Reading Cycling Club press report, week ending 11 July 2010

This week's roundup includes yet another club record in time-trials.

Gran Fondo Fausto Coppi
Greg Woodford rode the Italian Gran Fondo Fausto Coppi in the Dolomites
on a course based at Cuneo to the West of Turin. The route taken was 200
kms including 4500m of climbing, crossing two Alpine climbs over 2400m
in altitude. Woodford reports: "The event was extremely well organised,
the whole town closing itself to vehicles and turning out to watch.
Supporters cheered and helped handing out the much needed water.
Sportives in Italy are different to the UK with many roads closed to
traffic and the whole ride setting off together. A peloton of 2400
riders wheeling out of town all wearing the Fausto Coppi jersey is an
impressive sight. The event attracts semi-professional riders and teams,
the winner coming home in 6 hours 24 mins. I completed the event in 8
hours 25 mins, 337th and 27th in my age category, after losing 20 mins
for a puncture and with the second 22km climb doing immense damage to my
legs."

New 10-mile club record for English
Nick English set a personal best and club record 10-mile time in what
was probably the last ever event on the Thruxton course near Andover.
The turn roundabout is being remodelled to include traffic lights and
this will rule out continued use of the course. English said: "The
course went out in style with light winds and warm temperatures
promising good times. The event was won by Mark Jones from Oxford, his
first open win which I think surprised him. He has done a fair bit of
work optimising his position and consequently managed 19:16 off just
305W of power. I placed 4th overall recording 19:28 for a new PB and
club record. I didn't feel great , but my power output was on a par with
some recent good rides. I have my eye on getting below 19 minutes but I
will need some aero upgrades, a bit more power and a fast day on a good
course to challenge for that."

VTTA National 100 TT Championship
Barry Quick travelled to Cranage in Cheshire for the VTTA National 100
TT Championship organised by the Manchester and District Time Trialling
Association. It was held on the J4/18-100 course based around Holmes
Chapel. Quick says: "I entered this event in the hope of getting a
reasonable time for this year's BAR. Whilst the temperature was a
pleasant 20 C there was a strong Southerly wind which slowed everyone.
The course was certainly of the "sporting" variety with plenty of drags
and the local hilly road race course as the finishing circuit, it
certainly finished my hopes of a fast time! Although I managed to
improve my time from last year and also won the Handicap award I was
disappointed not to get under 5hrs and recorded a very modest 5:04:49.
The VTTA Championship was won by Brian Sunter of Condor RC with a time
of 4h 25m 50s and a plus of 1hr 33m 37s, not bad for a 67 year old. The
scratch event was won by over 10 minutes by Alf Hilton of Congleton CC
who was the only rider under 4 hrs with 3:56:15 which gives some idea of
how difficult it was."

Photo caption: Barry Quick won the handicap award in the VTTA National
100-mile Time Trial Championship

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Road and Circuit Racing
Reading CC's prolific veteran road racer Wayne Thomas as hit a series of
highs and lows over the past four weeks. Having achieved a fourth age
related win in the Wednesday night LVRC series at Hillingdon to take a
commanding lead, the following day, whilst out training, he suffered a
major pot hole induced crash on the descent from Peppard Common
resulting in severe grazes and bruising on his left side. Twelve days
off the bike were followed by a 45 minute turbo trainer session and the
determined Thomas was at Hlilingdon again defending his overall lead in
the LVRC series gaining his fifth age related win. With more points than
any other rider Thomas is also now "King of Hillingdon" in the LVR
series. Unfortunately last Tuesday
Thomas was the victim in a race crash at Hillingdon and apart from
re-opening just healed wounds, he now has a fractured collar bone, which
will keep out of action for a few weeks.

Anthony Maynard Sportive
This Sunday the club promotes the second Anthony Maynard sportive. There
are two events: One of 110km and 1350 metres of ascent, and the other of
195km and 2450 metres of ascent. The HQ is again Theale Green school.
Entry on the line is possible. The Sportive is being promoted in the
memory of Anthony Maynard, who was killed, while cycling, in a road
traffic accident near Henley on Thames in July 2008. It is a
not-for-profit venture, with proceeds going to relevant charities.

Roderick MacFadyen
Reading Cycling Club