Duo Normand, 20 September 2009

New records at the Duo Normand

Caesarean Cycling Club’s contribution to the 2009 Duo Normand was one of quality rather than quantity. With probably one of the smaller turnouts from CCC pairs in recent years, a number of Caesarean riders paired up with both club mates and riders from other Channel Island clubs to produce some fine rides and some record-breaking times.

Undoubtedly the most exciting ride of the day was that of CCC Senior Robin Ovenden, partnering one of Velo Club Guernsey’s young emerging talents James McLaughlin, to complete the 54km course in a blistering 1:14:12, finishing second in the 2nd Category event. This is believed to be the quickest CI time recorded at the Duo and represents a fantastic result for Robin who has been in increasingly fine form this year as he works towards the goal of qualification for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Also competing in the 2nd Category event were CCC pair Adam Wojtkiewicz and Dan Lowthorpe who, starting four minutes ahead of Ovenden and McLaughlin, rode superbly to just cross the line before them, in a time of 1:18:05. This was the fastest time for Jersey riders on the day and a fine achievement for these two Caesarean Cycling Club members who were riding both the Duo Normand course and as a pair for the first time.

CCC’s Sarah Henderson riding in partnership with VSJ’s Jim Davis, claimed the fastest ever time for a Jersey women’s pair with a fine ride, over the shorter women’s course, of 1:11:51, finishing 6th in the ladies category.

Fastest veterans duo from Jersey was CCC’s Kevin Pilley and Dave Mayman who, despite a lack of competitive riding for both this season, managed to record a respectable time at 1:23:11, finishing 8th in their category. CCC Senior Paul Millar chose to ride his first Duo with VSJ Senior Nick Le Cocq and recorded a very good 1:20:45, coming in sixth in the unlicensed category, which was won by Guernsey Velo Club pair of Aaron Bailey and Grant Chalmers.

The Duo Norman is a rarity on the UCI calendar, as amateurs and recreational riders can test themselves against the professionals on the same course on the same day. Although it has to compete with high profile professional races such as the Vuelta a Espana, the Tour of Britain and the world road championships, it still attracts over 300 teams, competing in a range of categories from non-licensed riders to elites, with many teams travelling from the UK, and always a presence of Jersey and Guernsey riders.

Russians dominated the professional end of the race, with pro-team Katusha’s Nikolai Trusov and Artem Ovechin winning in a time of 1:06:14, for the testing 54.3km course around Marigny. Although the race was run in near perfect conditions, the two Russians were still 1:27 slower than Chris Boardman and Jens Voigt’s record of 1:04:47, set in 1999.

Riders		Club	Category	Position	Time
Robin Ovenden	James McLaughlin	CCC/ GVC	2nd category	2	1:14:12
Adam Wojtkiewicz	Dan Lowthorpe	CCC	2nd category		1:18:05
Aaron Bailey	Grant Chalmers	GVC	Unlicensed	1	1:19:11
Paul Millar	Nick Le Cocq	CCC/ VSJ	Unlicensed	5	1:20:45
Dave Mayman	Kevin Pilley	CCC	Veterans	8	1:23:11
Mike Keighrey	Mick Higginson	VSJ	Unlicensed	11	1:23:48
Kevin Mahoney	Steven Haley	VSJ	Unlicensed	13	1:24:37
Bill Buist	Mike Mitchinson	VSJ	Unlicensed	17	1:25:18
Sean Twohig	Steve Whiteside	VSJ	Unlicensed	29	1:27:18
Ian Williams	Peter Derrick	VSJ	Unlicensed	38	1:28:58
Des McClelland	Tony Pushman	VSJ	Veterans	19	1:33:35
John Carney	Sam Carney	VSJ	Unlicensed	53	1:34:24
Harvey Brookfield	Tony Moffa	VSJ	3rd Category		1:41:42
Gemma Derrick	John Pallot-Brown	VSJ	Mixed	21	1:41:55
Mary Crow	Robert Erskine	VSJ	Mixed	23	1:44:55
Ann Bowditch	Lesley-Ann Walkling	GVC/a3crg	Ladies	2	1:05:22*
Sarah Henderson	Jemima Davis	CCC/ VSJ	Ladies	6	1:11:51*
Susan Williams	Jo Le Cocq	VSJ	Ladies	8	1:13:11*