Ythan Tour de force at the OVO Energy Tour Series
It was third time lucky when the OVO Energy Tour Series rolled into town on Thursday 16th May. Once more, Aberdeen basked in warm Spring sunshine, showcasing the city at its granite-sparkling best. With the city centre’s most iconic streets transformed into a looping cycle-track, bedecked with advertising hoardings and cheering crowds, the stage was set for a day that celebrated all that is great about cycling.
Having finally re-opened after several years (or at least it felt that way) of road-works, Broad St became the focal point of the races, with the Start / Finish line taking pride of place outside the beautifully restored and imposing Marischal College. The new 1.1 km course followed a loop from Broad St through Upperkirkgate and Schoolhill, before weaving through Back Wynd, Little Belmont St, Belmont St, and emerging back onto Union St.
Ythan Cycle Club had a fantastic presence, with representatives in each of the support races, the iconic blue of their jerseys marking them out clearly as they hurtled around the city streets at breakneck speed. The day’s events kicked off with the youth races, with cycling clubs from around the north of Scotland giving their talented youngsters an opportunity to cycle on the same track as their heroes.
The U8 and U10 riders were the first to test out the new 2019 route. Eilidh Gronkowski was the only Ythanite in this race, finishing in a fine 4th place.
Three young Ythanites lined up in the U12 race – Matthew Smith, Euan Murphy and Andrew Ingram. Ending up on the back row at the start line was not the most auspicious of starts! However all three of them fought their way back through the pack to finish in a fantastic 4th, 5th and 6th positions respectively.
Gavin Gronkowski and Robert Smart worked well together for the first part of the U14 / U16 race, with their tremendous efforts securing them 6th and 7th places respectively. Former Ythan QL rider, Fraser Gault, now racing for Aberdeen Wheelers, completed the Scottish double by winning the U16 races in both the Motherwell and Aberdeen stages. An incredible result for the Oldmeldrum rider.
The youngsters having shown them how it’s done, it was time for the adults to don their lycra and take on the new course. Seven riders lined up in the Cat 3/4 race – Ewan Gronkowski, Stuart King, Mike Giles, Steve Rae, Scott Walker, Tommy Hooper and Mark Shepherd. Ewan held on to his position in the leading pack for most of the 30-minute race, until a 3-man breakaway of Aberdeen Wheelers riders sprinted clear on the penultimate lap. He finished in 7th place (+13.9 seconds). Stuart King finished in 18th place, Mike Giles closely behind in 21st, Steve Rae in 30th, Mark Shepherd in 41st, Scott Walker in 43rd and Tommy Hooper in 46th – chapeau gents!
The women’s race was a real tour de force for the club. They numbered nearly a third of the total participants – a record 9 riders out of 25! Kath Thomson was the first Ythan rider across the line, finishing in 8th place, followed by Jenny Noble in 10th and Carol Middleton in 12th. Allison McKenzie took 16th place, Claire Murphy – 19th, Laura McPherson – 20th, Kath Cable – 21st and Terri Reid and Megan Stronach in 23rd and 24th respectively. Exhausted but exhilarated, they did the club – and coach Paul Winter – proud. Kudos ladies!
Alan Smith was the club’s only representative in the Cat 2/3/4 race. Having triumphed in the Cat 3/4 race in 2018, Smith was forced to battle it out in the tougher race this year. He stayed with the lead group for the first 6 laps, which averaged 44 km/hr, but struggled with the surge in acceleration each time the group left Belmont Street and headed back onto Union Street. As the race progressed he dropped off the back of the lead group, but pushed on to finish 10th Cat 3 and 21st overall.
The support races done and dusted for another year (well done to organiser Colin Allanach, who could finally breath a sigh of relief), excitement was building for the Elite races. History was made in the women’s race, with Jess Roberts of Team Breeze becoming the first woman to win three consecutive Tour Series events. Alex Paton led Canyon dhb home to a men’s team and individual Tour Series win. He and team-mate Charlie Tanfield came first and third, to claim the team prize for their squad.
Spectators and racers alike hailed the best Tour Series event in Aberdeen yet – haste ye back OVO Energy Tour Series!
Ythan CC Confined Time Trial no. 3
A large contingent of riders turned up a very pleasant evening for the 3rd confined TT, held on the out-and-back course on the B9000 from Pitmedden to the roundabout near Foveran, and back. Due to the number of riders, the race was split into two races with 11 women and youths competing in one race, and 15 men competing in the other. It is worth noting that Ewan Gronkowski rode in his first club TT on a standard road bike, and went on to return to the time-keeper in the second fastest time of the night! The times of the three fastest riders were:
- Women
- Wendy Gault 31:06
- Pippa Taverner 33:03
- Laura McPherson 33:30
- Youth
- Gavin Gronkowski 33:30
- Robert Smart 39:02
- Men
- Mike Giles 24:20
- Ewan Gronkowski 24:40
- Steve Rae 24:53
Grampian Evening Road Race Series – Race 2
On Thursday 9th May Aberdeen Wheelers hosted Race 2 of the Grampian Evening Road Race Series at Midmar.
Described as a short hilly road race, it covered a distance of 63km (39 miles) in a loop around Midmar between the B9119 and the A944.
The race was won by Michael Gordon of Aberdeen Wheelers. He managed to outsprint the 3 man Bioracer-Moriety Bikes team, who had led the breakaway of 6 riders. The chasing peloton of 20 riders finished two minutes further back, with a number of smaller groups coming in behind.
Stuart King finished in 34th place (+14:28), with Steve Rae close behind in 39th (+24:32).
Inchberry 10m TT
Two Ythan riders headed north to Inchberry, near Mosstodloch, for the Inchberry 10m TT on Thursday 9th May. The 31 riders on the start-sheet were treated to a mild spring evening with little wind, promising some very fast times.
The out and back course started at the Inchberry hall in the direction of the Baxter’s roundabout on the A96. There the riders turned left and onwards to the roundabout at the opposite end of the Mosstodloch bypass, before doubling back to the finish near the start-line.
Mike Giles finished in 8th place in a time of 23:47 – one second faster than his time in 2018. Carol Middleton finished in 24th place, with a time of 27:09.
Finn Crockett was fastest home to the timekeeper, with a very fast time of 20:22, two minutes quicker than the second placed Kyle Carmel.
Grampian Grand Prix
Saturday the 11th saw youth riders from all over Scotland descend on the race-track at Alford for the Grampian Grand Prix. The format would include crit races for the U8, U10, U12 and U14/U16 age groups.
Unfortunately the busy weekend calendar saw a number of Ythan CC QL youths away at other events. Nonetheless first class racing was on display by the riders that did attend.
First up was Matthew Moran in the U8 boys race. He showed the watching riders how to do it, finishing on the podium with a well- earned 3rd place.
Eilidh Gronkowski was next up, competing in the U10 race and narrowly missed out on the podium, finishing in an excellent 4th place. Former QL rider Melanie Rowe, won the race.
Andrew Ingram competed in the U12 race, which saw 20 riders battle it out. He finished in 7th place, a very credible position, particularly considering all riders above him had spent the winter training at the Velodrome. The race was won by Alasdair Easton of Edinburgh RC.
Gavin Gronkowski represented the club in the combined U14/U16 race. He also finished in 7th place in his first road race, having previously only competed on mountain bikes. The race was won by Jamie Thomson, of Johnstone Wheelers Cycling Club.
Fat Lad at the Back Sportif
Meanwhile, in the North Yorkshire dales, Ythan CC riders Annette and Paul Gordon set off on the more leisurely 50-mile Fat lad at the back (FLAB) Sportif. Back for the 4th year, the billed itself as the biggest, fattest ride of the year, with a focus on enjoyable and friendly riding.
Great write up! Well done all.
Great write up Pauline and cheers for the mention of our Flab exploits.