Tweets of the week: Thibaut Pinot throws croissants in a lake, Lizzie Deignan gets an MBE, and Yves Lampaert builds a tractor
Here's your weekly round-up of the best of social media
Away from all the racing, the big news this week was the release of the second season of Netflix's Tour de France docuseries, Unchained.
I'll admit, I've only seen the first episode. My colleague, Adam Becket, has watched all 320 minutes of it, and thinks it's a "thrilling must-see", so I'll certainly be binge-watching the rest over the weekend.
My favourites scenes in these sorts of documentaries are those that take place outside of the bubble of bike racing, the moments that show a rider in the comfort of their own home, doing something mundane like the rest of us do.
For that reason, I found myself spellbound during episode one by the footage of Thibaut Pinot, France's sweetheart, tossing a bagful of croissants into a lake.
It wasn't so much the action itself, but rather the memory it jogged of Pinot's farewell Tour. The former Groumapa-FDJ rider retired at the end of last season, following an emotional send-off at his home Grand Tour, and has slipped out of public consciousness this year. Seeing him back on my screen was a delight, even if he was just feeding some fish.
That said, and I'm not an expert, I have some questions about Pinot's feeding technique. First of all, he seems to do exactly what my mum told me not to do on childhood outings to the duck pond: he throws entire hunks of bread into the lake. Unless the fish he's feeding are human-sized, surely tear them up a bit, Thibaut?
And secondly, just how many fish is he feeding? Pinot turns up with three sack fulls of croissants and bread, and lobs the entirety of their contents into the water. By the end of the scene, the lake looks like a giant, murky minestrone soup. Are we talking a four-figure number of fish? Surely not five figures? Or is there a select group with the appetite of a bear? If I run into the Frenchman at the Tour this year, this will be the first question I ask him.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Check out a snippet of the scene below. Also across social media this week, Yves Lampaert spends an evening building a Lego tractor, Alison Jackson enjoys some crisps, and one rider dares to wheelie on a fixed-gear track bike.
1. For lunch they're having coq au vin and a glass of red wine
Is Pinot fishing with croissants the most French thing ever? 😂 pic.twitter.com/dKuLp0G5HgJune 11, 2024
2. Yves Lampaert is, after all, "just a farmer's son from Belgium"
We challenged #TourdeSuisse overall leader @yveslampaert to build a Lego John Deere 😁 pic.twitter.com/HbAy2US9gOJune 10, 2024
3. Shoe pastry anyone?
I'm not sure about Q36.5's nutrition plan tbh #tds2024 pic.twitter.com/ahePgl8DTVJune 10, 2024
4. Big congratulations to Lizzie Deignan, who has taken one step closer to becoming Queen Elizabeth III
A post shared by Lizzie Deignan MBE (@l_deignan)
A photo posted by on
5. SD Worx-Protime love winning so much that they'll celebrate for anyone over the line
Nice to see that Christine and Lotte are so happy for Ruby. 😉Pic by @swpixtweets pic.twitter.com/LSmom6zwFNJune 9, 2024
6. This is either the look of a man who means business, or one who has just realised he left his rucksack at the pub
A post shared by Matteo Jorgenson (@matteojorgenson)
A photo posted by on
7. Here's a lesson in cyclists' math from Alison Jackson
A post shared by Alison Jackson (@aliactionjackson)
A photo posted by on
8. Demi Vollering's dog, Flo, has done more miles on the bike than me this year
A post shared by Demi Vollering (@demivollering)
A photo posted by on
9. A wheelie? On a track bike? Now that's real flair
A post shared by Alec Briggs (@alec_pedaler)
A photo posted by on
10. These new helmet designs are starting to get out of hand
A post shared by Phil Gaimon (@philgaimon)
A photo posted by on
11. This set-up may not be aero, but at least it'll get some nice shots
👀 New YouTube team in town, @AlpecinDCK?Looks like it's time to step up our game... 🫣 pic.twitter.com/w8U9uV9K72June 13, 2024
12. And finally – please excuse the poor word play – a Cofidis rider got just what he Wanty'd when a fan stepped in to give him a push at the Tour de Suisse
Always ready to help 🚴🫷#TourdeSuisse pic.twitter.com/mHRjTxYUcKJune 10, 2024
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is fluent in French and Spanish, and holds a master's degree in International Journalism, which he passed with distinction. Since 2020, he has been the host of The TT Podcast, offering race analysis and rider interviews.
An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill, and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides. His best result is 28th in a hill-climb competition, albeit out of 40 entrants.
-
The Oura ring reviewed: is this wellness tracker helpful to cyclists?
With its focus on recovery and wellness, the Oura ring offers unique insights but is it worth the investment over other wearables?
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Shimano RC703 road shoe review: sleek, stiff and robust
Shimano's second-tier offering combines a rigid carbon sole with handy Boa dials and protective toe caps
By Sam Gupta Published
-
Tweets of the week: Tadej Pogačar's Spotify Wrapped, Tom Pidcock gets lit, and Lidl-Trek pose in a supermarket
Here's your social media round-up, including the world champion's top-five artists
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Tom Pidcock as a cake, Mark Cavendish speaks Gen Z, and stiletto cycling shoes
There's a likeness beneath the icing
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: What's next for Mark Cavendish?
It's the question on everyone's lips
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Remco Evenepoel celebrates an important day, GB Olympians meet the King, and Ineos Grenadiers throw a party
Happy World Ventilation Day everybody
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Demi Vollering rescues a goat, Mark Cavendish does martial arts, and Wout van Aert sings as a squirrel
It's been a particularly surreal week on social media
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Off-season hits hard, Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich hang out, and Lotte Kopecky shows she's a daredevil
Jeremy Vine gets irate about a cycle lane and more in this week's social media roundup
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tweets of the week: Lidl-Trek go brat, some muddy riders at Paris-Tours, and Cav is the new Bond?
It's everyone's favourite cycling social media round-up
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tweets of the week: Tadej Pogačar's special nutrition isn't as pro as you think
The Giro d'Italia winner has his own Italian dish
By Tom Davidson Published