A major sporting event in the Canaries at the weekend had to be cancelled at the last minute for a bizarre but good reason.
The annual Santa Rosa Ultrabike challenge on Lanzarote had to be suspended on the eve of taking place after the Canarian government issued a report warning that part of the route affected bird nesting sites on the island.
The race in three legs was due to feature a 16-km time trial on the tiny island of La Graciosa early on Saturday before moving to Lanzarote for the other two gruelling legs, which include a final race of over 100km departing and ending at Club Santa Rosa in Teguise and taking riders through various municipalities.
The organisers were devastated to learn the news from the government, with some sources questioning how it had taken so long to prepare the report on the nesting sites and then have it reach Lanzarote’s governing body, the Cabildo, where it only arrived on Friday, hours before the Ultrabike was due to start. Logistics had already been put in place for all three stages, including ferry travel to and from La Graciosa for the 400 cyclists and their support teams.
Last-minute alternatives to the traditional Ultrabike route were explored but by then it was too late to secure the required authorisations and coordinate matters with the island’s Civil Guard Traffic Branch.
Apologising for the cancellation “for reasons beyond its control”, the race organisers said they were looking at the possibility of rescheduling to October. Concerns have now been voiced at the reputational damage to the island as the host of a major sporting event that attracts participants from across the Canaries and further afield. The immediate concern is that the world-famous Ironman Lanzarote, due to take place on 17 May with 1500 endurance athletes, may also be impacted by the measures to protect nesting birds.
