Mark Cavendish suggests petition to improve cycling road race spectator access

[divingbrit]

Tour de France green jersey winner Mark Cavendish has suggested a petition calling for the lifting of strict spectator restrictions on key sections of the London 2012 Olympic road race.

The cyclist is set to compete in the London–Surrey Cycle Classic on August 14, which follows the route of the Olympic course.

Spectator access will be restricted for the tough climb up the Zig Zag Road on Box Hill, Surrey, due to concerns about possible harm to wildlife in the area. It will also be limited for the race start and finish on the Mall.

The race is an official London Prepares test event, meaning the spectator arrangements reflect those planned for London 2012.

Cavendish told the BBC’s Today programme: “You can’t get on the Mall, you can’t get on Box Hill, which are the two key areas of the race. Everywhere else you will be able to watch it but the two key areas of the race I think it might be quite difficult to see.”

He added: “Maybe we can get some petition or something so that people can come and watch the road race.”

Cycling fans have reacted angrily to the spectator restrictions, which will limit access to the Zig Zag climb to 3,400 people with wristbands.

These spectators will be allowed to view one small section of the climb, leaving the competitors without crowd support for the bulk of the ascent.

The Zig Zag Road is widely regarded as the best place to watch because the cyclists will be passing by more slowly than elsewhere on the 140km route.

Numbers on the road have been limited because of concerns that crowds would damage wildlife on Box Hill, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation.

Landowners the National Trust said they were legally obliged to ensure the area was protected and that the limit on spectators had been set by Locog, the Olympic organising committee, following ecological surveys they had commissioned.

For the test event the 3,400 wristbands have been allocated through local councils and to cycling interest groups.

Cycling Weekly magazine rejected the offer of distributing 450 wristbands to fans, writing last month: “Locog offered Cycling Weekly 450 wristbands for the test event to distribute to readers.

“We declined the offer on the grounds that the access restrictions will leave too many fans disappointed.”

Reporter Andy McGrath told the Telegraph: “Locog didn’t seem to understand a very simply point that on those zig-zags, that is the prime place to see the race – that’s where the cyclists will be going slowest.

He suggested Locog should reconsider the route and could choose other hills in Surrey. He said: “Box Hill is a cracking climb with a stunning view over the Mole Valley. But the fact is, it’s not suitable if they’re going to have an enclosed area and 3,500-odd capacity inside and a sterile atmosphere going up it."

A spokeswoman for Locog said: “Access to The Mall is restricted to emulate games time with an area restricted for services needed to deliver the race. An area of the Zig Zag Road in Box Hill is restricted as it is a site of significant scientific interest and therefore protected by The National Trust and Natural England.

“We are using the London Surrey Cycle Classic as a test for some of our spectator plans for 2012 in that area. Post test event we will be exploring with National Trust and Natural England restrictions places on the area around the Zig Zag road and whether the 3,400 spectator capacity can be reconsidered.

“We recognise that access to restricted areas should be given to specific groups of interested parties such as local residents and the cycling community. We will plan for the distribution of wristbands for the Olympic Road Race post test event.”

Telegraph.co.uk