Tour de Shane

The inaugural Tour de Shane has come and gone and what can we say, first of all we are really pleased with the way it went, the turn out, the support from sponsors and volunteers, the attitude of the riders and even the weather (no hail showers at the St David’s base camp) was all really positive

We were absolutely delighted and feel privileged to have staged this event for Shane and supporting him in his efforts to promote and fundraise for Velindre and thank him for bringing the Tour de Shane down to the western tip of Wales. The event, the area, the charity and Shane managed to attract a wide and diverse crowd from all corners of Wales and from across the border with the Midlands and Lincolnshire being represented to name a few

But we are a fussy bunch and immediately after the last rider was home, the debrief commenced and it was all about how we can take the event forward and do it all again next year only better. This initial debrief continued into the early hours down the Bishops where it was great to be joined by several riders who were making a weekend of it in Britain’s smallest City and as always it was great to hear their views and opinions and as the night went on the handshakes, turned to back slapping and then into hugging and that’s where it stopped!

The ride it’s self

The Briefing was meant to start at 0745hrs but we delayed it by minutes to allow for Rugby legend Ian Gough to arrive, Goughie and his mate thought it would be a good idea to Cycle from Kilgetty to St David’s, do the tour and cycle back (140miles) I suppose it’s an attitude like that that wins you 64 caps for your Country! And as Sean Holley passed him on Newgale Hill he shouted “don’t start without me” so we gave in a few minutes, the least we could do

The main message we hammered across is that it is a sportive and not a race and whilst waiting for the start you could see the West Coast Triathlon boys looking sharp, focussed and athletic! And to be fair they dominated the top section of the event, but they weren’t racing that’s just the pace they cycle at, averaging 18 to 20 mph for 70 miles of 5,500ft of elevation is the norm!

First home for the day was Catherine Marks on the 50 miler, she didn’t even look out of breath and just turned her bike around and said “thank you I’m off home now” Catherine is super fit these days, having spent the winter doing early morning boot camps in St David’s – Which we hear are great!!!

Whilst the top 3 back on the 70 were all within seconds of each other on 3hrs 33mins – David Cole, Tom Ellis and Scott Patrick who to be fair wouldn’t look out of place himself on a professional rugby pitch despite his age!

But it’s a sportive

The Course was designed with a sportive in mind, we didn’t want to make it quick main roads we wanted to show what the area has to offer, the best views and quaintest little villages, and the reality is that the best locations and views are seldom on the beaten track! And fishing villages tend to be at sea level and views tend to be on high ground so it’s fair to say there was a bit of climbing!!

And during our debrief in the Bishops we all agreed that an event like a sportive should be a challenge and take you out of your comfort zone, something you train for, aim to achieve a ride you may not do by yourself but as a challenge to take on (at your own pace) with a group of likeminded people! Some of the feedback we’ve had about the course and the scenery has been first class, which is always great to hear. And we really do get a buzz out of people being brave enough to have a go and it very much is about your own journey. Even if you have to push the bike up a few hills it doesn’t matter.

Another inevitability about events and especially long ones is that people will go wrong, we try very, very hard to ensure this doesn’t happen and even then the reality is we hope it is kept to a minimum. There were only a couple of mishaps, which we hope didn’t affect people to much, and is something we always look at and rectify (if appropriate) but when one of these people is a local lad of 40 something years, one of our helpers and he still gets lost from the Cross Square to the Rugby Club there really is no hope! That now explains all those games of rugby he failed to show up for over the years!!!

Another of the highlights of the day if not the highlight is seeing all the cyclists return, with smiles of achievement or relief on their faces, some with a lumps, bumps and bruises and the stories of how they got them a few with cramp but all safe and extremely happy! There were a few DNF’s and you have to feel for those who had mechanical faults within the last few miles; it is frustrating. Or even local fella John Rees stuck in top gear at the bottom of Goodwick Hill and decided to return to St Davids (15miles) in this gear quite a feat for a man of his age!!!! One injured lad from Aberystwyth had a bit of treatment and helped out on the finish line for about 30 mins – great job and attitude.

And no one set the Sportive standard more so than Shane, who took it easy, rode with his friends, spoke other competitors on his way around enjoying the aid stations and scenery

And finally a massive thank you to the following, who as always were amazing, they just get on and do it and make life so much easier for us, many of whom covered some distance around the county to make things happen

• The Marshals / Registration – absolute great job (Harvey and his mates were delighted that Shane said what a good job they were doing! Or as the youngsters said “bossing it”)

• Mobile support and Biker Andy Iceton (Adrian went to his house picked up his own cleats and gave them to distressed rider, now that’s service)

• Media – Great video and shots by The Pencarnan crew of 3sixtyTyDdewi Productions thank you so much.
• Frank Whittle Photography Please view the great Shots CLICK HERE

• James Holley running the shop and fundraising for Velindre

Sponsors

• Hayward Hotel Spa for massage services and prosecco tent!! Fair play

• Bierspool Cycles Pembroke Dock for their attendance and the goody bag, so much positive comments on the goody bag! And don’t forget your 15% off in the shop with the voucher.

• PSA Nutrition Supplements of the highest order

Services

Richard Cotton Designs for the logo yet again another classic

Richard Davies Catering great job as usual

SW Sport Therapy – I heard a few screams, good pain relieving screams!

And they say there is always one! Only one person came flying into the finish like drag racer, slammed on his breaks did an endo, almost catapulted the railings, I thought “who is this idiot” only for him to shout “alright butt” Solva’s very own Evel Knievel however he did buy us all around afterwards so not such a bad bloke after all!

And to quote Carwyn “I was gutted when they were all heading off, really wanted to do that one” sums it up great social event that you’d love to be out on the course amongst all the riders

The Results

Please if there are any queries please email us and we will rectify them (note strava times maybe be different as sometimes they remove stop times!)

Also if you want your club entered by your name just email.

Date: 1-APR-2017 Event: Tour De Shane 50 Miles

Date: 1-APR-2017 Event: Tour De Shane 70 Miles