Today was the first Individual Time Trial of the 2016 race. It can often be a dilemma as to how best to approach the stage. Whilst riders always want to do their best for themselves and their team, often a pragmatic approach to these short stages is wise.
As a sprinter Dan has suffered in the mountains these last few days. Tomorrow may offer the opportunity of a sprint finish for those that can get over the early lumps. Dan took the stage steady today, the objective being to get around safely and then use the rest of the day to recover for tomorrow's stage.
Dan finished the stage one place ahead of Mark Cavendish. He'd probably settle for a similar outcome tomorrow.
Laura Fletcher takes a quick look at some of the latest cycling titles to hit the bookshop shelves including books by Ned Boulting, Max Leonard, James Hibbard, Jeremy Wilson, Dan Martin. You can also check out Matthew Bailey's review of Jeremy Wilson's biography of Beryl Burton in Conquista Issue 28.
It feels to us like Liverpool is a city at a crossroads. The worst pedestrian and cyclist road safety track record in the country. Deprived neighbourhoods with chronic health issues and low car ownership. Offered millions of pounds of central government funding for local transport development, the city has elected to remove an important active travel corridor prior to the publication of a review into its effectiveness. The actions of a local councillor, praised by the City Mayor, could lead to a huge reduction in local transport funding that will set the city back years. We look back at the last two years, the impact of Covid, and ask is this the end of the road for a co-ordinated active travel plan for Liverpool?