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Horseshoe Pass from www.geograph.org.uk .jpgOfficial - no road closures for next year's Wiggle Etape Cymru
Next year’s Wiggle Etape Cymru, and event previously billed as “the UK’s toughest closed road sportive,” will now be held on open roads. The move has been welcomed by a local councillor who has campaigned against road closures for the event, claiming that local residents were “trapped in their homes.”
Organisers Human Race have confirmed that no road closures will be in force when the event, which will start and finish at Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse and is likely to include the Horseshoe Pass, takes place on a date yet to be confirmed, reports News North Wales.
Councillor Paul Pemberton, who has fought against road closures for the event, said he was glad that the event, which attracts up to 2,000 cyclists, would be able to continue on open roads.
“I am pleased they are not moving out of the area completely because the event brings a lot of money into the economy and I am glad they have listened to our concerns,” he said.
“There were a lot of people in my ward who were trapped in their homes and it is good the organisers have had the common sense to listen us.”
His views were echoed by another councilor, John Phillips, who said: “I know the number of complaints I received was susbtantial but at the end of the day I would not want to see the race stopped because I know it helps support a lot of great charities.
“The only issue was the length of the road closures, because six to 10 hours was unacceptable. To be fair to the race organisers, they did work extremely hard this year to deal with a lot of the issues we did have.
“I am grateful the race is still going ahead. I have always been fully supportive of the charities it benefits.”
In the past, local opposition to the event has manifested itself in the shape of tacks being scattered on the road as well as signage being changed to put participants off-course.
In September, when it was first revealed that next year’s event might dispense with closed roads, Human Race’s operations director Kirsty Wilde emphasised that most locals were supportive of it.
Speaking just after this year’s event, she said: "The cyclists were overwhelmed by local support throughout the route as lots of spectators welcomed them to their community and cheered them on with homemade signs giving them the extra push they required."
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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33 comments
Do people realise they were born with legs?perhaps if they stopped using their car and got off their fat arse then the nhs might save some money instead of the taxpayer paying for people with obesity related illnesses.im sick of seeing people who are fat and have the disability sticker in the car window
I can see this as potentially being a bit of an opportunity for the Rhyl CC 37. Too many closed road events in the area can't be good for business. Unfortunately it's a bit too short and not taxing enough for me. Probably better to look at some of the Spanish events for me.
I can ride the N. Wales roads whenever I want.
I don't understand how they could possibly think they can run the event on open roads in the first place. Some of the route is on 'normal' roads but a lot of it is little back lanes, just over one vehicle wide, often with overgrown middles. If a Land Rover decided they wanted to go up there they would totally block the road. There would be a blockage of several hundred riders coming the other way. Would the driver complain they are 'trapped' in their vehicle?
Although the start is in waves within a couple of miles every one has spread out so that there is a two hour long stream of riders. Will said Land Rover driver keep trying to get to his field with cyclists descending at 30mph towards him? Would they give way at junctions for drivers? Or just stream through.
This year one guy overcooked a corner above Llangollen, it was behind me so I didn't see him but it was abuzz at the feed station, later he seemed to be helicoptered off. The descents are already dangerous. The prospect of cars coming up blind country lanes reminds me of the young rider who died in a race last year.
Despite those who like to mock sportives as 'not races,' it is a timed event. Anyone can go as fast as a professional (at times,) the risks are the same. The Human Race should have the balls to take the event elsewhere if the local council can't give one day to something other than cars.
I don't get this "trapped in own home" crap.
I live more or less on the Great North Run route and my Estate and neighbouring ones are cut off for a full day from very early morning to late evening. The roads are clogged with participants driving in to leave cars at the finish, then roads closed for the race, then clogged with everyone going home.
What do I do? I make sure I have supplies in from the shops so I should not need to go out. I arrange my on-call cover so I am not on standby that week.
I then go out and cheer everyone on running past. It really is not hard.
It'll be a handful of people who want to drive to the pub or golf club and are too bloody selfish & narrow minded to change plans for one day.
Unless you want controls, a packed lunch and to cycle with 2000 others at the same time, then just grab the route and ride it another weekend when the roads will be empty anyway
Usual completely blinked and uncaring comments here.
", that made for some real high speed descents on narrow lanes." Now that says a lot. Idiot, those roads are not suitable for that type of riding. Even with no cars there are other more intelligent rider, pedestrian, animals pot holes etc.
The very fact that an outsider uses the word racing shows the image that the event has. Which is why there is dislike.
I don't say that roads can't be closed but if the locals don't want that then they should have their way. If they are happy then close them.
There has been the usual crap posted about people not actually being trapped. Cobblers. If the road is closed then you are trapped. Forward noticed isn't enough as it is inadequate. Road side posters are no good nor are newspapers.
Why not just share? Oh no, the modern cyclist won't do that.
Totally disgusting.
@ mattsccm
Whilst you are quite correct with some of the comments, as for sharing the road. It's one day a year the police, local authorities etc were happy with. Anyone from Ireland will and Isle of Man will know about the motorcycle road races held over there. Those in the borders will know about the Jim Clark Rally which closes roads for upto three days. Those in a major city will know about the umpteen fun runs, half marathons etc that shut down roads several times a year. Not mentioning round ups in a certain area that stop free access. Shall we all complain about those not sharing the roads with us modern cyclist? Of course not!
Do you preach to those in Darlington that are looking to get cyclist banned from the town centre about sharing, or those drivers that want cyclist off the road,or those pedestrians that want cyclists off the pavement. Or are you just trolling/ in need of a reality check?
One 'kin day.
"trapped in their homes"
wow.
Simon E is right fellas.
Closed road events are great and really justify the entry fee but having roads closed for most of the day that people, local or otherwise, may wish to use to actually get from one place to another is a legitimate concern.
And that's all it is, a legitimate concern.
No-one is trapped in their home, plenty of warning is, or should be, given.
It is nothing more than an inconvenience and nimbyism.
Fortunately caving in to this type of attitude will ensure that cycling is always going to seen as a problem. I'm saddened that I'll never see a grand tour starting in the UK. I'd love to see councillor Pemberton arguing for attracting such an event to this part of the world once he's seen the economic benefits.
Wouldn't happen in mainland Europe.
You're right SimonE, why bother?
I'm off to block Christmas shoppers who park in my street! Somtimes I feel ever so trapped in my home.
I demand that Christmas is cancelled because other people appear to be having more fun than me!
Did you not notice the location of the first 3 stages of the Tour de France this year? Or the 2007 Grand Depart?
How is cllr Pemberton going to see the economic benefits if no-one puts the case to him? It's a minority leisure activity but you're making out it's a big income stream for local businesses. Where are the numbers?
Re. bikeboy's comments on the roads - I agree, I don't think single track lanes with moss are appropriate for an expensive closed-roads event. A road is only as dangerous as the people using it, if you want to take risks then that's your choice.
I don't mock it for not being a race; it is timed, but so is my ride to work some days. If you want to do a genuinely superb event in that area then I would heartily recommend the Rhyl CC 37 mile Mountain TT. The roads are great, the climbs aren't steep, there are marshals at the junctions and the entry fee is under £10. You don't have to ride it flat-out, you can go at whatever pace you want (though people might think you're taking the piss if you stop for a bacon sarnie at Ruthin or ask the organiser about the feed stations).
Or the Giro d'Italia?
I agree that the 'trapped in their home' argument is rather extreme. I wouldn't choose such alarmist language and yes, it's an inconvenience and a bit of nibyism for sure. I do tend to think, however, that the inconvenience might be pretty significant when there are 100 miles of roads closed for the whole day. Remember that these events are not officially races nor do they raise monies for any good causes; they are simply a bit of fun and are run and promoted purely as a commercial concern. The argument for road closures does seem quite weak in my view and I believe that most sportives on the continent happen on open roads too.
If we were talking about a race that was cancelled because of opposition to road closures I'd take a very different view.
Don, the councillor is representing the complainers because they've bent his ear, they are his constituents. He's probably a non-cyclist, so it's going to be an uphill battle convincing him the event is worth the aggro.
Has anyone local put a solid case to him (and other councillors) for road closure? Which of the non-local riders have been back in the area spending real money? You won't win support by saying that they might come back. Perhaps the caterers should offer locally sourced lamb burgers.
Did the event for the first time this year and really enjoyed it, but it was the closed roads that made it. Thanks Councillor Pemberton, but I'll spend my money somewhere else next year.
Well, I had been thinking about taking part in this, but I'm not going to bother now. I'm only prepared to drop cash on entry fees / accommodation for closed road events. Councillor Pemberton (and his complaining constituents) can kiss goodbye to my potential spend. I have got a spot at the Cardiff Velothon though!
A lad I rode out with had come up from Kent. I wonder whether he's been back to the area since.
It's not about money on the day, more money is probably made by non local people returning, hopefully, time and time again to this area.
EDIT:
I've previously had dialogue with another councillor and the driving force was the vocal minority, by his own admission.
That's not representing the people, is it?
As Timsen says above, rolling road closures should be possible - although they need more thought that just closing the roads. And/or partial closures - having a descent where you know you can use the whole road is lovely.
I'm local to this event and have ridden it every year bar the first one. Great shame the roads won't be closed, that made for some real high speed descents on narrow lanes. I won't be bothering in future.
As you, I'm a Wrecsam lad and embrarrassed by this. I attended this last year and thought it was a thoroughly well run event.
Unfortunately I will not be attending next year.
Neither will I be buying eggs, millk or meat that has been produced in the Ponciau ward, I will not be eating in any pubs in the Ponciau ward nor will I spend any more money in the Ponciau ward.
Short sightedness of the highest order.
Just by pass Ponciau, it's not like Ponciau is one of the more attractive area around Wrecsam. Bangor-Overton-St Martins-Llangollen... You'd think they'd embrace a bit of tourism.
You should ask the businesses in the affected area how they benefitted. Were Bangor-on-Dee's hotels all booked up with car parks full of Audis? Did lots of Mamils stop for extra pies and pints during the ride? Did the traders of Llangollen see an additional month's worth of cake and ice cream sold that day? In reality I doubt it, as most riders were surely trying to 'race' [
]round against the clock.
The potential of having 2,000 cyclists visit your patch should be good news but let's not get carried away. You can't really compare a small scale cycle sportive to the London marathon (slightly larger no. of participants; ditto the RideLondon 100. The marathon gets millions of sofa hogs watching it on TV, which is the prime reason it exists).
I think it's great if such events put money into the economy but you need to show that this really happens to justify them. Closing roads that we can ride 365 days a year just so a bunch of pedal-pushers don't have to stick to one side of it is not going please many local people. If the councillor gets a load of complaints (and some people love to complain) he can't really ignore them.
This will dramatically diminish the event. The route was glorious but many of the highlights (narrow windy passes) would be too dangerous to consider if it weren't closed to traffic.
It's a shame that a better compromise couldn't be found but I'll be switching to the Velothon Wales instead for 2015 and the area will be missing out on the money I would've been spending over that weekend.
The 2014 event was amazing and I was really looking forward to doing it again. Now that it's switched to open road I'll just ride the route solo on another date and save the entry fee.
Apparently there's this running event that closes 26 miles of London roads! Outrageous! People are trapped in their own homes!
LOL race, improper terminology at its best
Why not have rolling closures enforced by a broom wagon. Everybody sets off within an hour and the roads need be closed for no more than say 2 hours. Anybody overtaken by the broom wagon either gives up or rides on open roads.
Personally I don't blame the locals, 6 or 10 hours seems excessive & unnecessary.
Sounds good to me for sure
Sod them.
Run it somewhere else in 2016.
Aberwristwatch?
so bully boy tactics worked instead of tackling people who by putting tacks not he road endangered the cyclists ? The Roads closed for just 6 hours a year ???
Doesn't the councillor know that it's illegal to race anything on open roads.
Next he'll be campaigning for speed limits to be imposed against 2000 cyclist "racing on open roads" as the locals feel intimidated driving 2 tonne, explosion powered metal boxes at 60mph around cyclist puffing their way up hills at less than 10mph.
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