Came 438th (I think) at 8 hours 28 minutes. Not bad for a first effort. Shame not to have made it under 7 hours but the long stops were needed in the hot weather
I think the photo say’s it all really. This was only 50 miles into it and the first proper climb. Not enough food in the belly and definately not enough to drink. Still after another two passes I felt a load better and was able to climb a bit better.
Shame that this was the only photo on offer from Kennedy, my wifr took a better one!
Fred Whitton results for the St Bees lot
So it’s over. A lovely day out with all St Bees starters finishing one way or another. The official results aren’t in but my timing was 8 hours 28 minutes, so well under the 9 hours target. Only a little sunburn to contend with today and not too much stiffness. A full report when the results are in…..
ooooo eck…….what have I let myself in for?? I’ve been up Hardknott twice, both of those times I nearly had a heart attack!!
The Tour and cycling in general could do with out the recent headlines. If the rumours and subsequent A and B positive test results may cement Floyd Landis in the Tours history books for all the wrong reasons as he could be the first person the be stripped of his title due to doping. The now common place guilty until proven innocent routine earlier adopted by the T-Mobile team with Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso just goes to show the lengths that will be taken to stop cheating in this already damaged sport.
There will of course be a thousand and one excuses and a similar amount of explanation’s as to how this came about through natural effects or conspiracy theories as to how this abnormal ratio was detected. The simple fact is that rules are rules and if they are broken then there are consequences. Not so long ago Alain Baxter had his Olympic medal taken away for an infringement with a Vicks inhaler, legal over here in the UK but in the US it contains a banned substance. Try as he might to recover the ban it has effectively ended a promising career at the hands of an over zealous ruling and a genuine mistake. If the same happens to Landis then at least the rulings will be consistent
Lets just see what the B sample says. I bet you a tenner it’s a fail as well.
