Llewellyn writes … September and we’re in the last full month of the season.
Llewellyn Kinch: Full-Time Cyclist for Terra Footwear – Bicycle Line
Admittedly, the final kermis race isn’t until mid October but anyone who’s raced all year should by rights be well on the way to doubling their alcohol tolerance and body fat percentage by then! Riders have been cracking every other day over the last week or so. Those who are still here are now to be found at the pub more regularly than at a race and doing a training ride that doesn’t include at least one coffee stop is considered an outrage.
With only a few weeks left the temptation is to race as much as possible to try and get that one last win. The problem is that after 6 months of racing flat out – including eight stage races – my body just can’t recover as quickly. If I don’t take enough time off between races my legs feel dead from start to finish. As I can still get into the breakaway and finish top 10 with bad legs there is a danger of thinking I messed up tactically rather than accepting I just didn’t have the power at the end.
I have, however, been feeling good in the last couple of races. At Izegem pro Kermis I got into the break and, as the only rider there on an amateur team, was casually swapping turns with the pros. Including Sep Vanmarcke(Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda) and Robert Wagner(Radioshack-Nissan). Unfortunately, we were caught with about 20km to go and my legs were finished as I rolled home in the bunch gallop that ensued. Now I have to try and hold form for a couple more weeks and secure another win before the season’s out.
Outside of racing I have, along with the other riders, been at the pub a bit more than usual. I guess the end of the season is a bit like the Friday afternoon of a working week. The weekend’s so close you can taste it and it’s hard not to relax a bit already. I need to get my alcohol tolerance up a bit before I go home anyway; otherwise even my sister will be able to put me under the table!
Unfortunately it was working on this theory that I woke up on Sunday morning with a sore jaw, cut chin and chipped tooth. To be explained by a vague memory involving sausages, a damp grassy slope and a rather more solid tarmac car park at the bottom of it. This occurred in front of a large crowd of people but, as was kindly pointed out to me, it was later on in the night anyway so I didn’t have much dignity left to lose!
Obviously I’m looking forward to having some time off the bike when the season does finally end. What might seem strange to some, especially if not a cyclist yourself, is that actually I’m also looking forward to hard five hour rides in the cold and cruel British winter. Perhaps, because it’s so long since I was last doing it, I remember the crisp, dry mornings with the sun glinting off the frost, rather than the grey, wet ones when I’m soaked through before I’m ten minutes in. Either way there’s nothing better than the post-refuelling recovery snooze on the sofa, with the days training already done and dusted.
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Former Winners: Lincoln Grand Prix
- Chris Lawless Joins Saint Piran Team
- Youth Result: Milton Keynes Youth Development Races
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU Sporting 21
- TT Result: Manchester & District TTA 10m TT
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 10m TT
- TT Result: Knockhill Mountain Time Trial
- Youth Result: Lawford Youth Series
- TT Result: Bristol South CC Hardriders
- TT Result: Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club TT
- Paracycling Track Worlds Day 4
- Para CyclingWorlds Final Day
- Startlist: National Youth Circuit Series Rd 1
- TT Result: Orwell Velo 15m TT
- TT Result: Hull Thursday RC Hard Riders 2Up
- TT Result: VC Sevale 10m TT
- TT Result: Maldon & District CC Hilly 22m TT
- Youth Result: SCC Youth Races
- Youth Result: ERC Ben Forsyth CRY Youth Race Day
- Report/Result: Azets Spring Classic
- Track Result: Manchester Regional Track League
- Startlists: RCR Fat Creations Road Races
- Crit Result: Not the Portsmouth Easter Circuits
- Crit Result: March Hare Classic
- Crit Result: Haus RT – Darley Moor #3
- Crit Results: Spring MK Bowl Series #3
- Crit Result: No Nonsense Circuit Races 1
- Crit Result: Salt Ayre Spring Series #3
- RR Result: NCRA Handicap RR #3
- RR Result: Halesowen Academy Road Race
- RR Result: Primavera Pursuit Road Race
- Startlist: Capernwray Road Race (March 31)
- TT Result: VTTA Kent 8 mile TT
- TT Result: Kernow Racing Team TT
- TT Result: Banbury Star CC 21m TT
- TT Result: Velo Club St Raphael 16.5 TT
- TT Result: Port Talbot Whs 13m TT
- TT Result: Cleveland Whs Sporting 21.7m TT
- TT Result: Velotik RT 15m TT
- TT Result: Border City Whs Hilly 20.2m TT
Other News on VeloUK
- Former Winners: Lincoln Grand Prix
- Chris Lawless Joins Saint Piran Team
- Paracycling Track Worlds Day 4
- Para CyclingWorlds Final Day
- Startlist: National Youth Circuit Series Rd 1
- Report/Result: Azets Spring Classic
- Startlists: RCR Fat Creations Road Races
- Startlist: Capernwray Road Race (March 31)
- Team Report: Fensham Howes MAS Design Junior Team
- Team Report: CiCLE Classic Junior Men
- RIDER REPORTS – Zoe Parker (Solihull CC)
- GB News: Two World Titles for GB at Para Worlds
- Team News: Alba Development Road Team
- News: British Road Champs Return to NE
- THIS WEEKEND: Peaks Two Day is Back!
- News: Laura Kenny Retires
- Team News: Lee Valley Youth Cycling Team
- 2024/25 CYCLO-CROSS CALENDAR
- Startlist: Cardiff Ajax CC 10 Mile TT
- Startlists: 16th Gifford Road Races (Scotland)
- News: Ellingworth is new Tour of Britain Director
- Startlist: Circuit of Ingleborough TT
- STARTLIST: Evesham Vale Road Race 2024
- Mammoth fields for Women’s/Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics
- Saturday: Fusion Media Women’s Series Rd 1
- Saint Piran’s Global Women’s Project
- Ribble Rebellion: The Riders
- Team News: Ribble Rebellion Team Launch
- British Classics – 64th Wally Gimber Trophy
- Startlist: 62nd Eddie Soens
- Startlist: 10th Junior Men’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 8th Women’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 40th Jock Wadley Memorial RR
- Riders: Azets Spring Classic (March 24)
- Bike News: DJ Spoony’s Special & unique Ribble Ultra SL R
- GB Team News: Helen Scott now Men’s Sprint Podium Potential Coach
- Startlist: Royal Navy Cup 2024
- News: Halesowen Academy 2024
- Report: Day 3 British Track Championships
- New Women’s Series in the Midlands