Rider 'nearly hit' by car on day one of Tour of Britain Women

Australian cyclist Maeve Plouffe narrowly avoided a collision with a civilian car during the Tour of Britain Women, highlighting safety concerns within the sport. Plouffe, riding for O'Shea Red Chilli Bikes, described the incident on Instagram, stating that while chasing back to the peloton after a puncture, she encountered "cars from the general public coming at me from all directions, including one that nearly hit me on a roundabout." She emphasized the heightened fear within the cycling community following the recent death of 19-year-old British rider Fin Tarling in a collision with a van.

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While the race convoy was still in sight, and I was less than two minutes down, there were cars from the general public coming at me from all directions, including one that nearly hit me on a roundabout.

Plouffe's experience occurred shortly after the peloton participated in a tribute to Tarling, who died during the Volta a Portugal. The Tour of Britain Women began with a minute's applause and a projected photograph of Tarling. Tarling's brother, Josh Tarling, was named in the lineup for the upcoming Vuelta a Espana.

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But considering the recent devastating events in our cycling community, it's scary to see situations like this, when we know that this can have horrific consequences, especially so soon after suffering such a tragedy.

In response to Plouffe's post, Jonathan Day, events director for British Cycling Ventures, issued a statement acknowledging the seriousness of her comments. "Rider safety is paramount and will always be treated as a priority in our planning and how we operate any race," Day said. He confirmed that the organization is reviewing the incident with Plouffe's team and reassured the cycling community of their commitment to safety, especially during this sensitive time. The second stage of the race also faced disruptions, including lorries blocking the course and a temporary stop due to an accident requiring emergency services.

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We note Maeve Plouffe's comments about her experience during yesterday's race, and we're taking these extremely seriously.