4th Vets!

Team Here Come The Belgians; Richard Allen (89), Alan Dorrington (126), Simon Fox (227) placed fourth vets at the peaks - whoopee!

The Service Crew

Service with a smile.....

Below is a link to a few snap shots telling the story of the true heroes of t’Peaks – the Support Teams.  Attributes include the patience of a saint, the driving skills of Nigel Mansell and the load haling ability a donkey. 

3PCX 2011 Support Teams Photos

Oh, and for future reference, this was the plan:

Google Map

Chilli Jam

Just spotted this at the World Curry Festival and thought it rather fitting – what with this being the eve of the race and all.

3 Peaks Cyclocross 2011.......

We have a bumper Belgians entry for the race this year:

Richard Allen	MV40	Here Come The Belgians
Alan Dorrington	MV40	Here Come the Belgians
Simon Fox	MV40	Here come the Belgians
Philip Haygarth	MV40	Here Come the Belgians
Carl Nelson	MV40	Here Come The Belgians
Simon Nurse	MV40	Cardiff JIF / Here come the Belgians
Richard Seipp	MV40	Here Come The Belgians
Nick Waggett	MV40	Here Come the Belgians
8 Entries

And all veterans I see too.........

Oh and Dave Haygarth who took the pics below of myself and Carl Nelson. Dave is a true Belgian at heart but has to ride for someone else as they give him shiny bikes and stuff. And because he's a bit fast.

How is everyone's training going for this years race? Keep us posted and add your pics/stories on the blog in the run up to Sept 25th.

For my own ramblings check out the crossjunkie blog 

3 Peaks - we came, we rode, we were photographed

The 2010 3 Peaks race is well documented on honourary Belgian Dave Haygarth's (seen below) seminal Peaks blog so I won't repeat anything here. My own take on the whole rocky affair can be found here too.



Suffice to say there were lots of photographers and spectators out on Sunday, and lots of shots aimed at, shouts shouted toward and general love for, the Belgians. Dunc would have been proud to hear it all.....

So here is my own little selection of piccies of me (Alan), Rich Allen, G, Richard Knowles and Simon Fox - missing in the thick of it are Winkie who shunned a Belgian strip for some reason (tut tut) and Simon Nurse who rode in green but rocked the team windjacket after. We were aided and abetted by Mark Turner, Jo Hanglebads and Mark Bradley and Gemma Nurse. And probably others whom I didnt get to see on the day. A massive thank you to all the helpers as it really makes all the difference on a logistically complex event like this.

Going back to the images, superb shots in particular can be found from the Belgian friendly Cheryl King and Richard Seipp both of whom are represented below.

As he did in the race, winner Rob Jebb (1st shot below) leads us up the impossibly steep first climb and into the fun:

3 Peaks Cyclocross Preview - 26 September

In case you hadn't noticed, at the heart of 'Belgian' identity is the winter discipline of cyclocross. If, as a new Belgian you aren't already riding cross, then you will be soon, by osmosis, peer pressure or sheer curiousity down to the fact that the rest of us bang on about it so much. As an old hand, then you know what you are in for already.

However, masquerading less as the Cinderella, and more the Ugly Sister of the cyclocross world is the 3 Peaks Cyclocross, a unique annual event occupying a very Northern (as in England) niche and representing a very different part of the cross world. It is staged in the Yorkshire Dales National Park every year at the end of September and so they say, is the toughest and biggest Cyclo-Cross event in the UK. I wouldn't argue with that as such.

Here are the stats:
Total distance: 61kms (38 miles)
Road: 28kms (45mins - 1hr 5mins)
Unsurfaced: 33kms (2hrs 15mins - 4hrs 40mins)
Unrideable: 6kms - 8kms (dependent on individual ability & prevailing conditions)
Total climbing: 1524m (5000ft)

Hidden in there is some scary and rocky terrain, an allegedly neutralised bunch start of 500 riders on narrow roads behind a car, and a whole world of pain. Oh and 3 bloody great mountains, not Peaks - Ingleborough, Whernside Penyghent.

Yes it is that steep! (Pic:Wig Worland)

There is of course a merry, nay select, band of Belgians competing this year - Alan (Crossjunkie), Winkie Thin, Richard Knowles, Richard Allen and Simon Fox. Jez Hastings is also riding as his Team Wiggle alter ego but we all know he is Belgian through and through.... Most have ridden before, none I suspect are undertaking it lightly. Spare a thought too for their pit crews who face a GB rally style driving experience hotfooting from rendezvous to rendezvous with spare bikes, wheels and bottles. This is a cross race after all......

Rich descending Penyghent, the big dark lump in the background (pic: Wig Worland)



Alan in original black kit ascending Simon Fell/Ingleborough (pic:Wig Worland)


Heightened anticipation, nervousness and obsession are common traits among all Peaks entrants at this time of year, with just a week and a half to go till what is usually for most the biggest race of the year. And probably the hardest too. Most do Peaks specific training which often involves variations on a theme of carrying a bike up rough 45 degree slopes for endless periods of time.

Friend and honorary Belgian, Dave Haygarth runs a great 3 Peaks blog with all things Peak related contained within. Check it out for more insights into this unique race even if you have no intention of riding, just marvelling at the stupidity of riding up and down mountains on cross bikes. Better still, come along on that last Sunday in September and support your intrepid band of Belgians at Ribblehead or even better, half way up Penyghent when a friendly shout or bottle of water won't go amiss. That said, by that point we will probably all be looking for a wandering Vetinary with a bolt gun to end our suffering........

penyghent track

Photo: Wig Worland

Peaks pics

Above: There's a tall lanky Belgian in there somewhere.....

Above: Winkie finds a smoother line

Above and below: Rich up and down Penyghent

Photos: Wig Worland and Ian McVety

3 Peaks Belgian style

3 Peaks, 3 Belgians, 3 finishers.

Rich led the way with a 'need to come back next year and try harder' - 4hrs 1 min. So close to that elusive sub 4hr time.......

Winkie came in seeing double after bonking with 4hrs 5 min - get the pies in next time......

Alan ' oh not cramp again on Whernside' with 4hrs 18 min. Need some tonic water or something to avoid lock leg......

Big thanks to Mark and Jo(Belgianette) for helping out on the day with soothing words, bikes and food. Plus beer.

Report and photos anyone?

Two Words...

To all racing tomorrows 3 peaks cyclocross, both Belgians and beyond the team, just two words...

Bon Courage!