Video: What happens when a sportive meets a road race coming the other way?

Just settle down lads and have a nice cup of Tetley's tea...

I read the whole thread of comments before watching the vid so I am somewhat underwhelmed.

Nothing much happens. The sportive riders mainly pull in to the side and wait. One guy doesn't but then does when he sees what's happening. He's probably more dopey than arrogant. Everyone then gets on with their lives presumably, apart from unseen grumbly guy who's probably still chuntering on to himself.

Coming from Lancashire its great to hear two Yorkshiremen going at it.

Stereotypically, Yorkshiremen are never wrong, just big heads!

I did feel a bit sorry for the marshal though.

Lets hope the TdF has no such cock ups. Now, if we were doing it on the best side of the Pennines say in Manchester, or Liverpool, Wigan or Preston.........

Bit underwhelming when you view the vid. Main problem is the routes crossed, and people got confused which cycling event the marshals were covering. An organisational problem.

I've had to deal with sportive riders whilst marshalling a race but they were all receptive and understanding. Gladly I've never encountered people like those in the video (yet), but I'm disappointed that I have never been called 'sunbeam'!

Yeah lets enter a sportive!!
We get to bimble around 5 abreast chucking our gel wrappers in the hedge just like real racers.
See my number?!! Yeah, imma racing, better get out my way.
Sportives are where it's at.
Doesn't spoil anything for real cyclist, watcha talking about?...You're an idiot. Bet you never even done a sportive.

You can tell a Yorkshireman, but you can't tell him much.

There are a couple of people on here suggesting that the road race shouldn't have been on the wrong side of the road. Unless I'm mistaken though the road closure is in both directions, suggesting that everyone involved in organising it knows it's a fast corner that needs a clear road.

Seems pretty obvious who is at fault.

Dear Roadies,

Some of the abusive comments on this thread about other cyclists based purely on what event they chose to do to enjoy their saturday afternoon make me utterly ashamed to be associated with road biking.

Go and read your own rule book, many of you for the first time by the sound of it. Skip to Rule 20.12.2 if you find the whole document too much of a challenge, but bear in mind, your licence includes a statement that you understand and agree to obey all 34 pages worth.

Having done so I would hope that some of you go back and read what you have posted above in a new light. Many of you should be posting apologies for your comments.

But just in case you are still too short-sighted to understand;

Get lost you bunch of arrogant twats!
The road race has no right to infringe into the lane of oncoming traffic. Even if they are 'expecting' a closed junction it is still absolutely their own responsibility to be aware of all the conditions, any road furniture, and any other road users and to take the corner safely. Whether that was a group of sportive riders, or a truck driver that ignores the marshall, or if it is a fallen tree, or a random old man on a mobility scooter (see the women's tour of UK last week for that one) it is still up to the riders to behave in a safe manner and to obey the laws of the road at all times.

As for the abuse some of you have thrown at Sportive riders in general. You should try taking your heads out of your arse for a while. Just because you like one part of the sport and they like another doesn't make you better than them. Just because you go a bit faster certainly doesn't.

I was in the road race and can vouch for the organisers. It was very well marshalled and very well organised. There were plenty of clear signs were up several days in advance "advance warning of road race" with date of event at each junction. The couple of idiots who ignored the marshalls should be ashamed, take a step back and realise they were very wrong and openly apologise. If they don't it says even more about them than others have already said. Luckily there was no crash. This is nothing to do with sportive riders v road race riders. This is just about a couple of head strong cyclists that made a big error and total fools of themselves as the video shows. There were also members of public who witnessed these individuals clearly ignore the marshals who were trying very hard to protect all groups from an accident.

Incidentally, it's not just sportives but club runs too that will often ignore an approaching road race.

Accredited marshals may have the legal power to stop and hold non-race traffic but that is not the solution.

In today's world, the real answer is to apply to your local authority for a road closure order. That can be in the form of a total road closure (usually for smaller circuits) or a rolling road closure.

The former will almost certainly call for a traffic management plan and if the race is likely to attract any sort of a crowd, at least one meeting with the local safety advisory group.

This approach might seem rather daunting at first but you gain confidence and experience the more events you organise. Certainly something that the BC regions or promoting groups should be taking on board. A bit more of a effort is of course required than just twisting the arm of somebody in the club to take on the burden.

The rolling road closure will necessitate hiring a team of police motor-cyclists to precede the race and stop approaching traffic. Apart from Highways Agency Traffic Officers, nobody else will have the authority to do that.

Hiring police need not be that expensive if ACPO guidelines are followed. If your local police force won't co-operate, find out precisely what other organisations are charged for their services.

Initially, the best way to achieve the closed road scenario for your race is to approach your local parish or district council. Get them on side and you'll be surprised how things can progress. Road closure orders are normally issued by the county or unitary highways' authorities and if the event is either linked to a charity or can be classified as a community event there is often no charge.

One of the obvious advantages of a road closure for a cycle race is that all other traffic, whether motor powered or pedal powered is thereby prevented from entering onto the course, including pedestrians and horse riders. That measure will then oblige the sportive organiser to re-route his/her event, rather than the road race organiser.

Not wanting to defend the sportive riders too much, but has anyone considered that they simply didn't realise there was another event on?

Imagine you are on an organised sportive and you see road signs saying "Road Temporarily Closed for Cycling Event" or some such. It would not be entirely unreasonable to think that might be for the event you are doing and just carry on.

No excuse for ignoring the marshal of course, but it might explain the confusion.

Ultimately the organisers on both sides should have been aware of the other event and sorted things out between themselves, not left it to the marshals and mamils.

Cyclists giving cyclists a bad name, thanks a million guys.

Brain dead. Demerits all 'round.

A generalization I know but, there are too many sportive riders who can't ride a bike properly in a group let alone understand the etiquette.

And when some of them get fit enough to race they will not be told and therefore never learn what I learnt on a traditional "club run".

All the of people who think the sportive riders were in the "wrong" are clearly the road.cc sheep / fascists brigade.

Baa Baa.

Another non-story from road.cc.....

The sportive riders are under no obligation to "get off the "road" aka public highways", if they want to race on public highways hen i suggest they learn to share.

-10000/10 road.cc

Could you sink any lower?

I wish someone had taken the guy in the Kelme kit out, what on earth was he thinking? He then moved into the middle of the lane

May be a daft question but has anyone got a sportive planned in Yorkshire on 5th July?

Looks like stripey got some karmic justice, at 1:55 I'm sure I can see his back wheel topple as he tries to stop by the pavement?

You have said it jssb, I do like riding sportives, a bit of nostalgia for me.
I suspect that a few will go from riding sportives to full on road races, they are a great idea and good for cycling.
BUT, some of the behaviour and poor skill I see is stunning; like a cyclist overtaking another who was turning right and a small group urinating against someone's front gate. Then the gel wrappers.....
'The Peloton Effect.....

It is tricky, as we must not put people off riding or try to make it too elitist.

However, A lot of Sportive riders seem to think that the rules of the road do not apply when on a sportive.
I have seen such bad riding on sportives lately and you know that the riders would simply not replicate it when riding alone.
We have christened it the Peloton effect.

To the riders ignoring the Marshall, would you ride across a level crossing with the barriers down too?

Sportives are becoming very dangerous places to ride, lack of helmets seems to be quite common as does the use of Tri bars, it is only going to be a matter of time before a bad accident forces tighter regulation to the detriment of all.

Hate to say but this manner of riding is typical to sportive events.

Seems to attract bloody minded cyclists who think rules of the road do not apply to them when riding such events. A lot seem to think they are riding closed roads they ride. They also think it's a 'race'. Funny they encountered a real race.

If any of them who ignored the closed road sign have a club jersey then they should be banned from futures events.

So the car drivers sit there patiently while the cyclists behave like dickheads.... now I am depressed.
But, "I've done 54 races me" Great quote....

"Yorkshire Divs Road Race" - says it all.

SURELY the riders had been told before hand?

The worrying thing is that the guy arguing with the marshal is a past / maybe present organisers of road races.

Anyway I don't want to be too hard on people - it's too easy to make comments on forums which are basically uninformed, and this is maybe just a snipet of what really happened.

I would love it though if stripy shirt guy saw this and gave his opinion of what happened. It's would be nice to understand what really happened here from people who were there. Even when he is riding head on in to the peloton he seems oblivious to the danger

Maybe their wasn't enough signage warning the sportive riders to stop........ I don't know. But they really weren't listening to the marshal.

Note to diary: arm all marshals with video cameras at next sportive event. I kid you not