Grassmarket

Looking at the results coming in….the Women’s Team Sprint is now being run in the same three rider/three lap format the men use, which means not many of the smaller countries can present teams, so only 6 nations competing. I’m supposing that’s going to be the default format now?

European Champs starting tomorrow. team has some Olympians, some squad members who didn't make Tokyo, and some new names. MenBRITTON Rhys Team Pursuit, Omnium, Madison, Points Race, Scratch Race, Elimination RaceBUNTING James Team Sprint, Keirin, Time TrialFIELDING Alistair Team SprintNORRIS Hayden Sprint, Time TrialPERRETT William Team Pursuit, Points Race, Elimination RaceTANFIELD Charlie Team Pursuit, Individual PursuitTIDBALL William Team Pursuit, Points Race, Elimination RaceTRUMAN Joseph Team Sprint, Sprint, KeirinTURNBULL Hamish Team Sprint, Sprint, KeirinWOOD Oliver Team Pursuit, Omnium, Madison, Scratch RaceWomenARCHIBALD Katie Omnium, Madison, Scratch RaceBARKER Megan Team Pursuit, Individual PursuitBARNWELL Ella Team PursuitBATE Lauren Team Sprint, Sprint, KeirinCAPEWELL Sophie Team Sprint, Sprint, KeirinEVANS Neah Omnium, Madison, Points Race, Elimination RaceKING Eluned Team Pursuit, MadisonLEECH Madelaine Team Pursuit, Individual PursuitLEWIS Sophie Team Pursuit, Madison, Points Race, Scratch Race, Elimination RaceRIDGE-DAVIS Blaine Team Sprint, Sprint, KeirinTANNER Millicent Team Sprint UEC's website is a bit of mess as usual, but the Tissot official timing website is a bit easier to understand, and you'll need it for the results of the morning sessions. https://www.tissottiming.com/2021/uec/en-gb

Hmmm.

But wait there’s more! Mark Cavendish won from a breakaway group in the Münsterland Giro in Germany. Also Andre Greipel’s farewell race.

Turned out to be a very good final day with the hilly last couple of laps in Zagreb city. Steve Williams defended his jersey with a second place on the day.

Moscon building his lead up again, chasing group too busy counting their chickens. Boivin next to crash.

Was doing it yesterday as well. Moscon bike change!

Same thing as happened yesterday - a strong rider is holding back in a group in the hope that weaker riders are going to contribute, but in fact all they’re doing is holding him back. Ok, now vdP has gone all in.

Van der Poel so confident he’s riding with an air brake.

Millions of dollars worth of cycling talent land in some random person’s front garden.

Don’t know if riders are entitled to keep any of the beetroots they fall into.

Anyone have “White Paint” in the “What is going to cause the first big crash?” sweepstakes? My own pick, “Runaway horse” hasn’t come up for decades.

Get drunk first thing in the morning: plenty time to have a sleep, sober up and get drunk again at lunchtime. Old pro tip from Scottish football fans in London for Scotland/England games.

Plenty slippy road markings: velodrome should be fairly safe.

Men’s race is away.

Pacemakers head off at announced, discussed, agreed pace. No-one follows. Athletes now shouting at pacemakers to bring them back. Problem is pacemakers are paid to run at a certain pace, are worried that if they don’t do the job they don’t get paid.

Well, they won a lot of them, just not the ones people actually watch.

Goes back into the blue after riding on the boards: automatic relegation say the judges. Well done Lizzie!

Sheer cruelty putting up those barriers on the tarmac.

Looks like Deignan is holding it now.

And a predictable disaster when the big group follows.

Already looking like we have a winner with Lizzie Deignan two minutes up with 45k to go. Just a smart move to be out in front, the second group are skidding & falling all over the place. Some very fine heaps of manure on display here: local cows have every reason to be proud.

Very rainy, windy & muddy on the old Napoleonic pavés today. Some of them could fall into the maize fields & never be seen again.

First pro win for Stephen Williams in , and takes the lead in the overall!

And it seems there’s also a marathon in….errm….Košice.