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Yorkshire sportive versus road race YouTube stillVideo: What happens when a sportive meets a road race coming the other way?
What happens when a sportive meets a road race coming the other way? Some heated tempers, a bit of shouting, and the odd cyclist ignoring instructions, thereby putting themselves and other riders in danger, according to this video shot in North Yorkshire at the weekend.
With the Yorkshire Region Road Race Championship about to turn the corner from Saxton onto the A162 Tadcaster Road, one marshal can be seen stopping traffic to allow the race to pass safely.
But it’s the other marshal, out of camera, who has his hands full as some of the sportive riders ignore instructions to get off the road – one man in a green, blue and white striped Kelme kit putting himself in a position where he could have caused a serious crash.
The sportive those riders are taking part in appears to be the Cyclothon, organised by the Prince of Wales Hospice in Pontefract and with a route that took riders north along the A162 and past the Saxton turning.
It’s unclear how the two events came to be on the same road at the same time but it does appear that there was a breakdown in communication somewhere along the line.
Like the Yorkshire Region Road Race Championship, the sportive took place on Sunday 18 May and both events are listed on the British Cycling website.
It would not have been difficult for the respective organsiers to become aware of another event in the same area and liaise with each other to check there was no route conflict.
There have been similar incidents in the past – albeit not captured on video – a reflection of the growing popularity of both road racing and sportive riding, leading to growth in the number of events, although mechanisms are in place to avoid such conflict.
The road race was subject to a Traffic Regulation Order, allowing marshals to halt traffic, and which would have needed authorisation from police and the relevant local authorities, as outlined in British Cycling’s Road Race Organiser’s Guide.
The sportive organisers would also have needed to have notified such bodies of their plans, as well as checking for potential conflicts with other events. In its Cycle Sportive Event Guidelines, British Cycling says:
When choosing a route, consider any other events that are scheduled to be using the designated roads on that day. Examples include running, triathlon, village, or town based events, parades, etc as well as any other cycle events.
It is therefore recommended that the local authorities, highways and the Police are notified of any proposed events in the early planning stages, as they may also offer information of other planned events, which may not have been noticed, or are yet to be publicised. If route clashes are apparent it is the organiser’s responsibility to take the necessary measures to ensure their event can run safely and not unreasonably impact on local communities. A list of most cycle events can be found at British Cycling’s online events calendar and should be checked regularly across all disciplines for events on and around the proposed event day. This may be accessed from www.britishcycling.org.uk/events British Cycling encourages organisers to work together and agree alternative event days or a change of route being considered to avoid event conflict.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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84 comments
if Mr Disembodied ShoutyVoice *had* organised and been in that many races he would have understood the importance of a marshall, and why you should listen to them, they're usually there for a reason
Hilarious. Genuinely laughing out loud to the soundtrack.
Faux racers on a sportive encounter real racers head on. But, of course, the faux racers won't obey the rules of the road, even the temporary rules imposed to ensure the safety of other cyclists in a real race...
Seems to sum up the mindset of the large fraction of sportive lemmings pretty well.
The real racers of course just avoided the dullards and carried on as if nowt were appnin!
Poor communications between the race and sportive organisers for sure. Mr Stripey top needs to be taken aside and told how to ride safely. A ban from future sportives wouldn't be inappropriate. The same goes for any rider arguing with a marshall. It's not as if the delay was particularly long.
As for the BMW rider, there are a lot of Ewan Macgregor wannabees on those these days.
The potential for a huge crash was massive.. not sure why the road marshall didn't get them to get onto the pavement sooner, (although you can hear him trying) but just goes to show how many idiots are on bicycles in sportives or charity rides and think the rules don't apply to them. is it almost getting to the point now where ride marshalls need to be implemented on these events perhaps?
The rolling road block applies to cars & bicycles.
This is a case of the left hand and right hand not communicating at British Cycling.
Please do not lump sportive and charity rides together. I've done both and they're worlds apart. Some sportives raise money for charity, but they're not charity rides. Charity rides are the fun ones, with no timing and often special features like quiz sheets or fancy dress.
well said Rupert.
I can't believe the guy who was arguing with the marshall! He was being such an absolute tool!
"They're riding an event, same as them. You're just shouting at them."
"Because he rode through a road closed sign!"
"Arrgh, you've always got an excuse".
Really felt for the guy who was trying to control the traffic. He did well not to lose it
And the guy in the striped top with the stupid backwards cycling cap was a disgrace to cycling. Why would you even WANT to be on the road against the flow of 50 bikes coming the other way?!
Omg
ok here goes just because I have seen this video it doesn't mean I know the full facts. I am only going by what I have seen and heard in this video.
But going by the video, I would presume that some rider numbers of the sportive riders have been taken and letters have been sent out to them to inform them that they will not be welcomed again at next years version of this cyclosportive.
As for the argument between what seems is the marshal and a rider. The marshal had every right to raise his voice. When the riders purposely, presumably ignored his command to stop.
They didn't want to stop ........some didn't even keep to the left when they saw the race coming.
I would agree with Dr Galactus what was that hipster thinking ? ? ?
Maybe all cyclosportive organisers should be adding more terms and conditions to their ever growing list of conditions to try and keep everybody safe.
Any suggestions on this matter will be welcomed I will be watching with interest. It would be good to have the opinion of the marshal and especially the guy that was arguing with the marshal.
I put it to the guy that was arguing with the marshal that he was being unfair to the marshal who was doing his best to make sure that both sportive riders and racers weren't hurt.
It's no good saying that you are an experienced cyclist, road racer etc etc, having a go at a marshal that is obviously shouting because he is worried for the safety of others is .......... well it show that said person arguing with the marshal is either short sighted or hasn't a clue what could of happened in this instance if the marshal didn't continue shouting and insisting ! that riders at least use the pavement.
open door now .......... to the guy who was complaining to the marshal to come back to be and tell me how it really was. I feel that there was no need to have a go at the marshal. Tell me I am wrong.... as I might be, as I wasn't there. If I am not wrong help us all and apologise to the marshal.
Marshalling is a thankless task, having a go at them is not on, without them events don't happen.
It's getting harder and harder not to start stereotyping the riding qualities of 'sportivists'. But I shall keep resisting.
Thinking about it, those guys riding through should get done, for dangerous riding or whatever the offence is. If they were in their cars they would have stopped so maybe they should get points.
"Yer prat" haha
Stripey didn't have a helmet on either which I'm surprised to see at a properly organised sportive.
lol.
This is why cyclists whether sportive riders or racers should join a club, and marshal a few events, including TTs and Road Races, so they know the score.
That was entertaining anyway, the complete muppett was the guy in the green riding straight down head on into the race.
He should be banned from the sportives in future.
absolute idiots.
Still some people seem to think that a sportive is a race, huh...
Took the words right out of my mouth. I ride sportives, I enjoy them, but I'm also aware that the AREN'T a race. Sure I have an idea of a time I would like, but if I'm asked to stop or need to stop then I will. If I don't get my time because I had to stop for something, then that's just the way it goes, I still enjoy my day regardless. People like this do my head in.
Yorkshire Divs sportive
Christ on a bike i feared for the racers safety when the blue and white striped moron rode in the middle of the lane... What on earth was he thinking!
It's mind bending the behaviour of the sportive riders at 1:40 in the video. Especially the guy in the green and white stripey top
They should be banned from all events
But of course there is no regulating body for sportives so this isn't going to happen
how dare those road racers destroy stripey's attempt at that strava segment.
Cycling Weekly - whose side are you on?
What the fudge was the green hipster thinking!? That's BMW driver level sense of entitlement.
+1
The lack of common sense of some people is unbelievable, this idiot could have caused a serious accident.
The motorcyclist would be best learning to control is bike without trailing his feet,he must have passed his test in the old days. As for the sportive riders who wouldn't stop, speechless.
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