Mel, John, Otts, Rich, Will and Di The European Transplant and Dialysis Games (ETDG) is an unusual event – a sporting competition open to those who have received a life supporting organ transplant (heart, liver, kidney, bone marrow) but also open to those on dialysis to treat kidney failure who are, should the opportunity arise, awaiting a kidney transplant. The 8th edition of the games was held in Krakow, Poland between 16th and 23rd August 2014.
Aug 17th saw a team of six riders of the GBTx cycling squad come together. Striving for gender equality or blind luck (you choose) three men (John Leveson and Will Laughton and me) and three women (Ottilie Quince, Mel Slaney and Di Higman) formed the team. Di and Posh Will were making their debut at a European Games with Will at 27 representing his country at cycling for the first time having previously been a world class rower before catching leukaemia. He really should be more careful…
Aug 17th saw a team of six riders of the GBTx cycling squad come together. Striving for gender equality or blind luck (you choose) three men (John Leveson and Will Laughton and me) and three women (Ottilie Quince, Mel Slaney and Di Higman) formed the team. Di and Posh Will were making their debut at a European Games with Will at 27 representing his country at cycling for the first time having previously been a world class rower before catching leukaemia. He really should be more careful…
Pancakes baby... Being dedicated athletes, our first port of call was to get to the old square in Krakow and smash some Polish pancakes (nalesniki ) down us sharpish. Chocolate and banana inside, toffee on top – simple. I think we can all agree acclimatisation is an essential part of international competition.
John Leveson and his family had arrived a few days earlier and had rescued an infamously undiplomatic Nordic cyclist by lending him some Zloty to get in to town to find a cash point. John’s generosity was repaid by our friend telling him his new Scott Foil was a piece of crap and, should he choose to investigate further, he would find independent confirmation of this on the Cervelo website. Who needs friends eh?
Monday saw us do a recce of the course – a 4k slightly lumpy circuit on open roads with really fast left hander - 1 lap for the time trial (gulp) and 5 for the road race. The organisers still think making the distances short helps us poor invalids but then none of them have ever ridden a pursuit distance time trial or an elbow to elbow circuit race at 30mph.
John Leveson and his family had arrived a few days earlier and had rescued an infamously undiplomatic Nordic cyclist by lending him some Zloty to get in to town to find a cash point. John’s generosity was repaid by our friend telling him his new Scott Foil was a piece of crap and, should he choose to investigate further, he would find independent confirmation of this on the Cervelo website. Who needs friends eh?
Monday saw us do a recce of the course – a 4k slightly lumpy circuit on open roads with really fast left hander - 1 lap for the time trial (gulp) and 5 for the road race. The organisers still think making the distances short helps us poor invalids but then none of them have ever ridden a pursuit distance time trial or an elbow to elbow circuit race at 30mph.
Mel explains to John what a piece of crap his bike is...
It was fantastic to see the local residents, and particularly the kids, come out to clap, wave and cheer us. There was a lot of stopping and ‘high 5ing’ going on during practice!
As ever, it was great to see some old friends and new faces. European transplant cyclists aren’t that common a breed so whilst we might be rivals for 40 mins on the bike we are friends for the rest of the year.
As ever, it was great to see some old friends and new faces. European transplant cyclists aren’t that common a breed so whilst we might be rivals for 40 mins on the bike we are friends for the rest of the year.
Concentrate Rich... concentrate. The day dawned warm and sunny for the time trial and with such a short course the field was split by seconds. Gosta Schultze of Germany was quickest on the day with a blistering 6:02 pushing me into silver with 6.13 in our age category. Otts smashed out a 6.54 to win the women’s overall TT by a massive 29 seconds over her Swedish mate Ulrika Svantesson with Di Higman coming in third. Mel Slaney was just out of the medals after a difficult season – all credit to her for getting stuck in.
John. Happy. Despite crap equipment ‘Big Willy’ Laughton or, in Polish, ‘Duzy Shusiak’ came in with a 6.23 to earn him a creditable bronze medal for the younger riders, but special mention must go to John Leveson. Levers had trained hard and dug deep for the 2012 edition of the European Games in Croatia and once again for the World Games in South Africa in 2013 without medalling but this time saw him cocker and quite literally, hoop, with a 6.57 in the over 50’s category – enough for a bronze medal. Well done John. John was only slightly less happy when told he hadn't won the girls as well. A credit to his boundless fortitude, energy and sense of unfathomable optimism.
Smash it Duzy... By the time the road race kicked off in the afternoon it was, well, pissing it down making the sweeping fast left hander look like a bit of a challenge to get around in a bunch. The pace was high making an escape difficult although Will gave it a bloody good go on lap two of five only to be chased down by Laszlo Mezei, the much improved Hungarian. The break finally went on the last lap with five riders Will, Erlend Gjerde (Norway), Laszlo Mezei (Hungary), last year’s winner Walter Uccheddi (Italy) and me.
Lining it out a bit...
Not trusting his sprint, Will went for a long one at 400 metres but faded on the hill. I had to keep an eye on Walter who was in my age category so an unmarked GJerde took the overall win with me in second spot but in front of the Italian meaning a win for me too. Will’s work in the break meaning another very creditable bronze for him.
Behind the break, Levers sprinted for his second bronze medal of the games.
Behind the break, Levers sprinted for his second bronze medal of the games.
Otts winning... again! The women’s race was likely to be a battle between our own Ottilie Quince and Swedish Ulrika and so it proved with Otts making her move on lap 3, distancing her rival to finish well ahead of the rest of the field. Otts domestic racing including crits and national women’s track races, means it is only a matter of time before she becomes a 2nd Cat rider beating cyclists who don’t benefit from her ability to defeat the side effects of immunosuppressive drugs and little things like cancer. She continues to hold British, European and World transplant cycling titles in both the road race and time trial. Some effort.
Last year Mel Slaney was quicker that the Swede in the time trial at the World Games but a difficult year saw her drop out of the medals this time. There is no doubt she will be back to winning ways next season.
Last year Mel Slaney was quicker that the Swede in the time trial at the World Games but a difficult year saw her drop out of the medals this time. There is no doubt she will be back to winning ways next season.
Di Higman put in a great ride for another bronze medal having had to compete against the younger riders. Well done Di.
Di winning and Mel with her big mates...
So, in all 10 medals from 6 riders. 3 gold, 1 silver and 6 bronzes making us the most successful cycling team in the games. Again…
Time to celebrate a little... Our thanks to the village of Klaj (pronounced Quai, as in Bridge over the river…) the organisers, Commissaire and local supporters of this superb event. If you get a chance to go to Krakow, go. It’s BRILLIANT!
Great days... Great Britain...
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