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Retired pro Andrew Talansky under fire for Covid rant (Pogačar + De Gendt join in); Pidcock's Pinarello; CyclingMikey road.cc Podcast; Barriers to disabled cyclists; Trek raises $1.8M for World Bicycle Relief; Wheelbarrow fun + more on the live blog

Friday has arrived! The weekend is just around the corner, so kick back, relax and let Dan Alexander guide you home with the final live blog of the week
21 January 2022, 17:18
A message to take you into the weekend
21 January 2022, 15:14
Tadej Pogačar "adds the internet to his palmares" delivering a mic drop GIF to Andrew Talansky
Tadej Pogacar, Stage 19 of 2021 (picture credit Tour de France A.S.O./Pauline Ballet)

Tadej Pogačar, whose UAE Team Emirates team recently announced all its riders are fully vaccinated, chipped in with a GIF for Andrew Talansky and Thomas De Gendt. The Slovenian was part of De Gendt's analogy of Talansky's heavily-criticised view that Covid disappears if you turn your phone off and stop listening to the media...

In the context of the day's events the Mr Bean choice seems very apt...if only Talansky's performance was as funny as Rowan Atkinson's character...

We reckon Talansky might want to turn off his social media permanently after this...

21 January 2022, 14:46
Yeah, but how do you carry a wheelbarrow by bike?
21 January 2022, 14:11
The (literal) barriers to disabled people cycling in the UK

Before Christmas we saw the case of York's outdated gates causing disabled people, and those using cargo bikes, problems. One campaigner called the gates "shameful", and was pleased to see the council listen to his request, subsequently removing them over Christmas.

> Council removes “shameful” barriers that blocked access to York cycle route

The problem is obviously not limited to York though. Harrie's Tweet above shows some of the accessibility issues in Stockport, while Adam shared this pic of a cycle route in Nottingham...

And it didn't end there...

21 January 2022, 13:59
Ned Boulting held up by one abreast road users
21 January 2022, 12:26
Alexandre Geniez accused by his ex-wife of violent conduct — six-month suspended sentence requested

 Total Energies climber Alexandre Geniez appeared before the court in Rodez to answer accusations of domestic violence. The Frenchman has three times won a stage of the Vuelta, and in 2015 finished ninth at the Giro d'Italia.

Geniez's partner and mother of his two children said he threw his phone at her and threatened, "You will understand, you will see what will happen to you." Luci Garrigues produced two medical certificates showing a frontal hematoma and one other on the forearm after a second incident.

"I wonder what would have happened if my daughter hadn't been in the hallway when he took my arm," France 3 reports she told the court.

Geniez's lawyer said although his client accepts making threats, he disputes the physical violence claims. The prosecutor is requesting a six-month suspended sentence, the final judgement has been reserved for March 2.

21 January 2022, 12:05
Catch CyclingMikey on the road.cc Podcast
21 January 2022, 11:22
Tom Pidcock's Pinarello Dogma F

Yesterday we brought you Ineos' soothing video of Richard Carapaz's gold Pinarello being built. Today it's the turn of turbo Tom Pidcock. Pre-warning: you may find yourself getting sleepy with the relaxing music. Perhaps guided bike build meditation videos will be the next big thing.

21 January 2022, 10:50
Mamnick ads must be catching on...

If you've got no idea what we're talking about...

> Weird Mamnick gun ad breaches Advertising Standards Agency code

21 January 2022, 09:53
Thomas De Gendt's ingenious plan

When De Gendt goes on the attack you know you're in trouble... 

21 January 2022, 09:43
Trek raises $1.8M for World Bicycle Relief
2021 Trek 2021 Trek EmondaSLR7Disc_21_32565_A_Alt1.jpg

Trek's holiday fundraising campaign has raised a total of $1.8M for World Bicycle Relief's aim to benefit communities in developing regions through access to Buffalo Bicycles. Trek promised to match donations up to $500,000, surpassing the fundraising goal of $1M comfortably.

The amount raised is estimated to be able to help provide more than 11,000 bicycles to World Bicycle Relief works in Zambia, Kenya, Colombia and Zimbabwe.

Trek's president John Burke said he was "super proud of the Trek family for crushing our goal".

21 January 2022, 08:48
Retired pro Andrew Talansky under fire for Covid rant
Talansky break group Vuelta 2011 Stage 15 (copyright: Tour of Spain/Graham Watson).jpg

Andrew Talansky, eh. Most pros disappear out of the world of racing with little or no noise, you can look back on their achievements in a few years and remember watching them at their best. At most, you might hear occasionally from them in their new staff role at a team or when they release a product. That can't be said for Mr Talansky.

> I'm not cycling's Novak Djokovic: Greg Van Avermaet defends plan to delay Covid-19 booster

The 33-year-old retired in 2017 after a career including a Critérium du Dauphiné win, second place at Paris-Nice, fifth place at the Vuelta a España in 2016, and years of being touted as America's next big thing. But Talansky's post-racing fame has come for a very different reason to many of his peers, with the former Cannondale rider now catching heat for his outspoken views on social media.

Exhibit A...

Oh, there's more...

 One of Talansky's former teammates Nathan Haas was quick to reply, saying: "How old? And you still haven’t learned object permanence?" (That filthy climb near the end of your ride still exists, even when you can't see it)...

One (former) fan thanked Talansky for reminding him to unfollow the social media ranter, another said he was "somehow getting stupider". Perhaps the most effective reply was one simply asking for some peer-reviewed research...

In July, Talansky shared a story on his Instagram, which said: "Got your Covid 'cure' right here: daily exercise, fresh air, time in nature, eat healthy. The end. No [syringe emoji] or any other nonsense required."

In November, he caught a similar wave of social media criticism after responding to one person challenging him on his Covid comments by arguing "you have pronouns in your bio. Bye".

Think this is one and done for us on reporting Talansky's Twitter thoughts...one, mainly because I'm not sure we want to...two, because we may be blocked within the hour...

Dan joined road.cc in 2020, and spent most of his first year (hopefully) keeping you entertained on the live blog. At the start of 2022 he took on the role of news editor. Before joining road.cc, Dan wrote about various sports, including football and boxing for the Daily Express, and covered the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Part of the generation inspired by the 2012 Olympics, Dan has been 'enjoying' life on two wheels ever since and spends his weekends making bonk-induced trips to the petrol stations of the south of England.

Add new comment

156 comments

Avatar
Hirsute | 2 years ago
2 likes

Not just bikes at risk from angle grinders !
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-60075415

Avatar
Hirsute | 2 years ago
2 likes

Any one else wanting to take a bucket and sponge with them to clean all those number plates?

Drivists deliberating avoiding being identified !

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Hirsute | 2 years ago
0 likes

hirsute wrote:

Any one else wanting to take a bucket and sponge with them to clean all those number plates?

Drivists deliberating avoiding being identified !

I think this is a charming and helpful proposal but I suspect in many cases the reaction would be "You touch my car, you'll be eating that sponge and wearing that bucket!"

Avatar
stomec | 2 years ago
4 likes

Also, just to avoid any doubt, there is overwhelming evidence in the medical literature that lockdowns are effective in reducing the incidence of covid infections. 
 

People like to deny this fact, usually for ideological reasons, but it does not change the reality.

For instance:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-020-01009-0

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7806254/

https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-068302

 

 

 

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to stomec | 2 years ago
1 like

Well with the current examples of the behaviours of the illustrious leader during lockdowns, I do wonder if denying lockdowns were ever needed is the new defence. Pretty sure JRM used that line on his Newsnight interview just after stating Scottish Tories are irrelevant. 

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Bungle_52 replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
1 like

Thanks for the link. A very interesting read.

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Simon E replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
4 likes

Garage at Large wrote:

Talking of Mike van Erp (who I see has a spot on the Roadcc podcast, which is fantastic - he has a great face for the spoken medium), Britain's top selling and award winning newspaper the Daily Mail has a well researched and mostly sympathetic article on the divisive "safety campaigner". Please see https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10428837/Road-safety-hero-menac... for more.

Can you explain what you mean by the two parts I have highlighted in bold?

One appears to be a personal slight on Mike's appearance. Is that the best you can do? Pathetic. And so uncool.

The other suggests that he's not a safety campaigner (or that what he's doing is not campaigning for safety). Most people with half a brain would disagree.

I guess by saying that he is "divisive" you mean that lawbreaking drivers don't like being caught. Those fuckers need teaching a lesson. I hope every single one of those rulebreakers gets prosecuted. It's a crying shame that UK roads policing has been shrunk by pressure on successive governments (I remember Blunkett being under pressure as gatsos were torched) and the Tories' love of ongoing brutal cuts to many public services since 2010.

More power to Mike and everyone like him!

Avatar
mdavidford replied to Simon E | 2 years ago
0 likes

Simon E wrote:

The other suggests that he's not a safety campaigner (or that what he's doing is not campaigning for safety). Most people with half a brain would disagree.

To pre-empt a potential riposte, I assume you mean

Most people with more than half a brain would disagree?

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to mdavidford | 2 years ago
1 like

mdavidford wrote:

Simon E wrote:

The other suggests that he's not a safety campaigner (or that what he's doing is not campaigning for safety). Most people with half a brain would disagree.

To pre-empt a potential riposte, I assume you mean

Most people with more than half a brain would disagree?

most people with at least half a brain?

Avatar
mdavidford replied to wycombewheeler | 2 years ago
0 likes

wycombewheeler wrote:

mdavidford wrote:

Simon E wrote:

The other suggests that he's not a safety campaigner (or that what he's doing is not campaigning for safety). Most people with half a brain would disagree.

To pre-empt a potential riposte, I assume you mean

Most people with more than half a brain would disagree?

most people with at least half a brain?

Possibly. But maybe those with exactly half a brain could go either way. 

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to Simon E | 2 years ago
4 likes

Well as boo has made some really vile claims about Mikey and his filming previously, and hinted at them again just the other day, only complaining about his face is a massive step up for him. I suspect he has realised he ran close to what got him banned (sorry, asking the site to remove him) with his comment on the Irish cyclist so can't make those other hints at the moment. 

Avatar
ktache | 2 years ago
5 likes

I don' t recall, at any point, the closure of any part of the healthcare network, like pubs, restaurants and nightclubs were, which fits under the definition of lockdown.

There were necessary infection control measures, which come under basic public health measures, especially given the woeful lack of initial PPE provision, and the overwhelming of the capacity of the NHS, because of COVID, and the people made very ill by it, not lockdown.

Avatar
brooksby | 2 years ago
8 likes

I like Ned Boulting's tweet angry

 

 

(or should I just be ranting about Covid/nuclear war/anti-vaxxers?)

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Hirsute replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
3 likes

I think just general ranting is the way to go !

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PRSboy | 2 years ago
13 likes

Anti Vaxxers can just fcuk off with their opinions unless they take no medicines at all.

Avatar
TriTaxMan replied to PRSboy | 2 years ago
7 likes

PRSboy wrote:

Anti Vaxxers can just fcuk off with their opinions unless they take no medicines at all.

Exactly this.

It's always great reading about these anti-vaxxers in hospital who won't take a vaccine but will quite happily be pumped full of Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermectin and Monoclonal antibodies.

It's funny they are not concerned that they don't know what is in those drugs or that monocolonal antibodies are "experimental" in the same way that they said the covid vaccines were and the fact that data for Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine is not beneficial at all.

*Edit*

It also ties in with what Captain Badger said that the vast majority of anti-vaxxers only care about themselves.

No one is saying that the vaccines stop infections or that they stop transmission but it has been proved beyond doubt that being vaccinated reduces the severity of the disease in those who catch covid, greatly reducing the likelihood of hospitalisation across the board.

And I do love how a certain statistical expert is relying on one of the most useless statistics relating to health...... BMI.  It is a guide nothing more.  There are plenty of professional athletes with BMI's in excess of 30....

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
11 likes

TriTaxMan wrote:

.....

It's funny they are not concerned that they don't know what is in those drugs or that monocolonal antibodies are "experimental" in the same way that they said the covid vaccines were and the fact that data for Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine is not beneficial at all.

As a student I had a summer job in a factory. last Friday of each month the boss would take the workforce out for a slap up pub meal. This particular pub's chef was from Pakistan, and did the most amazing curries, which all but one of us would tuck into . 

Our colleague would regard our meals suspiciously, and say "don't know how you can eat that."

"why not, it's top-notch?"

"you don't know what they've put in it"

He would then turn attention to his pukka pie and chips.

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to Captain Badger | 2 years ago
11 likes

Sounds like the colleague is the same one who would casually mention dogs and cats have gone missing around the Chinese Takeaway and other racist junk. 

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
6 likes

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

Sounds like the colleague is the same one who would casually mention dogs and cats have gone missing around the Chinese Takeaway and other racist junk. 

Yeah, it was that knd of thing, with added irony that mass produced meat pies were somehow to be trusted.

I certainly didn't let it spoil my Jalfrrezi though. 

Avatar
Seventyone replied to Captain Badger | 2 years ago
11 likes

Or like the girl I met in Kenya who wouldn't take antimalarials as they were "full of chemicals" but was happy to inhale the products of incomplete combustion of a dried out plant material she had bought off some guy on the street. 

edited to fix typos

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to Seventyone | 2 years ago
2 likes

Seventyone wrote:

Or like the girl I met in Kenya who wouldn't take antimalarials as they were "full of chemicals" but was happy to inhale the products of incomplete combustion of a dried out plant material she had bought off some guy on the street. 

edited to fix typos

yeah, but that's natchrul.....

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Seventyone | 2 years ago
1 like

Seventyone wrote:

Or like the girl I met in Kenya who wouldn't take antimalarials as they were "full of chemicals" but was happy to inhale the products of incomplete combustion of a dried out plant material she had bought off some guy on the street. 

edited to fix typos

But Arnie said, it is not a drug, it is a leaf!

Avatar
brooksby replied to Captain Badger | 2 years ago
3 likes

Captain Badger wrote:

He would then turn attention to his pukka pie and chips.

Avatar
Flintshire Boy replied to Captain Badger | 2 years ago
3 likes

You leave Pukka pie and chips alone!!

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Captain Badger replied to Flintshire Boy | 2 years ago
7 likes

Flintshire Boy wrote:

You leave Pukka pie and chips alone!!

Certainly will, s'all yours....

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
12 likes

TriTaxMan wrote:

It's always great reading about these anti-vaxxers in hospital cycling who won't take a vaccine but will quite happily be pumped full of

EPO, nandralone, hydroxytetstosterone, insulin, salbutamol.....

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
2 likes
TriTaxMan wrote:

......

It also ties in with what Captain Badger said that the vast majority of anti-vaxxers only care about themselves.

No one is saying that the vaccines stop infections or that they stop transmission but it has been proved beyond doubt that being vaccinated reduces the severity of the disease in those who catch covid, greatly reducing the likelihood of hospitalisation across the board.

And I do love how a certain statistical expert is relying on one of the most useless statistics relating to health...... BMI.  It is a guide nothing more.  There are plenty of professional athletes with BMI's in excess of 30....

I'm not sure that I was quite so categoric.
To refine the definition discussed with FrankH below, I think there is a distinction between the people who make sh1t up (Andrew Wakefield eg), the people who cynically propagate it for profit (personal or financial, Piers Corbyn, daily heil et Al), and those who fall for it (who I feel some sympathy for - anybody can be wrong given the right circumstances).

Those in the 3rd category are often (not exclusively) poorly educated, or don't know how to access or even recognise reliable sources of data, and if they could, rarely have the training to scrutinise it critically.

In short often the belief is genuine. And if you or I believed that a vaccine was harmful or even just had doubts about its efficacy, may then be reluctant to take it up. There have been cases of medicines causing problems, as we know, or experiments on unwitting subjects taking place. These well publicised cases are clearly contributory to the well established regulation that we enjoy today.
If you know about it.
However many in this 3rd category don't have this depth of knowledge, for a variety of reasons, some of which outside their control.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to PRSboy | 2 years ago
7 likes

PRSboy wrote:

Anti Vaxxers can just fcuk off with their opinions unless they take no medicines at all.

...and grow all their own food too. Or do they trust pesticides and antibiotics used for the farmers' benefit, but not trust medicines designed for everyone's benefit?

Avatar
IanMK replied to PRSboy | 2 years ago
6 likes

Wait 'til you find out about anti-vaxxers that take recreational drugs.

 

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to IanMK | 2 years ago
8 likes

IanMK wrote:

Wait 'til you find out about anti-vaxxers that take recreational drugs.

yeah but as long as you've got a good dealer. Y'know, one you can trust......

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