There were some very sketchy scenes during the TT stage today at EasyToys Bloeizone Fryslân Tour (2.1) in the Netherlands, where riders were met with commuter cyclists riding towards them on the course.
There were also cars on the course, which did not appear to be linked to the race. At one stage a driver in a white van drove across the path of an oncoming rider as they attempted to reverse into a driveway.
In another case, when a rider was sprinting for the finish line they had to squeeze up the side of an oncoming car that was on the course on the finishing straight driving towards them.
The 14.4km TT was partly run on a cycle lane and it appeared there were few controls around stopping members of the public going out onto the course. The situation was further complicated as the route was separated into two lanes; one for riders and their following vehicles going out, and the other side for riders and their vehicles coming back.
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The stage was won by world TT champion Ellen van Dijk (Trek-Segafredo), who was seven seconds up on runner-up Riejanne Markus (Jumbo-Visma). Marlen Reusser (Team SD Worx) was 3rd at 25 seconds.
Maia Simmons (18) is the sole Irish rider in the race, and is competing in the colours of Watersley Race & Development CT. She was 107th at 3:46 and we'll come back to Simmons in coming days.
