Return to the Lincoln Grand Prix

The Lincoln Grand Prix is the greatest cycle race on the British domestic scene, contested every year by the best pro, semi pro and amateur riders in the country. You have to be the best, 13 13km circuits including the cobbled climb of Michaelgate that most people can barely walk up, is not for the ordinary.

It's been a few years since I've been, with work and cricket commitments getting in the way, but with the sun in the sky and milder temperatures, it was insane not to go when I had the chance.

I was there for virtually the whole thing, and it was probably the most open and exciting race I've been to, with no breakaway of riders ever really being allowed to get too far away, and the group more or less altogether at the base of the final climb.

It was Tom Stewart of the Canyon DHB team that won, followed by young star in the making Tom Pidcock of Team Wiggins and another Canyon Rider, Andy Tennant, in third, after just under 4 hours of gruelling racing.

Rather randomy, a rider's girfriend messaged me on Instagram out of the blue and asked me how he was getting on, having seen the videos on my IG feed. Another pro-rider, Rory Townsend, liked a few of my photos too, an excellent achievement given he was in the bike race at the time.

Long day for me, 7 hours out of town and I didn't eat a thing!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 12.05.19

Tour of Britain Pre-Funs

So, after a process that kicked off when I first saw that the 4th stage of the 2017 Tour of Britain was going to finish in my home town back in April, tomorrow I will be manning a stall in the race village with my work, doing recruitment and PR stuff.

It took a lot of effort to persuade them, but here we now are. I'm just worried it will all go horribly wrong and I will end up looking like an utter idiot.

As a prelude, there have been junior races taking place in the market square tonight. As was pretty predictable Rain + Cobbles = loads of kids flying off their bikes. My friend's son got a bit of a clonk on the head, but all ok.

As ever, it was good to see public space being used productively. Hopefully more of the same tomorrow, as I rubberneck the pro riders as they pass by the stall.

They might even decide to abandon life as a pro cyclist and decide to become a fork lift truck driver!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 05.09.17

Amazing News - The Tour of Britain comes to Newark

I noticed on a tweet yesterday that the route of the TOur of Britain cycle race had been released, and had a look at the dinky little map to see if any of the stages came anywhere near here.

It was a sort of gradual zooming in to realisation as I looked at the undetailed map.

At first I thought "Yeah, that looks pretty close on the map. Might be coming to Nottingham again."

I then looked down to the list of stages beneath. "Stage 4 - Mansfield to Newark - 175km".

Holy Bloody Moly. I nearly died. Newark's largest ever sporting event. Ever. Olympic and world champions are going to be screaming through town, and then maybe going for a coffee at Rumbles Cafe (LOL). Owain Doull....Mark Cavendish...Greg van Avermaet....maybe even Peter Sagan!

Well we won't know the riders for a while yet, but if Mr Sagan, cycling's biggest superstar appears in Newark it will be amazing.

I've actually put a guide to what seems to be the final run in according to the route on the TOB website - not fixed yet apparently.

The race will come into town from Coddington direction - this means the Peleton will be screaming down 400m of 1 in 8 Beacon Hill at a speed of probably 70kmh AT LEAST. This is about 4.5km from the finish.

Over the railway bridge at the bottom, and it's a flat out kilmometre to a 80 degree left turn, this might be a bit tricky, before the race drags up the slight slope to the castle roundabout.

There then follows a short 200 metre run along Castlegate, before what looks like a very awkward right turn into Millgate. We are about 1.5 km from the finish here.

Halfway along Millgate the road begins to drag up again - but I can't see anyone being able to attack of that incline - before the race turns onto Farndon Road.

A quick blast over the River Devon, and you enter the finshing straight about 600 metres from the line.

I'm guessing the race village will be Sconce Park.

So excited! See you on September 6th.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 25.04.17