Hopes of cycle race coming through city

1:00pm Monday 7th May 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Ben Wilkinson, Crime Reporter. Call me on (01865) 425427

Arash Fatemian Arash Fatemian

The arrival of a major cycle event in Oxford this month is being touted as a step towards hosting part of the country’s biggest Cycling race.

Round three of 11 in the Halfords Tour Series will be held in the city for the first time on Tuesday, May 22.

The race, which will shut off main streets for the day, boasts the country’s top teams and will star Olympic gold medallists and World Champion riders.

And Oxfordshire County councillor Arash Fatemian, who helped bring the event to the city, said he hoped one day the country’s top event, the Tour of Britain, could come through the area.

Mr Fatemian, who is the council’s cycling champion, said: “We have some wonderful terrain and countryside around the roads in Oxfordshire.

“The Tour of Britain is something that may or may not happen further down the line but as a start the Halfords Tour Series is a great event.”

He added: “It will be great for cycling fans and cycling enthusiasts, or just people who enjoy sport, to see cycle racing in the city centre. I am hoping it will be a great success. And events like this can really galvanise thought and get people involved.”

The Halfords Tour Series is free to watch and will shut St Giles, Magdalen Street East and Magdalen Street West, and parts of Beaumont Street and Pusey Street.

Diversions will be in place.

Cyclists will race at speeds of up to 40mph on a 1km oval circuit around St Giles.

Olympic gold medallist Ed Clancy and World Champion Andy Tennant will be among those taking part.

Mr Fatemian said event would also be good for local traders, adding: “Something like this, given the attraction it brings, is great for Oxfordshire businesses.”

There will also be an Oxford versus Cambridge University race and a race for women riders before the main event at 7pm.

Cycling groups will also host stalls and put on activities for youngsters.

Peter Hodges, spokesman for both the Tour Series and Tour of Britain, said: “We are really looking forward to Oxford.

“The bigger the crowds are, the better the event, and then the council will hopefully then say they want more cycle events.

“And then it is more likely we will be able to bring back the Tour Series and potentially the Tour of Britain as well.”

Comments(32)

Dilligaf2010 says...
2:01pm Mon 7 May 12

Just what the city needs, road closures, and the resulting congestion.
The County Council need to sort out the existing transport infrastructure, before events are organised to bring more people into the city.

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Greener is cleaner says...
2:24pm Mon 7 May 12

Greener is cleaners day:

Wake up
Go to work
Help old lady across road
Go to bed

Dilligafs day:

Wake up
Complain
Go to bed

Report this post »

Bart Simpsonxxx says...
2:40pm Mon 7 May 12

I hope the police will be out in force and book them for breaking the 20mph speed limits or is it only motorists that break the law??

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Dilligaf2010 says...
3:14pm Mon 7 May 12

Greener is cleaner wrote:
Greener is cleaners day:

Wake up
Go to work
Help old lady across road
Go to bed

Dilligafs day:

Wake up
Complain
Go to bed
And you are? Ah, I know, nobody!

Report this post »

Greener is cleaner says...
3:42pm Mon 7 May 12

Dilligaf2010 wrote:
Greener is cleaner wrote:
Greener is cleaners day:

Wake up
Go to work
Help old lady across road
Go to bed

Dilligafs day:

Wake up
Complain
Go to bed
And you are? Ah, I know, nobody!
Apologies, you have put me in my place now

Report this post »

LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG says...
5:29pm Mon 7 May 12

It will be fun watching all those cyclos crash at 40mph when they hit all of those potholes. Don't forget the video cameras kiddies there will be loads of footage for youtube.

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BigAlBiker says...
10:19pm Mon 7 May 12

And your sunglasses to shield your eyes from all that multi coloured Lycra.

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Christine Hovis says...
7:08am Tue 8 May 12

I hope the race doesn't mean going over the Martyr's memorial. I know the Oxford Mail likes interesting photos, but why does he need to put his bike on the steps of the memorial?

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SirRichard says...
5:15pm Tue 8 May 12

"Cycle champion"? Presumably that's a salaried position... Glad to see the county council busy tackling the core issues.

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LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG says...
7:06pm Tue 8 May 12

The day after this story championing the fact that we will have cyclo's doing 40mph in St Giles, plod were out in force this morning with four YES four police cars nicking people doing over 20 mph. Yes you could not make it up.

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King Joke says...
7:17pm Tue 8 May 12

Your point being McVey? It's a race, on a closed road, just like the Monaco Grand Prix.

Your pothole comment is pig-ignorant too; professional cyclists can cope with the cobbles of the Paris-Roubaix so I doubt our potholes will bother them. They're made of sterner stuff!

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cps says...
8:01pm Tue 8 May 12

"I hope the police will be out in force and book them for breaking the 20mph speed limits or is it only motorists that break the law??"

Yes the speeding laws only apply to motor vehicles.

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King Joke says...
8:42pm Tue 8 May 12

Is that really true? If it isn't illegal to rollock down Morrell Ave at 35 mph on a bike then it jolly well should be.

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Mick Heavey says...
11:58pm Tue 8 May 12

..... N.B. Anyone who suffers financial loss due to this event, please present your expenses to Oxfordshire County Councillor Arash Fatemian, who will no doubt meet these out of his own pocket !!!.....

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King Joke says...
6:29am Wed 9 May 12

Quite righ Mick. Can we also do so for the various fun runs which take place throughout the year, film premieres which close Magdalen St, and while we're at it can we sue Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Tesco's on Speedwell St for the bus delays they cause?

Also when the bike race draws in more spectators and they spend money in local shops, can they give a bit back to Cllr Arash?

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Major Oxford says...
8:34am Wed 9 May 12

Fatemian OUT!!!

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SirRichard says...
9:15am Wed 9 May 12

King Joke wrote:
Your point being McVey? It's a race, on a closed road, just like the Monaco Grand Prix.

Your pothole comment is pig-ignorant too; professional cyclists can cope with the cobbles of the Paris-Roubaix so I doubt our potholes will bother them. They're made of sterner stuff!
Not sure a few gentle laps around St Giles while wearing tight clothing is comparable to the Monaco Grand Prix...

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King Joke says...
9:33am Wed 9 May 12

Not the point. McVey was claiming it was unfair not to restrict their speed. As the roads are closed, it is not.

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Pitchers says...
2:20pm Wed 9 May 12

Congratulations on getting this event staged in Oxford Mr Fatemian - a real credit to you and a great event that reflects the fact that Oxford is a city of cyclists - despite what some of the pathetic comments would suggest to the contrary. If only some of the snipers had a bit of your dynamism.

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Major Oxford says...
3:36pm Wed 9 May 12

Fatemian is the new Mitchell

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Major Oxford says...
3:36pm Wed 9 May 12

Fatemian is the new Mitchell

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LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG says...
9:09pm Wed 9 May 12

Pitchers wrote:
Congratulations on getting this event staged in Oxford Mr Fatemian - a real credit to you and a great event that reflects the fact that Oxford is a city of cyclists - despite what some of the pathetic comments would suggest to the contrary. If only some of the snipers had a bit of your dynamism.
Wrong mate, Oxford is a city built on the Motor Car. Just Google William Morris. Cyclos have contributed nothing to our heritage, except cause havoc for other road users and pedestrians.

Report this post »

King Joke says...
10:38pm Wed 9 May 12

Ah yes, these will be the cyclists who contributed nothing to this city except keeping William Morris in business when he ran a... ahem, bicycle repair shop. McVey, you truly are full of manure.

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## Nonny Mouse ## says...
8:02am Thu 10 May 12

Dilligaf2010 wrote:
Greener is cleaner wrote: Greener is cleaners day: Wake up Go to work Help old lady across road Go to bed Dilligafs day: Wake up Complain Go to bed
And you are? Ah, I know, nobody!
Ahahahaha. Because you are 'somebody', right? Ahahaha.

Report this post »

jochta says...
11:28am Thu 10 May 12

Speed limits do not apply to cyclists. They apply to motor vehicles only. See Road Traffic Regulation Act for details.

However cyclists can be prosecuted for "cycling furiously" or "wanton and furious driving".

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King Joke says...
11:50am Thu 10 May 12

I'll still dab the brakes going down the dip at Old Woodstock, and down Headington Hill. If I piled into a pedestrian at 30+ I don't suppose they'd be consoled by the fact I wasn't motorised!

Anyway, back to racing. On a road closed for racing, speed limits don't apply, just like they didn't for the Birmingham Super Prix in the 80s.

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jochta says...
11:57am Thu 10 May 12

Nope, closed road for racing, whatever vehicle you're in/on it doesn't matter how fast you go :)

Looking forward to the event. It'd be ace if the ToB came through Oxfordshire again. I notice it's miles away again this year :(

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LORD PETER MACVEY 0X2 6EG says...
7:48pm Thu 10 May 12

King Joke wrote:
Your point being McVey? It's a race, on a closed road, just like the Monaco Grand Prix.

Your pothole comment is pig-ignorant too; professional cyclists can cope with the cobbles of the Paris-Roubaix so I doubt our potholes will bother them. They're made of sterner stuff!
The point you missed was irony, nothing to do with speed, but seeing as most of my posts seem to go over your head, no surprise there.

Report this post »

King Joke says...
8:32am Fri 11 May 12

THere's plenty out the Lord Peter, on whom irony and sarcasm are completely lost. THey'll read your stuff and think 'oh yeah, a bike race is a vvank idea, because of the pot holes'. Someone's got to put them right.

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John Lamb says...
11:34am Sat 12 May 12

Having some cyclists thinking they have the city centre to themselves will just be like any other day in Oxford.

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A34North says...
3:18pm Sat 12 May 12

## Nonny Mouse ## wrote:
Dilligaf2010 wrote:
Greener is cleaner wrote: Greener is cleaners day: Wake up Go to work Help old lady across road Go to bed Dilligafs day: Wake up Complain Go to bed
And you are? Ah, I know, nobody!
Ahahahaha. Because you are 'somebody', right? Ahahaha.
This seems like a wonderful idea and I am sure Lord Nuffield would be proud of the event and encourage the councils to extend their willingness to stage a full blown motor racing Grand Prix in the future.
Can you see it ladies and gentlemen 'The Oxford GP', television rights to boot. However, we would not want another Trenton episode would we Dilly 'my friend'?

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King Joke says...
7:55pm Sun 13 May 12

We had a GP in Oxford for years, every summer. Why do you think they build Blackbird Leys in an oval, with a couple of chicanes?

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