Tour of Britain

Some great pics there, ElPrez

Elprez, great blog and the TOB pics superb, thank you for sharing your day with us..

whistles jeeze that was impressive from Cav. The overhead footage of the final sprint was great, shows him leaving a gap after a cautious final corner and then coming strait around the 4 men in front. Maybe not the stiffest opposition but impressive to see how much extra he has at the top end. Super.

Elprez, great blog and the TOB pics superb, thank you for sharing your day with us..

WOW I WAS COMPLETELY WRONG! Check the blog again....I mixed up Cav and Renshaw. Cav was WAY back in 4th with 75 yards to go. I only just realised after watching the ITV highlights this morning.

Rastafari Greetings to each and every one,
On Saturday morning I got up early and took the 6.02 train from Liverpool Street out to Sudbury in Suffolk to go and watch the 7th stage of the race. The train was deserted and the rain had held off, so I was really looking forward to seeing things. I rode from Sudbury to Lavenham and saw all the bollards and signs out, but no crowds as yet as it was only 8 am. Then rode along the route they would take to Monks Eleigh to meet my family – the village was decked out in bunting, I guess recycled from the royal wedding in April. Had a coffee etc then at 10.30 am we headed down to the village to watch the race. There were quite a few people out and loads of local club cyclists all along the route. I was rocking full Brixton Cycles kit and everyone came over to say hello and chat bike stuff . We got in a nice position on an upward bend as you leave Monks Eleigh, and then waited for things to happen.
First of all there was a stream of police motor cyclists who would effectively cork, a la critical mass, each junction to stop people from driving along the route. Then one or two team cars and a media car and then first break away group came past. This group broke early and were at least 6 minutes ahead of the peleton. This group stayed ahead of the peleton all the way to
Sandringham which was no mean feat. The stage was eventually won by Gediminas Bagdonas who rides for An Post – Sean Kelly, which my sources tell me are a pretty small outfit, so again well done to them....
The peleton then approached and the riders seemed to be pretty much sticking in their teams.
Then the team cars came through. The Rapha Condor Sharp car looked nice but pricey.
Finally a broom wagon came past to many cheers. Then that was it and we all went our separate ways having had a lovely time together, with the race heading through lovely Suffolk countryside on its way up to Norfolk.
I then spent the day with my parents and came home that evening having clocked up 40 miles, seen a lovely site, enjoyed being out in the countryside and all that sort of thing.
Peace and Love to all,
Tim

great to see the win from cavendish at the end, that was an incredible sprint to make up the distance. obviously all the big riders were saving themselves for the WC but what a rider he is.

Just seen the 2012 route is up. There is no London stage, just a stage from Reigate to Guilford.

Approximate route:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5430257

like we need a london stage in 2012..

Well this is a London Cycling forum and there has been at least 1 London stage in all of the recent editions of this bike race. I'd have thought there would be some interest in the news!

perhaps. but timing of TOB with olympics (aug) and paralympics (sept) in town is too much logisitical headache.

it makes sense not to bring TOB here, anyway guildford is the cycling capital of europe, no?

Non!

Well with no London stage at least they won't waste my time calling for volunteer marshalls only to arrive there at stupid o'clock and find that for all intents and purposes that we were not needed.

I don't know if he was having a bad week but the organiser that threw the box of 'marshalling bibs' at the volunteers then pissed off didn't do much to encourage us to do the same next year.

I guess what I meant to say was 'here is some interesting news', I don't really mind if the stage is inside or outside london. It might have been nice to have the finish in one of the UK's other capital cities but i think the race organises have to do the best with what funding and help they can get from local authorities.

So ITV has just said that they'll be broadcasting two hours live from every stage. Great news.

I've been enjoying the ads for their coverage!

Will it be a highlights show - ala tdf?

Late to the game ITV shitbags better not lose Eurosport coverage.

Eurosport pwns ITV

I know but as this bandwagon jumping station gets in on cycling Eurosport could lose money to advertisers and afford to cover less. Then I have to put up with the shit ITV ad fest

Will it be a highlights show - ala tdf?

So ITV has just said that they'll be broadcasting two hours live from every stage. Great news.

.

I know but as this bandwagon jumping station gets in on cycling Eurosport could lose money to advertisers and afford to cover less. Then I have to put up with the shit ITV ad fest

but it's the home of cycling. They tell us this everytime...

And there's no way ITV would ever show the Quebec Sprint Challenge. Tbh not sure why Eurosport did. And surely the spring classics are safe from ITV: Jo British just won't get them

ITV are slowly expanding their coverage.. like gangrene..

Finished Tour of Britain. Ouch. Waiting to hear my time now (this includes slow rides to start/from finish): http://app.strava.com/rides/21256161

Just been to watch todays stage outside my parents house. Awesome!

Here's where we stood yesterday!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0RNbMrpHYo&feature=plcp