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2010 Tour of Britain Set to Go

Story posted September 10, 2010; by Larry Hickmott | Reports & News Home Page |

Pre-race day at the Tour

The 2010 Tour of Britain rolls away from Rochdale on Saturday and the wheels are already rolling on the race well before a pedal is turned in anger. At the Reebok stadium, the trucks for the teams staying there have arrived and mechanics are hard at work preparing bikes.

L-R: Cameron Meyer, Richie Porte and Mark Renshaw, three young Aussies making a name for themselves at the highest level in Cycling.

In the HQ for the race, accreditation is being handed out to all those on the race along with all the race manuals and while there are new faces here, there are also plenty of people who have been on the race from day 1 in 2004. So there are a lot of handshakes and kisses on the cheeks as everyone meets and greets and talks about races gone by and the race to come.

The day is also the time for everyone to gather for pre-race briefings. So many groups of people are needed to make the race happen. Those who set up the start and finishes, those who take care of the signage, the drivers of all the vehicles, the National Escort group, commisaires and officials and so many more. Everyone came together for the all staff meeting where judge Trevor Hughes was singled out for a special gift for his services to the race over the years.

Then, a press briefing followed where guidelines are laid down to the group of people who are covering the race for various media outlets. The press room, which is located in a corporate box over looking the Bolton football pitch, was also the place where some of the star riders in the race were gathered for the first press conference of the event. They included Geraint Thomas, Richie Porte, Mark Renshaw and Cameron Meyer as well as Mick Bennett and a VIP from the Prostrate Charity which is linked to the race. With quite a few of the media having arrived,  British Road Race Champion Geraint Thomas was first in the press conference.

Video Interviews: Geraint Thomas, Cameron Meyer, Richie Porte and Mark Renshaw.

Russell Downing
One rider who wasn’t in the press conference was Team Sky’s Russell Downing who was handed his prize for winning the Belgian stage race, the Tour of Wallonie, by his mechanics. The ‘steel cock’ as he called it, was almost as tall as the rider known as the Fonz and after he’d finished admiring the Belgium handiwork, he spoke to British Cycling.

Russell 'Fonzy' Downing says hello to his prize for winning the Belgian stage race, the Tour of Wallonie.

“It hasn’t been the best preparation in the last week” he explained. “The Memorial Rik Van Steenbergen was pretty hectic with left and rights, really twisty and I had a go for sure. I was feeling good but was caught up in a crash 50 or 60 kilometres into the race.”

“I then had to try and ride the crash out which I did and then after that, we were setting it up for Hendy and I took Hendy to the front in the last little bit before some one goes and wipes out his front wheel. He came over the radio and he said ‘Rus, it’s for you and I was like ohhh! I was in around 40th place with 4 k to go so I had to do it all myself which was pretty hard.”

"The legs were good on Wednesday and then the Sunday before was the Grote Prijs Jef Scherens - Rondom Leuven which I was good in there, getting caught with only with a k to go. So, the last few days in Belgian have not been the best but the legs have been feeling good so hopefully we’ll be alright.”

The Fonz had made no secret in late July that he was hoping to get a ride in a Grand Tour, the Tour of Spain but was never given the chance and instead put down for the Tour of Britain. In hindsight, after the tragic circumstances that befell team Sky at the Vuelta, Russell admits that it would not have been a happy memory for his first Grand Tour if he had been one of the riders who rode there, riders who saw a valued colleague die in such awful circumstances. Maybe next year, Russell says, he’ll be given a chance.

One thing that must seem like a victory is his resigning for Team Sky. “I had signed for one year and there was always the chance that anything could happen with a one year contract. I went into 2010 wanting a solid year and looking back, I’ve had better than a solid year which is quite nice.”

Russell has competed in the Tour of Britain five times and admits it is a strange race. “The last few years has seen bunch kicks most of the time which has been hard for myself in a smaller team but this year it is totally different. Now I’m part of a strong team and we have the chief lead out train of Mathew Hayman, myself and Hendy (Greg Henderson) and on the other hand we have Brad, Steve, and G who can work well if things split so hopefully we have everything covered.”

Mick Bennett talks to the staff on the race at a meeting on the Friday before the Tour begins.

Team Endura – No Place for Ian Wilkinson at the Tour

The final countdown has started to the 2010 Tour of Britain, beginning in Rochdale on Saturday (Sept 11) and the Endura Racing squad are ready step onto Britain's biggest stage.

The race ends in London on the 18th of September with the now customary circuit race around England's capital, and takes in some of the toughest terrain that the south-west of England and Wales has to offer over 8-stages. This year's event will see top professional teams from Britain and Ireland lining up alongside the might of Garmin-Transitions, Saxo Bank and pro-racing's newest pro team, Team Sky.

2010 has been a great year for the Endura Racing team, with Premier Calendar and Tour Series wins, capped off by Ian Wilkinson's overall victory in the Elite Circuit Series in Preston. The team has also ventured onto the Continent, testing their metal against pro-Tour teams at such events as the Tour of the Mediterranean and Paris-Correze, however a team's home Tour always turns raises expectations and now is the time for Endura Racing to perform on the biggest stage in UK professional bike racing.

Ian Wilkinson at times during the year has been unbeatable and was still winning at the start of September in the Newport Nocturne.

Selecting the six riders that will represent Endura has been a tasked handed to team Director Sportif Julian Winn, and one which cannot have been easy. "To be honest, the team ended up self-selecting", says Winn, "we have ridden most of the course at our August training camp, and the guys who showed the best form there are the ones that I have gone with. The six riders really are there on merit, some people will be surprised at one or two absentees, but it's my job to take the very best riders to the race that can perform - this is business as well as sport."

Hinting at the omission of Ian Wilkinson, Winn states, "Ian has raced a lot this summer. He was flying, especially in circuit races, in June and July but his form took a bit of a dip in August and although he is still showing sharp form at circuit races (winning at last weekend's Newport Nocturne ) I felt his form wasn't quite there for something like the Tour of Britain."

Speaking specifically about the team selections Julian goes on, "The six riding have a great mix of abilities in my view. Iker Camano has come in and shown a level of maturity, and is obviously a talented rider, his seven Grand Tour finishes speak for themselves and he will prove invaluable to some of the younger riders as the race goes on."

"Jack Bauer has been working well too and we are expecting good things from him, but to be honest all of the six are going well and when it comes to the GC whoever is up there will get the full support of the team."

When asked about the team's chances on the race Winn concludes, "We are realistic, but optimistic. I genuinely feel that stage wins and a high placing on the GC are possible. In a way we are underdogs, we won't have the pressure some of the other teams will have to control the race and win stages, so that will definitely play into our hands".

Whilst Team Endura tackle the challenge of the Tour of Britain, Ian Wilkinson will go back to what he knows well, some mountain biking followed by a well deserved holiday. The Elite Circuit Series champion says "It was a tough decision for Julian but the right one" when asked about his non-selection.

Endura Racing's Tour of Britain squad:
Jack Bauer (NZ)
Alexandre Blain (France)
Iker Camano (Spain)
James Moss (England)
Evan Oliphant (Scotland)
Rob Partridge (Wales)

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