Friday, March 29, 2024

Tour of Britain 2007 – Day 1: Prologue, Crystal Palace

-

HomeDiariesTour of Britain 2007 - Day 1: Prologue, Crystal Palace

After making such a good job of his diary in the Tour of Ireland, DFL professional Evan Oliphant will be giving VeloVeritas the low-down on his home Tour, which started in London today and finishes in Glasgow on Saturday; the Tour of Britain 2007. We caught up with Evan, in the DFL team car, stuck in traffic at Crystal Palace, listening to the chart show [at max volume] on Radio One, here’s what he had to say (I think!).

– Reported by Evan Oliphant –

Crystal Palace
Evan, the Scottish Road Champion, is enjoying the Tour of Britain.

How did it go?

“Cavendish won with 2.27, the Russian Nikolai Trusov from Tinkoff was second at one second; best British rider was Geraint Thomas four seconds down for 4th; best from our squad was Dan Lloyd at nine seconds in 26th and I was 48th at 12 seconds. James McCallum pulled his wheel at the start, lost 55 seconds and was last!

“It was quite a tricky circuit, you didn’t need to brake but you had to come off the tri-bars at a couple of places because it was twisting and bumpy. At least one guy managed to crash, I saw him chucking his bike and crash hat down at the finish.

“I warmed-up around the circuit for a couple of laps, but also warmed-up on the turbo; I got some tips from Jason!”

Were you on the low-pro?

“Yes, it’s the first time I’ve ridden it since the Scottish 10 champs and that was weeks ago. That doesn’t help; if I rode it more I then would go better on it. I had a rear disc in too, it’s a good bike, but like I say, I could do with more practice on it.”

Cavendish — a surprise?

“Yeah, I would have expected it if the circuit was pan-flat, but there’s a hill near the finish, he was fastest to that point too, so he’s King of the Mountains as well! I don’t think he can win it overall though, there are some very nasty climbs on Tuesday, that’s when the race will be decided, I think.”

What do you think of prologues, in general?

“I think they’re a good thing, it stops things happening like did in the Tour of Ireland, where a break goes up the road on the first day and the race is effectively over for every one else. Tomorrow, T-Mobile will obviously take control for Cavendish and the result is still wide-open. The only thing about this prologue was that we had a five hour drive each way to get to it, and that’s not the best.”

How’s the form?

“Yeah, I’m happy with it, I came out of the Tour of Ireland feeling good and I’m looking forward to this.”

Your goal for the race?

“To win a stage, but that won’t be easy; there are only a couple of big teams here and that encourages every body to try and get-up the road, it’s less controlled and harder. Plowman Craven is going on the offensive early tomorrow, so I’m going to try and get with them, Gordon McCauley says that I have to stick with him.”

Crystal Palace
Hoping to proove ‘the Comic’ wrong.

And the team goals?

“We didn’t have a team meet last night; we all knew we just had to get round the two kilometres as fast as we could! But we’ll have one tonight and I should imagine that we’re going to try and get Daniel into a good GC placing, he’s going very well just now.”

Cycling Weekly wasn’t giving you much chance.

“No, I saw that but it’s always like that with the team and ‘the comic’; I think perhaps they have an issue with Nick Collins [team owner] – they never say many good things about us.”

Here at VeloVeritas, we have no issues with anyone, except Jimmy Leslie, of course! We’ll be talking to Evan again tomorrow night from the Tour of Britain 2007 – can he and Kiwi strongman McCauley stay-away, all day?

Evan’s diary – Stage Two.

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

Related Articles

Le Tour de France 2012 – Stage 14: Limoux – Foix, 192 km. Tacks Cause Kišerlovski Crash

I was speaking to Vik, the other day.I shan’t use the word which he did to describe Brad’s opponents, but it wasn’t complimentary. Limoux - After yesterday’s display, it’s hard to disagree; whilst there was drama at the end with Kišerlovski crash – more of which later – when we drove the course it seemed to us a perfect opportunity for Nibali and his descending skills.

Giro d’Italia 2010 – Day Five, Tyler Farrar Again

Tyler Farrar again today... the Italians are like any other race, there's nice folks and not-so-nice folks - but in the main they're friendly and helpful. Until, that is, you stick them behind the wheel of a car - any car will do, doesn't have to be an Audi or a Jag, a clapped out Fiat is fine for acting like a juvenile, aggressive, ignorant, petulant twat.

Giro d’Italia 2009 – Day 6: Stage 19, Avellino – Vesuvio

It's 12.25 and we're headed for a road that the men's lifestyle and driving mags rave about; The Amalfi Coast. Amalfi, Porto Fino, Sorrento - playgrounds of the rich and famous.

Rotterdam Six Day 2011 – Day Five, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

At the Rotterdam Six Day 2011 and I'm sitting next to this chap, drinking my coffee, eating my Vacansoleil cookie and thinking; 'I should know who he is, he's the double of Ezequiel Mosquera.' Then the penny dropped; it was Old Zeke, in person, my - now tarnished - hero from the Vuelta.

At Random

Copenhagen Six Day 2013 – Day Two

There’s a boxing ring in the track centre here at the Copenhagen Six Day, apparently there are matches taking place on Saturday evening – and they present the riders up there.

Ian Garrison – Deceuninck-Quick-Step’s Young American

Imagine that you’ve just realised your dream and signed with the world’s number one team, performed well on your debut and are looking forward to the next part of your season once your training camp in sunny Greece ends. Instead you have to get home to the US as quickly as possible to avoid being ‘locked down’ in Europe. That’s the situation Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s 2020 signing, US Elite Time Trial Champion, Ian Garrison found himself in just a few days ago.

Le Tour de France 2014 – Stage 12; Bourg-en-Bresse – Saint-Étienne, 183 km. Alexander Kristoff Takes His First

Alex Kristoff wins in the town which used to be the heart of the French bicycle industry – St. Etienne. We also managed to get our paws on L'Équipe, again - for the day of Nibali's second coup, on La Planche des Belles Filles. The front page features a satisfied Nibali, a devastated Contador as well as Bardet and Pinot - at last French guys with realistic GC ambitions. C'est bon!

The VV View: Contract Negotiations and Grand Tour Podiums

I was coming down the 'parachutes' in the Transit on Friday - the old East 25 course - when I got the text message from Dave; 'Garcia and Hesjedal away with two K to go.' I was talking to Ryder only last night-about his great ride on stage 9, when he was second to Simon Gerrans; then the next text came in; 'Your man has won!'