"The first Tour of Britain for five years has begun with a series of complaints by riders over safety. Olympian Roger Hammond, who finished sixth, said: "The first few riders went into a diversion for the cars at 500m, I got balked and couldn't get back." About half the field were thought to have wanted to halt the race twice soon after the start, and as the race passed through holiday traffic in Blackpool. Italian Andrea Peron said: "Cars were asked to stop but wouldn't." Peron told The Guardian: "The first 10 guys would pass, then the cars would move with the peloton. "We told the race direction they had to do something, because it was way too dangerous. They have to come up with a solution.
British professional Charly Wegelius added: "The situation seemed to be too much for the marshals. "My livelihood is at stake, but I'm a British pro and I want racing in Britain to be successful, something I can be proud of." Event director Tony Doyle commented: "We're aware that the riders' safety is paramount. "We've been assured that steps will be taken to solve the problems. The police are going to extend the support they give us. "For some police and marshals it's been some years since they last worked on an event of this scale."
----------------------------
Madness - I'd expect this sort of problem in a charity ride, but not a professional race!!
About half the field were thought to have wanted to halt the race twice soon after the start, and as the race passed through holiday traffic in Blackpool. Italian Andrea Peron said: "Cars were asked to stop but wouldn't." Peron told The Guardian: "The first 10 guys would pass, then the cars would move with the peloton.
Standard British level of respect for cyclists (and 'other people' in general, come to that). Very sad, but I don't think anyone here would be surprised.
<snip>
Quoted message said:
Madness - I'd expect this sort of problem in a charity ride, but not a professional race!!
Well, they could install a solid wall of plod and marshalls to line the route, but otherwise an appropriate level of civilised behavior from those not involved is required for this kind of event to pass without the kind of incident reported. In an increasingly "F**k You!" society this seems less and less likely to happen.
-- Rob
Please keep conversations in the newsgroup so that all may contribute and benefit.
The = police are going to extend the support they give us.
I should bl**dy well hope so!
Quoted message said:
"For some police and marshals it's been some years since they last = worked on an event of this scale."
Ridiculous excuse, isn't it. They can quite happily shut off roads for various running events without incident. Forgive me for being an old cynic, but it smacks of the typical disregard/contempt for cyclists all too prevalent in the UK. After all, cyclists are slow, aren't they...
AAAAGGGHHH!!!
They couldn't organise a p*ss-up in brewery...
But I really shouldn't be surprised :-(
Cheers, helen s
--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove fame & fortune h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$
--Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off--
"For some police and marshals it's been some years since they last = worked on an event of this scale."
Ridiculous excuse, isn't it. They can quite happily shut off roads for various running events without incident.
For one or two big running events yes, but that is certainly the minority. It is getting harder and harder to stage road running events. There have been road races where runners have been hit by passing cars. Road races have been reorganised and some have been cancelled. The police cost money and closing roads, especially the distance required for a cycle race, isn't easy.
I accept that something like the Tour of Britain needs some roads to be closed if it is to be safe and a success but you'd have to ask the organisers what steps they took towards this and whether the police and other authorities limited the road closures.
"dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
They couldn't organise a p*ss-up in brewery...
I was once responsible for running a large multinational project that had had some ups and downs in its early days. When the project finished, we booked the Black Sheep Brewery for a night and invited everyone who had been involved with the project. So there was no way that the above accusation could be levelled at us. -- Mark South, Super Genius: World Citizen, Net Denizen, Brewery Pissup Organiser
I accept that something like the Tour of Britain needs some roads to be closed if it is to be safe and a success but you'd have to ask the organisers what steps they took towards this and whether the police and other authorities limited the road closures.
Surely for a race like this not all the roads need to be closed for the full duration of the race?
I was living in Leeds for the few years when the Leeds Classic was part of the cycling calendar, and as I recall, the city centre was only closed off to road traffic a fairly short time before the riders arrived, thus minimizing inconvenience.
And by the time the riders arrived in the city the roads they had covered early on in the stage were already open again.
It's not like the London marathon when you have thousands of runners spread across the whole route over a period of several hours.
I accept that something like the Tour of Britain needs some roads to be closed if it is to be safe and a success but you'd have to ask the organisers what steps they took towards this and whether the police and other authorities limited the road closures.
Surely for a race like this not all the roads need to be closed for the full duration of the race?
No, a rolling closure is possible and frequently used for races.
Quoted message said:
It's not like the London marathon when you have thousands of runners spread across the whole route over a period of several hours.
The spread would be important though. Some cycle races drop those who are behind by a specified time and a key stage in order that the rolling closure doesn't expand. This is something that would be agreed with the police.
All road races (running and cycling) need police permission. This follows a risk assessment---this is the athletics one:
I accept that something like the Tour of Britain needs some roads to be closed if it is to be safe and a success but you'd have to ask the organisers what steps they took towards this and whether the police and other authorities limited the road closures.
Surely for a race like this not all the roads need to be closed for the full duration of the race? [...] It's not like the London marathon when you have thousands of runners spread across the whole route over a period of several hours.
Surely for a race like this not all the roads need to be closed for the full duration of the race? [...] It's not like the London marathon when you have thousands of runners spread across the whole route over a period of several hours.
The problem was that the escape had a 18 minute lead on the peloton.
That would certainly be a problem for a rolling closure---imagine all the junctions in an 18 minute (6 miles?) stretch of road.
On Thu, 2 Sep 2004 14:46:39 +0200, "Mark South" <[email hidden]> wrote (more or less):
Quoted message said:
"dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
They couldn't organise a p*ss-up in brewery...
I was once responsible for running a large multinational project that had had some ups and downs in its early days. When the project finished, we booked the Black Sheep Brewery for a night and invited everyone who had been involved with the project. So there was no way that the above accusation could be levelled at us.
I once worked for an organisation (which shall remain nameless). For the Christmas lunch do, several hundred folk turned up the brewery just opposite Finsbury Square, in London, only to be told it was closed...
Standard British level of respect for cyclists (and 'other people' in general, come to that). Very sad, but I don't think anyone here would be surprised.
<snip>
Quoted message said:
Madness - I'd expect this sort of problem in a charity ride, but not a professional race!!
Well, they could install a solid wall of plod and marshalls to line the route, but otherwise an appropriate level of civilised behavior from those not involved is required for this kind of event to pass without the kind of incident reported. In an increasingly "F**k You!" society this seems less and less likely to happen.
So very very true, and it seems to me, ever on the increase. ...............
The gentle game of soccer is so much more appealing to Joe Public, as you can sit on your sofa with your triple portion of Fish & Chips and 24 pack Carling and take part ..............
ps I love fish & chips and Carling (once in a while) but going off violent football matches .....
Madness - I'd expect this sort of problem in a charity ride, but not a professional race!!
Bearing in mind the amount (or lack of) publicity this event has had, to the average car owner, it IS a charity ride, because no-ones told them any different. So you're certainly going to get people who won't stop.
....I'm off to Nottingham tomorrow. Thankfully the ride is in the opposite direction....
Bearing in mind the amount (or lack of) publicity this event has had, to the average car owner, it IS a charity ride, because no-ones told them any different. So you're certainly going to get people who won't stop.
I blame the BBC. They've got several channels filled up with [censored] programmes about people having boot sales and decorating their front room that could easily be put to one side while the cycling's on. They don't seem to appreciate that having the TV rights also means having the responsibility to give the race adequate coverage so that new sponsors will be attracted for future editions.
And following the British cycling successes in the Olympics, you'd think there would be enough of an audience - I bet audiences would at least equal what they got for the African Cup of Nations football that got such extensive coverage a few months ago.
"The first Tour of Britain for five years has begun with a series of complaints by riders over safety. Olympian Roger Hammond, who finished sixth, said: "The first few riders went into a diversion for the cars at 500m, I got balked and couldn't get back." About half the field were thought to have wanted to halt the race twice soon after the start, and as the race passed through holiday traffic in Blackpool. Italian Andrea Peron said: "Cars were asked to stop but wouldn't." Peron told The Guardian: "The first 10 guys would pass, then the cars would move with the peloton. "We told the race direction they had to do something, because it was way too dangerous. They have to come up with a solution.
British professional Charly Wegelius added: "The situation seemed to be too much for the marshals. "My livelihood is at stake, but I'm a British pro and I want racing in Britain to be successful, something I can be proud of." Event director Tony Doyle commented: "We're aware that the riders' safety is paramount. "We've been assured that steps will be taken to solve the problems. The police are going to extend the support they give us. "For some police and marshals it's been some years since they last worked on an event of this scale."
This happened in a previous Kellogg's Tour when some old dodger in a brown Cortina ignored a police roadblock and drove straight through the peloton, forcing riders into the ditch. Adri Van der Poel was injured (and fuming, quite rightly).
There isn't the culture in the UK to actually close roads properly.
I was on top of Holme Moss today. After the leading group a lady (surprising driving a 4x4) forced her way up the hill and tried to park on a load of people sitting and watching the race. Absolutely crackers!
Anyways, apart from that the atmosphere on Holme Moss and at the finish in Sheffield was brilliant. I hope in continues and with a lot more coverage on TV (and a lot less mentalists) next year and beyond.
Paul F
--- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.747 / Virus Database: 499 - Release Date: 01/09/2004
