A security lapse allowed an amateur cyclist to slip into the London 2012 Olympic road race test event on Sunday in London and ride the course with the pros. According to Reuters news agency amateur cyclist Aemon Atkinson found himself alongside the professional riders after his leisurely ride was suddenly transformed.
Suitably dressed but mounted on a bike that brought strange looks from some of the world's best cyclists, Anderson and a friend were not to be deterred on the London road race route.
"We thought we were going to get arrested being on the road while the race was in progress but no one batted an eyelid," Atkinson told Reuters as he walked his battered old steel-frame bike up some steps near the finish line.
"A few team cars went by and thought 'What the bloody hell's going on here?' but everyone was cheering us which made us go on a bit more."
Atkinson and his younger companion had already done over 70 kilometres to get to near Richmond Park, where they waited for the main peloton to go past before cycling at a safe distance behind.
They plodded along the route to Putney Bridge over the Thames, which to their surprise was still open, so they pressed on and were soon swamped by riders who had been dropped by the leading bunch.
"They came past us like a bat out of hell, so we tried to latch on for our 15 minutes of fame. The spectators urged us on."
After pausing briefly on some steps adjoining the Mall, Atkinson went off for some lunch before facing another 70-kilometre slog back home.
Britains Mark Cavendish won the London-Surrey Cycle Classic in a sprint finish.
Photo credit: Roz Jones via Flickr
* Our British bureau chief Danny Ward brought you this story.
Follow on twitter @everymantri or view latest videos on YouTube.