Report from our Old Pro in Spain

From Martin Rutherford in Spain - That's him on the left - looking mean!


Phew. The heatwave in this part of Spain has been here since the middle of May, 34 degrees. We are now end July and in the 40’s with temperatures of 50 being talked about for August!! The Murcian Regional Government has been giving out warnings. It’s a good job I love the weather, walking around in t shirts and shorts all day and training with the minimum of race clothing. The only slight drawback is the water in the bottles, after 10k you can make tea with it!

I did send loads of photos of tour of Murcia but for unknown reason, nobody is allowed to see them?

I have missed out one report as we had a number of friends and relatives over to stay and not had a chance to write it, so I will do a condensed version up to date.

I am back to good fitness now and able to put in some good rides, but two and a half months ago it was a different story.

May 17th. Roldan, Nr La Manga. 26 degrees. Flat, 70k, 183 riders, unable to hang on in last 15k as speed was up to 55kph (pictures of sprint finish attached).




May 24th. Torre Pacheco, 32 degrees, flat(ish). 75k, 175 riders. Able to hang on until the last small climb of the day so finished with a small group, 2 minutes back (so getting better).

May 30th …Pozo Estrecho, 70k, 195 riders, 1 big lap so it will be a bit of a Tour of South East Murcia. After last weeks race I felt a little fitter but still I reckon only about 75% fit. In all these races you have to be 100% fit and to get anywhere you have to have some form. So before the start I am on a hiding for nothing but I have to go through this to get any sort of race fitness. We are on the start line waiting for about 10 minutes. Then we’re told the ambulance had to take one of the riders to hospital before the start. The arrival of the ambulance signals the start. All OK for the first 20k because it’s flat, still fast but I can cope with it. No one able to get away because all the big teams are trying to consolidate their positions. This late in the Series I’m hanging in there but after about 40k we ride into a small town near La Union. Unfortunately for me there is a 2k climb, nothing steep but I’m a bit concerned as the speed is 40k at the bottom of the small climb. I ran out of gas about 100m before the top, this was good enough for me to be on my own until 2 other riders catch me on the long descent to the coast. We were going well and picked up 5 other riders on our way back to the finish. At the finish line we’re 8 minutes down (at least I finished with other riders so could be getting better).


Spanish Cup race next. Los Alcazares. June 7th. The course has changed from the last 2 years. It normally incorporates a very long hard climb of 5k at 10%, but this year because of roadworks, it had to be changed (what a disappointment…not). Lots of big teams from all over Spain in this one and with the temperature in the 30’s and a strong wind building up, this flatter course will be hard and fast. Just before the off we’re told the 75k is on 2 circuits. The first one is a 10k loop, taking in the town and coast road. The first lap is just fast with a few riders trying to move away. We go through the finish to start the second lap, on the fast section with a tail wind, 5 riders have 300mts. At this point I go off the front and put my head down to catch them. I know there are some riders behind me but I wanted to test myself. After going up with the leading 5 I ease up and look round. We only have 50mts on the bunch at this point. There is another attack which takes 4 riders away. The rest of us are joined by the peleton. The other 4 stay away until passing the finish for the 2nd time. Another 20 riders come out of the peleton and join up with the leading 4. With 2 laps done on the small circuit we turn onto a 50k lap, taking in some small climbs. Not too difficult but the side wind puts us in the right hand gutter in one long line all trying to hold position. The 24 rider front group stayed away for the sprint. Our main peleton came in 3 mins down with all the prizes gone.


June 21st. 5.30pm, 34 degrees. We are in Mazarron, my home town, for the Regional Championships (similar to divisional championships in UK). I was bronze medal over 50s last year when we had our own separate race, but this year the race is going to be raced as one for all category riders and sorted out at the end. Sounds a nightmare, but with video and photo equipment, they find it easy.The 85k started fast and on a small rise 7 riders move away. My team mate is in this group along with 2 ex master world champions and some good elite riders. Everybody knows this group is going a long way in this race so the chase is on. It’s not a hilly circuit of 6 laps but there are a few long rises (its very strange racing on roads I normally just train on, with the added bonus of the police stopping all traffic to make it a unique situation). Most of the race we are in one long line at 50kph but on one rise on the last lap a rider jumps away. I see Graham Baxter go with him. My other team mate gets on Baxters wheel. I’m in the right position to join up. Also we start to make some progress but with the peleton still on 50kph tempo we are taken back after 4k. Coming into the last 5k, the lead group have 20 seconds on us and looks like we are going to catch them. It’s an uphill finish, not steep but hard after 80k They just hold on in the sprint with the bunch at 2 seconds !! We have to wait for the results to be sorted out. My team mate in the break was 4th in the race and 4th in his category, my other team mate was nowhere in the under 30’s and I was 4th in over 50’s so in our home town it’s the results that count and we came away with nothing!

19 July. Algorfa, near Ora. 10.30am, 38 degrees, 60k, 75 riders. The circuit is on a small 3k lap with a little tricky section through a roundabout. It’s not dangerous but will have to take care as there is only room through for one rider at a time. After one lap “parade” around, we are away to a fast start. A few attacks by various riders. These riders pull away, 2 from my team, 1 from an Alicante club. With 4 laps left, the 3 have 25 seconds from the main peleton, because of all the attacks and speed of the race, there’s only 35 riders left to finish the race. A good day for our team. 1st and 3rd in the break, 15th and me 19th in the final sprint (we are all in the prizes). No races in this area until mid August so back to the beach to cool off in this very hot summer.

PS Photos attached, not only of the races but a couple from our Team Presentation, which was held in the Town Hall with the Mayor, to publicise the formation of our new club in Mazarron.