Tour of Britain 2005

David Smith | Friday 16th September, 2005

I think I'll pick up where I left off in my last entry which if I remember rightly was halfway through the Surrey League 5 day. This turned out to be an interesting race to say the least, in no small part
due to the incredible time keeping by race officials and their apparrent lack of familiarity with their own race routes. Day 4 was held in particularly grim weather conditions, I don't think I've ever been so wet on a bike before! I managed to get into the break but this was where the aforementioned race marshels sent us the wrong way causing the race to be stopped, regrouped and set off at what they thought the gaps were when we were misdirected. Most of the bunch
decided to climb off due to the appauling weather conditions and the fact they were already 5 minutes down. I finished 10th on the stage and 13th overall so the Scotland selectors decided to give me a spot for the Tour of Britain.

I was really looking forward to the race as at the start of the month it had looked as though I might
have had to stop for the season due to my knee injury. I think in hindsight I was under prepared for the race this year having done only 5 day since the nationals in June. The first stage was particularly brutal, I'm sure many of you are familiar with the terrain south of Glasgow! There really isn't any shelter from the cross winds and the race didn't let up at all. I managed to cling on for about 80km but I just physically wasn't up to the job! After I was dropped there was still 100km to race and I knew I wouldn't make it to the finish inside the time limit so I climbed off. I realise now I should have at least continued to the feed but I just wasn't really thinking straight such was the disappointment.

The rest of the team went on to do very well the highlight being Evan's 2nd place in Nottingham and 2nd in the sprints competition. This was an awesome achievement and he's proved that it is possible to compete with the best in the world. It's great for Scottish cycling as a whole as hopefully it will inspire younger riders coming up through the ranks.

As for what comes next I am currently making plans to spend most of the winter in California again at my auntie's place. Its a great area to get in the miles and it will give me the ideal base for next season. I'm already relishing the prospect of next year because it WILL be a successful one. Although this year has been a rough one I've learnt some valuable lessons and I think in the long run it will make me a stronger rider. It's certainly made me hungrier that's for sure! Finally I'd just like to say thanks to everyone at the Braveheart Fund for their continuing support, also to the Highland Institute of Sport and Nick Collins at DFL and not forgetting Mark Young of course! Here's to next season....
a bientot.