Irontwit

Last week I wrote about how the Fred Whitton was such a great event. Today I read on the BBC website that the Etape Caledonia was deliberately sabotaged by a person or persons scattering carpet tacks all over the road. Incredibly, nobody seems to have been seriously injured and the police are investigating.

I’m disappointed with the BBC report in that throughout it refers to the event as a “race”, and even interviews the “winner”. In fact, the event is a sportive, perhaps better explained as a “challenge ride” in which there is no “winner”. Riders do not set off together in a “peleton”, but in small groups over a few hours. Times are recorded but organisers are not supposed to release a list of riders in finishing order.

The Etape Caledonia is unique among UK sportives in that it is held over an entirely closed circuit and this has allowed it to have a field of over 3,500 riders. All other sportives are held on public roads and as such are limited to a maximum of 1,500 riders, and many are smaller. However, even fields of this size have caused the odd issue e.g. the idiot farmer who removed the signage from the Cheshire Cat in 2008 because he objected to cyclist riding on “his” country lanes. The Etape Caledonia, however, has been much more controversial with many locals objecting to being effectively imprisoned for the day and not being able to get out and about, go to church etc. It has even been picked up as a cause celebre by a group going by the acronym ACRE (Against Closed Road Events) and has generated a lot of heated debate in cycle forums and the local press.

My own opinion is this: closing roads for hours in order to stage a cycle event is unnecessary and sets a precedent which might endanger many successful triathlons and sportives held on open roads. In my experience, the overwhelming majority of motorists take these events in good grace and are patient and courteous as they are usually held early on quiet roads at a weekend. I know the legendary Etape du Tour in France is held on fully closed roads, and has 8,500 riders. However, this event changes venue every year and France has obviously got a much greater affinity with the bicycle. Given the quietness of the Highland roads, and very long daylight hours in summer, I can’t see why this event has to have closed roads. Perhaps someone can explain?

The actions of the idiot(s) who spread the carpet tacks are unforgiveable, but this whole unsavoury episode may have further implications for sportive organisers across the country in trying to agree events with local councils and police.

Image under creative commons licence by Seb. on Flickr