Local Riders,Local Races

Darren Kenny OBE, retained his 1 KM time trial title on day 3 at the world championships in Los Angeles. Verwood- based Kenny clocked 1:12.496 in his four lap effort, more than a second faster than David Nicholas (Australia). Great Britain team mate Shaun McKeown also made the podium, picking up the bronze medal. Kenny had bounced back well after the disappointment of losing his 3km pursuit title to Nicholas on day 2. The multiple world & Paralympic champion had been caught by the Australian in the final ride and had to settle for silver. Another Silver followed in the team sprint final as Kenny, along with Sarah Storey and Jody Cundy lost out to the Chinese trio. Meanwhile Barney Storey had to settle for silver for the second consecutive year in the tandem kilo. Storey and visually impaired stoker Neil Fachie came agonisingly close to gold, finishing just 0.0099 seconds behind teammates Anthony Kappes & Craig MacLean. Storey and Fachie were on course for a final showdown with their GB rivals after beating Canada in the quarter finals. However the Corfe Mullen rider was taken ill and had to withdraw from the semi-final with the Netherlands. Kappes & Maclean went on to win the title comfortably beating the Dutch pairing 2-0.Once again GB topped the medal table but it had been a challenging week for the whole squad. The jet lag from the long flight hung around longer than expected. Shaun McKeown spent most of one night in the hospital after suffering an allergic reaction to something he ate.

Rising star, Mark Colbournes father had passed away on the opening day of the championships. His gold medal winning ride in the C1 pursuit was fuelled by emotion. Barney Storeys illness and subsequent withdrawal from the tandem sprint undoubtedly cost him & Neil Fachie a medal. Instead of riding against the Netherlands in the semi-final, Storey was forced to return to the team hotel. “That’s bike racing” was his disappointed response. Perhaps this had been on Sarah Storeys mind as the sprint team surrendered their world title to the Chinese.

Photo,Kelkel
Lead Coach Chris Furber offered no excuses however and remains positive, Furber told “E D” “I’m satisfied with the performance at the Worlds, to be in gold or silver medal position in 14 events puts us in a great place for the games. The next month is about reviewing performance and formulating detailed plans for the run-in to London." After a few days rest for the squad thoughts will turn to the road. An endurance camp in Majorca in March will be followed by world cup events in Italy and Spain. The track events at the Paralympic games will be held in the Velodrome at the Olympic park, while the road events will take place at Brands Hatch.

Perfs Pedal Race

Chris Opie (Team UK Youth) won the season opening, Perfs Pedal race on Portsdown Hill. The race went ahead, although reduced from 5 laps to four, after the VC ST Raphael organising team had worked hard to clear ice from the course.

Team UK Youth had controlled the race from the start, strength in numbers and a race plan ensured no one was allowed to escape the bunch.Doug Dewey(Terra Footwear-Bicycle line)lead a small group clear on the final climb before Opie attacked to take a comfortable win.

Perfs Pedal images courtesy of www.velouk.net
Top Ten
1 Chris OPIE Team UK Youth
2 Marcin BIALOBLOCKI Node4 Giordana
3 Jonathan McEVOY Endura Racing
4 David McGOWAN Team UK Youth
5 Erick ROWSELL Endura Racing
6 Jon DIBBEN Hargroves Cycles-Specialized-Trant-Next-Elliott's
7 Freddy JOHANSSON Team UK Youth
8 Ben SIMMONS Team Wiggle
9 Yanto BARKER Team UK Youth
10 Douglas DEWEY Terra Footwear- Bicycle Line



Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers 100 mile Reliability Trial

Bournemouth Jubilee Wheeler, Mike Walsh, organiser of the clubs hugely successful reliability trial series reports on the 100 mile event. The four tourist trials across the winter months have proved very popular.
"54 riders started, 27 on the 100 in 8 and also 27 on the 100 km. 24 finished the 100 in 8 and 26 the 100 km.

A fantastic finish ratio. The fastest group finished in just over 6 hours whereas there was a couple on the 100 km who returned just before 4 p.m. Although a cold start to the day the roads were dry and any water draining from the fields could be identified and thus the ice patches avoided. The weather became less cold through the day and the riders experienced minimal wind. All riders seemed happy upon their return and tucked into the tea and cakes provided under the guidance of Aimée Barber. (Other helpers were Dave Langley, Mike and Jo Gordon, Reg Haskins, Aimée, Matt, Sue [Barber family], Jacky and Clive). I had a large glass of wine in the evening."

Racing Club Omega has a packed calendar of circuit & track events in the south in 2012. Next Sunday (19th) is the start of the Mountbatten Circuits at the Mountbatten Centre at North End in Portsmouth.
Starting at 10am, there are races for Category 4/Women/category 3 and finally a race for Elite 1/2 category riders.
The 4th category race is on for 10am followed by the women’s race and category 3 event at 11.30. The E/1/2 race is at 1pm.
DIRECTIONS:
Follow M275 direction Continental Ferry Port. Take slip direction North End, at RAB take first slip up Twyford Avenue to mini RAB, Follow route,’Out of City’ up Northern Parade, where left at signpost Cannons Sports Club / Alexandra Bowls. Follow road down to back of the Mountbatten Centre. Cycle Track is out the back. PLEASE NOTE THE SPEED RESTRICTIONS ON THE M275
OTHER EVENTS 2012
Sunday 11th March 2012
OMEGA PORTSMOUTH CIRCUITS CD: 14/03/11 Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth
YOUTH U16/U14/U12/U10/U8 3.00 5.00 Var 0945
REGIONAL C+ 4 / J4 8.00 10.00 40 km 1030
REGIONAL A WOMEN 8.00 10.00 40 km 1030
REGIONAL B 3 / J3 8.00 10.00 56 km 1130
NATIONAL B E / 1 / 2 8.00 10.00 56 km 1300

Sunday 18th March 2012
OMEGA THRUXTON CIRCUITS CD: 05/03/11 Thruxton Motor Circuit, Andover
YOUTH U16/U14/U12/U10/U8 3.00 5.00 Var 0930

REGIONAL C+ 4 / J4 10.00 15.00 40 km 1015
REGIONAL A WOMEN 10.00 15.00 40 km 1015
REGIONAL B 3 / J3 10.00 15.00 56 km 1130
NATIONAL B E / 1 / 2 10.00 15.00 56 km 1300
Sunday 25th March 2012
OMEGA THRUXTON CIRCUITS CD: 12/03/11 Thruxton Motor Circuit, Andover
YOUTH U16/U14/U12/U10/U8 3.00 5.00 Var 0930
REGIONAL C+ 4 / J4 10.00 15.00 40 km 1015
REGIONAL A WOMEN 10.00 15.00 40 km 1015
REGIONAL B 3 / J3 10.00 15.00 56 km 1130
NATIONAL B E / 1 / 2 10.00 15.00 56 km 1300
Wednesdays 4th 11th 18th 25th April 2nd MAY 2012

RAY MARTIN MEMORIAL 150 DISTANCE LEAGUE Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth
CD: 23/03/11 for the series price of YOUTH 15.00 SENIORS E/1/2/3/4/W/J 32.00

Per meeting

YOUTH U16/U14/U12/U10/U8 4.00 4.00 Var 1815

REGIONAL B 3/4/J/W 8.00 10.00 40 mins+ 1845

NATIONAL B E/1/2/3 8.00 10.00 50 mins+ 1945
Saturday 7th April 2012

PORTSMOUTH EASTER CIRCUITS Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth
REGIONAL C+ 4 / J4 £8.00 (£10.00) 40 mins 0900
REGIONAL A WOMEN £8.00 (£10.00) 50 mins 1000
REGIONAL B 3 / J3 £8.00 (£10.00) 50 mins 1000
NATIONAL B E / 1 / 2 / J1 / J2 £8.00 (£10.00) 1 hour 1100
PORTSMOUTH EASTER OPEN MEET inc THE NEW KINGSBURY CUP & A ROUND OF THE BC HARD TRACK ENDURANCE LEAGUE

Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth
TRACK SM / W / J 10.00 15.00 1300

TRACK U16 / U14 /U12 Fixed 5.00 8.00

U12/U10/U8 Free wheel 5.00 8.00
Wednesday 16th May – 19th September 2012

PORTSMOUTH CIRCUITS Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth

YOUTH U16/U14/U12/U10/U8 4.00 4.00 Var 1815

REGIONAL B 3/4/J/W 10.00 10.00 52 km 1845

NATIONAL B E/1/2/3 10.00 10.00 52 km 1930
Sunday 20th May 2012
SOUTH REGION BC ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS Upavon
OPEN TO SOUTH REGION RIDERS ONLY
NATIONAL B E/1/2/3 130 km+ £15.00 (£20.00 ) 1030
REGIONAL A JUNIORS ONLY 80 km+ £15.00 (£20.00 ) 1040
REGIONAL A WOMEN ONLY 80 km+ £15.00 (£20.00 ) 1040
REGIONAL B 4/ over 40 3rd cats 80 km+ £15.00 (£20.00 ) 1040
Saturday 23rd JUNE 2012

BRITISH SCHOOLS CYCLING ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL HILL CLIMB CHAMPIONSHIPS Inc Southern Regional Championships CD: 09/04/12 Ditcham Park School, Petersfield
U8 / U10 / U12 / U14 / U16 / O16 NATIONAL 6.00 tbc

No entry on the day NATIONAL & REGIONAL 8.00

Sunday 24th JUNE 2012

BRITISH SCHOOLS CYCLING ASSOCIATION
NATIONAL HARD TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS Inc Southern Regional Championships CD: 09/04/12 Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth
U8 / U10 / U12 / U14 / U16 / O16 NATIONAL 6.00 1100

No entry on the day NATIONAL & REGIONAL 8.00

U8 / U10 / U12 use a free wheel machine U14 / U16 / O16 used a fixed wheel machine
Sunday 10th June 2012

SUSIES YOUTH TRACK MEETING inc Youth Omniums ~ Southern Area Heat CD: 05/04/10 Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth
TRACK U16 / U14 / U12 8.00 10.00 1000

YOUTH U10 / U8 5.00 8.00

Saturday 18th June 2011
OMEGA STAGE RACE: (TT & CIRCUITS) Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth REGIONAL C+ 4 / J4 £10.00 (£15.00) 0900

REGIONAL A WOMEN £10.00 (£15.00) 0945
REGIONAL B 3 / J3 £10.00 (£15.00) 1030
NATIONAL B E / 1 / 2 / J1 / J2 £10.00 (£15.00) 1100
YOUTH CIRCUITS Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth

YOUTH U16/U14/U12/U10/U8 £3.00 (£5.00) Var 1200
Sunday 15th JULY 2012
SOUTH OPEN CIRCUITS- open to non south region riders only Thruxton
REGIONAL B 3/4/J/W 40 mins+ 3 laps £10.00 (£15.00) 0900
REGIONAL A E/1/2 50 mins+ 3 laps £10.00 (£15.00) 1040
YOUTH U10 / U8 Var £3.00 (£5.00) 1115
YOUTH U16 / U14 / U12 Var £3.00 (£5.00) 1130

SOUTH REGION BC ROAD CIRCUIT CHAMPIONSHIPS Thruxton
OPEN TO SOUTH REGION RIDERS ONLY
YOUTH U10 / U8 Var £3.00 (£5.00) 1115
YOUTH U16 / U14 / U12 Var £3.00 (£5.00) 1130

REGIONAL A JUNIORS ONLY 40 mins+ 3 laps £10.00 (£15.00) 1200
REGIONAL A WOMEN ONLY 40 mins+ 3 laps £10.00 (£15.00) 1200

REGIONAL B 4/ over 40 3rd cats 40 mins+ 3 laps £10.00 (£15.00) 1200

NATIONAL B E/1/2/3 80 mins+ 3 laps £10.00 (£15.00) 1300

ALL ENTRIES TO: Mrs Susan KNIGHT 21 Bedhampton Road North End PORTSMOUTH
PO2 7JX 023 9264 2226
Thruxton’s/Open Track/ Sat Portsmouth’s Cheques to: Racing Club Omega

Wednesdays nights at Portsmouth Track Cheques to: Portsmouth Cycle Track League

Daniel Lloyd (Team I G Markets-Sigma Sport) is currently commentating on the Tour of the Algarve for Eurosport. The I G Markets-Sigma team will be officially launched in London today before heading out to Tuscany for some warm weather training. As well as racing, Lloyd revealed on Eurosport that he will be working at the Giro d'Italia in a commentary role for the channel.

Kenny retains World Title

Darren Kenny retained his Kilo TT world title on day 3 of the world Championships. Kenny’s time of 1.12.496 was too fast for silver medallist, David Nicholas (Australia). Kenny’s team mate, Shaun McKeon grabbed the bronze medal with 1.14.347. Kenny bounced back well after the disappointment of losing his pursuit title to Nicholas on day 2.

Meanwhile, Barney Storey had to settle for silver for the second consecutive year in the Tandem Kilo. Storey and stoker, Neil Fachie came agonisingly close to gold, finishing just 0.099s behind Anthony Kappes and Craig MacLean. Both the Dorset athletes will be in action on the final day of the championships, Kenny in the team sprint, with Sarah Storey & Jody Cundy. Storey goes in the tandem sprint and if all goes to plan, should face Maclean & Kappes in the final.

Jody Cundy
Photos by kind permission of Christina Kelkel

Great Britain Para-Cycling team warm up for 2012

Great Britain Para-Cycling team warm up for the 2012 world track championships in Los Angeles!

The World track championships start on Thursday 9th Feb and the British squad took advantage of a final chance to ride the boards.

World Titles and rainbow jersey's are in the squads sights!

The Championships run till Sunday and Great Britain were looking very sharp in training!

Local Riders,Local Races

The road racing season gets underway this weekend (ice permitting) with the 47th Perfs Pedal race. As usual this traditional season opener has attracted a top class field including last year’s winner, Ben Stockdale. Team UK Youth, the squad backed by former F1 world champion Nigel Mansell have a strong team including former Tour de France rider, Magnus Backstedt.

Local hopes for the £150 first prize lie with Richard Horton (BJW). Horton has been training hard over the winter and is in good form. The 18 year old from Winton is not just good on two wheels; he recently won the Poole Park 5km run.

The 46 mile race starts at 11:00am from Southwick in Hampshire and includes 6 climbs of Portsdown Hill, above Portsmouth.

Jordan Wade, (Poole Wheelers) continues to impress at the Ludgershall winter road race series. Wade snatched third place in the latest round on the tank testing Army circuit in Wiltshire. Backing up his second place of the previous week, 17 year old Wade is handily placed in the 8 race series.
( This Saturdays race has been called off due to snow)

Darren Kenny will defend his three Para-cycling world titles in Los Angeles this weekend. Verwood based Kenny will ride in the Kilo, the individual pursuit and the team sprint.

Tandem Pilot, Barney Storey from Corfe Mullen is also in the USA and will ride in the 1 kilometre TT and the sprint with visually impaired stoker, Neil Fachie.

Do you fancy trying out your race legs? Bob Jolliffe sends an invite..... If you do, multi-talented veteran all-rounder Glenn Longland has laid on a pair of open 10-mile time trials on the Kings Somborne to Romsey road on Saturday, March 3 and Sunday, March 4 to mark the 40th anniversary of his first race. Glenn, who started with Crabwood CC and went on to form Antelope Racing Team, has done it all, and well: cyclo-cross, road racing, track racing and time trialling, at which he excelled, taking the 12-hour competition records in 1983, 1986 and 1991 when he became the first rider to beat 300 miles with a day-long tally of 300.08 miles. He was also National 12-hour Champion in 1978, 1984-6 and 1989; 100-mile champ in 1984 and 50-mile title-holder in 1986 and 1987. He also won the British Best All-Rounder competition in 1986 and again in 1991.And he can still turn in some cracking times against the watch, even on his hack bike complete with pannier rack. Glenn is promoting a solo 10 on the P140, which starts at Compton just south of King’s Somborne and turns at the Greatbridge mini-roundabout at Romsey (take care here) starting at 3pm on the Saturday, and on Sunday is staging a two-up team time trial on the same course with the first pair due to set off south at 9.02am. Entries are £8 per rider for both events. Send them to Glenn Longland at 32 Testlands Avenue, Nursling, Southampton SO16 0XG by February 21. New-style Cycling Time Trials entry forms can be downloaded from the CTT website. New Forest CC’s first club time trial is the traditional pipe-opener on the Holmsley-A35-Burley-Holmsley 10-mile circuit the following Sunday. Event HQ is Goatspen car park and the first rider will be away at 9.31am. The second in the series, over 12.8 miles, will take place seven days later..

Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers popular series of reliability trials concludes with the 100 mile ride on Sunday. The series has been running for many years and numbers are on the increase, nearly 200 turned out for the 50 mile event in November,. Non-members are welcome and the £5 entry fee includes associate membership of BJW. Start and finish is at Merley Community Centre. Parking facilities and refreshments are available. First riders off at 08:30.

NEW CYCLING ACCIDENT DEPARTMENT LAUNCHED
We have seen an increase in the number of client’s who have been injured on their bike’s. As a result, we have now developed a cycling accident specialist department within the Personal Injury Department dedicated to the needs of injured cyclists.
The Head of the Personal Injury Department, David McWilliam is a keen cyclist and triathlete. He spends many hours a week training and recognises the dangers caused by Britain’s roads and other road users when out on his bicycle. He and his team have links with many local bike shops and can assist with getting a bike repaired or replaced.
In view of the ever increasing cost of fuel, more and more people are using their bicycles as their main form of transport not just for leisure purposes. Riding a bicycle makes you particularly vulnerable to injury from even the most minor of accidents. Approximately 230 cyclists are killed or seriously injured every month on Britain’s roads. Many more suffer less serious injuries but over 16,000 cyclists are suffering injuries in Britain’s roads every year.
Many accidents involve collisions with HGV’s and the Government are now looking at legislation to require hauliers to fit the 450,000 lorries in Britain with sensors and emergency braking systems to help prevent accidents with cyclists when in vehicles’ blind spots.
If you have been injured in a cycling accident, you may be able to claim personal injury compensation. Ellis Jones can act on a No Win, No Fee basis and you will receive 100% of the damages.
Contact us now for a free assessment of your case on 01202 525333 or email david.mcwilliam@ellisjones.co.uk

Local Riders,Local Races

Paralympic Champion Darren Kenny, OBE is in hard training for next month’s world championships. Verwood-based Kenny has just spent two weeks at the Newport Velodrome in Wales ahead of the Championships in Los Angeles, California. A mixture of high intensity speed work and pacing behind a motor bike should see Kenny in top form. At last year’s championships in Italy he won three gold medals and will be looking to defend all his titles in the USA. He will start as favourite in the 1km TT and the 3,000m individual pursuit.

The team sprint however will prove a harder ask. A change in the rules means the GB team cannot pick their strongest three riders. Kenny will line up with world & Paralympic champions Jody Cundy and Sarah Storey.
The three were picked after a series of trials at the Welsh cycling centre, Mark Colbourne and Jon-Allan Butterworth were the other riders in contention.
The London Paralympic games are on the horizon and media interest in the squad is intense. BBC Wales, BBC Sport, The Sunday Times Channel 5, Reuters, The Press Association & Cycling Weekly were all in attendance at the squad’s hotel Also heading to the states will be tandem pilot Barney Storey. Now based at the national cycling centre in Manchester, Storey, from Corfe Mullen remains a member of Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers. Storey, along with visually impaired stoker, Neil Fachie will compete in the 1KM time trial and the tandem sprint. It promises to be a busy year for the squad and both Kenny and Storey will hope to be selected for the London Paralympic games in August/September.

Roger Papp, operations manager at BCC tells "E D" about the recent meeting to discuss the future use of the Bournemouth Track:

The first meeting of “Friends of BCC” (Bournemouth Cycling Centre) took place at the Hotel Collingwood in Bournemouth on Monday 16 January 2012.

The first meeting was open to everybody which enabled a broad selection of views on the centre to be received.

BCC were very pleased with the attendance, which included local clubs and riders, in addition to organisations and businesses that have made bookings at the centre since it opened.

A broad and detailed selection of information was provided to the meeting, and it was interesting to note there are already 150 riders registered with BCC who have taken advantage of the 117 sessions arranged so far.

From a financial prospective the centre is meeting their target for year one, which from a standing start has been very encouraging.

Bournemouth Borough Council have agreed a progressive ramp up in charges for ground and site maintenance, payable by April of each year, and while their objective is to be “cost neutral”, this still requires a significant and increasing sum to be paid each year to the council.

BCC is run as a not for profit “Ltd” organisation, and to support their development they presented a comprehensive business plan which includes growth in track usage, through Schools, University and Youth groups.

Sessions already booked for 2012 include:
• A weekly Track League to be run each Tuesday evening commencing 17th April to end of August. This is a British Cycling open series.
• A weekly intermediate training session each Wednesday commencing 18th April. This is for BCC licensed riders, or those who have progressed to stage 2 accreditation or above.
• A Saturday kid’s club. Start date and details to be advised.

In addition BCC also plan to extend use of the site to include Cyclocross events which would certainly maximise use during winter months.

The business plan includes a requirement, if funds permit, for a comprehensive website development to enable organisers and riders to enter and pay for sessions and events in advance.

BCC were keen to advise that no development is possible without volunteers being willing and available to offer their time and expertise in all areas essential to ensure the day to day operation of the facility. This of course includes those who can support the administration and control of regular events, but also professional support in all commercial areas essential to maintain and grow any progressive business.

Of course nothing at all is possible without promoters, organisations and clubs booking sessions so BCC can get riders on the track and make use of their fantastic facility.

The Centre is one of the few facilities dedicated to cycling in the country and organised by cyclists for cyclists. It is BCCs aim to retain that position.

The summary slide of their presentation covered the four key areas.

Track Bookings and enquiries – Roger Papp
Coaching – David Gilham
Track League – Alan McRae
Development Plan roll out – Andrew Mayfield

Should you be able to assist with any of these areas, please contact info@bournemouth.cc

For updates to the above events and other general information, please refer to the BCC website http://www.bournemouth.cc/
(link on right)

Luke Gray (Baboco) returned to his Belgium base after last week’s national championships for a world cup race at Lievin in France. The former national under 23 champion has been working with his new Danish coach and is starting to find some consistency.
Gray was the only U23 GB team rider in a select group of 6 GB riders, with Junior Hugo Robinson also in GB kit. The others where, Gabby Day who stays at the same place as Luke in Oudenaarde, Helen Wyman and Nicky Harris along with Elite Ian Field who also live in the same town. There was no GB back up at this race but Stef Wyman was acting manager. Speaking to “E D” Gray said:

“On race day the weather was a cold 0 degrees with most of the course covered in frost. There were some very short sharp steep climbs and a huge flight of steps to run up. Apart from a couple of places where there was some very draggy slow soft grass bits, it was a very fast race.
On the first lap there was a big coming together of bodies and bikes when a couple of riders failed to ride one of the steep banks. Luckily i managed to ride passed the mayhem of riders fighting to untangle their bikes.
I didn't quite have the power and seemed to be lacking top speed but after the race felt fine. I really enjoyed the slippery course as it tested your skill, with the last few downhill twisty bends being my favourite section.”
Danish U23 Champion Kenneth Hanson, who joined the Baboco team this year, crashed out of the race just in front of Luke. He is also the Danish elite Champ and with no GB pit crew, it was his father who was taking care of Grays pits throughout the race.

Photo's by kind permission of Rob Gray

This weekend is the last round of the Cyclo-Cross World Cup series in Hoogerheide, Holland. Luke will once again be riding for the GB team with a full GB support crew and staff on hand to man the pits.

This Sunday see’s the final round of the Wessex League Cyclo-Cross competion. Held at Thruxton motor circuit, entry is on the line, under 12s start at 10:00 with Senior’s at 12:45

Over 80 riders signed on for the third of Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers 4 winter reliability trials.The 75 mile route took in some of the biggest hills in Dorset. The 100 mile event on February 12th concludes the series and those who have completed all four rides will receive a specially minted medal.

G B Para-Cycling Squad hard at Work in Wales: A Snapshot!

Paralympic Champions, Darren Kenny, Sara Storey & Jody Cundy will contest the team sprint for GB at next month’s Para- Cycling World track championships.

The trio were picked after a series of trials at the Welsh National Cycling centre in Newport. Jon-Allan Butterworth and Mark Colbourne were the other riders in contention and Butterworth, especially, was unlucky to miss out.

The ex-RAF man who was injured in Iraq now has others in the squad looking over their shoulders as his rapid improvement continues. The sprint trials certainly added some “edge" but it was all in a day’s work for the Great Britain squad on their intensive track camp at the Newport Velodrome. The world championships are in Los Angeles but the London Paralympic games are on the horizon and media interest in the squad is intense. BBC Sport, BBC Wales, The Sunday Times, Reuters, The Press Association, Channel 5 & Cycling Weekly, among others, was all in attendance for a media day at the team’s hotel. Interviews, pieces to camera and photo calls are all part of the job.

After a morning on the road the riders were given an afternoon off but work was never far away. A team from the UK anti-doping agency turned up unannounced. Instead of putting their feet up the Para-Cycling squad spent three hours providing samples!

Even after 8 hard days on the track there was still time for a bit of fun, Barney Storey & Neil Fachie & Helen Scott & Aileen Mcglynn held an impromptu tandem match sprint competition.Storey & Faichie, rather ungentlemanly, won 2-0. The Championships in Los Angeles will run from the 9-12 February and the strong GB squad will fly out the week before. Last year in Montichiarri,Italy, GB topped the medal table with 17 medals including 13 gold.