Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Tour of the Campsies 2021 Goes to Chris Smart

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HomeRaceRace ReviewsTour of the Campsies 2021 Goes to Chris Smart

We had a choice, The Borders and the Scottish Cycling ‘Olympic’ Time Trial Championship or the CTT promoted Tour of the Campsies?

We liked our jaunt to the latter last year and feel at home among the rolling countryside and green hills over there so we headed west rather than south and left the ‘Olympic’ test to VeloVeritas editor, Martin, who lives down in Walter Scott country and not too far from the race route.

Politics isn’t something we’re big into at VeloVeritas but we have to mention this issue again; isn’t it time that SC and CTT got together on the issue of race programmes, to avoid clashes such as this one?

And of course, the issue of ‘Scottish records?’ 

Anyways…

Photo©Ed Hood

First up we paid our respects to the Robert Millar mural at the foot of the Crow Road; when you watch Roglič take the Lagos di Covadonga stage in the Vuelta it’s difficult to imagine a wee fella from Glasgow winning that stage – but win it he did.

CHAPEAU!

Tour of the Campsies
Photo©Ed Hood

We were a little late on the hill and the first rider we snapped was number four, junior, Callum Dickson [Kelso Wheelers].

Isn’t Hawick near Kelso?

Tour of the Campsies
Photo©Ed Hood

Next up was Ronde man, Simon Titmus, none of that ‘tribar’ stuff for those Ronde roadmen types, eh?

Just a shame there are no cobbles on the race route – or frites vans…

Tour of the Campsies
Photo©Ed Hood

Another ‘young un’ was next up, juvenile, Cameron Adam [Musselburgh RCC] fully Cervélo-ed and Kask-ed up; back when I was schoolboy it was a cast-off, home-sprayed Robertson with cottered cranks and a Gran Sport rear gear…

‘Aero?’

That was a chocolate bar.

Tour of the Campsies
Photo©Ed Hood

Espoir, Logan MacLean from Craig Grieve’s excellent Spokes Race Team was the first to catch our eye as being ‘on it’ and at the finish the watch confirmed our suspicions – 58:54 and second to the old war horse winner, Chris Smart by 19 seconds.

Tour of the Campsies
Photo©Ed Hood

Ryan Glasgow [Torvelo] was another ‘sans skis’ but big on pink – both frame and socks.

Tour of the Campsies
Photo©Ed Hood

Liz Wisdish [Glasgow Wheelers] is fast woman Jo Patterson’s friend and work colleague and one of few to manage a smile on the tough old slopes of the Crow Road.

Tour of the Campsies
Photo©Ed Hood

Christopher Mellor [VC Glasgow South] was headed for a top 20 finish on his Planet X with a 1:07 ride.

Tour of the Campsies
Photo©Ed Hood

There was another Planet X in pursuit, ridden by Liam Scott Douglas [Dooleys RT] who would finish with a 1:04 on what was a benign day, mild and with little wind.

Tour of the Campsies
Photo©Ed Hood

It was time for a change of scenery and we headed further up the climb where we caught a man from my era in full Cervélo effect, Steve Donaldson [Fullarton Wheelers] – yellow overshoes would be a cooler option though, Steve.

Tour of the Campsies
Photo©Ed Hood

Paul Hornby [Ivy CC] was looking the part on the false flat as the climb eases.

Tour of the Campsies
Photo©Ed Hood

We moved on again to the descent off the Crow Road where Dougie Muirhead [Coatbridge Clarion] had a nice line through the bends and where the view wasn’t as sharp as last year due to the mist but still beautiful on this calm morning.

Tour of the Campsies
Photo©Ed Hood

Murray Lawson [Spokes Race Team] was a rider we thought would be ‘up there’ on the day but he whistled past us before we got a chance to take a pic. 

Tour of the Campsies
Photo©Ed Hood

It was on the wee detour caused by the road works when we caught him up and passed him, he was looking the part and would finish fourth on the day with a 1:1:15 as best junior. 

Tour of the Campsies
Photo©Ed Hood

Murray Ferguson [Torvelo] was a minute behind his namesake, on the road but wasn’t going to see him on this day.

Photo©Ed Hood

Murray’s Torvelo team mate, Basel Razouk is a new name to us but checking back the CTT results this year we can see he’s a quick man and today he was too quick for us, albeit we did get a good view of his tail light. 

Blanefield and the last corner of the race saw us park up for the rest of the day.

Photo©Ed Hood

With it being a Sunday we thought a picture of the church with the Campsies rising above was in order?

Photo©Ed Hood

Hamish Creber – a name we remember, along with his brother Ross, from a few years back and now with Ryan’s Bike Surgery was looking the part and would finish third on the day with a 1:00:21 ride. 

Photo©Ed Hood

There weren’t too many ladies on the start sheet but we did snap Alexandra Hayden [Vanelli-Project GO] – I really must ask someone about the name of that club?

My favourite though is, ‘Eat Plants Not Pics CC.’ 

Photo©Ed Hood

Her club mate, Jason Roberts was en route a top 20 ride.

Photo©Ed Hood

Nico Anelli [Dundee Thistle] has the ‘skid lid’ of the moment – by the Swedish company, POC – but we need to ask aero guru, Dan Bigham about the CD situation re. facial hair?

Photo©Ed Hood

Breathing down his neck, was the lady who started one minute behind him – Scottish Road Race Champion, Becky Storey [Brother UK – Team OnForm] who was headed for a top 15 overall ride and best lady on the day.

Photo©Ed Hood

But in hot pursuit of both of them was roadman, Alex MacRae.

Photo©Ed Hood

We didn’t have to wait long for winner, Chris Smart [GTR Return To Life] to appear, snarling his way to a 58:35 with course record comparisons irrelevant because of the additional loop on the race route due to a road closure.

Photo©Ed Hood

Things have moved on since 2020’s heavier ‘days of Covid’ – nice to see a result board and folks chatting around it.

But we need to get Martin up to the Campsies next year – his pictures are better than mine…

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.

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