A Potted History of Roger's Cycling Career cont. ...
In 1985 I had a year out due to ill health and in 86-88 I remained in the UK, riding again for Anglia Sport and the Harp RC. Honours included National 100km TTT Champion and wins in the 1986 Tour of the Cotswolds, The Coldra 3 day in S.Wales and 2 amateur Brighton to London's.
In 1988 representing GB, I rode the 41st ' Peace Race' (Course de la Paix ). The forgotten 4th Grand Tour of European cycling and the amateur equivalent to the Tour de France. The tour was a mighty 1830kms over 14 days starting in the city of Bratislava (Czechoslovakia) up into the Tatras mountains, through Poland and finishing in E.Berlin, East Germany.
One heart rendering memory is the stage into Dresden, won by Olaf Ludwig (GDR). I'd had a terrible day having punctured for a 2nd time, 15kms from home and as I struggled towards the finish line, my memory went back to a history lesson about the great fire storm that had destroyed the city and here I was, in an GB jersey with the roads lined 6 deep on both sides, being applauded all the way. It was enough to bring tears to my eyes.
I finished in Berlin in 80th position, 1 hour,3 mins,16 secs behind the overall winner, Uwe Ampler (GDR)who went onto turn pro as did the other Uwe Raab (GDR), Abdou Japarov( USSR) and many other Eastern bloc riders when the wall came down in 1989.
I ended my amateur career in France, not far from where our cycling holiday business is based here in St Jean-en-Royans, at Romans-sur-Isere with a 2 year contract with the VCRP club; a team that produced Charley Mottet – stage winner and King of the Mountain in the Tour de France. It was prior to this that I met my partner and wife, Teresa so gradually competitive cycling became less of a priority. Even so, I managed a major achievement in my first year at VCRP. It was the 1989 Tour of the Ardeche, with 120+ riders where I finished 2nd having been caught in the final 10kms, by a re-knowned rider from Grenoble and pipped by ? wheel on the line with a roaring peleton 20 seconds behind!
I called it a day after my last competitive year of racing in 1990 and moved back to London with my wife who had a successful career in the music Industry. I kept on form by running regularly and sometimes competing for London Irish, plus the weekly 2 hour ride from our base in the inner London area of Harlesden and yearly cycling holidays. However, my passion was re-ignited when I took my nephew, Conor Dunne on holiday in 2005 to show him my old stomping ground in the Vercors and surrounding areas. Something must have worked as he is currently ranked 2nd fastest UK junior over 10 miles, and has recently parted with Hemel Hempstead RC to ride with the well known Glendene CC, managed by the infamous Bob Downs, who I learnt so much from in my earlier days. The timing was right for both Teresa and myself, so here we are, at Velo Vercors where I look forward to welcoming you and passing on my knowledge and experience of cycling in this wonderful region.
