KAILUA-KONA — Big Island police have cited three triathletes and responded to two crashes involving cyclists ahead of the Ironman World Championship.
Approximately 2,500 athletes hailing from 75 countries, regions and territories around the world are slated to take on the Ironman World Championship that gets underway early Saturday with a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride and then 26.2-mile run, according to Ironman.
The citations were all issued to cyclists, said Hawaii Police Department Kona Patrol Lt. Paul Bugado. Two were cited for riding tandem, or side-by-side, while there was no shoulder allowing them to do so. Another triathlete was cited for running a stop sign.
He said the department has not received complaints regarding athletes and their film crews. In addition, Bugado said he was unaware of any calls to police from triathletes in training reporting reckless drivers.
Two crashes have been reported, both involving cyclists training for the triathlon, he said, but did not provide dates, times or locales of the incidents.
He said the first case involved a pair of triathletes who were riding their bikes side-by-side, or tandem, when a gust of wind pushed one into the other causing one to lose control and crash. Only minor injuries were suffered.
The second accident involved a motor vehicle and cyclist.
“The vehicle was making a right turn and while doing so the bike, also traveling in the same direction crashed into the rear area of the vehicle,” he said. No details were available on the cyclist’s condition.