Over the weekend of the twenty second and twenty third of March, 6 members of the Merlin Cycles Rivington Brewing Co. Racing Workforce headed to Belgium with the intention of attacking the UCI Gravel World Collection at Turnhout, Belgium. With the plan of qualifying for the UCI Gravel World Championships in September it was a weekend of quick paced driving, loads of mud, and naturally, just a few Belgium beers.
The group that headed out have been all driving an a mixture of Age Teams, with some driving towards European and World Champions. The parcour being in Belgium was described as flat, with a slight ‘climb’ over the two lap, 72km circuit (144km in whole). Our riders have been;
- Isac Paddock, Mens 19-34
- Oliver Cox, Mens 19-34
- Paul McLeod, Mens 40-44
- Tony Greenhalgh, Mens 50-54
- Andy Oldham, Mens 50-54
- Si Deplitch, Mens 50-59
On the Saturday, and to get a really feel of the course, the group, together with myself and Rob who takes care of the Advertising and marketing right here at Merlin, headed to deal with half the course. What greeted us was an anticipated flat parcour with a mix of ‘champagne’ gravel, sandpits, and concrete street sections. It was clear the racing from the off was going to be flat out, excessive energy, and difficult. There was a lot discuss bike set-ups, tyre selection and pressures and gearing, with among the group beginning to query their selections (naming no names!). Pasta was consumed, and early nights have been had for all.
Come race day, Rob and I ensured the group have been sorted heading into their beginning pens with coats and bidons being thrown throughout. The completely different Age Teams set of in waves with 2 minute gaps between every. As anticipated, with the sound of Belgium techno music pumping within the background at 8.30am, the racing began with a bang, and it felt extra like a street race as they headed out onto the primary part of gravel.
Being a big circuit, the following we noticed of the riders coming via was a plume of mud alongside the canal simply earlier than the Begin/End after having accomplished the primary brutal lap in a time of round 2 hours 15. Isac was the primary to be noticed, powering via in a gaggle and never taking a bottle within the feed stage. Our riders then began coming via quick, bottles being handed out because of our diet companion STYRKR, earlier than heading again out for an additional brutal energy-sapping lap.
Once more, the following we noticed of the group could be on the End after racing for simply over 4 hours, with common speeds of round 34 km/h and energy outputs over 250W. Each rider crossing the end had clearly been in a battle, with the sphere being extremely aggressive. The highest 25% of every age class certified for the Gravel Worlds later within the 12 months, and we’re immensely proud to say that each Tony Greenhalgh and Si Deplitch each achieved this of their Age Teams. Different riders missed out, some by as little as 30 seconds, however they are going to be again to aim qualification at different rounds!
