From the 4th to the 8th of February the World Tour peloton take on the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana. A race above many of its World Tour peers in terms of startlist, it features every year a whole array of starts looking to use the good weather and familiar roads to kick off their season. We preview...

For all the noise around his winter move, the accusations from his former boss, and the early victories in Mallorca, the clearest explanation for Remco Evenepoels switch to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe comes from the rider himself. Its possible to win the Tour de France one day, its my dream, Ev...

Charges to release a seized scrambler are to be increased. Extended ban to make any use of scramble in parks and car parks illegal. It must be emphasised that using them on our roads is already illegal Department of Transport.Scramblers a type of off-road motorcycle are already illegal to use on public roads, the Department of Transport has confirmed this afternoon after continued misleading media coverage about the devices. The confusion comes after highent focus on scrmabers follow how 16-year-old Grace Lynch was killed when she was struck by a scrambler in Finglas on January 25th.Some of the confusion seems to stem from political journalists and generalist reporters misinterpreting statements about adding extra clarity to the law on scramblers as meaning this will be the first time scramblers are banned, even on public roads.Some media reports also seem to confuse a public road with a public place. Most scramblers in use, which are designed for off-road use, are already effectively banned on public roads, but the Department wants to add certainty for enforcement around public places such as parks or car parks where Gardai can currently only seize scooters if they are being driven dangerously.The Department said that following a meeting of senior political leaders convened by the Taoiseach, Michel Martin, on January 28th, the Minister for Transport will present proposals to Cabinet tomorrow outlining plans to fully ban the use of scramblers on public roads and in public places.The changes are expected to be in place in the coming weeks.A spokesperson at the Department of Transport said: To be clear, however, the vast majority of scrambler use outside of appropriate off-road settings is already illegal and Garda have the necessary enforcement powers to intervene based on existing legislation. New regulations will aim to deal with situations such as where a scrambler is being driven safely in a private car park, by making mere usage in that location illegal, and increase the financial charges to release a scrambler after it has been seized, helping to reduce the number that end up back on our roads.The Department of Transport spokesperson said: Under the Road Traffic Act 1961, a mechanically propelled vehicle such as a scrambler, can only be legally used in public places if it is registered, taxed, insured, roadworthy, and has a registration plate. The driver must hold the relevant driving licence. Most scramblers are designed for off-road use only and do not meet these requirements. Their use on the road is illegal.As most scramblers are designed for off-road use only and are unregistered, they cannot be taxed. Exercising powers made by regulation under Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1994, An Garda Sochna has the power to seize vehicles being driven on public roads that have not been taxed or lack insurance, or where the driver does not hold the relevant driving licence, the Department said.When seized, Gardai have the power to dispose of the vehicle six weeks after the date of detention, provided two weeks notice of the intention to dispose is given.The Department of Transport outlined how the law was updated in 2023 to further strengthen the legal position and help tackle antisocial use of scramblers and other off-road vehicles.These changes were made in the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023, which included that it is now an offence to drive dangerously in any location, not just in public places, that Garda have the power to seize vehicles being driven dangerously, and that the Minister for Transport can make regulations to restrict certain vehicles or classes of vehicles in particular locations.The Department said that three provisions were commenced in July 2023, one month after the enactment of the Act.Since they were commenced, off-road scramblers are no longer just illegal for use in public places it is illegal to drive them dangerously anywhere, even on private land. More importantly, Garda have full powers to seize a scrambler being driven dangerously in any location, even where they believe it will be driven dangerously, and they can enter a dwelling to retrieve a scrambler after the fact, the spokesperson said.The Department said that the powers are being used, pointing to over 1,000 e-scooters, quad bikes and scramblers being seized since 2023.The spokesperson said: The above measures represent a comprehensive legislative response to the dangerous use of off-road scramblers, and it must be emphasised that using them on our roads is already illegal.Following the tragic death of Grace Lynch, we call on all scrambler users to obey these laws that are designed to ensure the safety of everyone. We ask family members to speak with those in their lives who may ride scramblers illegally, the spokesperson said.The Department said that anyone buying a scrambler should be aware that, unless you plan to use it exclusively for off-road purposes, such as farm work or not use it at all, there is no lawful reason to possess one.The Department said that it is now the intention of the Minister for Transport, Darragh OBrien, to change the law and implement a total ban on scrambler use in public places, closing any potential edge cases where their use may previously have been legal.

The 39-year-old Canadian retired from the WorldTour at the end of 2025 but says he still has "a few more years left in the tank"

The 2026 Etoile de Bessges will be taking place from the 4th to the 8th of February and is the first stage-race of the season in France, and one of the first in Europe. We preview stage 1, which is set to start at 12:40 and finish at 16:00CET. One of the cornerstone early-season stage races on the...

You would hardly ever find a more "up & down" career in the cyclocross world than that of British champion Cameron Mason. The 25-year-old has been on the brink of entering the discipline's upper echelon for many years now. But every time it seems like Mason's on the verge of a breakthrough, he falls...

UPDATED February 3, 2026 BY Henry Gold IN Tea Route no comments The Tea Route Cycling Tour Part 1 (India)The inaugural Tea Route Cycling Tour, which combines traversing Southern India and circling Sri Lanka, has arrived in Mahabalipuram our last stop in India. This first section started in Kochi in the Indian state of Kerala and ended in this UNESCO World Heritage site in Tamil Nadu, one of the Indias famous tourist destinations. Soon, we will be on a plane to Colombo, Sri Lanka.As on each visit, I am left with a sense of wonder, puzzlement, exhilaration, and confusion.This is my fourth visit to India, the most populous country in the world with almost 1.5 billion people and the largest democracy on the planet. As on each visit, I am left with a sense of wonder, puzzlement, exhilaration, and confusion, or to put it in other terms, bewildered.This section gave the riders and I an opportunity to glance and taste the wonder of two Indian states Kerala and Tamil Nadu. They are different from each in language, size and a multitude of other ways but at the same time, in their diversity, they share the essence and core of what this country called India is. I write, glance and taste, because to discover the essence and core of India for foreigners like me would likely take a lifetime.Tea plantation, KeralaSo, what would be the essence of India? If you start your visit in India with Kerala, then what strikes me is the cultural mix that exists because of the oceanic trade that existed there, from the times of King Solomon and possibly before, to this day. Waves of traders came from various distant lands some stayed, brought their religions and culture, intermarried and, over millennia, have left their mark on the state.The Brihadisvara Temple, locally known as Thanjavur Periya Kovil.In Tamil Nadu what strikes me most is the spiritual heritage of India. On this tour, we had an opportunity to visit two remarkable sites, Thanjavur and the already mentioned Mahabalipuram. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, both having arresting temples that are as impressive as any other UNESCO sites that I have visited, probably much more. Both have thousands of Indian visitors and pilgrims as well, of course, foreigners such as myself. Both are deeply rooted in the spiritual pantheon that is Hinduism, a religion that I can only wish I understood. Yet over one billion people have no problem comprehending and adhering to it. Both sites show artistic creativity that is simply other worldly.However, the essence of India is most likely not these historic sites and temples. Instead it is the people we have encountered as we pedalled through small towns and villages, meandering among rice fields, plantations forests, vegetables gardens, tea stands, infinite numbers of motorcycles, cows and dogs and, yes, even piles of garbage, of which there are plenty. The warmth that these people have shown us everywhere we went, the welcome they continuously expressed, the willingness to assist and help, the curiosity they showed about us, that is what undoubtedly makes India unique. I imagine this is the result of ancient practices, traditions and the forces that act on a society made of billion and half of people sharing the same landmass. Whatever the reasons, we have enjoyed our stay.And now, after a short flight, we go from a large subcontinent to a small island of less than 25 million people. What will we see and learn there?RELATEDTOURTea Route Tea. It wasnt until the British arrived that this wild plant was turned into a commercial crop both in India and in Sri Lanka, creating those... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "The Tea Route Cycling Tour Part 1 (India)" Cancel reply

Irish riders Conn McDunphy and Cian Keogh, now riding for US-registered UCI Continental team APS Pro Cycling, are set to get their European season underway on Wednesday at Volta Comunitat Valenciana (2.Pro) in Spain. They will go up against many of the biggest World Tour teams in the sport over some very lumpy terrain. Key []

The 2026 cyclocross World Championships were a massive showcase of dominance from the home team who ended up taking 5 out of 7 available rainbow jerseys alongside a range of silver and bronze medals especially in the elite categories. Such was the story of Dutch talent Tibor del Grosso, two-time und...

Comment & Analysis: Ok, so that headline is clearly being provocative. I should clarify its not for clicks, but to make a point. For the avoidance of doubt, this is an article about the Wicklow to Greystones Greenway, and how it was covered in an article published in Saturdays The Irish Times, which ran with the headline: Richard Nairn: How green are greenways?As seems to be the case more and more with some media outlets, the headline is dressed up to address the wider question, but it offers little substance on the issue, and much of what is included could be classified as misinformation or, at best, only part of the story.The answer to the wider question of how green are greenways isnt clear-cut althougt it is worth exploring. How they can be made greener and what project teams can do to avoid impacting the environment. But thats not what we get in the article.The sub-header gives us a better idea of what the article is about: The proposed Wicklow to Greystones Greenway route runs right along the edge of the ecologically sensitive coastal area known as the Murrough Wetlands.Nairn writes of the success of some greenways and outlines how the routes have spawned new local businesses like bike hire and repair shops, cafes and saunas, and that As asustainableform of transport that gets people out of their cars, they are certainly welcome.But as well as misinformation, the article contains a lot of exaggeration, a lack of context around some points, and little in the way of solutions from somebody who has expertise in the area of mitigation on much larger and more destructive projects.Before we go any further, the public consultation page for the project with the preferred route maps can be found at wicklowgreenways.ie, while this video from Wicklow County Council gives a reasonable overview of the greenway project:The segment of the route shown below is where it connects into Wicklow Town the draft route is the red lne and it shows just how far in line the route goes to avoid environmentally sensitive areas. It also shows how the route zigzags around the edges of fields to avoid impacting farms.But from wind turbines to active travel projects to greenways, its worth noting that the paper of record is all too often sympathetic to conservative voices when it comes to some projects, especially public transport and active travel ones, but not so much when it comes to roads.In that vein, its fitting that the article is authored by Richard Nairn. He was, when interviewed by the Wicklow People in 2021, called one of Irelands leading ecologists. Interestingly, in that article, he came across as unapologetically involved in the destruction of part of the Glen of the Downs for the widening of the N11 as it passed through the environmentally sensitive area.The Wicklow People article opens: First things first, as Richard Nairn makes clear. Please, he requests politely but firmly, there will be no mention of precisely where this interview was conducted. Suffice it to say that we are talking somewhere near Ashford, give or take a few kilometres.That means Nairns farm and landholding could be close to the greenway, or even on it. We dont know, and its not really the point that he shouldnt have a say if the greenway was right on his land. The point is that this is the kind of conflict of interest youd think might be mentioned in an Irish Times column? But as some readers might know, Michael McDowell has written against MetroLink repeatedly in The Irish Times and has never disclosed how close his home is to a tunnelled section of the line.At best misleadingNairn writes that greenways incorporate two-way cycle tracks and walkways that are a minimum of 4 metres in width, sometimes wider to accommodate crossing places for pedestrians. But that is just not true most greenways are shared paths, not separate cycle tracks and walkways, and most of these shared paths are also typically 3 metres.Some are narrower. Although there are usually green buffers on both sides of the shared paths, these are not part of the paths.Separated paths are more suitable in high-demand areas, especially where theres also going to be commuting cycling use of the greenway and also higher volumes of pedestrians walking near large towns or cities. But separated paths are rare on greenways and not planned as part of the rural sections of the Wicklow to Greystones route, as shown in the photomontage below.IMAGE: Photomontage of the Wicklow to Greystones Greenway. Nairn continues that: Add an embankment beneath the hard surface and the total footprint may be up to 10 metres wide, especially in low-lying or wet ground. This is equivalent to a small country road.A total footprint for a greenway of 10 metres wide seems very much not in keeping with how greenways have been built around Ireland to date. Such a width may be needed in exceptional circumstances and most likely for short sections.The idea that 10 metres is equivalent to a small country road is again misleading. New construction of a rural road would likely include lane widths of up to 3.25 to 3.5 metres wide with verges or turning lanes, the carriageway alone could be 10 metres as standard width, before we get to hard margins, verges, hedges, etc, or extra width required for embankments.Added to the above point, he said: However, like any form of new infrastructure in the countryside, these greenways need to avoid sensitive areas. But he did so without much of a clear mention that the project team for the greenway seemed to have attempted to do so.Nairn said:On the east coast, the Wicklow to Greystones Greenway is being proposed jointly by TII andWicklow County Council. After initially proposing three wide corridors, the emerging preferred route is the one that largely follows the inland boundary of two European protected areas (SAC and SPA), crosses about a dozen farms and a number of rivers, including the Vartry. The proposed route runs right along the edge of the internationally important coastal area known as the Murrough Wetlands, which is separated from the sea by the Dublin to Wexford railway.But runs right along the edge is a strange way of saying runs mostly or totally outside of it.Nairn said that the main impacts of this scheme on birds are likely to be loss of habitat in wet grassland and marsh, interference with water flow to the wetlands due to culverting of streams and drains, disturbance during construction and due to people and dogs when it is in operation.So, given his expertise in outlining how far more impactful road projects can be built while reducing or eliminating different harms, does Nairn suggest anything for the greenway? No, he says, People are asking: How green is this greenway? and then quotes a local farmer with the talking points which will sound familiar to anybody whos listened to farmers against many greenways around the country.I mean, how can anybody take claims that therell be huge issues around public safety and biosecuritywhen greenways as well as public roads and walking routes have been successfully operated around or even through farms?Parkways, a term used mainly in the US, are not parks; they are roads through parks. Greenways are as impactful as parkways or any roads, but they are routes. Nothing can be built with zero impacts; the goal needs to be to minimise the impact. Greenways are partly about addressing the lack of public access and safe routes for people outside cars in rural areas across the country. We have to keep that in mind when were talking about farmers and other landowners who are privileged to own part of the countryside in a country with so little non-road access to rural areas and no right to roam.Some farmers have taken a different approach by volunteering their land for such projects or, with others, not objecting to the use of CPOs or coming forward to make agreements. This has some impact on farmers but enables their community and visitors to access the countryside without fear of being run over by a car, without those people impeding on active farms.