Cav delivers - again

Saturday 28  October 2017, Day 5 of London Six Day Cycle - Lee Valley VeloPark

Back for the third London Six Day event, and for me my second 6 Day race. last year saw a full house on  most nights thanks to the 'Wiggo' factor. So the crowds were slightly down on last year but they still left happy.

They saw a total domination of the women's event by GB World Champion, Katie Archibald and then the icing on the cake - Wiggo may be gone but his former partner Mark Cavendish was back, this time in an Isle Of Man duo with Peter Kennaugh. They left it late but came on top in the Derny final then followed that up by taking a lap in the last Madison of the night. Great entertainment.

Goodbye Wiggo - the public still love you

Friday & Sunday 28/30 October 2016 - London 6 Day Cycle - Lee Valley Velodrome

I had been to the track 3 times before, Revolution, World Cup and World Championship but this was my first taste of 6 day cycling and I am hooked.

Next will be to see it on the continent - the races are similar but whilst in the normal Keirin it is 6 sprinters behind a derny (moped) but at the six day it was 8 cyclists behind 8 derny bikes!

Best way to describe the 6 day event - cycling mixed with disco and the darts from the Ally Pally - just go you will love it.

And Wiggo? His last event in the UK and racing with Cav - but not the glorius end he wanted as a big cloud over his head with the use of prescribed drugs - but by day 4, he knew the public not only trusted him but they still love him.


In the end Wiggo and Cav lost it on the last race, but what a way to go out- spectacular, full throttle racing with the crowd right behind him- make sure you book tickets for next year.

No Wiggo but Cav takes the Red Jersey and stage win - Giro d'italia 2013

A few days in Verona enabled me to witness the last stage of the 2013 Giro d'italia in Brescia. I have been fortunate enough to see stages of the Tour of Britain but this was a far different experience. Arriving in Brescia in the morning, being able to walk the route of the last seven laps of the city route and witness the big stands, crowds, free gifts and the Italian love for cycling.



A number of Brits were in town, many in Sky shirts - guessing many had booked early hoping to see a Sir Brad Wiggins win. But Bradley had departed Italy weeks earlier his race ruined by injury and the weather. But there was still plenty for the British to cheer. As Mark Cavendish not only won the stage but also regained the Red Jersey.



So we had come to witness the 'Paul Weller' of cycling, Sir Bradley Wiggins win the pink jersey but ended up cheering the 'Manx Missile' as he won red.



Next year we have the Giro starting in Belfast, the Tour in Yorkshire and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow - 2014 looks like it will be yet another great year for British cycling.

Saw the mighty Cav

Saturday 17th September 2011 - Tour of Britain Cycle Race, start of stage 7 (Bury St Edmunds), and the hill climb (Christchurch Park, Ipswich)



Mark Cavendish with his new team mates?

Sport spectating for free! An early start this morning to get to Bury St Edmunds to witness the start of Stage 7 of the Tour of Britain then a quick dash back to Ipswich to watch the hill climb in Christchurch Park.

As a longtime fan of the Tour De France and cycling in general, it is great that the surge in the sports priority has enabled us to witness the unique spectacle of road racing. I am sure there are similarities with Grand Prix and GP Motor Cycling, all the tour buses, bikes set up, mechanics but unlike Grand Prix - all free.






Angel Hill was covered in the tour buses, the cars with the bikes on their roofs and the cyclists themselves. The lack of security of formality, the ability to touch the bikes, talk to some of the riders. That may be getting harder as Mark Cavendish - 'the Manx missile' was mobbed between tour bus and the start.




It also gave me the opportunity to witness the Team Sky team close up, the flash Jaguar cars, the bus (hotel on wheels, the clothing.bikes, mechanics. I was even able to stand right next to the Team Sky Sports Director, Sean Yates as he was interviewed by ITV.




A great experience, but being at the start you do not witness the pelaton in full flow, but a quick dash to Ipswich and I was able to witness Cavendish, Thomas and others fly up the hill in Christchurch Park.




Now to get that bike out of the garage.