Thursday, March 28, 2024

Tour de Trossachs 2013 – it’s Gold for Goldsworthy

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HomeRaceRace ReviewsTour de Trossachs 2013 - it's Gold for Goldsworthy

Silas Goldsworthy (Sandy Wallace Cycles) added his name to the list of Scottish cycling greats – Steel, Bilsland, Millar, Obree and MacIntyre – who have won the Classic chrono, with a 1:07:29 ride on a ‘four seasons in one day,’ Sunday over the glorious countryside around Aberfoyle and Callander to take the win at the Tour de Trossachs 2013.

Silas dedicated his win to Fife Century Road Club’s Alistair Speed, who tragically lost his life recently.

Tour de Trossachs 2013
Silas Goldsworthy used his track speed to good effect today. Photo©Martin Williamson

Three times previous winner Arthur Doyle (Dooleys) finished a minute behind Goldsworthy despite being faster to the top of the Dukes Pass than the tester turned pursuiter – but back to tester for the day – Goldsworthy.

Arthur Doyle
Arthur heads to second place in the Trossachs Time Trial. Photo©Martin Williamson

In third spot was up-and-coming Steven Lawley (Herbalife) a scant four seconds behind Doyle.

Steven Lawley
Steven hasn’t taken long to find his feet in the sport. Photo©Martin Williamson

The ridge road which leads from Thornhill to Aberfoyle was damp but presenting glorious views across the marshes to the Campsie Fells when VeloVeritas arrived at 09:00 am for the 10:00 am start.

It was flat calm in the Aberfoyle race HQ car park; but a little breezier on the Dukes Pass – the Duke being the Duke of Montrose, who had the road constructed to give better access to his lands.

First man up was veteran Albert McLellan (Glasgow Couriers), the same man who beat me into second place in the Scottish 12 hour champs in 1980? I think so.

Tour des Trossachs
Albert McLellan. Photo©Ed Hood

So as we didn’t end up with all our pictures taken from the same spot, I headed back down the hill on foot with just the sounds of the birds and the burns – good for the soul.

Tour des Trossachs
Heading out of Aberfoyle and up the Dukes Pass. Photo©Ed Hood

Andrew Davis, owner of the thebicycleworks.com was looking good on the climb riding a titanium Enigma with a ‘graffiti’ paint job.

Tour des Trossachs
Andrew Davies. Photo©Martin Williamson

Andrew has always been a man for the cutting edge equipment; I can remember him riding one of the first pairs of ultra light (at the time) Roval wheels here in the Trossachs in the 80’s – trouble was, with so few spokes if one broke or worked its way loose it was catastrophe, the wheel went so far out of true that it wouldn’t clear the stay/forks.

That’s why I seem to recall seeing him carrying his bike up the Braes of Greenock, back then…

Tour des Trossachs
Andrew’s cool bike. Photo©Ed Hood
Tour des Trossachs
Auld chum and respected journalist Kenny Pryde gives this racing lark another go, just for fun. Photo©Martin Williamson

The breeze was picking up further down the climb but the sun was out and the road drying as pro Michael Nicholson pedalled past – but not in anger – looking skinnier than I’ve ever seen him – all those kermises are pairing the weight off him.

Michael Nicolson
Michael had a good winter. Photo©Ed Hood
Tour des Trossachs.
Amazing autumnal colours in the forest at this time of year. Photo©Ed Hood

The ladies in the race began to pass me at this point and it was Sandy Wallace Cycles’ Anda-Jay Burgess who would end the day with best time – 1:20:48.

Tour des Trossachs
Anda-Jay Burgess, fastest woman. Photo©Martin Williamson
Tour des Trossachs
Christine McLean, second in the Ladies’ class. Photo©Martin Williamson
Tour des Trossachs
Third lady, Lynsey Curran. Photo©Martin Williamson
Tour des Trossachs
We spot Richard McGhee climbing through the trees. Photo©Ed Hood

Down at the hairpin there were exactly seven spectators; I say it every year but back in the 70’s and 80’s there were several hundred clubmen at this spot.

Tour des Trossachs
It’s a shame that the clubs don’t come out en masse to watch the race anymore. Photo©Ed Hood
Tour des Trossachs
Andrew Allan. Photo©Martin Williamson

Former winner of the Trossachs TT and VeloVeritas editor Martin’s anecdote about this spot also bears repeating; riding the race in 1979 as a skinny schoolboy for Jocky Allan’s Velo Sportiv, Musselburgh’s Davie Urquhart handed him up an ‘Orange Club’ biscuit – ‘for energy!’

Tour des Trossachs
Our Martin, before arriving at the feed zone halfway up the climb, and 10 minutes into the race. Photo©Danny McClure

Carlos Riis (Shetland Wheelers) and Jim Cusick (Glasgow Couriers) were looking the part but the watch would ultimately show them to be well off the pace as they climbed past trees on the turn to autumn colours and others heavy with berries.

Tour des Trossachs
Carlos Riise. Photo©Martin Williamson
Tour des Trossachs
James Cusick. Photo©Martin Williamson

Further down the slope it became harder to get photographs of riders on their own as the traffic count rose and impatient motorists glowered from behind windscreens at the inconvenience of being held up for a couple of seconds.

The ‘Wiggo Effect’ was certainly not in evidence on The Dukes – even though there were big gaps in the field and really not that many riders to slow down vehicles.

Tour des Trossachs
Gillian entertains herself during the gaps between riders passing. Photo©Martin Williamson

At the bottom of The Dukes is the Aberfoyle war memorial, a reminder that nowhere in Scotland, however small and remote, escaped that conflict.

Tour des Trossachs
The Aberfoyle War Memorial. Photo©Martin Williamson

And what happened to the Bailie Nicol Jarvie Hotel on the corner at the foot of the pass?

The good Bailie being a character in Sir Walter Scott’s novel, ‘Rob Roy.’

It’s been converted to flats; but it used to host dozens of less energetic clubbie boys whose hangover didn’t permit their climbing The Dukes.

They’d stand with their pints and holler comic remarks at the likes of me as we changed down to bank right and attack the climb.

Tour des Trossachs
The sun did burn the early mist away, eventually. Photo©Ed Hood

With Ben Peacock a ‘no show’ it looked like a two horse race to us with both Goldsworthy and Doyle looking suitably impressive as they charged along Aberfoyle High Street.

The day was changing as quickly as it takes to write about it – cloud, sun, drizzle, breeze, calm…

Tour des Trossachs
The unusually clement weather has meant lots of late blooms. Photo©Ed Hood

Martin and Gillian picked me up, having driven down off The Dukes and we headed out ‘against’ the race to watch the riders fighting in to the finish up that cruel drag from the Lake of Menteith.

The drag is a good barometer of who’s going well – and who’s not.

The former surge up it without missing a beat, the latter are out of the saddle and/or tying up.

Tour des Trossachs
Barry Wilson. Photo©Martin Williamson

Barry Wilson (Dundee Thistle) was fastest on Gillian’s watch until Lawley hurtled past looking every inch a man on top of the job – there was little need to look at a watch.

At the start we’d heard him hope for wet roads to make the technical course even trickier.

Steven Lawley
Steven rode the classic Trossachs timetrial in 2013. Photo©Martin Williamson

With just Goldsworthy and Doyle to come it looked like the top three was sorted – just the order to decide.

Goldsworthy was ‘on it’ – again there was little need to consult a watch but the man in blue was a minute up on Lawley on Gillian’s watch.

Tour des Trossachs
Silas was the smoothest rider we saw, putting his pursuiting form to good use on the many rises on the parcours. Photo©Martin Williamson

Doyle had been half-a-minute clear of Goldsworthy atop The Dukes so we expected him post haste behind – but not a bit of it; and it was a weary-looking Arthur, not in his usual ‘cruise missile’ mode, who lifted himself off the saddle near the top of the drag.

Goldsworthy had pulled back his 30 seconds and added another minute.

Gillian looked to be correct when she said that Doyle may drop to third as his margin on Lawley was just 10 seconds – the Herbalife man was full of riding and Doyle wasn’t.

However, at the line Doyle still had four seconds in hand.

The first question we asked Goldsworthy was whether he’d prepared specifically for the race, or ‘just turned up and rode?’

Silas Goldsworthy:

“The latter; whilst it’s a race I’ve always wanted to win, all of my energies have been going into pursuiting.

“I didn’t taper for it – I trained right up to it, but once I had left the start I gave it my all.

“I started steady but my legs were really sluggish on The Dukes and it definitely wasn’t in the game plan to give away so much time to Arthur and Steve by the top of The Dukes. But my legs woke up off the descent and I had good legs from there on.

“The descent of The Dukes wasn’t too bad, some of the bends were wet, some dry and it was similar along the Lochs section – but that’s the nature of the race, isn’t it? I kept a little bit in reserve for that last section in from Port of Menteith – I’ve ridden the race often enough to know how hard that part can be.

“I tried to time it so the tank was empty just as I crossed the line.

“Next up for me are the Scottish track champs; as for going for the sub 4:30 Commonwealth Games qualifying time – we’ll decide on that on the day . . .”

Follow Silas’ progress on Twitter.

Time to head home and let the leaves turn in peace – maybe the gallery on The Dukes will be bigger next year…

Tour des Trossachs
The crowds weren’t huge, but the views are magic! Hope to see you all there next year. Photo©Ed Hood

Roval wheels, Update – 12th October:

Dave Martin, mechanic with thebicycleworks.com, emailed to let us know he’d found the Roval wheels in the basement of the shop! As mentioned, when a spoke worked loose the wheel became unrideable and Andrew had to carry his bike, unable to finish the race.

Tour des Trossachs
Andrew Davies’ cutting-edge (a few years ago) Roval wheels.

Result - Tour des Trossachs 2013


Full Result


1 Silas Goldsworthy Sandy Wallace Cycles M 01:07:29
2 Arthur Doyle www.Dooleys-Cycles.co.uk V40 M 01:08:30
3 Steven Lawley Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes.com M 01:08:34
4 David Griffiths Glasgow Whls M 01:10:51
5 Euan Pope Glasgow Road Club M 01:12:48
6 Jason Barnes Glasgow Nightingale CC M 01:13:03
7 Simon Dale Nottingham Clarion CC V40 M 01:13:20
8 Carlos Riise Shetland Wheelers V40 M 01:13:52
9 Barry Wilson Dundee Thistle RC M 01:13:52
10 Gerry McGarrity Inverclyde Velo V40 M 01:14:10
11 Stuart McCluskey www.Dooleys-Cycles.co.uk M 01:14:19
12 Scott Newman Inverclyde Velo M 01:14:24
13 Stephen Cairns Perth United Cycling Club M 01:14:34
14 Drew Sharkey TheBicycleWorks.com M 01:14:36
15 Thomas Gordon www.Dooleys-Cycles.co.uk V40 M 01:14:39
16 Derek McMillan St Christopher’s CC V50 M 01:15:53
17 Fraser Martin Perth United Cycling Club M 01:16:03
18 Richard McDonald Equipe Velo Ecosse/Montpeliers M 01:16:21
19 Andrew Davies thebicycleworks.com V50 M 01:16:33
20 Andrew Hood Team Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique M 01:17:29
21 Jon Clarke Glasgow Whls M 00:15:30 18 01:17:47
22 Keith Greenwood West Lothian Clarion CC M 01:17:50
23 Jason Roberts Glasgow Whls V40 M 01:17:54
24 Paul Friel Glasgow Couriers V40 M 01:17:59
25 Richard McGhee Vortex Race Team M 01:18:12
26 Allan Mill Sandy Wallace Cycles M 01:18:24
27 Keith Morrison Edinburgh RC V40 M 01:19:00
28 Steve Macluskie VC Glasgow South V40 M 01:19:10
29 Jason Smith Glasgow Green Cycle Club V40 M 01:19:22
30 Kristoff Aksnes Glasgow Whls M 01:19:26
31 Richard Provan Glasgow Couriers M 01:19:44
32 Colin Baird Sandy Wallace Cycles M 01:20:28
33 Andrew McGhee Glasgow Couriers M 01:20:28
34 Robert Drummond Glasgow Whls M 01:20:31
35 Anda-Jay Burgess Sandy Wallace Cycles F 01:20:48
36 Ross Dymock Glasgow Green Cycle Club M 01:21:26
37 Christine McLean Shetland Wheelers V50 F 01:21:35
38 John Anderson Glasgow Road Club V50 M 01:21:37
39 Philip Deveney Glasgow Nightingale CC M 01:21:38
40 Lynsey Curran Glasgow Couriers F 01:21:44
41 Grahame Hay Perth United Cycling Club V40 M 01:22:02
42 Allan Duncan V50 M 01:22:08
43 Albert McLellan Glasgow Couriers V60 M 01:22:11
44 David Stephen Stirling Bike Club V40 M 01:22:23
45 Martin Yeo M 01:23:04
46 Steven Anderson Glasgow Nightingale CC V40 M 01:23:34
47 Richard Graveling Stirling Bike Club M 01:23:53
48 Iain Couttie Johnstone Wheelers CC V50 M 01:24:00
49 Mark Higgins Granite City RT V40 M 01:24:11
50 Dave Cherry Border City Wheelers V60 M 01:24:26
51 James Gilmour Glasgow Couriers V40 M 01:25:06
52 John Proudfoot Planet Velo V50 M 01:25:49
53 Andrew Allan Team Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique M 01:26:06
54 Stephen Malaney Glasgow Couriers M 01:26:22
55 Lee Vernett Glasgow Nightingale CC V40 F 01:26:39
56 Paul Lawson Weaver Valley CC V40 M 01:28:38
57 Robert Buoy M 01:29:20
58 Aileen Scott V40 F 01:29:30
59 Stuart McClymont V40 M 01:31:10
60 Jonathan Ward V50 M 01:31:56
61 Katherine Wren Stirling Bike Club V40 F 01:32:10
62 Sarah Stephen Stirling Bike Club F 01:32:37
63 Iain Binning Stirling Bike Club V60 M 01:33:53
64 Sandy Allan Team Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique V60 M 01:38:17
65 Kenny Pryde V50 M 01:38:51
66 Andrew Wilson St Christopher’s CC V60 M 01:44:57
67 Robert Shennan V40 M 01:47:49
68 Ian Elliott West Lothian Clarion CC 00:15:24 14

Hill Climb


1 Steven Lawley Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes.com M 00:13:53
2 Arthur Doyle www.Dooleys-Cycles.co.uk V40 M 00:13:56 1st V40
3 David Griffiths Glasgow Whls M 00:14:25
4 Silas Goldsworthy Sandy Wallace Cycles M 00:14:28
5 Carlos Riise Shetland Wheelers V40 M 00:14:39 2nd V40
6 Scott Newman Inverclyde Velo M 00:14:44
7 Euan Pope Glasgow Road Club M 00:14:45
8 Barry Wilson Dundee Thistle RC M 00:15:00
9 Drew Sharkey TheBicycleWorks.com M 00:15:08
10 Jason Barnes Glasgow Nightingale CC 00:15:08
11 Kristoff Aksnes Glasgow Whls M 00:15:11
12 Paul Friel Glasgow Couriers V40 M 00:15:16 3rd V40
13 Stuart McCluskey www.Dooleys-Cycles.co.uk M 00:15:17
14 Richard McDonald Equipe Velo Ecosse/Montpeliers M 00:15:24
15 Ian Elliott West Lothian Clarion CC 00:15:24
16 John Proudfoot Planet Velo V50 M 00:15:27 1st V50
17 Andrew Hood Team Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique M 00:15:28
18 Fraser Martin Perth United Cycling Club M 00:15:30
19 Jon Clarke Glasgow Whls M 00:15:30
20 Simon Dale Nottingham Clarion CC V40 M 00:15:37
21 Richard McGhee Vortex Race Team M 00:15:41
22 Gerry McGarrity Inverclyde Velo V40 M 00:15:46
23 Stephen Cairns Perth United Cycling Club M 00:15:51
24 Thomas Gordon www.Dooleys-Cycles.co.uk V40 M 00:16:04
25 Keith Greenwood West Lothian Clarion CC M 00:16:05
26 Andrew Davies V50 M 00:16:06 2nd V50
27 Jason Roberts Glasgow Whls V40 M 00:16:12
28 Andrew McGhee Glasgow Couriers M 00:16:15
29 Steve Macluskie VC Glasgow South V40 M 00:16:20
30 Derek McMillan St Christopher’s CC V50 M 00:16:24 3rd V50
31 Philip Deveney Glasgow Nightingale CC M 00:16:28
32 Jason Smith Glasgow Green Cycle Club V40 M 00:16:31
33 Keith Morrison Edinburgh RC V40 M 00:16:42
34 Robert Drummond Glasgow Whls M 00:16:51
35 Martin Yeo M 00:16:52
36 Lynsey Curran Glasgow Couriers F 00:16:59 1st F
37 Lee Vernett Glasgow Nightingale CC V40 F 00:17:01 2nd F
38 Mark Higgins Granite City RT V40 M 00:17:02
39 Colin Baird Sandy Wallace Cycles M 00:17:06
40 Richard Provan Glasgow Couriers M 00:17:13
41 Allan Duncan V50 M 00:17:14
42 Richard Graveling Stirling Bike Club M 00:17:20
43 Ross Dymock Glasgow Green Cycle Club M 00:17:23
44 David Stephen Stirling Bike Club V40 M 00:17:23
45 Christine McLean Shetland Wheelers V50 F 00:17:34 3rd F
46 Allan Mill Sandy Wallace Cycles M 00:17:38
47 Albert McLellan Glasgow Couriers V60 M 00:17:39
48 Grahame Hay Perth United Cycling Club V40 M 00:17:50
49 John Anderson Glasgow Road Club V50 M 00:17:51
50 Stephen Malaney Glasgow Couriers M 00:17:52
51 Aileen Scott V40 F 00:18:00
52 Andrew Allan Team Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique M 00:18:02
53 Iain Couttie Johnstone Wheelers CC V50 M 00:18:03
54 James Gilmour Glasgow Couriers V40 M 00:18:12
55 Steven Anderson Glasgow Nightingale CC V40 M 00:18:14
56 Sarah Stephen Stirling Bike Club F 00:18:15
57 Anda-Jay Burgess Sandy Wallace Cycles F 00:18:17
58 Dave Cherry Border City Wheelers V60 M 00:18:28
59 Paul Lawson Weaver Valley CC V40 M 00:18:38
60 Katherine Wren Stirling Bike Club V40 F 00:19:00
61 Robert Buoy M 00:19:06
62 Jonathan Ward V50 M 00:20:07
63 Stuart McClymont V40 M 00:20:38
64 Iain Binning Stirling Bike Club V60 M 00:20:56
65 Kenny Pryde V50 M 00:21:18
66 Sandy Allan Team Leslie Bike Shop/Bikers Boutique V60 M 00:22:33
67 Robert Shennan V40 M 00:22:34
68 Andrew Wilson St Christopher’s CC V60 M 00:24:32

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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