Paris to Ancaster organizers disqualify seven riders for trespassing on private property
Participants caught pre-riding sections of the course won't start the 25th edition of the Canadian Spring Classic
Paris to Ancaster, the Canadian Spring Classic celebrating its 25th edition on Sunday, April 28 was forced disqualify riders ahead of the event. The P2A course is composed of a variety of gravel, rail trail, pavement and trails some of which are on private property. Ahead of the 2018 edition, seven riders were disqualified by race organizers for pre-riding parts of the course on private land. While much of the course can be pre-ridden, some of the most technical and exciting sections cross onto private property.
“At least seven riders have been disqualified from the 2018 edition of Paris to Ancaster because of trespassing on private property,” a statement by the race organizers read. “The riders identified so far are all in the Elite or P2A70 Wave 1, and have previous experience riding the race.”
The organizers make it clear on their website that the full course shouldn’t be ridden before race day and don’t disclose the entire route until the day of the event to prevent riders from trespassing. Due to the trespassing, the route also needed to be modified and one of the anticipated technical sections on private property replaced by pavement.
“Their actions have resulted in a popular section of the course being replaced with pavement;” the statement continued. “This is the second year in a row we have had to make course adjustments due to the actions of a small number.”
Events that use private property frequently encounter these sorts of problems due to inconsiderate riders who ignore warnings and trespass.
“I can appreciate the dedication, work and travel that goes into all that is P2A and we LOVE race day,” read one of the comments received by the organizers by a landowner. “But my land is mine. I would think that riders ought to know the public roads and trail systems by now, and a driveway leading up to a house is a pretty clear indication that it just might be private property.”
Some of the riders disqualified rode onto private property while an event was taking place.
“A couple of riders rode through the property during an event we were having this weekend,” the landowner’s comment continued. “An extremely rude and disrespectful gesture on their part to trespass on someone’s land…considering they came in through the farmhouse driveway.”
Instead of pre-riding sections of the course before race day, how about exploring the P2A using our interactive 15 point tour of the iconic Canadian Spring Classic.
