ETAPE DISASTER

Sat morning signed on with paula red hot 28c. 1km from hotel.

Sunday morning 5.15 breakfast and raining but 25c.

Me and paula go to start 6.30 in the last pen got high numbers 9562 and 9561.

Went over line 7. 58 turned aroud and drivers are getting in broom wagon told paula to go as fast as you can .Set of gunning it 25 to 28 mph .Past loads of riders caught next group. Saw quite alot of people having punctures. 8 miles in guess what, puncture . Fixt puncture sat on bike pulled away ,guess what puncture, found a little bit of flint in tyre ,changed tube got out co2 canister flated tube , guess what ,tube exploded. said a few words looked up paula pulling over to help ,and guess what was behind her . Broom wagon .ETAPE OVER. Done 8.5 miles spent 7 hrs in bus, picked up 2 bus loads 90 riders before top of madeline everbody moaning about getting told to get in broom wagon.I worked it out that it cost me and paula over £ 100 a mile CHEERS. Can anyone beat that .Nice day though 28c on top of finish.Well done chris Dines

ONLY 4400 FINISHED THE ETAPE OUT OF NEARLY 10,000. WHAT A GREAT DAY.NOT.

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Permalink Reply by michael farla club captain on July 10, 2012 at 21:36

very bad luck sted and paula !

maybe next year ?

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Permalink Reply by Johnny Edwards on July 10, 2012 at 21:37

What a nightmare, but sounds like you were not alone.

Did you have a say as to which starting pen you could joined or is it first come first served?

So you won't be rushing to put your name for next year?

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Permalink Reply by stephen warner on July 10, 2012 at 21:44

Got allocated number .rather do martona des dolimities in italy ,start and finish in same place .

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Permalink Reply by Chris Dines on July 10, 2012 at 23:01

Steve, that's just dreadful. Feel really sorry for the two of you, as it's a big effort getting out to these events in the first place. Reckon the Marmotte handles it better by having a time check towards the end. Being pulled off due to punctures in first couple of miles seems really wrong.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Gray on July 11, 2012 at 4:30

Oh no, Steve. Terrible news. You've been working towards that for months.

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Permalink Reply by Adie Road Race Manager on July 11, 2012 at 10:14

Sounds like the worst day ever.

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Permalink Reply by stephen warner on July 11, 2012 at 17:55

Cheers guys, might go back and do it on our own, I was so looking forward to riding the route.

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Permalink Reply by Terry Brigden on July 11, 2012 at 21:13

Hi Steve, make it a club thing when you go back to do it and i would come along...

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Permalink Reply by stephen warner on July 12, 2012 at 6:43

Ok terry . By the way I am going to majorca in oct 17th to 21st if you like to come let me know . GOOD LUCK ON ETAPE 2 .AND DONT START AT THE BACK LOL.