Tour of Britain 2011 (Stage 2)

I was a Marshall at the Tour of Britain stage start today. I arrived at 8.30am to start my duties. I was stationed at the bridge in Abbot Hall Park Kendal, where the team buses were parked up. The riders would have to cross the bridge to register. The plan for the day was that we would control the public coming over the bridge in order that the riders would be able to cross without too much interference. The riders were only too happy to stop and sign autographs for the school kids who came down to see the stage start.
As the morning went on and the wind increased there were urgent meetings with the team directors and the tour organisers as to whether the race would go ahead today.
Some of the top cyclists in the world were here today including current World Road Race champion Thor Hushovd (Garmin Cervelo), Tour de France Green Jersey winner Mark Cavendish (HTC Highroad) & Geraint Thomas (Team Sky). The stage was due to start at 10.30am, at around the same time the days stage was called off. With the north of England being battered by winds of up to 65mph with stronger winds forecast, this was the tail end of Hurricane Katia. The reason for the stage being cancelled was for safety reasons.
All the teams agreed that not to disappoint the schools kids who would be waiting at the schools to watch the tour pass by and all the public who were lining the streets of Kendal, that they would do 2 laps of the town. This was very well received by the schools and general public.
The Council are in talks with The Tour of Britain directors already about the tour visiting Kendal next year.