Tour of Wessex report

[Andrew G]

Fantastic set of rides and great report Sylv. Albert's tower is a killer with that 25% bit at the top, Cheddar Gorge is stunning though (if you get a sunny day).

Forget how strong this other bloke was it sounds like there weren't many who could hold a candle to you .

Sportives aren't races for numerous reasons not limited to but including insurance, risk assessments, policing, medical support, etc, etc, etc.

[Rogan]

Great to read reports like this Sylve - and fingers crossed for what could be an incredible win! I look forward to hearing how the others got on...

[nick de meyer]

i coached werner last year, very strong cyclist, and more of a mtb'er, couldn't stop him training less than 20-25+ hours a week, every week and he didn't like taking days off at all! he did lots of multi stage mtb events, including ironbike, the BC bike race, one in poland and other 5-8 day mtb stage races!!! seems like he's back on form!

[Paul H]

Day 1

We had a plan to go hard from the start with short turns at the front for the 1st hour which worked quite well as we managed to hoover up a number of strong riders who set off before us forming a nice strong group. Unfortunately George thought a short turn was 15 mins at the front and Sylv said he got "blocked" in until Cheddar Gorge - George would pay for this and Sylv made the rest of us pay later.

The blistering pace Sylv set up Cheddar shredded the group and we had to slow down to regroup before the top with Sylv now well clear up the road. Darren and George were toast at this point and it was clear to me they were not going to have a good day. To my surprise, Stu was still with us and looking strong. Matt and Richard were both going well at this point.

As we set off after Matt's puncture, we got caught by a strong group and worked with them until a set of Hills when Sylv did his thing again splitting the group leaving just Sylv, me and 2 other riders. We were then caught by Stu on his own telling me that there is no way I am going to drop him today. He said this just before King Alfreds Tower and promptly got dropped. I only had a 39x25 and really struggled up this hill and Sylv was about 30secs clear at the top with another rider and I was on my own. I tried, but there was no way I could catch them so I waited for the next rider and we worked together for about 30mins and were then caught by a group containing Stu and Matt. I stayed with this group to the end. I was aware that I was on target to get a Gold medal time which is not easy at the Tour of Wessex so I managed to persuade the group not to stop at the feed station to make sure I got the cut which we did. We couldnt catch Sylv which was pretty impressive considering the conditions. Stu came across the line 12secs later after getting dropped on the last hill ½ mile before the finish which he was a bit gutted about. I think my time was 5:23 and 225 watts.

Day 2

Im bored of writing now. Same plan as Day 1 - hoover time (Sylv didnt get blocked this time). A big group was formed, Sylv blew it apart up the Hills, Werner Van Der Merwe dragged it all back together and then it went mad at Purbecks (see vid)

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEGVdADRDM8&feature=share[/url]

by the time we got to the top, there was only 5 of us (Sylv, Matt, Marcus Brueton, Werner & Me). I was toast at this point but Matt and Sylv were still very strong. I had to let the other 4 do a thru and off on their own and I sat in for the next 20 mins. We got to the half way feed station, had a quick stop and then we all worked together for the next 60 miles with a few others until the end with Werner doing the majority of the work. It was a horrible relentless day but I managed a gold time again. 5:47 and 209 watts.

Day 3

Well I only managed 2 days unfortunately. I have a number of excuses - sore knee, painful back, it was raining, it was my boys birthday etc.

Respect to Sylv for finishing and coming 1st.

When the times come out, I was probably the 2nd fastest ACCer but I would rank the top 4 in the following order

1st Sylv
2nd Matt
3rd Hone
4th Stu

[Jon H]

Day 1

Set off with The A Team, and stuck with the group until the first drag at about 2 miles in. Saw the speed they were hammering up it at, and decided that going into the red at that point would be a bad idea. Backed off and settled into a more sedately paced group. That split up at Cheddar Gorge, and I spent the rest of the ride on my own or in small groups here and there. Went through a bad patch between 60-80 miles, but thankfully recovered after the last feed station and was feeling good for the last 20 miles into the headwind. Came in shortly after George and Peachey.

Day 2

Set off with Darren and stayed together all the way round. We were in a foursome when he decided an early comfort break was called for. He caught back up on the back of a decent sized group which I joined too. This split up on the Cern Abbas climb, but Darren did a monster effort after the descent to bridge to another group. Bad patch came before the middle feed station, which I thought was going to be a lot sooner so I'd finished my drinks and food (they'd moved it since I did the ride 3 years ago). As we pulled into the feed station Richard & Stu were just leaving, so they hung around for us and joined our group. Stu unshipped his chain at one point but got back on. Later I saw Richard & Darren pull over; I assumed one of them had punctured so I stopped too, but it was a comfort break so I joined them for some team peeing. We did a while as a threesome then in a small group. Another group came past and I bridged across taking Darren with me and unintentionally dropping Richard. Stuck with that group all the way back.

Day 3

Saw the weather, packed up and went home. Bit frustrating to arrive home in glorious sunshine.

[matt chapman]

As the others said it was a savage two days in the saddle and only being a fair weather cyclist I didn't opt for the final day of torture!

Being slightly competitive I was finding it hard to get my head around a sportive and people kept on telling me that it is not a race. How wrong were they! As soon as we set off each morning Paul would put the hammer down and that pretty much set the tone for the rest of the day. Through and off on the flats to maintain the pace and then hit the hills hard to try and drop people.

Gutted to have missed the final day but it is not long now until the National Triathlon Championships so did not want to waste valuable training time trying to recover from a miserable days riding in the rain.

It was an awesome weekend and well done to everyone that rode........ same again next year?!!!

Matt

[quote="nick de meyer"]i coached werner last year

[nick de meyer]

werner was using a tacx turbo power meter i'll try and find out what his threshold power was last year, and vo2, if he has lost the weight he needed to last year he would b v fast!

[Robh]

Nick will you be seeking Werner's permission first before do you disclose his data?

[Sylv]

I was gonna say that - no need to put it up on here.

[quote="Antloony"]Palace tonight is it Sylv?

[Sylv]

Ha ha, well there you go, I am only 3rd time overall, there were a few people faster on day 1, and am 12'30 down on 1st (which is incidentally about the time lost when waiting for puncture / missed turn ; ) ). It was not a race anyway : )

[stamourp]

Very enjoyable write up. It sounds immense.

Anyone who rides La Ruta de los Conquistadores is either a pro or unhinged.

[nick de meyer]

thanks for the top tip there robh of course not, have u been racing much this year? any TT's or road racing or track racing, or crits at palace? best place to get the best power data is in a race don't u think.....?

[Robh]

Why do you want to know about my personal life? I just asked a straight forward question.

The graphs I posted in the training section 2 years back I asked people's permission first when I was testing. So I presumed as you are a qualified coach and do it for a living you would not share such data unless persmission was given.

Back to the subject ncie report and pcitures Sylv.

[Sylv]

[quote="Robh"]Back to the subject