Australian cyclist Maeve Plouffe reported a near-miss incident on Wednesday, where she narrowly avoided being struck by a car during the first stage of the Tour of Britain Women. Plouffe, a rider for the O'Shea Red Chilli Bikes team, described the event occurring on a roundabout as she was rejoining the peloton after a puncture.
"While the race convoy was still in sight, and I was less than two minutes down, there were cars from the general public coming at me from all directions, including one that nearly hit me on a roundabout," Plouffe stated in an Instagram post. She added that a moto escort later provided a sense of security, but the experience was unsettling, especially given recent tragedies in the sport.
Plouffe's comments come in the wake of the death of 19-year-old British cyclist Fin Tarling, who was killed the previous week in a collision with a van that had entered the road during the Tour of Portugal. A tribute to Tarling, including a projected image and a minute's applause, was held before the Tour of Britain Women commenced.
Jonathan Day, events director for British Cycling Ventures, the organizer of the Tour of Britain Women, acknowledged Plouffe's statement and emphasized the seriousness with which the organization is treating the incident. "Rider safety is paramount and will always be treated as a priority in our planning and how we operate any race," Day said in a statement. He confirmed that the organization is reviewing the events with Plouffe and her team and reassured participants of the commitment to safety, particularly during this sensitive time for the cycling community.