Half of peloton go off course in Tour of Britain stage five finale
Cees Bol of Team DSM among riders unfortunate enough to be diverted wrong way
Half of the peloton at the Tour of Britain did not take part in the sprint at the end of stage five after they ended up on the wrong side of the barriers in the final kilometre.
A central reservation without barriers on the right hand side led to tens of riders riding off the course and therefore away from the stage finish.
Among those to end up on the wrong side of the barriers was Cees Bol (DSM), one of the favourites for the flat finish, who won stage two earlier this week.
In his absence, Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe) was able to comfortably win the reduced bunch sprint in Mansfield.
Max Poole (DSM), Bol's teammate, was also one of the unfortunate riders: "It was coming into the final, the inside was left open, but you had to go left. Half the field went left, half the field went right. Someone had to open the barrier.
"Cees and Marius [Mayrhofer] went right, so a bit of a shame. It was a lot of people, I don't understand how you can leave the inside of a bend open. It's a bit of a mess."
In the end, some riders were left to climb over the barriers to get back on course, and finished the day 36 seconds behind the leading group, although they have now been given the same time as the lead finishers.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Matt Gibson (Human Powered Health) was a sprinter hoping to show his speed on the flat finish in Mansfield.
"We had to climb back over the barriers, about half the field went the wrong way," he told Cycling Weekly. "About 50 people didn't get a chance to go for a result today, which sucks after you've put so much effort in over 180km. The longest stage to then have the opportunity taken away from you in the last km.
"I've had things where you've crashed or gone the wrong way by accident, but that was avoidable. The organisation could have put barriers one side and then it wouldn't have been a problem.
"I knew immediately because I heard in the meeting that there would probably be barriers on the left hand side," Gibson continued. "I wasn't in a situation where I could turn left to go across because there was quite a few people on my left hand side. If I had tried, it probably would have caused a crash.
"I had no choice but to go right. It's disappointing definitely, especially on what was the most obvious sprint stage."
No crash or major incident was caused by the misdirection, but it did lead to many missed opportunities for those in the peloton hoping for a result.
"The road was completely open with 1km to go, and then half the peloton were on the right side, watching the guys sprinting on the left," Anders Skaarseth (Uno-X) said. "We were behind the barriers watching with the spectators. It was a quite fun experience, a new one. We had to climb over the fence, or a marshal let us through. It was pretty special.
"It was just a wasted day actually, riding 180kms and then being sent the wrong way with 500m to go. All three of us went the wrong way, so it was over for us. Really weird, but things like this happen."
A statement from the race organisers said that all the affected riders were given the same time as the lead group.
“Approaching the finish in Mansfield a group of riders failed to take the race route on the correct side of the carriageway inside the final kilometre," a spokesperson said.
“We are investigating why the route at this point was not clearly marked and that this was able to happen.
“All affected riders have been credited with the same time.”
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling, he's happy. Before joining CW he spent two years writing for Procycling. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds.
Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.
-
TV coverage of a bike race can leave you with a strange impression of a country
TV footage is deceptive so choose your illusion wisely
By Michael Hutchinson Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel dominates in Leuven to win Gravel World Championships
The Dutchman adds another World Championship title to his palmarès as he solos to victory in the Flemish Brabant
By Joseph Lycett Published
-
'I was very close to joining a WorldTour team a few weeks ago' - Matt Holmes on the challenges of racing solo
Thirty-year-old privateer says he's 'not desperate' for a pro contract
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tour of Britain 'important for cycling to grow' in UK, says Stevie Williams
Race provides opportunities for British talent to shine
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Stevie Williams wins Tour of Britain as Matevž Govekar sprints to victory on final stage
Flèche Wallonne champion becomes first British winner of the stage race in eight years
By Joseph Lycett Published
-
Paul Magnier takes hat-trick of wins at Tour of Britain with stage five victory
Young Frenchman powers to third stage win as three-man breakaway caught at the death
By Flo Clifford Published
-
Paul Magnier pips Ethan Vernon to win Tour of Britain stage 4
Frenchman earns his second victory of the race, this time in Newark-on-Trent
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tour of Britain Men 2024 complete guide: Race route, contenders, and stage previews
Your essential information to the UK's biggest men's stage race
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Remco Evenepoel and Julian Alaphilippe confirmed for Tour of Britain Men
Double Olympic champion and Alaphilippe headline Soudal Quick-Step team selection
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers and Soudal Quick-Step set to headline fast approaching Tour of Britain
Double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel expected to feature for Soudal Quick-Step as Belgian team return to the race for the first time since 2021
By Tom Thewlis Published