Thursday, March 28, 2024

Tour de Trossachs 2008 (incorporating the Scottish Olympic Time Trial Championships)

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HomeRaceRace ReviewsTour de Trossachs 2008 (incorporating the Scottish Olympic Time Trial Championships)

On a picture postcard perfect Autumn Sunday, hospital consultant Arthur Doyle (Dooleys Cycles) gave a lesson in how to ride a technical time trial with a two minute plus beating of the field in the classic Tour de Trossachs.

Ever consistent Jim Cusick (Glasgow Couriers) was second with Plowman Craven professional and Scottish road race champion, Evan Oliphant taking bronze.

Doyle’s recent training regime of riding 55 miles to work each way, prepared him perfectly for the climbs, descents, corners and gnarly surfaces of the “Bristly Country” as the Trossachs translates from the Gaelic language.

Tour des Trossachs
Arthur in full tuck on the Duke’s Pass.

We decided to do the “scenic thing” first and drove the course, through the heart of Rob Roy MacGregor country.

Tour des Trossachs
That’s a famous name.

The motel not far from the start is named after the great man – or cattle thieving rogue, depending on your point of view.

Tour des Trossachs
The view from the Duke’s Pass – this is Loch Drunkie.

Then there was the Duke’s Pass out of Aberfoyle – the first of the day’s big climbs and named after Red Rob’s arch rival, The Duke of Montrose.

Tour des Trossachs
It’s not always this lovely in Scotland!

The descent to Loch Achray was bone dry, fast and beautiful with the Trossachs Hotel looking impossibly picturesque.

Tour des Trossachs
The beautiful Trossachs Hotel.

Romantic authors, William Wordsworth and Walter Scott first introduced the world to the beauty of the Trossachs; with Scott’s novels, ‘Rob Roy’ and ‘The Lady of the Lake’ both set in the area.

Tour des Trossachs
These two fellas fishing on Loch Achray didn’t know there was a bike race on – imagine!

The technical section along the banks of Lochs Achray and Venachar was as rough as ever, with the ‘snap’ at Brig o’ Turk waiting to catch out those who hadn’t dropped into the inside ring.

Tour des Trossachs
One day, we’ll take this trip after watching the time trial.

The narrow twisting Inver Trossachs road by-passes Callendar and then it’s the second big climb of the day over to Thornhill.

Tour des Trossachs
The climb from Callander to Thornhill.

The last five miles from Thornhill home are tough – technical and into the breeze.

The course was shortened to miss traffic-lights a mile-or-so from the finish; with the chequered flags positioned just a stones throw from the shore of the Lake of Menteith – Scotland’s only Lake and whose island has the ruins of an Augustinian priory, built in 1238. Mary Queen of Scots was given refuge there as a child in 1547.

With the historic, scenic tour done, we headed back up “the Dukes,” there were no more romantic notions as the digital stop watch was plucked from the bag.

Tour des Trossachs
We enjoyed meeting old chums Stewart and Graeme on the Duke’s Pass, out “getting durty”.
Tour des Trossachs
Jim Cusick (Glasgow Couriers/Bennett Developments).

The button was pressed on Cusick, off number 90, and his time was better than all-comers, until Doyle forced his Cervelo past – still in the ‘tuck’ despite the gradient – and 48 seconds up.

Tour des Trossachs
Jimmy wasn’t taking this as seriously as some of the others.

Last year’s British Elite Criterium champion, James McCallum (Plowman Craven) was smiling too much to challenge and Tour of Taiwan winner, Alex Coutts (Giant Asia) was 38 seconds down on Doyle, despite his attacking style.

Tour des Trossachs
We reckoned Alex Coutts (Giant Asia RT) was going for the Hill Prime when we saw him.
Tour des Trossachs
Jonathan Copp (Sandy Wallace Cycles).

Oliphant was favourite and last man, but our watch said 11 seconds down on Doyle.

Tour des Trossachs
Evan looked focused and fit to us.

Martin gave him a shout that he was ‘down on Doyle’ and Oliphant “stepped on it” as he told us later, to take the hill prime at the summit of the Pass.

With the field through, we jumped in the car and headed back around the course the ‘wrong’ way. There were four miles to go when we spotted Cusick and started the watch again.

“Never again!” Hollered Cusick’s team mate, Stevie Blom as he struggled past, having been caught and dropped four minutes by the eventual silver medallist.

Tour des Trossachs
Alistair Robinson (Hand in Hand) was very smooth.

Alistair Robinson (Hand in Hand) had been a slim four seconds down on Cusick at the first check but had slipped to 25″ down.

Tour des Trossachs
Arthur’s long distance training has taken him to road race wins, a great pursuit ride in the British Champs, and now an emphatic win in the Trossachs.

Doyle hadn’t slipped though, he forged past 1′ 53″ clear of Cusick; it was unlikely Oliphant would best that. And so it proved, as the man in pink and baby blue stopped the watch 1′ 43″ down on Doyle.

Tour des Trossachs
Evan hammering it with a few miles to go

But Cusick rode a stronger finalé than Oliphant and pushed the pro down to third.

Tour des Trossachs
Gary Robson helped Dooleys take the Team Prize.
Tour des Trossachs
The lack of aero skinsuit and helmet showed that Alex wasn’t really “on it” today.

Robinson had put in a big finish too, but not big enough – fourth, eight seconds back from Oliphant.

Tour des Trossachs
Gordon Murdoch (Pedal Power RT/Endura).
Tour des Trossachs
Barry McGurk (Team Icarus).
Tour des Trossachs
James McCallum, nearly finished.
Tour des Trossachs
Callum Wilkinson (The Bicycle Works.com).
Tour des Trossachs
Phil Brown (Velo Ecosse).

Velo Ecosse man Ben Abrahams was fifth in 1h 6′ 41″ with up and coming Callum Wilkinson (thebicycleworks) taking his greyhound build to sixth in place on 1h 7′ 09″.

Tour des Trossachs
Jim, Arthur, and Evan share a laugh on the podium.

Evan Oliphant was his usual laid back self at the finish;

“I’ve not done much this last week, I’ve been racing since December and I’ve been trying to have a bit of a break.

“I rode a two-up with James McCallum last weekend, I felt great in that and we won, so I decided that I wouldn’t need to do much this week. But I didn’t feel good today.

“I’ll be with Plowman Craven again next year, we’re hoping to ride one European race per month, next season. I’m off to Australia in November but I’m happy with how the season has gone.

“There were a lot of criteriums in the summer and it meant it was difficult to prepare for the British road race championships. I actually came home to prepare for the Tour of Britain, just getting out and doing the miles.”

Nobody was more surprised than Jim Cusick by his second place;

“I wrenched my shoulder yesterday and didn’t think I’d be able to ride. I had a really hot bath this morning and Ian Sharp did some physio on it, but I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to ride.

“I’ve just been doing my usual rides to work, keeping the pedals turning, shoulder apart, I felt good today; but I’m surprised to be second with guys like Oliphant and Coutts in the field.”

The first question to winner Arthur Doyle concerned his miles to work;

“I live in Bearsden near Glasgow and I’ve been riding to Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy in Fife – that’s 42 and 55 miles respectively. Why? I wouldn’t do it by choice but it takes almost as long in the car, and I just can’t stand the traffic! I’ve been doing it three times per week – but I only rode one way on Friday and had Saturday off.

“I think today was one of the best paced rides I’ve ever done, five seconds after I finished, I felt terrible, usually I blow at half distance and by the finish, I feel all right again.”

Doyle also lead Dooleys Cycles team mates, former Trossachs king, Davie Gibson and Gary Robson to the team prize.

And Rob Roy’s ghost has peace again – until next October.

Tour des Trossachs
Makes you want to come back, no?

Tour de Trossachs Result

1 Arthur Doyle Dooleys RT 01:04:08
2 James Cusick Glasgow Cour/Bennett Developments 01:06:26 (1st Vet)
3 Evan Oliphant Plowman Craven 01:06:30
4 Alistair Robinson Hand in Hand Bael 01:06:38
5 Ben Abrahams Velo Ecosse 01:06:41
6 Callum Wilkinson The Bicycle Works.com 01:07:09
7 Jonathan Copp Sandy Wallace Cycles 01:07:10
8 Barry McGurk Team Icarus 01:07:58
9 Gary Robson Dooleys RT 01:08:16
10 Philip Brown Velo Ecosse 01:08:25
11 James Law Perth United CC 01:09:02
12 Graeme Cockburn Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 01:09:19 (2nd Vet)
13 Peter Ettles Forres CC 01:09:33 (3rd Vet)
14 Carlos Riise Shetland Wheelers 01:09:40
15 James McCallum Plowman Craven 01:10:01
16 Alex Coutts Biant Asia RT 01:10:19
17 Gordon Murdoch Pedal Power RT/Endura 01:10:20
18 David Gibson Dooleys RT 0 01:10:41
19 Ken Russell Edin RC/Hilton /Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 01:10:54
20 Scott Newman Inverclyde CRT 01:11:07
21 Jeremy Greengrass Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 01:12:32
22 Davie Miller Glasgow Cour/Bennett Developments 01:12:34
23 Jamie Kennedy Glasgow Cour/Bennett Developments 01:12:48
24 Andrew Rowat Musselburgh RCC 01:13:02
25 Michael Summers Dunfermline CC 01:13:25
26 Steve Nutley Fife Cycling 2000 0 01:13:33
27 Stevie Blom Glasgow Cour/Bennet Developments 01:14:30
28 Eddie Cowie Stirling Bike Club/Wheels of Callendar 01:14:32
29 Randle Shenton Team Swift Allsports 01:15:09
30 Alistair McNicol Velo Ecosse 01:15:17 (1st Junior)
31 Brian Nicholson Edin RC/Hilton /Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 01:15:29
32 Stuart Moran Perth United CC 01:15:30
33 Miquel Ciriza Edin RC/Hilton /Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 01:16:02
34 Jamie Drever Glasgow Wheelers 01:16:09
35 Tom Worthington Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 01:16:16
36 Matthew Ball National Clarion 01:16:28
37 Christine McLean Shetland Wheelers 01:16:29 (1st Lady)
38 Hamish Irvine Cairngorm CC 01:17:23
39 Stuart Reid Glasgow Couriers 01:17:57
40 Calum McLean Rock and Road Cycles 01:18:00 (2nd Junior)
41 Jonny May Edin RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 01:18:16
42 Graham Jones Edin RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 01:19:30
43 Billy McMillan Inverclyde CRT 01:19:51
44 Paul Cureze Lomond Roads 01:19:55
45 Graeme Hay Stirling Bike Club/Wheels of Callendar 01:20:06
46 David Lang Glasgow Wheelers 01:20:11
47 Stephen Macintyre Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 01:20:17
48 Douglas Kirkham Musselburgh RCC 01:20:48
49 Jocky Johnstone Team Icarus 01:21:18
50 Alex McAllister Ayr Road CC 01:21:25
51 Colin Russell Edin RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 01:21:25
52 Sharon Doyle Ivy Cycling Club 01:21:36 (2nd Lady)
53 Sadiq Mir National Clarion 01:21:52
54 Duncan Gillies Elgin CC 01:21:52
55 Claire Thomas Edin RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/F+L 01:21:57 (3rd Lady)
56 Tim Norton National Clarion 01:22:02
57 Paul Friel 01:22:03
58 John Gordon Glasgow Cour/Bennett Developments 01:22:15
59 Anthony Crimin Dunfermline CC 01:22:42
60 Douglas Robertson Berwick Wheelers 01:22:44
61 Gillian Palmer Sandy Wallace Cycles 01:22:53
62 Philip Deveney Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 01:23:07
63 Jane Morris Kennoway RC 01:23:13
64 Alan Robinson Border City Wheelers 01:23:15
65 Terence McMahon Ivy Cycling Club 01:23:21
66 Martin Kane Pedal Power RT 01:23:28
67 Stephen McDowell National Clarion 01:23:31
68 William Bowers Stirling Bike Club 01:23:43 (3rd Junior)
69 Paul Horby Ivy Cycling Club 01:24:31
70 Alan Solway Kennoway RC 01:25:10
71 Andrew Ferguson Private 01:25:19
72 Gavin Rowley Private 01:25:37
73 Jamie Ballantine Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 01:26:46
74 Bill Young National Clarion 0 01:27:03
75 James Yip Private 01:27:12
76 Andrew Sinclair The BicycleWorks 01:27:36
77 Lee Vernett Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 01:28:07
78 Brendan McCabe Aberdeen Wheelers 01:28:40
79 Jim Leslie The Bicycle Works.com 01:29:15
80 Katherine Wren Stirling Bike Club/Wheels of Callendar 01:30:12
81 Iain Binning Denny Road Club 01:31:21
82 Aidan McIlroy Edin RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 01:31:51
83 Isobel Fletcher Glasgow Wheelers 01:33:18
84 Mark Paul National Clarion 01:33:21
85 Alison Kerr Berwick Wheelers 01:33:41
86 David Martin Private 01:33:53
87 Hamish Battye Private 01:35:21
88 Lyndsey Carson Glasgow MTB Club 01:36:41
89 Andrew Wilson St. Christopher CC 01:41:42
90 George Adam SVTTA 01:47:34

DNF

Neil McFarlane Stirling Bike Club/Wheels of Callendar 4S DNF

DNS

Derek Biggerstaff Glasgow Nightingale/NVT/Sapphire/Solid Rock V50
Angus Morrison Glasgow Road Club 3V50
Graeme Hay Private 4S
Barry Duncan Edn RC/Hilton Grosvenor/Glen Rental/Field and Lawn 4V40
Duncan Warwick Deeside Thistle CC 4V40
Jason Roberts Glasgow Nightingale/NVT/Sapphire/Solid Rock 2S
Silas Goldsworty Velo Ecosse 2S

Hill Climb

1 Evan Oliphant Plowman Craven 13:51
2 Arthur Doyle Dooleys RT 13:52
3 Callum Wilkinson The Bicycle Works.com 14:10
4 Alex Coutts Biant Asia RT 14:17
5 Ben Abrahams Velo Ecosse 14:25
6 James Cusick Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 14:30
7 Alistair Robinson Hand in Hand Bael 14:30
8 Jonathan Copp Sandy Wallace Cycles 14:38
9 Philip Brown Velo Ecosse 14:54
10 Carlos Riise Shetland Wheelers 14:56
11 Gary Robson Dooleys RT 14:59
12 Aidan McIlroy Edin RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 15:01
13 Scott Newman Inverclyde CRT 15:10
14 David Gibson Dooleys RT 15:17
15 Gordon Murdoch Pedal Power RT/Endura 15:22
16 Barry McGurk Team Icarus 15:23
17 Graeme Cockburn Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 15:34
18 James McCallum Plowman Craven 15:43
19 Steve Nutley Fife Cycling 2000 15:51
20 Stuart Moran Perth United CC 15:51
21 Jamie Kennedy Glasgow Cour/Bennett Developments 15:55
22 Ken Russell Edin RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 16:08
23 Jason Roberts Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 16:10
24 Peter Ettles Forres CC 16:11
25 Davie Miller Glasgow Cour/Bennett Developments 16:21
26 Alistair McNicol Velo Ecosse 16:22
27 Tom Worthington Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 16:23
28 Stevie Blom Glasgow Cour/Bennet Developments 16:25
29 Jeremy Greengrass Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 16:31
30 Michael Summers Dunfermline CC 16:40
31 Eddie Cowie Stirling Bike Club/Wheels of Callendar 16:40
32 Andrew Rowat Musselburgh RCC 16:41
33 Randle Shenton Team Swift Allsports 16:49
34 Barry Duncan Eidn RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 16:52
35 Jamie Drever Glasgow Wheelers 16:55
36 Stephen Macintyre Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 16:58
37 Miquel Ciriza Eidn RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 17:00
38 Christine McLean Shetland Wheelers 17:00
39 Matthew Ball National Clarion 17:03
40 Brian Nicholson Edin RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 17:04
41 Anthony Crimin Dunfermline CC 17:13
42 James Law Perth United CC 17:21
43 Hamish Irvine Cairngorm CC 17:29
44 Calum McLean Rock and Road Cycles 17:32
45 Billy McMillan Inverclyde CRT 17:35
46 David Lang Glasgow Wheelers 17:43
47 Terence McMahon Ivy Cycling Club 17:43
48 Douglas Kirkham Musselburgh RCC 17:47
49 Claire Thomas Edin RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 17:51
50 Jane Morris Kennoway RC 17:52
51 Paul Cureze Lomond Roads 17:55
52 Gillian Palmer Sandy Wallace Cycles 17:58
53 Paul Friel 18:05
54 Jim Leslie The Bicycle Works.com 18:07
55 Sharon Doyle Ivy Cycling Club 18:18
56 William Bowers Stirling Bike Club 18:24
57 Philip Deveney Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 18:25
58 Jamie Ballantine Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 18:25
59 Graham Jones Edin RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/Fiel+Lawn 18:27
60 Jonny May Edin RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 18:28
61 Alex McAllister Ayr Road CC 18:31
62 Jocky Johnstone Team Icarus 18:33
63 Duncan Gillies Elgin CC 18:33
64 Paul Horby Ivy Cycling Club 18:41
65 Stuart Reid Glasgow Couriers 18:44
66 Stephen McDowell National Clarion 18:45
67 Graeme Hay Stirling Bike Club/Wheels of Callendar 18:50
68 Sadiq Mir National Clarion 18:56
69 John Gordon Glasgow Cour/Bennett Developments 18:57
70 Gavin Rowley Private 18:58
71 Tim Norton National Clarion 19:04
72 Colin Russell Edin RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 19:07
73 Bill Young National Clarion 19:12
74 James Yip Private 19:12
75 David Martn Private 19:38
76 Alan Robinson Border City Wheelers 19:44
77 Lee Vernett Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 19:46
78 Andrew Ferguson Private 19:55
79 Martin Kane Pedal Power RT 19:56
80 Katherine Wren Stirling Bike Club/Wheels of Callendar 19:59
81 Douglas Robertson Berwick Wheelers 20:03
82 Andrew Sinclair The BicycleWorks 20:17
83 Alison Kerr Berwick Wheelers 20:45
84 Isobel Fletcher Glasgow Wheelers 20:56
85 Iain Binning Denny Road Club 21:04
86 Mark paul National Clarion 21:51
87 Brendan McCabe Aberdeen Wheelers 21:52
88 Alan Solway Kennoway RC 22:29
89 Lyndsey Carson Glasgow MTB Club 22:44
90 Andrew Wilson St. Christopher CC 24:58
91 George Adam SVTTA 25:53

Women, Overall

1 Christine McLean Shetland Wheelers 01:16:29
2 Sharon Doyle Ivy Cycling Club 01:21:36
3 Claire Thomas Edin RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 01:21:57
4 Gillian Palmer Sandy Wallace Cycles 01:22:53
5 Jane Morris Kennoway RC 01:23:13
6 Lee Vernett Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 01:28:07
7 Katherine Wren Stirling Bike Club/Wheels of Callendar 01:30:12
8 Isobel Fletcher Glasgow Wheelers 01:33:18
9 Alison Kerr Berwick Wheelers 01:33:41
10 Lyndsey Carson Glasgow MTB Club 01:36:41

Women, Hill Climb

1 Christine McLean Shetland Wheelers 17:00 (COURSE RECORD)
2 Claire Thomas Edin RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/Field+Lawn 17:51
3 Jane Morris Kennoway RC 17:52
4 Gillian Palmer Sandy Wallace Cycles 17:58
5 Sharon Doyle Ivy Cycling Club 18:18
6 Lee Vernett Glasgow N’gale/NVT/Sap/SRock 19:46
7 Katherine Wren Stirling Bike Club/Wheels of Callendar 19:59
8 Alison Kerr Berwick Wheelers 20:45
9 Isobel Fletcher Glasgow Wheelers 20:56
10 Lyndsey Carson Glasgow MTB Club 22:44

Team

03:23:05 Dooleys RT
Arthur Doyle 01:04:08
Gary Robson 01:08:16
David Gibson 01:10:41

03:30:23 Velo Ecosse
Ben Abrahams 01:06:41
Philip Brown 01:08:25
Alistair McNicol 01:15:17

03:31:48 Glasgow Coureurs/Bennett Developments
James Cusick 01:06:26
Davie Miller 01:12:34
Jamie Kennedy 01:12:48

03:38:07 Glasgow Nightingale/NVT/Sapphire/Solid Rock
Graeme Cockburn 01:09:19
Jeremy Greengrass 01:12:32
Tom Worthington 01:16:16

03:42:25 Edinburgh RC/Hilton/Glen Rental/Field+Lawn
Ken Russell 01:10:54
Brian Nicholson 01:15:29
Miquel Ciriza 01:16:02

03:58:21 Stirling Bike Club/Wheels of Callendar
Eddie Cowie 01:14:32
Graeme Hay 01:20:06
William Bowers 01:23:43

04:00:22 National Clarion (West Lothian)
Matthew Ball 01:16:28
Sadiq Mir 01:21:52
Tim Norton 01:22:02

04:09:28 Ivy Cycling Club
Sharon Doyle 01:21:36
Terence McMahon 01:23:21
Paul Horby 01:24:31

04:09:38 Glasgow Wheelers
Jamie Drever 01:16:09
David Lang 01:20:11
Isobel Fletcher 01:33:18

Ed Hood and Martin Williamson
Ed Hood and Martin Williamson
Ed and Martin, our top team! They try to do the local Time Trials, the Grand Tours and the Classics together to get the great stories written, the quality photos taken, the driving done and the wifi wrestled with.

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