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news
Astana apologise to Tour de Yorkshire marshal almost run over by team car driver
Astana have apologised for the incident at the Tour de Yorkshire yesterday in which a volunteer marshal was almost run over by one of the Kazakh team’s support cars, with the Kazakh outfit’s driver ploughing through the bollard the marshal had been warning the riders and race convoy about.
> Video: Astana driver almost hits Tour de Yorkshire marshal
In a tweet on Sunday, the UCI WorldTour team said it was “deeply sorry” for the incident.
We’re deeply sorry about the incident with our team car. The sport director that was driving the car contacted the race organizer directly after the race to send our apologies. We’re trying to get in touch with the marshal as well. We’re sorry and want this to never happen again.
— Astana Pro Team (@AstanaTeam) May 7, 2018
The incident, which happened during yesterday’s final stage, won by Cofidis rider Stephane Rossetto with Greg van Avermaet of BMC Racing clinching the overall title, was caught on film by Nathan Currie, who posted it to YouTube and Twitter.
The marshal, Philip Sullivan, said on Twitter today that he felt “very lucky” following the near miss, and that he was still “taking it in.”
Sat here now still really taking it in and trying to figure out just how I got out of the way of the car. But I'm here my children have their dad and I'm very lucky, thank you for your kind words.
— Phillip sullivan (@Phillipsulliv12) May 7, 2018
Astana have since confirmed that they have been in contact with Mr Sullivan and that they “will have some gifts for him.”
According to BBC Sport, Astana sports director Lars Michaelsen will himself volunteer at next year’s Tour de Yorkshire and will meet Mr Sullivan “for a beer.”
Mr Sullivan, who is aged 35, said: “I am still thinking how close it was, but luckily I do not have a scratch.”
Despite the incident, he remained at his post as the main peloton approached, saying: "I knew the riders were coming and I had a job to do", he said.
Welcome to Yorkshire, which organises the race in partnership with ASO, said that had launched an investigation into the incident.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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17 comments
Shoddy organisation all round really with this and the Tanfield incident on Saturday, plus the break getting mis-directed twice. All of those could have had serious repurcussions. Feels like things haven't improved since that spate of moto/rider collisions in 16/17.
So close, not least because the driver could easily have swerved to avoid the island at the last second, and hit the rapidly exiting marshall. Hope the authorities are getting involved with this.
The original coverage in some of the media referred to it as a "blind bend"
Can't imagine what those writers'd make of a *real* blind bend...
I agree with other commenters here: clear case of careless driving, surely?
I've thought for a long time that the driver of the support cars should have just one job, to drive the car! Not discuss tactics, hand out bottles, watch the tv feed, talk on the radio, phone a friend etc... there's far too much going on in a race and peoples lives are at risk!
Phillip is alright:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-44029144
Living proof that hi-viz is 100% effective in getting drivers' attention.
Which is the obvious downfall of Hi-viz as the driver should have been looking at where he wanted to go. Any mountainbiker or motorcyclist knows this and the same applies to a car driver. The driver should have been looking further around the corner not at a potential target. Hi-viz is obviously a dangerous distraction for other road users.
Over bright or flashing cycling lights may have the same distractive effect too.
Seeing as it was a closed road event, I assume traffic laws are not in effect as such?
The action of the driver is totally inexcusible. Whoever was driving put the volunteer at risk and it was only due to the marshals athleticism that he is still here and in one piece. The driver should be investigated by the local police force as well as the UCI. There should be no way that he can get off without some form of penalty for such reckless driving. Astana are trying to do a publicity job to lessen the effects but it is still reckless driving or driving without due care and attention.
SMIDSY.
Maybe, just maybe, the Sports Director shouldn't be the one driving & trying to communicate with the riders & formulate tactics etc at the same time???
Driver was Lars Michaelsen, a fellow dane - and yes i does look crazy.
Those pedestrian refuges do not seem to be providing much of a refuge, do they?
Never thought about it before, but they should be made out of something that can stop a truck dead in its tracks.... that way they'd actually be a safe spot to stand
Do really all these cars are needed in a bicycle race, a race that is meant to promote ...bicycles?? Way too much support in my opinion.
RIP hi-vis yellow retro reflective bollard, glad the marshall is okay, plus what Mike from LFE said.
'Deeply sorry' and apologies don't cut it. The driver should be prosecuted for Driving without Care & Attention (if not careless or dangerous driving) - AFAIK, yes, that offence can be commited on 'closed roads'. The Astana driver was driving well below the standard of a 'competent driver'.
The marshall wasn't injured - more by dint of good luck and quick reflexes - what would have been the response if he's been injured or killed? Deeply sorry & apologies certainly wouldn't be enough then!