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The first post has arrived from
Greeny on Majorca.
Well, we've all
arrived safely and no major dramas with the bikes.
Only Foxy, Stuey and Simon made it out for a brief
shakedown ride; the rest of us were tempted down to
the hotel by the promise of a Champagne welcome from
the travel reps... one or two feeling a little woozy
afterwards... at least Rob had the excuse of it
being his birthday!
Not exactly the monastic start one might expect of a
training camp, but then this isn't your usual
training camp!!
The serious business starts tomorrow, as will the
flow of photos. Can't bloody wait to get out on my
bike in the glorious Mediterranean sunshine...
Greeny
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Day 1:
22nd April - Here are the first five photos....
(click an image to enlarge it)
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This was the gang gathered outside the
hotel before we set off for our ride
today.
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The Markowski brothers relax at the top of
the climb to the Cura monastery at Randa. A
nice little 5km tester to kick off the
week's climbing.
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The "old guard" McCartney, Gosling and Gumby
are pondering how new boy Tovey got up the
hill so bloody fast...
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A
last bask in the sunshine before
40 pacy
miles back to the villas...
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Taking in the magnificent view
from the Cura
monastery.
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....and here is Greeny's
post from the forum.
Just the 80 miles
today, with the climb to the Cura monastery at Randa
as the high point. Current King of the Mountains is
Shaun, who monstered the climb, although an
honourable mention to new boy Simon who ran him
close.
And green jersey holder is a Markowski, but not the
one you might expect, with Mark winning the bunch
gallop into Pollenca (he was the only one who knew
where the sign was...)
Just a brilliant day's riding, perfect temperature
and lots of lovely shelter in the group.
Not decided on tomorrow's route yet, but the words
"Sa Calobra" have been mentioned...
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Day 2:
23rd April.
(click an image to enlarge it)
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Gathering at the top of the Lluc climb - Rob
was first man over after outwitting the new
boy Tovey in a two-up sprint.
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You ain't been to Majorca if you ain't seen
the arches... not sure what has diverted
everyone's attention though...
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There it is, the dreaded climb of Sa Calobra...
abandon hope all ye who enter here...
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They look happy enough... but then they
haven't even set off for Sa Calobra yet!
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Lunch stop for Dean, Rob and Shaun in Sa
Calobra, at the foot of the climb.
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Gumby holds court...
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If you don't fancy the climb back, there's
always the ferry. No one took them up, so
off we went.
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Greeny adds....
No pics from the top, sadly, we were all too
buggered. New boy Tovey exacted his revenge
and swept into the KOM jersey with a display
of impeccable climbing.
Mark
(LeChef) posted his thoughts on the Forum.
Well day two
done not so great today when the road goes
up and up and up the legs don't feel so
great!!!!!!! 70 miles with two big climbs
the second being Sa Calobra. Ended up with
cramp after the long drop into Polenca.
Tomorrow longish ride taking in the climb of
Orient then a rolling route back. Should
have brought along fat blokes onl!!!!!y too
many skinny climbers
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Day 3: 24th April.
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The boys relax at today's cafe stop
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Rob gives a whole new meaning to the term
training 'camp'...
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...now, where did I leave my moisturiser...
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Greeny wonders whether to tell Jim his
toupee has blown off on the Orient descent.
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Caveman sports the new VC Londres team issue
fascinator...
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Fat friends!
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A short but emphatic post
from LeChef and a less than sympathetic reply from Shane
on the forum.
LeChef
Day three very sore
legs all round team meeting tonight to decide on
route tomorrow Easy day?????? NO!!!!!!
big mountain day 95 miles with three big climbs.
Please note you may think we spend all day in cafes.
However due to H&S taking pics on the move has been
deemed too dangerous
Shane P
Sorry chaps, us UK
based team riders know for sure that you DO spend
all the time in cafes. With Le Grand Fromage's
encyclopedic knowledge of Sussex and Surrey tea
stops, its believeable that he knows all those in
Majorca too. Don't give us that H&S bull, if you
wanted to prove you were 'training' something other
than your caffeine tolerance, you would find a way
of taking pictures.
Have a cracking ride tomorrow, would love to be
there. Still I'll go to the gym tomorrow at 6am
instead and try to imagine I was there. The scenery
is different but no less appealing, better than
following some of your hairy ar$es up the climbs at
any rate.
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Day 4: 25th April.
(click an image to enlarge it)
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Green begins today
with....
Bit of a
different approach tonight. Because people
have been commenting about a lack of action
shots, all the first five pics show us in
action on our toughest climbing day.
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Then the
final three show the after effects...
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And
here are the comments from the forum.
Shane P
Brilliant
chance for banter! I wouldn't say that it
was totally without sympathy although have
you seen the uk weather at the moment.
LeChef
Shane your
wish is my command "Us in action today" tuff
day lots of tired legs all sat drinking lots
of red wine now!!!!! conversation getting
very loud total bollocks
Rest day tomorrow
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Day 5: 26th April.
(click an image to enlarge it)
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The view from our cafe stop...
nice eh? |
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Rob taking the training too seriously as
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Topping up the tans!
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"Where's the nearest mountain???"
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Greeny cuts his usual
aerodynamic figure on the bike
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Finally tiring of all the piss-taking, Rob
decides to swim home
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And he's off!
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Here are the posts from the forum.
Greeny
Can't
believe it's Thursday already... just one
day to go.
Today was a much needed recovery day, so we
took a quick 40 mile return trip to Son
Serra and a cafe stop in a sort of Buddah
Bar wannabe right on the beach; very rad
dudes!
Yesterday's mountain special was a
muthafucka of a slog for me, culminating in
my lifetime worst bonk. Not fun descending a
mountain while seeing stars and with legs
like jelly... all part of the learning
experience though.
Tomorrow is a rolling but essentially flat
ride out to Porto Cristo, about 90 miles in
all, which should top off the week nicely.
The closing sprint should be good fun, as
I'm sure a few of them have saved their
legs...
Shane P
Much
appreciated photos guys, thanks for taking
your lives into your hands to prove its not
all cafes and sitting about. Who got the
closest to puking? Some look close! Really
good shots and the after effect pictures are
pure class.
Have a great last day.
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Day 6: 27th April.
(click an image to enlarge it)
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That's all folks......for 2012
anyway....check back for news of 2013 |
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Great week, great weather and to boot
everyone got on and had a real good laugh.
All the bikes are back in their boxes so
tomorrow is breakfast chill out and wait for
the transfer to the airport. Lets hope all
the hard riding goes on in the racing when
we get back. Well done guys a Majorca to
remember