Imagine my and I’m sure your surprise as you thumbed through Cycling Weekly this week and were greeted by the glorious blue white and gold colours of Rutland !!

John Smallwood and Andy Ralph were snapped whilst riding in the Sheffield 100 sportive earlier in the year. What the report didn’t mention was Andy and John’s My Ride comments.

Possibly they figured that they weren’t fit for public consumption but I am pleased to report that I have managed to get hold of their post event reports and can share them with you now.

My Ride : John Smallwood (24) : Rutland CC: “It was a great event and I’ve had a great day…them sportivists aren’t that fast for a hardened teacaker such as myself so we’ve done a lot over taking today! I must say I was very disappointed that they didn’t have any Stella at the feed stations…”

My Ride : Andy Ralph (22) : Rutland CC : “That f*****g wind…I almost got blown from my b*****d bike….and as for them Sountherners…they are worse bike handlers than f*****g Sheff Rec.”

Blimey Andy, I’m not surprised they didn’t print that !!!

The full article can be viewed here.

The final round of this TLI NMRRL was run off last week in appalling conditions. It quite literally wee’d it down for the whole event. But luckily for the Rutland, we produced some pretty good swimmers !!!

Jamie had already sealed his victory in the overall with what can only be described as a truly emphatic series win. Right from week one he has proved to be the strongest rider in the race and a more deserved winner you couldn’t find.

However the competition for the podium places came right down to the wire with Dan Storey from SheffRec, who has enjoyed a very successful racing season this year, Jordon Skinner from Dinnington and our very own Marc Mallender all with a few points of each other. Any one of them could have made second place overall with the result in the final round.

It was clear from the start of the race that it was going to be a tactical affair with all the riders still in with a shout marking each other closely. A a few failed attempts to get away, the race winning move formed. In the move were Jamie, Marc, Dan Storey and Steve Ellis. The odds were looking good.

In the end though, try as he might, Marc was unable to shake off the very strong, Dan Storey, who just pipped Marc in the sprint to take the second place overall. Marc well and truly beat young Jordan though to secure and excellent third place overall !!!

To top off a great night for the Rutland, sensing that the other riders were watching each other, Steve Ellis clipped away from the breakaway to secure an excellent and very deserved final round win! Sources of mine who watching from the finish said that Steve’s great victory was somewhat let down by a very disappointing victory salute…so just for you Steve here is a picture of one to practice over the off season !!!

So massive congratulations go out to Steve, Jamie and Marc who have the done club proud. I’m sure everyone who road the series this year would agree that the new format has been a real breath of fresh air to the road race league and reaffirmed it’s position as a must do weekly series. So get your entry forms ready for 2011 and let’s see if we can get three riders in the top three overall next year !!!

Much better, especially as I only had to share the car with the Wu Tan Clan and the
Bad Plus, is lead car in Tumby’s Road Race. With the race split this year into two
concurrent races the sole Rutland representatives in race 2 were Darren Otter, Gary
Horsefield (would he be Gary Chevalchamp in France?) and Richard Gouldbourn. The
rear view mirrors are not the best screens to watch a race on but judging by some of the
commentary on ITV4 my mirrors must be better than Sherwen’s and Liggett’s monitors.

Things didn’t get off to a great start. One third of the way round the second lap I came
across Gary fiddling with his bike. He had clearly had a problem within the first 2
miles. He jumped back on his bike and re-joined the race as I passed him and radioed
his number through to the commissar. Maybe he thought he could argue that it was just
a long criterium and after some discussions with the motorbike outriders he carried on in
the bunch.

Four laps later and I saw Richard sitting on the grass near the finish line so by now
things were looking less rosy for the chances of a home victory. All hopes were
now resting on Darren but reports from John Hadfield were that Darren was flying.

The second race was lively right from the start. As soon as I’d turned the first corner
and left the neutralised sections the attacks started. First 2 then 4 riders got a break and I
could see the whole bunch lined out whenever we got on a straight.

All the early attacks came to nothing, including one that looked like Darren, jumping
away on his own with the whole bunch chasing him back. Numerous attacks continued,
all neutralised until a group of four got away with about 5 laps to go. These 4 were
working well, I could see them chaining in the mirrors but looking round on the corners I
could see there were no Rutland riders in it. Their lead stretched out over the next 2 laps
and with three and a half laps to go and the bunch out of sight I thought that this was the
race winning move.

With just over 3 laps to go I was relieved to see the headlamps of the second motorbike
on the back straight and as the leaders climbed the hill before the finish the bunch were
making headway.

Two and a half laps to go and it was gruppo compatto. Driving through Harworth was
getting a bit hairy by now. The roads were getting busier and I’d already been stuck
behind some half asleep driver who couldn’t make his mind up whether to turn into
the co-op or not and who almost took the break out after they passed me on the inside.
So, I was well in front coming through the village and couldn’t see much of what was
happening behind me. As I approached the bottom corner I could see 3 riders making a
very determined break and as they started the climb up to the conveyor I could see that
one of them was Rutland’s Darren, low down on the bars and with that slow roll of the

shoulders that I usually only see from the very back of the Tuesday chaingang. They
totally hammered it up the incline and I could see they were opening a gap. By now there
were tired legs in the bunch and the chase was looking determined but disorganised and
ineffectual. Up the hill towards the bell and they had about 40 tick tocks of my hazard
lights.

Coming through Harworth for the last time I could see a green bus ahead and as I
approached it pulled out in front of two other cars. Merde, now down to about fifteen
miles an hour and the break approaching fast. With hazards and orange roof light
flashing I got to a few feet of the bumper in front hoping that the drivers would see the
sign saying ‘Cycle Race Approaching’ and not be Top Gear fans. One car pulled off into
the co-op, only a very slow bus and a car to go.

The marshals controlling the roundabout helped the bus get through and away but the
car was going nowhere so I swung across to the right and saw 3 riders flash through
on my inside. Car out of the way and I roared off after the break (if it’s possible to do
much roaring in my 8 year old Skoda) winding down the window to give them a shout of
encouragement. By now I was really enjoying this, best seat in the house for the whole
race and with 5 miles to go we have a serious chance of winning. But who are these
other guys and can either of them sprint. It’s a 2,3,4 race so there must be some pretty
handy riders in it. How will Darren’s 40+ year old fast twitch muscles fare at the top of
the hill for the last time?

Along the back straight and one of the other riders tries an attack on a short incline.
Nothing doing and there is only one chaser miles back with the bunch even further
behind so they can take it a bit easy before the finish. Up the hill for the last time and I
put plenty of road between mysef and the riders so had no idea if anyone had attacked on
the climb. Through the finish line and I can see Ray parked up in the middle of the road
100 yards beyond the finish ensuring a safe sprint for the line. But where the hell am I
supposed to go. Spotted a little road to the right, swung the car round, dumped it in the
middle of the road, nipped back onto the main road just in time to see Darren winning
race 2 for the Rutland by two bike lengths.

Tumby’s Road Race (Race 2) slow mo finish cam

Well done!!!

Tumby would be well pleased to see a Rutland rider once again winning a race held in his
honour and a Rutland victory makes a very fine memorial.

What happened in race 1, no idea ask Marc and Danny

Thanks to Steve and Louise for a great day out and a fantastic race.

Steve has again been kind enough to give up his time and organise the Rutland Tumby’s memorial road race at the Harworth circuit near Worksop this Sunday 8th August. This is a great event and is massively popular on the calendar, this year Steve had received that many entries that he has been able to split the field into two and run two separate races around the course. They are both run at the same time but with a time gap imbetween the two fields.

Steve could do with some help from you lot to help put this event on and honour the memory of true Ruttler Tumby. So why not get yourself out there watch a bit of racing (with two races running at the same time it should be pretty entertaining with riders coming through thick and fast !!!) and do your bit for Rutland and for road racing in our area. Anyone who could give some time up on Sunday please contact Steve asap on stelouellis@sky.com or 07843935180. Steve has just heard that he has lost 3 motorbikes he could do with some people willing to drive cars also. He did say that the car drivers would have to be BCF members but I’m not sure if we can’t day member people so contact Steve asap if you are available. You would be required from a 10 – 10:30 on Sunday.

Firstly what is the Duo Normand ? Well it’s a two up team trial based around the Northern French town of Marigny which is a short drive from the nearest ferry port. The course is a 54km course which for the early part is flat but has a real sting it’s tail with a number of drags in the last 20km. The roads are totally closed for the whole day with hundreds of teams of two riders going off at minute intervals.

I rode the race last year with one of my Jersey cycling club mates and I’d have no hesitation in saying that it was easily the best race I did all year. The fact that you are racing on closed roads with a following car and crowds and lining up against some top pros really does make it an experience that every cyclist should experience. For me the ulitmate was hearing the time count down…cinq,quatre,trois, deux,une go!!!…was a dream come true…close your eyes and you could literally be in the tour de france…

Anyway the race is on 19th September and we are trying to get some Rutland riders together to form some teams. So if you fancy it, write a comment on this post or send an email to me info@rutland.cc and we will sort out shared transport etc.

Up to now Pete Goodfellow, Danny Lowthorpe, Nick Latimer and Tom Bailey are going. So come on join in the fun and end your road season in style with a trip to France !!!

Don’t just take my word for what a good trip it is, read this article on Bikeradar and also browse on the event website (warning poor translation in force).

After a winning start to the season…our resident tri-athelete Pete has racked up some more phenomenal results this season…here are a couple of reports from his latest exploits…Go Pete !!! (I want to be you )…

Date: 13th June 2010
Event: National Middle Distance Triathlon Champs
Place: Bala, Wales

Well the clue is in the venue isn’t it??? This was never going to be a flat course. A midge bitten night lying on the floor in a tent while England lost at football was a poor omen. However the day began well with us old fellows (40+) off in the last wave of the day and with all the rest of the field to catch. A fair swim brought me out of the water about 7th. The bike was a tough ride through the Welsh mountains including 1000m of climbing over the 54 miles, during which I took it with a little in reserve as the run was no easier, and came to the run in 4th, but managed a respectable 1:22 half marathon to gain 2 more places and pick up the vets silver in the national champs.

Date: Sun 4th July
Event: European Triathlon Championships
Place: Athlone, Eire

Representing GB for the 40-45’s was quite an experience, there was a distinct lack of soft competitors to beat! The swim wave of 100 or so from all over Europe was a bit of a frantic experience in a river, from which I exited in about 10th place. The wind and rain was probably better for us cyclists, but still not pleasant. I managed to turn in a 56 minute 25miles to climb up to 4th after the bike, but try as I might I couldn’t catch the damn German fellow in front of me who picked up the bronze, so I missed out on a medal. Very happy with 4th, but just one place better and a medal would have been nice!