Daily photo - 30: One month till New York Marathon

In just over a month's time I will be lining up with over 50,000 other runners at Staten Island, New York, to complete the 26.2-miles (42.2km) of the New York City marathon.

Training has been steady throughout the year, so I like to think I will get through it as long as I stay injury free. How long I take will be another matter.

Of all the big city marathons New York is known to be a little hillier than others as the route goes over various bridges around the East River and Harlem River, and the last three miles through Central Park are also undulating.

This will be my first time in New York - in fact my first time in the United States. So I don't know what to expect, and I don't really want to overstretch myself given that I also want to have a bit of energy to visit the city.

Earlier this year I ran the Paris marathon. That was fun but I did a pace just to get round, stopping to take photos and do social media. Injury had meant I'd only had two months to prepare for it, and for me the importance was to be able to continue running after the event without needing to take a long break or rehabilitation afterwards.

So my training for New York has been a steady build-up since May. I like to think I am on track, since I have got up to 18 miles, and then in a couple of weeks I will start my tapering.

It is a little strange to say that I am only just going to New York, given that I have been on earth for over 50 years and have visited other places like Cuba, North Africa, and on two occasions South America. But yet I have never been to North America. I don't know the reason why, but there is probably a subconscious reason for not  having gone there sooner and in a way that makes me slightly apprehensive about my forthcoming visit.

I am hoping to do some cycling over there and maybe even do some cyclocross racing. I also plan to hire a car and visit an area called the Catskills, in the mountains if possible. That area looks quite pretty.

The thing that has bothered me though, is the architecture of some of the hotels just looks quite ugly and characterless, and that has made it difficult for me to choose accommodation. Furthermore, when looking at Google maps to check out an area where I hope to stay I feel quite concerned at how many fast food places there are nearby. It is seriously tempting to take a supply of my own healthy food and portable cooking facilities just to be sure I eat correctly while there! Maybe I am over-reacting, but I think it is this fear of being in an unrefined, sterile place that bothers me.

Enough of me putting a downer on my own trip! I am looking forward to running the New York City marathon and I have heard that atmosphere there is even crazier than what you get in London. So I am definitely looking forward to that aspect. As for the rest, I will take things in my stride literally - and be just content to say I got the T-shirt from New York.


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Daily photo - 29: Paris - Versailles running race

I was meant to do this 10-mile running race today, but after all the faffing of trying to get there I didn't do it. I got my dates wrong, thinking that it was going to be last week.

Last year I was meant to do it but it clashed with Swim Serpentine so I wasn't able to get there. This year it clashed with the World Road Racing Championships.
Two years ago I missed the deadline as it sold out very quickly given that it was the 40th anniversary.

It just seems like I am destined to not run this classic running race from Paris to Versailles. I always like to do a sporting event in Paris - I ran the marathon there earlier this year. Doing an event that takes you to the regal residence of Louis XIV (and XV and XVI) in Versailles.

The last couple of times I have been to Paris, I cycled to Versailles and the area to the west of Paris is very scenic with lots of woods and forests. Hopefully it will be fourth time lucky next year when I make another attempt to enter and run the event.



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Daily photo - 28: Record number of women cyclocross racers at Milton Keynes

While the world was watching the women compete in Yorkshire at the World Road Race Championships, another big women's cycling event was taking place at Campbell Park, Milton Keynes. Velobants cycling club organised a cyclocross race, CX in the City 2 which attracted a record 165 women racers. This is something that has never been seen before in any race, particularly as it wasn't a national level event, but a round of the local Central Cyclocross League.

Photo: Keith Perry

When last year's event, CX in the City 1, took place on the course from the 2014 UCI World Cup a large field. This year the organisers set an ambitious target to get 100 women to the start line. Fran Whyte and her club mates at Velobants CC did a lot of work to promote the event, notably with the help of 10-time national cyclocross champion Helen Wyman. A lot of women on the Velovixen women's chat group who were unfamiliar with cyclocross decided to have a go once the concept was explained to them. That helped to swell the numbers to a massive 165.

It was quite a momentous occasion, though sadly I wasn't able to race it because I was doing work around the World Road Race Championships. It sounds like everyone had a great time and it was a massive achievement for Velobants and the wider women's cycling community.


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Daily photo - 27: Published in Telegraph Women's Sport

I have been contributing articles to publications for a few years now, and so I have become used to seeing my articles in magazines or on-line. I must say I did get quite excited about this latest article of mine being published in The Telegraph. It is something that I aspire to - being published in a national daily newspaper, and even in a broadsheet.

Earlier this year Anna Kessel, previously of the Guardian, joined The Telegraph to head up a new section specifically aimed at raising the profile of women's sport - Telegraph Women's Sport.

This new publication aims to champion women's sport at elite and grass roots level, while addressing under-representation, and campaigning for specific issues that impact on the women's game. The editors are keen to adopt a bold style of journalism that can really grab the attention of the reader.

I think this is a great idea - especially as women's sports publications are few and far between. So it is great to have an article of mine published.

The feature was all about the rainbow jersey worn by the world cycle racing champion, and why it is so hotly contested by women, as well as profiling the women behind Santini, the manufacturers of this jersey and a range of cycle wear.

For the article I interviewed past World Road Racing Champions Jeannie Longo, Mandy Jones, and Tatiana Guderzo and it was very interesting to hear their stories.

Seeing the final product on-line, and in the print version of the newspaper gave me a buzz. This sort of thing definitely spurs me to look for more ideas. I hope to be able to produce more engaging stories.


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Women to watch at the Road Cycling World Championships

As the UCI World Road Cycling Championships take place in Yorkshire the fight for a gold medal and the right to wear the rainbow jersey will be hotly contested.

Gone are the days when there was a clear favourite you could single out. With outstanding performances in the UCI Women's WorldTour by various women in the professional peloton it is hard to say who will win the contest in the 150km race between Bradford and Harrogate.

People describe this course as being like a Classics course such as the Liege-Bastogne-Liege race in Belgium. That means very long, with constant short, sharp hills, often in rainy weather. However, some think victory could still go to a sprinter who can handle the Classics if they have good support, since the hills are tough but may not necessarily completely separate the regular WorldTour riders. The weather will play a part in the race though, as this can be changeable, and if it's not raining it will be quite windy on the top of the Dales.

Anna van der Breggen - defending Champion

Dutch Girls (8 riders)
Everyone has been talking about the Dutch team, and it is true that with the likes of Marianne Vos, Anna van der Breggen, Annemiek Van Vleuten, Chantal Blaak - all former or current wearers of a rainbow jersey, it is reasonable to say one can't see past a rider from that team taking the top step of the podium.

Their helper riders such as Amy Pieters and Lucinda Brand also have very strong racing CVs.

However, sometimes having so many brilliant riders in one team can ironically be a problem as it then becomes difficult to devise a clear tactic, and there may even be discord among riders if one feels that she should be the lead rider for the win.

Having spoken to Marianne Vos earlier this year she said that there is no jealousy and among their team they are always glad to see a compatriot doing well, and to will always be ready to help them get the win for the Netherlands. If the Dutch do fumble their tactics on the road to Harrogate there will be a few other teams ready to capitalise on that.


The Italian Job (7 riders)

Marta Bastianelli after winning the Tour of Flanders this year

They also have a good core of riders which includes two former world champions - Tatiana Guderzo and Marta Bastianelli, who will be the lead rider.

They also have a strong climber like Soraya Paladin, who was one of only two women who managed to stay with Marianne Vos during her ride to victory at the very hilly second stage of this year's Tour de Yorkshire. And don't discount Elisa Longo Borghini, who is a phenomenally strong all-rounder.

Their joker card will likely be Letizia Paternoster if the race does come down to a sprint. The Italians have a history of being the nearly team as they haven't won the title since 2011, but they generally manage to get someone into the top 5, if not on the podium. They also have a very good team spirit among themselves.


The Young Americans (7 riders)
The Americans cannot be underestimated, and have been having a very good World Championships thanks to Chloe Dygert-Owen winning the time trial and Megan Jastrab winning the World Junior Championship. Chloe Dygert-Owen was clearly strong in the time trial, but she has also had a great season, notably when she dominated the Colorado Classic in the summer. Coryn Rivera's season has not been as glittering as in previous years mainly because she didn't feature so much in the top places during the early season races. However, she has been steadily gaining ground and so she shouldn't be ruled out of the mix, particularly because she will have support from strong riders like Katie Hall, Ruth Winder, Tayler Wiles, and Leah Thomas.


Brits at home (6 riders)

Alice (left) and Hannah Barnes - key riders in supporting Lizzie Deignan 

With a World Championships in Yorkshire passing the childhood places of Lizzie Deignan, this is going to be a massive motivation for the Team GB.

Deignan, who has shown some impressive results this year since returning from maternity leave will know these roads like the back of her hand, and will have a solid team behind her, though not necessarily with quite the might of some of the other nations.

Alice and Hannah Barnes will be key in the team, as well as Lizzy Banks, a new rider who has shown brilliant form on hilly courses - notably at the Tour de Yorkshire this year. Nikki Juniper, who does most of her racing in the UK, has extensive experience of riding hilly courses in the North of England as well as doing some classics courses in Belgium, though the question remains as to whether she will have a response to the attacks from the Dutch.

Pole Dancers (7 riders)

Katarzyna (Kasia) Niewiadoma - a punchy rider in the Classics

People don't talk so much about the Polish but this year may be the time to do so. I would say they are the dark horse in this.

Kasia Niewiadoma is a punchy rider with a very daring way of racing and can spring surprises where people may not expect it.

She has ridden well in the hilly Spring Classics races in bad weather, such as what you get in Yorkshire. The Poles may have another card to play in the shape of Malgorzata Jasinksa who is a good climber. Their lead rider will be reliant also on the likes of Anna Plichta and Marta Lach.


Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie (6 riders)
The Australians, like the Italians generally manage to get someone into the decisive final part of the race, but unlike the Azzurri, the Ozzies have never had anyone win the World Championships. Last year Amanda Spratt finished in second place on the mountainous course at Innsbruck. Maybe she could do one better on the lumpy course through the Yorkshire Dales.

The only thing is that team Australia have been slightly weakened by the loss of some good helper riders like Sarah Roy and Grace Brown. They do have Brodie Chapman, who placed second in the Colorado Classic and Chloe Hosking who won the sprint at the Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta recently. Mind you, the Australians are putting all their eggs into the Tokyo 2020 Olympics basket, so for this World Championships I wonder how hungry they will be for a win.

Dynamic Dane
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig

Great Danes (5 riders)
A very young Amalie Didericksen won in 2016 on a flat course, and she is there again this time around, though the lead rider is likely to be Cecile Uttrup Ludwig who has been a strong force over the last couple of years, but has really set the Women's WorldTour alight this year. She is as dynamic in her racing as she is in her post-race interviews!

Other people to watch
Germany's Lisa Brennauer can hold her own as a good all-round rider. We haven't seen her full potential during this year, and she has played a helper role to Kirsten Wild her Dutch team-mate in the WNT trade team. But that's not to say she doesn't have what it takes. She recently shone in the Boels Ladies Tour when she got a top 10 place. She is also the German National Road Race Champion.

South Africa's Ashleigh Moolman Pasio is a great climber and is a talented racer who has an ability to get into the mix even in situations where she has no team-mates to help her. It's a good job really, since she will only have three team-mates for today's relentlessly hilly race and it may be a big ask for them to be able to animate things at the front for her.

Cuba's Arlenis Sierra doesn't race much on this side of the Atlantic, but has shown herself to be a solid rider as part of the Astana Women's Team. She is the Pan American Games Champion and placed within the top 20 at the Tour of California.


My pick of contenders

Anna van der Breggen: defending champion and 2019 Silver Time Trial medallist  - notable wins this year: Winner, Fleche-Wallonne; Winner, Tour of California.

Marianne Vos: 2006, 2012 and 2013 Champion - notable wins this year: Winner, Trofeo Alfredo Binda; Winner, Tour de Yorkshire; La Course by the Tour de France; Ladies Tour of Norway.

AnnemiekVan Vleuten: 2019 Bronze Time Trial medallist - notable wins this year: Winner, Strade Bianche; Liege-Bastogne-Liege; Women's Tour of Italy.

Chantal Blaak: 2017 Champion - notable wins this year:Winner, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

Marta Bastianelli: 2007 Champion - notable wins this year: Winner, Women's Tour of Flanders; Winner, Ronde Van Drenthe.

Letizia Paternoster: notable wins this year: European U23 Road Race Champion.

Chloe Dygert-Owen: 2019 World Time Trial Champion - notable wins this year: Winner, Colorado Classic; Winner, Joe Martin Stage race.

Coryn Rivera: notable wins this year: Silver, USA National Championships; 2nd, Ladies Tour of Norway.

Lizzie Deignan: 2015 Champion - notable wins this year: Winner, Women's Tour.

Malgorzata Jasinksa: notable wins this year: 5th, Polish National Championships; 9th, Women's Tour.

Katarzyna Niewiadoma: notable wins this year: Winner, Amstel Gold, 2nd Women's Tour.

Amanda Spratt: notable wins this year: Winner, Tour Down Under; 2nd Trofeo Alfredo Binda; 3rd, Women's Tour of Italy.

Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig: notable wins this year: Winner, Grand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan; 3rd, Tour of Flanders; 3rd, La Course by Le Tour de France.





 

Daily photo - 26: Gutted Colombian rider left with no support after mechanical

An emotional moment for the young Colombian rider German Dario Gomez. This was one of the big talking points of the Worlds and you had to have had a heart of stone not to have felt for this rider during the men's Junior World Championships in Yorkshire.

For young riders these championships are one of the rare opportunities to show themselves on a World Stage. It's a big big deal for them go be racing at the World Road Cycling Championships, with all its global coverage.

So when German Dario Gomez had his tyre roll off his wheel while he was up in the breakaway group and about to contest a hill it must have been annoying. But what was heartbreaking was to turn around to find there was no mechanical support available to him.

The Team Colombia support car was far back in the following convoy - 21st out of 25 - and the neutral service car failed to spot him and passed by.

The difficulty for the Colombian team is that because they had limited resources their mechanics were sharing a support car with other nations - Chile and Uruguay. That car had to stay in the vicinity of the majority of the South American riders, who were further back in the race. One of those riders crashed so the support car was held back even further.

Another issue was that in the UK because motorists drive on the left, riders who have issues and need support should move to the left.

However, everywhere else in the world traffic goes on the right, and that's where riders are automatically used to doing - which is what German did. Sadly, it meant that he wasn't seen by neutral service.

Lots of team support vehicles passed him and even those that did see him were reluctant to stop for fear of being penalised by the UCI for assisting a rider from a rival team.

So this combination of factors led to poor German Dario Gomez being left at the side of the road in a desperate situation. He first tried to fix the problem himself, and then began to walk up the road carrying his non-functioning bike. Such as shame, especially as he is a strong rider on hilly courses and could have been among the top finishers in the race.

Eventually German's team support arrived, some three minutes later and a Uruguayan guy came out to help him. The man was actually the father of one of the other competitors in the race. German managed to finish the race, coming in almost 17 minutes and 60 places behind the winner, Quinn Simmons of the USA.

This incident sparked a lot of debate about how a rider could have been deserted like that, and the Colombian Cycling Federation lodged a complaint with the UCI. While the UCI expressed their sorrow and disappointment at what happened, their explanation was that support cars had been instructed to stay well back from the riders and no overtaking was allowed for safety reasons because the riders were on the very fast descent of Kidstone Bank.

Team Colombia mechanic Fermin Gomez said that it was impossible for him to get to German Dario Gomez quickly given that they were sharing the support car with other nations. In addition, they'd had to attend to other riders' mechanical issues. Fermin felt that the UCI should put more measures in place to help riders from nations with limited support.

As for German Dario Gomez, he seemed happy to have completed the race, and despite all that happened, was upbeat on the team bus, and positive about his overall experience of the World Championships.

He said he was very happy to have had the chance to represent his country and had given 100% in his races. He described the incident as a situation where he was full of adrenaline but didn't know what to do and was just trying to do anything regardless of how futile it seemed.

German was grateful for the support and messages that he had received. I will look out for German Dario Gomez in his future races, and wish him all the best.


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Daily photo - 25: No hat-trick for Van Vleuten at Time Trial championships

This is a big week for cycling in the UK as the World Road Cycling Championships take place in Yorkshire.

I haven't been able to get up to Harrogate for the celebration of cycling, so I have been following it on TV.

Of interest to me were the women's races. Earlier this year I interviewed defending champion Annemiek Van Vleuten when I saw her at the Tour of Flanders. She was riding well and was keen to defend her time trial title, and hopefully becoming the first woman to win the time trial championships for the third time in a row.

Despite all her efforts, she was not able to record the fastest time over the 32 kilometres from Ripon to Harrogate. Annemiek subsequently finished third behind the winner, USA's Chloé Dygart-Owen and compatriot Anna van der Breggen.

Annemiek was gracious in defeat, and ever the consummate professional, managed to keep a smile during the podium ceremony and the post-race interviews despite her disappointment. I must say I have a lot of respect for her composed reaction in these circumstances.


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