Tour of Murcia SPOILER

[Flying_Monkey]

Bit of a strange one this, what with the Italian teams being excluded (at least unofficially) and the Spanish teams not racing either because of some dispute or other. What it means though is that there are a number of 'wild card' squads including the British outfit, Endura. And while everyone is focusing on Armstrong and Wiggins (who are both there), the Endura boys sneaked the lead in the sprints competition today (albeit with their French member!). Robbie Hunter took the stage.

On a personal note, I was very pleased to see a talented young rider from the North-East of England, James Moss, is now in the Endura squad and riding in Murcia. Okay, so he finished in the autobus, but fair play in his first major European stage race. I watched him race several times in events organised by my old club (the Gosforth RC) and he was both a popular rider and clearly destined for much better things than bashing the narrow lanes of Northumbria in the rain.

 

[rich p]

I followed the Endura team in the Med(?) race last week and they didn't cover themselves in glory. It's a steep learning curve and different class so it'll be interesting to see how they progress.

 

[aka0019]

Flying_Monkey,

i'm a member of Gosforth and trained with him a few times (I use the word 'with' lightly as you can imagine he was a fair bit quicker than me!) . I never really knew him as cycling is quite new to me but it's great to see a North East lad go pro!

 

[Stephen-D]

The owner of My LBS is a mechanic in Endura so i have been following these guys with interest, it was a really tough lesson the learned on there first outing in the Med but i think there enjoying the experiance this week greatly as well, good on them

 

[raindog]

I've started keeping an eye out for Endura news too. Went to watch the first stage of the Tour Med and had a look round their equipment and after reading the reports of them struggling on the other stages my heart went out to them. Talk about school of hard knocks.
Anyway, Blain, their French rider seems pretty handy.
"Alexandre Blain, a Frenchman riding for the British-based Endura Racing Team, earned himself the intermediate sprint jersey after playing an active role in the day's big four-man breakaway"
This was yesterday's stage

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Same winner today... and Blain also still up there (5th, I think)... bigger mountains to come.

 

[Keith Oates]

Hunter is doing well much to the disappointment of Graeme Brown by the sound of the complaint his team posted. The next stage (stage 3) will see some changes I think, with some big lumps to overcome before the finish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[raindog]

Two Enduras now in the top ten on general. Come on lads!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Well, Hunter had to drop out today because his wife has gone into labour!

Luke Roberts wins, but interestingly Bradley Wiggins was one of those who drove the chase group that caught the break on the line and finished in the top ten.

 

[Keith Oates]

Wiggins certainly made his presence felt on that stage so is getting into a good state of fitness. It's a nice build up underway for July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[raindog]

Both Wiggins and Menchov have lined themselves up nicely on general.

 

[Keith Oates]

Well, after the time trial ride by Frantisek Rabon it has put him quite a bit ahead of Menchov and Wiggins on GC. Stage 5 is a little bit lumpy but nothing massive so it looks as if one of those three could stand on the top step after this last stage. However as we all know suprises can happen in Cycling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Keith Oates]

Well no surprise in the final stage with Rabon, Menchov and Wiggins taking the first three spots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Wiggins is definitely looking more and more like a serious GT contender - taking the long view but showing up on the podium when he can. I am pleased about this: I wasn't sure whether he would be able to sustain his form of last year.