Etape Cymru organisers respond to wide-ranging criticisms of Sunday's event

Today I bumped into a friend who took part. He has done some sportives and MTB marathons and was shocked at how badly it was organised. Everything from parking, toilets and massed start to issues with overtaking and oncoming traffic and absolutely abysmal signage at many points. He thankfully spent most of his time riding on the correct side of the road as, having met several vehicles, the group soon realised that "closed roads" meant quite the opposite! He knew someone who lived locally, which saved a 60 mile round trip to sign a piece of paper on the Saturday and again on Sunday to take part in the ride.

It seems the organisers tried to 'go big' with their first event but failed to consider so many aspects of organising it. There was a significant amount of traffic during the Horseshoe hill climb the previous Sunday and I wondered how the organisers would deal with this. It seems they didn't. Pissing of local businesses is poor form too, and won't help anyone trying to organise future events in the area.

I was persuaded to enter by a friend, the closed roads and promise of a gillet were what convinced me to part with £53.
I am used to ridding in groups from club rides and crits so rubbing shoulders, so to speak, doesn't phase me but I can understand how, especially if you're new to this, it can be intimidating. I had very little problem moving up through the riders at the start, yes the roads were muddy and a bit bumpy but I got round the whole course, on my summer tyres with latex tubes, puncture/problem free.
I did take a flyer on a sharp bend (fast section before the corner and no warning)on the first big descent. The nice policeman who came to my assistance told me several other people had come off there. meanwhile the ambulance was being loaded (I think it was the poor lad with the lung injury) which we waited for, then we continued. I don't know if anybody stayed to warn at the corner.
I didn't have any problem at the feed stations, though it was a help yourself scrum.
The route signage was very nearly none existent. At one point I was stood at a tee junction with about 50 other riders and we guessed at which way to go, some went one way some the other, I'm still not sure which one was right.
There was too much traffic for closed roads.
I have lots more little niggles I could add and I doubt I'll give this event another go but I'll finish by saying how fantastic it felt to be cheered around most the course by the locals - Thank you - I especially liked the three kids that were collecting high 5's from as many riders as they could

I do a few wiggle events (both Road and MTB) and for the long routes are £25. OK roads are not closed. The last one in the New Forest at the start of Oct was sold out too the point that they put extra road places on for the Saturday (which sold out ) that to me means that there is a demand but for the "right" event ?
Its well knowen that sinage disappers !!!!! that's why they mark the routes with wiggle tape hanging from trees and ride the course the morning of the event etc

Once a year (aug) I ride in Hamburg on a fully closed road circuit (at an entry cost of about E100 incl race top,T shirt and pasta party) and It is a stunning experiance ! nearly 1,000,000 peaple on the street cheering you on is something very special! (all this is helped by the fact that the UCI approved teams race in the afternoon on the same circuit) they have 22,000 riders split over 3 distances 55km , 100km and 155km and they are all time bound ie you have to finsh the 100km course in 3h 30 (from the last group crossing the start line)or so. Runs like clockwork !

Sorry but I ride completly differentaly on a closed course than I do on open roads. They are closed or not simple if in doubt they are open !

I guess its just the "wrong type " off event at the wrong time of the year ? Will be difficult for them to recover from the bad press me things ?

Negative feedback on Bikeradar and Singletrack forums, CW website and more blogs:

http://www.scarletfire.co.uk/2011/10/i-gave-my-sportive-virginity-to-eta...
http://chestercyclist.blogspot.com/2011/10/cymru-etape-finished-it.html

The organisers state on their Facebook page: "We appreciate there are some issues to address and will be looking for feedback to keep improving the event." But surely an event this big would be run by experienced event organisers (who would hopefully have consulted others doing the same kind of thing), not first-timers, so why the big issues?

I must admit I think of the cost of this event then wonder why so few tried the Aqueduct Challenge on similar turf. It didn't go ahead in 2010 despite positive feedback because of lack of interest. Clive Powell cancelled his excellent Trans-Cambrian sportive based on terrific roads in mid-Wales this year due to too few entries

I also have to wonder why people pay £65 to ride around Denbighshire when the roads are there 365 days a year. If you want to enter a long cycling event on a prepared route then why not try an audax?

I didnt ride the event, but I've ridden loads before...and I'm furious!

An organiser saying "ooopps, someone stole the signs" is inexcuseable. Its a failure of the duty of care they owe to the participants. Have they no experience at all with sportive events? First-time organisers should come with a warning and a reduced entry fee.

ggrrr!

"I really cannot understand why people enter these things. Hundreds of other cyclists getting in the way and threatening to bring you down coz they dont know how to ride in a bunch?
Get out with your local club or enter an Audax for a fraction of the cost.
If you want to race, then race with a club, it'll cost a snip compared with entering a string of these over-priced mobile fashion shows."

Well said, why pay money to ride on a road you can ride on for free, and be surrounded by a load of Gringos ?

Come and do the exmouth exodus, everyone. It's free.

joemmo wrote:

I just wonder what the overall health of the sportive 'market' is as a whole, whether it's been over exploited and risks becoming a fad.

I've tried, yet failed, to find it but there was an article about this in one of the print mags over the summer largely concluding that the market was over-saturated. Music festivals seemed to go the same way this year too. Perhaps just too many people wanting to organise large scale events when the audience isn't there for them. As other comments allude, you don't need to be big to be good!

thereverent wrote:

I've even seen drivers shouting abuse at marshalls at closed roads for events (non-cycling).

I marshal some running events and being shouted at about even minor road closures is a regular occurrence. People really don't like having to take a 5 minute detour on the way to pick up their Sunday papers.

It is an unwritten rule in the UK that if there is Road Closed sign out, people will drive past it to see if it really is closed.

I've even seen drivers shouting abuse at marshalls at closed roads for events (non-cycling).

The entry price is just mental. I do sportive's in France, & they cost around 35EUR. And that they do closed roads at the start & a 3 course dinner at the end! Plus, there are randonees every weekend costing 3EUR inc at food stops (bread, pate, wine - yum!).

Reading back what I wrote, can I just correct one thing. The fella who punctured a lung happened well before the Horseshoe descent, the way I wrote it makes it seem like it was after.

This all being said, I'd ride it again. If they take on board everybody's criticisms they could make this a really good event. And they need to move it to April/May. And not have it cost £65.

I didn't pay to enter. I entered via the charity route and raised money for the local hospice, so I didn't get stung for £65. But that also meant I was honour bound to finish...

It seems telling that the entry was so significantly lower than expected and I wonder how other events have faired this year. I rode the Cyclone in June and that seemed well subscribed and Ryedale Rumble which was a far, far better event but under subscribed. There was an event in Northumberland recently that got only about 60 entrants instead of the 100s expected which must have made a loss for the organisers.

I just wonder what the overall health of the sportive 'market' is as a whole, whether it's been over exploited and risks becoming a fad. It would be a shame because even if it's not for everyone I think they can provide a good experience once in a while (but personally I wouldn't pay £65 for one!)

Almost all local cycling clubs offer a 'free sportive' every weekend. Just turn-up.

No freebies, gilets/drink/food but pleasant company and lots of local knowledge.

If you want to ride in the Chilterns, then look at High Wycombe CC. If you want to ride in South Shropshire then have a look at Epic Cycles. etc. etc.

It's called a club-run. I've even seen free mechanical support.

Try it, you might like it.

Thanks for linking to my blog - how cool is that? I hope that the lessons are learnt from this year, because the climbs are great and the scenery is stunning and if done right it could be a truly great event

(thecyclingmayor)

Its a shame that these riders didn't head to Macclesfield for the Macc Monster! £20 entry and
profits to Kidscan Charity, gets brilliant rider feedback - even in the wind and rain!

Polocini Series £20 - Top value for money and great events...

There are some really great events out there which are very worth while...

£65! wot the f.....?

I really cannot understand why people enter these things. Hundreds of other cyclists getting in the way and threatening to bring you down coz they dont know how to ride in a bunch?
Get out with your local club or enter an Audax for a fraction of the cost.
If you want to race, then race with a club, it'll cost a snip compared with entering a string of these over-priced mobile fashion shows.

There, I've gone and said it now and everyone will hate me....

I live in Llangollen and watched the event at two locations as my son was riding. In Trevor just before the first major climb the road was closed at the junction of Station Road and Llangollen but there was no marshal nor Police officer present so cars were ignoring the signs. The right hand turn up the hill was unclear and several riders carried straight on. Later on the road was closed for a while at the bottom of the Horseshoe, but re-opened just after 2pm. The event upset local residents and business owners particularly The Britannia Inn at the foot of the pass which suffered a road closure at their peak Sunday lunchtime. The road was apparently closed but traffic was going up and down the past all morning. The Britannia had 37 cancelled bookings of people who could not reach them and a similar fate befell the Abbey Grange Hotel lower down!Regrettable the organizers failed to consult local business who are already experiencing difficulties in the current economic recession.

The greatest danger to competitors was under stocked water and feed stations which could have been disastrous had the weather been as hot as the previous weekend. Hazard were also not marked with warning signs eg the ford at World's End and other steep descents.

The organizers have much to learn. The event is to be welcomed but they must learn from their mistakes and set a course which is fully rideable by people of reasonable cycling fitness. Who ever set the course seemed to want make it as difficult as possible for everyone and find every steep climb in the area of which there are many!

It was a very mixed day.. The crowds were great, with locals cheering and some even dressing up (perhaps the rugby win the day before help their spirits!)

The weather didn't help the road conditions. The lanes were slippery and muddy, even very stoney in places but that's the nature of Autumn riding. More warnings, better/more marshalls and signs were certainly needed. The biggest hazard was the non-closed roads! Nearng the end I wasn't sure whether the road I was on was closed or not, which is more dangerous than an open road. I took a light tumble, but saw an unusually large amount of crashes for a sportive. A St.Johns Ambulance at the finish would have been helpful to clean up any scuffs/cuts. The timing worked (for me at least) but I did see a few chips strewn accros the the tarmac.

Was it worth £65? No. The bun fight at the food stops highlighted a lack of staff and by the sounds of it supplies. It has the potential to be great but some lessons need to be learned, limiting the entries may help too. For the record I climbed about 6,500ft and clocked 84 miles, pretty sure I didn't gor wrong either (came close on many an occasion!)

On the whole it wasn't as bad as some people make out, yes it was a little crowded at the start and yes some of the signage was a little suspect at some of the junctions, 10 miles on better roads would have split the filed a little and a gpx of the route would have helped.
However, running out of food is inexcusable but it seems to happen on most UK sportives I've been on.
As for safty, we could have done with a little warming on some of the dangerous decents but still…you should be riding within conditions and your own ability - the worry for me was meeting a car on the way down.
The closed road worked on the whole and the locals were fantastic, although I did feel sorry for a woman in a little black car near the start….she was sat there waiting for 1000 cyclists to filter past, reckon she was there a while