Life of Brian 13 - The Academy Visit

 

News Posted: 4th August 2008

BC President Brian Cookson spent a weekend with the Road Academy at Quarrata in Italy.

Day One - Friday 18 July 2008

Leave a wet and windy Britain via a Ryanair flight from Liverpool to Pisa - no problems, plane nearly full, but plenty of spare seats. Considerably warmer and sunnier on arrival, met at airport by Andy Naylor, former rider now soigneur, and we drive to Quarrata through the olive groves of the beautiful region of Tuscany. Past the "Lads' House" to the "Staff House" on the other side of this small town. Met by Rod Ellingworth, also a former top rider and the man who has taken the bare concept of British Cycling's Academy and made it a hugely successful reality.

Above: The Lads house

Put my bike together, down to the town for a little lunch, and back to the Staff House to watch the Tour stage finish. It's a bunch gallop and right on cue the Academy's most famous product so far, the great Mark Cavendish, weaves through the heaving mass as if he's got an extra gear and takes his fourth stage victory. Rod is naturally delighted and we talk about the early days, when there was considerable doubt whether Cav would ever make it. But he stuck at it, and with persistence, determination, hard work and the right support - well, we all can see the outcome.

Next we visit the lads - Jonny Bellis, Alex Dowsett, Russell Hampton, Pete Kennaugh, Jonny McEvoy, Mark McNally, Ben Swift, and Andy Tennant (strict alphabetical order - don't want to imply any favouritism!) in their house. Not present is Steven Burke, whose already joined up with the Olympic team pursuiters.

Above: Brian rides with the lads...for a while at least!

The lads mostly share two to a room, they have extra shower units installed so that they're not all waiting around after a ride, they have a good kitchen (they have to make their own meals, which they do in pairs on a rota system), a siting room/lounge with television, etc., plus there's a secure bike store/workshop, and a soigneur's room. All plainly but comfortably furnished.

Rod's phone is on overload, calls constantly coming in, mainly from journalists wanting to know whether Cav, who he still coaches, is planning to quit the Tour now or try to get through to Paris. Rod puts them all on voicemail, because it's time for a team talk. The lads gather and Rod goes through the plans for the next few days, including Sunday's race, then on into the next few weeks as the lads split into separate groups, with Ben and Jonny going to the Olympics for the road race, some of the others going to the European U-23 Champs, some riding the Tour of Britain, some hoping to get "stagiare" places on pro teams for a few weeks, and some thinking about the World U-23 Championships as well, both Road Race and Time Trial.

Above: Chatting in the sun

After that, Cav calls and discusses his options with Rod. Rod gives good, straight advice, but emphasises that it has to be Cav's decision, no-one else's. A bit later and Brian Holm, one of the Team Columbia managers, also calls - the likelihood is that Cav will do one more stage then climb off and get some well-earned rest, ready to prepare for the Olympics.

Back into town for a meal and in the village square we meet former pro Max Sciandri, the Anglo-Italian who has helped set up the base and has invaluable contacts both in the Italian scene and amongst the pro teams.

On the way back to the Staff House, we drive slowly past the Lad's House, just to check everything is OK - all quiet, no problems.

Above: The pace starts to tell on Brian - noone else is even slightly out of breath!

Day Two - Saturday 19 July 2008

Wake at 8.00am and have a bit of breakfast. A bit later there's a noise of a scooter outside and Steve Cummings arrives. The Barloworld pro, another Academy product, has based himself in the town and is in the process of buying an apartment. He loves it in this part of Italy, finding it ideal for training, and has really adopted the Italian way of life. He's had a training crash though, and is looking for a clean dressing from Andy Naylor.

Above: Team vehicles outside event HQ 

At 10.00am I meet up with the lads at their house and we set off on a leisurely ride with Max and Steve coming along, and Rod on the motorbike too. I take my place at the back of the group, enjoying the sunshine. I'm OK for the first few kilometres, but as we hit the first big climb I'm soon suffering in the heat and quickly drop back (well, they are some of the best U-23's in the world, and I am giving them more than thirty years, plus I'm not very fit this year anyway - see how quickly I have my excuses lined up?..).

Rod gives me a little helping hand to get back on and for the next 20kms or so, I'm fine, though feeling the heat. Then the lads start some team time trial efforts and away they go into the distance. I ride on with Max and we talk about his ideas for British Cycling members' training camps in the area. A great idea, if we can make it happen. Watch this space.

Above: The lads get ready

As we ride though, it's getting hotter and hotter and at the same time my back, which has been giving me problems all year, is starting to lock up. Eventually I can't hold Max's wheel. I ride on at my own pace through the beautiful town of Vinci (yes, home of the famous Leonardo) and begin the long climb out of the valley. Feeling really grim, I grind to a halt on a steep section and just as I'm suffering most Rod arrives on the motor bike and offers me a lift in the van. As I'm feeling more than a little unwell with the heat and the painful back, I gratefully accept, and we drop back down to Vinci and have a cool drink at a pavement cafe. Andy arrives shortly in the van, to save my life, if not my reputation, and we drive back as Andy points out the climbs, the descents, the views and the landmarks, including a Giro leader's pink jersey in the cafe at San Baronto, the base of Visconti's fan club.

Then its back to the Staff House for shower and a snooze, before watching Cav's final tour stage, with him just drifting off the back over the last climb. Freire wins and pulls away from Cav in the green jersey standings. Personally, I think Cav could have made it five wins if he'd positioned himself at the front of the bunch at the start of that last climb, giving himself a bit of slippage room, but who am I to say? Four Tour stages is phenomenal by any standards.

Above: Vinci, home of Leonardo. He painted a bit.

At 5.00pm we visit the lads again to finalise details for Sunday's race. Cav calls again and his decision is to climb off now. Freire looks uncatchable in the green jersey this year, and that would put it out of reach for Cav, so he has decided now to do everything right to prepare for the Olympics.

That evening we go out to the local steak house - myself, Rod, Andy and his wife Fi, who has arrived from visiting family in the north of Italy. The food is good, we have the odd glass of wine and marvel at the Amy Winehouse lookalike waitress. It seems "the troubled songstress" - all tabloid newspapers - has her fans in Italy too.

Back in bed for 10.00pm - it's an early start for the drive to the race tomorrow. It's a very hot night though, difficult to sleep. My mind is wandering, I'm up in the attic room, which has three beds in various alcoves, one of which is often used by the mechanic, John, when he's there, which he isn't at the moment. There are bikes, wheels and tyres stored in one section giving off a faint aroma of bikeshop. My bed is beneath a roof widow, whilst another is right under the eaves, with very little headroom from the sloping roof, and I sleepily conclude it must usually be occupied by an anorexic limbo-dancer...

Day Three - Sunday 20 July 2008

Race day - the 92nd Giro del Casentino, a 155 kilometre UCI ranked event, first held in 1910 and numbering amongst former winners some great names - Magni, Coppi, Nencini, Conti, Casagrande, Brushegin, Zanetti, and even Britain's Phil Edwards, back in 1975. Back home, the Bristolian Edwards starred in several Milk Races of course, before going on to carve out a career as one of Francesco Moser's most dedicated domestiques (or maybe that should be gregario, as I'm in Italy!).

We arrive early and the lads go off for the pre-race meal, provided by the organisation, that is a normal feature of many events like this in Italy. I wander into the headquarters with Rod, introduce myself to the organisers and meet a couple of familiar faces amongst the UCI Commissaires. Frenchman Joel Coufourier is the Chief, but local Mirco Monti is the one I know well, having been a member of the jury with him at the World Road Championships in Lugano in 1996. These days, however, as a National Federation president, I don't get appointed to events by the UCI, despite my hard-earned UCI Grade A International Commissaire status, so I don't get to know many of the officials as well as I used to. But its always useful to let them know you're there and a matter of courtesy too - everyone is polite and welcoming. We attend the team managers' briefing and draw position 8 in the race convoy - not too bad.

The lads return from the meal, sign on and complete the final preparations. Rod repeats the race instructions - for once there's no particular plan, it's the first race back after a break, they all have a free rein - just find your legs, see how you're going, race hard, have a go if you can and try and go with the moves. There are teams from Russia, Poland and Croatia as well as most of the big Italian U-23 teams, most of which act as feeder squads for full pro teams. There's a brief neutralised ride down to the Via Roma in the town centre and suddenly we're off.

Above: The Great Britain team

Away we go. The racing is fast and furious from the start, after only 5kms Ben Swift is in a break, but it's quickly brought back. Then a group of six go clear, then a big group of 24 riders, which is brought back on the first short (well, relatively short) climb. Riders are already going out the back, including several of the Russian team, but all our guys are safe in the bunch over the top. The pace eases a bit and Jonny Bellis comes on the radio asking for a rear wheel. It looks like a loose spoke, the rim is rubbing, so it's a good time to change. With no mechanic, I'm useful at last and leap out with the wheel as Jonny pulls over, quickly climbs off and has his wheel out ready before I even get to him. He takes the wheel, puts it in expertly and off he goes as I leap back into the car.

By the time things calm down, we're nearly at the feeding station, which is also a bit close to the foot of the first major climb. Everyone gets a musette from Andy or Fi, but they've all had to go to the back to get through, so are all badly positioned for the climb. As the road goes up and up, rider and after rider comes back through the convoy, unable to hold the pace in the bunch, but all ours seems safe. Finally, just as we are reaching a false flat near the summit, we spot Mark McNally with a group, trying to get back on.

Above: The opposition - the Grassi team, with Italian U-23 champion.

After a rapid descent and a long, painful chase, Mark and his group get there, just in time for the start of the next major climb. What a way to spend your 19th birthday! Happy Birthday, Mark!

"Listen up lads..." says Rod over the riders' radio - they must dread hearing those words, maybe the next instruction will be to get on the front and chase the break down, or get one of the lads up to the break. But on this occasion it's just advice about the imminent climb - it's the last big one, a real killer that winds up and up out of the valley, with the heat making it even worse as they leave the trees behind and hit the rolling uplands.

The field soon splits to pieces, with groups falling off the pace all the way. Mark is suffering again, but sticks to the job and hangs in with a group. About half way, another big group comes back with Russell, Alex and Jonny Mc in there. We pass by and just round the corner Jonny B is hanging in with a small group too. That just leaves Pete and Ben in the front group, now down to about 50 or so from the original 190 starters.

Over the top and race radio advises that a group of 5 riders has gone clear, followed by some 20 or so at 30 seconds, then the main bunch at 50 seconds. As we head down the descent at breakneck speed, Jonny B comes hurtling past like he's a man on a mission, weaving between the team cars, taking the fastest line through the corners and dodging the motorbikes and anyone else in the way. He gets back on as things ease up a bit at the foot of the descent. We've covered 110 kilometres, there are still 4 leaders, but now there's a group of 8 chasers at 20 seconds and Ben is in there.

Above: Views from the climb out over the Tuscan plain.

This combination isn't to the liking of some teams though, the gaps come down and it's all together with two leaders just ahead by a few seconds.

As we head towards the finishing circuit, there's a couple of little surprises, the one little climb shown on the race profile turns out to be a nasty steep kick up through a village, causing a few more to slide off the back, then we hit another climb that doesn't seem to be on the profile at all, and this spells the end for Jonny B who slips backwards with a dozen others.

Onto the finishing circuit, 3 laps of 11 kms, pretty flat, the situation evolves again. There 's one leader, with three chasers, followed by a group of four, followed 30 seconds later by the remnants of the bunch, with Pete and Ben in there. Pete comes on the radio - he's not feeling up for going for the win, but offers to do what he can before he's completely exhausted, to help set Ben up. Rod asks him to get on the front, ignore the inevitable abuse from the teams with guys in the break, and put his head down.

Above: Jonny Bellis gets back on with a nerveless descent through the convoy.

This he does, to some effect. As Pete nobly buries himself on the front of the bunch in the stifling heat, the gaps start to come down. A couple of other teams join in and its slowly, painfully, coming together - 50 seconds, 30 seconds, 25 seconds, 15 seconds. Pete must be smashed then, because we see him hanging on at the back with 1 lap to go, so Rod mercilessly but kindly cajoles him over the radio "Pete, great effort, fantastic, I know you're on your knees, but just one more little job for Swifty, we've nearly got them all back, just get on the front one more time and blast it till you drop...".

And that is what he does. It all comes together with 5kms to go, Pete sits up, totally spent, a great job well done, and Ben is setting himself up for the sprint. "Ben's definitely the fastest sprinter here, he's on for this" says Rod. "OK Ben, you know what to do now, follow everything".

But suddenly disaster strikes. We hear Ben on the radio, but can't make out what he's saying. Then, inside 2 kms to go we see him coming backwards out of the group. Before we get to him we can hear the dreaded noise of broken spokes jangling against the frame. In all the jostling for position, someone's been a little too enthusiastic and Ben's front wheel has made contact with their rear quick release, ripping two spokes out. Ben tries to continue, releasing the front brake q/r, but the wheel is all over the place and in imminent danger of collapse, so there's no way he can sprint.

Above: Ben Swift with the damaged front wheel that ruined his chance of victory

 

All that effort, the lads come close to pulling off a win against the toughest U-23 opposition in the world, but then there's nothing to show for it. That's bike racing. The lads are disappointed but philosophical as they gather round the team vehicles after the finish. They know there are other days, other races, and as often as things go wrong, they'll also go right. This was the first race back after a mid-season break, so nothing too much was expected, and everyone is thinking ahead already to the next race, the next phase in their preparation for their respective objectives. This has just been one day, one race, one very hot day, one very tough race, in their progress. That's life in the Academy.

Day 4 - Monday 21 July 2008

Monday is all about recovery. The lads meet up in the town square and split into two groups. Ben and Jonny B are just doing an hour, as they are flying out next day to ride a stage race in Germany with a couple of ProTour teams in it. The others are doing a steady 3 hours, nice and easy pace. Max and Steve Cummings are going to do a couple of hours too. I go with the Ben and Jonny on the short ride through the back lanes to Pistoia, we stop for a cold drink in a pavement cafe and ride steadily back, past the many tree and shrub nurseries that are a feature of this area, thanks to its fertile soil and gentle climate.

Above: Brian and the guys meet up in the town square before a recovery ride

As we get back to Quarrata, the sun is shining, I'm feeling much better than Saturday and so I say cheerio to the lads and decide to go off on my own over the long steady climb to Vinci. I ride at my own pace, stop in the shade to take off my helmet, strap it to the bars, and continue onwards and upwards. A couple of young locals shoot past me, but I'm not even going to try to match their pace.

I reach the cafe at the top, in the village of San Baronto, and I stop for a sandwich and a cold drink. It's the cafe mentioned earlier, the base of one of the local teams and of the fan club for former Italian Champion Visconti, with one of his jerseys on display and the road painted accordingly proclaiming him to be King of Italy - they don't do things by halves round here!

Max arrives with Steve, they join me for a drink and a chat. I remind Steve that the first time I saw him race was back in March 1996 at the Southport youth circuit races. He won and my oldest son Oliver was second (we've forgiven him since). Steve remembers it well, though he's come a long, long way since then.

Above: Recovery ride through the quiet lanes.

They head for home and I decide to continue down over the other side of the long climb. I go to pay, but I've only a 20 euro note and the cafe owner has no change. "No problem, pay me next time" he says. What a friendly, generous guy.

So, down to Vinci, I take a few photos and another cafe stop for a cold drink and a piece of cake. This time the man has some change. Set off back up the hill, past where I ground to a halt on the first day, and as I'm taking a photo I'm passed by a group of local veterans, all chatting merrily away despite the heat and the gradient. I let them go, but then think, what the hell, I'll try and catch them and see if I can sit at the back. Alas, they take a turning off to the right of the climb, so I continue on at my own unspectacular pace. About halfway up, I look back across a big loop and I can see the other group of our lads coming up behind me, taking it easy and pedalling smoothly along. I press on a bit, trying to get near the top before they catch me, but after a couple of kilometres there's till no sign of them, so its clear they really are riding at recovery pace!

Above: Jonny Bellis checks Brian's position, perhaps worrying that he is planning to outsprint him for the Quarrata sign. Or perhaps not.

 

At the top, I call in at the cafe to pay my outstanding bill from earlier and wait outside for the lads. After five minutes they still haven't arrived, so I set off down the descent. Later, it transpires that they had been just behind me and went past while I was in the cafe. Not surprising really.

In the afternoon, it's rider review time and Rod interviews everyone individually, taking the time to listen, to give appropriate advice, and to tell them what is expected of them over the next phase. I'm privileged to be allowed to sit in, with the agreement of each of the lads. It's not appropriate for me to go into what's said but it is clear that there is huge commitment here from the lads, and huge respect for Rod. These guys may have started off their international careers performing at World level on the track, but its clear they are the future of British road racing as well.

Above: Steve Cummings and Max Sciandri outside the cafe at San Baronto.

That evening, I take them all out for a meal, we are joined by Max and his family, and by Steve, and it's a nice evening out. The lads are meticulous about what they eat though - no-one wants dessert, and even Steve is trying to shed a couple of kilos before the Olympic road race, where he's the dedicated team leader.

We break up and everyone's back at home by 10.00pm - there's a busy day to follow, with airport runs and flights for some, hard training for others. That's life in the Academy.

Day 5 - Tuesday 22 July 2008

It's a mega-early start with a 06.35 flight from Pisa, and by 10.30 I'm back at home at Whalley in Lancashire, where the weather is about 10 degrees cooler and the drizzle is blowing horizontally over the River Calder behind our house. I put my bike back together and decide I'll probably leave it for an hour or two. Or maybe a day or two. The Tour is on the telly, so I settle down and watch as the field tackle the Alps. One day, one day very soon, I think to myself, I'll be watching some of those Academy lads doing the same, and in a British team, too. You can bet on it.

Thanks to Rod, Andy, Max, Steve and all the lads for their help and hospitality. Good luck with the rest of the season.