Road Race Pics

Some glimpses of Team GB and the competition as they came through Walton (Men) and Weybridge (Women) Go Lizzie!

Olympic men's Road Race

The GB team spent most of the race on the front of the peloton keeping the break to a manageable distance but in the end they got no help from any of the other nations. Consequently the winning move came fro the break. Unfortunately the winner was Kasakhstan rider Alexandr Vinokurov, my personal least favourite rider in the race.

Olympic Road Race

Colin & me came up to Headley straight after watching the opening ceremony to camp near the car park. We met a Belguim guy in a camper van who had been here since Tuesday. Saturday morning and the roads are now closed and the verges are beginning to fill up with spectators. The kid are shouting "come on Bradley" or "come on Cav". Bring on the porridge.

Lads, lads, lads....it's flour...

Found these boys hanging out in my local Bakery at Fox Corner nr. Guildford!  I asked the staff if they mind having fit young chaps in lyrca in their shop, and a universal 'not at all, but we're a bit old for that now!'  Interestingly enough they only ordered drinks which I was delighted with because there was a fresh cream cake left for me....  :-)

Garden Wenlock

Any idea where this is?

CLUB RECORD (1:47:40) - 'Fixed wheel fever'

Shaftsbury '50'  - Always out the saddle (Pic Dave Jones)

I had a double header at the weekend in the East of the country, the first challenge the Shaftsbury CC '50' on the Newmarket bypass (A14-A11)and around, a quality field assembled and looking like perfect conditions, light wind and the first heat of the summer. I was off early and I too almost missed my start but made it with a minute to spare once again on my 56 x 14 (106") fixed, Fiona was out to help and popped up all over the course but I was pretty focused and did the ride unaided on a single bottle and one gel at half distance. Taking things a bit easy this year I had no anticipation of breaking any records so It was as much a surprise to me that I took 12 seconds off my own personnel best (& a club record) for the seventh time in 5 years, I don't know the last senior rider to break a club record on a fixed but probably in the 50's when it was the only option. My friend Mick Ward the last rider to win a Championship on a fixed (Obree excepted) in the late 50's (on an 88" or possibly a 90") then along came gears and the 'Roadmen' took over Hoban, Woodburn and Simpson, the old ways were left behind

My dad was keen on us riding fixed and we used to as Schoolboys and Juniors, Steve Gowar broke the Junior '10' record on 88" in 1979. On the national stage Chris Boardman used fixed to great effect breaking the '25' record on 110" in his preparation for the hour record and of course Graham Obree broke all his records on a fixed but even that was surpassed on this day by Scott Povey (drag2zero) who managed 1:38:54 on 112" gear and he was only 3rd! the winner with the second fastest '50' of all time Andy Wilkinson (Port Sunlight Whs) 1:36:31 from Adam Topham (High Wycombe) 1:38:05. Team PedalRevoloution Mr's Bason/Bowdler and Arnold beat comp record for a team to add to their record in the '100'. 'Wilco' using his customary 'Mountain bike' frame with triple but he told me he borrowed a 56 chainring for the occasion - first time he ever used one

First Club Record on a fixed for over 30 years

I'd taken it easy at the start only 11:01 for the first 5 miles but a string of near 30mph splits (10:19/10:10/10:24/) and with the bone jarring turn now resurfaced my slowest split of 11:11 put me at 53:04 for half distance. It was harder on the way back but with me barely outside 11 minutes for the remainder and a 10:41 final I thought I would be outside the record but to my supprise my computer was in error and the time keepers chequered board came along at 49.5 miles so I was inside, I could hardley believe it

On the Sunday there was a 50th anniversary invitation event on the A1 promoted by the Verulam CC, I of course was in the accompanying event not studded with current and past stars so while I could not hope to compete withTeam Sky's Alex Dowsett I could at least say I raced against him. 

On the Sunday morning I wasn't rudely awakened by my alarm so when I took a look at 6.45 I was already an hour late and only an hour until I was due in front of the timekeeper, not helped by going to the wrong HQ and the right HQ being a couple of miles further from the start than anticipated. For my shame I had to pass a rider (sorry No 59!) who was racing on my way to the start but I made it nonetheless albeit unprepared and in no state to race.
The A1 at Bedford is made for a fixed wheel and on a summer morning with light wind should be a joy, my legs beg to differ, with less miles (and fitness) in them their ability to make an effort two days running is suspect and after a supreme effort the day before they were not willing to double up on their pain,
Yes that gear felt OK yesterday but today it felt immense and unwieldy

Now recovered from his injury earlier in the season but still not on form enough to get in the Olympic team Dowsett ran out the winner of the invitation by a whopping 2 minutes 47:31 to Matt Bottril's (drag2zero) creditable 49:33 with Andy Wilkinson just under another two 51:17. The supporting event won by Lee Turner (La Fuega) myself ringing up 14th with 57:04

  Verulam '25' - Out the saddle again (Pic Dave Jones)

Shaftsbury Resuly Here 

Verulam CC Result Here

Verulam Invitation Here 

Viva la (Tour de) France

 While we are gearing up for the Olympics (that we 'stole' from our near neighbours) and our 'boys' on the Skytrain were over there showing the French how to win bike races I was inducting a French lad to what Britain has to offer. I was going to introduce Quentin a son of a friend who is a National standard Rower into the fellowship of the wheel, he does quite a bit of bike riding as part of his training so I put one of mine together for him. He lives in the middle of Paris so a trip on the Seine more simple than getting out on the bike and with an interest in going to Ox bridge rowing is a better bet than biking but I thought I might have a go at turning his head.

For a rower Quentin looked good on the bike

As soon as he arrived on the Saturday he saw the bike (my old TT bike) and he wanted to get out straight away but as I was racing that evening I was less keen, my pleas that "One should not train on the day you travel" as your resistance to illness is lowered by going through Airports and such like and we had arranged other delights was met with a stony face. So I agreed to ride out to the friends for lunch where we had arranged for him to meet some other youngsters of his age (and maybe he might like to do something with them) he was less than impressed with an invitation to a party (from a girl!) that night as the temptation of alcohol held no sway but he did polish off quite a bit of Gillian's excellent buffet and we headed home (on the bike)

We rode back from Nottingham's National Water Sports Centre after lunch when it had got too cold watching the rowers ply their fitness in the National Championships. I took Quentin the hilliest route I knew (actually pretty difficult in Leicester) but the wind more than made up for it and we had a ding dong 'bit & bit' along the A46 to finish and I managed to drop him a couple of times but generally he stuck to me like a limpet

It wasn't all training

Monday Is my rest day but no rest for Quentin so as the rain lashed down outside I stuck him on the turbo, put the music up extra loud and set him going. and hour later he emerged saying it was "Hard but a bit boring" I could not have put it better myself

That boy could eat!

The Tuesday evening '10' was my first race of the year when I didn't get rained on,  I'd put Quentin up for the event as well so he could see how we produce Tour de France champions - CTT style. I put him off a minute in front of myself but he almost missed his start and I had no time to give him a final briefing on time trialling etiquette, still we blazed off into the breezy evening sun for a bit of 'hare and hounds'

5...4...3...2...1...GO

It took me until 4 miles to catch him but I must have gone to sleep after that as I only dropped him another minute for the rest of the race, 23:12 & 25:16 respectively a decent ride  for a first timer on a 'strange' bike, he beat both the other youth riders and myself only 8th not the best but I had kept dry and made another convert to the time trial scene as we had our cup of tea and cake at the finish

Taking a break from British summer time

On our final day we got a proper soaking on the ride to work, we even had to stop under a garage awning to get out of the worst but it was short lived and the rest of the ride was damp and humid in our capes

Well we tried to do our best to introduce Quentin to the best that Leicester had to offer, we did manage to get some Fish & Chips down him among the flapjack and bananas but the three offers to go out with youngsters of his own age (even one to the gym) all drew a blank, it seems the allure of ordinary life holds no desire for our young charge. All he wants to do is train Train TRAIN! I'll have to have a word with his mum about that we don't want it being too one sided in Rio

Youth and experience (not necessarily in that order)

Thursday

With the Olympic Road Race just a few day away, some of the local cyclists are riding the route, trying to emanate their cycling heroes. Here's a typical bunch of  lads, unable to do the whole loop without a coffee stop, this time in Ripley.
Did anyone tell them that we meet at Cobham carpark at 9:30am if they want to join one of our clubruns?

Olympic rings round 2

I saw this tonight but where was I?

Wednesday

Spotted some more nice graffiti on Box Hill, also spotted some fit looking cyclists in Costa Coffee in Dorking High Street. :))

Security issue

From the Telegraph

Wiggo wins Tour de France

Bradley Wiggins became the first British rider to win the Tour in it's 109 year history. I never thought I would ever be typing that sentence. When British Cycling supremo Dave Brailsford, announced 3 years ago that he wanted a winner of the tour within 5 years with his new SKY sponsored team. At that time, I thought he was being a totally over optimistic, perhaps to please the new sponsor. Well, the dream has come true and we now have a group of riders on the road scene that are on a par with the incredibly successful track squad.
It's been an incredible three weeks, with the whole Sky team pulling together, sacrificing their own ambitions to get their man to the stage finish at the front.
It seems to me that now the drug testers have the upper hand, it has become more of a level playing field, and long may it continue, for the sake of the professional sport.

1 - Bradley Wiggins - Team Sky - (87:34:47)

2 - Chris Froome - Team Sky - (+3:21)

3 - Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) - Liquigas - (+6:19)

4 - Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) - Lotto - (+10:15)

5 - Tejay Van Garderen (USA) - BMC Racing - (+11:04)

6 - Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) - RadioShack - (+15:43)

7 - Cadel Evans (AUS) - BMC Racing - (+15:51)

8 - Pierre Rolland (FRA) - Europcar - (+16:31)

9 - Janez Brajkovic (SLO) - Astana - (+16:38)

10 - Thibaut Pinot (FRA) - FDJ - (+17:17)

11 - Andreas Klöden (GER) - RadioShack - (+17:54)

12 - Nicolas Roche (IRL) - AG2R - (+19:33)

13 - Chris Horner (USA) - RadioShack - (+19:55)

14 - Chris Sørensen (DEN) - Saxo Bank - (+25:27)

15 - Denis Menchov (RUS) - Katyusha - (+27:22)

16 - Maxime Monfort (BEL) - RadioShack - (+28:30)

17 - Egoi Martínez (ESP) - Euskaltel - (+31:46)

18 - Rui Costa (POR) - Movistar - (+37:03)

19 - Eduard Vorganov (RUS) - Katyusha - (+38:16)

20 - Alejandro Valverde (ESP) - Movistar - (+42:26)

21 - Jérôme Coppel (FRA) - Saur - Sojasun - (+45:43)

22 - Sandy Casar (FRA) - FDJ - (+46:52)

23 - Michael Rogers (AUS) - Team Sky - (+54:52)

24 - Michele Scarponi (ITA) - Lampre - (+58:37)

25 - Ivan Basso (ITA) - Liquigas - (+59:44)

26 - Thomas Voeckler (FRA) - Europcar - (+1:04:41)

27 - Peter Velits (SVK) - Omega Pharma - Quick-Step - (+1:05:10)

28 - Laurens ten Dam (NED) - Rabobank - (+1:05:39)

29 - Jelle Vanendert (BEL) - Lotto - (+1:06:33)

30 - Juan José Cobo (ESP) - Movistar - (+1:09:19)

31 - Alexandr Vinokurov (KAZ) - Astana - (+1:14:33)

32 - Levi Leipheimer (USA) - Omega Pharma - Quick-Step - (+1:16:29)

33 - Steven Kruijswijk (NED) - Rabobank - (+1:16:52)

34 - Richie Porte (AUS) - Team Sky - (+1:20:49)

35 - Daniel Martin (IRL) - Garmin - (+1:25:23)

36 - Rein Taaramäe (EST) - Cofidis - (+1:27:36)

37 - Giampaolo Caruso (ITA) - Katyusha - (+1:28:32)

38 - George Hincapie (USA) - BMC Racing - (+1:30:38)

39 - Gorka Izagirre (ESP) - Euskaltel - (+1:31:44)

40 - Fredrik Kessiakoff (SWE) - Astana - (+1:34:33)

41 - Rafael Valls (ESP) - Vacansoleil - (+1:37:41)

42 - Andriy Grivko (UKR) - Astana - (+1:38:41)

43 - Peter Sagan (SVK) - Liquigas - (+1:38:46)

44 - Jean Christophe Péraud (FRA) - AG2R - (+1:40:44)

45 - Amaël Moinard (FRA) - BMC Racing - (+1:41:00)

46 - Philippe Gilbert (BEL) - BMC Racing - (+1:41:40)

47 - Dominik Nerz (GER) - Liquigas - (+1:42:12)

48 - Pierrick Fédrigo (FRA) - FDJ - (+1:42:39)

49 - Michael Schär (SUI) - BMC Racing - (+1:43:55)

50 - Sérgio Paulinho (POR) - Saxo Bank - (+1:47:14)

51 - Yury Trofimov (RUS) - Katyusha - (+1:47:31)

52 - Jens Voigt (GER) - RadioShack - (+1:50:41)

53 - Vladimir Karpets (RUS) - Movistar - (+1:51:43)

54 - Fabrice Jeandesboz (FRA) - Saur - Sojasun - (+1:52:28)

55 - Maxime Bouet (FRA) - AG2R - (+1:52:30)

56 - Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) - Team Sky - (+1:52:43)

57 - Johnny Hoogerland (NED) - Vacansoleil - (+1:55:30)

58 - Davide Malacarne (ITA) - Europcar - (+1:57:10)

59 - Markus Burghardt (GER) - BMC Racing - (+1:57:39)

60 - Christian Vande Velde (USA) - Garmin - (+1:58:40)

61 - Cyril Gautier (FRA) - Europcar - (+1:58:55)

62 - Mickaël Chérel (FRA) - AG2R - (+1:59:53)

63 - Dimitri Fofonov (KAZ) - Astana - (+2:03:55)

64 - Luis León Sánchez (ESP) - Rabobank - (+2:05:08)

65 - Sébastien Minard (FRA) - AG2R - (+2:06:09)

66 - Jérémy Roy (FRA) - FDJ - (+2:09:42)

67 - Marco Marcato (ITA) - Vacansoleil - (+2:11:41)

68 - Dries Devenyns (BEL) - Omega Pharma - Quick-Step - (+2:12:22)

69 - Simone Stortoni (ITA) - Lampre - (+2:13:39)

70 - Kevin De Weert (BEL) - Omega Pharma - Quick-Step - (+2:13:49)

71 - Sylwester Szmyd (POL) - Liquigas - (+2:15:59)

72 - Pieter Weening (NED) - Orica - (+2:17:30)

73 - Christophe Riblon (FRA) - AG2R - (+2:17:31)

74 - Jorge Azanza (ESP) - Euskaltel - (+2:18:58)

75 - Guillaume Levarlet (FRA) - Saur - Sojasun - (+2:19:43)

76 - Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) - RadioShack - (+2:21:40)

77 - Vasil Kiryienka (BLR) - Movistar - (+2:22:07)

78 - Andrey Kashechkin (KAZ) - Astana - (+2:23:14)

79 - Marco Marzano (ITA) - Lampre - (+2:23:58)

80 - Simon Gerrans (AUS) - Orica - (+2:24:35)

81 - Adam Hansen (AUS) - Lotto - (+2:24:54)

82 - Christophe Kern (FRA) - Europcar - (+2:25:57)

83 - Christian Knees (GER) - Team Sky - (+2:26:14)

84 - Yukiya Arashiro (JPN) - Europcar - (+2:29:13)

85 - Matthieu Ladagnous (FRA) - FDJ - (+2:33:14)

86 - Danilo Hondo (GER) - Lampre - (+2:37:55)

87 - Rubén Pérez (ESP) - Euskaltel - (+2:38:01)

88 - Brice Feillu (FRA) - Saur - Sojasun - (+2:39:14)

89 - Blel Kadri (FRA) - AG2R - (+2:40:39)

90 - Martin Velits (SVK) - Omega Pharma - Quick-Step - (+2:40:47)

91 - Romain Zingle (BEL) - Cofidis - (+2:41:09)

92 - Michael Mørkøv (DEN) - Saxo Bank - (+2:45:39)

93 - Julien Simon (FRA) - Saur - Sojasun - (+2:46:09)

94 - Steven Cummings (ENG) - BMC Racing - (+2:46:28)

95 - Arthur Vichot (FRA) - FDJ - (+2:46:51)

96 - Lars Bak (DEN) - Lotto - (+2:47:30)

97 - Stuart O'Grady (AUS) - Orica - (+2:49:43)

98 - Kristjan Koren (SLO) - Liquigas - (+2:51:18)

99 - Nicki Sørensen (DEN) - Saxo Bank - (+2:52:36)

100 - David Zabriskie (USA) - Garmin - (+2:52:38)

101 - Francis De Greef (BEL) - Lotto - (+2:53:17)

102 - Rubén Plaza (ESP) - Movistar - (+2:53:35)

103 - Koen de Kort (NED) - Argos - (+2:54:22)

104 - David Millar (SCO) - Garmin - (+2:54:55)

105 - Daniel Oss (ITA) - Liquigas - (+2:55:04)

106 - Jürgen Roelandts (BEL) - Lotto - (+2:55:04)

107 - Samuel Dumoulin (FRA) - Cofidis - (+2:56:07)

108 - Manuel Quinziato (ITA) - BMC Racing - (+2:56:27)

109 - Luca Paolini (ITA) - Katyusha - (+2:56:30)

110 - Michael Albasini (SUI) - Orica - (+2:57:00)

111 - Daryl Impey (RSA) - Orica - (+2:57:29)

112 - Matthieu Sprick (FRA) - Argos - (+2:57:40)

113 - Jérôme Pineau (FRA) - Omega Pharma - Quick-Step - (+2:57:58)

114 - Federico Canuti (ITA) - Liquigas - (+2:58:12)

115 - Kris Boeckmans (BEL) - Vacansoleil - (+3:03:06)

116 - Maxim Iglinskiy (KAZ) - Astana - (+3:03:43)

117 - Baden Cooke (AUS) - Orica - (+3:04:14)

118 - Alessandro Vanotti (ITA) - Liquigas - (+3:04:23)

119 - Joan Horrach (ESP) - Katyusha - (+3:05:58)

120 - Matthew Goss (AUS) - Orica - (+3:07:04)

121 - Nick Nuyens (BEL) - Saxo Bank - (+3:07:54)

122 - Sébastien Hinault (FRA) - AG2R - (+3:09:06)

123 - André Greipel (GER) - Lotto - (+3:09:11)

124 - Bert Grabsch (GER) - Omega Pharma - Quick-Step - (+3:13:06)

125 - Greg Henderson (NZL) - Lotto - (+3:13:15)

126 - Anthony Roux (FRA) - FDJ - (+3:15:23)

127 - Nicolas Edet (FRA) - Cofidis - (+3:16:41)

128 - Jean-Marc Marino (FRA) - Saur - Sojasun - (+3:17:05)

129 - Anders Lund (DEN) - Saxo Bank - (+3:17:07)

130 - Borut Božic (SLO) - Astana - (+3:17:53)

131 - Luis Ángel Maté (ESP) - Cofidis - (+3:18:11)

132 - Marcel Sieberg (GER) - Lotto - (+3:19:38)

133 - Cédric Pineau (FRA) - FDJ - (+3:20:24)

134 - Pablo Urtasun (ESP) - Euskaltel - (+3:21:34)

135 - Roy Curvers (NED) - Argos - (+3:23:44)

136 - Cyril Lemoine (FRA) - Saur - Sojasun - (+3:23:55)

137 - Jonathan Cantwell (AUS) - Saxo Bank - (+3:25:13)

138 - Yann Huguet (FRA) - Argos - (+3:25:55)

139 - Yohann Gène (FRA) - Europcar - (+3:27:07)

140 - Patrick Gretsch (GER) - Argos - (+3:27:14)

141 - Juan José Haedo (ARG) - Saxo Bank - (+3:27:37)

142 - Karsten Kroon (NED) - Saxo Bank - (+3:28:08)

143 - Mark Cavendish (IOM) - Team Sky - (+3:28:45)

144 - Bram Tankink (NED) - Rabobank - (+3:30:49)

145 - Bernhard Eisel (AUT) - Team Sky - (+3:36:55)

146 - Aliaksandr Kuchynski (BLR) - Katyusha - (+3:37:49)

147 - Johan Vansummeren (BEL) - Garmin - (+3:40:01)

148 - Albert Timmer (NED) - Argos - (+3:40:08)

149 - Julien Fouchard (FRA) - Cofidis - (+3:42:31)

150 - Sebastian Langeveld (NED) - Orica - (+3:49:24)

151 - Tyler Farrar (USA) - Garmin - (+3:54:54)

152 - Jan Ghyselinck (BEL) - Cofidis - (+3:57:04)

153 - Jimmy Engoulvent (FRA) - Saur - Sojasun - (+3:57:45)

154 - Grega Bole (SLO) - Lampre - (DNF)

155 - Vladimir Gusev (RUS) - Katyusha - (DNF)

156 - Fränk Schleck (LUX) - RadioShack - (DNS)

Gorka Verdugo (ESP) - Euskaltel - (DNF)

Brett Lancaster (AUS) - Orica - (DNF)

Fabian Cancellara (SUI) - RadioShack - (DNS)

Tony Gallopin (FRA) - RadioShack - (DNF)

Marcel Kittel (GER) - Argos - (DNF)

Tom Veelers (NED) - Argos - (DNF)

Johannes Fröhlinger (GER) - Argos - (DNS)

Anthony Delaplace (FRA) - Saur - Sojasun - (DNF)

Gustav Larsson (SWE) - Vacansoleil - (DNF)

Robert Kišerlovski (CRO) - Astana - (DNF)

Óscar Freire (ESP) - Katyusha - (DNS)

José Iván Gutiérrez (ESP) - Movistar - (DNS)

Imanol Erviti (ESP) - Movistar - (DNS)

José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) - Movistar - (DNF)

Giovanni Bernaudeau (FRA) - Europcar - (DNF)

Vincent Jérôme (FRA) - Europcar - (DNF)

Hubert Dupont (FRA) - AG2R - (DNS)

Lieuwe Westra (NED) - Vacansoleil - (DNF)

Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) - Lampre - (DNQ)

Yuri Krivtsov (FRA) - Lampre - (DNQ)

Davide Viganò (ITA) - Lampre - (DNF)

Matthew Lloyd (AUS) - Lampre - (DNS)

Yauheni Hutarovich (BLR) - FDJ - (DNF)

David Moncoutié (FRA) - Cofidis - (DNF)

Rémy Di Gregorio (FRA) - Cofidis - (DNS)

Bauke Mollema (NED) - Rabobank - (DNF)

Wout Poels (NED) - Vacansoleil - (DNF)

Rob Ruijgh (NED) - Vacansoleil - (DNF)

Kenny van Hummel (NED) - Vacansoleil - (DNF)

Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR) - Team Sky - (DNF)

Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) - Garmin - (DNS)

Tom Danielson (USA) - Garmin - (DNF)

Robert Hunter (RSA) - Garmin - (DNS)

Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) - Omega Pharma - Quick-Step - (DNF)

Tony Martin (GER) - Omega Pharma - Quick-Step - (DNS)

Amets Txurruka (ESP) - Euskaltel - (DNS)

Mikel Astarloza (ESP) - Euskaltel - (DNF)

Maarten Wynants (BEL) - Rabobank - (DNS)

Robert Gesink (NED) - Rabobank - (DNS)

Maarten Tjallingii (NED) - Rabobank - (DNS)

Mark Renshaw (AUS) - Rabobank - (DNF)

Samuel Sánchez (ESP) - Euskaltel - (DNF)

The Manx missile, Mark Cavendish, won the final stage into Paris for the forth consecutive year, while Peter Sagan ran away with the Sprints Green jersey.

1 - Peter Sagan (SVK) - Liquigas - (421)

2 - André Greipel (GER) - Lotto - (280)

3 - Matthew Goss (AUS) - Orica - (268)

4 - Mark Cavendish (IOM) - Team Sky - (220)

5 - Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) - Lampre - (109)

5 - Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) - Team Sky - (160)

6 - Bradley Wiggins - Team Sky - (144)

7 - Chris Froome - Team Sky - (126)

8 - Luis León Sánchez (ESP) - Rabobank - (104)

9 - Juan José Haedo (ARG) - Saxo Bank - (102)

9 - Tom Veelers (NED) - Argos - (76)

10 - Cadel Evans (AUS) - BMC Racing - (100)

While in the mountain competition, the French had something to cheer about when Thomas Voeckler pulled on the polka dot jersey

1 - Thomas Voeckler (FRA) - Europcar - (135)

2 - Fredrik Kessiakoff (SWE) - Astana - (123)

3 - Chris Sørensen (DEN) - Saxo Bank - (77)

4 - Pierre Rolland (FRA) - Europcar - (63)

5 - Alejandro Valverde (ESP) - Movistar - (51)

6 - Chris Froome - Team Sky - (48)

7 - Egoi Martínez (ESP) - Euskaltel - (43)

8 - Thibaut Pinot (FRA) - FDJ - (40)

9 - Brice Feillu (FRA) - Saur - Sojasun - (38)

10 - Daniel Martin (IRL) - Garmin - (34)

11 - Michele Scarponi (ITA) - Lampre - (33)

12 - Jens Voigt (GER) - RadioShack - (31)

13 - Alexandr Vinokurov (KAZ) - Astana - (31)

14 - Peter Velits (SVK) - Omega Pharma - Quick-Step - (29)

15 - Bradley Wiggins - Team SKY - (26)

Brad put another minute into Froome in the penultimate stage time trial.

The winner of the best young rider was Tejay Van Garderen who pulled on the white Jersey.

1 - Tejay Van Garderen (USA) - BMC Racing - (87:45:51)

2 - Thibaut Pinot (FRA) - FDJ - (+6:13)

3 - Steven Kruijswijk (NED) - Rabobank - (+1:05:48)

4 - Rein Taaramäe (EST) - Cofidis - (+1:16:32)

5 - Gorka Izagirre (ESP) - Euskaltel - (+1:20:40)

5 - Wout Poels (NED) - Vacansoleil - (+14)

6 - Rafael Valls (ESP) - Vacansoleil - (+1:26:37)

7 - Peter Sagan (SVK) - Liquigas - (+1:27:42)

8 - Dominik Nerz (GER) - Liquigas - (+1:31:08)

9 - Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) - Team Sky - (+1:41:39)

10 - Davide Malacarne (ITA) - Europcar - (+1:46:06)

Something to work on for next year has to be the team competition where Sky could only manage 2nd behind Radioshack.

1 - - RadioShack - (263:12:14)

2 - - Team Sky - (+5:46)

3 - - BMC Racing - (+36:36)

4 - - Astana - (+43:39)

5 - - Liquigas - (+1:05:02)

6 - - Movistar - (+1:08:19)

7 - - Europcar - (+1:08:58)

8 - - Katyusha - (+1:12:53)

9 - - FDJ - (+1:19:28)

10 - - AG2R - (+1:41:22)

11 - - Lotto - (+2:15:16)

12 - - Omega Pharma - Quick-Step - (+2:17:23)

13 - - Rabobank - (+2:54:09)

14 - - Saur - Sojasun - (+2:54:56)

15 - - Euskaltel - (+3:11:11)

16 - - Saxo Bank - (+3:21:35)

17 - - Lampre - (+3:56:28)

18 - - Vacansoleil - (+4:33:00)

19 - - Cofidis - (+4:39:51)

20 - - Garmin - (+4:58:01)

21 - - Orica - (+5:39:36)

22 - - Argos - (+7:41:53)

Tuesday othg

Today was a nice sunny ride out to Four Elms. We all got a bit singed in the field. The return trip was remarkably civilised and steady fast. I went to see the chicken with Gary and Robin. The chicken had been awarded a gold medal, we weren't sure for what event. My friend Julie had been doing circuits on Boxhill and she sent me a pic of the cool Manx Missile graffiti.

Olympic Torch Surbiton - Eileen Gray

Eileen Gray Accepting the Olympic Flame

http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day67#pid=p00t69zh&t=8h32m8s

92 and still doing it!

Matt finishes 24hr TT

Matt Scholes finished the National 24hr time trial championship about the same time Wiggo was riding through Paris on his way to winning Le Tour. His distance of 417 miles was a huge beating of the 385mile he managed in last years event in Sussex. Sunday turn into a scorching hot day as the 100 riders moved onto the 14 mile finishing circuit, getting the last few laps in before their time ran out. This is Matt just after he climbed off his bike at the finish.

What a success!

No I'm not talking about Brad, Sky, Froome or Matt (on completing another 24hr tt), but rather my 11th place in the Fantasy Tour de France. My best achievement of the year thus far! Unfortunately there was only prizes for the top 3.

Nat. 24hr @ midnight

Matt had his first sit down meal around midnight. Pasta plus a little pampering from Jo. 300km on the clock.

National 24hr time trial championship

Matt Scholes is riding the 24hr champs this weekend on the roads between Telford and Chester. His wife Joanna and myself are feeding and watering him during the event. It entails a lot of sitting around under some street lights during the night time. This is Matt at the start.

Saturday B+ ride

Jane is in Ibiza, so I can do my once a year trip with the club. I assumed that it was a standard club run, but found it wasn't a hundred or so km's later when we hadn't yet reached a teastop! :) It was a great route that took us around lots of little lanes and big climbs up to the Goodwood race course and then down to Amberely for tea The tea stop was fabulous and they couldn't do enough for us, a very pleasant experience :)
I would have been better on the road bike, but unwittingly took the Frankenbike. I had 174 km when I got home, others had much more.

This might get removed by the Club administrator...

I wonder what Valverde said to these two?

Olympic rings

I can see them on Boxhill from the house. Very exciting !!:)

Mid summer MADNESS

Restricting myself to one local event at the weekend makes for such tough choices, should I go for speed or something more exotic like a 15 mile or a Veteran 2Up? Of course speed usually wins out as my mantra for 'Fixed Only' always adds a frisson of interest to the event, I've ridden many of these courses & events before but almost never on single speed, on the rare occasion that I have plumped for fixed over gears it's usually 10 miles where I want to have a real 'Shake up' and that's during the evening 10 where nothing much at stake but a nasty cough for a day or two. But this year I've done nothing less than 25 miles (well better value for money and I've got to get the miles in somewhere) I got my chance to ride an evening 10 with the Hinckley CRC at Wolvey just South of Leicester as Tuesday looked like a promising day with sun & light wind for a change so I put my 93" gear on but by the time I got there it was drizzling (the watchword for a normal Leicester summer) so I had to make the best of it. Only 19 riders (instead of the usual 45-50) so I do not have time for my usual warm up (I'm always last!) and 10 minutes on the rollers is it. Its a blast up the the Magna distribution Park at Lutterworth and back trying not to upend on the roundabout for a reasonable 22:56  just over a minute down on the fastest - Andrew Green (Lutterworth RT)

What I neglected to mention was I'd ridden the Belper RC '25' the previous Sunday with a slightly increased gear of 106.5" to a fixed PB 53:14 on the A50 at Etwall, again it looked good all day and then just before my allotted start the heavens opened as is the way with this record breaking summer the event was deluged with the wet stuff. I did'nt have enough time to remove visor so I spent the duration of the race making like a windscreen wiper with a finger (both inside and out as the warm conditions made for condensation as well) I saw a couple of riders dismount 'DNF' but the day was good and my 10:50/10:44/11:02/10:21/10:33 attest to the day and my performance as I neg split the race which saw me caught with 2 miles to go and then overtake and finish 3 seconds in front of my minute man again the worst part was trying to keep upright on the nine roundabouts. Winner was Matt Sinclair (Lutterworth RT) with his first inside 50 minute ride 49:28 after many years of trying so he was made up

North Notts Olympic '25' - 28.01mph (pic by 'Bombmeister')

So a week later I have an evening event on the A1 at Newark the North Nottingham Olympic CC '25' (in this Olympic year its refreshing to see somebody not taking advantage of their name to promote something or maybe Locog came down on them and threatened legal action, who knows? I'd ridden fixed on this course before 53:33 in the VTTA National Champs 2010 but only on 100.6" so a couple of inches on the gear will do to erase the memory of forgetting my 'chammy  balm' that day! Anyway new '100' Champion Matt Bottrill off number 10 (probably got Olympic tickets to deliver as he's a postie so asked for an 'earlie') was home almost before the event had begun with a blistering 48:05, so who's for second place? There were menacing clouds crossing the skies and I had to do my 'roller' warm up under an awning at the HQ (Carlton on Trent) but I was never touched by a drop of the wet stuff until the final mile of my ride down to Long Bennington and back.

For my efforts I got another 'fixed' PB by a second (but they all count), it felt like a better ride without the streaming water I was able to concentrate a bit better and my splits 10:33/10:34/11:15/10:44/10:03 only spoiled by the turn which is interminably rough and prolonged as the speedy A1 lies a few feet away while one bounces over the lumpy tarmac of the Old A1 (from mid last century) that mid-race nightmare led to a lapse in concentration until I was back on track with a flying 30mph finish. Tony Nash (Scunthorpe Poly) won the Vets prize with his 50:58 after doing a 21 minute '10' that afternoon but mores to the point he beat me by over two minutes when only beating me by 15 seconds last weekend, maybe I need to be racing more?

Matt Bottrill (Drag2Zero) - Now that's what I call 'speedy' 31.21 mph

As I came away I said my farewells to the five cooling towers of the High Marnham power station on the nearby river Trent that have stood there for 50 years and become a regular feature for everybody that comes this way like a beacon of the Midlands. Because we have a young French rower Quentin staying with us and as we came this way on Sunday to the National Water Sports Centre at Ratcliffe on Trent (to see the National Rowing Finals)  they were no longer on the skyline having been blown up at 10 that morning. And to think I had to go and complain about the builders at the end of our road for taking a scaffold down at 7.30 that very morning  - They got all JT about my industrial language, almost spoiled my weekend