The death of teenager Finlay Tarling hit by an
oncoming vehicle in the recent Tour of Portugal and the recent near misses in
the women’s Tour of Britain reported today by Aussie star Maeve Plouffe is a wakeup
call. There needs to be a radical change in the rules of racing on the highway
before someone else is killed.
Both riders were behind the main body of their respective
races, chasing to re-join when tragedy struck in the Portugese race and was
narrowly avoided in the Tour of Britain a few days ago. “Cars were coming at me
from all directions, including one that nearly hit me on a roundabout,” said
Plouffe of the first stage of the women’s Tour of Britain.
If races cannot maintain the security of the “bubble”
created by the police rolling road closure which allows riders to use the width
of the carriageway, riders who fall behind and outside of that “protective”
bubble should be told to expect oncoming public traffic and therefore be told they
should keep to the left (in Britain), especially on bends and show caution at
every junction.
Is not every group on the road, every single r rider
chasing and perhaps several minutes down, protected by police outrider?
I recall Paul Sherwen’s brave lone chase of over
five hours during a Tour de France in the 1980s. He had a police outrider with
him all the way, and that’s race which operates a full road closure.
Smaller races are unable to afford that. It is a
costly business, hiring a police escort. Years ago it would cost a £250,000 for
a week. Today, what is it, more likely twice that, at least?
I recall watch television pictures tracking riders
passing side roads and junctions on the Vuelta d’ Espana, all clearly revealing a marshal present, or a rope or a
single barrier across driveways.
The same cannot be said for the Tour of Britain,
where TV pictures often reveal side roads with no marshal present, even some in
town centres. Some junctions were covered, some not.
I clearly recall the first of the modern Tours of
Britain back over 20 years ago. The opening stage was from Blackpool to
Manchester which I covered from a press car, noting many side roads did not
have a marshal present.
Although the police were doing a stirling job
keeping the roads clear for the main race, they were stretched to keep traffic
off the course of the final miles into Manchester which was quite hair-raising.
I was told by the organisation the rolling road
closure operated by the police provided all the security needed.
Yes, within that bubble it may do so. But clearly not
outside of it, as has been clearly demonstrated.
Such is the huge presence created by the race, the
advance vehicles, the t v motorbikes, the bunch, the team cars, the clatter of
the chopper overhead; no one is left in any doubt that is something big
thundering through.
But when all that hullaballoo has passed and the
road goes quiet, and chasing groups of riders are perhaps several minutes behind,
what happens next is down to a wing and a prayer.
Drivers – if no marshal is present – are left to
decide when it is safe for them to continue! Recipe for disaster, not just for
riders, but vehicle occupants, too.
Jonathan Day, events director of the Tour of
Britain, issued a statement to the BBC: We note Maeve Plouffe’s comments about
her experience during Wednesday’s race, and we’re taking these very seriously.
“Rider safety is paramount and will always be
treated as a priority in our planning and how we operate any race.”
“Were reviewing what happened with Maeve and her
team O’Shea Red Chilli Bikes with the seriousness and empathy these comments
demand.
Yes, but what practical measures can you bring in
for the remainder of the race?
Here’s what the Tour of Britain needs to do
immediately,
Riders
outside the “bubble” must be told they are no longer protected and must follow
normal road traffic law, keep to the left (in Britain), and expect hazards at side
road.
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