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BBC accused of bias over helmet campaign on Crimewatch Roadshow; Tour de France BLM gesture "embarrassing", says Wiggins; Cargo bike "best thing we ever bought", says Jason Kenny; "I'm not dead", says baffled bike shop owner + more on the live blog

Welcome to Monday's live blog. Jack Sexty is in charge as we kick off the week, with Simon MacMichael taking over later this evening...
21 September 2020, 16:26
This week's helmet row: BBC face backlash for segment featuring guest campaigning for mandatory cycle helmets on Crimewatch Roadshow

The BBC are facing questions over their impartiality policy, after a discussion about mandatory helmet use on episode 11 of the Crimewatch Roadshow that aired this morning. 

Around 15 minutes into the episode, a segment is introduced from a police training centre near Bristol, in which an officer talks about bike theft and how the public can better protect their bikes from thieves. Around three and a half minutes later, the subject suddenly shifts to cycling accidents and the risk of injury, introducing 'former detective' David Baker who is campaigning to make helmets compulsory after suffering a serious accident. 

As Baker shows the presenter Rav Wilding a campaign poster from Headway, featuring the slogan 'protect your melon' and an image of a smashed watermelon alongside a helmeted one, Wilding says: "It’s very very simple, but very very clear what you are getting across there, the fact that if you put this helmet on, you will protect your own melon.”

“A really really powerful image and a great campaign.”

In his article on the programme for Forbes, Carlton Reid claims that the segment breached the BBC's impartiality guidelines, because Wilding was "editorialising" by backing the Headway campaign and failing to challenge Baker's calls for mandatory helmet use. Reid and Wilding exchanged messages on Twitter, with Reid saying that he had made an official complaint. 

Earlier this week, Chris Boardman was criticised for not wearing a helmet in a segment on cycling in lockdown during ITV4's Tour de France coverage. Following the social media backlash, Boardman said: "I’m so sad that riding a bike looking like this is so upsetting to people. It’s happening just a few hundred miles from us, and I think it’s quite wonderful."

21 September 2020, 16:06
"It just captured everything that is wrong with the way we should be travelling": Cumbria's bicycle mayor slams parked cars on cycle routes and calls for "sea change" in how roads are used
richard ingham  - via barrow borough council.PNG

Richard Ingham, who has served as Cumbria's bicycle mayor for a year, made his comments after claiming that Botchergate, one of the main routes into Carlisle city centre, is unsafe for cyclists, caused by cars parked in the cycle lane and heavy congestion. 

Mr Ingham told News and Star: "It's double yellow lines and there's a cycle lane there - though the lane itself is substandard. 

"Practically every parking rule in the Highway Code is being broken, and they get broken every single day.

"There's a lack of consideration among some road users. We need to remember that it's not my road, it's our road.

"It just captured everything that is wrong with the way we should be travelling. It showed why we can't travel more actively." 

He also pointed out that there had been 11 cyclist and 42 pedestrian casualties on this road alone between 2015-2019, saying his 'heart would be in his mouth' if his children were cycling on the road.

Making a wider point about the need for travel habits to change in the UK, Mr Ingham added: "There is no option but to change the way we travel.

"Switching to what you would call 'active modes' of transport, such as cycling and walking, would provide the answer to so many of the nation's problems.

"We're an unfit nation as a whole; obesity is a rising issue; but also, overuse of the car is also contributing to worse air quality in our streets. We know what sort of damage that does to people, particularly children."

21 September 2020, 17:09
"Preliminary investigation" reportedly opened into doping at the 2020 Tour de France

Following the news that Nairo Quintana's hotel room was raided by police during the final week of the Tour de France, a wider investigation is about to take place according to the AFP news agency in France - will this affect standings as the investigation unravels?

21 September 2020, 16:22
Slightly more affordable new kicks from the Italians
21 September 2020, 15:50
Cyclist falls into river in Murcia
river segura - via wikimedia commons.PNG

The 60-year-old cyclist reportedly fell into the River Segura in Molina, Murcia accidentally, suffering trauma to the head. Euro Weekly report that the man managed to pull himself out with the help of others, before he was taken to a local hospital nearby. 

21 September 2020, 14:11
Thief sold a £5,000 bike for £70
Bike thief

34-year-old Robert Bielby crept into a house in Wordsworth Street in east Hull and stole two bicycles, one worth £5,000 and the other £3,000... and after selling the more expensive bike for just £70, it turns out that Bielby believed the bikes belonged to his brother, who was a lodger at the property and owed him around £120.

Hull Live report that the actual owners of the bikes discovered they were gone the same evening and called the police, then managed to track down the person who had bought the £5,000 bike for £70 on Facebook. 

Prosecuting barrister Paul Genney said: “The defendant was arrested and when interviewed by police he told them he took them because his brother owed him £120 and didn’t realise the value of the bikes, thinking they belonged to his brother.”

Daffyd Enoch QC said Bielby was “quite lucky” to be sentenced for theft instead of burglary, as he was given a three month suspended prison sentence and ten days of rehabilitation activity. 

21 September 2020, 14:00
"I'm not dead", says West Yorkshire bike shop owner after bizarre rumours of his demise circulate in local area

A number of Kendell Cycles customers have been left looking like they've seen a ghost recently, after rumours circulating around the town of Castleford led some to believe that its owner Gary Proud was dead... only for them to be greeted by Mr Proud when they popped into the shop to offer their condolences to his wife. 

Mr Proud told the Pontefract and Castleford Express: "I had an old school buddy come in recently who thought I’d died, and on the same day we had somebody from Squires come in. My brother was speaking to someone and even they were saying it’s a shame about the bloke in the bike shop!

“I’m finding it quite funny but I think it’s upsetting people now. I have no idea where it came from. It seems to have gathered pace and it’s getting a bit disturbing.

“People are coming into the shop to see my wife and then see me, and look like they’ve seen a ghost.

“I don’t want to make light of it because a lot of people have died from Covid-19 but I have to laugh."

The very much alive 58-year-old has run Kendell Cycles for more than 40 years, and was an elite cyclist in his youth. He is also the current captain of Featherstone Road Club. 

21 September 2020, 12:24
Jason Kenny praises the Tern GSD as the best thing his family have ever bought

It was certainly good enough for Dave Atkinson in his review of the original Tern GSD over on our sister site eBikeTips, calling it "the most useful bike I’ve ever ridden"... and now this e-cargo machine has got a multiple Olympic gold medal-winning seal of approval from Jason and Laura Kenny. 

Originally posted to Laura's Instagram account and shared by Coventry's bicycle mayor Adam Tranter, the senior Kennys are riding the GSD while their son Albie scoots along on a balance bike beside them on a bridleway.

The caption says: "This week is European Mobility Week. It's time to change the way you move. This week I challenge you to go to work while working out!" 

21 September 2020, 10:40
"The worst display of solidarity I've ever seen at the Tour de France": Bradley Wiggins labels BLM recognition from Tour organisers "embarrassing"
bradley wiggins blm comments - via instagram.PNG

The 2012 Tour de France winner has made his feelings known on the Tour's alleged lack of support for the Black Lives Matter movement, in a short video clip uploaded to his Instagram account

Wiggins said: "That was the worst display of solidarity I've ever seen at the Tour de France. Embarrassing. 

"They can come up with something a bit better than that. All a bit late in the day as well."

As mentioned further down the page, the only public display in support of BLM at the Tour de France came on stage 21, as some riders chose to wear masks with 'Black Lives Matter' written on them in pen. This was reportedly organised by B&B Hotels–Vital Concept rider Kevin Reza, with the official Tour de France Twitter account sharing a photo, but otherwise contributing nothing towards the cause. 

Sir Bradley himself was accused of "casual racism" two weeks ago, when he said live on Eurosport that Irishman Sam Bennett could almost be 'considered British'. Sean Kelly was not amused, telling Wiggins that "you're not going to claim him".  Wiggins then appeared to mock Kelly's accent, saying: "We spoke to him [Bennett] at the Vuelta last year when he came on our show, and at least we can understand what he’s saying. We can’t really understand what you’re saying Sean, can we?”

21 September 2020, 10:08
Pogacar's 'supporting role' went well then

As spotted by Eurosport and GCN presenter Dan Lloyd, it was thought Pogacar would be rocking up to the 2020 Tour de France in support of Fabio Aru... as it happens Aru capitulated on stage 9, and the rest was history. 

There was someone who got their predictions right - albeit with a fair bit more hindsight than news reporters had in 2019 - with Chris Froome telling ITV how he believed that Roglic was likely to "tail off" at the pointy end of the race. It's almost like winning the thing four times has given him some extra expert insight...

21 September 2020, 09:29
Sam Bennett comments on photo of Bennett congratulating Bennett while Bennett is on screen

The Irishman added another layer to this observation from 'Cycling out of context', after he was congratulated on his green jersey victory by Jumbo-Visma's George Bennett. 

21 September 2020, 08:51
"Not good enough": Tour de France organisers slammed over lack of action on racial equality, as riders organise their own show of support for the Black Lives Matter movement

While the Black Lives Matter movement has been arguably the biggest story of 2020 other than the pandemic, cycling has been noticeably quiet on the issue of racial equality compared to other sports; and as cycling clearly has a lack of diversity in the peloton, with Kevin Reza being the only black rider at this year's Tour de France, some are disappointed that the organisers haven't gone further to highlight the issues.  

As it turns out, it's thought a handful of riders themselves decided to wear masks with the Black Lives Matter slogan on before stage 21 yesterday, with no official backing from the organisers other than the above Tweet sent out yesterday. The tweet also attracted some unsavoury comments as you'll see above, further demonstrating how the sport's diversity problem trickles down to its fans. 

What steps do you think need to be taken to attract more diversity in professional cycling? Thoughts in the comments as always... 

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

43 comments

Avatar
eburtthebike | 3 years ago
1 like

Made a complaint about the Crimewatch helmet item, and received a rapid response;

"Thank you for contacting us about Crimewatch Roadshow Live, broadcast 21st September 2020, with your concern about the item on cycling helmets.

Crimewatch Roadshow Live reports on a range of serious crimes and appeals which are relevant to our audiences. This item did not endorse any campaign, but highlighted a very personal point of view from a former police officer who believes wearing a bicycle helmet saved his life. It was made clear that there is a debate over whether helmets should be compulsory but that they are recommended by The Highway Code.

We hope this helps and we thank you for taking the time to contact us.

Kind regards,

BBC Complaints Team"

The usual inevitable brush off, so I have written back demanding that it be investigated properly.  Note that the response claims that it "did not endorse any campaign..."   Not effing much.

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brooksby replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
1 like

eburtthebike wrote:

The usual inevitable brush off, so I have written back demanding that it be investigated properly.  Note that the response claims that it "did not endorse any campaign..."   Not effing much.

Exactly.  They've got a huge Headway poster there...  Is that just to cover a wall or something?

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brooksby | 3 years ago
5 likes

I didn't realise that wearing a bike helmet would stop my bike being stolen!  That changes everything...

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eburtthebike | 3 years ago
2 likes

The BBC has been running a propaganda campaign on cycle helmets since 1982, when it broadcast a "You and Yours" prog on R4 promoting helmets and interviewing Angela Lee, the founder of the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust, and nobody else, breaking many of their own rules.  They have had many features since promoting helmets, almost all of which broke their own rules again, including featuring James Cracknell who was sponsored by the helmet manufacturer; on the same prog they did interview a helmet sceptic, but cut the bit where he said that helmets weren't effective, having promised him that it would be included.

There is a prog on R4 which claims to refute modern myths and expose the use of dodgy statistics "More or Less" and it had a segment on cycle helmets; for the first and only time in the prog's history, it didn't examine any statistics or data, only interviewed helmet zealots and the presenter made his views clear, which broke just about every rule they've got.

I've complained many times, but the BBC is judge and jury on complaints, and all have been dismissed, despite the clearest possible evidence of bias and rule breaking.

Three weeks ago, the new head of R4 was interviewed and said that he would be making sure that items were produced tackling incidents of perceived wisdom being wrong, so I emailed him suggesting that he start with cycle helmets; no response.  I've sent him a letter, including an SAE for an answer; no response.

The BBC is clearly, blatantly promoting cycle helmets, against all its own rules and refusing to allow contradictory opinions or to examine the facts.  I've no idea why, but I am absolutely sure that they are doing it.  Clearly, complaining isn't going to change anything, so what else can we do?  Protests outside Broadcasting House?

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hawkinspeter replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
0 likes

If you don't like the BBC, then just stop paying them. Hit them in the pocket.

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eburtthebike replied to hawkinspeter | 3 years ago
1 like

hawkinspeter wrote:

If you don't like the BBC, then just stop paying them. Hit them in the pocket.

How will one person not paying their tv licence stop the BBC's propaganda campaign?sad

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EK Spinner replied to hawkinspeter | 3 years ago
0 likes

BUT you need to pay the BBC (Licence fee) to be permitted access to material from other broadcasters
I think the fee also pays to maintain the transmision network as well

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hawkinspeter replied to EK Spinner | 3 years ago
1 like
EK Spinner wrote:

BUT you need to pay the BBC (Licence fee) to be permitted access to material from other broadcasters
I think the fee also pays to maintain the transmision network as well

Well, that doesn't seem fair

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BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP | 3 years ago
9 likes

I certainly agree about the TERN GSD. It's a brilliant cargo bike. It does replace a car in the city. And before anyone pipes up 'you can't carry a fridge on a bike' you don't need to. `And if i ever do I'll hire a van for the afternoon. But I don't need a 4x4 24/7 just in case one day i have to carry a fridge. 

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Hirsute | 3 years ago
9 likes

In another programme, David Baker tells that we should all wear stab vests in case of stabbing.
Also all women should wear clothes which cover them up completely to guard against rape.
He added "I always wear a crash helmet and fire retardant suit whilst driving".

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Luca Patrono replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
9 likes

I've always found it amusing that telling women to dress modestly to avoid attracting unwanted and potentially dangerous attention is slut-shaming and victim-blaming and you're a filthy bigot if you dare to suggest it, but telling cyclists to wear helmets to avoid being ended by motor vehicle drivers is fair game.

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Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
2 likes

Black on black murder in the US accounts for about 95% of black murder cases. 

Somebody tell BLM the tale is wagging the dog. Then again BLM is just white marxists now anyway and one of the BLM leaders is a paedo. 

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markieteeee replied to Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
9 likes

Very Daily Mail.

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Simon E replied to Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
6 likes

Almost effortless trolling. smiley

Not surprising, given the amount of time and effort you put into it. Have you hit 10,000 hours yet?

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stomec replied to Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
3 likes

Rick_Rude wrote:

Black on black murder in the US accounts for about 95% of black murder cases. 

Somebody tell BLM the tale is wagging the dog. Then again BLM is just white marxists now anyway and one of the BLM leaders is a paedo. 

Has Rick been right about anything, ever?

Avatar
eburtthebike replied to stomec | 3 years ago
3 likes

stomec wrote:

Rick_Rude wrote:

Black on black murder in the US accounts for about 95% of black murder cases. 

Somebody tell BLM the tale is wagging the dog. Then again BLM is just white marxists now anyway and one of the BLM leaders is a paedo. 

Has Rick been right about anything, ever?

No, but he's always rude.

Avatar
peted76 | 3 years ago
2 likes

It's interesting to hear how other people view this topic, e.g. where they are coming from. (without turning into a bun fight)

There's a 'Brothers on Bikes' chapter near me, I always seem to see a group of their riders out and about. 

There's also a Sikh cycling group which meets up at the local costa, I've seen maybe 30of them at any one time meeting up. 

I'm quite friendly with the 4-6 main traditional cycling clubs in the area which probably account for maybe 1500members, I don't see much colour in these clubs. Yes there are certainly riders from all creeds and colours but the % are small all over. 

...Maybe I'll reach out to the two named clubs above and ask them what they think.

 

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Glov Zaroff | 3 years ago
2 likes

For diversity in cycling you need to look to the US of all places! Justin and Cory Williams' Legion of Los Angeles is a prime example. I would love to see how Justin would get on if he was given a chance to race on this side of the Atlantic. The man is a machine!

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half_wheel79 replied to Glov Zaroff | 3 years ago
0 likes

Justin did race in Europe, for the livestrong development team in '10 I think. He only did one season though and called it a day. 

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half_wheel79 | 3 years ago
4 likes

It's quite simple from my view, If you want to cycle, cycle. Regardless of creed or colour, there aren't any real barriers, if you're good you're good. 

 I think there would be more black cyclists in the tdf if it was something they were genuinely interested in, It's not something that is promoted really in black culture. Lord knows they excel at other sports, why not cycling ? The Williams brothers in the US are prime examples, they are outstanding on the US Crit scene and have built an amazing team.

I live in Birmingham and I'm seeing a definite increase in the amount of Asian cyclists out and about, not many black cyclists though ? 

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visionset | 3 years ago
0 likes

There are also biological reasons.  I think one reason swimmers aren't typically black as bone density is higher.  But I don't think that would affect the sprinter end of the spectrum, in fact it should be an advantage. Just not so likely to see GC contenders.  Obviously all that is racism aside, which I'm sure is the main reason.

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EddyBerckx replied to visionset | 3 years ago
4 likes
visionset wrote:

There are also biological reasons.  I think one reason swimmers aren't typically black as bone density is higher.  But I don't think that would affect the sprinter end of the spectrum, in fact it should be an advantage. Just not so likely to see GC contenders.  Obviously all that is racism aside, which I'm sure is the main reason.

Cycling is an endurance sport. Who makes up 100% of the top 10 endurance (marathon etc) runners? Black people, essentially. There is no biological reason whatsoever black cyclists can't get to the top level in any cycling discipline.

As to the wider issue, you need to do a bit of research.

Francis Cade has a couple of very good interviews with the BCN founder on his YouTube channel. As far as club cycling goes part of it is about not feeling out of place or the odd one out, but obviously a bit more than that.

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visionset replied to EddyBerckx | 3 years ago
0 likes

EddyBerckx wrote:

Who makes up 100% of the top 10 endurance (marathon etc) runners? Black people, essentially.

Kenyans essentially, ie high altitude trained for life.
And I've done a quick read and it seems other biological differences too.

EddyBerckx wrote:

There is no biological reason whatsoever black cyclists can't get to the top level in any cycling discipline.

But there is a biological reason whites don't do so well at endurance running.  mmm

But you may be correct, or maybe not, I'm not sure, but there are biological differences that will make a difference and therefore some ethnicities are going to have an easier time in some sports and vice versa.
Like I said the one standout for me is climbing ability, there won't have been any studies I guess like there have been for many other athletic aspects where differences have been shown.

EddyBerckx wrote:

As to the wider issue, you need to do a bit of research. Francis Cade has a couple of very good interviews with the BCN founder on his YouTube channel. As far as club cycling goes part of it is about not feeling out of place or the odd one out, but obviously a bit more than that.

so ignored my last sentence then.

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Seventyone replied to visionset | 3 years ago
5 likes

Any ideas that a particular race ("black" "white" "asian" etc.) Is good at something or bad at something else are complete rubbish. Speaking biologically, race means nothing at all. Any differences seen between these groups is utterly negligible when compared to variation found within these groups. It is absolutely not true that black people are better at marathon running, it might be true that a tiny subset of black people ( the average kenyan is no better a marathon runner than the average british person) but if you are a poko me myt: a small tribe which is one of more than 200 ethnic groups in Kenya you might well have a better chance at being a good marathon runner.

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visionset replied to Seventyone | 3 years ago
0 likes

At the highest level of sport a gnats cock seperates people.  Biological differences may be minimal, but probably all it takes.  Margianl gains are a thing.  There are studies that show they are significant, so it is far from rubbish. 

However I completely concede that social differences as EddyBerckx points out, white privilege and racism have far more to do with it.

So my post was just a point of interest based on fact, nothing to get worked up over.

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mdavidford replied to visionset | 3 years ago
0 likes

As I understand it, the claimed performance-enhancing properties of gnats cocks aren't supported by the scientific evidence.

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peted76 | 3 years ago
3 likes

Team Qhubeka Dimension Data, I thought were doing a good job of highlighting inequalities a few years ago.. they brought Daniel Teklehaimanot to the tdf with some success and won a stage on Africa day (?).. a bit token I know but there was a huge PR machine behind them and it really was a big thing at the time... sponsorship pressures as usual cocked that all up.. the current world tour team of NTT does not look like it's carrying on in the same vein. 

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Legin | 3 years ago
6 likes

Anyone who doesn't think there is a problem with inclusivity in cycling is deluded. Women are just about acceptable ffs.

Why has Road CC shared a twitter comment from a person who's Twitter page clearly marks them out as a racist? Surely you can do better than that?

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squired | 3 years ago
4 likes

In many ways cycling is one of the most inclusive sports there is.  You can succeed whether you are 5ft 2 and 50kg like Tom Pidcock (or similarly sized Colombian riders) or 6ft 3 and 80kg like Tim Declerq.  Not many sports allow such a diverse physical range to compete at the top level.

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mdavidford replied to squired | 3 years ago
0 likes

squired wrote:

In many ways cycling is one of the most inclusive sports there is.  You can succeed whether you are 5ft 2 and 50kg like Tom Pidcock (or similarly sized Colombian riders) or 6ft 3 and 80kg like Tim Declerq. Not many sports allow such a diverse physical range to compete at the top level.

That's only one way, though - bodily physique - not many.

And what about Colombian riders built more like Tim Declerq? The common assumption that South American riders will all be flyweight climbers is indicative of the kind of stereotyping that causes sports so many issues around race.

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