Cycling: Road sweeper destroys finish line at worlds

Sep 20, 2011 |

COPENHAGEN

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Organisers of the cycling road world championships were given a nightmare start to the competition on Monday when they woke to discover a road sweeper had obliterated the finish line.

Many parts of central Copenhagen have been closed off to traffic for the first three days as teams finalise preparations for the week-long event.

But after going to bed believing they were ready to host the competition-opening time trials on Monday, organisers were faced with late and unwelcome challenges.

"We went to sleep yesterday with a good feeling of being all and well prepared, but woke up facing the challenge of a road sweeper by accident having destroyed the finish line and spilt oil over large parts of the course," organiser Jesper Worre said.

Organisers had to spend the next two hours cleaning up the course and re-establishing the finish line in front of Copenhagen's scenic city hall.

Australia's Jessica Allen claimed the first gold of the championships when she won the junior women's time trial.

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