2013 National Championships thread (spoilerific)

Dorset_Boy

Excellent insights Alan - thanks!
Sounds like it was a great day.

IanLD

Used to ride up Montrose Street every day on my way to Strathclyde Uni. It is quite a sharp climb and good to see the crowds lining it.

Stayed round the corner from Great George st as a student but only rode it a few times. Bike wasn't much help when going to the pub!

Good to hear all the positive comments and they really were two great events.

Having a bit more information out on course would be good, as we only got updates when the car passed giving the gaps. Chalkboard bike could even have been used to tell us more as it moved between the groups.

alan_a

skylla wrote:

nweststeyn wrote:

When the 4 were chasing, it was always Millar or Cav on the front doing the work... source: my eyes.

Well most of the time [source: my photos]. I also felt that Cav and Millar allowed Stannard to let off some steam as the gap was 15 secs in one lap and 45s or so in the next. Would make sense, right?

I think the fact that Stannard & Fenn made such an early break from the other 4 was actually a bit of a fluke. When you see the last lap attacks and read their post race comments Cav & Millar had an obvious plan.

Stannard & Fenn crossed the 1st lap finish line only metres in front of the peloton. It was almost processional as if the peloton were saying " you're the defending champion, enjoy"

IMO Fenn went with Stannard because Cav wanted to wait for Millar, who started the race almost at the back of the peloton and subsequently got held back by the crash prior to even crossing the start line.

Once Millar got to the front he and Cav put the power on and dragged the Sky boys with them.

dgstewart

Yep, thanks for the info Alan. It was hard to track the gaps out on the course, as information was limited and we kept seeing them at different points.

Alan A wrote:

Doubt we will ever see a national champs like it again.

Unlikely, unless it's seen as such a success that they repeat the city course formula. Could also plan a "half-way house" type course that takes in some of a city and some "normal" country roads with some climbs, maybe slightly longer laps and fewer of them, but still enough for people to see the riders lots and encourage the crowds to turn out.

Definitely looking forward to the Commonwealth Games though . Hopefully bring the kids this time.

graeme_s-2

Having seen what a success it was this time I think they'd be daft not to aim to repeat it (maybe every other, or once every 3 years rather than every single year) with a city centre style course.

Pross

Makes it more expensive and logistically more difficult to close a city centre though rather than some quiet country roads. That said there are some big cities that could host a good circuit, Bristol in particular springs to mind.

alan_a

Lovely wee video at http://www.glasgow2014.com/video/behind ... mpionships

mroli

Pross wrote:

Makes it more expensive and logistically more difficult to close a city centre though rather than some quiet country roads. That said there are some big cities that could host a good circuit, Bristol in particular springs to mind.

Was just thinking Bristol. Swansea could do a good one as well? Bath definitely and you could make it proper lumpy although it might destroy the spectacle.

Turfle

20 times up St Michael's Hill. That'll sort them out.

alan_a

The photo all of Scottish Cycling has been in awe of today. Rab Wardell's chain dropped in the crash at the start. He never quite made it back onto the peloton proper. Not to worry he had fun.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/al2veh7rnp7u9 ... 3%2035.jpg

This was my final time up Montrose Street in the #NRRC in #glasgow on Sunday. The crowd behind me made up of cyclists in Glasgow clubs had been giving the best support despite my difficult race. I'm glad a little wheelie before I bowed out of the race brought a smile to their faces. Thanks to William Blair for the photograph

Trek Factory Racing Soigneur Athletic Skincare Alpine Bikes Trek Bicycle Hunter Fit Scottish Cycling Bontrager Oakley JBL

#cycling #trek #madone #roadrace #wheelie #crowd #montrosestreet

FJS

mroli wrote:

Pross wrote:

Makes it more expensive and logistically more difficult to close a city centre though rather than some quiet country roads. That said there are some big cities that could host a good circuit, Bristol in particular springs to mind.

Was just thinking Bristol. Swansea could do a good one as well? Bath definitely and you could make it proper lumpy although it might destroy the spectacle.

Nowt better than Sheffield . Already has the Elite Crit series Sheffield Grand Prix

tailwindhome

Was Cavendish as good a one day racer before he went to OPQS?

mroli

FJS wrote:

Nowt better than Sheffield . Already has the Elite Crit series Sheffield Grand Prix

Oooh. Sheffield would be good too.... No-one in the city centre though is there? They're all in bloody Meadowhall...

frenchfighter

SPA RR and TT highlights (30mins):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... T1XISlpdMk
BEL full RR (3hrs) looking forward to watching this later:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 3xXQjOxhW4
NED full RR (1.5hrs):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... C1BE_6D1X0

Enjoy!