No Steve Cummings at the British Time Trial Championships 2018, saving it for the road race or just no form? – it looked like a shoot-out then between Dauphine winner, Geraint Thomas and chrono specialist Alex Dowsett (Katusha).
The sun was out, our spot on the hill was perfect, the marshal was sound with not a trace of Janitordom and Dave’s cheese and ham pieces were of exceptional quality.
And Britain’s best bike riders were set to scoot past us.
Not much more a man can want in life.
But first, a trip to the start.
We missed the ladies race but did catch winner, Hannah Barnes (Canyon SRAM) taking the last corner – but what is that team strip about?
The OnePro team bus, ‘did a GreenEdge in Corsica, 2013’ and almost wedged itself under the start/finish gantry – but there were men on hand with ladders to sort it out…
The Wiggins team have the best of kit, the ‘full bifta’ Pinarello Bolides – but we hear that the cable routing is the stuff of premature ageing for mechanics.
You just think the CTT are big into rules – but the UCI are the Daddies and if your bike don’t fit that jig, you don’t start.
We make the best price on Dura Ace ‘bar end shifters’ 65 quid – less though when you hacksaw the ends off them.
Neah Evans produced a strong ride for bronze behind those Barnes Girls.
But it was time for us to ‘head’ – we didn’t want trapped at the start/finish by the road closure.
The u23 riders were first out for two laps of the testing but not too technical circuit.