Second, 33 seconds back, was Shetland Wheeler Carlos Riise, and Alistair Robinson (Leslie Bike Shop) only three seconds further adrift in the bronze medal position.

The three riders were all in the last four to be sent off by the timekeeper, and proving the organiser's seeding was pretty accurate, the fourth rider in the race, Gary Robson (Peebles CC) was also in the last four away, winning fastest Vet for his efforts. Gary actually tied with Evan Oliphant but felt he should get allocated fourth on account of being a vet!

Arthur also won the fabulous Jason MacIntyre Trophy, awarded in memory of Jason who was tragically killed just over two years ago and who was the winner of 'the 10' himself four years back.

The trophy, designed by Jason's wife Caroline features a black granite tear-drop, representing Jason's aero-helmet, with the marble base infused on the sides with stone chips like the roads Jason won on, and on the top with twinkling stars - as Caroline said when she was presenting the trophy and looking at her two wee girls, "where we know he is now".

Caroline and Arthur with the trophy.

I'd set off straight from work yesterday, to get up to Fort William and the digs before dinner time, but like Rab said, "the best laid plans..."

I got delayed in the office, Gillian was laid low with a stomach virus and was better off staying in bed, and so it was later than planned when I met up with Caroline, Gary, Shona and Nik for a bite to eat in a hotel in the highland town.

I always love driving through Glen Coe. (click for the full image)

I was all for being good, and carbo-loading, until Caroline and Gary insisted that Jason would have had the fish and chips here the night before a race, and as they were, so I did too - and it was too nice to care about saturated whatnots!

Too late for a course recce by now, it was back to the digs and, thanks to the 12:30pm start today, a lie-in - magic!

I was still up in enough time this morning to have a great breakfast and ride into Fort William and out the other side, to suss out the course conditions and try to plan my race. Meeting up with Gary later, we got all our kit sorted in final prep: discs and deep rims polished, tyres cleaned with vinegar, etc., and then we were off.

Gary was off second last, and had a bit of time to kill, which he did chewing the fat with Endura Racing's Davy Lines, discussing their van conversions and the next aspect they could pimp-up. Hope it wasn't those deep discussions which made Davy miss his start!

Youngest chap in the race, 12 year old Stuart Balfour (Peebles CC) didn't take any chances with the rain for his warm up, on the rollers in his dad's van.

I warmed up on the turbo and pottered off to the start. The race was superbly well organised, great marshalls, and naturally, there was a marked level of safety-consciousness, although the course didn't have many vehicles on it and was pretty straightforward : along the north shore of Loch Eil to the turn in the road, and back past the start for half a mile to finish.

Main factors were the rising temperature - which was pleasant to stand around chatting in, but meant that the wind also got up for the second half of the field, and the undulating profile of the road. It certainly isn't a flat motorway of a course, with several pretty sticky rises to contend with in each direction.

Once finished, I got changed and to unwind the legs a little, rode back out on the course to watch the fastmen on the way back.

Evan Oliphant (Endura Racing).

Evan Oliphant finished fourth equal, but would almost certainly been faster had he done without a trip onto the verge, courtesy of a badly driven car trying to overtake in an impossible place. Evan took the car's nearside wing mirror out with his arm, and wrecked his new Endura oversock on the bushes at the roadside. Mind and put that into your team logbook mate.

Jim Cusick (Glasgow Couriers).

Shona was taking time checks for Gary, and used Jim Cusick as the benchmark. Jim didn't look like he was on his best day to me, and confirmed that after the finish;

"It's difficult just now, I work away so much that it's hard to get consistent training in. I'm off to Ireland next week for example, without a bike. I used to swim and I'm going to get back into that a bit - at least I'll get my heart rate up and lungs working in the hotel pool when I'm away".

David Lines (Endura Racing). (click for the full image)

Davy Lines hammered past, looking great - focused and determined. No doubt kicking himself for turning up late at the start (wheel trouble I understand), but he's only using the time trials for extra training;

"Unless you're Chris Hoy, you never try as hard in training as you do in a race. With a number on your back, you put in a much higher quality session, and these tests will help me in my road racing; closing gaps, sitting tempo for a teammate, or maybe even defending a jersey in a stage race time trial, like Alex had to do at Murcia".

Carlos Riise (Shetland Wheelers).

Carlos Riise was the next rider we were expecting, and just on cue he appeared in the distance, sweeping past us in his familar low tuck, shoulders still and pedalling a big gear. 10 miles or 100 miles, always consistent and always fast.

Alistair Robinson (Leslie Bike Shop).

Alistair Robinson came into view, moving smoothly with quite a high cadence. Shona thought she'd made a mistake; "he's exactly the same time as Carlos".

Gary Robson (Peebles CC). (click for the full image)

Just two riders to go.

Gary Robson has been having problems recently with nerves in his back and hamstring, "it's like my leg has a mind of it's own!", and was not exactly comfortable having the reigning champion starting directly behind him - albeit, at two minute intervals for the last dozen riders, a catch by Arthur was never on.

"I'm not really on for this today, I've missed too much quality training in the lead-up, but I've bought all this new kit and I'm really looking forward to using it".

Gary fired past us with a determined look on his face, riding on heart as much as fitness, and ended up 20 seconds off the podium steps.

Only Arthur Doyle to see now. there was a gasp as he appeared a minute sooner than we thought he would - absolutely flying.

Arthur Doyle (Dooleys Cycles). (click for the full image)

Churning a massive gear, but as steady as a rock, Arturo resembled an industrial machine, those long thin legs somehow able to keep the pressure up onto the 56t chainring and the power 'at the back wheel', as those MotoGP guys say. Very impressive.

I rode back with him from the finish to the strip, as he told me his season objective;

"To get under 20 minutes, I've never done a 19' and that's my motivation. No, I'm not riding a huge commute these days, it's down to about 40 miles over some great roads, and if I leave early enough and miss the traffic, it's lovely.

"Yeah, I think I've done a 20:36 or 37, which will be a course record, so I'm very pleased with that."

Back at Race HQ, a great spread was enjoyed by all. Caroline directed me to the best fairy cakes (her mum's), and presented all the prizes to the winners.

We thought a nice way to finish our day would be to pop up the hill near the HQ, and say hello to Jason. His stone is wonderful, perfect in every aspect, with a beautifully etched drawing of Jason climbing a local hill in his British Champion's jersey. Imposing, large and powerful, just like the man himself.

Jason's headstone has the best view down Loch Linnhe towards Ben Nevis. (click for the full image)

We reckon Jason would be pleased with the day's racing, and happy that the trophy went to a very deserving winner.

Result

1 Arthur Doyle - Dooleys Cycles RT S 20:37
2 Carlos Riise - Shetland Wh. V40 21:10
3 Alistair Robinson - Leslie Bike Shop S 21:13
4 Evan Oliphant - Endura Racing S 21:32
5 Gary Robson - Peebles CC V40 21:32
6 Michael Nicolson - Dooleys Cycles RT S 21:34
7 Philip Kelman - Deeside Thistle CC V40 21:39
8 Silas Goldsworthy - Sandy Wallace Cycles S 21:46
9 Steve Nutley - Fife Cycling 2000 V50 21:49
10 Chris Smart - G B Fire Service S 21:50
11 Iain Grant - Dooleys Cycles RT S 21:50
12 James Cusick - Glasgow Couriers V40 21:57
13 Barry McGurk - Glasgow Couriers S 21:59
14 Richard Hunter - Perth United CC V40 22:01
15 David Gibson - Dooleys Cycles RT V40 22:04
16 Michael Pooley - Musselburgh RCC V40 22:05
17 Thomas Gordon - Dooleys Cycles RT V40 22:08
18 Peter Alexander - Moray Firth CC S 22:14
19 Gavin Shirley - Nevis Cycles RT S 22:15
20 Kyle Gordon - Sandy Wallace Cycles S 22:19
21 Wim Chalmet - Sandy Wallace Cycles S 22:19
22 Mathew Hamilton - Leslie Bike Shop J 22:19
23 Alan Thomson - Glasgow Couriers S 22:29
24 Joe Wilson - Sandy Wallace Cycles S 22:30
25 Graeme Cockburn - Glasgow Nightingale V40 22:31
26 Martin Williamson - Peebles CC V40 22:32
27 Andy Torrance - Dooleys Cycles RT V40 22:33
28 Colin MacTavish - West Highland Wh. V50 25:28
29 Sean Monaghan - Granite City RT V40 22:36
30 David Caesar - thebicycleworks.com S 22:40
31 Robert Hassan - Glasgow Wheelers S 22:41
32 R G McLean - Angus Bike Chain V50 22:45
33 Ian Humphreys - Deeside Thistle CC V50 22:50
34 Matthew Powell - Forres CC S 22:35
35 Steve Davidson - Perth United CC V40 22:51
36 Andy Cowie - Moray Firth CC V50 22:55
37 Gordon Graham - Fullarton Wheelers V40 22:56
38 Jamie Drever - Glasgow Wheelers S 22:58
39 Kenneth Darling - Kelso Wheelers V40 23:07
40 Paul Black - Elgin CC V40 23:10
41 James MacDonald - Johnstone Wh. S 23:11
42 Alan Robertson - East Kilbride RC V40 23:12
43 Paul Friel - Unattached V40 23:12
44 Finlay Young - Equipe Velo Ecosse J 23:13
45 David Harter - Forres CC V40 23:14
46 Christopher Adamson - Musselburgh RCC V40 23:14
47 Andrew Rowat - Musselburgh RCC V40 23:15
48 Brendan McCabe - Aberdeen Wheelers V40 23:15
49 Nik Gowrie - Peebles CC S 23:16
50 Iain McMullen - Dooleys Cycles RT V40 23:18
51 Kevin Lackie - Elgin CC V40 23:18
52 Norman Skene - Granite City RT V50 23:26
53 David Walker - Kelso Wheelers V40 23:28
54 Allan Mill - Sandy Wallace Cycles S 23:30
55 Craig Dick - Glasgow Wheelers S 23:31
56 Graham Jones - Edinburgh RC V40 23:41
57 Colin MacKenzie - Edinburgh RC V40 23:48
58 Greg Brown - Dooleys Cycles RT J 23:50
59 John McDowall - Edinburgh RC S 23:51
60 Steve Beech - Sandy Wallace Cycles V60 23:56
61 John Paterson - Dumfries C C S 23:59
62 Barry Duncan - Pedal Power RT V40 24:01
63 Sandy Wallace - Sandy Wallace Cycles V60 24:02
64 Ross Laidlaw - Kelso Wheelers S 24:03
65 Gerry McGarrity - InverClyde Velo S 24:10
66 Jonny May - Edinburgh RC V40 24:11
67 Bill Aiton - East Kilbride RC V50 24:20
68 David Thomson - Johnstone Wh. S 24:30
69 D N Robinson - North Argyll CC V40 24:30
70 Martin Pearson - RAF Cycling Club S 24:33
71 Charles Fletcher - Cairngorm C C J 24:36
72 William Bunyan - Dunfermline C C V5 24:39
73 Andy Duncan - Ythan CC S 24:41
74 Michael Martin - East Kilbride RC V40 24:43
75 Grahame Hay - Perth United CC V40 24:44
76 Paul Anderson - Musselburgh RCC V40 24:44
77 Kyle Yates - Leslie Bike Shop Y 24:45
78 Hector Nicolson - Moray Firth CC V50 24:51
79 Steven Martin - Nevis Cycles RT V50 24:51
80 Bob Taylor - Dooleys Cycles RT V60 25:07
81 Dale McCallum - Edinburgh RC Y 25:14
82 David Gunn - Nevis Cycles RT V50 25:17
83 Greg Balden - Johnstone Wh. S 25:19
84 Robert McCall - Glasgow Nightingale S 25:20
85 Andy Laing - Musselburgh RCC V50 25:22
86 John Shirley - West Highland Wh. V50 25:23
87 James Montgomery - Johnstone Wh. V60 25:28
88 Peter Berrie Nevis Cycles RT V50 25:51
89 Peter Robertson- Forres CC V60 25:29
90 Bill Dallas - Ythan CC V40 22:51
91 Kevin Moir- Ross-Shire Rds CC S 26:03
92 Stuart Balfour - Peebles CC Y 26:03
93 Sean Noon - Edinburgh RC Y 27:34
94 Ian Sargent - Moray Firth CC S 26:05
95 Graeme Wylie - Edinburgh RC V40 26:19
96 Scott McCallum - Edinburgh RC S 26:20
97 Allan McCrimmon - West Lothian Clarion S 26:22
98 Astie Cameron - Nevis Cycles RT S 26:25
99 Gavin Clark - Ross-Shire Rds CC S 26:32
100 Mike Gordon - Cromarty Firth C C V50 26:41
101 John Hunter - Ythan CC S 27:08
102 Lewis Lyall - Forres CC Y 27:11
103 Robin Morton - North Argyll CC V40 27:20
104 George Grant - Forres CC V60 27:26
105 Andrew Strathdee - Nevis Cycles RT V40 23:21
106 Andrew Wilson - St Christophers CC V6027:58
107 Trefor Baker - Glenmarnock Wh. S28:16
108 Grant Thomson - Unattached S 28:26
109 Brian Reffin - North Argyll CC S 28:28
110 Chris Britton - Unattached S 28:32
111 Alastair MacQuarrie - Team Merrick S 30:11
112 Liam Monaghan - Ythan CC Y 31:43
113 David Lines - Endura Racing S 35:19

Team

Dooleys Cycles RT (Arthur Doyle 20:37, Michael Nicolson 21:34, Iain Grant 21:50)

Top three in the men's championship.

Women's Championship

1 Mari Todd - Sandy Wallace Cycles S 23:12
2 Christine McLean - Shetland Wheelers V40 23:38
3 Sian Tovey - G3R S 24:40
4 Victoria Hunter - Sandy Wallace Cycles V40 24:43
5 Fiona Duncan - Ythan CC S 24:44
6 Anda-Jay Burgess - Sandy Wallace Cycles S 25:11
7 Sarah Gleave - Sandy Wallace Cycles V40 25:12
8 Liz Chillingsworth - Deeside Thistle CC S 25:20
9 Shelley Farrar - Deeside Thistle CC V40 25:30
10 Sharon Doyle - Sandy Wallace Cycles S 25:49
11 Jenni Nicholson - Deeside Thistle CC V50 27:33
12 Anna Harris - Angus Bike Chain S 27:35
13 Carol Middleton - Ythan CC V50 27:48
14 Mary Eagleson - Ross-Shire Roads CC V50 27:51
15 Chantel Clark - Deeside Thistle CC S 28:15
16 Laura Gunn - Forres C C Y 30:22
17 Kate Finlayson - Forres C C Y 30:58
18 Nicky Martin - Unattached V40 32:45

Team

Sandy Wallace Cycles (Mari Todd 23:12, Victoria Hunter 24:43)

The women's podium.

The death of Richard Russell leaves a large gap in the Lothians CTC.

Richard was an important figure on the Scottish cycling scene, following his father into the Cyclists' Touring Club, the Edinburgh Road Club and the Scottish Road Records Association.

One of his earliest memories was of sitting in a small wicker seat on the back of his parents' tandem on trips around East Lothian, an area he always loved.

He joined the CTC early in 1947, recalling that his first runs were on foot or the bus or tram as that terrible winter dragged on.

Richard Russell (C.T.C Lothians D.A). 1930 - 2010

An all-rounder, Richard rode with the CTC, youth hostelled, camped all over the country and raced on both bicycle and tricycle.

In 1955, he set Scottish tricycle competition records at 25 and 100 miles and over 12 hours, figures which were unbeaten for many years, indeed one of his team records still stands.

His knowledge and bicycle handling skills won him many tourist trials where he excelled on the observed rough stuff sections.

A CTC Councillor, committee member and Road Club official for many years, he made a huge contribution to cycling in the area.

His memory and attention to detail sometimes stopped a committee meeting in its tracks as he recalled discussions and decisions from the distant past, but he always had the best interests of the organisation at heart.

He was honoured with numerous awards, the Tom Davis cup and the Zoller Quaich but, most prized of all: honorary life membership of the CTC.

Every novice newcomer to CTC runs will remember Richard as he was invariably patient and encouraging to anybody who was flagging or falling behind, remaining with them and shepherding them along the road until they caught up with the group.

He will also be remembered for his bicycle repair skills, that lop-sided, saggy saddlebag producing tools, bits and pieces and spares which, combined with his knowledge, usually repaired a day that looked to be in ruins.

Although Richard started work immediately after leaving school, he was, in many ways, far better educated than a lot of us.

His knowledge of local history and geography was extensive, he was well informed on farming and wild life matters and he was a keen reader and theatre goer.

A printer to trade, he spent over forty years working at T & A Constable in Edinburgh where he was very active in the trade union, being father of the chapel for many years.

Richard's expertise in printing led to his teaching night school classes with his usual attention to detail.

Sadly, Richard lost his wonderful wife, Margaret, in 1994 but his sons, Colin and Gregor, are both prominent and active members of the contemporary cycling scene.

Richard, who was still cycling strongly until a few weeks before his death, will be sorely missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him and especially by his extended family of whom he was so proud.

Although he was small in stature, he was a giant on the road - and will remain so in our memories.

* The funeral will take place in Edinburgh, at Morton Hall Crematorium's Main Chapel, 12:00 noon.

Picture courtesy of D. McClure.

We thought it might be appropriate to remember one of his greatest triumphs, here's what he had to say to us after he won his first British '25' title back in June, 2006.

Jason.

Jason MacIntyre – British 25 Mile Time Trial Champion

By Ed Hood • June 5, 2006

Ten years after Graeme Obree became the first Scotsman to win the British 25 Mile Time Trial Championship, Jason MacIntyre (Velo Ecosse) has taken the holy grail of time-trialling north of the Antonine Wall again - all the way to Fort William. A common denominator over the ten years has been the presence on the podium of former world points race and team pursuit champion who won the 25 in 1999, Chris Newton [now Recycling, back then with North Wirral].

In 1996 he was third behind ‘superman’ positioned Obree [Scotoil] and Bob Hayles [Ambrosia]. This year he was second to Macintyre despite having been originally announced as the winner, but it’s best if the winner explains. It’s with great pleasure we bring you an interview with Jason as our launch article here on VeloResults.

Jason scorching to a British Championship.

Congratulations Jason, has it sunk-in yet, and how does it fell to be up there with Sean Yates, Graeme Obree and Chris Boardman?

"I’m not sure if it’s sunk-in, I hadn’t actually thought about it in those terms, when you do it makes it pretty special."

I think a lot of people have been surprised by your commitment and enthusiasm this year after the disappointment of non-selection for the Commonwealth Games...

“The time I spent guesting with the Recycling team in Australia at the end of last season when I was trying to get late selection for the Games taught me so much about preparation and I came back to Scotland very motivated. I trained right through the winter, I haven’t been off the bike since the end of last season, but I’ve been under no pressure.

"Last year I had illness problems virtually all year and I was under the constant pressure of trying to get well and get selection, this year I’m much more relaxed.”

Does not going to the Games still annoy you a little?

“My health wasn’t good last year so the selectors didn’t see the best of me, but of course it’s a very political sport too”.

You said the time you spent with Recycling was very influential. Can you give us an example?

“Their whole approach was just so professional but probably the biggest thing I got out of it was realising that I have always over-trained. I’ve seen me doing 70 or 80 miles hard on the Tuesday and Wednesday before an important event and then wondering why I’m a bit jaded in the race on Saturday.

"This year I have a different mind-set and have put much more emphasis on recovery, just going for a gentle ride; I never did that before.”

Without giving-away any secrets, tell us about your training for the 25?

“As I said earlier, I had a very solid winter, right through November and December.

"I was putting in 60 or 65 miles most days plus weight training.

"The emphasis changed to intervals closer to the race and I’ve been using a Tackx ‘Flow’ indoor trainer which my sponsor Gregor Russell gave me.

"I’ve been concentrating on building my wattage, it’s so much safer, you can ride yourself to the keeling-over stage without worrying about being run-over from behind by a car, but with that work as well I’ve been thinking about recovery much more than I did before.”

British Champion - and we haven't seen the best of him yet.

What was the title course like?

"It was definitely suited to riders with a road back-ground, I had to use a full range of sprockets, I think I was in the 21 at one point.”

What was the weather like on the day?

“That was a big factor, it’s been 8 degrees up in Fort William - it was 25 down at Coventry. I’m so skinny that I feel it when it’s cold and I just go so much better in the heat.”

What was your race strategy and did you get a chance to ride the course before hand?

“We rode the course on Saturday and Mark [team mate Mark Atkinson who, along with Gary Robson backed Jason to the team title] said that I shouldn’t bare my teeth for the first 10 or 11 miles, I should save the pain for the second half.

"That stuck in my mind and I felt that I rode within myself for the first half of the race, but when I look at the splits I was still flying; I was on Continental Olympics at 220 psi and they were just flying over the tar.

"I rode mostly 54 x 14/13/12 with a couple of bursts of the 11 but I was down to the 19 and even the 21. By the end I was happy I had done the best ride I could.”

Were there any worrying moments?

”No, not at all, but it’s like that when you are on a good day – everything just falls into place, I got round the roundabouts without any problem. Mark was held-up by cars a couple of times on the roundabouts and we saw Michael Hutchison get blocked by a car and lose time.”

Was the win in your mind before the race?

“No, but the podium and the team title certainly were. Trying to win the team was a big motivating factor during the ride.”

Jason says careful and focused preparation is the key.

I believe that the title was initially awarded to Newton?

“I still don’t know what that was about. I thought I was second and was happy with that when the guy from Cycling Weekly came over and asked how it felt to be the first Scotsman to win it [As reported in our introduction, Graeme Obree was actually the first Scot to win the event in 1996. Ed.] so I said to him: ‘Are you taking the piss?’

"He replied that he wasn’t, he’d just come from the result board and I had won!”

Gregor said I should ask you about your prize cheque...

"I decided to donate it to the promoting club and the chap I returned it to said that they would put the money to a charity ride which was being held in the week to remember one of their club mates who had died of bowel cancer.

"When I was a young cyclist my mentor was a guy called Billy Warnock and he died from the same thing so it seemed pretty appropriate somehow.”

What’s next on the agenda?

“It’s the Davie Bell memorial road race then the Scottish 25 and criterium championships.”

Last word Jason?

“When you win a big race like this it’s not just you, there are people around you who form a team without whom it just wouldn’t happen so I want say “thank you” to my sponsor, Gregor Russell who has given me so much help, to Mike Pooley who used to coach me and of course to my girlfriend, Caroline.”

Thanks to you too, Jason. Well done on a fantastic result.

Bert is on Specialized next season.

Next move Bert signs for Astana for a large wage rise and a possible extension to his contract and it looks like Astana will be on Specialized bikes next year too. It all looked too well organised, Specialized were hedging their bets, get a Tour winner on their bikes and loose Flanders and Roubaix wins and better still push Trek off that top step in Paris after…how many years?

We wont have to wait long to see the fireworks between Contador and his ex team-mate; Armstrong. I use the term “team-mate” loosely as I’m sure Contador and Armstrong wouldn’t use it after their conflict at the Tour. The two will meet in February in the Volta a Algarve; it’s been on the Americans Tour build-up calendar for years, including introducing a time trial just for him. Alberto now also wants to start his season on the Portuguese coast, it probably won’t prove anything that early in the year, but it will make for some interesting photos.

Alberto said this week in “La Gazzetta dello Sport” that he had to buy his own wheels at the Tour.

"Sucedió antes de la contrarreloj de Montecarlo. Para mí no había las ruedas mejores. Así que parece imposible, pero me las tuve que comprar yo".

Basically before the time trial in Montecarlo he didn’t have the best wheels and had to buy his own, Bruyneel didn’t give him the good wheels. This was followed by there being no team car to take him to the time trial in Annecy, they were all being used to ferry Radio Shack VIP’s. Contador was taken in the car of his brother/manager and girlfriend; Macarena. Annecy was close to the funeral!

We will know for sure if Astana gets a Pro-Tour licence tomorrow.

Triki Beltrán.

Manuel “Triki” Beltrán will not become the sports councillor in Jaén Town Hall. The executive of the PSOE (Socialist Party) have put the brakes on the move. Triki’s brother; Ascensión Beltrán is a PP (Conservative Party) councillor and behind his brothers job position. It was said that nepotism was flagrant.

If you had forgotten, Manuel Beltrán was sanctioned for two years when found positive for EPO at the 2008 Tour de France joining the list of positive ex-Armstrong team riders including Heras, Hamilton, Landis…..

Says Ed:

Beltran's demise; should we be happy that another "doper" has been caught?

Or should we feel sad and empty, because a man who was 15 years a pro; the team mate par excellence and who wept openly and without embarrassment when he had to abandon the Vuelta, has ended his career like this?

The wrong way to go out, amigo - but I'd still buy you a beer.

Some more sad news

Agustin Sagasti.

Sad news to hear of the death of another cyclist due to depression after the suicide of Belgian Dimitri De Fauw.

Basque rider; Agustin Sagasti (now 39 years old) was found by his mother at his house in Munguia (Vizcaya).

Sagasti rode for Euskaltel and won a stage of the Vuelta de la Pais Vasco in 1994, but he had had a difficult life. As a child he suffered from Polio and was advised to cycle for his health, then when he was 24 years old he crashed into a car during a stage of the Tour of the Mining Valleys (Asturias) in 1995.

At first he was in a coma and had many operations on his arm and leg over a year. He received 70 million pesetas compensation for not being able to continue his occupation as a professional cyclist. It must all have been too much.

Dimitri De Fauw.

It's easy to write an obituary when one of your heroes dies - probably more so if you don't know them well.

There's just the legend, palmares, anecdotes and the sadness.

But I knew Dimitri De Fauw, not well, but I worked at maybe half-a-dozen six day races where he was riding.

Bruno Risi is the undisputed 'capo' of the sixes, but pass him in the tunnel whilst your lugging bags up to the track cabin and there'll be a nod or a "ciao" or his trade mark wink.

In all the times I was working at sixes where Dimitri was riding, he never once acknowledged my existence.

He seemed an angry man; at Grenoble, just a few days ago, he was excluded from a meeting that the top riders convened about, 'business,' - "f**king idiots" he shouted at the closed door as he walked past.

He rode for QuickStep mid decade, then the Chocolade Jacques team; but this year I noticed he was clad in AA Sports Drink attire.

De Fauw rode for Chocolade Jacques.

Whilst many of the big six riders are happy to have solid private sponsors, a rider like him needs the security of a wage arriving every month and it was difficult not to notice that his teams - and therefore wage cheques, were getting smaller.
 
When I first worked in the sixes, five or six years ago, De Fauw/Mechelen were an established pairing - not race winners but very quick in the one and two lap time trials.

They had a marketable speciality; but when current world Madison champions, Michael Morkov and Alex Rasmussen came along, the Belgians' time was over.

Michael is smooth and fast, and if they're trying, when he slings in 'Razi,' everyone else is racing for second place.

Then there was the crash at Gent where poor Isaac Galvez lost his life; Dimitri was involved - scars like that don't heal quickly.

At Grenoble, he looked a little heavy to me; not in the best shape.

There was a contract for him at Gent, but with Mertens, De Ketele and Keisse established, and the all too obvious star quality of Meersman - maybe there wouldn't be many more.

Belgian bike racing is merciless; the Tour looks after it's own - ex-riders are everywhere.

But in Belgium, it's different; if you've put a few euros away, there's maybe a bike shop or cafe to open.

But that takes good contracts and good financial acumen - both in short supply in the sport of bike racing.

Some riders move into coaching or management, but that needs a certain type of personality, which not all riders are blessed with.

Andreas Kappes was one of the absolute top men in the sport of six day racing until recently; after his retiral from the sport he was cleaning offices when one of the mechanics got him a job as number two mechanic with a German women's team.

De Fauw rode with the swiss star Alexander Aeschbach at Gent in 2007.

A man can only take so much - for Dimitri, the teams and the money were getting smaller, the results were sliding and there was that tragic day when Isaac Galvez lost his life; and maybe there were other things that folks like me don't know about.

All I hope, is that the man's soul has found tranquillity.

Dimitri De Fauw, rest in peace.

He was just 34, cause of death is cited as a 'blood clot.'

Looking cool with tats and tanlines.

Frank Vandenbroucke could hardly have been anything else but a pro cyclist - his dad was a pro and his uncle, Jean Luc, was a junior world champion and pro road star.

Belgian novice champion in 1991; junior champion in '92, "Franky Boy" moved seamlessly through the ranks.

His first pro win came in '94 - a stage in the Tour of the Med. By the end of the following season he was winning Paris-Brussels. In 1996 he took Laigueglia, the Scheldeprijs and Plouay.

The following season he was winning events as diverse as the De Panne beach mountain bike race, Cologne and the Tour of Luxembourg.

Gent - Wevelgem and Paris - Nice fell to him in '98. And in '99 things went even better; Het Volk, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and two Vuelta stages - a majestic season.

Frank in action in Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

But in that campaign were sewn the seeds of his long and painful slide. In the Worlds at Verona, he was the protected rider on the Belgian squad - with the likes of Johan Museuuw and Peter van Petegem at his service.

Frank crashed, his team mates asked if he was OK, he said he was, but the truth was that he had fractured both wrists and couldn't pull on the 'bars.

Museuuw and van Petegem were furious, rightly saying that Vandenbroucke should have levelled with his compatriots and given them their freedom, instead of having them work for a lame duck.

It was never the same again, he had team problems, women problems, driving problems and - drugs problems; Frank said that the pharmaceutical concoctions found by the police in his fridge were for his dog.

The classic cartoon in the Miroir du Cyclisme from the time had a race podium, on it were Simoni's dentist, Rumas's mother-in-law and, on the top step, with gold medal around it's neck, Frank's dog.

Frank's volatile, on/off relationship with slim beauty, Sarah was top Belgian tabloid fodder - his dad always maintained that the rot started the day Frank met her.

Frank apparently looked much better recently, healthy and calm.

This year seemed different, though, Nico Mattan - a man who Frank liked and respected - signed him up for Cinelli-Down Under; he was training well and even winning - but the wheels came off again.

The last headline was that he would be working with top Italian coach Aldo Sassi, they were going to put Frank's blood values on the 'net to try and help the process of getting a ride with a team.

Despite the wilderness years, police dramas and embarrassments, Frank was still hugely popular in Belgium. His fan club was called the  'Franky Boys' and there was rejoicing among them, this year at Frank's return to his winning ways.

I well remember, a few years ago, being at Het Volk when Frank was with Fassa Bortolo.

The race was cancelled due to snow and ice on the course. Viktor had a hunch that Frank would maybe turn up at his mum and dad's cafe down at Ploegstert. The hire car was duly pointed south, and sure enough, near Kuurne, we came upon the Fassa boys in two lines, drilling down the concrete section towards Ploegstert.

There was a freezing block headwind, but the string was sitting at 40 kph, lead by - Frank.

He looked lean and was chatting away and joking to Juan Antonio Flecha as they sliced through the icy blast. Whilst his team mates wore blue team issue Fassa winter hats, Frank wore a grey Tibetan style woolly hat, tie cords flapping in the wind. He looked different, cool, fit and in charge of his team.

We arrived at the cafe first, but the Fassa boys weren't far behind; the espressos were lined up on the bar, there were brief chats, hand shakes, then Frank gave the signal - and they were off again.

He was top ten at Kuurne next day, but that season fizzled out, too.

Belgian guys all have their VDB anecdote, soigneur Etienne Illegems tells the story of Frank's first six;

"The big riders said to Frank that he would take so many laps, do this, do that.

"Frank was still a teenager but he replied - "I'll be doing just what I want !"

Then there was the time we met the old soigneur who looked after both Frank and Museuuw - he explained to us that as well as his bike racing talents, VDB was one of the best break dancers in West Flanders!

Despite not being picked to represent Belgium in the recent Worlds, Frank went to the race to catch up with his mates. Note the lack of team jersey.

After a while, nothing surprised you about Frank.

In his early days as a pro - when most youngsters are keeping their heads down - Frank would drive the team mechanics crazy, insisting that his bike should be as light as possible with all the 'trick' titanium bolts replacing team issue.

Perhaps ex-pro Chris Tonge's landlord summed up the root of Frank's problems best;

"He was living the life of a top pro bike rider from when he was a young teenager - it was too much, too soon!"

Frank Vandenbroucke; protégé, star, troubled man, character, eccentric, winner, idol - we'll miss you.

International racing cyclist who competed in Europe.

Born 24 October 1937.
Died February 22 2009.

Hugh McGuire, who has died suddenly of a heart attack aged 71, was the Glasgow-born Scot who became one of the top UK cyclists in the 1960s, representing both Scotland and the British Army. He took part with the best of GB riders in the Tour of Britain / Milk Race era, winning stages - and in so doing following the wheels of a slightly older top gun, Jimmy Savile. McGuire became noticed, and in 1962 and 1963, was selected to travel behind the Iron Curtain to participate in the annual Berlin-Warsaw-Prague road race, the co-called Peace Race designed by the Soviets to bring together the world's top cyclists in reconciliation between Warsaw Pact countries and the West.

McGuire's life revolved around two wheels, and when National Service came, the Army was not slow in taking his talents on board. In those days, the reputation of the Army Cycling Union was that they could have fielded two international cycling teams as against any one from the UK. 

Always a good rider, his two years in an Army jersey became his purple patch. Fiercely competitive, he was fortunate enough to enjoy the spur of fellow Scots Kenny Laidlaw, Ernie Scally and Jimmy Rae, as well as Englishmen Vin Denson and John Geddes - plus Regular soldier Ray Booty, who in 1956 had been the first man to break four hours for 100 miles on an out-and-home course. In addition, road racing had just begun in to emerge as the UK's favourite form of cycle competition, and McGuire would prove a formidable opponent in all portions of the event - grinding slogs, climbs, primes and finishing sprints - in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and at home. He also won the Army 5-day race, and took 4th place in the Archers Grand Prix, in those days possibly the biggest massed-start race in Britain.

Hugh ascending Ankerdine Hill, Knightwick, in the 2007 Little Mountain Time Trial. Photo © The Shuttle

McGuire was the original all-rounder. Wearing the light blue of Barmulloch-based Glasgow Brunswick Cycling Club, he took part in time trials, roads race, hill races and team events, as well as playing a prominent role in club runs and tours. A keen clubman and inspirational clubmate, he proved an inspiration role model for youngsters coming through the ranks. He would leave a clean pair of wheels to anyone. In 1960 he turned up at an Australian pursuit that started at Lennoxtown and included two ascents of the 1000-foot Crow Road. Wearing Army colours, McGuire raced away with the scratch group - and entirely on his own with no teamwork - won in a fashion that both demonstrated his love for his sport and at the same time epitomising everything that was good about the bike.

Shug - as he was known to his clubmates - could in those days have smoked for Scotland. His first request on crossing the line would habitually be for a cigarette. "Shug" became a word interchangeable with "fags". 

McGuire, an electrician by trade, surprised his clubmates by both suddenly leaving Glasgow for a girlfriend in Birmingham - where he lived for the rest of his life - and by giving up cycling for 15 years. But Scotland and the lure of the saddle drew him back - to tour regularly in his beloved

Trossachs and to line up at veteran events. As in youth, he proved no mean competitor, dropping rivals two generations younger and returning times into his seventies of 1hour 4 minutes for 25 miles. If for some reason McGuire was unable to race, he'd still turn up at the start to support and encourage, his loyal Jack Russell terrier by his side. 

McGuire's reputation as "a gent" showed in his courtesy; racing or

spectating, he never left without a word of thanks to the organisers. In his adopted Birmingham, McGuire built a reputation for outwitting rivals with both skilful cycling and Glasgow "patter". One-liners, humorous anecdotes, self-deprecating jokes and great personal warmth made him a man whose big heart matched his 6ft 1in stature.

He'd be a foxy rider, never declaring his tactics in either race or fun run.

Indulging recently in what his old Glasgow chums called "a habble" and his Brummie mates know as a savage session of "through and off", he hung towards the rear until, one of his clubmates related, "He cunningly dummied us all for the cafe sprint". 

A stalwart of the League of Veteran Racing Cyclists and Beacon Road Club, McGuire and teammate Ken Haddon last year were the oldest competitors in a two-day race in Wales. In gale-force winds and driving rain they camped out for three days rather than stay in a local inn. A colleague queried afterwards: "Was it something to do with Hughie's character in saving a few bob? Or was it that he still enjoyed life if we make a bit of an effort?".  

In 2004, McGuire won the LVRC over-65s road race championships. During the race, his great friend Clive Pinfold, racing as an over-55, crashed and was taken to hospital. Discharged later that night, Pinfold found McGuire waiting outside. "How did you get on, Hugh?" asked Pinfold - at which McGuire unzipped his top to reveal the champion's jersey, adding drily: "You robbed me of my moment of glory. Everyone's been asking 'How is Clive?'". 

McGuire died as he would have wished - cycling with clubmates. He had been returning from an annual cycling weekend in Wales when he was dropped during a scrap up a hill. When he failed to rejoin the group, Clive Pinfold rode back and found Hugh dead near a bend on the descent. It is the measure of the man that an eye-witness reported that McGuire had been seen on the way down "tucked up for maximum speed".  

He had been planning to travel to Majorca this month (March) for a series of warm-weather training rides. 

He is survived by his daughter Jill.

Jason was a special rider, I loved to watch him in a time trial; to me he was poetry in motion. 

I only got to know him well during the last couple of years of his life, but I felt very close to him, maybe I was partly trying to live my dreams through him?  

Jason's style was perfection on a bike.

I tried my best to make sure that his deeds were given the attention they merited, through this site, PezCyclingNews and Cycling Weekly magazine. 

I think about him most days; at the time trial championships this year I felt that I was just going through the motions, they just weren’t the same without him. 

My memory is just a wee, daft one; at the end of another his impeccably executed championship wins I would approach him for an interview; ‘Just you make it up Ed, I trust you!’ he’d tell me. 

I never did of course, but I used to like that he said it to me.  

 Bob Taylor was emotional when I asked him about his memory of the man; but first he explained to me about Ghost Bikes – one is to be placed in Jason’s honour near the spot where the accident that took his life occurred. 

For those of you who don’t know what a Ghost Bike is, it’s a bicycle which is sprayed white all over, tyres, chain and all, then placed at the spot where a cyclist has lost his life. 

The first one was placed in Saint Louis, Missouri in 2003; usually a plaque commemorates the rider who died.

Bob explained;

“Caroline (Jason’s widow) has obtained permission from the distillery near where the accident happened to place the bike there.

"There will be a memorial ride of around 30 miles which will finish at the spot and Caroline will say a few words.

"STV have been in touch with Caroline for an interview and there was a big feature recently in the Sunday Express about the accident and mistakes that the police have admitted to in conducting their investigation about Jason's death.

"I think that public awareness of cycling is very high due to Chris Hoy’s deeds and that’s partly why there’s so much interest.

"The headstone is up at Jason’s grave now, so we’re going to go up to see that and pay our respects."

 What was your memory, Bob? I asked.

"I remember meeting Jason and his family just before Xmas 2007 at a wee caff we used to go to in Glasgow, we exchanged presents and a had a bite to eat; but I couldn’t help but be amazed at his condition, there was a glow coming from him, he looked like a top professional – he was shining!

"Two days later, he rang me; 'the 17 minute ten is definitely on Bob, maybe not in Scotland, but it will be this season,' he was so sure - there was just no doubt about it, but of course, we never got to see it.”

We saw Jason scorch around the Trossachs course in '07 in another record time.

Twice British pro road race champion, Brian Smith’s recollection of Jason was from back in 1996;

“I was back in the UK to seek Olympic selection and riding the Tour of the Kingdom.

"At the start of the last stage I held the yellow jersey but I didn’t have a team around me.

"Tosh Scott was managing a Young Scotland squad; he approached me and said that his lads would help me defend the jersey, on the basis that a Scot should win the race.

"One of the team who worked for me was Jason, even back then he was a big lad, very strong.

"He did a lot of work for me and I can still remember him driving the bunch along to the foot of the Glen Tarkie climb.

"After the race, I went round and thanked all the Young Scotland team for their help and said to Tosh; 'that Jason lad has got a big engine on him!'

"I expected him to do great things, but of course a lot of years passed before we saw the best of him, he bloomed late because he chose his family in front of his sport; he was so unselfish.

"I don’t think there are many men who could have done what Jason did, look after his family like that, then come back and get himself onto the Olympic programme.

"He helped me get to the Olympics; I just wish that I’d seen him go to the Games too.”

Trossachs 2007 was a great day.

 Scottish road race champion and Plowman Craven professional Evan Oliphant is far from home at the moment, but took the time to send us a few words about his friend and training partner;

“I’m in Australia at the moment, staying not far from where Jason and I stayed when we rode the Sun Tour together.

"I remember that when I was preparing for the Tour of Britain I would go training with Jason instead of riding other stage races; it was much harder work training with him!

"He taught me so much about training and racing when we were in Velo Ecosse together; I still do the training routines that Jason taught me over the years.” 

Happy to chat to us, Jason always had time for people.

 Jason MacIntyre, father, husband, friend, champion – we miss you.

Yesterday I was talking to a friend of mine, we got round to talking about cycling, and with a far away look in his eyes, he reminisced about his first bike; "my maw pushed the boat out and bought me this beautiful red racer, it had white wall tyres and white transfers on the tubes - JB Allen."

This morning, Gregor rang to tell me that 'Jocky' had died.

Like I said, life is strange, sometimes.

I first eased my fat body over a bike in competition in 1971. Continental racing was beyond my imagination, Merckx and De Vlaeminck were mystical beings who inhabited a world which could only be reached through the pages of Cycling Weekly or International Cycle Sport.

But in Scotland, if you were into the 'alone and unpaced' side of the sport, the top team was Jocky's Velo Sportiv. Joe Summers, Doug McInley and Jim Smillie were the men I looked at in awe as a young Kirkcaldy and District tester.

Jocky and his van were omnipresent as his boys scooped up the individual and team honours most weekends.

I was never close to the man, but we'd usually exchange a few words; if banter was involved, I'd always loose. You had to get up early to get the better of Jocky.

I can't say much more that, save that in a cycling world that can sometimes be a bit grey, he always added colour.

Ed Hood

I'm very sad today. When I heard the news about Jocky this afternoon, I kicked myself. For quite a while now I'd been meaning to invite him and his wife to dinner, to chat about things, find out how they and the family are keeping, and to talk about the good old days. Another hard lesson in the dangers of procrastination, as if I needed it.

L to R, Martin, Deke Laing, and Garry Brown (with Neil Fraser taking the pic) used to spend all day every day through the summer school holidays on their bikes.

I owe a lot to Jocky - he got me started in cycling, he taught me so much, he made my youth a lot of fun, and he put a great deal into the sport: He was involved in starting the SCU (Scottish Cyclists' Union), ESCA (the East of Scotland Cycling Association), the White Heather cycling club (which later became the Edinburgh Road Club), and - this is where I came in - the Velo Sportiv cycling club.

I used to be pals with Jock's youngest son, Wallace - sadly no longer with us either. Wally and I used to run round to Jocky's shop in Jane Street - and then later Leith Walk - when we were on our lunch break from school. The shop was a haven for bike fans, with great mounds of spares and frames and bolts and gears everywhere; organised chaos.

Not that I was interested in bikes when I was 11 - it was the lunches that Jocky's wife Gaye made for us that was the attraction.

Of course, with Wally already racing, it was only a matter of time before I became interested as well, riding my first race, Jocky's "Christmas 10" in 1979, recording 29:44. I thought this was pretty good, apart from being passed by a giant polar bear! (the race was also a fancy dress for those that wanted).

Wallace hanging around outside his dad's shop.

My dad had put a wheel in to Jock's shop 20 years previously, but had subsequently forgotten about it. For a joke, he went in to the shop with me one day and asked Jocky when it would be ready. Always up for a laugh, Jocky made a play of searching through the huge pile of wheels in front of him, kidded on he found my dad's wheel, and said "Ah yes, it's just on the jig the now - be ready Thursday."

In all the time I knew Jocky, I never knew him to be angry - loud: yes, cutting: yes, funny: oh yes. He was a great joker, always ready with his big round smile and cheeky quips. Attempting to straighten an already fully-tightened seat post once, he kidded on he'd made a difference to it; "That's the difference between an expert and an arse" he said to Wally, whilst we crumpled in fits of laughter. "Yer arse" we replied, saying back one of Jocky's favourite phrases.

It's 6am on a summer's morning, and here comes Jocky to pick Martin up.

Most of my teenage years were spent cycling around with my pals Wally, Derek, Garry and Neil. Jocky coached us, and it was always great advice for young lads starting out: "Don't copy the Pros' gear ratios, copy the Pros' leg speed."

He engrained in us the ability to pedal fast, which when you were riding on restricted schoolboy gears, was vital of course. But it also stood us in good stead when we were older too. We "got" suplesse, we understood how it benefitted us, and we practised it - a lot.

Jocky used to take us all around the country in his old white transit van every weekend. I remember travelling to Aberdeen, to Glasgow and to West Ferry, to Newcastle and as far as Boroughbridge, having battles with Graeme Obree for 1st Junior in 10's and 25's, when really all that mattered was to beat my pals and then lord it over them on the journey home in the back of the transit amongst the bikes.

Jocky would tell us stories in the van all about when he took Scottish teams to the Peace Race - and won stages!

He was very proud of the previous generation of lads he coached: Jim Smillie, Frank Anderson, Ken Klessa, Ran Shenton, and before them Brian Temple, Ronny Boa and John MacMillan.

At the Tour of the Borders, Easter circa 1983. L to R, Deke, Jocky, Martin, Ran, Garry, (out of shot: Peter Cook.

Once, when I was "helping" in the shop on a Saturday morning, a German lady came in looking for something. Jocky started talking to her in fluent German - something I didn't know he could do!

Later, when the shop was closed, he sat me down in the back shop with a cuppa and told me how he was one of the first Commandos in the war: he was in the Parachute Regiment and took part in Operation "Market Garden" in September 1944, which took place in the area near Arnhem, in Holland. I sat there, totally spellbound as Jocky told me about "Market Garden", which was one of the boldest plans of World War Two.

Thirty thousand British and American airborne troops were to be flown behind enemy lines to capture the eight bridges that spanned the network of canals and rivers on the Dutch/German border.

Martin takes a feed from JB in a "12".

However, it didn't turn out quite like that: not enough planes, poor radio equipment, and very well organised German infantry and panzer divisions meant that the operation failed, and the Parachute Regiment left behind nearly 1,500 dead and more than 6,500 prisoners, many badly wounded. Jocky was one of those prisoners, and spent the remaining 10 months of the war in a POW camp. It was here that he learned German.

There are a million stories I could write here, about our many trips to the Tour of the Borders, to Harrogate, about him "making" me ride 12 hour time trials "for the team", and about Jocky's absolute and total love for his family; for Gaye, Wally, Michelle, and Corinne.

Jocky never took them - or anyone - forgranted. He really appreciated people and the things they did for him. He was a lovely, funny, kind man. I'll miss him very much. And sorry about that dinner JB.

Jocky was 88, but if he was here he'd tell you he was 58 - he said he was 58 all the time I knew him!

Martin Williamson

Carpe diem.

The 07.50 train to Edinburgh and no one speaks, not a word. I'd sooner be in the old Transit, with Terry Wogan prattling-on about sausages. The carriage rocks past the Forth Bridge approach road at 08.10 and like Talking Heads would say, the tailback is "same as it ever was".

There won't be much chat down there either. At least there's a little daylight now, a few weeks ago at this time, it was "as black as the Earl o' Hell's waistcoat", as my dad used to say.

Haymarket, the game plan was to leave at 08.30. One of the boys has missed his train, whilst he's on the mobile explaining this, he misses the next one too. It's 08.50 now, and our man ambles sheepishly across to the car - I'm really glad I got that early train.

Drum Brae, 09.10, and we pick up our sixth man. He's got the short straw and is in the rear-facing seats in the back of the estate car.

Calendar, 10.00. The last time we were here it was a glorious autumn day and Jason was flying to another course record in the Trossachs; I would only see him once more after that, at the hill climb - he won that too.

Lix Toll, 10.30, and our 'tail-gunner' feels sick. We stop, haul him out, and I climb in.

As we crossed Rannoch Moor it looked briefly like the rain might stop, there was a bit of sun shining through the gloom, despite the torrents in every little valley.

We made it with about ten miutes to spare, the rain had turned serious; the church was full, and we were shepherded into the hall at the back, which was 'standing-room-only.'

The service was as good as these things can be, the minister had done his homework, and Bob Taylor struggled manfully through his speech; "our hero". Aye Bob, I never though of it that way, but that's right.

And the British champion's skinsuit, on a Scottish rider's back in Scottish races, it was marvellous, you're right, Bob.

The minister read out a letter from Caroline which will accompany Jason on his final journey; that was hard and the tears were close.

Outside, the rain was dramatic; the coffin in the back of the hearse; the big crowd, familiar faces and strangers alike, still stunned and with the rain dripping from their black clothing. Caroline, her pretty face twisted in grief but still taking time to make sure the twins' seatbelts were fastened - and all under the watchful eye of the TV cameras. It just didn't seem real.

As we drove homewards, back along Loch Linhe-side in that downpour it finally sunk in that we'd never see that tall figure; back flat, still and composed in the saddle, the cranks flying around and that chiselled, focussed face, skinny - but healthy and handsome, ever again.

I'm lucky. I took the time to tell him he was 'special' when I did, for some people, it's too late.

We'll all miss you, Jason.

• 14/10/07 :: Scottish Hill Climb Championship
• 07/10/07 :: The Tour de Trossachs
• 24/09/07 :: Scottish Olympic Time Trial Championship
• 17/06/07 :: Scottish 25 Mile Time Trial Championship
• 28/05/07 :: Scottish 10 Mile Time Trial Championships
• 16/03/07 :: We're Off! The Scottish Season starts with some transfer news
• 14/10/06 :: Scottish Hill Climb Championship
• 01/10/06 :: The Tour de Trossachs
• 10/09/06 :: Tour of the Campsies
• 04/09/06 :: Interview - following Jason's win in the British Circuit Time Trial Championship
• 03/09/06 :: British Circuit Time Trial Championship
• 12/06/06 :: Interview - discussing the postponement of the Scottish 25 Mile Time Trial Championship
• 05/06/06 :: Interview - following Jason's win in the British 25 Mile Time Trial Championship

Jason MacIntyre R.I.P.

Chatting with pals.

Jason and Chloe.

Chatting after a race with his family.

Warming up before the Scottish 25 Champs, 2006.

British Champion!

Riding for Edge RT.

The 34 year-old multiple Scottish champion was returning from a training run in the Spean Bridge area when the tragedy occured at a spot known locally as Carr's corner on the A82 road.

Despite being taken by ambulance to Belford Hospital in the town, he was subsequently pronounced dead from his injuries.

A late-bloomer, whilst giving indications of his quality as a rider over the last 15 years, it was only in the last two seasons that he realised the potential that many observers had long felt he harboured.

Dedicated. Classy. Inspiring.

At the end of the 2005 season, Jason began to return to form after a spell of illness. After training right through the Highland winter and displaying fanatical attention to his diet, he emerged at the start of the 2006 season slimmer, more flexible and stronger than at any stage in his career.

Whilst Scots had long known of Jason's potential, it was not until he beat former double World Track Champion Chris Newton, to win the British 25 Mile Time Trial Championship that the wider cycling public were alerted to his ability.

His pride pricked by what he felt was a lack of recognition of his 25 victory, he removed all doubts about the validity of his win by beating multiple Britiish Time Trial Champion Michael Hutchison, to take the British Cycling Circuit Time Trial Championship later that same season.

Jason always had time to chat.

The 2007 season saw him in even more towering form: Jason won the Scottish 10 Mile Time Trial Championship by two minutes and beat Graeme Obree's long-standing Scottish 10 mile record.

Hutchison narrowly beat him for the British 10 Mile title but in the 25 he was unstoppable, brushing-off the pressure of being defending champion to beat Hutchison convincingly.

Ironically, the race which perhaps gained him most recognition was one which he did not win; defending his British Cycling Circuit Championship, he punctured when on a ride which looked to have former Tour de France yellow jersey holder David Millar heading for the silver medal behind the flying Highlander.

With Bradley Wiggins not riding the road time trial at the Bejing Olympics, and David Millar barred from the same event due to his drug taking admissions, an Olympic slot for Jason was no pipe dream.

Sadly, the very best of Jason MacIntyre will never be seen.

He is survived by his wife Caroline, and twin daughters Chloe and Morgan, to whom we extend our deepest sympathies.

Gregor Russell

Today I heard the tragic news of the death of Jason MacIntyre.

As many people in the cycling world know, he rode for my team for nearly his entire cycling career. In the near-twenty years together we went through a lot of great times, and a few not-so-great times too. Over that time he not only became a very good friend to me, but he also developed into a fantastic athlete.

As with most people at the top of their sport, his attention to detail and fastidious preparation was remarkable.

We first met when I took the National Team to the RÁS International Cycle Race in Ireland. Jason crashed and punctured at least once every day for the first five days, but got up and made it back to the bunch each time, only being unable to take the start when a sickness bug struck, and he was barely able to stand, let alone ride his bike.

His approach inspired me to start a team and build it around him, and a few years later we returned to Ireland for the Tour of the North where Jason won two stages, as well as the race overall and leading us to the team prize.

He went to France to try and pursue cycling as a career however the arrival of his twin girls, Chloe and Morgan, meant he was unable to return the following season. Indeed their premature birth halted his cycling for a couple of years.

On his return he was, to my amazement, even better and stronger than before, and he went on to win five Scottish Grand Prix events on the trot, as well as winning the Glasgow-Dunoon British Premier Calendar race, following that quickly with a win in the Wanlockhead race.

Since then he has won countless Scottish Time Trial, Road Race, and Track titles with apparent ease.

His selection for the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games was certainly well earned, however he was overlooked for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Sydney, and this was proven to be a somewhat short-sighted decision when he went on to win the blue riband event of British cycling: the 25 Mile Time Trial Championship. Then, with even more aplomb Jason won the British Circuit Time Trial Championship.

His target then became the Beijing Olympics to be held later this year, which he had been shortlisted for.

Sadly he will now be unable to fulfil that chapter in his career.

My family and I, and all of Jason's former team-mates, send our deepest condolences to his family.

Jason and Gregor at the Davie Bell Road Race in 2006.

Ed Hood

The news about Jason Macintyre stunned me, his face flashed before my eyes and the tears just couldn't be stopped.

There are only two people I've seen in Scottish racing who have really left their mark on me:

One was Graham Obree. I can still see him torturing himself over the Dukes Pace on one of those Heath Robinson creations he used to ride; complete with single chain ring, on his way to breaking Robert Millar's Trossachs course record.

The other image is of Jason. His position perfect, back flat and parallel to the road surface, eating up the tar, flowing straight and true with that marvellous lightness of touch on the pedals.

You either love time testing or you hate it - I love it. For me, Jason MacIntyre was the time triallist's time triallist: his style, his cadence, his lines through the bends, his attention to detail with clothing and equipment, his single-mindedness about training and diet. Everything was done properly.

I can remember the "old" Jason at the Scottish 'Olympic' time trial champs, north of Dundee a few years ago - he went off-course when victory looked in the bag.

The 'new' Jason was different. He would have driven and ridden that course beforehand, no-one would have known it better, and for him to go off-course would have been unthinkable.

Many business people, if you ask them about why it took them until such-and-such a time to gain success, will say; "I finally got serious." The winter of 2005 was when Jason 'got serious'."

He became especially serious about his diet. He was never what you call 'fat' at the best of times, but as the pounds came off and the power-to-weight ratio improved, he just got faster and faster. I looked in awe at his legs back at the Scottish Circuit Time Trial Championship at Eglinton last autumn. Very few professionals have legs like that: cut, sculpted, brown, and always the long-johns to keep all of that hard fought muscle warm.

I've already written about his British title wins - dazzling rides, but I'm convinced that the best was yet to come. I felt there was an Olympic Time Trial Medal in those long legs.

We'll never know if I'm right about that, but what I do know is that Scottish cycling has lost one of it's greats, and I've lost a friend who meant so much to me.

Jason starts the British 25 champs - which he won.

Phil on one of his own immaculate machines.

The recent Phil Young Memorial TT was a tremendous success. The weather was a bit cold and damp but it certainly didn't dampen the enjoyment of the field.

Every rider in the race got a prize, and it was really nice to see the expression on the face of riders who have never won a prize before.

The promoting GS Modena club would like to express their sincere thanks for the massive contribution everyone made in keeping Phil's name ever-present in our minds.

Result

1. Bob Taylor - GLASGOW WHLS CC 0:33:10
2. Sandy Wallace - SANDY WALLACE CYCLES 0:33:10
3. George Black - SPOKES RT 0:35:23
4. Barry Duncan - EDINBURGH RC 0:32:25
5. Derek Stewart - DEESIDE THISTLE CC 0:35:59
6. Pete Lambie - FIFE CYCLING 2000 0:33:20
7. Alan Solway - KENNOWAY RC 0:35:42
8. James Brewster - DUNDEE WHLS 0:36:59
9. Ian Anderson - DUNDEE WHLS 0:34:00
10. David McCallum - DUNDEE WHEELERS CC 0:38:14
11. Stefan Czmerys - DUNFERMLINE CC 0:37:08
12. Graham Walsh - SANDY WALLACE CYCLES 0:34:08
13. Jonny May - ERC BICYCLEWORKS 0:34:09
14. Kevin Tait - ERC BICYCLEWORKS 0:35:12
15. Graham Jones - ERC BICYCLEWORKS 0:34:33
16. Gareth George - ERC BICYCLEWORKS 0:38:27
17. James Law - PERTH UNITED 0:37:22
18. Donald Alari - DUNFERMLINE CC 0:39:30
19. Colin Russell - ERC BICYCLEWORKS 0:38:17
20. David Mitchell - PERTH UNITED 0:42:17

Phil in the mid-80's, racing one of his own frames in an early-season time trial.

To celebrate the race and the reason for having it, VeloResults wanted to add some little stories of our own about Phil:

Ed Hood

I missed the Phil Young race last year, I was working, Phil would just have shaken his head - work was something you did only when you had to pay the bills, buy new tubs or book a flight for you and your bike to Majorca.

That said, when he worked, he worked well, like the Buddha says; "Live every act fully, as if it were your last."

I missed his race again this year, but I was at the finish of the Tour of Britain, talking to Evan and James. Phil would have approved.

My little tale of Phil is from 1987, he was seeing Margaret Allen at the time and he'd been helping her at a time trial in England on Saturday afternoon - she was chasing BBAR times.

After the race Phil jumped in his van and drove north to Westferry, where I was riding a 100 on the Sunday morning. Phil and Margaret arrived at some un-Godly hour, slept in the van, and I was surprised to see them at 05.30 or whatever horrendous hour it was I arrived at the start.

Phil fed me around the full 100 miles and was there to sponge me down and give me a massage at the finish, no doubt he would have been pulling my leg all the while, he always did - I miss you, Phil.

Martin Williamson

I first met Phil when I was a wee slip of a lad, jings! - 30 years ago! I joined the Velo Sportiv club, run by Jocky Allan from his Edinburgh shop in Jane Street at "the foot of the Walk", and was immediately taken under the wings of the "old guys” (when you're 12, that's anyone over 18), to be taken care of and shown the ropes of club cycling.

Phil was probably older that the rest of them, but it was with him that I struck up the strongest friendship, and with whom the 6 "schoolies" in the club had the best laugh.

Together with Jocky, big Ken Klessa, Frank Anderson, Ran Shenton, Jim Smellie, Stevie Hall and co., Phil introduced me 'properly' to bikes; to going out ALL Sunday long, covering miles and miles whilst there was any daylight left; to racing short time trials and schoolboy bunch races; and to preparing and looking after your equipment - he was absolutely fastidious with his kit, and that's something that rubbed off on me. I used the same bike, a Holdsworth "Pro 531" for years, keeping it immaculate, with the race timekeepers jokingly asking me every week if I'd just bought a new bike.

Looking back, perhaps disassembling the brakes and gear mechs every week to clean them was taking things a little too far...

Later on, when things got a bit more serious, Phil and I were again team-mates, now in the G.S. Modena team which was sponsored by Ed Hood's Conservatory company, and along with several other up-and-coming riders, I would head over to Phil's house a couple of times a week, for "The Rub".

Phil gave a terrific sports massage, and was also great at listening to your stories and problems, and offering sound advice whilst doing so. Of course, it was all for free, simply for the love of the sport and to help the local riders.

It was never clear what his neighbours thought of the regular trail of lads (and a few lasses) turning up at his front door, with the upstairs front room curtains drawn a few minutes later, but Phil didn't give two hoots about that.

That all said, Phil didn't like to be taken for granted. If he thought someone was trying to be a bit 'fly' and not pay his fair share of something, for example the petrol costs, he wouldn't hesitate in "chinning" them, asking them to stump up the money; you always knew where you stood with Phil.

In the late 80's, there used to be a 5-day stage race held in the South of England around Easter time called the "Tour of the English Riviera". As manager of the Scottish team, it was Phil's job to drive us all the way down to Bristol, around the race, and back up to Edinburgh afterwards, in a hired minibus – along with all the other managerial, soigneur, and mechanic tasks as well, of course.

He never minded these 10 hour drives, never once complained whilst me, Malky Little, Willie Gibb, Davey Finlayson, et al, snored away completely selfishly, snuggled into the baggage and wheels. On this race, at breakfast one morning, when we were faced with a very lumpy 90 mile stage, the landlady served up a miserly portion of equally lumpy porridge. Willie's Glaswegian deadpan comment to her of "Ma budgie wid eat mair than that!" had Phil in stitches. The landlady didn't know what to say. That really tickled Phil, and he laughed about it often afterwards. He loved dry humour and one-liners. He had a great sense of humour, and a smile came easily to his friendly face.

Phil had a big impact on my life, helping to form my attitudes to many things inside and outside of cycling, as well as a love of Mallorca, and not forgetting introducing one of his favorite words - "Jings!" - into my vocabulary, and I still use it a lot to this day. Cheers Phil, thanks for everything.

Dave Chapman

I remember one year, the team was riding the Border Four Day at Easter. Phil had been at a training camp in Majorca and the flight home was overnight. It didn't occur to him to go home and have a few hours sleep. He just jumped in his motor and drove straight down to the Border to look-after us.

I should put the memory of a friend before commercial activity, but when you are under client pressure to get a job finished, it is difficult. Phil had his priorities right, though: "the bike" was number one, and everything else was organised around that.

I saw Phil at races for years before I got to know him properly. Small, tanned, dapper and smiling, he was one of the few people who could get a small bike looking well proportioned and he looked good on his always-immaculate machines.

Phil never had anything but the best kit. He would be an all-carbon man nowadays for sure, and his bikes were invariably in perfect working order. There was never a 'sticky' back brake on a Phil Young bicycle.

As I said, cycling really was his life and he would despair of me chasing around daft in pursuit of the 'almighty dollar'. I understand better now Phil. For him work had its place but money was just a tool to buy Campag and fund trips to his beloved Majorca. That said, if a job was to be done then it had to done to the highest standard.

Phil on one of his own immaculate machines.

Those infamous words which many tradesmen use: "we'll get away with that" we're never uttered by Phil Young.

He was a generous man; with his possessions and with his time. His house went like a fair; he'd be rubbing legs, there would be guys weight training, someone would have popped-in to borrow his good 28 spokers. It would be difficult to find a house like that now.

One year Phil had briefed his men that he wanted a jersey to hang-up in the hall - overall, sprints, mountains, anything as long it was a jersey. Gregor Russell was the first of his boys to bring one back - trouble was, it was a Pringle he’d won in the Hawick road race; Phil loved banter like that.

And if you needed a man to take care of you through a hundred which started at some un-Godly hour at Westferry then Phil was your man.

When I first knew him he was in the Velo Sportiv, he joined the Modena around the same time as his protege, Finlay Gentleman. It was as if Phil had always been a part of things. His quick wit was always to the fore at club meets and on club runs woe betide you if your bike had frayed cable ends or a noisy transmission. He would rib you mercilessly.

One of his favourite runs was around Loch Leven. He would put the bike in the van, drive over and meet me at my work at Kinross. He would always half-wheel me up the climb out of Scotlandwell.

That the GS Modena should use that circuit was very appropriate; it's just a shame that those dreaded "traffic conditions" meant a move to straighter, more easily marshalled roads.

Next year I'll work on those priorities and get myself back up there to remember the "wee man."