| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Cycle Race Road Closure 4th August 2013 | |
| Posted by: | Lucille Grant | |
| Date/Time: | 04/08/13 23:25:00 |
'I didn't go into Richmond Park today but I understand it was closed to through traffic and a delight to visit for locals on foot or on their bikes.' Nice for cyclists but not so nice for those who cannot cycle - for infirm people it's too far to walk from Putney and then enjoy more walking in the Park itself. Everything now seems geared to the cyclist or driving lobby. The organisation this evening was pitiful as the stewards had no idea when the professional race ended. They should be better trained for any future event and, for a change, use a different route too. The French have a system that, at the end of a cycle race, a van drives along the route with a broom at the back (presumably sweeping up the stragglers!) This happened today but the stewards had no idea this meant everyone was back (in fact there were two late riders who came behind the van shortly afterwards - again in France, they would have been disqualified and been put in the van for the rest of the journey to the finish line) I only use the French as an example as, with 100 years of the Tour de France, they know a lot more than we do about organising a cycle race. The organisers today shouldn't be too proud to learn for the future. Incidentally my main gripe was that so many London bridges were closed to traffic today. The Tour when it goes through Paris on its final stage needs only one, maybe two, bridges closed. Meanwhile I think it is great that we have cyclists the calibre of Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome to show the French how to win at cycling :-) |