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In The Pursuit of Glory | Thank You!
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| PeterRyder |
Posted on 18-06-2014 00:43
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No! Martijn needs to be NC! Stupid Track 
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 18-06-2014 12:20
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Grand Tour Champion
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@peter: winning the NC would be a long shot even when fully fit.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 18-06-2014 13:14
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Tour de France Champion
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That is so unlucky for Martijn |
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| javibozada |
Posted on 19-06-2014 12:28
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Stagiare
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Poor Martijn
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 19-06-2014 18:22
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@sutty & javi: These things happen... The injury is true to the game (fractured shoulder & end of June return) but the story of how it happened is a true story for a friend of mine. He broke his collarbone in real life crashing in exactly the same way, doing the same type of training
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 19-06-2014 22:03
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I waited to get the all clear from the doctors before I upped the level of training. I was checked out and given the good to go exactly 7 days before the National Championships. I wanted to see how my shoulder would hold up under pressure, and the initial tests on the turbo went ok. I was feeling sore, but it was ok.
Step two was getting out on the road. The Peak District to the east of Manchester, and the Lake District to the North, were the perfect place to really put some miles in my legs. I had a week to really go hard, and hope that I could add what I had missed in the two Tour Series races I was pencilled in to race.
In the end, I had done all I could. I knew I needed to be realistic - I am not going to win the National Championships, but I do want to do myself proud. After this last month of recovery, there is only one way to find out.
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| admirschleck |
Posted on 19-06-2014 22:04
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Love these updates. Reminds me of something I did with my Marko Šantić story back in time. 
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 19-06-2014 22:07
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Grand Tour Champion
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@admir: I have never written a story in a 'blog' style so nice to hear you like them adds something other than race reports all the time
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| mvhoogdalem |
Posted on 19-06-2014 23:21
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Lake District looks nice.
Good to see Martijn back on the bike, now he only needs to get in the break at the NC.  |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 08:16
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 20-06-2014 20:44
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@mvh: The Lake District is amazing  NC to be played and reported tonight
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 20-06-2014 22:01
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A Small Piece of National Pride
My drive for some form and fitness was all for this - The National Road Race Championships. Throughout my 6 months as a British rider, I had never really felt truly 'British' and any race on home soil for the Team GB squad was just another day in the saddle, adding to my experience and another chance to put myself in the shop window for next season.
Strangely though, this race felt different. My build-up was much more than normal, and even without my injury, I would have approached it in this same way. Whether it was related to the roots of my Dad, I wasn't sure, but I wanted to myself proud in the race. As for the race itself, I think it will favour the break, so I will need to be ready from the flag drop.
The attacks went early, and thank god I was alert! After a fast, frantic start I was part of a small group of 3, with Greenwood (IG-Sigmasport) and Carthy (Rapha Condor-JLT) for company. I was sporting the 100%ME jersey for the race, as the National kit was not allowed.
As expected, the break would like it would go all the way, and with 20km to go, we still had 3'44" over the peleton. With my break companions were feed the information, the attacks for the win happened. My lack of race legs deserved me, and I was dropped due to the high pace. My shoulder was sore and I struggled to get out the saddle to follow in the wheels.
Greenwood attacked Carthy with 4km to go, and he was soloing to a fantastic victory. I saw the Rapha man just up the road, and he was struggling. The victory was gone, but I could still win the U23 title. I just needed to catch Carthy... I missed out by half a wheel length!
| 1 |  Ben Greenwood | Team IG - Sigma Sport | 4h36'17 | | 2 | Hugh Carthy | Rapha Condor - JLT | + 35 | | 3 | Martijn North | Great Britain Cycling Team | s.t. | | 4 | Mark Cavendish | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step | + 2'08 | | 5 | Ben Swift | Sky Procycling | s.t. |
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| mvhoogdalem |
Posted on 20-06-2014 23:07
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Good 3rd for Martijn after getting back from his injury. |
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| javibozada |
Posted on 20-06-2014 23:17
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3rd in NC... great!! Hope that you could win the U23 title
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 20-06-2014 23:28
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Hurting, but I'm No Quitter
I woke the morning after the National Championships in a world of pain. My shoulder had stiffened during the night, I was struggling to hold my arm up, let alone thinking about racing today.
The Beaumont Trophy lay ahead, and as my Dad drove me to the race, I rung the GB Coaches to explain the situation I was in. I didn't want to race in my condition, but they were somehow having none of it. I was to race today, and rest in the 2 month break before Tour of Alberta in September. That was my option, nothing else was on offer.
Quietly, I had hoped the pain would subside as the race progressed, and I could settle into the road. Turns out the opposite would occur. At the halfway stage, I couldn't sit at the key end of the race, and I dropped down the peleton. One of the team cars came alongside me, and there was a sudden concern for my condition. Amazing what can happen when they actually see how you are.
I was given the option to climb off the bike at the next passing of the feed zone. But I was not going to abandon the race. That was not my style, and I wasn't going to make them feel any less guilty by pulling over and climbing in the car. I would finish the race in 89th position, 15'53" down on the winner Carlsen (Bissell). Before the race, I was one of the favourites for victory. I left the race hurting, and feeling at my lowest point as a cyclist.
| 1 |  Kirk Carlsen | Bissell Cycling | 4h46'40 | | 2 | Luke Grivell-Mellor | Rapha Condor - JLT | + 15 | | 3 |  Fabio Silvestre | Leopard - Trek Continental Team | s.t. | | 4 |  Justin Jules | La Pomme Marseille | s.t. | | 5 |  Dylan van Baarle | Rabobank Development Team | s.t. | | ... | | 89 | Martijn North | Great Britain Cycling Team | + 15'53 |
Edited by the_hoyle on 20-06-2014 23:36
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| PeterRyder |
Posted on 20-06-2014 23:30
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Nice performance by Martijn in NC
Edited by PeterRyder on 20-06-2014 23:32
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 20-06-2014 23:33
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@mvh: NC race was good, but subject to the small peleton bug  Once the break went, it would be between them for the win.
@javi: Carthy was the best placed U23 rider in second, so he technically won the U23 title. A podium is still great though.
@Peter: Thank a nice long break racing wise, but discussions for next year will now get underway 
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| mvhoogdalem |
Posted on 20-06-2014 23:33
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Someone should punch those coaches in the face, like Phil did to Team Katusha.
Hopefully things didn't get worse for Martijn, otherwise his season will end very soon. |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 20-06-2014 23:35
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@mvh:  if only the long break should give Martijn time to recover, and also decide on his future away from Team GB
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 20-06-2014 23:55
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Martijn did well to grab a bronze medal at the Nationals , but i think the GB coaches were wrong not to let you rest |
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 21-06-2014 10:44
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@sutty: Bronze was a nice consolation after the crash. A large rest is being had before finishing the season in Canada and ToB
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