Live TV coverage of World Champs men's race lost due to bad weather

TV motos were unable to take to the Harrogate circuit and the relay plane's refueling airport had to close. It meant live TV shots of the men's elite race at the Worlds were lost for a prolonged period but came back with 75km to go

Live TV images of the elite men's road race at the World Championships in Yorkshire were lost today for a prolonged period because of bad weather.

The TV motos have been unable to drive around the circuit in Harrogate because there is so much standing water on the course due to the rain.

The relay plane used to broadcast the images was also due to refuel at Doncaster but that airport had to close due to the bad weather, meaning the aerial operation so crucial for live broadcasting was impacted.

It meant the live TV pictures were lost, with the only footage available coming from the static cameras in the last 1km of the near 14km lap.

However, thankfully with 75km remaining the live TV pictures returned.

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Earlier in the day the route of the race from Leeds into Harrogate was shortened, with climbs lost, due to forecast heavy rain.

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As a result, an additional two circuits of the lap in Harrogate were added, meaning the race would take in nine laps rather than seven.

Overall, the weather-related changes shortened the distance of the race by 23.5km to 261km.

Because the TV pictures were lost, Eurosport was showing footage from earlier today and also showing highlights from the men's TT this week as the road race was unfolding.

The U23 men's race was already shortened at the Worlds due to bad weather and the U23 TT riders were hit by some flooding. The elite women's TT was started later than planned because there was so much water on the course.

There was a lot of bad weather with significant floods in places before the race reached the circuits
The water was quite high in places on the journey in towards the Harrogate circuit