PEDAL-O-METER

Sometimes the wind’s at your back, sometimes it’s all uphill

BRUSSELS SPROUTS

The Tour de France will begin again in Belgium in 2019, its most popular non-French destination. Its capital, Brussels, will play host, 50 years since Brussels’ own Eddy Merckx won his first yellow jersey.

HANGING ON THE TELEPHONE

200 drivers a day were caught using their mobile phone at the wheel in the four weeks following the introduction in March of tougher penalties for the offence. Offenders are given a £200 fine and six penalty points.

ITALIAN STALLION

Cycling Plus was present for the 7th Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York in May. Ricardo Pichetta was the first Italian to win the race, with a time of 4:28:47 on the hugely hilly 100-mile course.

OUT FOR THE COUNT

Quick-Step Floors rider Matteo Trentin had a lucky escape from a bear while training in California. The Italian ploughed into the beast while altitude training in Lake Tahoe and was fortunate it didn’t descend into road rage.

BRUISING ENCOUNTER

FDJ pro Davide Cimolai became the latest cyclist to be hit by a vehicle in Italy. Unlike in the tragic deaths of Michele Scarponi and Nicky Hayden, the Italian sprinter escaped with cuts and bruises.

NEAR MISS

Brit Adam Yates came within a whisker of his second Grand Tour young riders’ jersey in as many races at the Giro d’Italia. The Bury climber was pipped by Luxembourg’s Bob Jungels.