Cycling :
Garrett trains in Belgium and follows in Simpson’s tracks

RUGBY VELO road racer James Garrett has followed in the tracks of the groundbreaking British cyclist Tom Simpson by taking part in grueling training rides in Ghent, Belgium.

After a spring that had brought many top finishes in closed circuit racing, the 20-year-old took a week out to race and train where Simpson, the first Briton to wear the yellow jersey in Tour de France history, had once lived and won the Tour of Flanders in 1961.

Racing with the Belgian club Kingsnorth International, Garrett linked up with Coventry’s Joe Atkins to race local kermesse races in the towns of Kruishotem, Ruddervorde and Melle.

Despite the races lasting 70 miles the speed averaged 28mph, a great step up from the British amateur scene and Garrett did well to last as long as90 minutes at the Ruddervorde event.

Between race days were some brutal endurance training rides, once again 70 miles was the distance of choice and

featured some of the famed fearsome cobbled climbs such as that of Koppenberg.

Overall it was an extremely useful and vital experience for Garrett, which he put to good use in Thursday’s closed circuit race at Mallory Park, finishing third in the bunch sprint, securing the points for his second category licence (another important rung on the racing ladder ascended).

Share This

Regional sport »