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Team Sky drivers to take safety course after close pass of cyclist in WalesTeam Sky bus close pass (via Andy Rolfe on Twitter).PNG

Team Sky drivers to take safety course after close pass of cyclist in Wales

Dave Brailsford apologises to cyclist involved
by Alex Bowden
Sat, Sep 10, 2016 11:18
37

All of Team Sky's drivers will take safety refresher courses this winter following an incident earlier in the week when a cyclist suffered an extremely close pass by one of their vehicles.

The driver responsible, Claudio Lucchini, is said to be deeply upset about what the team is calling an error of judgement. In a video posted to Twitter by Andy Rolfe from Rhosllannerchrugog, near Wrexham, Lucchini’s huge vehicle can be seen overtaking on a narrow country road despite an oncoming fuel tanker.

Team Sky immediately apologised and since then team boss Sir Dave Brailsford has spoken to The Cycling Podcast about the incident.

"It is an important issue and firstly, we absolutely apologise to the rider in question. Secondly, we will look at it internally. I've spoken to Claudio myself and we had a chat about it and he is really upset about it.

"He said he had already passed hundreds of cyclists on those narrow Welsh roads but sometimes people make errors. It obviously shocked the rider and scared him, and we don't want that.

"We're all cyclists and so is Claudio. We want to promote safety on the roads for all cyclists and we're trying to increase participation in the sport. So it's important for us to set a good example, particularly given all the vehicles we have on the road."

The Press Association reports that Rolfe declined an offer to join Sky as their guest at one of the remaining stages of the Tour of Britain, but he is being sent some kit and a written apology from Lucchini.

All Team Sky drivers will do a driver safety course at the end of the season and the whole team has been warned to set a good example on the road.

Rolfe has since tweeted: "Thanks to everyone who has supported my post, a lot of positive feedback, Team Sky have apologised, I just want motorists to be more patient."

Team Sky
close pass
Claudio Lucchini
Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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37 comments

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notfastenough replied to crazy-legs | 8 years ago
1 like

crazy-legs wrote:

Yorkshie Whippet wrote:

What a load of bolxs!

Well the cyclist involved seemed to be happy with the outcome (he tweeted as such) and I'm fairly sure it's a far better outcome than you'd have got from the average bus company or from Tescos.

So if the rider is happy and Team Sky are happy and have acted appropriately, I'm sure the internet hardmen can now stand down?

I'd have accepted the apology and the offer of a guest place on the ToB. I think all the baying for blood is a bit much.

Avatar
beezus fufoon replied to notfastenough | 8 years ago
0 likes

notfastenough wrote:

crazy-legs wrote:

Yorkshie Whippet wrote:

What a load of bolxs!

Well the cyclist involved seemed to be happy with the outcome (he tweeted as such) and I'm fairly sure it's a far better outcome than you'd have got from the average bus company or from Tescos.

So if the rider is happy and Team Sky are happy and have acted appropriately, I'm sure the internet hardmen can now stand down?

I'd have accepted the apology and the offer of a guest place on the ToB. I think all the baying for blood is a bit much.

 

a guest place on the ToB! That's just adding insult to injury - well, not injury as such, just a bruised ego

Avatar
Stumps replied to crazy-legs | 8 years ago
0 likes

crazy-legs wrote:

Yorkshie Whippet wrote:

What a load of bolxs!

Well the cyclist involved seemed to be happy with the outcome (he tweeted as such) and I'm fairly sure it's a far better outcome than you'd have got from the average bus company or from Tescos.

So if the rider is happy and Team Sky are happy and have acted appropriately, I'm sure the internet hardmen can now stand down?

 

crazy-legs, i wouldn't hold your breath, you get the same people on here baying for blood on virtually every article whereby a cyclist feels hard done to. They are no better than the buffoons who commit whatever offence imho, but thats what you get with freedom of speech.

Its not all black and white but lots of grey areas that some have literally no idea about.

Avatar
tritecommentbot replied to Stumps | 8 years ago
1 like

AWPeleton wrote:

crazy-legs wrote:

Yorkshie Whippet wrote:

What a load of bolxs!

Well the cyclist involved seemed to be happy with the outcome (he tweeted as such) and I'm fairly sure it's a far better outcome than you'd have got from the average bus company or from Tescos.

So if the rider is happy and Team Sky are happy and have acted appropriately, I'm sure the internet hardmen can now stand down?

 

crazy-legs, i wouldn't hold your breath, you get the same people on here baying for blood on virtually every article whereby a cyclist feels hard done to. They are no better than the buffoons who commit whatever offence imho, but thats what you get with freedom of speech.

Its not all black and white but lots of grey areas that some have literally no idea about.

 

Yes people expecting a prosecution for law-breaking, (ie. dangerous driving) are as bad as dangerous drivers themselves.

Definitely a spot of buffonery about, you may need a mirror to spot it though.

 

 

 

Avatar
Leviathan | 8 years ago
9 likes

Well that was a happy resolution. I am sure an apology will satisfy everyone on the internet that the issue is settled. Drive and ride safe, kids.

Avatar
handlebarcam replied to Leviathan | 8 years ago
0 likes

Leviathan wrote:

I am sure an apology will satisfy everyone on the internet that the issue is settled.

Obligatory Futurama Reference

Another question worth asking: why are left-hand-drive coaches (and HGVs or any long and heavy vehicle) even allowed on narrow country roads in right-hand-drive countries (and vice versa)? It means the drivers cannot see oncoming traffic early enough to make safe overtakes and, when that gets them in trouble, it gives them overconfidence that they can pass too close to cyclists, rather than slamming on the brakes as they would probably do if they were sitting a couple of meters to the right. Of course, I know the answer why they aren't banned: commerce. But with modern GPS technology they could at least be restricted to slower speeds. Team Sky would have to buy or rent a different coach just for British races (which they presumably do for the Tour Down Under) but they can afford it. As could the tourism and haulage industries, but you can be sure they'd lobby like crazy against it.

Avatar
atlaz replied to handlebarcam | 8 years ago
0 likes

handlebarcam wrote:

Another question worth asking: why are left-hand-drive coaches (and HGVs or any long and heavy vehicle) even allowed on narrow country roads in right-hand-drive countries (and vice versa)? It means the drivers cannot see oncoming traffic early enough to make safe overtakes and, when that gets them in trouble, it gives them overconfidence that they can pass too close to cyclists, rather than slamming on the brakes as they would probably do if they were sitting a couple of meters to the right. Of course, I know the answer why they aren't banned: commerce. But with modern GPS technology they could at least be restricted to slower speeds. Team Sky would have to buy or rent a different coach just for British races (which they presumably do for the Tour Down Under) but they can afford it. As could the tourism and haulage industries, but you can be sure they'd lobby like crazy against it.

 

Of course they'd lobby against it. You'd end up with a blanket ban of all those irritiating British coaches and lorries over here in Europeland. IF you honestly think a LHD vehicle can't see to overtake a cyclist properly you've got a screw loose. Whether Claudio does this regularly or not, he couldn't have failed to see the road ahead if he was paying attention. The thing is that he wasn't.

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