The recent Valleys Velo Sportive was marred by sabotage after hundreds of camouflaged drawing pins were strewn on the route, causing more than 70 cyclists to puncture on the fast descent from Bwlch into Nant-y-moel.
Police are hunting the person(s) responsible for the attack, which took place on Sunday 28 September. The first wave of cyclists passed through the area unaffected, indicating that the tacks were dropped during the event, most likely from a passing vehicle.
The placing of the tacks on the fastest part of the course on a hairpin bend, combined with the attempted camouflage, mark the act as a particularly calculated and malicious attempt to endanger participants in the event.
Cyclists have spoken out about their anger at the attack, which could have caused serious injury or death.
Richard Manning, 46, who punctured at 80kph on the descent, said: "I only hope that the culprits are caught and that their punishment is enough to dissuade others from this.
"Painting them black to camouflage them on the road shows a level of planning I find deeply distressing"
"The placement of these drawing pins on a really fast descent, just before a hairpin bend can only lead to the conclusion that the saboteur was hoping to cause serious injury - or even death."
Event organiser Jamie Rowland said: "I couldn't believe it when I first received the call to say what was happening.
"My heart sunk thinking of the riders and their safety who were unfortunately caught up in the unfolding events, all their training and effort undone by some mindless idiot.
"We are appealing for anyone who has any information regardless of how little or insignificant they believe it to be to please get in touch with us. We are doing all we can to find the perpetrators, with a time scale of events and local CCTV footage of passing vehicles we will be able to identify the vehicle and find the guilty party."
Attacks on sportives do unfortunately happen: last year's Wiggle Etape Cymru and New Forest Spring Sportive were both affected by nails/tacks strewn on the route and, in the latter case, signs being torn down and roads deliberately blocked by motorists. But are these people just "mindless idiots", or is there something we as cyclists can be doing to help the situation?
Here at Sportive.com we occasionally receive irate emails from locals complaining about cycling events passing through their villages and causing disruption. We always reply politely, and in some cases they have a point: mass sporting events like sportives (or the Dunwich Dynamo) can be disruptive to the wider public. As sportive riders, we can do our bit by riding with consideration for the areas we pass through: obey the rules of the road, don't drop litter - the obvious stuff.
That said, absolutely nothing can justify the dangerous and criminal actions of saboteurs like those who attacked the Valleys Velo Sportive. As chance would have it, this weekend sees the Wiggle New Forest 100 Sportive return for another two-day event in what has been contentious territory. Let's hope it passes peacefully, for the benefit of both visiting cyclists and locals.
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