2011-08-14 London - Surrey Cycle Classic

also kristian house in the breakaway..
http://www.facebook.com/KristianHouseFanPage?ref=ts#!/media/set/?set=a.914925046079.2457720.36802050

and alex downsett also captured..
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.914925046079.2457720.36802050#!/media/set/?set=a.250370071651354.62510.100000350905752&type=1

last lot.. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.250370071651354.62510.100000350905752&type=1#!/media/set/?set=a.189794131048830.52709.100000547323656&type=1

Hope it won't happen for the Olympic event but the fact that the last 300m of the Mall to the finish was entirely screened off for a dribble of pass holders was a fucking disgrace. Room for hundreds, filled with the few whilst the rest of us were all squashed up further back. How come it's always like this over here? And it wasn't just that there were barriers, there was blue tarpaulin along the whole way so you couldn't even stand back and view. Rubbish. And dare I say typical of the Olympics committee organizing things according to their entirely miserable restrictive practises and 'chosen partners'....Total bollocks and the antithesis of what watching road racing is about.

My picture is 1st in the bbc gallery, well chuffed!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14522070

Watched near Richmond Gate in the park. Zero atmosphere, lots of arsehole security guards for no reason and a fairly boring experience. Ticked all the Health and Safety boxes and I'm sure it's triples all round for the corporates.

Sounds like the Mall and Box Hill were just as dull/soulless. It was just so...British. Naff.

it will be deemed a backslapping success despite it's failings.

...spotted a CS grupetto rider on the course just prior to the police bikes speeding thro heading west...

what time was this? if it was about 0715, then that'll be me. went up the hill towards the A3 though to skip the road closures. one other grupetto did go along upper richmond rd a bit later.

how the hell did that^^^ tit get amongst the pros. so many outriders and marshals and he manages to get through?!?

cycling weekly pretty much got it spot on. common complaints at the bike parking area on top of boxhill...lack of atmosphere and people not being allowed on the climb.

Fulham Road looked impressive enough:-
http://youtu.be/FIaZCsIMwX0

it will be deemed a backslapping success despite it's failings.

I was interviewed by the BBC, for my thoughts I said it was a disappointing atmosphere, not many people watching it etc, there were quite a few cycling clubs watching it where I stood but apart from that not many of the general public, surprisingly they haven't published my comments!

how the hell did that^^^ tit get amongst the pros. so many outriders and marshals and he manages to get through?!?

So much for their security then. That's a big fail is it and they can move the event to somewhere decent? France is pretty close to Britain I hear..

Some dickhead was on the course during the race

'Are you happy now?'

Surely it's this indifference as a Nation which let's us down time and again.*

*Some might say it's our right.

^ Assos guerilla advertising? what a knob.

Nice writeup here:
http://in-the-saddle.com/2011/08/15/the-london-surrey-classic-cav-fans-and-jams/

Hope it won't happen for the Olympic event but the fact that the last 300m of the Mall to the finish was entirely screened off for a dribble of pass holders was a fucking disgrace. Room for hundreds, filled with the few whilst the rest of us were all squashed up further back. How come it's always like this over here? And it wasn't just that there were barriers, there was blue tarpaulin along the whole way so you couldn't even stand back and view. Rubbish. And dare I say typical of the Olympics committee organizing things according to their entirely miserable restrictive practises and 'chosen partners'....Total bollocks and the antithesis of what watching road racing is about.

This. I was amazed by that tarpaulin. Pathetic.

hippy, is this your cycle team.. spotted on box hill yesterday?

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Some dickhead was on the course during the race

For all the police outriders that were there, I'm amazed this dick managed to get onto the course. Doesn't say much for the 'security', especially considering there was also a police helicopter following the group.

almac, cheeky. Actually no, I prefer slimming black kit..

A lesson that matey boy above needs to learn. Fat fuck. Where did he get those fucking shorts too?

This. I was amazed by that tarpaulin. Pathetic.

The whole start / end was a joke.
Even if you have an exclusion zone why make it impossible to see a thing for people behind it. Especially seeing as it was over half empty at the start!
Not sure why I expected better though really!

It won't be half empty for the Olympics though.. it will be completely full.

The organisers just wanted to see if the crowd could breakthrough their fences.
Which it seems you couldn't.. however with a few thousand extra cycling fans from all over the world turning up - their grand plan to moneytize the cycling events may still come a cropper.

I got through the fences at boxhill.. it was the national trust undergrowth that stopped me getting any further - doable without a carbon rode bike on your shoulder.

it will be deemed a backslapping success despite it's failings.

.. lifted from the LOCOG website..

A huge amount of planning and delivery went into making this event happen. The vast majority of people appeared to heed our advice to plan their travel and used Tube and rail services, while others chose to enjoy viewing the race in their local area.'

Andrew Povey, Leader of Surrey County Council, said 'This was a thrilling test event which was a taster for next year. My thanks to LOCOG, Surrey County Council police and all who made this race happen, and we look forward to welcoming the world to surrey next year.'

Joanna Knight, 2012 Event Liaison Manager for The Royal Parks said: 'Four Royal Parks featured on the route of the London Surrey Cycle Classic. This test event has been a great success and The Royal Parks has worked closely with LOCOG and TfL to develop their plans. We're now looking forward to the cycling road races during the London 2012 Games where the parks will make a spectacular backdrop for this exciting sport.'

Andy Wright, Countryside Manager for the National Trust in East Surrey, said: 'The test event was a great success. We are very pleased with how Box Hill was organised. The spectators that watched the race from here created a great atmosphere and also really respected the area – so thank you to them. We are now looking forward to working with LOCOG on plans for next year.'

basically don't expect anything better for 2012. i hope the cycling press make a point though, that access and atmosphere could be far better, instead of this nonsense for the champagne brigade.
i also doubt it'll change the mindset of some car drivers in London and the Home Counties when it comes to sharing the roads with us in the future, especially with fucktwits like this yesterday

@EamonnHolmes...

The organisers just wanted to see if the crowd could breakthrough their fences. Which it seems you couldn't..

'cept for Assos Man! Stronger than Steel! Faster than erm..

[ame]http://connect.garmin.com/activity/106723951[/ame]

interesting read from kristian house's garmin on sunday, avg speed 25mph

http://road.cc/content/news/40709-olympic-test-event-sunday-riders-sneak-peloton-drivers-fume-road-closures

Aemon Atkinson and a friend had already cycled 70 kilometres on Sunday morning to find a spot near Richmond Park to watch the race, and after the main bunch went by, they took to the road themselves to ride to the finish without realising that there were still riders out on the course behind them.

"They came past us like a bat out of hell, so we tried to latch on for our 15 minutes of fame. The spectators urged us on."

http://en-gb.facebook.com/people/Aemon-Atkinson/100001112714757