Saboteurs ‘lay out tacks’ on Etape Cymru route

I also saw lots of people out on the road with punctures, and I was riding towards the front of the event

Careful. Any big event like this will see its fair share of p***tu**s. I did Wild Wales Challenge a couple of weeks previously. That had less than half the number of riders of the Etape and I must have passed at least a dozen riders changing tubes at the side of the road. There was no suggestion of any sabotage.

It was a good day. Organisation was spot on, route was good, signage was good, local support was good. The guy on the Mavic support moto that shouted at me for using tyre levers was good. The guy who I played leapfrog with for 60 miles was good.

The only real bad thing was that I had my first real bonk. I thought I'd had bonks before but I was wrong. Turns out all the other times I was just being a pussy.

Hello. This is my first post on Road.cc

I did the Etape Cymru for the first time this year, and had a great day out. I thought it was a well organised event, with lots of marshals, clear routing at junctions etc and my only gripe on the organisation was a shortage of toilets at the start area!

The number of people getting punctures from tacks has been seriously under-reported though. I finished the ride with a flat front tyre due to a tack in it, and I didn't report it at the time. I also saw lots of people out on the road with punctures, and I was riding towards the front of the event, so there must have been many, many more behind me. Luckily this was the end of my ride, so I didn't have my time ruined.

I enjoyed chatting to other riders out on the route, what a friendly bunch, and local support was generally very positive, so thanks to the majority of the locals too.

I'm very pleased with my 5:34 time, I saw Stuart Kerton of this parish finished just ahead of me!

we'll be posting a ride report later, as we sent one of our chaps to ride it

By the way I should point out that there were many people by the side of the roads clapping, cheering us all on and saying morning/afternoon. So whilst there was some who were bound to be upset by not being able to leave there house by car (personally I'd welcome it as law that no cars should be on the roads on sunday, nor supermarkets open etc) it was generally a great day out.
It seemed many were very supportive! Also should say thanks to all the volunteers, police and staff etc who were brilliant! They made the day, wouldn't have been a fraction as good without them!
First time visiting Wales too, and they put a good day on! Would definitely return if not only to improve my standing on the Horseshoe pass
There was some litter yes, but I think (and hope) that mostly this was all accidental, I saw many people seeking bins at stops etc and emptying pockets. I doubt you can have 2000 people riding around without the misfortune of dropping the odd wrapper. I also saw a couple of rain coats too.

Sometimes this site seems to focus too much on the negative.

Can't the title be "Great day out in wales had by all"

The tack in my tyre, whilst mildly annoying, certainly didn't ruin my day.

hehe - I think that was me!

...the guy with the garmin not the prick with the tacks

I've ridden all of these events, and I doubts about the signs being stolen during the first year. I remember getting to a junction with about 80 others and there being no sign. We followed somebody's garmin, and rode on, but it was a good 10 mins before we got anywhere close to resembling a house, so if somebody did want to tamper with signs they'd have to drive out there...

Anyway, another good event this year but us cyclists aren't blameless, what with the amount of litter I saw....

'Cock Bank'? How apt a name for the incident location.

There will always be opposition because it's quite important to pop down to Greggs by car on a Sunday to get a bean slice, take Gemima to the stables and, crucially, because cyclists don't pay road tax.

Of course, it might be a nice opportunity to stay at home, have a cooked breakfast, catch up with some good books, kick a ball with the kids.

But no, society demands 24 hours unfettered access to the world at large.

Roll on the zombie apocalypse.

This saddens me. I guess there's opposition to the event in the area? To be honest, I was surprised there wasn't any of this at RideLondon

With any luck any miscreants at the TdF will be taken to a damp cell and given the Zero Dark Thirty treatment.

Why do people have to be such idiots!? Then again, I say that to myself every day...

I got a push pin in my tyre, was a bit disappointing that some one did that but apart from that was a good day!

Good point.

It even happens during the TdF. I remember Cadel Evans and others puncturing due to tacks on some steep climb during the 2012 race, when Wiggins then slowed the race for him to catch up.

There are morons everywhere.

Makes you wonder how they are going to stop these idiots sabotaging The Tour over here next year?

I was there.

In spite of this it was still a great event. Very well run (and with nice dry weather) for the second year in a row. The organisers, Human Race, are to be congratulated.

(BTW, there were rather more than a thousand riders. I make it about 1500 finishers).

Etape Caledonia has suffered for years with this from idiots and although the police tried to convict someone, they were let off