RNRMCA Time Trial Team Pair Up For French Challenge.

20 RNRMCA Athletes plus support crew travel to France to take on the Annual event.

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Twenty Two members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Cycling Association (RNRMCA) attended the 29th addition of the Duo Normand International Cycling Time Trial Race in Marigny, Normandy on 19 September 2010.  The event once again proved to be a fitting conclusion to a successful season for the RNRMCA and saw 20 athletes complete in teams of two against the clock in the race contested over 54Km.  This event takes place in and around the town of Marigny on the Cherbourg Peninsula and boasts British Olympic Gold Medallists Chris Boardman and Bradley Wiggins as previous winners. 

Team members and support crew of Associate RNRMCA members Sally Dean and Lyn Richards travelled from Portsmouth and Plymouth on Friday 17 September arriving at their accommodation at St Lo late in the evening.  Saturday 18 September was an early start which allowed the riders to prepare the kit and prepare for a recce ride of the course.  After a buffet lunch provided by Sally and Lyn and the obligatory team photographs the team returned to Marigny and signed on in preparation to ride the next day.  The town was filling with cycling enthusiasts from around the world and this afforded the opportunity for the RNRMCA riders resplendent in Navy kit to mingle with other likeminded cyclists and fly the flag for the Senior Service.  Saturday evening allowed those with any mechanical problems to visit our very own bike doctor, Associate member Bob Richards who was on hand to ensure all the steeds were ready for the next days racing.  Also a number of the riders attended the race dinner at the town hall in Marigny as guests of the race organisers.

It was another early start on race day, Sunday 19 September, the RNRMCA cavalcade arrived in Marigny at 0800.  The town was decked out in its best flags with its roads closed and crowd control barriers in place.  The unique atmosphere was truly fantastic.  The race started at 0830 and the 800 entrants, in teams of two, started at 1 minute intervals throughout the day.  Unlike time trials held in the United Kingdom each pair in the Duo Normand is allowed a support vehicle to follow them around the course and this coupled with a ramp start, kilometre markers and the big crowd added to the sense of occasion.  All RNRMCA riders showed true grit and determination giving nothing but 100% during their rides.  Club favourites Garry Drew and Lee Sanderson proved to be the pick of the club crop recording a time of 1.21.10 for their ride, a mere 16 mins outside the course record.  The other club's members times are as follows:
 
1.  Gary Drew & Lee Sanderson        1.21.10
2.  Andy Phipps & Jerry Bromyard     1.25.16
3.  Stuard Edwards & Tom Cox         1.26.29
4.  Rob Lowe & Mark Smith              1.28.49
5.  Stewart Cox & Bob Richards        1.31.11
6.  Jon Asbridge & Dave Wallace       1.31.32
7.  Keith Ashby & Simon Paget          1.32.35
8.  Mark Mullen & Criag Russell         1.35.11
9.  Bug Wrightson & Dave Hall           1.35.54
10. Roger Ridley & Samantha Kelly    1.38.49

 
Sunday evening allowed the riders the opportunity to relax and enjoy a dinner in their hotel.  The sense of achievement and post race "banter" was plain to see.  In the absence of the RNRMCA President, Cdr Mark Beverstock, who was forced to cancel his participation in the event at short notice due to service commitments, the General Secretary, Cdr David Wallace, addressed those present.  He mentioned how he was delighted with the conduct of the club members and how they had competed in the international sporting arena.  Those worthy of special mention were Sally Dean and Lyn Richards, who drove the support vehicles, fed and provided pre and post race massages to the race athletes, the Sports Lottery for providing financial assistance, Brittany Ferries who again provided invaluable assistance and heavily subsidised ferry crossings, The Certini Bicycle Company, based at Saltash, who provided a support vehicle for the event free of charge and last but by no means least Stu Cox who organised the event and ensured the tight time scale was maintained with military precision.  The cycling time trial season is now almost over and the many club members who have raced since February now look forward to a well earned rest of about a month before the training starts for the 2011 season.