"The tone of our message isn't suitable": Police delete tweet about "Lycra-clad cyclist"; Mask mandate back at Giro d'Italia after Evenepoel withdraws with Covid; Cars queue up at Richmond Park; Weekend round-up + more on the live blog

> "Is this a joke?": Cyclists dismayed at council's idea for painted cycle lanes where segregated infrastructure was controversially ripped out

We've received an email from a road.cc reader who complained to Sefton council about a taxi driver blocking the pavement. They wrote in the email: "This obstruction poses a significant inconvenience and safety hazard to pedestrians, especially those with limited mobility or pushing strollers.

"It is both disheartening and frustrating to witness the blatant disregard for pedestrian safety exhibited by this particular taxi driver. The regular blocking of the pavement not only forces pedestrians onto the road, exposing them to potential accidents, but also creates an atmosphere of disrespect for pedestrians' rights and well-being."

Now, Sefton Council has replied to the person with the following message:

"Thank you for bringing this to our attention, however I fail to see how it is causing an inconvenience and safety hazard to an empty street.  The ONLY pedestrians anywhere near the vehicle are the passengers getting out.  The fact that you also stopped on the street to take the photograph, could also be considered an obstruction. I’m sure you wouldn’t expect the driver to drop the passengers 100’s of yards away from their chosen destination."

The person wrote: "Such a belittling and dismissive response from Sefton Council regarding the taxi complaint."

Filippo Ganna at 2020 Giro d'Italia (Cor Vos/SWpix.com)

After world champion Remco Evenepoel became the sixth rider in the peloton to pull out of the Italian Grand Tour, with Ineos Grenadiers' Filippo Ganna also withdrawing last week on home soil, Giro d'Italia organisers have confirmed today that they will be reintroducing the COVID-19 facemasks mandate.

Italian news agency ANSA have reported that race director Mauro Vegni announced the move at Scandiano near Reggio Emilia as the Giro went into its first rest day.

They said: "In the light of the latest developments concerning positive tests results on some riders, the Direction of the Giro d’Italia informs that wearing a face mask will be compulsory in all areas of contact with the riders."

The areas in which the obligation will be enforced include, but are not limited to team buses parking, podium and finish-line areas, post-race mixed zone; finish line area, as well as during press conferences and anti-doping control checks.

At the start of the 2023 season, the UCI stripped back their COVID-19 rules, with teams and race organisers following suit. However, the U-turn in policy has been caused after cases began rising in the peloton, with many testing positive even before the race began.

> Giulio Ciccone out of Giro d’Italia as COVID-19 cases in the peloton begin to mount up

Jumbo Visma were forced to drop two of their riders before the start, with world time trial champion Tobias Foss and experienced campaigner Robert Gesink — a third of Primož Roglič's first-choice support crew for his GC challenge. Then a day later, they had to drop van Emden as well after a positive Covid test.

Bahrain-Victorious’ also got caught up, with their Swiss hope Gino Mäder also getting ruled out of the Giro d’Italia following a positive Covid test on the same day.

Active travel campaigner Charlotte Baker was out for a family ride, including her 65-year-old mother at London's Richmond Park on Sunday, expecting to spend a sunny day out amidst the greenery of the nature reserve, but a lot of other people didn't share this feeling.

Usual ridiculous queue of cars at every car park in Richmond Park today 🚗 🚗 🚗

Cyclists having to filter down the middle to get through.@theroyalparks - how on earth do you think this is an acceptable way to run your nature reserve?@RichmondPkCycle @RichmondCycling pic.twitter.com/D7NMsStD1h

— Charlotte Baker (@charlie_baker23) May 14, 2023

It would seem that Royal Parks, the body that manages several parks in the capital, including Hyde Park, Green Park, and St James’s Park, is more interested in introducing10mph speed limits for cyclists between Broomfield Hill car park and Robin Hood Gate roundabout, or making changes to the road layout leaving it "unusable" for cyclists.

> “They are literally driving at cyclists!” Changes to Richmond Park road layout branded “unusable” as cyclists call for motorists to be banned

Following Baker's post, cyclists have once again called for banning cars and stopping the nature reserve being overrun by drivers using it to drive through to other places.

Agreed! I was literally there today, …. Saw bikes going down the middle… car parks full…. Was mind boggling. One of the most beautiful parks in our city… country even…. With cars in it…. #why?? pic.twitter.com/3eZ76g0hPy

— Tarn Usher 💙 (@Ushert) May 14, 2023

Not sure what’s sadder. Drivers who must motor to Richmond Park and who gladly bring congestion & pollution or @theroyalparks preserving their Ham bypass by keeping Kingston-Richmond gates open to cars 7 days/week 364 days/year. Both are tragic & absurd. 🚗💨🚗💨 @theroyalparks

— Piggy Stardust (@EnemyCoastAhead) May 14, 2023

Another good reason to ban cars from Richmond Park - each year drivers kill 5-10 park deer & injure goodness knows how many more.

— EricEatsPickles 🚲 (@EricEatsPickles) May 14, 2023

Vollering has had a fine spring this season, winning the prestigious Ardennes triple crown and becoming only the second woman to do so. However, at last week's opening Grand Tour of the season, Vuelta Femenina, she had a near miss after a strange controversy, and had even said that she was "hungry for revenge"...

> Van Vleuten wins Vuelta Femenina after pee-gate controversy as "hungry for revenge" Vollering wins last stage

However, after winning the first two stages at Itzulia, in the final 13km of the last stage, SD Worx's Reusser took off and finished 2 minutes and 38 seconds ahead of her teammate, passing Vollering in the general classification.

After Vollering crossed the line, Reusser embraced her with a tight hug and said: "Thank you so much, I know you offered this to me, like a gift."

"You could've ridden, you know that," she told Vollering.

Reusser continued: "It's really a team effort and Demi is so strong. Demi is my winner. I think it was a little bit of a gift for me."

"At the team meeting I asked Demi what if I won GC over her making the other teams react to our actions. Demi said yes. She was the strongest on the day and could have won but gave me the win. That's a Champion. Today was a special gift from Demi." #ItzuliaWomen2023 #ItzuliaWomen pic.twitter.com/VT0Dq8gA35

— Phillip Martindale (@phillipm61) May 14, 2023

Vollering simply shook her head and denied it with a smile.

Is this going to spark a "Queenmaker" debate this time? Earlier in March, Wout van Aert’s decision to gift the win to loyal teammate Christophe Laporte at Gent Wevelgem sparked discussion about when races should be 'gifted'. 

On the one hand, former cobbled classics titan Fabian Cancellara praised Van Aert’s generosity, which the retired Swiss rider claimed “elevated” his standing as a true champion. And, as others online pointed out, one victory at Gent-Wevelgem will mean a lot more to Christophe Laporte than a second win in the race would mean to Van Aert’s career.

> No Gifts: Where do you stand on the whole ‘Wout van Aert as kingmaker at Gent-Wevelgem’ debate?

Some onlookers, however, such as Belgian cycling luminaries Eddy Merckx and Tom Boonen, were more critical of Van Aert, and argued that a major one-day classic should never be decided on a whim.

Something tells us this one won't be quite so controversial... chapeau, Demi and Marlen...

We reported yesterday that customers were left annoyed with Ribble once again, after several cases of postponed deliveries and poor service caught our eye on social media. And once that we let that piece out on the wild west of Facebook, a bunch of more people commented about the problems they faced when buying from the Lancashire-based bicycle manufacturer.

> Ribble Cycles hit by delayed deliveries again as customers complain of poor service

Here's a round-up of the comments:

I ordered one start of last year, it had a four month delay. Then, when it came to the expected delivery date, it got delayed. Then delayed again. Then again.
I ended up cancelling when it was delayed for the sixth time, pushing the delivery date to 8 months. Ended up buying a Niner from Merlin instead, which was actually better specced for the money.

I tried to order one and the delivery date was pushed back time and time again. Bought a bike from an independent bike shop in the end.

I was told everything was on track then it slipped with no comms. I spoke to someone to be told it was forks and groupset that was delaying my bike. A couple of months later I went to cancel to be told it was the handle bars and frame that were delaying it! I was then offered a hybrid, gravel bike and everything but a road bike. I have two Ribbles and love them but they have really put me off going near them now.

road.cc reader Ian603207 commented on our page:

Ended up cancelling my order. Due two months after order, delayed for another two months with 3 days notice. The reason for the delay?? No frames!  The only thing they have direct control over. 
Shame really as bikes are great, pre sale experience is good, but if they can't deliver, what's the point ?  Customer service 'chat' lines are a joke, and they don't answer emails. Strange thing is, after cancelling an 'account manager' was in contact within hours, so there are people there. 

But is it all doom and gloom? Amidst all the buyers left waiting for their bikes, we also had a few anecdotes of people getting their bikes shipped earlier than expected, and even reported of good customer service.

Just bought a CGR Ti with Ultegra. Changed some parts to suit me. Given an original build time of 3 - 4 weeks. Order regularly updated on the website. Bike ready to deliver after 3 weeks but I had to delay as going on holiday. Talked to customer service and they arranged dispatch for the day after I returned. Bike delivered next day. All as expected and the bike is perfect and rides great.

I've just bought a Ribble bike - it arrived within 2 days!

My Endurance SL with custom paint job came 2 months early with great communication all the way through. Can’t fault Ribble one bit. Plus, it’s an awesome bit of kit

I did custom build great communication and deliverd on time . Would use Ribble again.

What has your experience been like? You know what the live blog is for, so let us know!

“Not bad for a guy with Covid"

I know Geraint Thomas made these comments for Roglič after stage eight but let me rehash it for yesterday's events too... (disclaimer: given Jumbo-Visma's Covid policy and their subsequent replies to media questions it seems unlikely those Roglič rumours are true).

Evenepoel, who beat Geraint Thomas by JUST 0.09 SECONDS at the stage nine time trial, has pulled out of the Italian Grand Tour after testing positive for Covid.

> Remco Evenepoel OUT of Giro d'Italia with Covid

pic.twitter.com/Bd41DpDXfX

— Remco Evenepoel (@EvenepoelRemco) May 14, 2023

While the "alleged" Remco fan club at road.cc will be "allegedly" disappointed, here are some other reactions from around the world:

Hugely depressing to lose Evenepoel from what was shaping up to be an epic GC battle at the Giro

— William Fotheringham (@willfoth) May 14, 2023

My only question about Evenepoel's abandon is why the team and the rider didn't wait until tomorrow to give the bad news. Announcing in the middle of the night, before the rest day that the Maglia Rosa abandons the Giro feels pretty surreal. #Giro

— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) May 14, 2023

And this from the road.cc comments section:

List of full riders to pull from the Giro due to Covid:

Riders to have tested positive for 💉Covid-19 during the 🇮🇹Giro d'Italia so far:

🇧🇪Remco Evenepoel
🇨🇴Rigoberto Uran
🇮🇹Filippo Ganna
🇫🇷Clement Russo
🇮🇹Nicola Conci
🇮🇹Giovanni Aleotti

Wishing every single one of them a speedy recovery!

— Stats Goddess - Dani (@Stats_Goddess) May 14, 2023

Although this does have the potential to make things more interesting. Ineos Grenadiers' Geraint Thomas now leads the GC and will wear the maglia rosa tomorrow, with Roglič just two seconds behind him. But just three seconds further behind him is Thomas' teammate Geoghegan Hart. Besides, Ineos Grenadiers have a got a total of five riders in the top 15, who are not going to make it easy for Jumbo Visma and the Slovenian.

But hey, we've got a Welshman leading the Giro, I can't complain too much.