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Tour of Britain 09 - pre stage 1 · 12/09/09

Much like the Guiness ad, tick follows tock follows tick follows tock, on the first day of the Tour of Britain. Whilst the race itself begins tomorrow, the whole race organisation has been here for a couple of days and our team arrived just after lunch for the usual run around of managers meetings, press briefings and such like. The calm before the storm? Perhaps.

The idea that there’s a lot of waiting gives a false impression. There’s lots to do, it’s just that some of it is structured, with meetings at certain times and the HQ hotel a few miles from where we’re staying, so you kill time, shake hands with people you haven’t seen for a year, chew the fat.

Meanwhile the guys back at the hotel have been busy, from the soigneurs to the mechanics, every bike gets a wash, every rider a rub. Food is bought for the road and we discuss who drives what, where and when before washing down the team car, the van, the people carrier, In fact, anything with a sponsors name on gets a splash.

Dinner on the first night is punctuated by banter between the staff, everyone knows each other but still we size one another up, test the water with what may yet become the running joke of the week, hoping it’ll be you delivering not receiving the witty retort that brings the table to their knees with laughter. We’re all a little nervous, but all for different reasons. It’ll be fine once we’re on the road.




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