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Police looking for men alleged to have attacked Tour o’ the Borders riders with sticks

Thought to have been unhappy with road closures

Police are looking to identify two men who attempted to block last Sunday’s Tour o’ the Borders sportive and who are reported to have lashed out at competitors with sticks.

Organisers said the incident took place after around 26km, a few hundred metres south of the junction of the A701 and B712.

“I was in the lead group and met the irate locals blocking the road,” said one participant. “We were all respectful initially as we assumed there were livestock in the road and stopped. I witnessed them hitting riders and saying ‘stick it in their spokes’ which I would regard as deliberately dangerous behaviour.”

Another said: “I was in the lead group and one of the first to cross them. The men seemed to appear from the side of the road after the lead car went through. The two men, each with two sticks, deliberated tried to block the road completely and caused the whole group of riders to suddenly slow down. When we attempted to cross them we were hit with sticks as they would not move.”

The Scotsman has suggested that the two men may have been farmers as some have previously expressed concerns at not being able to move between their fields at harvest time due to cycling events. However, on Facebook organisers were keen to emphasise that, “there are quite a few farmers who take part and others who support the event in various different ways.”

Event director Neil Dalgleish commented: “Tour o’ the Borders was a fantastic success this year, and for once the weather was kind too. The riders had a fabulous time, and we’ve had countless thanks for the organisation, route quality, scenery and for all the friendly marshals and volunteers.

“Our cycling visitors know the Borders is a place they are welcome and where the quality of the cycling and events is second to none, so I think a truly special day was marred by some thugs, some idiots.

“Their behaviour is disgusting, and they are a disgrace to the whole of the Borders, let alone their own local communities. We have to make it clear that this kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable. It could have caused serious injuries or worse.

“If anyone knows who was responsible please get in touch with us or, better, the police directly. We really need to find out who was responsible and make sure this kind of thing never happens again.

“Cycle tourism is one of very few sectors bringing new jobs and economic growth to this region, and we can’t let that good news story be threatened by a few numbskulls who think having a road closed for a few hours once a year is justification for assault and violence. That’s just not what the Borders is all about.”

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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10 comments

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Canyon48 | 6 years ago
1 like
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burtthebike | 6 years ago
2 likes

Reminds me of the Llanberis pass on the 600km Welsh Audax.  When passing the local pub, a gang of drinkers would sprint out and try to catch you.  Did wonders for the uphill sprinting.  Not sure if they ever caught anyone or what they would do if they did.

Avatar
Grahamd replied to burtthebike | 6 years ago
3 likes

burtthebike wrote:

Reminds me of the Llanberis pass on the 600km Welsh Audax.  When passing the local pub, a gang of drinkers would sprint out and try to catch you.  Did wonders for the uphill sprinting.  Not sure if they ever caught anyone or what they would do if they did.

Am sure that was just Welsh hospitality with them trying to share their drinks.

Avatar
ConcordeCX replied to burtthebike | 6 years ago
2 likes

burtthebike wrote:

Reminds me of the Llanberis pass on the 600km Welsh Audax.  When passing the local pub, a gang of drinkers would sprint out and try to catch you.  Did wonders for the uphill sprinting.  Not sure if they ever caught anyone or what they would do if they did.

Were they barking as well?

Avatar
Jitensha Oni replied to ConcordeCX | 6 years ago
3 likes

ConcordeCX wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Reminds me of the Llanberis pass on the 600km Welsh Audax.  When passing the local pub, a gang of drinkers would sprint out and try to catch you.  Did wonders for the uphill sprinting.  Not sure if they ever caught anyone or what they would do if they did.

Were they barking as well?

Either way, clearly yes. yes

Avatar
hawkinspeter | 6 years ago
9 likes

This has gone far enough now! We should be calling for a complete ban on sticks - no-one NEEDS a stick (unless it's for poking a dead body) so why are we allowing these hoodlums with sticks to run amok?

Ban the sticks!

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
9 likes

I'm unhappy with roads opening, bricks from bridges...?

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brooksby | 6 years ago
9 likes

And have the police become involved in this? Surely these blokes can't say that they were actually reaching for pies?

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rliu | 6 years ago
5 likes

Seems a story out of the historical records dating from the 16th century, half expected the men to have started a hue and cry, to expel the devil worshippers sitting astride demonic contraptions lifting its riders unnaturally in the air.

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Leviathan replied to rliu | 6 years ago
1 like

rliu wrote:

Seems a story out of the historical records dating from the 16th century, half expected the men to have started a hue and cry, to expel the devil worshippers sitting astride demonic contraptions lifting its riders unnaturally in the air.

Yes, but did they ever find Linda? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFvUNipYe1g

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