Tri bars help club member Stephen Beaumont put 1’03” into fastest Road bike pilot Andrew Hawes
From our correspondent at the scene: Ade McTigue
Thursday’s weather was grim to say the least, but a window of gloriously sunny conditions (according to my weather app?) was forecast for early evening over the Tunstall common area which lured out 4 competitors.
It was cycling mentalist Jens Voigt who, while reporting on stage 6 of last month’s Giro d’Italia, said “road cycling is an outdoor sport” in response to a few Pros complaining to the race commissaire that rain should not be allowed in a 3-week race. Our 4 entrants were the embodiment of his mantra.
Andrew Hawes was first rider off; the rain had stopped but the sun was AWOL. With 30 seconds to go he took to hyperventilation to charge his cardio-vascular system with excess oxygen before he launched himself toward the Bentwaters roundabout some 2.5 miles in the distance. 60 seconds later Stephen Beaumont left the line in a trail of spray, chasing down his minute man. At 3 minutes Daryl Butcher put aside his initial reservations over whether to ride and embraced the conditions to the point of even indulging in a little bit of off-roading. Last to take the start ramp(?!) Alun Duncan-Jones his steely resolve to break the 20mph barrier clearly evident
The decision to let the competitors randomly choose their own start times paid off and provided a finish line spectacle to rival that of stage 1 of this year’s Volta a Catalunya, where, in similar moist conditions, rising star Matt Brennan almost impossibly caught Dutchman Tibor del Grosso to win his 4 race in his first 5 full pro starts. Beaumont played the role of teenager Brennan, down to the aero helmet and yellow coloured jersey, with aplomb. Hawes on his 5-mile solo breakaway bravely fought to be first over the line only to be reeled in by the Flying Scotsman with the finish in sight. A few minutes later the scene was replayed. Daryl Butcher (cast as Hawes cast as del Grosso) was overhauled in the closing meters by Duncan-jones (playing Beaumont cast as Brennan) completing the contest and everyone could catch their breath.
TT
| Rider | Club | Category | Time | Club Std |
| Stephen Beaumont | PCC | V60 | 00:13:04 | Silver |
Road
| Rider | Club | Time |
| Andrew Hawes | PCC | 00:14:07 |
| Alun Duncan-Jones | PCC | 00:14:50 |
| Daryl Butcher | PCC2 | 00:15:49 |
If I have not painted a vivid enough picture of the evening, here’s some pics (provided by pusher/race photographer Trevor Caley).
Thanks and appreciation also goes to Jim Hardwicke for the signs (he didn’t ride, he’s in a recovery block after heavy week).
Next Thursday, June 12th, will be a 10 mile test (and the following 2 after that) I’ve placed an order for sunshine, 22 degrees and a light south easterly; so be there….
I also recommend checking out Volta a Catalunya stage 1 on youtub if you have yet to witness the immense talent that is Matthew Brennan.
