CW LIVE: Mark Cavendish to go without favourite coach at Astana Qazaqstan; Miguel Ángel López signs for Colombian Continental team; The fatal risk of potholes

Over 400 cyclists killed or injured due to poor road surfaces since 2016 

Department for Transport data shows that at least 425 cyclists have been killed or seriously injured as a result of poor road surfaces in England and Wales since 2016. 

Last week, 84-year-old Harry Colledge died after his front wheel got stuck in a nine-inch-deep crack in the road and he was thrown from his bike. His wife, Valerie, has since called on local governments to fix potholes, which she says are a “horrendous problem” for cyclists.

“Roads here are in a terrible condition,” she added. “The lane where Harry died is used by heavy milk trucks, tractors, and lorries, so often subsides.”

According to Cycling UK, 15% of cycling injuries in crashes are due to road defects. 

If you know of a particularly dangerous pothole in your area, you can report it to the charity’s Fill That Hole portal, which gets filtered through to the relevant councils. 

Mark Cavendish unable to tempt former coach to new team

Greek coach Vasilis Anastopoulos, credited by Mark Cavendish as being crucial to the sprinter’s 2021 renaissance, will remain at Soudal Quick-Step in 2023, despite efforts to lure him to join the Manxman at Astana Qazaqstan. 

A report today in Cyclingnews (opens in new tab) outlines that Cavendish had hoped to bring Anastopoulos with him to his new team, but any potential move broke down.

The Greek coach is understood to have been pivotal to Cavendish’s return to winning ways at the Tour de France in 2021, when the sprinter took four stage victories to equal the all-time record of 34. 

Speaking about Cavendish ahead of the race, Anastopoulos told Cycling Weekly: “When we first met, within five to 10 minutes there was a really strong connection between us.”

Cavendish too has spoken highly of his relationship with the Soudal Quick-Step coach, telling Procycling in 2021 that he was “doing every pedal rev with me. He’s invested, so passionate.”

The Manxman’s move to Astana Qazaqstan is yet to be officially confirmed. 

Miguel Ángel López pens contract with Team Medellín EPM

After having his contract terminated by Astana Qazaqstan, Colombian cyclist Miguel Ángel López has dropped down to Continental level – the third tier of professional cycling – joining Team Medellín EPM. 

Announcing the signing on Twitter on Sunday afternoon, the team wrote: “We will fly high this 2023.

“We are delighted to make the links between Miguel Ángel López and the team official for this season. How proud we are that you’re wearing our team colours and that you’ll represent Medellín for Colombia and the world.” 

In his announcement video, López said the team had given him a “big opportunity” to race this year. 

“It has been a complicated year,” the Colombian said, “being without a team in 2023, with all the teams filled up and there not being any space.”

Last month, the 28-year-old was dropped by Astana Qazaqstan, with the team citing his “probable connection” to a doctor under investigation in a doping case. 

The Colombian has reportedly been linked to Dr Marcos Maynar, a university professor who was arrested in May for alleged crimes of drug trafficking and money laundering. Maynar is believed to be at the centre of Operación Ilex, an ongoing doping investigation in Spain. 

Team Medellín EPM will present López in Medellín in the coming days, before travelling to Argentina for the Vuelta a San Juan.