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Jeremy Vine laughs off "absolute class" road rage incident with Rolling Stones fan; 91-year-old's double LEJOG challenge; Remco signs five-year deal; Tory's bike lane rant; Driver gets jail time; Bouhanni received racist messages + more on the live blog

It's the start of another four-day week on the live blog with Dan Alexander taking you through Tuesday...
06 April 2021, 15:26
Pennsylvania driver who critically injured child in bicycle-pulled carrier gets prison sentence
Pennsylvania Police (via wikimedia commons)

Penn Live reports a Pennsylvania man has been given a prison sentence for critically injuring a toddler being carried in her mother's bicycle-pulled carrier. The District Attorney D. Peter Johnson said Tyler Bean-Dowell knew he had hit her and yet still drove off. The County Judge Michael T. Hudcock sentenced Bean-Dowell to one to nine years in state prison and ordered him to pay the $16,000 medical costs.

The incident happened last April when Abigail Martin was riding her bike and pulling her 11-month-old daughter. In the crash her daughter suffered severe head injuries that have required multiple surgeries and it is unknown if the injuries will be permanent.

Bean-Dowell did not stop and told police he hadn't seen the damage to the passenger-side mirror until he was driving home. Parts of the mirror were found on the front seat of his vehicle and there was small shreds of glass on his jacket. He was taken to custody later that day and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault by vehicle last October.

06 April 2021, 15:12
Remco Evenepoel signs five-year contract with Deceuninck-Quick-Step

Today's blog is turning into a Deceuninck-Quick-Step live blog...The big news coming out of Belgium this afternoon is a new five-year deal for Remco Evenepoel. The 21-year-old has enjoyed enormous success since turning pro two years ago, winning the European ITT Championships, Classica San Sebastian and five stage races. 

He is currently prepping for his Grand Tour debut at next month's Giro d'Italia where he will start as one of the favourites to win the maglia rosa despite having not raced since his crash at Il Lombardia last August.

"I feel really honoured to put pen to paper for the next five years," Remco said. "As Patrick [Lefevere] told me, this is the longest agreement he has ever signed with a rider. I’m really proud and happy to stay in this wonderful team, where I have already enjoyed a lot of success, and hopefully we can reach our big dreams. I love it here."

06 April 2021, 14:02
We'll take that as a no...

Here's what Patrick Lefevere thought of the rumours linking Peter Sagan to his Deceuninck-Quick-Step team for 2022...Doesn't sound likely does it?

The team has released a behind-the-scenes video of Kasper Asgreen's Tour of Flanders win too...

06 April 2021, 13:53
91-year-old grandfather riding double LEJOG challenge for charity

91-year-old grandfather Bahman is riding the equivalent distance from Land's End to John O'Groats and back to raise money for Roundabout Dramatherapy. This past week he reached the 2,500km mark and has been chipping off 5-6km every day. So far his JustGiving page has raised £2,356 .

06 April 2021, 13:17
Cyclists locked out of hangar by thieves

A bicycle hangar in Fitzrovia was damaged by thieves who attempted to cut through the lock with an angle grinder or similar tool. Fitzrovia News reports residents have been left unable to access their bikes due to the damage and fearing the offenders will return to try and take the cycles. The chair of the residents association has written to Falco, the hangar's provider, to ask for help in improving security.

"Someone has physically cut into the bike hangar lock (probably with an angle grinder or similar) and has jammed the lock. As a result, one of our residents and others cannot access their bikes," the email said.

"We are very concerned that who ever made the attempted break-in, might try again and be successful in stealing the bikes in the hangar."

The attempted break-in is believed to have happened on Saturday evening and has been reported to the police.

06 April 2021, 11:44
Nacer Bouhanni hits back after receiving multiple racist social media messages

Nacer Bouhanni has been subject to multiple racist social media messages in the aftermath of his dangerous sprint at Cholet-Pays de Loire. Bouhanni wrote on Instagram: "Hello to all the little jokers who have been having fun for a week writing to me personally or commenting on some cycling sites that I should go back to Africa, that I am a criminal, that I am a north African who needs to be interned and who constantly send me (pig's heads)!

"Know that I was born in France and that I will file a complaint because I've been putting up with this too long and held my silence, this time, I will not let go."

The messages came at the end of a week when the Arkéa–Samsic sprinter was first disqualified and then referred to the UCI's Disciplinary Commission for pushing Jake Stewart into the barriers. Stewart suffered a broken hand in the incident and missed the Tour of Flanders.

06 April 2021, 11:08
Doing an Alex Dowsett
06 April 2021, 10:53
UCI U-turn? Italian pro riders' union says they were assured riders could throw bottles to fans

Could we see a U-turn from the UCI over throwing bottles to fans? Michael Schär was thrown out of the Tour of Flanders for chucking a bottle to a group of fans under the UCI's new littering rules. Fans and fellow pros alike were vocal in their anger at the rule and support for Schär who said being thrown a bottle as a kid inspired him to become a cyclist. 

Here's a pair of translated tweets from the Italian pro riders' union this morning: "ACCPI vice president Matteo Trentin participated in the meeting re new UCI rules and was told that it will be allowed for riders to throw their water bottles safely in presence of public. We hope that common sense will be used in the application of the rule. We are in full agreement of fining those who throw away litter in an indiscriminate manner. A water bottle given to fans is the emblem of the sport which benefits the planet and of the passion of grown-ups and kids."

06 April 2021, 10:25
Let us know your favourite cafe stop
Team road.cc Winchester ride out - post-cake chilling.jpg

We need your help for our new YouTube show road.cc Recommends...Give your favourite cafe stop a shout-out over on the forum and it could get a review from one of our team in a future episode. Whether it's the cake, coffee or both that makes it special, let us know why it's your favourite place for a mid-ride snack.

While you're at it, have a watch of episode one of the new series which features a trip to the Honey & Ginger Farmshop & Cafe in Failand near Bristol.

06 April 2021, 09:41
EF Education-Nippo sport Muc-Off helmet design at the Tour of Flanders

Did you catch EF Education-Nippo's Muc-Off helmet design at the Tour of Flanders? The team who brought you Palace kits and duck helmets at the Giro wore a design nominated by their riders and staff at the Ronde, featuring the names of key workers, as a way of saying thank you for their ongoing work during the pandemic. Beyond this weekend, the POC helmets will get another outing at Amstel Gold before being raffled off to raise money for the WHO COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. 

Each helmet is unique and some have particular significance. Team soigneur John Murray nominated his granddaughter, who worked on a COVID-19 ward in North Yorkshire, providing round-the-clock care for patients. American rider Alex Howes will wear his at Amstel Gold, he said: "I’m always amazed and in awe when I encounter someone with an innate and natural instinct to give and serve and wearing these helmets that pay a small tribute to their hard and selfless work is a real honour. The global pandemic rocked all of us, but it also shined a light on how strong and caring many of us can be."

FULL STORY HERE

06 April 2021, 09:23
Conservative parliamentary staffer's cycle lane rant
06 April 2021, 09:09
Peter Sagan set to leave Bora-hansgrohe at the end of this year with Deceuninck-Quick-Step a potential destination

 According to L'Équipe, Peter Sagan will be leaving Bora-hansgrohe when his contract expires at the end of the year, with Deceuninck-Quick-Step a possible beneficiary of the three-time world champion's signature. The Slovak's relationship with current team boss, Ralph Denk, is reportedly strained and the French newspaper suggests the rider's agent, Giovanni Lombardi, will have already offered his client to Patrick Lefévère's Quick-Step. 

A source told L'Équipe the only potential issues would be Sagan's salary and staff but explained a deal would make "everyone a winner, Peter, because it is the only team capable of making him win more races, and Lefévère because Peter is the one who can help the whole team to win." 

06 April 2021, 07:47
Jeremy Vine laughs off "absolute class" road rage incident with Rolling Stones fan

 Jeremy Vine is all for novel lines being shouted from passing cars...This clip features a driver in their 60s behind the wheel of a Citroën 2CV with 'It's Only Rock 'N' Roll...But I Like It' stickered on the rear. The pedalling presenter says she was furious, presumably at being held up for a few seconds and yelled "fucking Beatles fan!" out the window as she passed...

No hard feelings from the broadcaster who was impressed by the creativity..."Absolute class. We need more of this. Good luck to her — it was a quality shout," he tweeted.

Who'd have thought it? The Beatles vs Rolling Stones debate inspiring road rage 60 years later.

Dan is the road.cc news editor and has spent the past four years writing stories and features, as well as (hopefully) keeping you entertained on the live blog. Having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for the Non-League Paper, Dan joined road.cc in 2020. Come the weekend you'll find him labouring up a hill, probably with a mouth full of jelly babies, or making a bonk-induced trip to a south of England petrol station... in search of more jelly babies.

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16 comments

Avatar
Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
0 likes

With the strength they already have does DQ actually need Sagan, at his presumed high price?  Presumably they could pick up a couple of younger pretenders for that price.

Avatar
Bmblbzzz | 3 years ago
3 likes

I can't make out what the Stones fan is shouting, but anyone driving a 2CV in 2021 is clearly dedicated to style above destination. But then you could say the same of anyone riding a penny in the 21st century. smiley for both of them.

Avatar
Jem PT replied to Bmblbzzz | 3 years ago
3 likes

I can't hear any shouting from the Stones fan either (their nearside window is closed). And as for JV saying the engine sounded like it was "about to explode" - all 2CVs sound like that when driven as intended!

Avatar
HLaB replied to Bmblbzzz | 3 years ago
1 like

I think I can make out 'Beatles Fan' but whether that's influential bias  7 (or whatever the term is) having read the story first. I certainly can't make out the 'F' word  3

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andystow replied to Bmblbzzz | 3 years ago
2 likes

...and certainly a 2CV has never prevented another road user from driving as fast as they wanted to.

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Secret_squirrel replied to Bmblbzzz | 3 years ago
0 likes

Im confused - how was that snipped filmed, the camera seemed somewhat above the helmet.

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OnYerBike replied to Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
2 likes

Looks like a 360 camera. I don't know exactly which one but they often have software that cuts out the mount. See e.g. this review for more details: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/02/gopro-fusion-360-in-depth-review.html

Edit: it's the new Insta360 - Jeremy talks about it in this thread: https://twitter.com/theJeremyVine/status/1375876011603206149

Avatar
Sriracha replied to Bmblbzzz | 3 years ago
1 like

She's just a cymbal of her time. I watched the video, I was waiting for the Clash, kudos to Vine for keeping his cool.

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Bikeylikey replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
0 likes

You were waiting for a clash on a cymbal? That would be Charlie Watts then, drum roll and cymbal clash after such a clever pro-stones joke. Or am I confused? 

By the way, all that Stones v. Beatles rubbish is, I believe, an invention of later times. In the early days when they started, the 60s, there wasn't any such tribalism that I came across. I loved both, as did many others. You might have preferred one or the other, but there wasn't the antagonism, and certainly not the Stones = bad boys, Beatles = nice. They were both considered equally rough, long-haired layabouts (etc) by most parents and teachers, hence a lot of their pretty much equal appeal.

'My brother's still at home, with his Beatles and his Stones' (Mott the Hoople, 1972? Equal then, and old  hat by 1972)...

Avatar
brooksby | 3 years ago
14 likes

On "Conservative parliamentary staffer's cycle lane rant" - I wonder how Samia Hersi usually overtakes?  Does she just drive over the top of the vehicle in front?? 

Enquiring minds want to know...

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mdavidford replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
4 likes

Apparently, 

Quote:

The cars can’t wait for the bus as firstly a lot of buses stop there and secondly it’s right by a major junction.

cool

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
9 likes

The fourth picture showed that the bus had pulled away and a car still attempted to overtake. Also most bus stops are now in the "main road" (well on it as no stop is in it) as most councils do not do the lay bys and fill them in to calm traffic as they have to slow for the busses. So nothing to do with the cycle lane really.

Finally, what traffic hold up? She took 3 pics of cars and the others are well down the street on the last one so to me, cars overtook as they approached. I wonder how long she waited to take the pics?

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StuInNorway replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
5 likes

No one will ever know, as she blocks anyone who tries to question her stance, such as pointing out there have been 0 reported accidents around the bus-stop stince it was changed, but several in the years before.
Just awaiting my turn to be blocked.

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to StuInNorway | 3 years ago
3 likes

StuInNorway wrote:

Just awaiting my turn to be blocked.

Already had the honour for my offensive suggestion that car drivers aren't "forced" to drive round the bus but have the option to wait a few seconds instead.

Avatar
brooksby replied to Rendel Harris | 3 years ago
2 likes

Rendel Harris wrote:

StuInNorway wrote:

Just awaiting my turn to be blocked.

Already had the honour for my offensive suggestion that car drivers aren't "forced" to drive round the bus but have the option to wait a few seconds instead.

"...wait a few seconds instead." - are you quite mad, sirrah??? 

Avatar
Sriracha replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
4 likes
Quote:

forcing cars to drive around the bus and into the opposite lane. Are cycle routes so important to Labour that they are willing to endanger lives?

Wow, self driving cars are here and endangering lives already?

But apart from that, emphatically yes, cyclists are that important. Why does this woman assume car drivers are more important by default?

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