In July the GB Transplant Cycling Team took a team of 10 to the European Transplant Sports Championships in Vantaa, Finland. The European games are split into two separate competitions – European Transplant and Dialysis Sports Championship and the European Heart and Lung Transplant Championship. This structure allows heart and lung transplantees, who have unique challenges in high intensity sports, to compete on a level playing field. Athletes on dialysis, health permitting, are also able to compete in the ETDSC Games.
The GB & NI Team selection process for the European Championships is more relaxed than the Worlds. There are no selection criteria meaning any athlete wishing to compete can do so. This gives those new to the Games, or those wishing to improve, a fantastic opportunity to experience representing their country, travelling to compete and the chance to compete against some of the strongest transplant athletes in Europe. As with previous events the ETDSC cycling comprised a 5km Time Trial and a 20km Road Race. For the athletes competing in the EHLTC there was the 20km road race, with cyclists being allowed to take part in the 5km TT as “non-competing guests”.
The 5km TT took place on the Thursday morning. It was a rolling, fast, out and back course with only one turn at the 2.5km. The weather was near perfect with a strong side wind adding to the challenge. In the women’s event Ottilie Quince of GB was the only female competitor. She had decided to compete despite knowing that no official medals would be awarded in this category, but purely for the sake of competition. Ottilie rode the course in an excellent time of 8:49.00 which would have placed her 4th in the Men’s 30-39 age group and 15th out of a total of 32 competitors! The organisers made a special award for her efforts - unfortunately Otts got a bit of grit in her contact lenses at the time of the presentation making it look like she was slightly tearful. Which of course she wasn't. She said.
The men’s 5km TT was a fiercely fought affair – it is safe to say that the competition at the European games is as strong as the Worlds. In the 20-29 age group William Barnett picked up an excellent bronze medal in his first ever time trial for the GB team. The podium in the 40-49 age group could not have been closer – just 2.7 seconds separating gold and bronze making this age the fastest and most competitive at the games with all 3 medalists posting sub 7m40s times (only 5 riders in the whole competition went below 8 minutes). GB coach and reigning World champion Richard Smith was pipped to the gold by Gosta Schultze of Germany, with Gavin Giles of GB in a very close bronze medal position. Mike Grisenthwaite of GB completed the TT medal tally with a strong ride and bronze in the 50-59 age group. Declan Logue finished in a respectable 7th place in a very competitive age group.
The road races took place in the afternoon and the road race produced a mixed bag of results in the Transplant and Dialysis Championships. All age groups set off together and Ottilie Quince represented the ladies for GB competing in the men’s peloton. The 20km course was another fast, rolling, out and back 20km course, with not much in the way of technical bends or climbs to break up the group. In fact the main bunch stayed together for the whole race, only breaking up in the uphill sprint finish. During the race Richard Smith and Gavin Giles were the main protagonists trying to force a breakaway or split in the group. However there was plenty of effort from other cyclists to chase down the attacks, but a total lack of desire to force a breakaway group. Whilst this was playing out GB riders Ottilie Quince and Mike Grisenthwaite expertly sat in the lead group conserving energy for the bunch sprint! So with 500m to go the pace increased significantly and the final sprint was in full swing with 300m of uphill to the finish line to go. The ascent and a rogue saddle bouncing at head height did their bit to finally break up the lead group. Efforts at the front and the tough finish put pay to medal hopes for Gavin Giles. Mike Grisenthwaite did a superb job to sprint to silver in the 50-59 category and Richard Smith was just edged out of the medals finishing 4th in 40-49 group. Ottilie Quince rode the perfect race finishing in the sprint group in the men’s race (same time as 13 other riders in the sprint). William Barrett finished behind the lead group but still managed to match his TT bronze in the 20-29 category. GB cycling legend Declan Logue improved significantly on his TT place coming in 5th in the 50-59 category.
The road race for the Heart and Lung Transplant Championship proved very fruitful for the GB team resulting in 2 golds and 2 silver. Debbie Burdon claimed silver in the 35-44 age group, and Louise McLellan went one better in the 45-54 group winning gold. In the men’s race long time team member Simon Ripley added to his extensive EHLTC medal haul winning gold in the 18-34 category. Steve Donaldson won silver in the 45-54 age group in his first outing for GB. Steve rode an incredible race being beaten to silver and 3rd scratch in a tactical and exciting sprint finish. Paul Woodward finished 7th in the 45-54 category.
The GB cycling team once again finished top of the medal table, just ahead of Netherlands. This was an excellent result for a smaller, less experienced squad. This overall result bodes very well for the squad in the run up to the 2017 World Transplant Games in Malaga.
The road race for the Heart and Lung Transplant Championship proved very fruitful for the GB team resulting in 2 golds and 2 silver. Debbie Burdon claimed silver in the 35-44 age group, and Louise McLellan went one better in the 45-54 group winning gold. In the men’s race long time team member Simon Ripley added to his extensive EHLTC medal haul winning gold in the 18-34 category. Steve Donaldson won silver in the 45-54 age group in his first outing for GB. Steve rode an incredible race being beaten to silver and 3rd scratch in a tactical and exciting sprint finish. Paul Woodward finished 7th in the 45-54 category.
The GB cycling team once again finished top of the medal table, just ahead of Netherlands. This was an excellent result for a smaller, less experienced squad. This overall result bodes very well for the squad in the run up to the 2017 World Transplant Games in Malaga.
RSS Feed