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Flying girls

Wheelers with the GB women
Wheelers with the GB women

Ashford Wheelers were delighted to play host to three of the Great Britain Under-23 women at the club’s weekly time trial.

They were contacted by Simon Cope, the women’s academy coach, who had members of his Academy team training in the Tenterden area and wanted to compete as a 3-up team as part of their training in the build-up for the European Track Championships.

Champions

They were Jo Rowsell (World Team Pursuit Champion 2008), Lizzie Armitstead (5th in 2008 European Road Race, European Scratch Champion) and Katie Colclough, who is an Olympic development programme rider (4th in European TT and 8th European RR)

A 3 Up team consists of the three riders sitting immediately behind the bike in front, (or tailgating) this benefits the rider behind as they have to use 30 per cent less energy than the lead rider who is making a hole in the air for them.

The lead rider will then pull out of the lead and drift to the back of the last rider and latch on to their rear wheel. Each rider takes it in turns to be lead rider during the event.

Perfecting this technique takes a lot of practice and Ashford Wheelers were more than happy to assist in the team’s training.

There was a lot of jostling on the state sheet as local riders tried their best to avoid being the last rider off before the girls.

That fate fell to local Ashford rider Trevor Bridge who spurred on by the quest completed the course in a personal best time of 24:21. His fate was not avoided and although the girls left two minutes after him, they passed him 20 metres before the finish line.

Having completed a hard day’s training, the team rode the course without a warm-up as they were still in recovery mode!

A treat was in store for Gareth Simmons and David Roe, who rode in the team car behind the 3 Up team. Gareth assisted Simon Cope with advice on the local course conditions over a two-way radio.

The team finished the course in 22:20 just 16 seconds behind Dave Wheeler (Thornton Wheelers) who clocked a fine 22:04.

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