St Ives CC Press Report

26^th September 2011

St Ives Cycling Club riders, Alan Moules and Roger Tyler had a taste of continental racing amongst professionals when they entered the 2011 Alpine Challenge. Consisting of 3 days riding with 4 race stages, taking in 9 Cols, adding up to 200 miles and 6500 meters of height gain.

Starting in Annecy the route threaded its way to the Col du Leschaux for an 11.6km mountain time-trial which split the field into its smaller groups for the subsequent stages.

There was no rest for the St Ives pair as the following day saw another mountain race, which by now placed Tyler 30 seconds ahead of his club mate. As the full heat of the afternoon took hold the race continued through the neutralized sections for Stage 2 and a further 96kms and 1600 meters ascent of the twisting mountain roads. Finishing the day it was Tyler, lying in 23^rd in the overall standings, who had the edge over Moules, who was just one place behind.

Stage 3 was 117kms with two major climbs of Col des Aravis and Col de Bluffy. Moules attacked the stage early, keen to make some ground from his previous disappointing performance and managed to reverse the results sheet when he finished 3 minutes ahead of a tiring Tyler.

The final day, Stage 4, was the day that ultimately would be decisive and was widely feared amongst the competitors. With the hardest schedule of the event, taking in 115kms and 5 Cols the conditions were made harder as the thermometer crept well into the thirties. Both the St Ives pair lost some time to the professionals at the front of the race, however they were elated to cross the finish line at the top of the Col du Marais. Moules held onto his slender lead to finish 22^nd in the overall standings, just ahead of club mate Tyler in 24^th.