Plans have emerged to extend the cycling event that caused serious hold-ups on a major Highland route last week.
The organisers of the Deloitte Ride Across Britain sponsored charity ride have confirmed that they are considering holding a second event over a shorter period of time next year.
Long tailbacks formed in Lochaber behind large groups of cyclists heading north along the A82 Glasgow to Inverness road from Hamilton to Fort William on Friday on their way from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
There were reports that motorists were becoming frustrated and overtaking the 800 riders in the face on oncoming traffic.
And A82 Partnership spokesman Stewart MacLean said it just fortunate that there had not been a serious incident.
He said: “There were lots of hold-ups again this year.
“And it was extremely disturbing to learn that they are proposing two events next year – one over a five-day period and the other over nine days, as is currently the case.
“Both will be from Land’s End to John O’Groats, so you can only think that the five-day event will become a race and extend the number of days that the Deloitte Ride Across Britain will have an impact on the A82.”
Event organiser Nick Tuppen, of Threshold Sports, explained that his company was looking at the feasibility of a five-day cycling challenge from Land’s End to John O’Groats, but had not yet confirmed whether it would go ahead.
He said: “Whatever happens, it will not be a race or remotely marketed as such.
“If it does go ahead, this would almost certainly be limited to 50 riders taking part, would not clash with the existing 9-day event around the A82 and may not even follow the same route.
“We would expect the disruption from this to be extremely small although, as with the main Deloitte Ride Across Britain event, we would be working very closely with local teams to minimise disruption for the local community.”
Mr Tuppen said he was sorry if any of the cyclists taking part in this year’s event failed to follow the Highway Code and the safe cycling information they were given during briefings.
He added that any riders seen causing a danger to themselves or other road users would be removed from the events.