FRISCO, Colo., Aug. 17 (UPI) -- The Breck Epic long-distance bicycle race in the Colorado Rockies was sabotaged by someone who switched signs to send riders down the wrong trail.
Riders and officials decided the times registered by those who rode off in the wrong direction Tuesday should stand, the Summit Daily News in Frisco reported.
Officials said most of those affected were in the group of elite male riders, and the misdirection probably cost them 15 to 20 minutes.
"There's no way to figure out how much time everybody lost because it's all individual," Mike McCormack, one of the race organizers, said. "So the blunt answer is, 'Your time is your time.' And it's incredibly unfortunate and no one feels good about it, but that's what we're left with."
Officials said whoever pulled the sabotage not only changed directions of arrows marking the course but also switched ribbons marking the course to the wrong trail.
"It was elaborate. It was intentional, and it was malicious," McCormack said.
The six-stage race began Sunday with 200 riders from 15 countries competing. Lico Ramirez of Costa Rica continued to hold the lead after Tuesday's stage in spite of being one of the wrong-way riders.
