Seasons are Won and Lost in the Winter - 03/01/12

Each and every year when the European season draws to a close, the world of pro cycling dissipates and for a few brief months the riders get to go back to where they call home, and start the hard work all over again.

This is actually a vital time for many riders, the season’s preparations are laid down through the winter months, after some respite from the pressures and constraints of the racing environment. Many riders too are preparing themselves for their first season with a new team.

Once again in 2012 Rapha Condor Sharp will have a line up with an international flavour, which will come together for the first time in late January for the first official team training camp in Lanzarote.

For now though, the riders are spread across the globe, riding their home roads in conditions seemingly as diverse as the globe can offer. Five of these riders give us a glimpse of what it is they are seeing and doing while they prepare to come together for the 2012 season.

Ben Grenda – Tasmania, Australia


#1 – This was taken on my training ride on Christmas Eve. I did about 200km with a couple of mates from Launceston. It was about 25 degrees and a great day for riding.

My dad came for some of the ride and he took the photo. It’s on top of a climb called the Sideling which is located about 15km outside the town of Scottsdale – the same town I grew up and started cycling in.

It’s a 7km climb with an average gradient of about 6-7%. The climb is part of a 130km loop we did as part of the ride that starts and finishes in Launceston. The loop gives you about 2100m of climbing so it’s always a tough day in the saddle but a great ride if you are trying to find some form.

Kristian House – Austin, Texas, USA


#2 – These longhorns are on Fitzhugh Rd, Johnson City TX. I think they are young… But I’m not sure.

#3 – This massive Texan skyline was taken in Goliad TX, on highway 77. I was on the way to the beach. You get a lot of straight wide roads here, but I don’t mind them at all.


#4 – This is Fitzhugh Rd again, on a different, shittier day. The weather in Texas is pretty mild in winter, you get a lot of great cold, sunny, still days. This wasn’t one of them, but you know, you train rain or shine…


#5 – This last one is from thanksgiving weekend. We went and stayed out at Port Aransasas, TX. It’s a nice place, but pretty boring for riding, there is just one long 45km road – and that was the end of it.

Richard Lang – Sydney, Australia


#6 – Bondi Ride – This is a ride that heads out along the coast and eastern suburbs of Sydney, passing Bondi Beach. It’s really hilly with lots of short and sharp stuff, which makes it good for a bit of sprint training. We haven’t really had the summer weather over in Australia that we’re famous for, but this day was alright.


#7 Sunday Morning – This is Centennial Park where the bunch meets up on a Sunday morning to do a nice 100km loop. As with all bunches there is a fair bit of chopping out [through and off – Ed] throughout the ride.


#8 The Coluzzi Ride – On a Tuesday morning there is the Coluzzi ride, it’s pretty famous in Sydney. This is a small bunch stopped at the brew shop, we normally have a lot more but numbers have been down a bit so far this summer.

James McCallum – Edinburgh, UK


#9 – The snow is up in the Pentland Hills, we were on a cross ride that ended up pretty epic. Four hours on tracks in the snow is a good day by anyone’s standards.

#10 – Fixing a puncture on the John Muir Way near Haddington on another cross ride. Riding cross bikes just makes it easier for us to get out, as we get the worst of the weather in the British Isles. I like to hide in the trees when its cold and windy…

Felix English – Brighton, UK


#11 – I’ll do a few trips over to Majorca this winter but until the team camp I’ll train mostly alone in the UK at home near Brighton. This shot was taken on a very wet Firle Beacon looking down the South Downs.

#12 – Like anyone I enjoy my café stops. This is at Ditchling Tea Rooms. The usual would be a pot of tea and toasted teacakes.


#13 – Brighton is about 20 miles from home and I’d probably pass through about three or four times a week at this time of year. It’s not a bad spot for a cruise through and a look around.

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