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seanf
Joined: 31 Oct 2008
Posts: 3
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 Posted Sun Nov 1, 2009 6:21 pm |
Hi, having taken part in several three day stage races in ireland i;m now interested in taking part in any stage race for cat3 and up anywhere in the UK sometime around June/July next year;
can anyone advise me on any good races worth taking part in?
i'm willing to travel so distance is not a problem.
Cheers
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jibberjim
Joined: 04 Dec 2008
Posts: 319
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Posted Sun Nov 1, 2009 7:35 pm |
| seanf wrote: | Hi, having taken part in several three day stage races in ireland i;m now interested in taking part in any stage race for cat3 and up anywhere in the UK sometime around June/July next year;
can anyone advise me on any good races worth taking part in?
i'm willing to travel so distance is not a problem.
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The Surrey League's Pearson 5 day in the last week of June normally is a great stage race - it's a 2/3 race, but I had no trouble as a 3rd in it. Good courses, fun race.
There's also The Ras De Cymru which is a 2/3/4 which this year was the first week in July, no idea on that one, I didn't do it.
Jibbering Sports Stuff: http://jibbering.com/sports/ |
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bahzob
Joined: 14 Jul 2006
Posts: 1076
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Posted Mon Nov 2, 2009 7:59 am |
Not in your time frame but FYI for others Surrey League also organise a good 3 day over the Easter weekend.
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Dess1e
Joined: 21 Oct 2008
Posts: 61
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Posted Mon Nov 2, 2009 10:27 am |
Etape de la defonce in south wales in May (3/4 cat) - Ras de Cymru i(2/3/4 cat)n July (IIRC both are team based )
SL 5 day end of June (2/3/4) and Easter 3 day (3/4).
www.kentonrc.co.uk |
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Pross
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
Posts: 671
Location: South Wales
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Posted Mon Nov 2, 2009 11:50 am |
+1 for the Ras de Cymru. You will probably need a few days leave though as it is during the week. It is team based but not sure if you can enter a composite team or as an individual. Will speak to some club mates who have done it and the Etape de la Defence a few times.
EDIT
Ras is open to teams and individuals (not sure how individuals take part in the TTT - assume this is run separately to the GC?) more info here http://www3.newport.ac.uk/displayPage.aspx?object_id=1340&type=PAG=
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Dess1e
Joined: 21 Oct 2008
Posts: 61
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Posted Mon Nov 2, 2009 12:42 pm |
For the Ras - it is open to composite teams.
Individuals not in a team will be teamed up with 3 other individual riders for the TTT. Priority for entry is given to teams of 4 (inc composites) though staying in the Uni accomodation.
www.kentonrc.co.uk |
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ozzzyosborn206
Joined: 08 Dec 2008
Posts: 102
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Posted Tue Nov 3, 2009 7:55 pm |
i am interested in doing the ras, and my club could make up 2 or 3 good teams, as living in guernsey we rarely get ranking points so probably have a fair few 2nd adn 3rd cats who if raced in england all the time would be 1st cats, but other 2,3 races i have done, seem to be very negative and very stop start in terms of speed anyone know if the ras is like this?
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Dess1e
Joined: 21 Oct 2008
Posts: 61
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 9:33 am |
The Ras is pretty hilly, and I'd have to guess a very good standard of 2nd cat, including retired ex internationals this year. I'd like to give more details, but had a nightmare of a race and spent most of it out of th eback on my way to collecting the Lantern Rouge. There were a couple of good Island riders in the Dorset Tour this year (forgot that stage race - another 2/3/4 in August).
www.kentonrc.co.uk |
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Ironman595
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
Posts: 21
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 10:54 am |
I don't care what anyone says... the best stage race for amatuers is the Tour of Sardinia.
It's a 7 day stage race including a granfondo, ITT, TTT and moutain stage. I've done it the last 3 years and see myself doing this most years.
It's held a little earlier though, normally the 3 week in April but is a great week to get you in some proper racing form for the summer!
There are generally 140-180 in the peloton ranging from elite to cat 4. (top 50 cat 1, 50-100 cat 2-3 etc...)
Weather has always been perfect at that time, very little rain if any and not stupidly hot.
Registration is 100euros, flights with ryan air are chep, its just the hotel/ accomodation you choose, is around 300-500euro (all inclusive).
Stage profiles are up on the webiste, it will be translated to english soon but you can get the idea. The bonus is that there is an english speaking couple that volunteer to orgainse/ translate the race for english speaking (for bookings etc)
Usually you would go as a team of 6, but it doesnt matter, for the TTT the put you with others close in the GC.
http://www.girosardegna.it/
The support is amazing...motorbikes and cars for atleast 2-3 peletons breaks, police at juntions for clsoures, after 650km of cycling each year I've never had to stop on the road.
Feed stations are excellent....
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jibberjim
Joined: 04 Dec 2008
Posts: 319
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 11:40 am |
How does the Tour of Sardina work if you're not E/1 though? Are you off the back on your own, or does a good second group with lower cats form so you're not out there alone?
You're fast! How's it going to be for the rest of us?
Jibbering Sports Stuff: http://jibbering.com/sports/ |
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Pross
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
Posts: 671
Location: South Wales
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 1:49 pm |
| Dess1e wrote: | | The Ras is pretty hilly, and I'd have to guess a very good standard of 2nd cat, including retired ex internationals this year. I'd like to give more details, but had a nightmare of a race and spent most of it out of th eback on my way to collecting the Lantern Rouge. There were a couple of good Island riders in the Dorset Tour this year (forgot that stage race - another 2/3/4 in August). |
I'll race you for that title once I'm ready (probably 2011 race) - won the Lantern Rouge in the Gwent 2 Day as a junior, 1 hour 45 min behind despite finishing the prologue hill climb in the top 25% 
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ozzzyosborn206
Joined: 08 Dec 2008
Posts: 102
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 4:57 pm |
des, its me matt, stayed at same b&b for dorset tour, how were you after that fall on the last stage?
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Toks
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 646
Location: United Kingdom
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Dess1e
Joined: 21 Oct 2008
Posts: 61
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Ironman595
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
Posts: 21
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 2:30 pm |
HI Jim,
I'm not that fast... I typically spent half the week getting dropped from the yellow jersey group on the main climbs but managed to get myself in another peloton of anything from 5-50. If when you get dropped there's always a big effort trying to chase the lead group (this can last most of the race, but sometimes "out of sight out of mind" kicks in and the pace slows down and becomes alot more comfortable.
Saying that my team mate managed to break away this year on the mountain stage only 10km in and stayed out all day- he was no threat to jersey (top 20 still) and managed to get a good lead.
There are ex Italian pros/vets racing, alot of youth development coming through but you'd be suprised that most riders are aged 30-40 and are cat 2-4- there are only a handful of teams actually in the position to challenge for podium.
Talking over dinner with other riders I met there, for some it was their first ever taste of racing, let alone stage racing and he always managed to settle into a group.
Most keen sportive riders could get through the week with their head held high- they will just be working harder chasing the group infront of them
I cant wait for next year.... It's one of my highlights on the calender for sure, it's a bit more interesting than your usual BC calender and better value for money than a short break to do La marmotte etc..
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jibberjim
Joined: 04 Dec 2008
Posts: 319
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Ironman595
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
Posts: 21
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ozzzyosborn206
Joined: 08 Dec 2008
Posts: 102
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 5:01 pm |
a few people went down in that crash i think des, i was lucky to avoid it having heard shouts to prewarn me, didnt really do much after that race, mainly just tts overhere, how about you?
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seanf
Joined: 31 Oct 2008
Posts: 3
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Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 10:00 pm |
Many thanks for all your comments folks....
busy now checking out you suggestions
Regards
Sean
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Kirky
Joined: 05 Mar 2003
Posts: 384
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:19 pm |
Another vote here for the Dorset 3 Day - although I didn't ride it I did spend three days in a car following the bunch running the neutral service. Have to say that I thought it was VERY well organised and great fun to work on. Mark (the event organiser) does a great job and I think the fact he doesn't do it on a Bank Holiday weekend is even better - yes you might need to book a day off work, but at least it means no getting in the way of family time on Bank Holidays!!
Not sure of the date for 2010 yet, but I'm seeing Mark tomorrow so will get the dates from him then (I think he's booking us in to do neutral service for a number of his events).
Also, I seem to remember there was a 3/4 stage race called the Sussex Tour (??) which I think was a bolt on to the Junior edition. As a 3/4 only that would be a good one too.
KIRKY
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