SiS-Trek Preview East Midlands International CICLE Classic

 

Words & Pics: Joolze Dymond

Event Date: 27 April 2008

More info: Massive Field Takes on CiCLE Classic Challenge

Rough roads and numerous corners add to the challenge of the event

This weekend sees the latest running of the "infamous" East Midlands International CICLE Classic, or the Rutland Classic as it's affectionately known. This road race is like no other in the UK and has made a huge impact on the British scene: first introduced 3 years ago, it is regarded by many as the British equivalent of Paris-Roubaix.

So what makes this event so different to other road races in the UK? Well, to begin with there will be 180 riders from 9 countries competing over a complex 99mile course, making this the biggest field ever to have lined up on British roads outside the Tour De France. But that's not what makes this event so special.

Looking at a map of the area covered by the race, you soon realise that from the start in Oakham to the finish in Melton Mowbray, there is only a 10-mile difference. So do they just time trial up and down a dual carriageway?

Absolutely not! A complex series of loops, managed by an army of marshals aided by a rolling road block, enables this race to be run with military precision. Speeds this year are expected to average around 30mph around some very tight country lanes, so it's no wonder this event is a real classic.

But what makes this race a real 'classic' and brings the comparisons with Paris-Roubaix are the 'special sections' - namely farm tracks with little or no tarmac, but plenty of dirt and gravel, which transform into mud in the wet, changing the race at times into a cyclo cross event and a war of attrition. It all adds up to a lottery of strength, bike handling and confidence which sees the cream rise to the top. Just to finish this event is an achievement in itself, or so I'm told.

I was fortunate enough to be invited out to have a look around the course by the riders of the SIS/Trek team who are competing in the event. The line-up included last year's runner up Ian Wilkinson, along with Dave Collins, Richard Wilkinson and Richard Kent, with Hope rider Paul Oldham and Marin rider Luke Smith, both new to the event, but keen to get stuck in.

The boys explained that it's an important part of the race preparation to ride the circuit, not only to get their bearings but also to check out certain sections. The course is very demanding and as it weaves its way around the surrounding area, the riders will encounter lots of heavy roads, with energy sapping climbs, plus plenty of tight corners.

We started in the village of Pickwell, though the race itself starts in Oakham before heading off to complete two laps of Rutland Water. This is probably the calm before the storm, as the roads around Rutland Water are wide and relatively smooth compared to what's to come. We however headed for the lanes - the plan being to become familiar with some of the more tricky sections and so a few laps were completed around the lanes taking in the Somerby Woods section or 'Somerberg' has it's become known, as well as a few of the other 'special sections'.

Syria bound - a different kind of cycling challenge

Four hours later and after a range of adventures, including an encounter with two cyclists towing rowing boats, on a 7-month journey from John O'Groats to Syria, the boys headed off to find tea and cake whilst I headed off to my next job, covering the G2 Revolver enduro in Sherwood forest.

The next day the lads did the whole route again to further piece together their mental picture of the route and I'm told conditions were none too favourable. Whatever the weather on the day, it will be a true spectacle and a fascinating race that will keep you guessing all the way as to who will be the eventual and worthy winner.

I caught up a couple of the riders later to find out how they view the race, their aspirations, ambitions and predicted outcome of the race.

Local rider Dave Collins knows these lanes like the back of his hand, but even he admits to getting confused with the complexity of the race circuit. He also admits that this makes the race more interesting. I asked him about his thoughts on the coming race:

"It's a race we always look forward to every year. This'll be my third outing and I'm hoping to get a decent result. However it can be a lottery: if you puncture, you'll spend the rest of the race chasing hard and not really getting anywhere as, once you're near the back of the group, it's hard to get anywhere near the front again. The pace is relentless and although the course itself isn't that long, it's so wearing and can be quite brutal in places.

Although there are no killer climbs, there are plenty of leg-draining drags, coupled with lots of tight corners. If you're not in the first quarter of the race when you hit the narrow lanes, then you'll not be in the mix. Just think about it, with such a big field, when the leaders are descending at 40 mph plus down a slope, if you're at the back, you'll be just about braking for the corner.

One of the defining sections of the course will be Somerby Woods, where you not only have to think about the race situation but also contend with mud, rocks and potential punctures, not to mention bike handling.

The international riders also add an extra bit of spice, their attacking style of racing making things even more pressing on this draining course. They also turn the race into a individual-focused event as the policing of moves by teams is often virtually impossible.

The lads recce the feared Somerby Woods section

 

What you'll find is the race will break into lots of small groups, rather than a breakaway with a large chasing peloton. The mix of riders and the challenging nature of the course makes it all that more interesting to ride, you either love it or you hate it, but you have to think about every inch of the course and concentrate all the way round, which is a challenge in itself!

The race attracts different people for different reasons, quite a lot of whom who wouldn't normally ride road races, but are fascinated by the inclusion of the special sections, which makes the race unique. It certainly isn't for the faint hearted.

There's quite a list of riders who could do well here: my team mate Ian Wilkinson of course, Malcolm Elliott who won it last year and Russ Downing could be in the mix, and Simon Richardson who has a mountain bike background, plus any one of the international riders who we don't really know. What we do know is it'll more than likely come down to a sprint.

I'd be over the moon if I could secure a top 10. I'd be even happier with a top 3 of course, but sometimes being part of a team, you have to sacrifice your own ambitions to make sure your main man gets the result. With that in mind, my sole aim is to get to the end with Wilkes. I can't help him if he's on his own. He's a beast on the road and has a fantastic sprint but if I can help him I will."

Next I spoke to top mountain biker and cyclo-cross rider Paul Oldham who had a stunning season last year. This event is new to him, though he's no stranger to road racing and he's keen to get to grips with this fascinating race:

"I've never ridden this race before as it's always clashed with a mountain bike event that I've been obliged to ride. I've always wanted to ride and so I'll be there this weekend, even though I'm not that keen on road racing in general. Mountain biking and 'cross are what I'm best at, but this race has a bit of everything, so I thought why not give it a go.

 

It's going to be a very different experience and with the addition of the teams from abroad it should be good. Basically, I figure to feature you're gonna have to be near the front, but as there are 179 other riders all trying to be at the front, it'll be interesting!

 

I jumped at the chance to come down here with Wilkes to have a look at the course,
It was what I was expecting, it was quite rough but not dangerous, the off-road bits could be good fun. I loved it. Rutland will be a very nervous part of the race and everyone will want to be at the front, I'll try to be up there. I'm glad I've looked at the course it's so technical and its easy to get lost.

I am really looking forward to it; this will be the first race road race I've really wanted to do, as it's a bit different. I have to admit though it feels a bit wrong, taking your best bike and riding in some rough terrain, it's like when you were a kid riding your bike really fast through puddles, you just knew it was wrong, but it was such good fun and in a way this is how this race feels. That's probably why I'm looking forward to it!

It's no wonder it draws so many spectators, it will be a real spectacle, I'm just hoping to finish with the group, before the spectators fade away. I'm not sure I'll be able to contend any finishes as I'm the least feared sprinter that I know, that's why I don't like road racing very much! But this is worth doing for the experience, hopefully!"

Lastly I caught up with the powerhouse Ian Wilkinson, a talented rider who excels at whatever he puts his mind to. This will be his fourth outing in this event and he's hoping to better his second place last year. But he is realistic in his outlook, knowing that this course, more than any he's ridden, can be a real lottery.

"This is a great race, one that we all look forward to. It's more fun than regular road races, it's a real survival of the fittest and a war of attrition, it has the air of Paris-Roubaix about it. It's a bit different, a bit of a challenge, a bit dangerous and probably a bit daft, which is why it's so popular, not only with spectators but also competitors.

The event offers the most technical road race course of the year, in terms of the 'special sections,' narrow, twisty lanes and strength sapping climbs. It's a very powerful course, which suits me down to the ground, and of course being a mountain biker helps with the bike handling over the special sections: it's a real advantage being confident of your ability when you hit those sections.

But at the end of the day, it's a number of elite guys fighting for the win with the added complication of the foreign riders. You just don't know who's going to be good, bad or indifferent, but you do know that they must be pretty good to be here. It will make it even more fun though, racing against unknown quantities, it can get a bit boring, especially for spectators when it comes down to the usual suspects, so this type of field will add even more spice. It's definitely a race I'd love to watch, let alone be riding in!

I guess you could say I'm one of the favourites, I am hoping for a good result, though my winter was blighted with a period of illness so I'm not sure where I'm at, but this is a race of looking after yourself as well as your bike. That said, after riding round the circuit I'm feeling quite confident and of course I'll be going for the win, you can't turn up for this race and not go for the win especially after last year!

Of course they'll be plenty of guys looking to get a result too; Simon Richardson is going well at the moment as is Russ Downing, but they don't seem to do that well here. They tend to ride on the seat of their pants and take real risks, but this isn't the type of course that you can do that on. This is a race where you need to concentrate on each section making sure both you and your bike gets through them in good shape. It's quite a complicated race, especially with the special sections, they do define the race and help make a spectacle of the race and make it what it is, but to be honest it's the tarmac in between that eats your legs up and someone will win the race by being the fittest and the cleverest on the day, not by riding through a bit of mud.

I reckon the defining moment of the race will come about on the 3rd loop of Owston; the roads here are constantly rolling and really heavy on the legs. Last year and the year before this is where the race kept splitting, so to be in with a shout you're gonna have to be near the front to watch how the action unfolds and ready to make your own move. Weatherwise it'll certainly make it even more of a lottery than it already is if it rains but I'm not bothered, though if I'm honest I'd prefer to ride it in the dry, saves me having to wash the bike at the end!"