Live blog: Idiot shoots paintballs at World Naked Bike Ride cyclists; Rees-Mogg riding into cabinet position … on a penny-farthing? Cav double punctures at Isle of Man Gran Fondo as drawing pins strewn on road + more

Have you ever done paintball?
If so, you’ll know that even through the combat fatigues you’re issued with at the start of the day hurts, and leaves a bruise.
So pity the poor riders at the World Naked Bike Ride in St Louis, Missouri, this weekend who had to put up with this absolute bloody wanker firing paintballs at them …

Astana’s Jakob Fuglsang – third favourite to win the Tour de France at the start of the race in Brussels more than a fortnight ago – has been talking about the crash which forced him to abandon today, when he was lying 9th overall.

I’m really disappointed about leaving the Tour de France this way, but there was too much pain to continue.

Somebody crashed in front of me and there was no way to avoid it, so I crashed over my handlebar. My hand directly swelled up and I could barely stand on my feet, I directly knew my Tour would finish here.

I was very motivated for the final week and I was ready to battle for a higher position in the GC. That this has to be the way of missing out on this battle, is just very disappointing.

Now all the focus will be on recovering, both physically as mentally, because the Tour was a big goal after my wins in Liége and the Dauphiné.

Credit the Have I Got News For You Facebook page for the caption. 

On the subject of penny farthings, we reported on the man attempting to break the 132-year-old penny farthing LEJOG record - Richard Thoday is now well on track to break it, currently about 30 miles south of Inverness according to the live tracker. 

In the run up to Cycle to Work Day on 8th August Cyclescheme are running seven weeks of challenges with prizes to be won - week 4 is one for female cyclists, and with the latest research from Cycling UK suggesting female riders make up less than a third of all
UK cyclists, Cyclescheme are putting the spotlight on female riders. All you have to do is log a ride on the Cyclescheme Love to Ride community between the 22nd–28th July and you'll be entered into a prize draw to win a Trek FX Sport 4, worth £950 (pictured below). More info on Cyclescheme's website here. 

The peloton crossed the Pont du Gard 1'30" behind the breakaway, led by the sprinters' teams.
Le peloton a traversé le Pont du Gard 1'30" après l'échappée, mené par les équipes de sprinters.#TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/x6qdX0bSSy

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 23, 2019

Today's stage has the potential to be a second rest day for the GC riders. There's a group of five up the road with a 2'05" gap while the sprinter's teams control the peloton. 

Commence your snooze or get on with your job. We'll give you a poke if any crosswinds happen.

Besides the Roman sites in Nimes itself where the stage starts and finishes, there's also the incredible Pont du Gard aqueduct ...

You won't see anything more majestic today.

Vous ne verrez rien de plus majestueux aujourd'hui.#TDF2019 pic.twitter.com/W2dNrLFkHV

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 23, 2019

Mark Cavendish, left out of Team Dimension Data's line-up for the Tour de France (how's that working out, guys?) was back on his native Isle of Man at the weekend to ride its Gran Fondo - although his day out was marred by a double-puncture due to someone strewing drawing pins on the road.

Was loving @iomcyclefest yesterday. Savage route, smashing through with @calcrutchlow & blown away with the brilliant organisation.. (and the wind )

Until my ride (and others) was cut short because some miserable twat threw drawing pins on the road. There’s always one! pic.twitter.com/jVd9VpoFDC

— Mark Cavendish (@MarkCavendish) July 22, 2019

Home riders Nathan Draper and Sally Walker took the wins in the men's and women's events, respectively, while the third rider home in the men's event was the MotoGP ace Cal Crutchlow, who has a home on the island as well as Tuscany, where Cavendish also has his European base.

Watts Occurring? Episode three now live Loving the artwork @tootalldrisc

> https://t.co/EoRi53smIn pic.twitter.com/ZHHkSPNAIR

— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) July 23, 2019

Not sure the bodily proportions are quite right, but it's different I suppose... you can listen to episode three of the podcast here. 

We've been having a snoop at the latest odds, and Pinot is now the red hot favourite at 9/5 to win the Tour and therefore become the first Frenchman to do so since Bernard Hinault in 1985. 

Despite his stronger performance on stage 15 Geraint Thomas is quite far behind at 7/2, current leader Julian Alaphilippe is at 5/1 and Egan Bernal is 11/2 - do you reckon they've called it right?