The Tour De Trossachs
Sunday 7th October, 2007
by Ed Hood

Mile zero: 09.54, and Alastair McNicol of Kelso Wheelers is on the line. Off No.1 at 10:01, he's not going to miss his start.

Alastair McNicol of Kelso Wheelers opened the event.

It's six degrees, there are just whisps of cloud in the sky and Scotland has never looked better.

Ferns, conifers and beech, lime green to dark brown form the backdrop for the timekeepers; to the north, the hills of the Trossachs wait quietly for the onslaught.

The view from the start - we're going up there!

Alastair composes himself for his effort; three, two, one, go - the 2007 Tour de Trossachs is underway.

Number four is Andrew Whitehall [above], he's done a good job with the gene selection, his dad could "puusha bike" as we say in Fife; his final time would be 1-12-41 for sixth and best junior. He looks the part too, on his carbon Scott.

What used to be a series of bends with dozens of club cyclists and supporters, is now a very quiet place to be.

Dukes Pass: around 3.5 miles, the bend where the "gallery" used to stand. If you've endured my Trossachs ranting over the years, you'll be ready for my; "...when I used to ride the race, there were a couple of hundred folk on the hairpin". Today, at 10.20 there are four, if you count us.

It's nine degrees, the sun is splitting the sky and the views are breathtaking. I can't think of a nicer place to be on a Sunday morning.

It's the girls on the Pass as Arthur Doyle's wife, Sharon (Ivy) is well on the way to catching Alison Robinson (Berwick), but Pippa Handley (Edinburgh RC) is looking good on her lo-pro, en route best lady's award.

Pippa Handley storms up the Dukes Pass.

By 10.30 there are nine 'tifosi' on the climb, if you count Martin Williamson and I. Yes, the Editor is out and about - he's a man that knows the Trossachs score: he won here in 1989 for GS Modena.

Evergreen Jim Leslie wends his way up the climb.

Jim Leslie (thebicycleworks) off 28 looks the part, but Ran Shenton (Team Swift), a minute behind, is up on him; despite his Caygill creaking and groaning in protest about the steepness of the Dukes. At the end, Jim would tell us that, just like the pros say; 'I didn't have good legs.'

Ran Shenton looked powerful on his way up.

Three Lochs Forest Drive: Around five miles, 10.55 and it's ten degrees now; as the gentleman taking the time checks just said; "You'll no' get a better day for it." Quite.

Ed always finds a comfy spot to update his story.

Tom Worthington (Nightingale), off 40 is moving well and the sun feels warm on our skin.

The road heads north, about to start the descent of the Dukes Pass towards Duncraggan.

It's scenic alright. If you time it right, you can catch a magnificent glimpse of Loch Drunkie.

Loch Achray: Eight miles or so into the race. The Loch is like a mill pond and the old Trossachs Hotel is reflected in the surface, like a fairytale castle. Tourists take pictures as Martin tries to get shots of riders which incorporate the beautiful view. There are huge gaps in the field but it's so nice just to be here, we don't mind.

The old Trossachs Hotel. It's now very expensive holiday flats, apparently.

Graham Barclay (Kirkcaldy) swishes past. He's caught John Walker (Lomond Roads) for a minute. Number 68, Callum Wilkinson (Pedal Power) but clad in a bicycleworks skinsuit, looks good - so does tall Alistair Robinson (Keswick Bikes), off 70.

Bob Brown enjoyed his first - and last - race of the season!

Loch Venachar: By the water at around 13 miles, we nipped past Robinson, he looks good on that Felt; flat back, good cadence, and his lines through the bends are spot on.

The view south across the loch. Beautiful.

This stretch is fast, but you have to watch the corners - they just appear without warning; if ever there was a course which repays a pre-race recce, this is it.

Alistair Robinson (Keswick Bikes) looked smooth, and rode the undulating, twisty lochside roads well.

Robinson passes an unfortunate puncture victim.

The 'new' climb: We're high in the hills above Thornhill, around 19 miles, the temperature is 12 degrees and we're getting techical now - there's a stop watch on the go. We start the watch on 68, Wilkinson. He looks good, but 70, Robinson [below], is 9 seconds up: both are in the 'tuck' on the tri-bars and look like they should.

Robinson's final 1-10-43 would be good enough for fourth, whilst Wilkinson would take fifth with 1-11-19.

There's not a breath of wind, it's like a summer's day. The bird song and the sound of the odd leaf falling are all there is to disturb our idyll.

Five minutes later, there's maybe a wee breeze beginning to stir the leaves, but it feels as if it will provide a tail wind home.

Arthur Doyle (Ivy) off 84 [above]; that pink jersey is easy to pick up in the sunshine and he's keeping the gear down to go 1-10 up on Robinson - nice work, Arthur. We even give him a time check. At the finish, a 1-8-55, for second, would be his reward.

Jim Cusick (Glasgow Couriers) [above] is battling the hill but 30 seconds down on Arthur. Jim would be third in 1-9-46.

Almost immediately, a familiar form tracks into sight... Jason!

Jason was visibly faster than everyone else as befits a double British Champion.

The man from the Edge is off the tri-bars, on the brake lever part of the bars as the gear flies round. He's put four minutes into Jim. Superlatives don't do the man justice.

Ruskie: 25 miles, 14 degrees, and Jason is flying. Off the tri-bars and pedalling still, he never lets the gear 'bog-down', he changes down and revs, always on top of the job.

Consistently pedaling around 90 rpm, on the "drops" for the climbs...

...and in the aero tuck the rest of the time.

Lake of Menteith: 27 miles. That heart-breaker of a drag up from the Lake. Jason flows past, poetry in motion. We've passed him a couple of times now and decide not to do so again - there's always someone looking for a 'following car controversy'.

Anyway, we need a Phil Brown (Velo Ecosse) pic. He's won here twice before, but not today, Phil.

Phil Brown (Velo Ecosse)

At the finish, the sun shines and short sleeves are the order of the day.

Like organiser, Janette Hazlett said; "A new course record - again, for Jason Macintyre with 1-04-47."

The lean man from Fort William also broke the hill record with 12-37. What else is there for us to say?

What they said

Jason: [above] "I wasn’t specifically out to get the course record; I was more concerned with getting the hill record. The thing about that is that I don’t really like going off like a maniac, it doesn’t suit my style of riding, but I had an extended warm-up and I’m happy to get the two records, although I paid for the fast start towards the end. It was the perfect day for it, but that stretch from Thornhill is a bit of a mountain bike course, isn’t it?"

You don't break course records by minutes with small gears on your bike.

Next weekend, Jason has the hill climb and then that’s it for 2007.

Arthur: "I’m very happy with second, it’s the same margin down on Jason as at the circuit TT champs the other week; I didn’t really expect the margin to be any less today. I was down at Manchester in the week, riding the pursuit championships, I finished in 11th place. I have the hill climb next weekend, but I’m just hoping that my hospital pager doesn’t go off half way up the hill!"

Jim: [above] "I’ve been in Milan all week with my work, but I behaved myself and resisted the temptation to go to any of the dinners that were on the go in the evenings. I’m pleased enough with the ride, even though I’m not used to getting caught for four minutes!"

Result

1 Jason McIntyre Edge RT/Dooleys Cycles S 01:04:47 - 1st Hill Climb
2 Arthur Doyle Glasgow Ivy Cycling Club S 01:08:55 - 2nd Hill Climb
3 James Cusick Glasgow Couriers/DB Dev. V 01:09:46 - 1st Vet

4 Alistair Robinson Keswick Bikes.co.uk S 01:10:43
5 Callum Wilkinson Pedal Power S 01:11:19 - 3rd Hill Climb
6 Andrew Whitelaw ASFRA Racing Team J 01:12:21 - 1st Junior
7 Silas Goldsworthy Velo Ecosse S 01:14:49 - 1st Team
8 Alistair Watt Granite City RT S 01:15:09
9 Garry Brown Velo Ecosse S 01:16:00 - 1st Team
10 Barry Duncan Edinburgh RC/Bicycleworks.com V 01:16:19
11 Graham Barclay Kircaldy & District CC V 01:16:21 - 2nd Vet
12 Tom Dempster Edge RT/Dooleys Cycles J 01:16:27 - 2nd Junior
13 Veli-Matti Raikkonen Granite City RT S 01:17:11
14 Randle Shenton Team Swift V 01:17:15 - 3rd Vet
15 Norman Skene Granite City RT V 01:17:33
16 Jonny May Edinburgh RC/Bicycleworks.com S 01:17:38
17 Andrew Rowatt Mussleborough RCC V 01:18:08
18 Philip Brown Velo Ecosse S 01:18:11 - 1st Team
19 Pippa Handley Edinburgh RC/Bicycleworks.com L 01:18:17 - 1st Lady
20 Michael Summers Dunfermline CC S 01:18:20
21 Brian Sproul Dundee Wheelers S 01:18:37
22 Lee Whitelaw Edinburgh RC/Bicycleworks.com S 01:18:37
23 Jason Roberts Inverclyde Velo S 01:19:18
24 John Walker Lomond Roads S 01:19:22
25 Nathan Beard Bicycle Works.com S 01:19:44
26 Tom Worthington Glasgow Nightingale V 01:20:12
27 Stephen McIntyre Glasgow Nightingale V 01:20:32
28 Austen Hughes Caithness CC S 01:20:38
29 James Law Perth United V 01:20:45
30 Ian Anderson Dundee Wheelers V 01:21:04
31 Calum McLean Stirling Bike Club J 01:21:34 - 3rd Junior
32 Jim Leslie Bicycle Works.com V 01:21:46
33 Duncan Gillies Elgin CC V 01:22:10
34 Douglas Robertson Berwick Wheelers V 01:22:46
35 Alan Taylor Perth United S 01:22:53
36 Julian Duncan Gosforth RC S 01:22:58
37 Graham Jones Edinburgh RC/Bicycleworks.com S 01:23:08
38 Alan Robinson Border City Wheelers V 01:23:36
39 Robert Brown Velo Ecosse V 01:23:41
40 Alistair McNicol Kelso Wheelers CC J 01:23:52
41 Steve Flindall Fullarton Wheelers V 01:24:05
42 David McLellan Fullarton Wheelers S 01:24:11
43 Sharon Doyle Glasgow Ivy Cycling Club L 01:24:20 - 2nd Lady
44 Ross Spence Edinburgh RC/Bicycleworks.com S 01:24:27
45 Louisa Edmonton Edinburgh RC/Bicycleworks.com L 01:24:29 - 3rd Lady
46 John McKee Ayr Roads V 01:25:35
47 Douglas Young Stirling Bike Club J 01:25:57
48 Jane Morris Kennoway RC L 01:27:41
49 James Yip Unattached S 01:27:44
50 James Wilson Falkirk CC S 01:29:09
51 Andrew Ferguson Unattached S 01:31:52
52 Katherine Wren Stirling Bike Club L 01:32:01
53 Lucy Reid Unattached L 01:32:03
54 Karen Glendinning Unattached L 01:32:27
55 Vic Posse Ayr Roads V 01:32:45
56 Derek Stroud Unattached S 01:33:03
57 Russell Easton Johnstone Wheelers S 01:33:21
58 Gary Reid Elgin CC V 01:38:27
59 Alison Kerr Berwick Wheelers L 01:38:34
60 Andrew Wilson Glasgow St.Christophers V 01:41:12
61 David Turner Glasgow St.Christophers V 01:41:44
62 Peter McLean Elgin CC V 01:42:23
63 George T Adam SVTTA V 01:55:08

64 James Daly Johnstone Wheelers V DNF
65 Andy Turnbull Falkirk CC S DNF
66 Gordon Graham Fullarton Wheelers V DNF

67 Aaron Murray Velo Ecosse J DNS
68 Daniel Loots Squadra Porcini S DNS
69 Bill Black Ayr Roads V DNS
70 Angus Morrison Glasgow United V DNS
71 Duncan Warwick Deeside Thistle CC V DNS
72 David Millar Glasgow Couriers/DB Dev. V DNS (punctured on his way to the start)

Hill Climb Section

1 Jason Macintyre The Edge RT/Dooleys Cycles S 12:12:37
2 Arthur Doyle Glasgow Ivy CC V 12:13:52
3 Callum Wilkinson Pedal Power S 12:13:59
4 Alistair Robinson Keswick Bikes.co.uk S 12:14:23
5 Andrew Whitelaw ASFRA Racing Team J 12:14:24
6 James Cusick Glasgow Couriers/Bennett Dev V 12:14:27
7 Andy Turnbull Falkirk BC S 12:15:07
8 Silas Goldsworthy Equipe Velo Ecosse S 12:15:15
9 Tom Dempster Edge RT/Dooleys Cycles J 12:15:18
10 Alistair Watt Granite City RT S 12:15:28
11 Graham Barclay Kirkcaldy & District CC V 12:15:37
12 Barry Duncan Edinburgh RC/Bicycle Works V 12:15:39
13 Tom Worthington Glasgow Nightingale CC V 12:15:45
14 Phil Brown Velo Ecosse S 12:15:54
15 Nathan J Beard Bicycleworks.com S 12:15:58
16 Duncan Warwick Deeside Thistle CC V 12:15:59
17 Lee Whitelaw Edinburgh RC/Bicycle Works S 12:16:01
18 Veli-Matti Raikkonen Granite City RT S 12:16:05
19 Gordon Graham Fullarton Wheelers V 12:16:09
20 Stephen MacIntyre Nightingale CC V 12:16:12
21 Randle Shenton Team Swift Allsports V 12:16:15
22 Brian Sproul Dundee Wheelers S 12:16:17
23 Garry Brown Equipe Velo Ecosse S 12:16:21
24 Douglas Young Stirling Bicycle Club J 12:16:28
25 Andrew Rowat Musselburgh RCC V 12:16:40
26 Jason Roberts Inverclyde Velo S 12:16:42
27 Calum McLean Stirling Bicycle Club J 12:16:43
28 Michael Summers Dunfermline CC S 12:16:43
29 Austen Hughes Caithness CC S 12:16:46 AM
30 John Walker Lomond Roads S 12:16:46
31 James Law Perth United V 12:16:47
32 Ross Spence Edinburgh RC/Bicycle Works S 12:16:48
33 Jonny May Edinburgh RC/Bicycle Works S 12:16:52
34 Julian Duncan Gosforth RC S 12:16:53
35 Alistair McNicol Kelso Wheelers J 12:16:56
36 Jim Leslie Bicycleworks.com V 12:16:59
37 Pippa Handley Edinburgh RC/Bicycle Works W 12:17:01
38 Duncan Gillies Elgin CC V 12:17:09
39 Norman Skene Granite City RT V 12:17:23
40 James Daly Johnstone Wheelers V 12:17:26
41 Ian Anderson Dundee Wheelers V 12:17:40
42 Alan Taylor Perth United S 12:17:43
43 James Yip Unattached S 12:17:44
44 David McLellan Fullarton Wheelers S 12:17:46
45 Louisa Edmonston Edinburgh RC/Bicycle Works W 12:17:49
46 Robert Brown Velo Ecosse V 12:17:51
47 Sharon Doyle Glasgow Ivy CC W 12:18:01
48 John McKee Ayr roads V 12:18:18
49 Jane Morris Kennoway RC W 12:18:29
50 Douglas Robertson Berwick wheelers V 12:18:40
51 Alison Robinson Border City Wheelers W 12:18:40
52 Graham Jones Edinburgh RC/Bicycle Works S 12:18:46
53 Karen Glendinning Unattached W 12:18:59
54 Vic Posse Ayr roads V 12:19:14
55 Steve Flindall Fullarton Wheelers V 12:19:16
56 James Wilson S 12:19:20
57 Daniel Stroud Unattached S 12:19:22
58 Lucy Reid Unattached W 12:19:28
59 Andrew Ferguson Unattached S 12:19:44
60 Katherine Wren Stirling Bicycle Club W 12:20:02
61 Alison Kerr Berwick wheelers W 12:20:44
62 Russell A Easton Johnstone Wheelers S 12:20:47
63 Gary Reid Elgin CC V 12:22:14
64 Andrew Wilson Glasgow St. Christophers V 12:23:28
65 David Turner St. Christophers V 12:23:50
66 Peter McLean Elgin CC V 12:23:54
67 George T Adam SVTTA V 12:27:07

Here's hoping for a full field next year!

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