Cambridge Waitrose in trouble for describing Tour de France as "local sporting event"

A much more balanced view than Harrogate neighbourhood watch.....

Hilarity all-round. Maybe they meant 'Local' to the Milky Way ? That would be accurate.

It's a sporting event, and it's happening locally on that day. What's the problem, exactly?

The only part I struggle with is the suggestion to do my shopping earlier in the week. What's earlier than a Monday?

If they had named the event in question, would they not have risked censure from the event's lawyers for "piggy back marketing"?

Get a life FFS.

Wow, it's amazing what some people will get their knickers in a twist about.
The article however I found quite funny, I mean seriously how can anyone describe "Ironing water" as essential with a straight face and actually sell it to people for a pound?

I think this is a standard poster. I don't think there is a big problem. Plus this Waitrose lets shoppers hire out bike trailers for 3 days to take their goods home!

Perhaps the " moaners " could get around to speaking about THIS Petition :

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/john-lewis-do-not-pass-the-buck-o...

Since TFL has admitted they were WRONG to use " Cyclist Stay BACK " stickers , it can/will only be a matter of days before " John Lewis " decide that their Waitrose Consumers deserve BETTER treatment ? Didn't know that J L was doing so well , that they can afford to antagonise people ?

Anyone wearing these " Signs " on a vehicle , should be immediately STOPPED and inspected by the Authorities , have their vehicles inspected , their Eye sight tested , their Cell/Mobile phone checked , perhaps even breathalised ! After all if you advertise your Stupidity , you deserve what follows ?

Aren't we being constantly extolled to 'embrace' the Tour de France and to 'make it our own'? Isn't that what Waitrose has done? After all isn't the TdF starting in Cambridge that day? Doesn't that make it a 'local' sporting event?

Well done to Waitrose for taking what could be a contentious issue, i.e. people not interested in the event forgetting it is on and being annoyed their lives are interrupted, and giving them a gentle reminder with a little humour.

Slow news day?

Waitrose & partners John Lewis might perhaps think harder about cycling as both an international sport and as a daily activity. There's a petition here to request they stop using those dangerous "Cyclists: DO NOT pass on this side" stickers on their vans (which even tfL have now been forced to abandon):

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/john-lewis-do-not-pass-the-buck-o...

Waitrose? Apparently it's a grocery shop.
One had ever heard of it.

This is great news!

Clearly there's a shortage of cycling-related things to complain about if a local councillor and a cycle-club chair are reduced to moaning about this complete non-issue.

Everything else relating to the subject must have been fixed in the last few days without my noticing. Hurrah! The promised land is here!

Funnily enough, I saw that in my local one the other day and while I thought it was amusing, didn't feel it was worth complaining to the manager and getting my free coffee in a froth.

This is a local shop for local people.

I think Waitrose called this right. The tdf is a minor event. Everybody knows that the Giro is the leading Grand Tour. Followed by La Vuelta.

To be fair: it IS local to the shop, and it IS a sporting event. Bit of a pathetic whinge by the councillor.

'Local sporting event' distinguishes it from most sporting events that have their own dedicated venue, rather than taking place of local roads.

For those unaware of what 'Le Tour de France' entails, it seems like a relatively accurate description of the kind of disturbance people should expect. It's not what I'd stick in the TdF publicity brochure, but as a way of flagging up the arrival of 'a sporting event on local roads that may one's shopping routine', it seems fairly reasonable.

It's not gushing with praise or romance, but I don't think that's what it set out to do.

Just as well it's completely inconsequential, eh? Hooray!

They say the same thing around the Olympic park....look I'm trying to set myself with a prime spot to view the race. The less people know about it the better. Sheesh.

Yep - couldn't agree more. Talk about a storm in a teacup! These two seriously need to get themselves a life.

The race IS local! If it wasn't it would be in France!