Willesden Cycling Club

For all us Wendy fans I’m afraid the game is up. I spoke to Vyv earlier this evening who confirmed that Wendy had climbed off between Carhaix and Loudeac. The time she lost as a result of her being struck down by another rider plus the swelling to her knee and elbow meant that she had to stop. It was clearly the right thing to do.

The rider who caused the collision had fully realised what he had done, but he did not have the decency to stop to help. Instead he chose to ride off, leaving Wendy at the side of the road with a buckled wheel and unknown injuries. To that rider I have the following words, when you return home give all your bikes away, take all your cycling jerseys and all your cycling mementos and watch them burn. Never ever again climb on a bike again, nor ever watch a cycle race or ever speak about our beloved sport again – you are unworthy of the brotherhood of cyclists.

The good news is that Wendy has by now made her way back to Paris where Jim has arrived to meet her. Wendy had the fitness and mental strength to finish this ride, she has proved that to all of us over the past year of qualifying. She undertook this event with the respect that it demands and she was not found to be wanting.

I have some more positive news about Yoshi, He has somehow become separated from his transponder, which explains why his times have not been showing. I understand he is making his way back to Paris but is suffering from stomach problems and is eating very little apart from a few grains of rice. Yoshi is made of resolute material and will somehow finish I’m sure.

Miles Back

20:30 24 Aug 2011

Jim Mears has called me to say that Wendy has had a bit of a spill on her way to Brest. A rider overtook her far too closely, clipped her arm and knocked her off. She has hurt her knee and elbow as well as buckling her front wheel. The wheel has been sorted and she is soldiering on, brave lass.

Yoshi is the only rider not to have reach Brest yet. Martin is getting within smelling distance of Paris and I feel sure he will be there before my bulletin tomorrow morning.

Vyv has told me that the weather has been poor over the last 24 hours with thunderstorms and heavy rain for the riders as well as the support crew. They should really try holding this event in the summer.

I’m sure Gladys will be rushing out membership forms to Camp Willesden at Loudeac as we seem to have acquired a few new riders!

Full details of the riders can be found here

Miles Back – 18:40 23 Aug 11

Final update for today (it takes ages!). The big news is that Martin Lucas has reached the turn in Brest in a shade under 26 hours. That’s an average of 23.8 km/h for the 618km including all stops. Chapeau Martin.

All riders with the exception of Mel K (he didn’t start until this morning!) have reached Tinteniac. The Willesden Support camp at Loudeac is steadying it self for a very busy night as our riders start to arrive there. Good luck Marianne, Vyv and Steve!

I had a question from Gladys asking why Wendy has been left off the list. As far as I can see she is on the list and is certainly making progress towards her sleeping bag at Loudeac.

I notice a number of our riders do not have a check-in time for Fougeres, I suspect this may be a glitch with the transponder system, which is a new innovation for 2011.

For details of all Willesden riders click here

I’ll do another bulletin tomorrow. In the meantime Night all!

Miles Back