Ras de Cymru 2008 Stage 4 fri 4th July

Usk/Raglan/Usk circuit, 68 miles
A bit of a snooze back at the strip and a wander into town and all of a sudden it was time to get back on the road for another RR. This time a circuit to be ridden 3 times, mostly flat but with a finish on the only hill, a big ring affair. By this point in the race distinct patterns were emerging as both the stronger teams & riders became more confident. Apart from the seriously commited and organised female teams there were strong squads from Team Certini, Cyclingbargains and most particularly the local Cwmcarn Paragon - all tearing it up and making my life painful but strangely excellent! This really is the life, though I badly feel the lack of a proper team that can cover, compliment, support and just be there when the the pressure rises. As it was I was in the game of survival, with proper tough mountain stages in the next days I was all about minimising my efforts and enjoying the ride.
We had a great race today, swinging over the old chain bridge over the Afon Wysg, powering into Usk behind the TV cameras (there for Ms Cooke I hasten to add) and past screaming children let out of class to cheer us all on. This area has always embraced the bike and is clearly very chuffed with Nicoles success. From my perspective I have been very impressed with her. She attacks, she suffers, she grins, she shouts, she hangs wheels and then attacks again. She is tough and organised though clearly riding a bike is an emotional activity for her. She is a champion rider.
I finished =6th in the bunch, 37 secs down on my campus neighbour Gareth McGuiness (Clwb Eqni/Rhos on Sea) who toughed it out in a sprint with Wallis and local Andrew Lane (Cwmcarn Paragon). The Cwmcarn were riding a very smart race at this juncture, with 3 riders in the top 6 on GC all complimenting and supporting each other, they were a ubiquitous and relentless force at the head of the pack.
Another rider who made a deep impression today was Simon Thomas (South Region Juniors). He worked persistently to bridge up to the break and apparently was the driving force in ensuring it stayed away once he joined it. A skinny kid, clothes flapping about and a wee bit all over the road but generally grinning and mad keen to ride.
In the evening the excellent Stuart Stanton gave a fascinating informal talk on another revered local cyclist Arthur Linton who, in 1893 took world hour record off none other than Henri Desgranges and in 1896 won the Bordeaux-Paris race. The story of Linton has considerable contemporary relevance as you'll note if you follow this link:
As well as being an archivist of note Stuart also organises the Junior Tour of Wales and is the Ras de Cymru's mobile commentator, with an endless succession of observations and anecdotes for riders and spectators being broadcast from his van all week.

Listening to: Young Marble Giants - 'wind in the rigging'