Tour de Ouest Varois - Best day ever!!!

Well almost. Apart from the wedding day and the birth of Elula and passing my driving test I think Saturday the 8th March was the best day of my life!

I raced down in Aix en Provence. A bigger event than usual, the Tour de Ouest Varois. Only 80km, undulating but not very hilly, but with 75 starters I knew that it would be fast.

I came 3rd last week in Cavaillon and I was in a break for over 30km with a chap from Arles called Bruno. Yesterday Bruno attacked after just 2.5km and I knew how strong he was so I thought what the hell and jumped on his wheel!
4 of us managed to create a small gap then the terrain changed to suit a good break building move. We soon got the bunch out of sight. After 40km there was a climb of 3km at a 5% gradient. I led our bunch over the top, feeling strong, and we went like the clappers for the next 20km. The last 10km was a false flat up-hill to the finish. We were still working well and the others still looked strong. I didn't fancy a sprint.
At about 5km to go I came from the back of the bunch as hard as I could and didn't look back for a few minutes. I had about 300m on them when I did look back. When I saw the 1km flag I knew I had it as I was about 400m in front. I had time to zip up and throw my arms in the air - absolutely delighted!!

Dream Bike?

I'm probably as close as I will ever get to my dream bike. A local chap with a graphic design studio has customised my Campag Bora decals. I quite like the results.

Another 2 months!

Well almost 2 months since the last post. What have we been up to?

The winter training is now well underway. Almost 7 kilos of weight loss and I'm now up to 125km rides feeling fresh. In another 2 weeks the dreaded intervals will kick in. First race on the 2nd March at Cavaillon. I came 2nd last year so who knows.

I've been snowboarding too! for the first time since the millenium at Aviemore. One day at a great resort called Orcieres near Gap and another day with fresh powder at Super Devoluy.

The other thing is snowshoeing or raquettes! Stomping arount to the summit of Mont Ventoux when there's a meter of snow where your bike usually goes is great fun and the views are fantastic.

I've also been experimenting with Moviemaker. Here's a couple of short vids. This ones a Cat 2 race in a village called Richerenches near Valreas.


This ones a small section from a video I did on a Club run with my club USC Vaison last summer.

We're back!

Well, two months since the last post. I still don't know how people find the time to update their blog everyday.
Anyway, November was spent back in the Uk. i had an eventful journey back on the Eurostar trying to avoid the French rail strikes.
We have spent the last few weeks getting the house ready for Christmas here.
The winter training has started - almost! It's club run day but this morning it is snowing heavily. The winter bike is ready - No mudguards! The lads in the club would laugh their socks off if I turned up with mudguards on. Cosmic Carbons are de rigeur over here on the winter bikes.

Maybe no bike today but possibly a snowboarding trip to Mont Serein this afternoon or tomorrow. Apparantely Alpe d'Huez has almost 2m of snow, the best start to December for years apparetly. Maybe have a drive up there.

The Rugby

What a night! I watched the Rugby on a big screen in the village. I was the only Rosbeef amongst 150 locals ( I did have a friend from Belfast who offered moral support)
150 at the start of the match, about half a dozen 5 minutes from the end.
I stood for the national anthem and they gave me a round of applause which was nice.

New tarmac on The Madelaine

Wahey! after years and years of waiting the 9km link road from just out side Malaucene, over The Madelaine to Bedoin now has a nice layer of blacktop.
Some of the lads yesterday had a slight problem getting past the machinery but it will be ready in a few days. Brilliant!

Now then is this in preperation for next years tour?

2008 summer update

Hello! As you can see this is the first post since June. There are a few reasons for this so here is an update.Well to say we have been busy is an understament! The race win seem like a million years ago and that was the end of my competitive season.

• 
  July 7th - La Marmotte, I didn't ride this year as we had a group of 12 up at The Alpe. Great success, everyone finished in times ranging from 8h20m to over 11 hours.
• 
  July 13th - Tom Simpson Memorial day on Mont Ventoux. A fantastic day. We helped decorate the memorial with flags for the ceremony. After a group ride up from Bedoin, Joanne (Tom's daughter) made a speech and thanked everyone for the help in raising the money for the new steps and making it a great happy day.
• 
  July 17th - A quiet week for Le Tour so me and a friend Peter drove to Briancon, cycled up the Lautaret to The Col du Galibier to watch the stage in perfect weather.
• 
  July 29th - took 6 members of Lancashire Road Club on a 200km jaunt through the Barronnies hills and got dropped on the last col (gutted!)
• 
  August! - Lots of friends and family here, hence too much red wine consumed.
• 
  September 8th and 9th - Gorge de la Nesque Time Trial and Les Routes du Ventoux Cyclosportive. Unfortunatley no trophies this year to put in the Veloventoux trophy cabinet.
• 
  September 15th -23rd - The Veloventoux Raid Alpine! 7 of us rode from Albertville to Nice via The Cormet de Roseland, Col de la Madelaine, Col de Telegraphe, Col du Galibier, Col d'Izoard (twice!) Col de Vars, Col de la Bonnette/ Restefond, Col de Cayolle, Col de Champs. Yes it's safe to say I'm knackered!
• 
  October 3rd - 4 members of my UK club Clayton Velo here for a wind down week.
  

So thats about it for now, hopefully I'll have some time to post now that the season is drawing to a close. By the way, the October weather here is awesome, 22 degrees today and not a cloud in the sky!!!!