"Dysfunctional clown show": Cycling fans react to Tom Pidcock's departure and accuse Ineos Grenadiers of "complete lack of ambition" and "monumental" decline; How to cross a bridge like Danny MacAskill + more on the live blog

The most protracted transfer saga of the off-season took a huge step forwards yesterday, Ineos Grenadiers and Tom Pidcock confirming they would be parting ways at the end of the year. Few will be too surprised given the cracks, rumours and gossip since Pidcock was dropped from the team's Lombardia line-up on the eve of the race.

Well, on the team's Facebook page, the reaction to the departure of one of British cycling's biggest stars was fairly punchy, fans accusing the team of having shown a "complete lack of ambition" and overseeing a "monumental decline" in recent times. 

One fan congratulated Pidcock and said: "Even you couldn't prevent this ship from sinking. We're behind you all the way."

Another added: "Thank god he can get away from this dysfunctional clown show of a team that needs to overhaul its senior management."

"Sad day for Ineos fans," a third wrote. "I hope he finds a team that enables him to reach his goals. It is mad that people consider that a double Olympic champion had a sub-par year. We set incredibly high expectations. All the best Tom."

As with some of the stories and gossip that has emerged over the past few months, the discussion wasn't completely one-sided, some suggesting Pidcock had a "toxic element" and "caused a lot of his own problems".

One comment said Pidcock "needs to decide where his heart lies", another adding that while "a brilliant solo rider, a team player he disappointingly hasn't been".

"I think the best way to define this story is that it’s probably best for both parties, whatever the rights and wrongs. And there will be an element of each on either side," one very measured commenter wrote... that's far to mature for social media comments sections, I'm afraid.

Cycling Podcast host Daniel Friebe echoed that sentiment on Twitter/X and said "everything points to" a transfer to Q36.5... "Understand Pidcock 'divorce' was relatively amicable in the end, despite very onerous financial considerations. 'Like a married couple who know they want different things,' I was told by a source today." 

So, how did we get here? Reports of tensions with the Ineos Grenadiers hierarchy came to a dramatic crescendo at the final Monument of the season Il Lombardia. On the eve of the race Pidcock was deselected by his team despite being "in great shape", cue weeks of speculation about whether he'd be leaving the team this winter.

> "To be honest, they don't help me to perform at my best": Tom Pidcock admits there are "a number of issues" within Ineos Grenadiers, as pressure mounts on underperforming British team

Geraint Thomas weighed in on the situation, questioning the "people who are around Tom".

"I don't actually know what has gone on, but all I know is, when you're the highest-paid rider in your team, and it's obviously a really c**p situation," he said. "He's not happy, the team's not happy. How has it got to this point? I don't know.

"People who are around Tom, I don't think help. I don't know how… The fact is that he had a great chance of performing today [at Il Lombardia]. I saw that Zak had said it's a management call, it's not a performance call. I certainly don't know anything about that. We're just riders, eh? What do we know about management?

"It's just not good, is it? All the bull**** aside, he's a great talent. He's a good guy, when I'm around him we have a nice time, so it's not good to see that situation. We'll see what happens."

Not long after, an anonymous pro cyclist writing in the Belgian press claimed Tom Pidcock is "a bit of a loner" at Ineos Grenadiers and caused friction. The saga rolled into November, two-time British national champion Brian Smith dubbing Ineos "Team Circus" and sticking up for Steve Cummings (a rider he managed at MTN-Qhubeka back in the mid-2010s) who has left his DS role at Ineos.

"No real surprise to see Steve Cummings leave Team Ineos," Smith wrote. "Must be hard to do your job when gagged for most of the year. 

Turning to the Pidcock saga, Smith addressed the rumours linking the rider to the Q36.5 team: "Team Circus continues, after allowing your marquee rider to leave the team while willing to pay 20 per cent of his salary then doing a U-turn to keep him. Not sure this is over. Ivan Glasenberg has invested in Q36.5 and owns Pinarello. A match for Pidcock who was keen on the move.

"These decisions were helped by Team Circus pulling Pidcock from Lombardia. Why you may ask? Had the form, thought he could win but did not want to risk paying the high bonus."

> Domenico Pozzovivo stopped and fined by Italian police for riding two abreast, as retired pro cyclist says "I'd rather pay the fine than risk ending up under another car"

Bikes will soon be allowed on Greater Manchester's Metrolink tram network as a 32-year ban is to be overturned. The news was first reported by the Manchester Evening News, the carrying of bikes on the Metrolink system having not been permitted at any point since the service launched in 1992.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) undertook a trial this year and has decided that two bicycle spaces will be installed on each of the system's 147 vehicles. The transport provider did add that the process of seat layouts being changed means the allowing of bicycles on services will not come into effect for at least a year, and will only apply at off-peak times.

"Allowing bikes on Metrolink would align with our transport strategy which aims to build a world-class walking, wheeling and cycling network," TfGM commented. "The Metrolink network is designed to be as accessible as possible, with level boarding and step-free access at all stops, with some requiring lifts for this purpose.

"The trams are designed with two wheelchair spaces, which can also be used for pushchairs, prams and certain types of mobility scooters. By allowing the carriage of bikes during off-peak times the catchment area of Metrolink could be widened as people may choose to cycle a little further than they are prepared to walk to get to a tram stop.

"This could boost patronage by tapping a new market during off-peak times when the services have capacity.

"The feedback from the pilot and discussions with disability groups revealed that the main concern was that the accessible spaces on the tram should be retained for use by disabled people, therefore, it is recommended that two separate spaces are provided on each vehicle for bikes. This means that the tram interiors and seating would need to be reconfigured to allow the safe carriage of bikes."

He's sticking to his word...

Paddy McGuinness pledged he'd get a tattoo of the Raleigh Chopper he completed his epic 300-mile charity ride on, if he raised more than £10 million for Children in Need. With the total now at £10.5 million, he has called in David Beckham's tattoo artist Louis Molloy to get it done.

"He did, if you remember back in the day, he did the big David Beckham one on his back, the big angel," McGuinness told BBC Radio 2. "He's been in touch and he's sent me a few images... I don't want to put them on my Instagram yet because I want to get it done.

"I promise you, I'll get it done before Christmas and I'll show it to you."

> "Will Children in Need be paying for his new knees?" Paddy McGuinness completes epic five-day, 300-mile Raleigh Chopper charity cycle, raising over £7.5m – with a little help from Sir Chris Hoy (and a Gladiator)

In a bizarre post-challenge update, last month it was revealed that McGuinness has sued the gossip site Popbitch over an "utterly false" claim the 51-year-old stopped during his 300-mile charity cycle to indulge in a Michelin-starred meal. 

The weekly newsletter accused McGuinness of taking a helicopter to visit the Cumbrian village of Cartmel, where he allegedly enjoyed a 15-course fine-dining experience at three Michelin-starred restaurant L’Enclume, before staying there overnight.

However, Paddy's team have denied the claims made by the site – which specialises, it says, in 'Scurrilous gossip. Scandalous Stories' – and have prepared a legal letter against Popbitch.

"The story is completely and utterly false, at no point did Paddy leave the challenge or the team," a source said. "They were together every second. Paddy most nights was getting physio to prep him for the next day, followed by an early night due to the 6am wake-up."

It's good to see Campagnolo back in the WorldTour, isn't it? 

Anyway, here was 100 Climbs author Simon Warren's first thought...

Yep, it's time for some gentle social media ribbing...

"What else does it do? Surely it must do something else... Maybe a fax machine or something?"

"Built-in coffee machine perhaps?"

"Does the rider have to carry some ballast on their left hand side to keep it in a straight line?"

"I thought they’d snagged a bin bag"

"It's a good thing Guillame Martin left when he did, he'd barely be able to move with that thing attached."

"Can we rewind to 2012 and choose a different time path for, like, everything?"