Local Cycling News

Sarah Storey (Horizon/Prendas Ciclismo) successfully defended both her world titles at the Para-Cycling World Championships in Denmark. Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers 2nd claim member, Storey, stormed to victory in the 9.6km Time Trial her winning time of 20.52 for the twisting course was over a minute faster than silver medalist, Anna Harkowska of Poland. The Polish rider put up a strong fight in the road race but Storey proved just too strong in the sprint finish. It was a hatrick for the GB rider; having won both titles in 2009 & 2010 and laid down a marker for the Paralympic games in London next year.

Talent Team member, Crystal Lane was dissapointed with 9th place in the time trial. Lane, riding her first world championships produced a super ride in the road race to win the bronze medal.

Other GB medalists included Mark Colbourne silver in the C1 time trial, Simon Price, bronze C2 road race,

Shaun Mckeown C3 Time Trial Bronze, David Stone(Trike) Time Trial Silver, Rachel Morris, bronze hand cycle road race & Karen Darke bronze in the hand cycle TT & Road Race

Tickets for the 2012 games went on sale last week and are expected to sell out, a first for Paralympic sport. Verwoods Darren Kenny had a disappointing championship. Kenny finished well down in the time trial and crashed out in the road race.

PostScript: As a carer for the GB squad part of my duties included driving a team car to the championships. A flight up to Manchester and on to the Velodrome to load the vehicles, 2 vans & 2 cars. The Holiday Inn in Manchester, then drive down to Folkestone to the Channel Tunnel. On through France, Belgium,Holland and a hotel in Northern Germany. Up early the next morning for a 2 hour drive to catch a ferry across to Denmark. Another 2 hours to the Hotel then quickly over to the airport to pick the athletes up. The return journey was much the same, a greasy spoon on the Germany/Holland border provided supper. Checking into a hotel on the outskirts of Gent,Belgium, we had broken the back of the trip. Back through the tunnel the following morning, gaining an hour i was back in Dorset for lunch. Sleep was a welcome visitor that night!

Kobi Joyce (Bournemouth BMX) clinched the British BMX series title at the weekend. The 12 round, season long series came down to the last race with Joyce needing to win to take the title. The 8 year old who races in the 9 yr male category duly took the victory to top the national rankings.

Joyce is now a double British Champion, having won the under 8 title last year and is set to defend his title at the National Championships at Cheddar Gorge.

Bournemouth Jubilee Wheeler, Paul Jones had to settle for second place in the Bognor Regis 25 mile TT. Jones time of 54.46 was only 9 seconds adrift of in- form Sebastian Ader (a3crg). Winton-Based, Claire Day (Born to Bike) clocked a seasons best 57.09 at the VTTA 25 in Wales. Day is currently lying in 4th place in the British Best All Rounder rankings. Husband Tim recorded a lifetime best 58.03 in the same event.

THE 15TH ANNUAL GLENN LONGLAND
DOWNTON 2-DAY CLASSIC

MULE ENERGY BARS
STABLE 9 BOTLEYS FARM WICK LANE DOWNTON
www.mulebar.com

H.Q. Downton Football Club
WICK LANE, DOWNTON
SALISBURY
Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th October 2011

3 Stages under T.L.I. Cycling Rules

ENTRIES-: Members £18 Non Members £25 E.O.L. £28

Stage 1 Prologue www.mulebar.com 2.4km Saturday 1.pm
Stage 2 Handicap Road Race 42km Saturday 2.30pm
Stage 3 Time Trial 37km Sunday 9.00am

Organiser Glenn Longland 32 Testlands Ave Nursling Southampton Hampshire SO16 0XG
Tel : 02380 731771/07917164064
E.mail rukglenntli@gmail.com

ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 2011

Belgium Para Cycling Open 2011, Oupeye, Provence De Liege

A weekend of racing in Belgium saw the Great Britain Para-Cycling team come away with some valuable qualification points for London 2012. Oupeye, near Liege is in the French speaking part of the country but the Belgian Para-Cycling Open was a typically Flemish affair. Rutted roads, tight, unswept corners, mud and of course, rain. Race Officials appear and set up barriers, PA system, signage and start ramp, all within an hour of the start. Saturday’s 7.5 KM time trial was on a rough, twisting circuit, still holding surface water from the torrential rains that had swept across the country on Thursday. The Great Britain squad was especially cautious, world champion David Stone had crashed heavily whilst training on the course the previous day. Stone suffered cuts and bruises and after a visit to the Hospital decided to withdraw from the event. The patched up trike rider flew home early but expects to be back in training this week. Despite their cautious approach the GB team still delivered.

Shaun Mckeown clocked 12.58 to win the MC3 category, Simon Price won the MC2 with a 13.25 and Crystal Lane posted a 14.25 time to win the women’s C5 category. Mark Colbourne clocked 14.02 for first place in the men’s C1 Class. Price, Lane & Colbourne are relatively new to the squad and lack race experience.

However, all three performed well in testing conditions. Hand Cyclist, Karen Darke recorded 19.23 for a comfortable win in the HC2 category.

The following day’s road race was based on an industrial estate, it may have lacked glamour but it did produce some exciting racing. The 2.6 mile circuit included a couple of uphill drags, steep enough to force a selection and heavy rain in the morning had left the roads “greasy”. Thankfully the rain had stopped by the time racing got underway and once again the Great Britain team shone. Crystal Lane rode unchallenged to win the women’s C5 title, the combined time of TT & Road Race deciding the result.

Lane looks a real talent, she lacks experience but that will come. Simon Price rode strongly and always looked in control of the small breakaway he had helped establish. Price clipped away in the finale to win alone.

Shaun Mckeown rode a clever, tactical race. Protecting his lead from the time trial, Mckeown kept a watchful eye on his rivals, riding down any who tried to get away. Mark Colbourne came second in the C1 category road race, Colbourne, like Lane, is on a steep learning curve and responded well to the competition.

Tandem Pair Lora Turnham & Pilot Louise Haston struggled to get on terms after Haston unclipped her pedal on the start line. The pair chased hard but never made contact with the fast moving bunch. Their disappointment, after a lonely race, clearly showed how much it mattered.

Hand Cyclist Karen Darke built on her lead in the TT, to win her race and the overall. Strong arms and gritty determination is the key.

Coach, Jayne Ellis said “It was a good solid performance from all the squad and we are now looking forward to the final preparations for the world championships”. Road coach, Tom Stanton agreed with Ellis, “We had good results on a challenging course and with a little over two weeks to go to before the Para-Cycling World Championships in Roskilde. We can now focus on the final preparation to make sure everyone is in the best possible form"

The nine rider squad had traveled to Belgium from a Paralympic simulation camp in Bath. Designed to give athletes a foretaste of life in the London Paralympic village, the camp included all the support and back up systems that competitors will find at the London games.

No detail was left out, right down to a mock up of the accommodation facilities including a “2012” themed duvet! The simulation camp also served as a mini training camp for the Para-Cycling team, ahead of the Word Championships in Roskilde, Denmark next month.