Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Evan Oliphant; Tour of Britain 2010 Review – Part Two

-

HomeInterviewsEvan Oliphant; Tour of Britain 2010 Review - Part Two

We left our Tour of Britain ‘catch up’ with Evan Oliphant until after the British track champs, on the off chance that he might break the BC/Sky/100% ME grip on affairs – fat chance.

Wout Poels and his team go on the rampage. Photo©Robert Lampard
Wout Poels and his team go on the rampage. Photo©Robert Lampard

Back to the Tour of Britain, Evan Oliphant – stage five?

“The first hour was full on, it went out of the blocks. It was a good day for us because we had Iker Camaño away in the break which Frapporti won out of; and apart from Richey Porte going for it on the last KoM it wasn’t that bad.”

Stage six?

“Columbia were riding for Albasini all day; we expected it to go mental in the cross winds but it didn’t happen.

“Partridge had a mechanical but that was our only awkward moment.

“It was actually the first day that I felt good in the race.”

Stage seven?

“That was the flat stage to Colchester but there was an uphill finish, again Columbia were working for Albasini.

“We were working to get Jack Bauer and Alex Blain up there – they both made the top ten.”

Stage eight?

“We had a little bit of a panic, the guy who was lying ninth behind Rob Partridge jumped away for an intermediate sprint – there was a three second bonus and he was just three seconds back on GC.

“But we spotted the danger and got him back before the sprint.”

What’s it like going from a tough stage race straight to the track?

“The T of B finished on Saturday afternoon and I was back in Scotland by early Sunday morning.

“I guess it would have made more sense to take my track stuff to the Tour with me but there’s just so much to transport.

“I was on the track for Tuesday night, really to get me used to the track for the Games.

“The main difference is leg speed; in fact, I rode a wee bit higher than usual gear at Manchester.”

You rode the scratch?

“I was seventh, I was in a break with Kennaugh, we had 3/4 of a lap and he jumped across the gap, the others in the break wouldn’t help and up in the bunch Geraint Thomas and Ian Stannard nailed it once Kennaugh was on.”

Evan Oliphant
The Commonwealth Games have been a target for Evan Oliphant all season.

And points?

“James McCallum didn’t ride, he wasn’t feeling the best and when I saw a group of 12 riders having a meeting before the start, I thought; ‘there’s not much chance here !’

“I went for a death or glory lap gain but didn’t quite make it – Ian Stannard was nailing it at the front for five or six laps when I was trying to get on.

“Once I saw that I wasn’t going to make it, I climbed off – I was lying second at the time – and so did Stannard!

“Riding Manchester wasn’t really about results, it was about getting ready for Delhi.”

What’s happening about the Games ?

“I leave on Thursday [today, 30th September], that was always the plan.

“The Scottish Games Council say that if when we get there the village isn’t up to scratch then we’ll be given alternative accommodation.

“But the Welsh have said that it looks OK.

“Kennaugh, Stannard and Thomas have all called off – Sky have said that it’s the athlete’s decision but I think it’s because the team doesn’t want then to go down with anything nasty.

“The wet season has come early and there’s a lot of stagnant water which is a breeding ground for disease.

“I’ll be riding the scratch and points; I don’t anticipate that the Games 20 K will be as hard as the British one – we did 20 K in 22 minutes.

“I’ll also ride the road race, it’s pan flat – and the time trial which is the last event, so I’ve nothing to lose.”

VeloVeritas will be keeping in touch with Evan and James during the Games – watch out for the interviews.

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

Russell Downing – a Legend in his own Lifetime

Russell Downing rode his first race when he was seven years-old; he’s now 33 and the British pro racing just wouldn’t be the same without him. Some times when you interview a rider you have to work hard to find decent palmarés for the introduction – but not with Downing. The problem is deciding what to leave out; pages could be dedicated to his wins and placings.

Aidan Duff – Part One; Six Years Racing in France, Victories and Voeckler

Continuing on our recent Irish theme we caught up with Aidan Duff, former Vendee U professional and now owner of Fifty One Cycles – building bespoke carbon frames. 'Fifty One?' we hear you say... The race number for Merckx, Ocana, Thevenet and Hinault when they won the Tour de France. With tales of Jean Rene Bernadeau, Tommy Voeckler and building custom carbon – not ‘off the peg from Taiwan’ - we cover some interesting ground. Let’s go...

Adam Duggleby – the new 12 Hour National Competition Record Holder

Here at VeloVeritas we still get excited about competition records so it’s only proper then that we should ‘have a word’ with 33 year-old Adam Duggleby (Vive le Velo), who recently in the Farnborough & Camberley CC National 12 Hour Championship in Hampshire recorded 322 miles (the official distance not yet available), adding around four miles to Andy Wilkinson’s (Port Sunlight Wheelers) 2012 record of 317.97.

Kenny De Ketele – “I need goals to aim for”

Dreams, we all have them, but most of us don’t realise them. When Kenny De Ketele was a boy, he’d go to the Kuipke velodrome in Gent to watch the Six Days and dream of riding and winning on the hallowed boards. And he’d look at the World Champions in their sparkling white rainbow jerseys and dream of the day when he could pull one over his head.

At Random

Season Opening; Trofeu Cidade de Luís and Volta ao Algarve

Although my season started over a month ago in Argentina, the Portuguese season opened on Sunday the 12th February with the "2nd Trofeu Cidade de Luís", followed by the Volta ao Algarve.

Michael Nicholson – “Racing Hard and Expecting Drama”

I wish I'd tried it; pals Dave, Ivan, Viktor, and our Editor Martin all did - save up your dough over the winter, take the ferry, doss in the cold little room in Gent. The ride out in the rain to the kermis, change in someone's parlour, the inevitable punctures and kickings, the phone call home from a payphone on Sunday night...

Le Tour de France 2016 – Stage 13; Bourg-Saint-Andéol – La Caverne du Pont-d’Arc ITT. Tom Dumoulin in a class of his own

The new crowned King of the Chrono is Dutchman Tom Dumoulin (Giant). He put a minute into maillot jaune Froome in today’s technical and tough time test and set himself as the number one favourite for the Rio Olympic Time Trial. And that’s after a brilliant mountain stage win last weekend in Andorra.

Dan Fleeman – About his Biological Passport

Oh no! Not another drugs article! Yes, but this one is positive - ah, no, not that kind of a 'positive!' Dan Fleeman texted me the other day to tell me that he'll be getting a bit of an airing on the Bike Pure site, due to his decision to continue with UCI Biological Passport level blood testing with Raleigh - at his own expense.