Urinating cyclists

[Will]

Urinating cyclists spark race ban

An international cycling race has been cancelled over fears of competitors urinating on the Hampshire roadside.

The annual Havant Grand Prix will not run this Sunday after a "stalemate" was reached between police and organisers over plans for the 113-mile race.

The conduct of cyclists and the safety of road users last year led police to ban the 2006 race.

The event had been running for 16 years and attracted cyclists from across the globe as well as British Olympians.

Insp Howard Marrs said: "It is unacceptable to have masses of cyclists at the side of the road urinating and the organisers would have to address this before the race could have gone ahead.


"It had to be stopped on safety grounds following the conduct of the riders.

"I would also have concerns about the race going ahead on the A32 at West Meon based on health and safety grounds."

Havant International Grand Prix had been sponsored by Havant Borough Council for the last 10 years and was part of the UCI (the Swiss-based International Cycling Union) racing calendar.

Organiser Garth Staden, of the South Down velo club, said: "There is a lot of disappointment that the event isn't taking place this year.

"The behaviour of cyclists last year was inappropriate and it isn't something we would tolerate.

"I had hoped to get some assurances from the police about the level and standard of policing at this year's event, but when there weren't any forthcoming I wasn't prepared to promote it any longer myself."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hamp ... 776653.stm

Perhaps after the recent press, people are worried about the chemicals in their urine interfering with the local ecosystem, maybe leading to the area being beseiged by rampaging testosterone-fuelled snails, etc.?