VeloVeritas

The First Tour Doon Hame (4)

I grew up with ‘The Girvan’ – in fact, it took me a long time to stop myself from referring to it as the ‘Grant’s of Girvan.’

Ronnie Boa won it way back when; Henk Lubberding won a stage, Sean Yates, Dave Lloyd, Tony Doyle, all famous names to associate with Girvan.

And of course, there was the Saturday night run down to watch the criterium; or the Monday pilgrimage to watch the last stage. It takes a bit of getting used to the fact that there’s no view of Ailsa Craig through the morning mist.

The Girvan – Straight From The Riders (0)

Ah, the Girvan – and VeloVeritas are right there, with Evan Oliphant (Plowman Craven) and Gary Hand (Endura) keeping us abreast of what’s going on in South West Scotland.

Paul Coats – Looking Forward to the Girvan, Again! (0)

Girvan; who’s ridden it most times?

Squadra Via Manzini-Race Tool rider, Paul Coats must be in the running with 13, or is it 14 starts?

Paul’s not as young as he used to be at 39, so we’ll forgive him the memory lapse. We caught up with him recently, to get his Girvan memories…

The Scottish Power Renewables Girvan 3 – Day Stage Race (0)

“The Girvan” stage race, based in beautiful Ayrshire and Galloway and held over the Easter weekend, has the reputation of being one of the toughest races in Britain, and it certainly does deserve it.

This year the 39th edition is again being run over 3 days and 4 stages, with the 3 road stages taking the riders into wild and remote terrain, most likely in less than ideal weather, which has been deteriorating ominously during the week and with foul conditions including snow predicted to arrive at the weekend, together with over 100 of the UK’s top cyclists, it should be an interesting race…

The ScottishPower Renewables Girvan 3 – Day Stage Race: Preview (0)

It’s “The Girvan” this weekend, and we’ve compiled a little summary of statistics following last year’s race.

The Girvan – Day 3: Stage 4 (0)

Ailsa Craig is lost in the low cloud, visibility isn’t much beyond the breakwater. The rain is a fine, freezing, stinging mist – it’s a perfect day for the last stage at Girvan.

We’ve just agreed that the guys from Bike&Run London, with their cool all-white kit and matching Looks, opened the curtains and began packing the car for the trip home immediately.

The Girvan – Day 2, Stage 3 (0)

Sunday started at 12.01am in the Roxy, Girvan’s answer to Stringfellows. We drank cocktails, there was Bobby Darrin on the sound system, and the talk with the Prada-clad lovelies was of moving to Saint Tropez for the Spring.The scent of Chanel filled the air.

Na – you know what it was really like; but we only had three beers, so there are no war stories.

Best Scot on GC is Gary Hand in 17th at 0.50; best Velo Ecosse rider is Phil Brown at 10.46 on the sheet, but that’s not right, he was in the main group on stage one and only dropped a handful of seconds in the criterium.

The Girvan – Day 1: Stages 1 & 2 (0)

There’s a nip in the air at 07.30 as I stand on Kirkcaldy promenade and await the arrival of Davie and the new Nissan. The big, old Peugeot has gone and he’s got a new Micra now, complete with CD – Yuppie!

I’ll soon be on a different prom – Girvan; I’ve just covered another race which involves a windy sea front. De Panne is on the North Sea, just as cold as the Firth of Clyde, which Girvan fronts onto, but there’s a lot more sand – and money, in Belgium.