A local cycling club is in the running for a four-figure grant after a group of its riders excelled racing in the hills of Germany last month.
More than 300 Welsh cycling enthusiasts tackled the 180km Velothon Berlin on Saturday June 18, but a group from Caerphilly Cycling Club were not in Germany simply to take part.
The riders pulled together to become the newly-crowned winners of the Team Race, and their combined times across the hilly climbs also earned them the coveted polkadot King of the Mountain jersey.
If the group can keep up their hot-streak on Sunday July 9’s Velothon Wales – (see page 9) – they will be in the running to be crowned Overall Club Champions, win the Blue Jersey Trophy, and a €1,000 grant to support club growth and development.
For one of Caerphilly’s riders, Jon Hayward, the Berlin race marked an incredible recovery from a knee reconstruction, and he cannot wait to take on the gruelling but familiar 140km course.
He said: “I’ve always been a casual cyclist both mountain and road but decided that 2016 was going to be the year that I mastered road cycling. I bought myself a new BMC Teammachine in January last year, rode it once and then broke my knee while skiing.
“After a full knee reconstruction the rehab began and luckily cycling played a huge part in my recovery. I joined Caerphilly Cycling Club last September and went from strength to strength.
“Signing up for the Berlin race and the Velothon Wales gave me a real focus. We’re also considering Stockholm in September.
“There was a real sense of achievement when I crossed the line and it was as much a test of mental strength as physical fitness. Bring on the Welsh hills.”
Fellow rider Mike Phillips added: “Berlin was fantastic. The Holocaust Memorial next to the expo site was incredibly moving and the ride was awesome. I finished in a group of three Dutch and Puerto Rican riders – we pushed and pushed each other for the last 50km. The crowds were loud too which helped.
“I was absolutely spent at the end, I had nothing left, the fastest and furthest I have ridden in a day.”
Chapeau chaps! #GreenMachine