World number-one men’s tennis player Novak Djokovic has been banned from cycling on the grounds of the Wimbledon Championships by the site’s owners – for safety reasons.
According to Mail Online, an official at the All England Club told the Serb not to ride his bike around the grounds after he was nearly involved in a collision with a supply vehicle last week while training for the event, which starts today.
The newspaper said that Djokovic uses bike rides around the complex as part of his training “because of its steep slopes,” although we’re guessing he’s not attempting to ‘Everest’ Henman Hill.
He was reportedly told not to ride around the grounds for his own safety, with the official also concerned that as well as potentially putting him out of the tournament, a crash could also lead to legal proceedings.
The 29-year-old was said to be unhappy with the ban, since he was not breaking any regulations, although a spokesman said that while the AELTC was in favour of cycling, that it did not encourage it during Wimbledon Fortnight itself or in the build-up to the Championships.
Djokovic, winner of three Wimbledon men’s singles titles, has started his title defence today against unseeded Briton James Ward, and with the Serb taking the first set 6-0 it seems a more familiar type of Brexit is on the cards this afternoon.
Simon has been news editor at road.cc since 2009, reporting on 10 editions and counting of pro cycling’s biggest races such as the Tour de France, stories on issues including infrastructure and campaigning, and interviewing some of the biggest names in cycling. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, his background has proved invaluable in reporting on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, and the bike industry. He splits his time between London and Cambridge, and loves taking his miniature schnauzer Elodie on adventures in the basket of her Elephant Bike.