The Bealach Mor, set to take place on the Applecross Peninsula at the beginning of September, has long been fully subscribed with 600 enthusiasts already signed up for the exhilarating 90-mile challenge dubbed the UK's biggest hill climb.

But the event — for which participants pay a £35 entry fee — will go ahead without the blessing of Applecross Community Council which has described the alleged incident at a similar gathering in May this year as "the last straw".

Community councillor Alison Macleod said local concerns about organisation of the event had been building prior to the flashpoint at which it is claimed a substantial number of cyclists failed to give way to an ambulance called out to attend a participant who it was thought has suffered a heart attack.

Mrs Macleod said ambulance service sources had confirmed grave concern following the May 9 incident.

"The community council felt it was such a serious matter we could not turn a blind eye.

"If that person had died we would not have been able to live with ourselves. It was felt organisers did not have full control of the participants. It seemed those taking part had their minds fixed on their times."

It is understood the cyclist underwent an operation to clear a blocked artery and went on to make a full recovery after being taken to Broadford Hospital on Skye.

While organiser, Hands on Events, insists the Bealach Mor is a sportive and not a race, it continues to post results and times — one of the issues which has brought it into conflict with the local community. The event also requires the notorious coastal road to be closed for a period with the blessing of Highland Council.

Stressing the community was not opposed to cyclists and had tried to sort out concerns with the organiser, Mrs Macleod said requests about removing times from the website and requiring cyclists to wear larger numbers so that they could be identified had fallen on deaf ears. She said a colleague of the ambulance driver on duty that day had been "dismayed" and pointed out no such difficulties had ever been experienced at comparable events, including the very popular Highland Cross.

Some members of the community are also understood to be unhappy with what they believe to be exaggerated claims about the economic impact of the event and point out that the peninsula is already teeming with tourists.

The community council — which hit the headlines earlier this year after helping attract no fewer than 16 applicants for a GP vacancy with the help of a dedicated website — reached its decision to withdraw support from the event at its most recent meeting "with reluctance". "It's a statement that we are not happy with the situation."

Contacted for comment, Linda Lawton of Hands on Events told the Journal discussions with the ambulance service had suggested that "some cyclists did not remove themselves in the most timely manner".

She said all participants do have race numbers affixed to their bikes, albeit of a fairly small size. She said organisers had also made themselves available to attend meetings of community councils if requested and had done so. Requests for improvements in marshalling, signage and communication with riders had all been taken on board, she said. It was important, she said, to maintain communication with communities through which the ride passes.

She said, "We try to minimise the impact. The message to riders is clear: if there's an emergency vehicle you stop or get out of the way."

She also said organisers — who are behind several other successful events across the Highlands and islands — had received many compliments for the way they are run. She said rider times were posted on the website because it was of interest to those taking part but stressed it was not a race as start times were staggered over a half hour period.

The Scottish Ambulance Service was contacted for comment but had not responded as we went to press yesterday.

editor@rsjournal.co.uk

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