QF Focus Magazine Marcha Cicloturista, “Ciudad San Vicente” Cycle Sportif.
On Saturday 25th April, ten members of Team “Cyclogical” based in Quesada travelled to Ciudad San Vicente de Raspeig just outside Alicante to participate in The Cicloturista Velo Sport Marcha. The team left from “Cyclogical” shop in Quesada at 6am and travelled in convoy along the AP7 arriving at the Velodrome in San Vicente at 7am where they went straight to the registration tent to collect their race numbers and goodie bag and then the restaurant for coffee and tostada to start the day.
The race was well organised and started on time at 8.30am with a mass start and no pace car which was brilliant. The group soon thinned out as many of us left the town at very fast speeds as all junctions etc. were controlled by the police, with all vehicles stopped until we had all passed.
The course covered a total distance of 138kms with 2500 metres of climbing involved, which included 4 pretty steep climbs. These were Puerto de Tibi, which was a 15.5km climb right at the start ramping up to 24% in stages, Puerto de Ibi, Puerto de Canalis and Puerto de Biar, there were also quite a few 12, 15 and 18% climbs which sorted everyone out. There were 400 riders participating on this route and it was not long before there were many splinter groups but everyone just found their own pace and got on with it.
The first groups of riders were very quick and it was not long before they made their mark and arrived back within the 4 hour mark which was a great result over this tough terrain. Most of the participants took approximately 5 hours and everyone finished by going through a tunnel right into the Velodrome where everyone did a lap of honour before proceeding to collect a lovely commemorative trophy, which was in the shape of the profiles of the hills. They were also engraved with our names and times which was brilliant. At the finish everyone was treated to free beer, soft drinks and Paella which was a great way to wind down, there were also free masseurs for anyone wishing to have a massage.
The Team are pictured on their bikes just
before the start and are from left to right: Alan Quearns, Kelvin Howard, Malcky Murray, Gary Routledge, Graham Kinghorn, Martyn Stone, Richard Binns, Tony Nolan, Owen Desmond and Peter Cunningham. All of the Team had an
excellent day of cycling and are looking forward to their next Sportif in June - Tour del Juguette, Costa Blanca and are also planning to return to San Vicente next year. The team would also like to thank all their sponsors for their continued support, Sol-4 investment consulting, Expat pensions and investments, Arrow rent a car, Shenanigans bar, Spanish Insurance, Securidan, Pulse core fitness and Ambience fires and solar.
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Team “Cyclogical” meet every Thursday night at 5.30pm and Sunday mornings at 8am and cover between 90 and 120kms at a moderate to fast pace so if you fancy a challenge come along and join us. Looking to improve your fitness, riding ability and speed and also have a new group of friends to train with, then why not come along and give it a try or call Gary on 637 487 377.
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