Summer comes and summer goes

It felt like the end of summer last night, a strong wind, a touch of darkness and some form clearly coming to the bunch is as clear an indication as the turning of the leaves and the changing of the clocks that we are approaching the twilight of summer.

A bunch of 11 departed the race HQ at 6.00pm and rode steadily out to Bishopton, a few guests attended with Kelly and her dad being the most welcome.

Pozatto was basking in the glory of his recent victory and was faking a taper week as he excused himself from long spells on the front.  The baby faced assassin Voeckler had returned from his various sojourns whilst Menchov was in hospital getting a transfusion from his last ride in the mountains at the weekend.  We wish you well tall one.

And thus the starting line was breached by the wide load known as Voigts. A moderately paced attack was made on the ramp and Lance and Schleck dragged the bunch across into a ferocious head wind that was clearly causing the peleton serious problems.  The bunch soon became 10. The wind played with is and this resulted in a number of small attacks although the bunch failed to shake out until the final run in with one or two falling off the back.  The Clune saw the undernourished climb into the sunset leaving the Rouleurs to climb with honour through their mask of pain and sweat; a never ending battle against gravity waged in watts and sweat.

The feed station saw the bunch reunited and then in an effort to recapture his youth Queally attacked on the run in to Kilmacolm.  A brave attack if not somewhat silly given the obvious advantage a couple of the Rouleurs had in that gravity was no longer an enemy and thus they were at the front of the peleton.   His bid for glory was short lived as Hushovd hit the front and drove us on towards Bridge of Weir.  A sharp left up the climb saw Pooley ahead to cheer us on and then the attacks started once again.  With wind assistance it was clear that Hushovd and young Schleck were the strongest riders on the night with them sharing the front of the bunch to drag us to the end of the George.

A wheel sucker won the penultimate sprint and Lance was judged to have edged Hushovd for the final one with Voeckler being disqualified for just being Voeckler!

Dunoon is calling on Saturday and Lance is organising.