Colin Lewis Cycle Chat September 2011

Cycle Chat 30.09.11

How times have changed since 1996 when Jeremy Hunt joined Banesto. At that time there were only a handful of British riders in the peloton. When he started, Chris Boardman, Malcolm Elliott and Sean Yates were the only British professional cyclists, and it was hard to be British and find a pro team - very different from 2011, where there are structures and teams to support young riders.

So 15 years later the Brits are the Team to be most feared. So it proved to be on Sunday in the World Championships Men's Road Race.

Mark Cavendish won the race, became World Champion and stepped into the rainbow jersey. This was the culmination of three years' hard work by British Cycling to put the Manxman in a winning position, and the new world champion says that he will wear it next season on behalf of everyone who helped him to win it.

Mark Cavendish and David Millar were the only members of the eight-strong British team in Copenhagen who do not ride professionally for Team Sky.

The others were Geraint Thomas, Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Steve Cummings, Jeremy Hunt and Ian Stannard and are all on the books of the team that only began to compete in January 2010.

When the course route was announced three years ago, British Cycling knew it was the best chance to bring the jersey back to Great Britain since Tom Simpson won it in 1965.

It was a three-year project organised by coach Rod Ellingworth, and has been all about getting together the best guys to help Mark win there.

Far from only wanting to thank the seven riders who rode for him on Sunday, the team was indebted to all the other British ProTeam riders who had worked so hard to secure the points to allow the GB team to come to Copenhagen with an eight-man team.

So really it was not Mark Cavendish who's won. All the riders rode out of their skins on Sunday and Mark ended up winning.

Starting the race as one of the favourites, they knew that Great Britain couldn't count on too much support from the other teams. Their closest ally, it turned out, was third-placed Andre Greipel's German team, who shared a lot of the work on the front of the bunch to keep the pace high and later reel in the breakaways.

But after Germany lost some of their riders behind the crash that came with five-and-a-half laps to go, it was left up to the GB team.

No one else was really willing to help. They were attacked without mercy by every way possible by the other nations, but the Team was up to the job. It was Jeremy Hunt and Steve Cummins to start off and then Bradley Wiggins pretty much rode the last lap at the front on his own with the aid of David Millar his fellow time trialist. They did an incredible job.

Ian Stannard and Geraint Thomas led the race around the last corner, pushing their way through the wall of bikes in front, and then it was up to Mark on the uphill sprint to the finish.

Some thought the finish was too hard for Mark but three hundred metres uphill is not a hill - it's a sprint like any other, just 15 mph slower!!

Realising he was boxed in on the right as the road rose, Mark knew he had to find a way out.

He wanted to go with 150 metres to go, but had to go with 200 to go when a gap opened he took it and the rest is history!!

Until next week,

Bob.

Cycle Chat 24.09.11

It got better and better for Jon Locke (Rapha Condor Sharp) in last week's Tour of Britain. The King of the Mountains was safe and secure after Friday's Stage 6 in Somerset after a jet propelled climb up the Old Bristol Hill in North Somerset.

Jon's target then was to get higher up the General Classification. This seemed a tricky task but from 13th on Stage 5 went to 8th on Stage 6. After the flat stage on Stage 7 he was still 8th but a quick Time Trial on Sunday morning gained 2 places to 6th.

It was the Tour of London in the afternoon (very reminisant of the last day in the TdF) and Jon was still 6th still just over a minute behind the winner Lars Boom (Rabobank).

We are thrilled for Jon and the comeback he has made after Glandular Fever had almost knocked him off his bike allowing him to complete 2 years at University culminated by his diligent work for us at Colin Lewis Cycles in the shop.

What next for Jon!!!??? Could be another year with Rapha??? Jon has had immense exposure to the cycling media this last week with the main talking point on the ITV4 transmission being his climbing ability where he left ALL the other riders standing. Nobody could touch him. Watch this space. We will see!!!

From Jon Locke to Eddie Merckx!!

We are pleased to announce that we know have become a supplier for Eddie Merckx bikes and we have 6 complete bikes in the shop ranging in prices from £999 to £2300.

The Eddy Merckx Company was created in 1980, just 3 years after Eddy stopped racing. It was an opportunity to get back into the business he loved

Eddy has always been obsessed with bikes - in fact it wasn't unusual for him to get up in the middle of the night to change something on his handlebars or gears. Position, fit and feel are incredibly important for him - on his own bike and on those of others too. This innate understanding of how a bike should be - a result of talent and many years of experience - is key for the design of every Eddy Merckx bicycle.

The whole range of bikes - both carbon fibre and aluminium - has been designed to this philosophy. Each bike is supremely comfortable to ride, and all deliver a true feel for the road. And for those who want the ultimate in bikes, we are able to offer precision custom fitting to ensure you are always in the perfect position.

Light and strong at the same time, the bikes are built to withstand years of riding and racing. Perhaps, the best demonstration of their strength is that at the end of a season's racing, there are zero bike failures due to frame failure. In short, Eddie has so much belief in the quality of the frames that they have a lifetime warranty.

Call in our shop at Paignton for a view or else we are available on 01803 553095.

Until next week,

Bob.

Cycle Chat 17.09.11

It’s a 1-2 for Mid Devon Cycling Club this week with 2 of its members making the big time!!

First its Yanto Barker (Pendragon LeCol) with his excellent summarization of the Tour of Britain on ITV4 each evening. What a surprise to see Yanto’s face peering out of the screen but no surprise when he was able to express his vast cycling knowledge very articulately to the TV audience. Well done Yanto!!

Also great to see Yanto dressed in his impressive range of Clothing (Le Col) doing a climb. Sure all eyes were on Yanto more than the climb!! We have The full range of LeCol in stock in our shop at Paignton. Call in and see it or give a ring on 01803-553095.

Secondly (for what must be the cyclist of the Tour so far) is Jon Locke (Rapha Condor Sharp). We know Jon very well and he has spent time working with us at CLCycles.

What a ride up the hills to be leader on Stage 5 in the King of the Mountains category. Under the blaze of the TV cameras and thousands of spectators Jon powered up the climb to Haytor on Dartmoor leaving all his rivals in the dust. He didn’t stop there. He carried on up the next 2 climbs taking a large lead where he slowed down for a group to catch up to work with them.

This group didn’t quite work out under threat from the Sky Team they secumed to the pressure and were caught making it a bunch sprint in Exmouth.

Mark Cavendish (HTC) conceded to his lead out man Mark Renshaw to give him the win with Jon in 41st with the same time.

In the General Classification Jon is 13th, 19 secs behind the leader Lars Boom (Rabobank) with top Brit Geraint Thoma (Sky ProCycling) 2nd, 14 secs adrift.

Pity there was not a mountain top finish!! Jon would be well in the lead now in Orange!!Have to keep the sponsors happy though with high profile city/town finishes.

All to ride for as they enter Somerset today and more opportunities for Jon with Cheddar Gorge on the route!!

Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins made history as the first Brits to stand on a grand tour podium, finishing second and third in the Vuelta a Espana.

Chris was second overall as Spain's Juan Jose Cobo was crowned champion after the final stage to Madrid.

Juan held a 13-second lead over Chris, 26, and defended it on the final day, with Bradley finishing third overall.

Robert Millar was the last Brit to have earned a grand tour podium spot, at the 1987 Giro d'Italia.

Until next week,

Bob.

Cycle Chat 10.09.11

With time being gained for position, sprints and climbing this makes the Tour of Spain so difficult to predict which to my way of thinking makes for a more interesting Tour and also keeps the big teams on their toes to chase down breaks because the seconds soon add up!!

So from last week's position of the Sky ProCycling 1st and 2nd for Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome it has changed to a 2nd and 3rd with now Chris ahead of Bradley in 2nd.

In retrospect I expect the team is wondering if the 13 secs Chris is behind the leader Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Geox-TMC) if the team had supported him instead of Bradley where would they be now??

Yes, Chris Froome has ridden a cracking Tour working hard for Bradley where he clearly could have gone on and bettered his position. He does not have a contract for next season so he is very much being sought after by many teams to sign.

There are still 3 stages to go 2 hilly and a flat final stage to the finish at Madrid. The whole of the Sky team will be concentrating on gaining those 13 secs little by little to get the podium on Sunday. It will be an interesting 3 days. Mr Cobo of course will have his own race plan!!

Simon (CLC shop boss) has just returned from his annual trip to Vire, France with some riders from the Mid Devon CC. Best rider was Brennan Townshend (CLC employee) who finished 15th.

It's now eyes down for the Tour of Britain starting this Sunday (11th).

Below are details of the 2 stages in our area for all our local readers (South West).

Thursday 15 September - Stage five: Exeter to Exmouth - 180.3km

Stage five sees the race take in a technical lap around Exeter with a tough route featuring three quick climbs. The day begins in Cathedral Yard in Exeter before heading west en route to an early sprint at Cherlton Bishop (12.1km). The stage then reaches Whiddon Down and turns left to take in a gruelling lap around Moretonhampstead. Continuing south the course then loops around towards the first category Haytor Rocks (48.1km). There is no let-up in the undulation as two second category tests follow hot on the heels, with Coffin Stone (57.8km) and Huccaby Tor (59.6km) likely to take their toll on the field. With the trio of climbs behind them the field will exit the loop and head back through Whiddon Down for a long loop around to the north of Exeter. Two further sprint points at Crediton (125km) and Rockbeare (154.6km) punctuate the run for home before a finish on The Esplanade.

Friday 16 September - Stage six: Taunton to Wells - 146km

Stage begins with what should be a rapid run out of Taunton with a brief early category three climb at Fivehead Hill (11km). The riders pass through Langport (19.6km) for a sprint before turning north over exposed roads. Conditions could be a factor if wind and rain buffet the peloton, yet there will be a number of determined riders targeting the tough finale. The field enters Cheddar for a sprint point before a tough ascent of Cheddar Gorge (87.1km). From there the riders descend down into a finishing loop around Shepton Mallet. The circuit hands the riders a glimpse of the finish in Wells before taking on the tough final climb. The first category Old Bristol Hill (119.8km) comes just after the finish and should cause splits in the bunch. There will be a big chase over the second passage of the loop with 26km back to the finish on Priory Road.

Until next week,

Bob.

Cycle Chat 03.09.11

It's great for there to be 2 Brits at the top of the Tour of Spain from the Sky ProCycling Team in the shape of Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome.

After all the hard work done by Chris for Bradley it seemed that Chris was the one deserving the Red Jersey!!

So pleased to report this as being a great breakthrough for British Cycling which has risen from the doldrums over the last few years so that we now have the top 2 on one of the Big Tours. What wonderful progress!!

The Sky Team worked well together and interesting to note that on Thursday they were given the day off from supporting Bradley as it was a sprinters stage and all the others would do the work with Bradley taking advantage of their lead. (Some day off!!)

Maybe another contender for the BBC Sports Personality of the year coming from the Vuelta!!

I reckon barring accidents with just a week to go that the Sky Team has enough talent to bring Bradley home for a win.

After our former worker Jon Locke's triumph with Rapha Condor this year earning him a place in the Tour of Britain yet another of our workers Brennan Townshend (Team Southwest) is hitting the highlights with the 5 stage Junior Tour of Wales with an overall win.

On the 5 stages Brennan secured a two 1st and a 2nd .

Jeremy Hunt's 21 year old brother Josh came up with another winner in Belgium last week. Josh is doing a season in Belgium and returning to UK shortly.

Brother Jeremy is not doing the Tour of Britain but has been selected for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. I see that Eurosport have been showing it from a very picturesque Colorado. When I can find out more about it I will update you.

Until next week,

Bob.

Colin Lewis Cycles Limited, 17 Dartmouth Road, Paignton, TQ4 5AD. Telephone: 01803 553095. Registered company number: 4095543.