Blue skies, mild with not too much of a breeze – a perfect day for VeloVeritas’ favourite race, the 2022 Tour de Trossachs, ably promoted by Vanelli Project Go.
We thought we might be able to start this piece with a ‘spoiler,’ we’d heard that starting off number one, Joel Gillan may be the youngest ever starter in the event?
But our editor, Martin Williamson, a man who won this event in 1989, thought he may lay claim to this, having ridden it back in the mists of time at 14 years-of-age.
However, game set and match to Joel at 12 years-of-age who completed the course in a commendable 1:37:ll.
And Dad, Norman Gillan made it a ‘family affair.
On the one hand we thought the ‘no front light, no start’ policy a tad hard – but then when one sees the current standard of driving, it makes sense.
We headed off to the Dukes, past the corner at the bottom where once was the Bailie Nicol Jarvie hotel; the Bailie was a fictional character in Sir Walter Scott’s novel, Rob Roy; ‘a canny merchant and couthy, cautious urbanite who gets caught up in shenanigans in the Highlands.’
‘Back in the day,’ those Glasgow boys whose hangover was too bad to attempt The Dukes would stand outside with their, ‘hairs of the dog,’ and offer encouragement – or abuse…
The gallery on the famous hairpin?
One man, no dog.
The first man to catch our eye was Edinburgh Road Club’s Rhys Edwards – or rather his socks did; a big Suisse Franc fine if the UCI commissaire sees those fellas…
But we did like that nice Argon 18.
It could have been Les West or Keith Lambert – but it was actually George Skinner [Royal Albert], his ‘kingfisher’ and orange Holdsworth had Dave and I nostalgic for those simpler days of the 70’s…
And whilst many clubs seek ever more hard on the optic nerves colour ways for their jerseys, the Nightingale stick with that classic and lovely Belgian national jersey – modelled here by James Smith.
The first man to catch our eye as going well and on his road bike was #22, Bruce Irvine [Team Andrew Allan Architecture] who would finish 13th with 1:15:41.
He’d caught #21, Steve Wallace [Dunfermline CC] but Steve gets the award for best chainrings of the day.
Messrs. Liam White [Torvelo Racing] and Michael Perkins [Eat Plants Not Pics CC] were both handling the grade well but Liam held his advantage to clock 1:16:22 to Michael’s 1:18:20
At this point we were distracted by the ladies from Hawick who weren’t interested in tarmac; they sought the GRAVEL – it’s the coming thing – route to Loch Katrine, a helpful passing walker shared his map with them.
Right on a cue a fellow Borderer appeared – #33 Duncan MacLeod from the Gala CC; he was riding strongly and at the death would be just outside the top 10 with his 1:13:40 ride.
There were yet more distractions when a van stopped in front of us and out jumped Jered and Ashleigh Gruber, cycling photographers of renown, in Scotland to shoot the ‘Badger Divide’ a 320 kilometres off-road ‘enduro’ ride from Inverness to Glasgow
It’s a few years since we last met them at Het Nieuwsblad, if we missed anyone whilst we were cuddling and chatting, apologies.
Jered was meant to ride this race back in 2008 but missed his plane; 14 years late isn’t too bad, I guess?
We did manage to catch Liam Scott Douglas [JGCC p/b The Good Coffee Cartel] – ‘Ivy CC’ is so much simpler but never mind, who was making a good fist of his ascent of The Dukes.
The stopwatch would bear that out at the end as he clocked 1:12:14 for seventh place.
The first of the men we had marked down as potential winners wasn’t long in arriving, Scottish 100 mile champion and record holder with 3:34:10 Lee Rosie [Spokes Race Team].
He was climbing well but his 1:09:11 would ‘only’ be good enough for second at the line; and he missed ‘fastest up The Dukes’ by one second to winner, Smart.
After the race Lee told us he wasn’t too disappointed, he’d been at a Spokes training camp on the Saturday and today was all part of his training for next weekend’s British National Road Series, Beaumont Trophy.
The Beaumont already has a Scottish winner in Evan Oliphant back in 2006.
Jesse Dawson [Vanelli – Project GO] was beasting a big gear up the climb but we’d later see him riding back down the hill with his right foot dangling and what looked like his pedal in his hand?
Eventual fourth with 1:09:42, Hamish Creber [Ryan’s Bike Surgery – Thomson Homes] was moving well and would finish just 12 seconds shy of the podium.
We were hopping into the car as 2022 Scottish BAR, Robbie Mitchell [Auchencrow Thistle] passed, he was another of our favourites for the day – we were stuck behind a Sunday driver who was tailing him but eventually passed him just at the three lochs road end; Robbie would finish fifth on the day with 1:11:39.
He re-passed us off The Dukes with a display of excellent descending skills on tricky surfaces.
There are few places to safely stop and shoot pictures on the loch sides but we passed Lynsey Curran [Dolleys RT] en route to fastest female – don’t say ‘lady’ or ‘girl’ Ed, it’s not PC! – with 1:20:38 just before the wee ‘snap’ at Brig o’ Turk.
Marc Anderson [GTR – Return to Life p/b Streamline] – best get that right or I’ll have Stevie Blom on my case – was flying towards Callander and we managed a dodgy ‘oot the windae’ shot. He’d cross the line in fifth place with 1:11:03.
We got a nice shot of Marc in distance with what I believe are the imposing Meall Odhar and Ben Clach summits in the background – but stand to be corrected on that.
Alastair McNicol, unfamiliar in a black Nopinz skinsuit (the brand many in the field were sporting), was in a tight tuck over the Braes and would complete the podium with a strong 1:09:30 ride for third, 19 seconds shy of Lee Rosie.
Next up was former Trossachs winner and 49 minute ’25’ man, Chris Smart [GTR – Return to Life p/b Streamline] looking every inch a winner en route a 1:06:35 ride.
We hope to catch up with Chris for a chat in the next few days.
David Griffiths [Holohan Coaching Race Team] had been caught by Chris but was still on a ride to give him eighth place with 1:13:03.
Lynsey Curran passed us – and it was time to head for the strip and hit the home baking.
Great weather a quality ride by the winner, catch up with old friends and too many chocolate cookies – what more can a man ask for?
