However, he added that there was a need for fair and balanced reporting given the publicity that had already surrounded the case. Roberts did not enter a plea.
He was remanded on bail to reappear on March 13.
Mr Slade, a prison officer at Rangipo Prison and an eight-time finisher of Ironman New Zealand, earlier said triathletes riding on the Ironman New Zealand bike course were sitting targets.
"Every cyclist has a bullseye on their butt," he told The Daily Post from hospital yesterday.
"It's pretty gutting but I am accepting of the situation. There is a reason under heaven for all that happens to us."
Warwick Hall, a friend and cycling partner of Mr Slade's, said of all the cyclists he knows, his friend was the safest.
"I've known Alasdair for a long time. He is so safe; he never does anything he shouldn't and he always rides hard left.
"We've all had close calls. I got cut off on Sunday. It's a sad realisation when you set out on your bike knowing you're rolling the dice.
"You either get into an altercation or you get hit. Every time we always have a coffee after the ride and we talk about how many close shaves we've had.
"We've got six inches on the left of you, you're doing 40km/h, I don't think the motorist is going to throw themselves into a ditch so why should we?"
