A car driver who left his vehicle and violently threw a cyclist to the ground after an altercation in Edinburgh two years ago, a "violent and unprovoked attack" that resulted the bike rider sustaining a fractured skull and bleed on the brain, has avoided a prison sentence. Disturbing footage of Joseph Hedley, 39, grabbing 34-year-old cyclist Iain Brow by the throat and physically assaulting him in Edinburgh's Cowgate area on 20 September 2024 was widely shared on social media, resulting in a police appeal and a public outcry. This eventually led to Hedley turning himself in.In an earlier hearing during which Hedley admitted assaulting the victim to his severe injury, permanent impairment and to the danger of his life Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that Brown lost consciousness in the immediate aftermath of the attack, and he had to be rushed to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. During this week's hearing, as reported on the BBC and elsewhere, Fiscal Depute Peter Finnon explained that the cyclist had suffered serious injuries including an acute bleed on the brain, a traumatic brain injury and a fractured skull and that the medics who attended the scene and treated him described his injuries to be "very much to the potential of danger to Mr Brown's life".Speaking to STV journalists after the hearing, Hedley claimed to be sorry for actions, but then shrugged his shoulders and said: He was blocking my way so I had to move him. He subsequently added: I didnt leave him for dead. He was kicking off."You broke his skull and drove away, the reporter says, to which Hedley simply replied: Yeah but that doesnt matter.The defendant's lawyer, Calum Turner, said Hedley had "not intended" to inflict serious injury on the cyclist, and that he had not driven since the incident. It was claimed that Brown had shouted at the and shone a bike light into the car, causing Hedley's partner, who was in the passenger seat, to suffer a "seizure".When handing down the sentence, Sheriff Fergus Thomson told the defendant he had inflicted "significant injuries", and explained that he was avoiding a custodial sentence "by the narrowest of margins".Instead Hedley received a two-year supervision order, and he will also be tagged and given a 12-month overnight home curfew, meaning he can't leave his place of residence between 7pm and 7am for the next year.Faith Currie, Procurator Fiscal for Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders, said: "This was a violent, sustained and unprovoked assault on an innocent member of the public who suffered serious injuries."The actions of Joseph Hedley were horrific and shocking and could easily have had more devastating consequences."

UAE Team Emirates - XRG's 97 victories in 2025 made history in professional cycling, by far beating the previous victories one team would achieve in a year. Whilst it didn't reach the same number - ending at 78- the Emirati team has conquered many of the sport's top titles in 2026 with the likes of...

Scottish rider Kate Richardson will form part of the inaugural Lidl-Trek Future Racing Women squad, it was announced on Wednesday.Along with nine other promising young riders from eight nations, the 24-year-old will be part of the new development team, which mirrors the existing men's version.Richardson, who rode for British UCI Continental team Handsling Alba Development Road Team in 2026, is a former British national circuit champion, and is a reigning European champion in the team pursuit on the track.This year, she won the Tour of the Reservoir on the road, part of British Cycling's National Road Series, while last year she won the Tour de Feminin in Czechia. She previously rode for Lifeplus Wahoo and Hess. Frank Schleck, the women's team manager at Lidl-Trek, said: "Our aim is to give young riders the time, support and opportunities they need to develop. The step up to the WorldTour is becoming more demanding, so we want to create a clear pathway where riders can learn, make mistakes and grow without the immediate pressure to deliver results."Now is the right time because women's cycling is growing, and our investment needs to extend beyond the WorldTour team. We also have a responsibility to help develop the next generation."The nine others are Chantal Pegolo and Matilda Rossignoli, of Italy, Austrians Tabea Huys and Liv Wenzel, Ane Zubeldia of Spain, Dane Olympia Norris-Mortensen, Messane Brutigam of Germany, and Americans Katherine Sarkisov and Ella Sabo.Previously, Lidl-Trek had integrated development riders in with its Women's WorldTour team, with Ava and Isabella Holmgren the most high-profile of these; the latter had a standout season, finishing eighth overall at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. British riders Harry Hudson and Seb Grindley were both part of the men's Future Racing squad this season."When selecting the riders, we looked beyond the results. Potential, attitude, a willingness to learn and what each rider could bring to the group were all important. We also want to support riders across different disciplines, because there is more than one route to becoming a successful road rider," Schleck added."The goal is to prepare them for the demands of professional cycling, both on and off the bike. Winning is part of that learning process, but success will also mean seeing riders gain confidence, take responsibility and eventually earn their place in the WorldTour."Lidl-Trek's Women's WorldTour team have signed four riders for 2027 so far, including former Tour winner Kasia Niewiadoma.

Oxford Street has entered a new era, according to Transport for London, with one of Europes busiest shopping streets now pedestrianised.London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the changes to Oxford Street are momentous for the capital and said it would create a vibrant destination for Londoners and visitors.There has been talk of pedestrianising Oxford Street for decades. After so many false dawns, and now working with a Government who share the scale of my ambition, Im proud that were finally unlocking a new era for the street, he said.About half of the 1.2-mile road between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street is now permanently closed to traffic. That includes buses, cars, taxis and cycles.Cycling consternationThe exclusion of cycles from the stretch of road has, maybe unsurprisingly, led to consternation from those willing to stoke the debate around cycling etiquette and cycling advocates.The Standard jumped on the opportunity to highlight how cyclists were already breaking the rules. It went down to the newly pedestrianised street from 8am on Tuesday morning and counted 51 people cycling through the new gates and barriers.The publication then published an article asking why the Met Police or TfL werent fining any of the cyclists, ebike users and delivery riders travelling along the closed strip.While some may be unaware of the new restrictions, others were seen getting back on their bikes after being told by Transport for London (TfL) staff to dismount, The Standard wrote, before adding that the approach appears to be to provide advice and guidance rather than issuing fines.It is understood that dockless ebike operators Lime, Forest and Voi have geofenced the pedestrianised section of Oxford Street. If a rider attempts to travel through the area, the electric bike or scooter motor will shut down.Cyclists who ignore Oxford Streets restrictions could face a 160 fine, reduced to 80 if it's paid within 14 days, according to TfL.Yesterday, the transport body took to social media to remind cyclists of the new rules, sharing a picture of a sign that says Please walk your bike.Cycling is no longer permitted on the traffic-free section of Oxford Street between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street. We will maintain an active presence of enforcement officers.You can continue your journey using the surrounding highway network and choose an alternative route from the nearby streets that remain open, TfL wrote on X.TfL advised that cyclists can find accessible routes through its London cycling map. Planning to cycle through the West End? Cycling is no longer permitted on the traffic-free section of Oxford Street between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street. We will maintain an active presence of enforcement officers. You can continue your journey using the pic.twitter.com/F6YkBgIDnj TfL (@TfL) October 27, 2026 Parallel routes neededThe London Cycling Campaign (LCC) said on Monday that action should be taken to demand cycling routes parallel to Oxford Street.[T]hese changes are great news, despite them meaning cycling is now banned from Oxford Street itself.This is a massive win on moves to reclaim West End space from motor vehicles and make the nations iconic high street far better.Its the boldest thing the Mayor has done since ULEZ and its a real shift in the way we treat central London, LCC said in a statement.LCC said that the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street is very much what the Dutch would do but it added that unlike the Dutch, we dont have a low traffic central zone, and we dont have a viable and dense network of cycle routes that all connect already.The very real risk is that we dont end up with a much-needed broader low traffic west end, but a low cycling one instead.LCC said that inaction on the issue could lead to some people stopping cycling, flouting the ban or finding haphazard routes through Marylebone and Mayfair.The charity highlighted how Westminster Council has already started building cycle tracks on George Street, north of Oxford Street, but said that the cycleways need to be double the length.Even if Oxford Streets pedestrianisation happened overnight, the cycling infrastructure needed around the busy shopping strip will take longer to build.In the meantime, it seems Londons new bold project has become another flash point for debates around the capitals cycling boom. You may like: City of London Police launches Sin Bin for cyclists that jump red lights

Sebastian Putz will step up to the WorldTour with Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe in 2027 after spending two seasons with the German team's development squad. The 23-year-old Austrian will now have the opportunity to continue his progression within a setup committed to developing young talent and promot...

For a rugby and football loving nation of just over three million people, Wales has produced a remarkable collection of professional cycling talent. Geraint Thomas made history by winning the Tour de France in 2018, Luke Rowe became one of the peloton's most respected road captains, and Joshua Tarli...

Gravel bikes GRVL BKS.Theyre ruining everything.EVERYTHING.Oh, sure, I know. Gravel bikes are actually a good thing because now people can choose more stable and versatile bikes with wider tires and rack and fender mounts.Sorry, but thats a load of crap. We had that already! It was called a touring bike.We also had Instagram already, only it was called a pad.Okay, so Ive just proved to you conclusively and indisputably that the GRVL BK has given us nothing. NOTHING. Meanwhile its ruining everything. EVERYTHING. For example, since a GRVL BK is basically just a pre-suspension (and now, increasingly, post-suspension) mountain bike, which was itself basically just an aggressive flat-bar touring bike, mountain biking is no longer cycling and mountain bikes are no longer bikes, and people are either riding electric motocross bikes and calling it mountain bikingOr, if theyre still actually riding human-powered bikes, the bike is now just a prop to hold onto while they fly through the air:Its also ruined road bikes for a number of reasons, the most obvious being that not only has the rim brake road bike completely disappeared, but now people look upon them with abject, animal fear:Wait, arent those the things they used to force his eyes open in Clockwork Orange?,' they gasp as they recoil in horror:And now its coming for cyclocross, too. Recently, I mentioned the Gravel/Cyclocross Inversion. Now people want to change the very rules of cylcocross just to make it more convenient for other people with gravel bikes:Of course, the answer to the question posed in the headline is No. The reason for this is simple, and its the same reason why the answer to the all of the following questions is also No.Is it time for ice hockey players to wear crampons instead of skates?Is it time for the NBA to lower the baskets and widen the hoops?Isnt the sport of gymnastics a little too judgy and shouldnt we get rid of scoring?Shouldnt cricket be immediately comprehensible to laypeople?These things are the things they are and if you change them they become something else. Similarly, cyclocross racing is not gravel racing, or mountain bike racing, or any of the other forms of off-road bicycle racing that came after it and continue to mutate. Its riding a road-adjacent bicycle on a variety of surfaces circuit with obstacles. So why is the following even a question?The irony is that 16 years later, that rule designed to make the sport more accessible and inexpensive may be holding it hostage. The idea may have worked back in CXs heyday when cantilever brakes were the norm and disc brakes were a rarity, but today, with almost every bike running a disc brake setup, a normal set of gravel wheels is too wide to accommodate the thinner tyre for cyclocross. So, is it time for the UCI to loosen the restrictions, or would that lead cross down the slippery slope of turning into gravel or MTB racing and disappearing altogether?Oh, right, because GRVL. Specifically, GRVL BKS have gotten so ridiculous that a normal set of gravel wheels is too wide to accommodate the thinner tyre for cyclocross. Okay, so the bikes have gotten stupid, so what? Why is a gravel trend (GRVL TRND) towards absurdly wide tires thats only a few years old now supposed to be the wheel standard across all disciplines? Also, presumably a normal set of road wheels (if such a thing even exists anymore) is not too wide to accommodate a cylcocross tire, so whats the problem?Furthermore, if youre a normal person who sucks at bikesand the vast majority of people who ride them dothen none of these tire width rules really apply to you anyway, so who cares?Its worth noting that the restriction does not apply in all races; in the UK and US, the rules are often (but, not always) loosened for amateur fields. Some events will allow any bike including mountain bikes check with the organiser before you head to compete.Trust me, I sucked at cyclocross for years, and I promise you never once did anybody attempt to measure my tires or pay any form of attention whatsoever to any of the equipment I was using:In fact the only interactions I ever had with race officials were when they pulled me from the course because Id been lapped.As for the riders who dont suck, competing at a high level in any sport is about adherence to regulations, regardless of how arbitrary they may seem. You wear the clothes they tell you to wear, you use the equipment they tell you to use, and you follow the rules they tell you to follow. Thats it! Unfortunately, the difference with cycling is that a lot of fans are also riders themselves, and they project their own consumerist desires on the professionals. Believe me, professional road and cyclocross racers were not asking for disc brakes and electronic shiftingthey just use what theyre given and get on with it. The only ones making a big deal about this stuff are the Freds who need equipment to compensate for their own suckiness as well as the suckiness of those around them. (You need that one finger braking when the Fred ahead of you one-fingers his own oversensitive dick breaks and takes out like half the group ride.) So I very much doubt they care which tires theyre allowed to use, just as long as nobody else is allowed to break the rules either. Meanwhile, when you suck you can do whatever you wantlike enter a cyclocross race on a Jones with 3 tires:[Photo: @shatterkiss]Okay, fine, if you suck you can do whatever. But what if the tire width regulations are actually hurting participation in the elite races?I think we are more than due for an update to the tyre width regulations for UCI events, says Bill Schieken, founder of CX Hairs and promoter for DCCX and Pan-American Cyclocross Championships. He sees the participant numbers drop hugely during the races that have the tyre width requirements, and believes that the rules are keeping the elite fields in particular smaller than they would be otherwise.I dunno, I find this rather difficult to believe. It seems to me the reason numbers might drop during a race with tire width requirements is because, as he says, it applies mostly to the elite fieldsand it stands to reason that those are small, since as weve established, most people suck, and theyre only sucking more as time goes on and we coddle them with equipment. Plus, there have never been more opportunities to pay to suck at riding bikes alongside a lot of other people, whether thats a corporate gravel race from Life Time, Inc., or your local painfully slow Alt-Conformist Group Ride. I doubt very much shrinking elite fields in cyclocross has anything to do with the elites not having access to 33mm tires, or being unwilling to ride them.And here we go with the road bike thing again:Despite loving the 33s personally, Ortenblad agrees. I cant say for sure if I think tyre width keeps people from racing CX, but I definitely think that a 33mm tyre feels a bit archaic seeing as I ride 32mm tyre on my road bike now, he says. I do constantly think a 35 or 38mm tyre option would be good for cross. I think bumping the max size number a bit would be good for the sport. Obviously, we dont need people out there on massive gravel tyres, but I think the racing would be a bit faster and maybe more fun on a slightly bigger tyre.Why is this a You cant use your gravel bike for cyclocross and thats bad story and not an I can now use my road bike for cyclocross and thats good story?And are we really going to pretend elite riders, even the ones who arent pros, dont all have like ten zillion wheelsets?At the pro level, the 33mm width wasnt a problem ten years ago. Today, it challenges the very racers the rule was meant to protect: privateers and elites on a tight budget. If an elite racer has a gravel bike, they still will likely need a new wheelset in order to race cyclocross, despite the bikes and tyres being nearly identical. Widen the tyre restrictions, and you potentially widen the pool of athletes showing up to races because gravel teams and gravel privateers could more easily hop into a nearby UCI race with the equipment they already own.And if this is really a problem, someone should tell some of these poor elite racers that if youre willing to use cantis you can buy a used cyclocross race bike for less than what a crabon wheelset costs; in fact, youd probably have enough change left over to buy a pit bike, too. And heres a little secret for anybody whos never raced cyclocross:You dont need disc brakes in cyclocross because you almost never need to stop.But no, instead lets revise everything so that people can use their gravel bikes and ruin itCyclocross is just waiting for everyone to realize that their gravel bike is capable of doing cyclocross, says Gregory. But while the gravel bike may work well in a local race, the tyre is unlikely to conform to UCI standards. We shouldnt have a tyre width rule for amateur categories, and really, I dont think the pros would go much wider anyway. I cant imagine Mathieu van der Poel racing a 45mm tyre maybe a 38mm though.But at least theyll be able tosell more cyclocross tires?And Ortenblad makes the most valid point about industry standards: It seems like gravel only took off because the industry wanted to sell something they didnt already own so maybe if we bump tyre sizes up, the tyre industry will at least make some profit on cross again as everyone buys new tyres.I dunno, Im pretty sure everyone was buying new tires every season anyway.But sure, dont listen to me, and by next year theyll be debating whether you should be able to use 50mm, a freehub, and multiple gears in track racing.