Dear Sir,

If the London-Surrey Cycle Classic really is an example of what we can expect from the Olympics in 12 months time then the Games should be chaotic, frustrating and marshalled by Neanderthals.

Promoted as a test event for the 30th Olympiad, it could have all been so different. All it would have taken is a little more thought, some better planning and a good deal better manners from all those involved. No-one minds roads being closed, it’s necessary to hold a race of this sort.

However, if you close roads, certainly the number shut off over the weekend, then you’ve got to make some sort of effort to put diversions in place.

What made things even worse was the fact that the rude, obnoxious marshals (the majority of whom looked like they’d just finished a shift on the door of some seedy nightclub) were worse than useless.

Not only were they totally ill-informed about what was happening, they took every opportunity to be as rude as possible to the very people they should have been helping.

If we want to present a positive image to the world with the 2012 Games and shake off the bad publicity created by these riots we’ll need to find a few people with a bit more intelligence and a good deal better manners that those chosen to marshal this race.

My sympathies to the poor soul trying to tow a trailer into Twickenham on Sunday.

Mrs L Bowe
Valley Road
Streatham