On a day of relentless rain which couldn’t decide whether it was apocalyptic or biblical, former jockey and reigning Scottish Olympic Time Trial Champion, Wilson Renwick (RT 23) was the man who coped best with the drastic conditions in the Tour de Trossachs.
Last man off and former Tour de Trossachs top dog, Chris Smart (GTR – Return To Life) finished second with 1:09:57 to Renwick’s 1:07:47.
Last place on the podium went to Scottish Hill Climb Champion, David Griffiths (Bioracer-Project GO) with 1:10:23.
Griffiths’ team mate Rob Friel took fourth spot and English 18 minute ‘10’ man Adam Wild (GS Metro) fifth place.
The usual VeloVeritas protocol of Martin and I driving the course was abandoned as our editor decided to walk back over The Dukes from the Callander side, snapping as he went.
Needless to say, this plot didn’t find favour with yours truly and I stuck to driving the course…
First vantage point was the top of The Dukes but it took me a wee while to get grips with my new (pre-loved) flash for the camera and the first decent snaps I produced were of Messrs. Robert Shennan (Johnstone Wheelers) and Andrew Stewart (Dunfermline CC) who couldn’t have been ‘full gas’ with that smile he flashed us.
Lindsay Foster (Hitchin Nomads) was a long way from home and if he was looking for the famous ‘gallery’ of tifosi on the hairpin and one of those crisp autumn days the race usually enjoys – sorry, Lindsay…
David Dalziel (Glasgow Nightingale) was the first rider who we managed to snap who looked like he was ‘on it.’
Brian Morrell (Dumfries CC) and Katherine Wren (Stirling Bike Club) were well ‘happed-up’ against the freezing rain and at this point we decided to abandon the Dukes least Mountain Rescue have to bring us in.
The descent of the Dukes is always tricky with some bad cambers and gnarly surfaces – rivers of cold water and some freshly laid gravel didn’t help today.
On the way down we spotted a lonely, drookit figure trudging towards us – our editor, Martin.
Eventually, even a Nikon will cry ‘enough cold rain already!’ effectively ending his part of the mission, so if you were after number 108 then you have to put up with just my pictures, sorry folks.
And we did have to stop for annual shot of our favourite stretch of Trossachs water – Loch Drunkie.
Next up was a photo stop loch-side; we decide against Achray as there wasn’t really a safe place to stop, so Venachar it was.
Off earlier than we’d have expected, hill climb master, David Griffiths soon whistled past; his Canyon has grown a nose fairing we noted.
Team mate Jason Roberts was in hot pursuit; but in vain and Griffiths would end the day in third spot.
