 |
| Search |
|
|
|
|
Rider Profiles
Rider Profiles
Mark and Tim's Tour de France Story
 |
| Mark Smith(right) and Tim Clipstone at the start of their epic Tour de France mountain stage ride. (Photo by Mark Smith) |
After months of early mornings, long weekend training rides from the Airport to West End and back, stiff legs and sunburnt arms. Myself and Tim Clipstone lined up at 6.30am on a chilly French morning at the start of the 15th Etape Du Tour in the town of Foix in the foothills of the Pyrenees.
The Etape Du Tour takes place every year and is put together by the organisers of the Tour De France on what is know as the "Queen Stage" of the tour. This is considered the hardest stage of the Tour De France and this years stage from Foix to Loudenville is reckoned to be the most difficult chosen for the Etape yet.
The route is closed to all traffic for the duration of the race, there are feed stations and water stops and thousands of spectators line the route to cheer on all the riders of the 126 Mile course.
This year Tim and I had decided that we were going to raise money through sponsorship for 2 local charities VISAR and the Kiara Foundation so we had extra incentive to complete the ride.....
Jul 20, 2007, 07:18
Rider Profiles
Anegada Desert Duel, Jurassic Park and a Forbidden Place - Part 2!
You will recall from my last email:
The race started around 10AM.
The winner Brian from Antigua crossed the finish line in just over an hour.
12PM (that is, 2 hours after the race started) I was classified as MISSING by Andy and a search and rescue party including Jim, Victoria and others set-out to find me.
You will also recall that I stopped at the point where Jim was providing details on the Elite Race Course.:
So here goes:
Jun 17, 2005, 17:17
Rider Profiles
Anegada Desert Duel, Jurassic Park, and a Forbidden Place.
 |
| Here I am......about to make my quest into Jurassic park! |
It is best that I start this email by stating some important facts about the Anegada Desert Duel:
The race started around 10AM.
The winner Brian from Antigua crossed the finish line in just over an hour.
12PM (that is, 2 hours after the race started) I was classified as MISSING by Andy and a search and rescue party including Jim, Victoria and others set-out to find me. Those are the hard cold facts as far as I am concern.
Be sure to read this email sitting down. In my previous emails I have tried to be as candid as possible but in relating my experience in the Anegada Desert Duel I will not even make an attempt to be candid.Last Friday I told Mark (FEDEX) Armstrong that I had absolutely no intentions of doing the Anegada Desert Duel. Mark said he was doing for the fun. That said I then decided I would do it for the fun...........
Jun 16, 2005, 15:01
Rider Profiles
Olympia Fahie: the BVI’s young cycling phenomenon
 |
| The BVI first female cycling Olympian? |
How many female teenagers would you catch early on a lazy Sunday morning riding against people twice her age? Or which one would you find toughing out races over 20 miles long?
Olympia Fahie.
Yes, and she is only 14 years old, blessed with determination and hard work on the bike.
Fahie who only started competitive cycling last year has been one of the most active participants in the BVI Cycling Federation (BVICF) 2004 season.
Her rise to ‘young cycling phenomenon’ did not come by chance. She is also known for whipping her seasons. Her best performance to date was the women’s race on May 9, Mother’s Day, when she out-sprinted Patlian Johnson, who is about twice her age. Then on June 9, she won the Desert Duel on Anegada, however unfortunately, she was penalised for missing a turn and was placed fourth. She also won the season’s first junior race, beating out boys.
Aug 17, 2004, 14:44
Rider Profiles
My Tour de Tortola Experience.
 |
| Mark Mckenzie at the start of the Windy hill time trial. |
A few weeks earlier we had the Mine Shaft Challenge in Virgin Gorda. On race day we caught the 9.00 a.m. Speedy’s ferry from Road Town to Virgin Gorda. From the ferry dock in VG we mounted our bikes and rode to the Mine Shaft restaurant for the start of the challenge. Along the way to the Mine Shaft I had to plead my ignorance and enquired whether this ride was the actual race. As far as I was concerned that was the race. By the time I got to the official starting point I was extremely exhausted, dizzy from the blistering morning sun and barely able to stand on my feet. Mine Shaft Challenge took us from the Mine Shaft restaurant, down through the Valley, out to Nail Bay, and back to the Mine Shaft via Handsome Bay, and the Copper Mine. The challenge started at the top of what I consider a very steep hill. By the time the starter said go all the cyclists had literally disappeared in a matter of seconds all but Jackie (my teammate) and I. At least I had some company to descend the hill at the start. Jackie and I had a good laugh. However, privately we played the physiological game of “cat and mouse”. In the end Jackie feared far much better that I did. My other teammates Rick and Pat did even better. The Mine Shaft Challenge was neither a challenge nor a race but rather a wonderful sightseeing tour of VG for me on very hot VG day. By the time I got back to the finish line at the Mine Shaft restaurant I was totally out of it.....
Aug 10, 2004, 13:35
|
|
|
|
