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

I though Brian Clough was dead; despite being 100% wrong and shouting at the poor marshal put in a difficult position, Ol' Big'Ed didn't actually get in anyone's way. It was Kelme who was the real muppet.

It is easy to understand the confusion, the two events shouldn't have met. Like Kevin says above there seems to be a lot of snobbishness about sportive riders here. SPORTIVES ARE RACES. I put that in big letters so you can read it better. They are timed events from A to B. The idea that ever person who wants to ride in an event can keep up with a peloton and ride in teams is a fallacy. Road racing is a 'young mans game' not everyone has the fitness, time to train or join a club, money, equipment to road race. Sportives exist and are so popular because they are races for real people. More people do them than actual races. Are these people to be excluded?
So the idea that people will not be trying to do the course as fast as they possibly can and sometimes going very fast themselves is ridiculous.

Its this notion that sportives aren't real events that has caused the problem, there should have been NO WAY that these two events could meet, and disregarding sportives and their riders as not 'proper racers' has led to this dangerous clash.

Personally I think we need more large sportives on Closed roads to avoid this problem and I only enter closed events. So lets say; closed road sportives are a massive timetrial (still a race) open to the public; open road sportives are an accident waiting to happen.

Just shows you, even cyclists (in this case sportive riders) can be a bit thick.

If indeed it was this sportive/charity ride , https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/112520/Cyclothon-2014

then one wonders what form the regulation being called for by BC would take and indeed who would administer it, as both these events were registered, insured and entered via BC?

Some years ago there was an Independent association of Sportive Organisers, wonder what became of that

I don't ride sportives, and don't race.

Somebody on the sportive committee didn't post their route or get the race sanctioned, so it's mainly their fault.

But if you are asked to get off the road because a race is coming , it is common sense to do so to avoid an accident.

I thought the idiot in stripes riding into a race was out of order, and I don't care if he is 60, a granddad, the nicest person in the world, it was irresponsible.

Has anyone got the video? Can't find anywhere on Internet.

I first thought this hilarious but then not a great advert for either side (stripey definitely not excepted). Our store www.meccanicacycles.com is on a more than a few sportive/race routes and we are working with British Cycling to train ride leaders. Follow us @meccanicacycles to find out more.

I first thought this hilarious but then not a great advert for either side (stripey definitely not excepted). Our store www.meccanicacycles.com is on a more than a few sportive/race routes and we are working with British Cycling to train ride leaders. Follow us @meccanicacycles to find out more.

I first thought this hilarious but then not a great advert for either side (stripey definitely not excepted). Our store www.meccanicacycles.com is on a more than a few sportive/race routes and we are working with British Cycling to train ride leaders. Follow us @meccanicacycles to find out more.

If the race was being run under Accredited Marshal rules then anyone (driver or cyclist) ignoring an instruction to stop is liable to prosecution.

I wonder if any of those "Sportive" (yet not all that 'sporting') riders read road.cc?

A message to them if they do; I hope you feel wonderful about putting peoples lives in danger to satisfy your own sense of entitlement.

Elitism between racers and general leisure riders annoys the hell out of me but when it comes to people blatantly disrespecting the sport simply because they've paid a few pop it literally takes the mick.

I can't believe some of the words used towards that marshal too.

These aren't cyclists, they're pricks on bikes. 'Cycling' implies a degree of sportsmanship.

Last Sportive I did I had someone go into the back of me when I stopped at some traffic lights.

That video about sums up my experience.

Respect to the Marshall. Marshalled myself a few times. It's 99% boredom and 1% 'Oh shit decision time..' He made the right decision and probably saved lives or serious injury.

If you want to race learn how to ride in a group. Sportive riding is not racing. If you're in a sportive - great. Good for you. But when a Marshall start screaming at you do as you're f**king well told.

54 races? Surely 54 is his IQ?

just seen a post on facebook from someone who was there - the seems to be that the 'marshal' just jumped out in front the riders telling them to stop, i got the impression that he couldnt tell whether he was a marshal or just a member of the public - obviously you can't tell from the vid but if thats the case and there were no signs warning of a race the raised voices seem appropriate. The yorkshire accent is dead funny though

Marshal: "There's a bike race coming through"
(Sportive) Rider: "Aye, I'm part of it"

Eyes are streaming.......

Good grief, what has cycling become..?

Two questions -

1. Why were two events taking place on the same road?
2. Unless the road was closed to traffic, shouldn't both events have been confined to their own left lane? Every race I've been involved with on an unclosed road has stipulated that riders should not cross the central white line. I presume same rule should apply to all sportives on unclosed roads?

Two questions -

1. Why were two events taking place on the same road?
2. Unless the road was closed to traffic, shouldn't both events have been confined to their own left lane? Every race I've been involved with on an unclosed road has stipulated that riders should not cross the central white line. I presume same rule should apply to all sportives on unclosed roads?

That Kelme rider is a total idiot

Its Audax rides for me.

Statement from BC, RR was registered, Sportive wasn't, regulation needed.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/sportives/sportive-news/british-cycling-c...

Ooooo.
I rode that sportive.
The first I heard about the race was at a checkpoint a little further back down that road (there were three routes; 20+ 30ish and 60miles), and then saw them just after this turning as they sped past on the other side, but there was no mention at the start, so I'm guessing the organisers MIGHT not have known. The event gets police support with road closures at the start and St John's Ambulance. It's been running for years on that weekend in May. There's electronic timing, a wee arena back at Pontefract Race Course and warning signs along some stretches of the route.

There's no excuse for getting rude and shirty with the marshal, they are great and in bright tabbards. It is possible the road closed sign was not prominently displayed, or as someone above said, mistaken for Cyclothon signage, but a couple of people waving arms and saying stop should have done the trick (though there are places where you simply do not stop if strangers leap out and get all wavey - they punch you!).
I have met stripey-man and he seems a nice bloke, of retired age - he might not have heard? It was alarming the lack of forward vision some riders displayed though! Darwinian!
So, apologies to the marshals on behalf of the other riders and to the racers too, a few of whom I know in passing.

this is the issue with acc marshalling, riders have assumed that the roads are clear, it could easily have been a truck that ignored the marshal, to late that the driver may be prosecuted.
the RR was on the wrong side of the road, the sportive riders should have obeyed the marshall but the RR was also riding as if on closed roads.
where was the BC REO? the RCA? that 2 events shared the roads at the same time was asking for trouble, a row of cones for the sportive riders and a pre race brief would have prevented all this.

Correction: I said the sportive was 'officially sanctioned'. According to piersnewland, it was not.

It just gets better and better...

Total confusion seems to have reigned for a few seconds, though after the first bunch came through what were the others thinking of!! My favourite bit is when the marshal shouts 'There's a bike race coming through' to which one of the sportive riders replies 'Yeah, I'm part of it' ...!!

Ok Aminthule. Here's how it's supposed to work in Britain:

Sportive: Almost always open roads. Riders have to obey the usual laws and be aware of the traffic which they will be riding amongst. If participants (note NOT competitors) are lucky, the organisers may have some marshalls dotted around the course and/or some motorbike support. Legally, it's a bit like a Sunday ride, but in a really big crowd.

Road race: All UK road races have some level of protection. Usually a couple of cars including the commisaire's (Chief Judge). There will be a car just behind the race (with flashing lights and a big sign) and a car at the front (lights, big sign). There are also marshalls for corners and junctions. Some races like this one apply for a Traffic Regulation Order, which, as you see from the video, allows the organisers to stop the traffic at certain points. Also, if they have enough marshalls and motorbikes police cooperation and budget, they can run a closed cell system which closes the section of road the main part of the race is currently in. This is how the Tour of Britain operates. When the road is (theoretically) closed as it was at this junction, competitors are able to use its full width. This usually means a nice fast (and safe) corner. As long as there aren't any Herberts from a different event ignoring the marshall of course.

Anyone who's ridden both a fair bit won't need the above explaining. To ride they are a million miles apart, as you can tell even in that short video.

And in case anyone's confused by what's going on in the vid., the riders coming round the corner across the entire road and deftly and without complaint missing Suicide Sid in the Kelme jersey are competitors racing an officially sanctioned British Cycling Road Race. The folks facing them on the left arguing and making all the noise are the sportive riders riding an officially sanctioned sportive. Both are legitimate cycling events, but, crucially, they are very different things.

Competitive bike racing has been a feature of British roads long before Sportives were dreamed up in response to the rise in popularity of leisure cycling. In itself this is great, but it would be a real shame if the antics of a few idiots, of which there are growing numbers turning up to ride sportives, got it all regulated off the roads.

The cretin in the striped jersey seems to fall off? Isn't this just a reflection of society really, cycling isn't immune to selfish and / or stupid idiots unfortunately.

Shocking display from this "Sportive", what a load of nobbers.

I think there was genuine misunderstanding on the part of the sportive riders listen to the first guy's comments. Being rude to folk is not OK though.

Which brings me to some of the comments about sportive riders. Generalisations are not helpful. I've competed against/alongside pros and Olympians and licenced amateurs (been thrashed!) and found most lovely, but some arrogant twats. I remember both, some would only recall the bad.
Stripey guy is at least 60 if I remember rightly. I am sure he is mortified by his error of judgement.

Still seems some confusion above about the sportive being sanctioned by BC. If it was the coordinator wants a sharp word . If not it proves that these commercial events, whilst fun for those taking part, need control.
Actually I have misgivings about commercial events being allowed to be on the road in this form as I refuse to believe that good manners and common sense take precedent over income. When I see a sportive of any size making no money, as smaller one do, then I will be less sceptical.
It seems as if that bit of road was closed so the racers had every right to ride kerb to kerb.
what amazes me is that the sportive riders didn't instantly do as they were asked and stop. Isn't that just plain good manners, even if the request is unjustified.?
This is just one reason why many people are anti these sorts of events. My dislike is for another reason. bloody litter, both from the riders in the form of gel wrappers and posters etc left up after the event, especially from commercial events. the route closer should remove them minutes after the last man not leave them for months or years like the Damn Wiggle events round here.

This only confirms what all roadies think of sportive riders.............they don't have a clue!

Don't think it's owt to do with sportive riders bigging their part up and ignoring the marshalls I think it's just a case of some people developing tunnel vision.

If you've ever worked in a hazardous industry that takes place in public places (construction, road maintenance, tree felling etc. ) some folks will blindly wander past any warning signs, people, barriers or whatever just to get to where they want to go.

As for the idiot who stopped and argued the toss throughout the clip and stopped the marshall from effectively doing his job - I hope they've seen the video and had time to reflect.