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End of Season – that time of year.

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

So it’s that time of year again. The bike has been given back, the rest period is in full swing and suddenly I have free weekends. The end of my second year of racing has finished and it’s time to a) look back at my season and b) look forward to the next one!!

So I’ll start with looking back of course. September has been a suprisingly busy time of year for me. Having had a fantastic Junior Tour of Wales, report here, Jamie and I went over to Belgium the next weekend. I had a quick hill climb, (beaten by 0.5 seconds into 2nd place by good friend Scott Morley) then travelled down to Warrington to stay the night with Peter Kay again and make the long trip back to Belgium to ride 2 kermesses. Getting to Belgium was very memorable, we had some major car problems, but struggled through and managed to get there. We arrived Friday and stayed in a hotel/hostel recommended to us by the Hot Tubes Managers and was an amazing horse place in Waragem where there are some big horse races.

So our first Kermesse was Waragem and frankly couldn’t have gone much better. Neither me nor Jamie did much in the first hour, learning from last time that in these time crit like races that the race is won in the second hour, but made sure we were at the front in case any large groups moved away. We both did this very well. Nothing was getting clear, but riders were starting to crack on the drag causing splits so we had to make sure we were near the front. The course was a typical belgium kermesse, small raods, through a couple of farms, finishing in a small village with a 20m section of cobbles followed by rough tarmac with the rest of the circuit the concrete slabs, except the drag which was a main road. I enjoyed this circuit, I would have preferred a longer and harder climb but you race what your given. Anyway, Jamie smashed it in the last 15 mins going away with one other rider and kept his cool to take the win. He went at the right and with the right person. I saw him go away and had to stop myself from chasing as I knew that was the move, and so tried to follow any moves going but missed them all!! Tiredness and knowing I wouldn’t win my excuse, plus didn’t realise just how many actually got away. Still went for the sprint but cramped up getting about 6th in the sprint for 21st I think.

The second day was in a place called Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver and a dead flat, smooth (by belgium standards) circuit in and out of the town. Not suitable to me at all. The good thing about the circuit was that it was very easy to sit in. Just under 80 took to the start which meant lots of wheels to follow and we noticed that there were a few riders from some of the larger feeder teams there so some decent competition. Being dead flat I again tried to sit in and see what the circuit was like and learn. I got bored of this and went off the front once, brought back quickly but it wasn’t a hard effort, just testing the legs. The next time the peleton eased up there were 2 riders dangling off the front and thought I’d chase them down see what would happen. WELL, we formed a 3 man break, at lap 16 (of 18)  which grew to 5 men at lap 13 and stayed like this till lap 5 roughly. I got my legs completely ripped off not used to the speed of fast circuit and really suffering with riding so hard for so long. we eventually got caught and then in was an inevitable sprint finish. I didn’t think I would do anything in this having been in the break, but gave it a half hearted attempt and ended up getting 11th which I was very chuffed with. With more practice I could definitely improve, there are just so few bunch sprints in the UK.

So while the car was being fixed for a couple of days Jamie and I spent one day riding around the area, visiting Oudenarde again, and just chilling out. Just enjoying the bike and Belgium. It was awesome and we found some awesome roads and a mega cobbled section, where we saw a bride and groom, again, congratulations.

After Belgium I had 2 road races left, and 1 hill climb. The hill climb was first, Jubilee Tower and goes up the opposite side of the valley of the previous week. I was dertermined to beat Scott as it suited me a bit more, being longer. Safe to say I tried. Having not eaten 3-4 hrs before teh event, I still managed to throw up and I think this then made me ill, just in time for my penultimate road race. Was it worth it? Well I beat Scott by a good 20 seconds and won the joint times of the two climbs, but was second again. This time beaten by the mountain goat that is Jonny Knox, a bloody team mate!!!

So I was then ill for a week, made worse by the dreaded Pimbo. A dead flat, windy, industrial circuit with no corners of interest. Safe to say I didn’t go well. I was in the laughing group, but got 3rd in the sprint!!! Moving on quickly….

The following Sunday was the Herbalife GP. A new fixture on the calender put on by our team managers to prolong our seasons. It was on the Capernwray course, a tough hilly circuit local to me. Only 19 turned up for 6 tough tough laps in monsoon conditions. I attacked first, got a 40second gap, was then followed by Jamie. We were then joined by Matt Cronshaw and Ashley Finn (my club mates, brrrrap) and rode a steady tempo. I didn’t last long though as my legs felt crap; I could feel a season in them!! I got dropped with 3 to go, caught by the remaining peleton, dropped again and came home in 10th!! Pretty happy with that, really enjoyed the race despite the weather and riding most of it on my own. Definitely a good way to end the season!!

1st lap of Herbalife GP on my own!

In the break with Matt Cronshaw, Jamie Shirlaw, me, Ashley Finn. It was very wet.

So that is end of my racing. What have I done since?? Went to watch the CycloX 3pks at Ingleton watching out for my many club mates, team mates and physio (thebodyrehab). Wheelbase pretty much won everything at the race so it was a good day. But today I had to go up to Staveley to hand in my race bike. With bikes having its last wash it was time to say goodbye. A brilliant bike and couldn’t have asked for more. I’ve had no problems with it and it has kept me up there with some of the best riders in the country. A great companion for the season.

So now its back to the training bike (after some partying (brrrrap) and rest/work) and getting ready for the next season which I am already excited about.  Hopefully it will be a big one.

Thank you to all the sponsors, everything you’ve given makes our lives as riders easier and more enjoyable and about the bike rather than worry about things like kit. But a special thanks to the lads at Wheelbase, especially their mechanics having to deal with my stupid questions!! Also Graham and Roxy for providing fantastic treatment right through the season and being that extra support needed, thanks. Thanks to the management for putting it all together and finally to my team mates, we’ve had a good year.

So stick with me through the winter, it’s been emotional. http://twitter.com/#!/jwdunlop

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Junior Tour of Wales

Saturday, September 4th, 2010

Junior Tour of Wales

Day One

Stage 1 – Simply a prologue, mainly uphill with a middle sector where you spin out on your junior gears. First section is uphill, this then moves into the rolling section finished off by an 11% climb up to the summit of the Tumble. Everyone’s ride is the same, your own world of pain. It is the worst I’ve felt after a time trial. We finished in 19th, 20th, 21st and me 44th.

Stage 2 – The first road stage. Mainly flat with a few lumps in finished off by a massive hill finish. Break of 6 hit the climb first with a minor advantage follow by the peloton. In fact on the bend at the bottom of the climb the peloton split with all the main contenders getting a small gap, but due to the toughness of the climb to hard to bridge. Jonny got in this select group with me and Jamie at the front of the peloton. I set tempo up this just riding up it at my own pace. Luckily this dropped most the peloton, but did mean that I towed a few riders up but then I was riding for a good GC. Jamie was just behind me and Jonny right up there.

Day Two

Stage 3 – The hardest stage of the race in my opinion. All can be lost, not necessarily gained, and the weather is always rubbish!! It went straight from the gun, I missed the front group by about 5meters but never committed thinking it would come back on its own. It never did so I ended up in a second chase group but got dropped from that and ended in the 3rd group. Jonny was in this group with me and so I rode on the front to keep the speed respectable and to stop others gaining too much time and our GCs. Jamie did an awesome ride to get into the first group and got a top results of 4th with Dan Mcclay getting the win. Jamie beat some top riders that day and flew up on GC. Unfortunately, Laurie sustained a knee injury on the first day, and despite icing, he could not finish the stage and so retired.

Stage 4 – Typically the easiest stage of the race, flat carriageways with a power finish climb. It was not easy. Small group got away before a small climb, which Jamie was in then all the GC riders smashed it up the climb and over the top resulting in the peloton splitting. I just missed it, but only just, realised it was going and so bridged across on my own. In addition, a few riders then made it across after this, but all the favourites but a few top 20 riders having missed it meant there was time to gain. Jamie did another storming ride getting into the front group again while Jonny and I were in the 3rd group which merged into the 2nd group. I finished 1tth, Jonny 9th and Jamie another outstanding 3rd. Dan Mcclay got away with Tom Moses with loads of the main GC riders blowing, Jamie smashed it up the climb to grab himself 3rd. A podium!! A very good day.

Day Three

Stage 5 – The Queen stage. This is known as the hardest stage due to its length and the fact you finish going up Tumble Mountain, the opposite way to the prologue. The stage is very rolling passing over some high moorland that has some spectacular scenery but mainly descends from the beginning until you the reach the bottom of the Tumble, which has average gradient of 8%, and at its steepest 11%, roughly 5 km long. It’s a brute!!

Anyway, the neutral flag went down and it didn’t look like much was going to happen so I was going to attack, but just as I was going to Paul Young (Glendene) whose wheel I was on attacked so I followed him. We then ended up in a 2 up break. I did start to panic at this point as 98km is a long way in a 2 up break. But luckily after about 5km we were joined by a group 8, then another group of 8, to make a total of a 18 man break!! Brilliant times, no GC riders were here, I think there were 4 riders in the top 20; me, Paul Young, Josh Cole and Chris Sherriffs. So this break was allowed to gain 3mins!! Due it being such a large group, it was very easy to ride in with everyone doing a turn. There were a few guys sitting on but the break worked well. Due to the race being the last stage it was pretty slow, which allowed Josh Edmonson to bridge to our group which was pretty spectacular. Problem with this was everyone panicked and stopped going through. This meant it took a lot of work to get people working.

Over the moorland the group was quite strung out, and I had moved to back to stop myself from doing too much work and force others to work, but on a short decent a couple of sheep decided to jump out in front of us. It missed the roughly the first 3 or 4, hit the next 3 and then everyone was able to avoid them. Due to me being at the back I saw the sheep run into group, shouted ‘SHEEEEEEEEEP’ then didn’t see much until closer and saw bikes somersaulting and found my way through the carnage. I believe one rider suffered a broken collarbone, and/or maybe a broken arm. Either way, hurt pretty bad, I hope you make a speedy recovery!

Back the to the race, 3 riders nipped off the front on the moorland after the crash and with few people working I worked hard to make sure that they were brought back before the really long decent. Then we hit the rolling carriageways that takes us to the dreaded Tumble. With a couple of largish lumps the groups stayed together with only one rider, of large composition, getting tailed off.

On one of the smaller descents after a small climb the group split a little bit with Edmonson at the front forcing it and got a decent gap with another rider. No one worked and meant it stayed away, and with the knowledge that Jamie was bridging over with one other rider I sat on. He joined just as the gap formed. After this I waited to see if anyone else would take up the chase like Glendene (who had two riders in the break), but they didn’t.

5 minutes later with the two still in sight it suddenly occurred to me that with Jamie in the break, and the peloton 3mins behind he was technically in yellow on the road. Suddenly the game changed. I went straight to the front to try and 1. Chase Edmonson but 2. Mainly keep the advantage on the Tumble to give Jamie as much chance for GC hopes. I kept trying to work, but due to cars getting in the convoy and no one really coming through or sitting on my wheel I rode off the front a couple times. It meant it was very stop start and didn’t bode well.

Leading up to the Tumble Edmonson had 1.20 advantage and we had no idea on the peloton. I now hear that Wallis and Hargroves were working on the front to bring back the time. So effectively it was me against Wallis!! And with our group not doing helping matters they probably got it.

Going through the estate at the bottom of the Tumble, I tried to set tempo and do what I did on stage 2 and try and tow Jamie up and stop too many attacks coming. I got to the first bend on the front the Simon Yates suddenly came through and I had no answer. So the group split. Jamie on Yate’s wheel. This is where every rider hit his own world of pain, forcing the pedals, with cramp/tiredness/hunger/in need of sleep ect… really taking their tole, there is no other purgatory on a bike I have met yet. I was no exception, feeling the start of cramp and tired legs from riding for Jamie meant I lost a lot of time, pushing me back on GC instead of upwards like I had hoped. As there were climbers there who I know I can beat but were up the road due them having an easier ride to the Tumble.

Jamie hung onto Yate’s wheel as long as he could, but with him not being a natural climber it took its tole. The GC riders had smashed it out of the peloton and flew past me and then most came past Jamie. Resulting in Jamie moving down to 7th on GC, me down to 20th on GC. Jonny had another superb ride and also shot out of the peloton and held onto his 11th on GC.

The last stage was a true battle, but considering we were a man down we gave it everything. We came away with a really high place on GC, 2nd team overall and a new confidence. Shame it was the last junior series!!

Thanks must first and foremost Peter Kay for sorting it all out, but to parents for being financial backers along with the team and sponsors for their encouragement and backing. Without the team, we wouldn’t have had half the opportunities nor confidence to fight on the level we did. Also a special thanks to Angus Knox for helping on the first day and taking some kit back so we had a more room coming back from Wales. But anyone I’ve missed, sorry, but thank you! (oh and Ian, thanks for checking my punctuation/grammar/and making sense of this in advance!!)

p.s. Jamie and I are off to Belgium this weekend, so hopefully I’ll have something to write about then!! Oh and sorry for no photos, but there are loads here: http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/road/article/roa20100829-2010-RIS-Junior-Tour-of-Wales-0

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Junior Tour of Ireland

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

The junior team plus a guest rider of Jamie Shirlaw rode the Junior Tour of Ireland, below are the diary blogs I wrote on www.talesfromthegreenroom.co.uk

Stage 1 & 2

Prologue Laurie and Jonny got 5th and 6th and me in 22nd.

Then today Laurie and Jonny got into the front group in an epic stage, strong winds and heavy rain showers but got worked over from the American Team Hot Tubes who are really strong and had 3 in the group. 1st, 2nd and 4th is what they got putting them firmly in the lead for team comp but I think we managed 2nd. Jonny came in 5th, Laurie 12th with me coming in 14th 3 mins down in the next group on the road. Brutal day, so so so hard, block headwind, the suffering eased on the climbs which is a bad sign.

GC: Jonny 5th @2′03″

Laurie 6th @2′06″

15th @3′04″.

Jonny is second in young riders jersey @02″. Jamie came in finished in the bunch, just missing my group because his chain slipped. Ah well.

Jonny and Laurie in the front group and stage 2, with the eventual overall leader.

Jonny and Laurie in the front group and stage 2, with the eventual overall leader.

Everyone is feeling good and Laurie is probably the strongest climber here so it’s still all to play for. Anyway, putting my feet up, speak to you laterz!!

Stage 3

The plan was for me and Jamie to cover the early move, Jamie did the first one, this got brought back and I got the next. That stuck so for the next 90km I was in the break. Laurie did a mahusive attack out of the peloton bridging the 1′45″ gap between the break, no one could close it down, or stay on his wheel. Awesome!

Me in the break, the longest break I've been in, 90km. Ouch!!

Me in the break, the longest break I've been in, 90km. Ouch!!

After this I started to really suffer and got dropped, then managed to get back on briefly before the lights went out, then it was bye bye. I went back to the bunch and on the penultimate climb got distanced by the bunch and lost 3 or 4 mins. Laurie went on to get a really good 3rd, along with scooping the climbers jersey, and we are definitely 2nd on team GC, Laurie 4th @1′20″, Jonny 6th @ 2′07″.

Haha!! Laurie needing to work in the race face, but finishing 3rd so can't complain really!! Still funny.

Haha!! Laurie needing to work in the race face, but finishing 3rd so can't complain really!! Still funny.

Me and Jamie a bit out of it on GC now, but there’s still time. Jonny is 2nd on Young Riders @04″ so it’s looking good for at least 2 jerseys!! We’ll see….tomorrow is another day!!

Stage 4

Another tough day for me. Punctured just after the neutralised section. Unfortunately a slow wheel change as the chain would not stay on meant I lost a lot of time. 55km/hr behind the broom wagon over 20km got me back on just before the climb so I was able to get over that in the main group. Suffered a bit so had to sit on. Luckily Jamie was having a great day, getting in the early break and attacks.

Then as the road got faster and flatter the speed ramped up, I finally started to get some legs back. Attacked off the front after hitting a big pothole and got another puncture on the front!! This time the change was a lot faster so I got back without as much trouble, still tough though!!

Me on the second climb after getting back on after my first puncture.

Me on the second climb after getting back on after my first puncture.

Jamie was on fire so was able to keep the group together from some really strong Americans as my legs had gone from all the motorpacing!!

We all avoided the crash, despite some riders intent on taking Laurie down. The bunch was very mental, but no one lost any time, and Jack Penrice who is staying in our chalet got 3rd and Jonny got 5th.

Laurie heavily marked from the Hot Tubes riders, trying to get away

Laurie heavily marked from the Hot Tubes riders, trying to get away

GC is similar to yesterday, but Laurie lost the KOM jersey, but wears it tomorrow as the Points leader in the leader of both jerseys. Till tomorrow!!! Oh, and check out www.irishcycling.com few photos there of me in the break and Laurie getting some good resutls!!

Stage 5 & 6

Stage 5 was disappointing for us. The strongest team there, Hot Tubes, rode a good race. Me and Jamie were to cover the early moves as usual with me following the first one, which stuck, but with 3 of us, quickly turning 2 it was not going to last. A massive headwind at the start meant the tired legs took a battering and really hurt for the rest of the stage. Hot tubes brought my break back pretty quickly with them sending a rider up the road straight away, but just one. We missed this, and eventually realised we had to bring it back as no other team did anything, Jamie went to the front on the tailwind section and smashed it, I really suffered here. Laurie also tried some really hard digs to get away but the yellow jersey was equal to it.

Jamie and I did some hard pulls chasing the Hot Tubes rider back but it wasn’t going to happen. This is where it got a bit bad for us. I went back to get some bottles, unfortunately what i thought was a quiet moment turned out to be a sudden surge on the crosswind hill, with 3 bottles and i was riding closing gaps as quickly as I could but it was splitting way too much. No way could I close the gaps. I chased as hard as I could, but the small group I was in was one of the last on the road so weak so there was a little chance. Really annoyed. I had the legs to stay in the front group I think. I struggle in the really flat windy races, but wind and hills I like, I can shelter and look after myself on the climb but it wasn’t to be.

Jonny stayed in the front group getting 5th on the stage. Really tough day, lots of bad luck. For me, good legs, but just never got to use them when I wanted! Ah well. Bike racing.

Jonny on his way to 4th on Stage 5

Jonny on his way to 4th on Stage 5

Last stage and Jamie and me covering the early move. Jamie thankfully got in it after bridging across at around 50km/hr, really fast first 25km, av. speed 45km/hr, which is hard work on junior gears. This left all of us to sit in and let the Hot Tubes team ride and defend their jerseys, the tried but their efforts of the week meant they never got the break back under 1′10″. Then the finish was a simply a cat 1 climb, that was about 2km long, but very steep in the middle. Jamie in the break finished 9th with the rest of us getting up as best we can.

Jamie in the break on the last stage

Jamie in the break on the last stage

Jonny finished 2nd on the young riders jersey, very close to taking it. Unfortunately losing time in the earlier stages meant we lost 2nd on team GC, dropping to 4th, but this does not represent what we did. We were the most active team along with the Hot Tubes team who have a much richer diet of racing than us, who were preparing for the worlds in a few weeks time.

This week has been tough for me mentally. Not really getting decent results with the legs that I have, even the prologue I feel I could have squeezed more out of. At the very least I really hope I get some good legs out of it and can get some top 10s consistently. I need just need the luck to turn on my side and I’ll be on fire!!!

Results, I got 22nd on the prologue, 14th on stage 1 and that was all I got unfortunately. Despite me having better legs than that. I think if everything had gone well, I would have got top 15 reasonably easily.

The Team with our SuperSix bikes. Me, Laurie, Jonny and Jamie.

The Team with our SuperSix bikes. Me, Laurie, Jonny and Jamie.

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