When racing on open roads, normal road rules for cyclists are not relaxed.
A key element of safe road racing is how you position yourself on the road.
You must ride to the left of the road, well clear of the centre of the road (regardless of whether the road has line markings). There are many reasons why riding up against the centre of the road is not acceptable:
- It breaks the law: road rules require riders to ride as far to the left as is safe to do.
- Cars (including race officials) coming up from behind who want to pass the bunch can’t do so without breaking the ‘safe passing distance’ road rule.
- If riding too close to a centre dividing line there is no room for any safe drift to the right (say, a wind gust from the left, slip in concentration).
- The ‘no margin for error’ to the right would also break AusCycling racing rules if the line is crossed.
- Riding too close to the centre of the road is dangerous in terms of oncoming traffic.
For more on this, including some ‘good riding’ and ‘bad riding’ pics, check here: https://www.adelaidehillscc.org.au/our-events/safe-racing-on-open-roads/
Race safely and we all win 😊