Maratona here I come

This week I received confirmation from the Maratona dles Dolomites of my entry in the 2009 event.  A simple email - "thank you very much for your registration.  We confirm your participation at the 23rd Maratona dles Dolomites" - does little to acknowledge the significance of the confirmation.  Entry into the MdD is by ballet.  This year the organising committee received over 22000 preregistrations from which a maximum of 8500 will be granted participation.  I am glad to be one of those pulled from the hat and granted a ride.

I am aiming to complete the full length, 138km of "hills".  It is a daunting route.  You are either going up or you are going down, there are no flats.  This is going to be one hell of a challenge.

So the countdown begins, only seven (7) months to go.

2008 UCI World Cup Manchester

Amanda and I ventured to Manchester this weekend to watch the first round of the new track cycling World Cup season.  After sensational performances at the World Championships and Olympics, track cycling is riding a high in the UK.  These performances continued Saturday night.

For £14 our ticket was valid for both the afternoon (12:30 - 17:40) and evening (19:00 - 10:20) sessions, a bargain I think.  As the day progressed it was clear British cyclists were going to dominate - whether they rode for Team Sky (SKY),  Great Britain (BGR) or Team 100% Me.  In qualifiers they looked the strongest ... in finals they were unbeatable:

• Victoria Pendleton the Womens 500m TT;
• Britains quartet the 4000m Team Pursuit (by catching Denmark);
• Lizzie Armistead the Womens 10km Scratch Race;
• Jess Varnish and Anna Blyth the Womens Team Sprint;
  
• Jason Kenny the Mens Sprint;
• Chris Newton the 30km Points Race.

Despite the dominance, it was amazing viewing - three crashes, two in finals proved it wasn't over till it was over.  

• Lokomotiv were set for bronze in the Teams Pursuit before rider #2 came down in the transition bringing down riders #3 and #4.  
• The second race of the final of the Mens Sprint finished with both riders sliding across the line.
  

Photo ©: Gerry McManus/www.gerrymcmanus.co.uk

2008 UCI World Cup Manchester

Tour de France 2009

Last week to much fanfare, the route for next year's 96th edition of the Tour de France was revealed.  It looks to a spectacular route, and one that promises a thrilling race all the way to the Champs-Élysées.  Key features of the route:

• Starting in the Principality of Monaco, the route circuits France clockwise also passing in and out several neighbouring countries - Spain, Andorra, Switzerland and Italy;
• Team Time Trial is reintroduced after its absence this year;
• Pyranees at the end of first week;
• Alps in the third week;
• Legendary mountains - 7 days in the mountains take in Col d'Aspin, Col du Tourmalet, and Mont Ventoux.

The twist is the penultimate stage.  Rather than being the usual time trial, it will finish at the top of Mont Ventoux.  This means it will be the time triallists who will need to take time from the climbers before the final weekend instead of the other way around.

The course of the Mont Ventoux stage will be setting of the 17th edition of the E'tape du Tour.  5 climbs but it is Mont Ventoux that will pose the challenge - 21.2km at 7.6%.  What a way to finish.

So I am going to do it?  Not sure ... though I think I will.

 

Laps of Richmond Park

Despite wonderful conditions my training last weekend was restricted to Richmond Park.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy riding Richmond Park - I like the scenery, the lack of traffic and the convenience, but in reflection the conditions deserved going further a field.  It does seem an opportunity lost.  Oh well.

Though I rode the same route, Saturday and Sunday, the experience couldn't have been more different.  On Saturday morning, I hooked onto the back of two experienced riders as they passed our house then followed them all the way to the Park and a couple loops.  They maintained a brisk pace, and I realised I was working hard just to stay with them.  Throughout they maintained a conversation, and indication they had more in reserve.  In my mind, it was a question of when not if they were going to drop me.  That moment came at the bottom of Kingston Hill - a short, sharp rise.  They looked at each other, got out of the saddle and exploded - it was very impressive.  I completed another lap by myself.  Three laps in 65:03 ... somehow I need to find 5 minutes in the next year to achieve my 60:00 goal.

Sunday I joined Mark on a couple laps.  We had planned to ride to Brighton, but due to time constraints this wasn't possible.  These laps were completed in a much more leisurely pace.

PS - The French anti-doping agency (AFLD) has announced another rider, Bernhard Kohl has tested positive for the blood-boosting substance CERA.  He becomes the sixth rider from this year's tour to have been caught.  Kohl won the King of the Mountains jersey, and finished third in the General Classification behind Sastre and Evans.  Kohl was set to join Evans in 2009, having been signed by Silence-Lotto.

Autumn Epic

I was meant to be participating in the Autumn Epic this weekend.  However as my training had been severely hampered due to my accident a month ago, I felt it wise not to ride it.  That said, I would have had second thoughts on Saturday night even if my training had gone according to plan due to the weather forecasts.  The title of The Times article says it all Weather: torrential rain expected as strong winds hit Wales and South West.  Needless to say the forecast weather was not ideal for what would have been a very challenging course.

So rather than go to Wales I stayed at home.  Saturday afternoon I rode a couple laps of Richmond Park.  I have really enjoyed going back to Richmond Park through the year, it is amazing how the scenery changes - particularly the deer.

Bike route 39363 - powered by Bikemap 

Sunday, Amanda was running the Run to the Beat Half Marathon.  That morning we woke to the sound of heavy rain.  Amanda headed out first to catch the tube to the start which was by the O2, only to find the Jubilee Line was out of action due to a broken down train.  (God help London come the Olympics in 2012.)  Since the Jubilee is the principle method of public transport to get to the O2, its outage affected most runners and consequently lead to a delayed start of 10:30 rather than the scheduled 09:45.  I rode the approximate 16km, and on arrival found I had come for a good reason beyond moral support.  Amanda was cold, wet and shivering.  For the next 30 minutes I was simply a wet hot water bottle, all the while it continued to rain.

Amanda repeatedly asked me whether she had to do it, my silence meant Amanda had to make the call herself.  In the end, she pulled herself away from me and headed to the start line.  At this time I got back on my bike and started down the course looking for a good vantage point to cheer Amanda and the rest of the runners on.  After making the climb to the Royal Artillery Barracks on my bike, I figured Amanda would appreciate some support at this stage.  This turned out to be the 5 mile marker.

The first runners came through after nearly 30 minutes.  Progressively the single-filed stream of runners became groups and then the whole road was filled.  Amanda passed after about 45 minutes.  After shouting to her and getting a smile and a thumbs up in return, I got back on my bike and headed to my next vantage point.  This turned out to be around the 7 mile mark as the route entered Charlton Park.  Amanda saw me this time, and called out.

I tried to beat Amanda to the 8 mile mark - this required me to take a significant detour down and then back up a hill.  Back on the course I waited a while for Amanda, but realised I must have missed her when a woman ran past wearing a wedding dress.  So I headed to Greenwich Park to try and catch Amanda between the 9 and 10 mile markers.  Again the wedding dress passed.  Doing the math in my head I figured either Amanda was struggling in the conditions or was doing really well.  Hoping it was the later, I headed towards O2 and the finish.  I was riding along the course from the 11 mile mark and just after 12 miles I heard Amanda shout my name again.  I could see she was just behind the 2 hour pace runners, and the distance was coming in at a constant rate.  For the final mile, I was able to ride beside Amanda separated by the median strip and good crowds cheering the runners to the finish.

In the end Amanda crossed the line 1:57:55 after the gun, and 1:55:39 after she had crossed the start line.  A fantastic result.  Not only had she beaten her target of 2 hours, she had beaten her personal best set in Ljubljana.  All the while it continued to rain.

PS - The conditions were horrible on the Epic, though it seems those brave enough to venture to the start line had a great time - Epic by Name, Epic by Nature.

PPS - It is extremely disappointing to read Stefan Schumacher (Bike Radar - Stefan Schumacher tests positive for EPO) and Leonardo Piepoli (Bike Radar - Leonardo Piepoli tests positive) have been tested positive for the EPO drug CERA.  Since Schumacher won both time trials on the Tour de France and Piepoli the stage to Hautacam, that means winners of 5 stages of the event have now tested positive.  Kirchen will be awarded stage 4, and Cancellara  stage 20.  Since Piepoli's teammate came second on Hautacam, Frank Schleck (himself in the middle of dispute - ) may be awarded stage 10.  And this year's race was meant to be the cleanest on record ...

The Stragglers' Sunday Ride

Fully fit after my mishap a fortnight prior I was keen to get back on the bike.  So this morning I caught the train out to Thames Ditton to join The Stragglers on their Sunday Ride, and we were blessed with the best weather one could possibly hope for this time of year.  Fog first thing  with the promise that it would burn off quickly and turn in a bright sunny and warm day.

The weather encouraged a good sized group to meet at The Angel.  Once on the road we headed in a general SW direction, past Sandown racecourse, through Esher, towards Cobham then Ockham before turning left for Effingham.  It was here we greated the North Downs, and the first of two climbs - approximately 175m over about 5km.  The second, Box Hill, followed immediately after the descent of the first.  It had a similar profile to the first climb.  Having trained for the Dragon Ride and Gruyere Cycling Tour without riding any hills of note, it is good to know (now) there are a couple decent climbs close to home.

After a cup of tea at the top of Box Hill, we headed back NW via Headley, Leatherhead, Oxshott and Esher before joining up with the first section of our ride near Sandown.

It was a fantastic route and I enjoyed the company of The Stragglers.  Thanks to Ray and Sue for letting us join you, and Dave Thomas for the invite.  Moreover it was great to be back on the bike.

Bike route 88473 - powered by Bikemap 

Riding with Lance

Today's cycling news was all about Lance Armstrong.  Last week's announcement that he would return to the Pro cycling ranks ended much speculation but raised more questions than it answered.  Which team would he join?  Which events would he ride in?  If he joins Astana, what about Alberto Contador?

In today's press conference, Armstrong announced he would be joining Astana and that the first event he would be participating in would be the Tour Down Under in January 2009.  This is big news in Adelaide as evidenced by the fact that both my parents and my brother were in touch with me.  It is even being reported as a coup in the local paper - The Advertiser.

Significantly for me - I am going to be riding a stage of that event albeit not with the pros.  Associated with this event is an open ride which will follow the route of Stage 4 between Burnside Village and Barossa Valley.  I have already entered this ride. 

Armstrong's presence is going to bring much attention to the Tour Down Under, which will translate into excitement in the peleton of the open ride.  I can't wait - better start the training.

Bike route 42679 - powered by Bikemap 

... one more goal

Sorry, I have one more goal to add to my previous post:

• Complete the Richmond Park 3-lap Challenge (Bike Radar Forums) under 60 minutes.
  

The year ahead

Whether I like it or not, the summer of 2008 is well and truly over. The days are rapidly getting shorter, cooler and if it is possible wetter. The completion of the season also marks the end of my first year on a bike.
I purchased my first bike, a Specialized Sirrus Elite, at the end of August 2007 with a view of starting to ride to work. Riding to work never eventuated, instead I rode for fun and fitness. In the year I have riden over 3500km, and that excludes the virtual miles I have done on my turbo trainer. I have riden in all conditions possible - hot and cold, sunshine, rain, hail, sleet, and even snow.
I didn't set myself any goals when I purchased my first bike. I had vague of objectives of improved fitness but nothing that would comply with the SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound) method. So I thought it would be appropriate define some proper goals for my second year:

• Complete one of the big three sportives - Maratona dles Dolomites, La Marmotte, E'Tape du Tour;
• Complete a UCI Golden Bike sportive;
  
• Climb three "legend" Tour de France mountains - one must be Col du Tourmalet;
• Complete Lac Leman in under 5 hours;
• Attain a Silver standard time;
• Cycle 5000km in the next 12 months.

Ok, they are not in the same league as those on My Cycling Challenge but I think they will be challenging enough. I will be using this blog to plot my progress.