Racing Vicariously

My brother's currently competing in the Surrey League Revolutions five-day stage race ("Around 100 of Britain's top riders will be taking part in the gruelling 5 day long race. Each day they will cover around 100 miles – as well as climbing some of the steepest hills in South East England.") He's been giving me a blow-by-blow account over the phone every evening, and he's posting daily update's on his cycling team's website.

"The strong riders wouldn't let things go clear, until the second lap of a big circuit… where Rob Hayles slipped away and opened the gas up… I looked at the moves and thought "If I don't get across to that, it will be even more GC time and the stage over" so I took a deep breath, shifted up and went for it. Steve Golla (Sigma) and one of the Irish Team Ras Mumhan racing came with me, and gradually we worked together for a hard five minutes get across. The last 200 metres to the break was pure pain, but it was worth the effort as this now large group (including the earlier move by Hayles) of about 20 worked to put some time into the bunch."

To give you an idea of the standard of racing, many of these guys are pros, and Rob Hayles narrowly missed selection for the GB team pursuit squad (that I've just watch win Olympic Gold, setting a new world record in the process). I couldn't be prouder of my little brother, even if it does mean admitting he can officially kick my arse on a bike.

— Filed under Cycling, Inspiration