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Live blog: Video: Wout van Aert on his recovery as he prepares to leave Pau hospital; UCI launch Ride and smile campaign; Wiggins back on moto at TdF in his inimitable style; Specialized launch new tubeless tyre at Tour + more

All today's news from the site and beyond.....
22 July 2019, 17:39
Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi (licensed CC BY 3.0 on Wikimedia by Midori).JPG
Olympic test event takes peloton into shadow of Mount Fuji

While most cycling fans’ eyes were on the Tour de France this weekend, over in the Far East there was a taster of next year’s Olympic road race in Tokyo as 96 riders took part in the test event.

At 180.22 kilometres, the course from Musashino-no-mori Park to Fuji International Speedway os shorter than the 243 kilometres where the battle for Olympic gold will be fought next year.

The race was won by Italy’s Diego Ulisse, with his compatriot Davide Formolo second and Frances Nans Peters third – with Great Britain’s Matt Holmes finishing just off the podium, the Madison-Genesis rider finishing fourth.

Organisers designed a course they hope will suit the puncheurs – though we’ll have to wait till next year to see the likes of current Olympic champion Greg van Avermaet and Peter Sagan tackle it.

UCI president David Lappartient said: “The challenging and spectacular road race courses at Tokyo 2020 will provide a true test for the best cyclists in the world.

“Taking in iconic tourist attractions such as the Fuji Five Lakes region, the routes will also guarantee an exciting spectacle for fans lining the roadside and spectators worldwide watching the breathtaking images on television.”

22 July 2019, 16:49
Wout van Aert out of Pau hospital after Tour de France crash

Wout van Aert will leave the hospital in Pau tomorrow where he has been treated following his crash during Friday's individual time trial at the Tour de France.

The Belgian's Jumbo-Visma team said: "In co-operation with the team and the management of Van Aert, Eurocross will transfer the two times stage winner (including the TTT) to a hospital that co-operates with Team Jumbo-Visma.

"Last Friday, Van Aert underwent a successful operation during which his wound was cleaned and stitched. The drains were removed on Sunday, which means the wound has stabilised and everything is going as expected. The priority is to prevent infections. The precise impact of the crash on the muscles will have to be determined later."

In the video below, van Aert talks about his recovery.

22 July 2019, 16:13
UCI launch 'Ride and Smile' campaign

The UCI want us to be much cheerier than Alaphilippe was in the mountains yesterday, with the gist of the campaign's message being that cycling is positive in every way, for sport, leisure or simply for getting from A to B. UCI President David Lappartient says: “Around the world there are 2 billion people that cycle. With the campaign we have launched today we are looking to encourage every cyclist to ride more and to grow cycling’s popularity on the five continents, in line with the UCI’s Agenda 2022, one of the objectives of which is to increase the appeal of our sport. We know that cycling helps improve people’s quality of life, is environmentally friendly, and has a beneficial effect on their health. It is also an activity that brings joy to people and makes them smile, which is what the Ride and Smile campaign aims to highlight.”

22 July 2019, 16:04
Wiggins back on the moto at the Tour de France in his own inimitable style
22 July 2019, 16:01
British rider James Knox signs up for another two years with Deceuninck-Quick Step
22 July 2019, 11:22
A day in the life of a beleaguered e-bike food courier in New York

From the traffic-dodging, to the long hours to the terrible pay, this undercover report about life as an Uber Eats e-bike courier in the New York Times is a fascinating and frustrating read. Takeaway stat: "Nearly a third of delivery cyclists missed work because of on-the-job injuries last year, one survey found, and at least four delivery riders or bike messengers have been killed in crashes with cars this year. Riders on electric bikes face fines and confiscation, though that may change."

22 July 2019, 11:57
The best use of this FaceApp fad we've seen yet

Yes it's already been done to death, but to be fair Viviani has been busting a gut at the Tour for the last couple of weeks and this is funnier than your average. 

22 July 2019, 11:28
Erm...

We're sure Froomey will be encouraging his teammates, particularly the one who has taken over his role as team leader, in private. Probably... 

22 July 2019, 12:02
The Tour goes tyre-mad for the second rest day - Specialized reveal new tubeless Turbo RapidAir tyres have been used in secret by Quick-Step riders
specialized turboair 2, from instagram

The second rest day is here, and Specialized have used the break in proceedings to reveal that some of the Spesh-sponsored Deceuninck–Quick-Step and Bora-Hansgrohe riders have actually been using a brand new tubeless race tyre called the Turbo RapidAir for this Tour. They unveiled the tyres in Nimes at the Deceuninck – Quick-Step press conference today, while also celebrating Julian Alaphilippe’s remarkable run in yellow. 

They claim it seals super fast and has best-in-class rolling resistance, and boldy predict that the age of the tubular tyre is finished: "The tubular predates the rear derailleur. It’s outlived steel and alloy—it’s reigned supreme in the era of carbon and aerodynamics. No more. 100 years at the top is long enough. Turbo RapidAir combines the best of what we knew clinchers could deliver, like low rolling resistance and ease-of-use, while exceeding the ride quality and handling demands of the best riders in the world. The future belongs to Turbo RapidAir." 

conti tdf edition competition tyre

...try telling that to Continental, who on the same day have launched a limited edition Competition tubular tyre to celebrate 100 years of the yellow jersey. Unlike their Pro Ltd tyre this one will be available to the public in limited numbers, with 3,460 available worldwide at an RPP of 106 euros. 

22 July 2019, 11:21
Review: Gocycle GX
Gocycle GX -35

Head over to eBikeTips for the review of this electric folder, which might just be one of the smartest around... 

22 July 2019, 10:58
Hunt unveils "the world's fastest aero-tested alloy disc-brake wheels"
HUNT-34-Aero-Wide-Disc-Rim

The new 34 Aero Wide Disc is the world’s fastest aero-tested alloy disc-brake wheelset, according to. Get all the deets here.

22 July 2019, 10:16
Wout van Aert helps Jumbo-Visma on the Tourmalet ... from his hospital bed

Wout van Aert may have been forced to abandon the Tour de France after crashing during Friday's individual time trial - but on Saturday, he was with his Jumbo-Visma team-mates in spirit as they climbed the Tourmalet, and even provided an invaluable service by relaying what was happening on the road to the team's management, who had no TV coverage in the team car.

A true "team player" as Jumbo-Visma coach Grischa Niermann put it. "Gelost" means "dropped," but you probably worked that out.

22 July 2019, 10:00
Watch Phil Liggett's touching tribute to Paul Sherwen

Phil Liggett has made a touching tribute to his friend and fellow commentator Paul Sherwen, the pro cyclist turned TV pundit with whom he covered 33 editions of the Tour de France and who died last December at the age of 62.

Aired on ITV last week, if you missed it there you can now watch it on YouTube.

22 July 2019, 08:13
Matlock man attempting to break 132-year-old penny farthing LEJOG record begins day three

Teacher Richard Thoday set off on his challenge to better the mark of 5 days, 1 hour and 45 minutes set by a teenager in 1887 over the weekend, and has just started day three. Thoday's live tracker shows he is currently between Lancaster and Preston, and has hit all the planned checkpoints on the route so far. On his Justgiving page, where he is raising money for Children in Need, Thoday says: "I love riding the penny farthing as it makes people smile and talk. It brings people together. I want to help BBC Children in Need as it helps to bring a smile to faces of children who are having a hard time in life and need a helping hand. Hopefully my ride can help them."

Check out the fundraising page here, and of course we'll be keeping an eye to see if one of cycling's longest-standing records will fall in the next couple of days... 

22 July 2019, 08:09
"I think they were booing you mate"

Bennett got more banter than he bargained for while trying to show support for G following the alleged booing on th Tourmelet! 

22 July 2019, 08:02
Aspirational...
22 July 2019, 07:54
Cycling commentator? Here's a Twitter account for you...

Well it turns out we've done a better job of pronouncing 'Fuglsang' than some TV commentators (who we won't name here) for an upcoming tech video on roa.cc's YouTube channel. See also how to pronounce Katarzyna "Kasia" Niewiadoma and Toms Skujiņš if you really want to nail some of the most mis-pronounced names in cycling...

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.  

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3 comments

Avatar
Must be Mad | 4 years ago
2 likes

I saw Richard on his Penny Farthing on his way through Cornwall on Saturday. I knew it must be a Lejog record attempt, as there is no other reason to be riding a Penny Farthing down the A30.
 

I was going the other way at the time, but Chapeau!

Avatar
lesterama replied to Must be Mad | 4 years ago
0 likes

Must be Mad wrote:

I saw Richard on his Penny Farthing on his way through Cornwall on Saturday. I knew it must be a Lejog record attempt, as there is no other reason to be riding a Penny Farthing down the A30.
 

I was going the other way at the time, but Chapeau!

 

Can't believe he isn't using a disc.

Avatar
CygnusX1 | 4 years ago
1 like

Chapeau, Richard Thoday! Good luck with the rest of your LEJOG.

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