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Guernsey Velo Club will concentrate its resources elsewhere after no Jersey riders made it over for the road inter-insular.
It was a disappointing weekend all round, with Monday’s road race being cancelled after only 14 riders entered and the need for additional marshalling because of a traffic diversion.
“We’ve had this weekend in our calendar since the start of the year, having planned it around the ferry timetable, and let Jersey know about it then,” said Velo Club President Alex Margison.
“For no riders to bother to come over is pretty disrespectful to the time and effort we’ve put in. I think it probably spells the end of any inter-insular events going forward.
“It’s clear that the internal politics between their clubs prevents any sort of organisation at a senior level, so we’ll concentrate our resources on sending riders to the UK and France instead going forward, which offers a better standard of racing anyway.”
With Talbot Valley still closed, existing road works on the coast road at Cobo, and a triathlon taking place at Rocquaine, none of the usual time trial courses were available for Sunday’s time trial.
A hybrid 7.5 mile course from the Cobo 10 start, turning at the Vazon 5 turn, and back to Le Guet was therefore used and a field of only 11 riders from the 19 on the start list took to the line. Alex Van Katwyk clocked the fastest time nevertheless, finishing in 15:22, 31 seconds ahead of Phil Touzeau in 15:54 and Tony Bleasdale in 16:12.
With a traffic diversion on the course for Monday’s road race requiring additional marshalling, and only 14 riders entered, the decision was taken to cancel it on Sunday evening.
Club President Alex Margison said: “We’ve had this weekend in our calendar since the start of the year, having planned it around the ferry timetable, and let Jersey know about it then. For no riders to bothering to come over is pretty disrespectful to the time and effort we’ve put in.
"I think it probably spells the end of any inter-insular events going forward. It’s clear that the internal politics between their clubs prevents any sort of organisation at a senior level, so we’ll concentrate our resources on sending riders to the UK and France instead going forward, which offers a better standard of racing anyway.”
Sunday’s time trail was also run on a hybrid course.
Talbot Valley was closed, there were road works at Cobo, and a triathlon was taking place at Rocquaine, so none of the usual time trial courses were available.
A 7.5 mile course was used, beginning at the Cobo 10 start, turning at the Vazon 5 turn, and back to Le Guet.
A field of only 11 riders from the 19 on the start list took to the line.
Alex Van Katwyk clocked the fastest time, finishing in 15:22, 31 seconds ahead of Phil Touzeau and with Tony Bleasdale third in 16:12.
Pictured top: Alex Van Katwyk racing in the Island Games TT.
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