National 100 mile TT

Sunday was the national 100 mile Time trial championship in the sleepy Norfolk town of Swaffham. It was was essentially 4 laps of an undulating course, run on quiet country roads, with minimal traffic. I thought it was a good course for a national 100, especially with the outbreaks of rain which would have made a dual carriageway more difficult. The men’s event was won by Charles Taylor (South Pennine CC) in 3.43.27. The women’s by Brownen Ewing (Trainsharp Racing Team). I finished 3rd. It was one of the hardest time trials I’ve done for a long time, and really blew up after 70 miles. My average power was much lower than last 100. I’ve never hurt so much in TT for a long time. I also punctured at 90 miles, but just managed to scrape home, to pip Michael Broadwidth into 4th by 20 seconds. Adam Topham (High Wycombe CC) was 2nd.

The first 50 miles were good. The only difficulty was at about 40 miles – catching someone who started just in front, but then half a minute later they re-overtook. I had to sit back ease off, take a gel and then I went really hard to make sure they got dropped.  I think this sustained burst of power didn’t help later on. At 70 miles, I started to feel really tired and there wasn’t much power left. I’m not sure why, in the ECCA 100, I had a similar power at this stage but could maintain it all the way to the end. But, for some reason today, it wasn’t there. At 75 miles, I  stopped by side of road to pick up a third bottle. In ECCA I only needed 2, but today I needed some more  energy. Shortly after – going down a fast hill I got overtaken by a rider who I had recently caught for 16 minutes! He shouted some encouragement and said not to loose concentration. But, It wasn’t really a loss of concentration, just a loss of power. Anyway, the good thing about being a hill climber is that if someone who is slower than me overtakes on the downhill. I know that on the uphill I’m almost certain to be able to overtake and drop them. Even if my power was relatively low.

The last 20 miles were really hard, it was raining, slow and everything was hard work. I started to get cramps in my legs (something that never happened before). At around 92 miles I noticed handling was becoming difficult because of a slow puncture on the front. By the last corner, I had to go around at walking speed, there was very little air left. I was just relieved to finish. The last 50 was really slow. But, somehow I managed to get 3rd.

I had to report to doping control. They are pretty thorough, which reminded me of my favourite doping story from 1962, when standards were very different.

Piet Rentmeester (who won Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne in 1962) was asked for a doping sample. He said he couldn’t provide a sample at the time, so the doping control allowed him to go home and three hours later he came back with a urine sample.

When his doping test was revealed, the authorities told him he was negative for any performance enhancement. However, the test result did show he was pregnant! (he used his wife’s urine!) A great story, (though probably one made up by Jacques Anquetil.)

Anyway UK Anti-doping are very through and professional which is reassuring to know.

A really tough day, not a great performance power wise, but, pleased to get a medal at 100 miles. It’s been a target for quite a long time. Beating my best performance from back in 2005, where I finished 4th on a really hilly 100 mile TT course. It seems strange to grumble a bit about performance when you get a championship medal – but that’s cycling! You could always go faster.

Congrats to Charles Taylor for winning.

Power files

I didn’t really want to look at this. But, interestingly many riders seemed to have a really tough last lap.

av. power 252 watts

av. speed 26.1 mph

Thanks to EDCA – a good event well signposted, which was good as I hadn’t ridden any of the course beforehand.

Men Results

Women Results

Related

• 100 mile training and pacing