Apologies in the small window of opportunity I had to insert my piece on Tuesday I forgot to congratulate Greg. It goes without saying that anyone who challenges themselves by putting a number on their back gets my respect no matter what the event. Greg take a bow!
I think "bonkers" is maybe a bit strong - perhaps "irresponsible" on the part of the CTT is maybe more in keeping. As Darren has said you wouldnt train on these roads so why race on them and I'm of the same opinion. Lets face it you can say all you want about the dangers of racing on the technical roads we use for the evening TT's but the traffic is light and the rest of it is just a risk assessment going on in yer head. On a duel carriageway you could be hit from behind and know nothing about it. Even in last weeks spoco event in the rain I didnt feel unduly worried but like I said then an event in those conditions on a main road wouldn't or shouldn't have happened.
Is dual carriageway time trialling the worlds most dangerous sport? We've already had mention on this discussion board about a guy killed in South Yorkshire earlier in the year and it happens every year. If this was boxing it would have been banned by now but time trialling is such a low key area of a minority sport it seems to go under the radar?
Another issue with time trialling generally is pretty much that the organiser is king. I'm fairly sure that the organiser from the nationals was basically just hoping and preying to get through the event without incident. So basically your welfare is in their hands and believe me they ain't going to stop an event once its started unless the police tell them to. At least in a road race you have the commissaire to take some of the on the day responsibility away from you.
You may think I'm talking a load of TT hating drivel because I'm a roady? Ok rewind 20+ years and time trialling was what I did - I've a bunch of sub hour 25's, sub 2 hour 50's, a CTT BAR certificate. I've also organised an A1 based BAR counting 50 mile time trial on behalf of the club, I organised evening events when we were part of the old Thursday League and I ran the spoco series for a number of years and I've been club racing secretary. So I know how it all works. Believe me in that open 50, I was just glad to get through that day with no one dead. Like many in this club I would always suggest the sport of cycling has more to offer than racing up and down dual carriageways.
Weekend Roundup 9th & 10th June
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