aggression.

Avatar
Organon replied to Kendalred | 5 years ago
4 likes

Kendalred wrote:

Jeez - if plod in full uniform are being close-passed then we are well and truly knackered.

Maybe the motorist though it was a 'POLITE NOTICE.'

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