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"Just Urška Žigart's boyfriend": Tadej Pogačar hands outs bottles at Championships; "For a bikepacker who needs everything": A bicycle grill mount?; Kopecky vs Vollering gives us SL7 vs SL8; Was Glasgow 2023 World Champs a success? + more on the live blog

After another weekend of non-stop cycling (and the return of a ball sport) to keep you entertained, it's Adwitiya's turn on the live blog seat to keep the show going...
Mon, Aug 14, 2023 09:26
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"Just Urška Žigart's boyfriend": Tadej Pogačar hands outs bottles at Championships; "For a bikepacker who needs everything": A bicycle grill mount?; Kopecky vs Vollering gives us SL7 vs SL8; Was Glasgow 2023 World Champs a success? + more on the live blogTadej Pogacar handing out bottles to Slovenian women's team at World Championship (Twitter)
14 August 2023, 08:00
"Just Urška Žigart's boyfriend": Soigneur Tadej Pogačar on bidon duty for Slovenian women's team at World Champs

26-year-old Urška Žigart has had quite a season so far. Winning the Slovenian individual time-trial championship (her third time as a national champion), and then second position in the national championship's road race. She was just 75 metres away from her maiden World Tour win at the Tour de Suisse, riding in a commendable solo breakaway and almost managing to hold on till the finish line.

But one of the infamous narratives to have born out of this cycling season was a Flemish newspaper refusing to call Žigart by her name, as it kept referring to her as "Tadej Pogačar's girlfriend".

> “Thank goodness she’s dating a famous cyclist, otherwise how on earth would anyone have identified her?” Urška Žigart goes agonisingly close at Tour de Suisse… only to be referred to as “Pogačar’s girlfriend” by Belgian newspaper

And if you know anything about Pogačar, he was sure to have a laugh about this, reposting a separate headline on his Instagram referring to him as Urška Žigart's boyfriend. Any better way to handle the weird and inappropriate sexism?

Of course, hand out bottles at the World Championships!

The perfect reflection of "She's Barbie. He's just Ken"?

But there you have it, girls, if your boyfriend doesn't assume bidon duties on his day off, is he even good enough for you?

I wonder if this Pogačar guy has got something else to do with cycling too?

Fans on social media also suggested that the man in the blue cap next to him could be Primož Roglič, who was already speculated to be dishing out hydration to his Slovenian teammate Pogačar during the men's road race championship last weekend.

While I could see the resemblance last time (it was a blurry photo), I personally don't see it in this footage, but what do you think? Were Slovenia's two stars of men's cycling there supporting the women's team yesterday?

14 August 2023, 16:04
14 August 2023, 15:50
Was Glasgow 2023 Cycling Championships a success? Your answers...
Belgian fans, 2023 worlds, Glasgow (Thomas Maheux/SWpix.com)

Belgian fans, 2023 worlds, Glasgow (Thomas Maheux/SWpix.com)

A quick roundup of your answers to whether you thought Glasgow Worlds was a success or not.

Adventuredean: As a fan of cycling and a tourist currently sitting in a Cafe in Edinburgh, the super world's were a huge success for me. I stayed in fort Bill, Glasgow, peebles, and Edinburgh. Got to watch everything. downhill, flat land, and track racing (the paratrack racing being included was also great) and more.
I also got to see lots of Scotland and be a tourist away from the cycling action.
A fantastic experience all around.

Miller: Although away from home on holiday (nowhere glamorous) I watched as much of the Worlds as I could and loved all of it. My highlight was the end of the men's RR with MvdP sliding out, restarting, ripping off that Boa dial, and still winning by a mile. That concrete planter he slid into should get a commemorative plaque.

darnac: I think the Glasgow World's have generally been a great success, though, mind you, the weather helped a lot...

And from Twitter, Chris Williams wasn't particularly in favour of the twisty-turny city circuit for the men's road race, writing: "Hopefully the UCI will clampdown on course design after the horrific city centre circuit round Glasgow."

14 August 2023, 15:25
Montreal's "incredible" cycling network makes it to CNN as its Mayor calls on other cities to "do the right thing"

I didn't know Montréal was one of the great cycling cities of this world, and my ignorance (blasphemy, I know) was gladly cured last week when cyclists on social media were raving about the "incredible" cycling network in the Québécois city, thanks to a video doing rounds.

> "It exists, and it's beautiful!": Cyclists rave about Montreal’s "incredible" cycling network

I was glad to see that the tweet, has now made it to CNN, playing along on the side screen as the Mayor of Montréal was being interviewed.

"It is a position that at one point, we need to say, that even though this is not a popular measure, I have to do it," said Valérie Plante, the Mayor.

"I'm confident that with other mayors [this will be successful]. This is why the C40 network that I want to bring forward is so important. Whether it's Los Angeles, Milan, Paris, New York, London, Montréal, we can work together saying 'we need to do the right thing' for the future generation."

With Toronto getting its own rad as hell "bicycle" mayor, who arrived at her swearing in ceremony leading hundreds of cyclists, and Montréal's network getting its recognition and pat on the back, seems like Canada is making much needed progress towards building better cycling infrastructure.

14 August 2023, 15:16
Government’s Fix My Bike scheme hailed a success in getting more people cycling – although fewer than half of the £50 vouchers issued were actually used
The Bicycle Repair Shop, Acton (picture credit Simon MacMichael)

The vouchers, worth £50 each towards the cost of repairs and maintenance, were aimed at helping people in England get unused bikes back on the road as former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps put active travel at the heart of the country’s recovery from the pandemic.

Some 500,000 vouchers at a cost of £25 million were initially promised when the scheme was launched in May 2020, although the number actually released to the public in four tranches between July 2020 and April 2021 stood at 400,000.

> Government’s Fix My Bike scheme hailed a success in getting more people cycling – although fewer than half of the £50 vouchers issued were actually used

14 August 2023, 15:09
Stats for nerds: Which UCI team was the most successful in Glasgow?

Here's the answer to the question cycling nerds have been asking. Which UCI World and Pro teams were the most successful at the Glasgow Cycling Championships?

14 August 2023, 14:24
One from the readers: Self-driving cars galore in the media — "Are news accounts scared of suggesting a human driver was involved"?

This one is courtesy of an email from road.cc reader Rob Ainsley, who had asked to do a roundup on the blog after "the dreadful incident at a Pembrokeshire campsite over the weekend, where a driver clearly lost control of a Ford Fiesta and ended up ploughing into some tents". 

"Several of the news accounts are so scared of putting anything that might suggest what obviously happened – that an actual human driver was involved - that they’re writing nonsense about self-driving cars", wrote Ainsley.

The BBC's article, as pointed to us by Ainsley, is titled "Newgale campsite crash: Three people in hospital". It ticks the first box — not even mention of what crashed in the title.

Let's look at the first sentence: "Three people are in hospital after a car crashed into a campsite and injured nine people, police have said." He even singled out this particular sentence further down: "...said the car tried to brake as it came down a hill."

Next on Ainsley's list: Sky News. The reporting in question? "...described how the car was going "at unbelievable speed into a 30mph zone", lost control after it tried to brake, hit a family's tent with a baby as it rolled three times, before it rested on top of three people.

Final entry on the list: Wales Online — "...the car was a blue For [sic] Fiesta which was travelling from Roch towards St Davids with a number of occupants inside when it lost control and veered off the road".

So Ainsley's question, which I pose to you all now, is that why are news organisation so scared to even insinuate that a driver was at fault for a crash? Why are cars treated as objects with a mind of their own capable of losing control, acting upon their own will, and injuring human beings without another human behind the wheel?

14 August 2023, 13:24
Is it better for cyclists to dismount and share the lane with pedestrians or just use the road?

Would it be more convenient to get off the bike and walk your cycle through the cycle lane (since it'll be in use by pedestrians as well), or just cross the road to join the right lane and ride there?

14 August 2023, 12:44
Kopecky vs Vollering... or SL7 vs SL8?
Kopecky vs Vollering, Tarmac SL7 vs SL8 (Facebook screenshot)

"...The Tarmac SL8 is 15% lighter and 6% more compliant than the SL7, has an improved stiffness-to-weight ratio to the tune of 33% and is 16.6 seconds faster over 40km (25 miles)."

So how did Belgium's Lotte Kopecky (left) on her rusty, old Specialized SL7 beat Netherlands' Demi Vollering using the brand-new cutting-edge SL8?

Huh, maybe cycling is also about the rider? I bet Kopecky's victory has the Tarmac SL8 marketing team sweating right now...

It was all blossoms after the race between the two SD Worx stars at the finish line though, with the Dutch just finishing 7 seconds behind the Belgian and celebrating shoulder to shoulder with her teammate at the podium. Vollering even proclaimed that "Kopecky was by far the strongest".

"I gave everything, so I’m happy with this second place," said Vollering, who herself has had one of the greatest cycling seasons in memory, topped off with her most recent win at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. "Lotte [Kopecky] was by far the strongest and she rode very well, so hats off to her. As for me, I’m exhausted. I really gave it my all, so I’m happy with this second place... I hope that I will do better next year".

Vollering and Kopecky, Women's road race Championship, Glasgow 2023(Pauline Ballet:SWpix.com).JPG

Vollering and Kopecky, Women's road race Championship, Glasgow 2023 (Pauline Ballet/SWpix.com)

14 August 2023, 12:09
Favourite Championship moments? Drop them here!

The festival may have ended, but the party lives on! If you were there, comment your favourite UCI Worlds 2023 moments below!

 

14 August 2023, 11:59
14 August 2023, 11:13
"Another 50cm and it essentially runs over your head": Dan Walker shares his horrifying crash experience
Dan Walker gets back on his bike (credit - Dan Walker, Twitter)

Dan Walker, as you might know, was involved in a gnarly and horrifying crash back in February, putting him in the hospital bed for a few days and out of his presenting duties.

The incident led to an eruption of an assortment of cycling debates — cycling on bike lanes, wearing helmets, so on and so forth. But thankfully, the Channel 5 presenter survived, and is back on his back (which was again subject to 'no hi-vis backlash').

> Dan Walker "glad to be alive" after being hit by a driver while cycling

In a new update, Walker told the Sun that a police officer said to him: "Another 50cm and it essentially runs over your head."

Camera footage of the near-fatal accident in Sheffield showed him being thrown off his bike after a driver hit him with his car on a busy roundabout, with his bike being crushed under the vehicle.

 

He said that he doesn't have any recollection of the incident, so he wasn't suffering from "any sort of flashbacks or anything like that", but was "thankful" that he was back on his bike.

He added: "It’s amazing how quickly your face heals. I had the crash on a Monday and I think I presented the RTS Awards the following Wednesday, then I was back on air I think the next Monday."

> Why is Dan Walker’s claim that a bike helmet saved his life so controversial?

14 August 2023, 10:51
Wout van Aert: Still the most loved Belgian or not?

Oh silly me thinking that Wout Van Aert is going to have a stellar season after winning E3 and finishing arm in arm with teammate Laporte at Gent Wevelgem, albeit controversially, back in March.

It has been a painful few months since then — an unfortunate puncture at Flanders, an agonising three weeks at Tour de France, and another second place finish at the Worlds. It's not bad at all, but it's not what he would have hoped for. But hey, who's to say he's still not the most loved Belgian racer?!

14 August 2023, 10:05
14 August 2023, 09:39
"A festival of cycling": Was the UCI Glasgow 2023 World Championships a success?
George Square fan zone, Glasgow, 2023 world men's elite road race championships (Thomas Maheux/SWpix.com)

"Pure. Dead. Brilliant." 

Goosebumps.

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, the first ever to host all of its disciplines at one event in Glasgow, Scotland, has finally come to a close. The curtains have drawn on this celebration of cycling in its purest form, with the best of the best striving for the undisputed mantle and the glory of a champion.

From months of anxiety amongst residents regarding road closures, to protests, to riders clashing with the media, these last two weeks had everything.

Here's some reaction from the rider, the fans and the locals which road.cc garnered last week:

> “It felt like the Tour de France”: Have Scotland’s world championships been a success? We ask the riders, fans, and locals

And here's some reaction from online:

All of us right now:

So road.cc readers, my question to you: Was Glasgow 2023 a success? What were the highs, what were the lows, what were some pleasant surprises, and  what could have been better?

14 August 2023, 09:01
"Perfect for countryside trips": Does anyone need a bicycle grill mount?
Bicycle grill mount by Knister

Let's see if I can explain this right. It's a grill mount. For a bicycle. A portable grill which can be mounted on your bicycle. I think I'm getting it.

Let's see what the description reads: "Looking for a unique way to BBQ while cycling? Then the crackling grill is just right for you! This innovative grill attaches to your bike so you can grill while you pedal. Whether you're grilling burgers for a picnic or hot dogs for a cookout, the Bike Mount Grill is the perfect solution for enjoying a delicious meal on the go.

"The crackle grill is easy to use and set up, so you can start grilling in no time. And because it is powered by charcoal or gas, you get the delicious grill taste that everyone loves. So leave the portable grill on the left and pedal with the crackle grill!"

For the bikepacker who wants to have everything, this is certainly a, erm, mouth-watering option.

This grill by Knister, a German brand, also says that it comes with leather protection to protect handlebars from scratches (how thoughtful!), and fits 99 per cent of all bike handlebars. Yeah that figure is always totally believable isn't it!

But while it may seem like a ludicrous attachment, it does fill me with some joy to see that manufacturers are considering cyclists for even the silliest products and showing that you can show up to your friend's barbecue not in a 4x4, but on a bicycle. I hope there's someone on this big blue world who really needs this product and manages to get their hands on it.

Bicycle grill mount

But are you wondering how's the riding experience with a literal grill hanging off your handlebars? Knister says it's very similar to riding with a basket in the front. And if it feels slightly lighter, the company recommends you to carry food or charcoal in the grill. You know, for the barbecue.

Another bonus, but crucial info: "Every Knister Grill has a wing screw to secure the grill grate, so the grate cannot jump out while riding." German efficiency at its best?

14 August 2023, 08:30
ULEZ no more, MTBers vs roadies, Kopecky and Pidcock triumphant... it's your weekend roundup on the blog!

While the road.cc team was away at the weekend, Simon was making sure the news hustle never stops.

First up, ULEZ drama — Signs of division in the Labour party regarding the controversial charge for drivers with polluting cars are only deepening.

ULEZ signs - Licensed CC BY 2.0 by Matt Brown on Flickr

> Labour reportedly drops plans for nationwide ULEZ rollout

An ​architectural practice in Glasgow has launched a campaign calling for safer junctions in Scotland’s largest city after one of its staff members was killed in a crash involving a lorry in January. It is calling on local cyclists, pedestrians and drivers to help it gather data at the locations in question.

Emma Burke Newman (Pedal on Parliament)

> Campaign launched for safer junctions in Glasgow after cyclist’s death – and is calling on local road users to share their experiences

And then, some serious mountain bikers versus roadies clash took shape at the World Championships, with Tom Pidcock, Mathieu van der Poel and Peter Sagan in the thick of it.

Tom Pidcock in action at 2023 UCI World Championships at Glentress (copyright Thomas Maheux, SWpix.com)

> World Championships: Tom Pidcock "in complete disagreement" with last-minute UCI rule change over preferential start positions for road stars in mountain bike race

Lotte Kopecky's terrific season just got even better, and Pidcock cements himself as a bonafide do-it-all star.

Lotte Kopecky and team mates celebrate her road race victory in Glasgow (copyright Pauline Ballet, SWpix.com).JPG

> Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky caps phenomenal season by winning World Championship road race

Tom Pidcock at 2023 World Championships (picture credit Alex Broadway, SWpix)

> World Championships: Tom Pidcock smashes the field to win mountain bike cross-country rainbow jersey

And finally, cycling has got some new fans.

Isla Short at Glasgow 2023 (copyright Alex Broadway, SWpix.com).JPG

> Police Scotland hail “unique” World Championships as mega-event draws to a close

Adwitiya Pal

Adwitiya joined road.cc in 2023 as a news writer after graduating with a masters in journalism from Cardiff University. His dissertation focused on active travel, which soon threw him into the deep end of covering everything related to the two-wheeled tool, and now cycling is as big a part of his life as guitars and football. He has previously covered local and national politics for Voice Wales, and also likes to writes about science, tech and the environment, if he can find the time. Living right next to the Taff trail in the Welsh capital, you can find him trying to tackle the brutal climbs in the valleys.

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34 comments

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chrisonabike replied to hawkinspeter | 9 months ago
0 likes

hawkinspeter]</p>

<p>Of course, all of that is taxpayers' money, so they don't even care about it. Except they apparently do care about taxpayers when it comes to what they're going to do with the removed concrete.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-64954828">https://www.bbc....

<p>[quote wrote:

The railway preservation group wants to provide a car park at its base ahead of a local event and needs about 200 tonnes of stone.

Project manager Mike Thompson said: "Buying it would be a significant expense for us, so we thought National Highways would be keen to help given the trouble and offence it caused.

"The stone being excavated from around the structure would be ideal for the car park."

...

But the group said it was told the material had "already been found a home" as part of negotiations to provide "best value for the taxpayer".

I suspect "best value for the taxpayer" may mean pal may have a use for it (or they're making money transporting it / binning it).  If you're shocked by corruption at Westminster or even (for those of you) in the EU, just have a look at government bodies or your local council!

I can think of a good use (which it won't get put to) - cut it into slabs / cubes and use it to make some some "emergency-grade" protected cycling infra and make an LTN or two by making roads only passable by cyclists...

Avatar
Doctor Darabuka replied to chrisonabike | 9 months ago
2 likes

If you want to really know about Bribery & Corruption - have a read of EY's Annual UK Bribery Digest.  If you want to know about bribery and corruption best look at the private sector first.    

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Doctor Darabuka | 9 months ago
0 likes

Doctor Darabuka wrote:

If you want to really know about Bribery & Corruption - have a read of EY's Annual UK Bribery Digest.  If you want to know about bribery and corruption best look at the private sector first.    

But do they list themselves?

Public, private, it's a lucrative dance hand in hand to the bottom (or top...).  Unedifying for us unimportant types who just pay tax.

Avatar
the little onion | 9 months ago
6 likes

Nice to see the superstars supporting their compatriots in other races.

 

If I recall correctly, Mark Cavendish was assistant mechanic to the Isle of Man women's team at the Delhi Commonwealth Games, cleaning their bikes after their race. Also drove the team car in the time trial.

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