Every now and again something totally unexpected happens. An important event of life changing proportions that just materialises in front you: organ failure, for example. Actually, whilst relevant in our circumstances, that’s a bloody rubbish example, so let’s try something else…
Due to the largesse of a number of people, take a bow Andy Pirie of Gatorade UK, Jon Cannings of Wiggle and the team’s very own Ottilie Quince, I managed to secure a trip to Majorca on 18/19 of December to spend a little time at the Team Sky training camp in Alcudia which included going on a training rider with them. I know… unbelievable isn’t it? In fact, it was interesting to compare and contrast the messages from our Twitter and Facebook mates – Ott’s generally got the whole ‘go girl, nobody deserves it more’ refrain while mine were better characterised by the phrase ‘how did you wangle that you jammy bastard?’
Due to the largesse of a number of people, take a bow Andy Pirie of Gatorade UK, Jon Cannings of Wiggle and the team’s very own Ottilie Quince, I managed to secure a trip to Majorca on 18/19 of December to spend a little time at the Team Sky training camp in Alcudia which included going on a training rider with them. I know… unbelievable isn’t it? In fact, it was interesting to compare and contrast the messages from our Twitter and Facebook mates – Ott’s generally got the whole ‘go girl, nobody deserves it more’ refrain while mine were better characterised by the phrase ‘how did you wangle that you jammy bastard?’
Jammy bastard indeed. We met up with Andy, Jon and two other jammy bastards, Phil and Mike at Gatwick airport and began our trip to Majorca early Wednesday morning. Two of the guys had brought bike with them but the others, myself included, had said ‘yeah, okay we should be able to manage’ when asked if we would mind riding a Dura Ace equipped Sky Pinarello Dogma for the day. No really, that’s what happened, promise.
We were met, put at ease and made to feel welcome on our arrival in Alcudia by Kelly Mclean, the Sky Pro Cycling sponsorship executive who spotted that after dropping bags in our rooms, a coffee would be pretty awesome. The hotel is reserved just for the Sky and GB cycling teams during the months of December, January and the first weeks of February so that would be just the six of us and the two most successful cycling teams in the world then.
We had a tour of the mechanics facilities with Ollie Cookson from the team – there were literally hundreds of Pinarello bikes, boxes of stems, chainsets, kit etc. all sorted and stored immaculately in the hotel. Hanging up on the wall was the bike Wiggo won Olympic TT gold on next to a ‘bog standard’ Dogma with helmet dangling from it with a sticker simply saying ‘Brailsford’ on it. A very orderly ship as you would expect. The expanding hydraulic Sky lorry carefully marshalled by Chief Mechanic Igor Turk was pretty impressive too – he chatted to us while wiring up some Di2 (he highly recommends the 11speed Dura Ace Di by the way)
Before dinner, we sat in on an informal team meeting chaired by Rod Ellingworth where the coaches gave feedback on that days riding and outlined the plan for the next day. Bearing in mind this included the Great Britain women’s and men’s endurance track squads as well as the Sky team riders this was pretty mind blowing stuff for me as a coach. We were right in the middle of the GB/Sky operation, not a place where many people are lucky enough to find themselves, listening to Chris Newton, Paul Manning et al outlining the next day’s plan for the track riders. I’ve sat through a lot of meetings in my time but none of them were like this one.
Dinner was prepared for us, the staff and riders by Soren Kristiansen better known on Twitter as @Teamskychef. He cooks exclusively for the team, it’s lean, clean, beautifully done and all the tables come adorned with Sky Pro Cycling Olive Oil. Well, they would, wouldn’t they?
Dinner was prepared for us, the staff and riders by Soren Kristiansen better known on Twitter as @Teamskychef. He cooks exclusively for the team, it’s lean, clean, beautifully done and all the tables come adorned with Sky Pro Cycling Olive Oil. Well, they would, wouldn’t they?
So, there we were just sitting in the bar watching Steven Burke, Ed Clancy, Jo Rowsell, Andy Tennant etc file past us for a dinner. Jo and Otti are Twitter mates and it was lovely to watch them catch up in more than 140 characters. We got up early to be right on time for breakfast (I quote ‘the team adopts a military approach to timing’) and managed to chat with Paul Manning, Chris Newton and Rod Ellingworth over some extra lean protein packed brekie. I mentioned to them that no team could consider itself complete without the inclusion of a tubby bald middle aged transplant recipient but, although I haven’t heard back formally, I suspect my impromptu job application is unlikely to progress.
David Fernandez was outside making the final adjustments to our Pinarellos for the day and it was a great relief to find that even a Pinarello being adjusted by one of the best mechanics in the world responds to a tap from a Shropshire screw-driver when necessary. David was also to drive Jaguar ‘Sky 13’ to support us during the ride alongside Rod on the motorbike. Yeah, I know, I was pinching myself minute by minute because I was struggling to believe this was real.
In the lobby getting ready for the ride we were blessed by a quick chat with Andy Tennant before we bumped in to another one of my cycling heroes, Bernie Eisel. Otts seemed to go all misty eyed for some reason and leapt over the table to sit next to a smiling Bernie for a photograph. I told her about his history with Mark Cavendish, his tactical mastery on roads, his performances in the Classics but for somebody who is normally a keen student of her sport she’d gone a bit, well, dreamy. I think Bernie had got another fan…
In the lobby getting ready for the ride we were blessed by a quick chat with Andy Tennant before we bumped in to another one of my cycling heroes, Bernie Eisel. Otts seemed to go all misty eyed for some reason and leapt over the table to sit next to a smiling Bernie for a photograph. I told her about his history with Mark Cavendish, his tactical mastery on roads, his performances in the Classics but for somebody who is normally a keen student of her sport she’d gone a bit, well, dreamy. I think Bernie had got another fan…
We were riding to Santa Magdalena that morning, the first hour with the team who would then turn off to do a ‘general ride’ for a total of six and a half hours. This would take us through Puerto Pollenca and towards Sa Pobla past the ‘Shumacher’ road (or the ‘Bins’ road as they call it) towards Campernet. Familiar territory for some of the GBTx team who train in Majorca, only on this day, with a slightly different bunch of riders. As normal we rode out in pairs with the first riders separating out and moving to the back of the bunch after their turn, it just so happened the first pair this time were Jonathan and Alistair Brownlee. Que more pinching…
When they realised we weren’t going to kill them, a few of the riders dropped back for a chat, Ben Swift and Luke Rowe in particular. I think it’s fair to say young Mr Rowe is now familiar with a number of alternative uses for lip balm after his conversation with Ottilie. It’s probably information he didn’t really need, but he got it all the same.
When they realised we weren’t going to kill them, a few of the riders dropped back for a chat, Ben Swift and Luke Rowe in particular. I think it’s fair to say young Mr Rowe is now familiar with a number of alternative uses for lip balm after his conversation with Ottilie. It’s probably information he didn’t really need, but he got it all the same.
We were clattering along at 30kph or so when we turned out of the headwind and in to a full on cross wind. As the only women in a pretty impressive group of riders Otts hadn’t missed a beat but the cross wind caused a bit of gap and still fighting hard, she came out of the group. Who do you think was there to lend a helping hand? Yep, it couldn’t really be anybody else could it? Bernie Eisel drops out of the group, pushes Ottilie back to the protection of the bunch then forms a one man echelon to make sure she’s okay. Do you know what? I wouldn’t have believed it either but, as luck would have it, I managed to get my phone out and got a picture so I know it actually did happen!
After the pros turned off we stopped in Santa Magdalena, had a coffee and some cake (we were, after all, training in Majorca) and battered back to Alcudia (down the ‘Reeds’ road) with a tail wind and with David Fernandez in Sky 13 behind us. Unreal. Absolutely unreal.
A shower, lunch provided by Soren and a whole host of ‘thank yous’ preceded our trip back to the airport for the flight home that evening. We were superbly looked after by the whole Sky team and we were honoured and privileged to be allowed such access. Never ever once were we made to feel like we were intruding on one of the highest performing teams in sport during their preparation for what will be another amazing year.
The list of people we need to thank for this is longer than the side effects leaflet in a box of Tacrolimus but somewhere near the top must be:
· Andy Pirie of Gatorade UK and Jon Cannings of Wiggle for making this happen.
· The riders and staff of the Sky team but in particular Kelly and Ollie for looking after us.
· Nico Portal, David Lopez and David Fernadez for the support during the ride.
· Rod Ellingworth for creating so many world champions, for the motorbike support on the day and for being Rod Ellingworth.
· Bernie for the push…
Can we do it all again please?
A shower, lunch provided by Soren and a whole host of ‘thank yous’ preceded our trip back to the airport for the flight home that evening. We were superbly looked after by the whole Sky team and we were honoured and privileged to be allowed such access. Never ever once were we made to feel like we were intruding on one of the highest performing teams in sport during their preparation for what will be another amazing year.
The list of people we need to thank for this is longer than the side effects leaflet in a box of Tacrolimus but somewhere near the top must be:
· Andy Pirie of Gatorade UK and Jon Cannings of Wiggle for making this happen.
· The riders and staff of the Sky team but in particular Kelly and Ollie for looking after us.
· Nico Portal, David Lopez and David Fernadez for the support during the ride.
· Rod Ellingworth for creating so many world champions, for the motorbike support on the day and for being Rod Ellingworth.
· Bernie for the push…
Can we do it all again please?
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