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2010 Le Tour de Staveley - Report and Photos

http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/wp/?p=1565

Le Tour de Staveley 2010 - A non-competitive road sportive for all abilities
Saturday 17 July 2010

Photo's by Sports on Sunday

Photo's by Cycle Sport Photos

Photo's by Fursdon Photography

In celebration of the worlds toughest cycle race 'Le Tour de France' this weekend the UK's largest cycle store WHEELBASE, based in Staveley, held it's annual 'Le Tour de Staveley', a non-competitive road sportive for all abilities.

At 3pm Saturday 17 July 2010 a sell-out field of 300 riders rolled out from WHEELBASE in the Staveley Mill Yard to tackle a choice of a 48 mile ‘lumpy route' or a slightly milder 28 mile shorter option. The heavy downpours and drenched roads did not deter any riders with only 20 no-shows.

Now in it's fifth year the organisers of this fantastic non-competitive road bike sportive decided to ramp up the difficulty of the event at the request of participants from last year!

On paper the course looked like a straightforward 48 mile run through the rolling lanes of South Lakeland but a number of strategically placed leg burning climbs whittled the field down, and tested each riders physic.

The peloton first spun through the hamlets of Underbarrow, Brigsteer and shot off down pan-flat Lyth Valley in one long chain towards the first major 20% climb of Tow Top were spectators had gathered too watch the riders tackle the steep, technical bends with Stuart Reid of the HerbaLife/WHEELBASE team breaking way and tacking the honours as first rider over the top.

It was then on over Cartmel Fell and up Bigland Hill before tacking the new ‘Tour of Rusland' addition with it's stunning views up over the Lakeland Fells.

The final major test on the long course was the ‘Bianca Strada' (white road) gravel climb of Chapel House Wood, Newby Bridge with dramatic views over Lake Windermere.

As this was definitely a non-competitive event the obligatory refreshment stop was at the Masons Arms, Stawberry Bank where staff and the WHEELBASE.co.uk hospitality crew greeted riders with a welcome drink after a hard afternoon sweating it out on the climbs.

The re-grouped riders then ambled back through Winster up a short but deceptively tough climb past Knipe Tarn en-route to the finish back at WHEELBASE in Staveley and a two course French themed meal at Wilf's Café. Drinks were also available at Hawkshead Brewery and riders could sit down and rest weary legs in front of a big screen showing the days action in the real Tour de France.
Riders are also given the opportunity to ride the same 'dream' bikes that the pro riders in the real 'Tour de France' are using with the event is supported by Italian road bike manufacturer Wilier, sponsor of Team Lampre, the beautiful and super-expensive Pinarello Dogma of Team Sky and Cannondale from the USA, sponsor of Team Liquigas.

"Seeing the riders stream in a long line down the Lyth Valley is a wonderful sight. It is the second year that our event has sold out and it is a true testament to increasing popularity of cycling - and that cycling really is for everybody. We'll be back again next year with more surprises and hopefully a little less rain." Toby Dalton, Director, WHEELBASE LAKELAND Limited

WELCOME

WHEELBASE was established in 1992 and we are the UKs largest cycle store and online retailer. We are based in the heart of the Lake District with some of the country's best riding right from the store. With over 400 bikes on display across a massive 16,000 sq ft store WHEELBASE is well worth the journey.

All our staff are passionate cyclists and they are on hand to offer you expert advice and unrivalled customer service in-store and online. At WHEELBASE we believe in bringing you the best bicycle brands, carefully selected with the UKs largest ranges of Trek, Cannondale, Marin, Kona, Whyte, Wilier, Litespeed, Dahon, Raleigh, Yeti, Turner, Cove and Intense. Plus a large selection of apparel and accessories from; Gore Bike Wear, Altura, Sombrio, Fox, Giro helmets, Shimano and Sidi shoes, Park tools, Zipp and Mavic wheels, Cateye lights and computers, CycleOps trainers, Bontrager components, Continental tyres, plus many others.