junior tour of wales

[Stu Merckx Man]

So I did the junior tour of wales at the weekend for the south east England team, along with eric rowsell (who came 2nd over all !!), and 2 others called billy-jo and mike.

So the first stage was a 6 mile time trial up a mountain. I didn’t do very well in this, and I felt sluggish.

I got 14.59 which was enough for somewhere below halfway down the field. It was pretty tough and my average heart rate was 98%, for nearly 15 minutes! Ouch!



Stage 2- was a few hours after the time trial. It was 46 mile stage with a mountain top finish.
I felt good.
The pace was real hot though as the guys up front kept on attacking, (the lads up front also happen to be the best junior cyclists in the country) so that will give you some idea as to how fast it was.

It was crazy at some points. We would be going up a fairly sizeable hill and I would be in my biggest gear!

The last 10 miles I started to realise something was wrong. I could feel bubbles in my muscles, (the beginnings of cramp), and I continually got little cramps each time I put in an effort.

As we got to the bottom of the mountain, I got 50m up and then suddenly the most earth shattering cramp gripped my right leg. I had to stop so suddenly riders behind almost crashed into me. I was in so much agony because if I tried to relieve the cramp in my hamstring my quads would go, but I decided it was best to have it in the hamstrings). Then my other leg started to go, and then my chest muscles. Someone came to my aid and got to work on my legs with his knuckles, and then the ambulance stopped for me, and they all got to work on my legs too. After about 5 minutes it had subsided. I continued up the climb and still got the odd minor cramp. The peleton was well gone but I still caught a few riders also suffering with cramp.

I wondered why I had got such bad cramp. Then i realised I was incredibly dehydrated after drinking nothing but red bull in the morning and then not touching my bottles in the race. I drank about 3 litres of water after the race and still my pee was yellow!

So this cost me about 10 minutes on the GC and I was nearly last over all.


Stage 3- was on the Sunday morning and was an hours long crit, much like palace- up a hill down the other side.

I stayed with the bunch for about 5 laps ( 1 lap is 1 and ¼ miles).
But I knew it would not last. My legs were giving me grief from the cramps the day before and were always threatening to ping into spasms.

So after 5 laps I dropped off the back and joined a group of 40 riders (nearly half the peleton) that were also suffering.

This was a much better pace, about as hard as a 3/4 race at palace. Eventually though we got pulled out to let the main bunch get a good sprint…so im not sure where I came in this one.

Stage 4- was a few hours after the crit and was a 48 mile road race over some huge hills and a mountain in the middle of the race, and then 2 more huge hills, then the finish.

I was real worried about getting cramps again and my legs were still hurting from the cramps the day before.

However I was well prepared . I had drunk loads of water, eaten more and had some salt.

The race got under way and the pace was high again, my legs burnt with the effort up some hills but I was comfortably holding my place in the front 1/4 of the pack.

As we hit the climb to go over the mountain I slid back about 3 rows of people but then got into the effort. It went on and on and on and on and on!
Eventually we started going over some moor land, it got steeper, and the bunch split and 30 riders went off the front. Unfortunately the split was about 15 riders in front of me and no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t bridge the gap.

So I settled into my new group of about 30 riders (we were the 2nd main group, and I think there was another one of about 30 further behind us.

I felt good though and did some work up front, kept drinking , and kept eating so the cramp stayed away.

After some brilliant descending fun we got to the hill we had to do twice. Almost immediately people started going off the back and so our group was reduced a bit more, but I hung in there, only just though. Eventually we got to the top and then had a long duel carriage way section before doing the hill again, this was a welcome break.
But all to soon we hit the hill again and I was only just clinging on and I cramped slightly in my calf but not too bad.

Eventually we got to the top and eventually to the finish where I finished in the top end of my group of about 30 or 40.

Stage5- the longest on the stages, at about 60 miles, and finishes up a mountain called the tumble

This was a pretty tough day and I was feeling it in the legs. I stuck with the bunch comfortably up the first couple of climbs.

Then came the hardest part of the stage which is about midway through. It’s a long drag up over some very exposed moor lands which some strong cross winds. My legs were burning but I just stayed sheltered in the middle of the bunch and ignored the pains.

Eventually we got over the top of the moors and started a long descent for about 20 miles to abergaveny. Then after a few more hills we got to the bottom of the mountain.

I let the peleton go passed me until I was almost in last place, but I had decided to just pace myself. Sure enough it paid off and I started over taking riders who had tried to race up. I think I finished just below mid bunch but was happy to get through It without cramp.

Over all I finished 70th out of a field of 100+, which I am slightly disappointed with as I wanted to finish at least in the middle over all. If it hadn’t have been for the cramp which cost me so much time I would have, (excuses excuses!).
Cheers
stu

[Snoop Doug]

fantstic stuff! Well done for taking it on and for finishing, impressice stuff.

Snoop

[Andrew G]

[quote]So I did the junior tour of wales at the weekend for the south east England team

[-Adam-]

Nice one Stu!

I was beginning to wonder where you'd got to!!!

Dont be disappointed, if the field was anything to go by that i was seeing at the junior tour of sussex, some of thos boys will be pro in a few years! So well done just for mixing it with them.

Must be back to school now for you though no!?

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[Stu Merckx Man]

cheers lads.

[quote]some of thos boys will be pro in a few years!

[Sylv]

Wow brilliant Stu, does sound like it was tough.
I've never done a stage event and don't think I would recover between the stages!

Didn't spot you on the photos with the report on BCF

[Stu Merckx Man]

i couldnt find any of me either.

but the bloke who organised the trip and the team and things took some, so ill ask him to email me them then ill post them up

[Andrew G]

Have a look at this [url]http://www.juniortourofwales.com/[/url] as well. Some video clips but couldn't see Stu.

[Tamar]

Stu, that is brilliant! Shame about the cramp - I guess you live and learn though and will remember to drink next time.

Sounds like a tough few days. I think I've ridden up the tumble and if it's the one I'm thinking of its bloody awful.

98%hr for 15 min.....good grief!!! You should try track racing if you can tolerate efforts like that.

Erick Rowsell's been shattering a few seasoned egos on the track this season. He is very quick.

[Sylv]

[quote="Tamar"]98%hr for 15 min.....good grief!!! You should try track racing if you can tolerate efforts like that.

[Toks]

Hey well done Stu. Don't forget most of these guys have had anything from 3-6 years of racing in their legs. Its your first season so you did well even to finish in the bunch... i was looking at the results a couple of days ago and had no idea you were in the race...

I see Daniel Kogan (Glendene CC) came 17th which considering he was suffering from some mysterious illness back in Jan is pretty decent... In years to come if Erick Rowsell turns pro I'll be able to tell people I 'raced' against him at Palace when he was a fifteen year old youth/junior and I was an average 3rd cat. Once again Chapeau Dude

[-Adam-]

Also, Peter Kennaugh (Pinarello RT) came third in the E/1/2 TOB support race last year, beaten only by Rob Hayles and Malcom Elliott. And he's what 17!? From what ive read he was set to win the Tour of Wales until he had an untimely puncture and lost two minutes. Then despite repeated attacking on the final stage just couldn't quite get away.

So like i said, fair play for lining up next to those guys!

[Stu Merckx Man]

yeh peter punctured on stage 4 as we were going over the mountain, one of his team mates gave him his own wheel, no thats sportsmanship!

and then all on his own he came passed my group of 40 or so, went straight off the front of us, bridged a sizeable gap to the 30 or so riders ahead, then sat on the front limiting his losses against the break away (that had eric rowsell in it)

then on the last day he got in a break with eric and mark mcnaly ben plain, and a few other stars of the future and they aparently were going crazy up the tumble mountain- soon only mcnaly , eric and peter were left and did the rest of the mountain rasmussen and contador style, attacking, counter attacking and attacking some more. apparently it was the best fight people have ever seen in the tour.

[-Adam-]

All while you were sat in the autobus! Good man!

[Matt Robbins]

Stu,

That is incredible mate...whatever you do don't be dissapointed...just look at your progress...remember that mock race we did round Rusper with Marek last Winter...and look where you are now. Some of these boys have been racing since they were in nappies...and you still more than held your own.

...loads more to come...keep us all informed!!!

Matt.