Rain curtails cycle race

Opening day of inaugural competition cut short due to safety fears as riders approached Glenrothes

The weather beat the inaugural Women’s Tour of Scotland race after it reached Fife yesterday.

Around 90 cyclists set off from Slessor Gardens in Dundee but, despite the organisers’ determination not to let the deluge hamper the launch, the race was abandoned for the day amid safety fears.

The cyclists were approaching Glenrothes when the decision to call off the event was made.

The race director was ahead of the riders and saw flooding had made the roads impassable.

The cyclists were to compete in three events on the first day, finishing in Dunfermline.

The Tay Road Bridge was closed to traffic to allow the athletes to cross on their way to Fife.

Two events had been completed before the decision to abandon the race was made.

Those results will still go towards the overall competition.

A Women’s Tour of Scotland spokesman said: “Due to extreme weather conditions we have taken the unfortunate decision, together with Police Scotland and other relevant authorities, to abandon today’s stage.

“Conditions have proven impossible due to heavy sections of standing water. Rider safety is therefore paramount and conditions were no longer safe to continue.

“The winners of today’s classifications will still be presented in Dunfermline. However, the rest of the teams have returned to their accommodation.”

A spokesman for the competition said they still plan to carry on today, which should see cyclists leave from Glasgow and race to Perth.

The third day will start and end in Edinburgh, with the athletes taking a tour through parts of Lothian and the Borders.

The Women’s Tour of Scotland is the first competition of its kind to offer the same prize money for women as the equivalent men’s competition.

Teams from around the world, including the Netherlands, South Korea, USA and Belgium travelled to Scotland for the competition.

The Scottish team is led by Olympic hero Katie Archibald.

Pictures: Kris Miller/ SNS. Clockwise from top: Cyclists leaving Slessor Gardens; ready for the off; some of the spectators who braved the rain; Scotland’s Katie Archibald prepares to lead her team out; the community ride-out.