KB reports from the Puncheur sportive down in Sussex (for photos go to sportivephoto.com and look for some vets in Meudon kit who look like they're at death's door):
slowed at 10k when warmed a little and the sun was up to take gilets off and
by the time we got back to the group we were hitting some big stretches of
ice. Trackies Moore and Grant were able to ride through the ice whilst Col
and I waited for Barry; when we could see that he was creeping we started
the charge to catch Grant/Moore, Addison in top form big ringing it over
Ashdown forest with me stuck to his wheel. Took us a good 20k but we caught
them just before a climb then went past causing them to make an effort. I
think Granty's head went a bit then as he started to struggle but gamefuly
held on to the halfway time check. After the check, some food and despite
encouragement fom Col, Granty said go on without him we did the last 30ks
into the wind which seemed to be a head wind all the way round with Col the
strongest on the rises, till we caught Barry (where did he come from?).We
were then caught by three little 7stone kids from Prestonparkvelo who's
combined ages was less than a quarter of mine. We hung on to them, doing an
occasional turn till it split with 5k to go and only Colin could stay with
them, Bob and I gritting our teeth on a long final 2k headwind straight
watching them creep away. Ditchling was steep and seemed to go on for ever,
Colin climbed well, Bob and I crept up on our last legs and even got caught
by two girls talking to each other as they went past and we arrived cold and
exhausted at the top. Granty had gameley carried on and was not that far
down at the end. Great day out, made todays Paris-Nice stage look like a
clubrun, roll on the Spring Onion next weekend."
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