DUO NORMAND - L'Effort Total. Some exciting news ...through Ilkley's twinning relationships with Coutances and some recent contacts we have made, Ilkley CC have been invited to participate in the famous Duo Normand 2-up time-trial in Normandy on Sunday September 30th.
(link to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duo_Normand)

This event attracts some of the top professional riders - winners include Wiggins, Van Summeren, Voigt, Boardman, but there are various other classement to compete in. This year there is a new classement (Jumelages, or twinned-towns) of towns in the Normandy region, which includes Coutances.

We do not know how many places are available to us yet, but we are calling for any keen time-triallists that are interested to put themselves forward. Depending on numbers and available places we may have to make a selection made on performances/appearances for the cub this season, which can include over the next few weeks. The classements include Vets, Mixed pairs etc

But this is a BIG event, and we want to send a strong support group alongside the racers. For example there is a proper start-house and ramp from the centre of the host town, and riders have to have escorting cars (with their names on plates on the front!). So as well as the riders, we may need some reserves, drivers for the supporting cars, maybe a mechanic and of course lots of enthusiastic fans to cheer on (and sample the local vin!) Ideally we also need someone who speaks a bit of French who could mastermind the whole thing (Directeur Sportif)?

The plan would (roughly) be to travel overland/ferry on the Friday, on the Saturday would be a reccie of the course for the riders, while the rest could go for a ride around Normandy (our sister club in Countances will be our guides). There will likely be lots of "civic" meet-and-greets around Coutances and perhaps some sort of dinner on the Saturday night. Sunday is the race, and then a return on the Monday.

We may be able to get some of the Coutances club-members to host us in their homes, although we can't guarantee this, and the club can't pay for any travel or subsistence charges. But it could be a weekend never to forget.

Let me know by message or email to racing@ilkleycyclingclub.org.uk if you are interested in being part of it!

It is a 54Km circuit, looks quite lumpy, similar to a UK SPOCO (sporting course).

Details here: http://www.duonormand.com/fr/pages/circuit.php

We've currently got 6 riders who have expressed an interest which is great news and even an offer for Director Sportif!

There is a good feed on the TT forum started by our own El Cid (Ged) which gives some very good feedback from UK riders that have done it before:

http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/ind ... opic=67841

Greg Jessop (the newly appointed DS for the Due Normand 2up TT) will be in the Vaults bar around 9pm this Thursday 10th May to discuss this opportunity with those who have expressed an interest to date. We've had lots of interest, if you want to ride or support the event and haven't already told us please advise me or Ben Hallworth before Thursday. Thanks

The Coutances twinning organisers are asking for ICC to provide both rider and supporter names now. For anyone who hasn't yet expressed an interest in this event (either to ride or support the teams) can you please contact Greg Jessop, DS, on events@ilkleycyclingclub.o​rg.uk this weekend. Thanks

Dear All,

Just a quick reminder that there will be a Duo Normand meeting at the Wheatley Arms, in Ben Rhydding, at 7.30pm on Monday 9th July 2012.

All riders, supporters and other interested parties welcome.

Your DS
Greg

Damn. Thought this was tonight.... I need a diary!

Hi All,

Just a quick reminder that the final Duo Normand meeting is on Monday (24th Sept) at the Wheatley for us to finalise logistics etc.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Claire & Greg

Thank you to Greg and Claire for coordinating this trip. It was an amazing few days and we did things we would never normally have been able to do, two mayoral engagements in less than 24 hours and a private guide of part of Coutance's town hall as well as eating in some very lovely places and mingling with the pros (well, we sat next to them at breakfast and earwigged on their conversation!)

Really enjoyed the whole race experience too, a real buzz all day and such an adrenaline rush. Thank you so much to Stephanie for being our support driver. I'm only sorry that I couldn't hear you shouting encouragement as I'm sure it would have helped too. Also thank you to Ged for your patience as I know you could have gone so much faster if you'd ridden with someone else.

All the ICC teams did really well. I have the results sheets for mixed and 3rd cat events:

Mixed: 25 teams competed, including two from ICC:

1st: Edwige Pitel (French national champion) and Gregory Cassini 1.14.40 (new course record)
2nd: Wendy Houvenaghel and Sean Childs 1.16.08
3rd Anna Grundy and David Bamford 1.22.23
7th Emily Iredale and Chris Lillywhite (ex pro) 1.24.25
8th Katherine Pimlott and Ged Millward 1.24.44
18= Claire Jessop and David Kinloch 1.39.09
23rd Carole Raymond and Kevin Raymond (from Coutance and some of our hosts) 1.45.35

3rd Cat: 21 team competed

1st Pascal Montier and Aurelien Chretien 1.15.24
2nd Thomas Houtette and Julien Strebel 1.17.31
3rd Frederic Frauquembergue and Olivier Boquet 1.17.51
14th Ben Hallworth and Mark Pimlott 1.26.03

Unlicensed: 103 teams competed

Don't have the print out but Neil Rollins and Daniel Jay-Webster did a 1.27.. and came 13th overall (we worked out they would have been 15th if they'd entered the 3rd cat event)

Womens: 14 teams competed, including several professional teams, one of whom won with a new course record which was a sub one hour time (the womens event was over 42km).

Again I don't have the print out for this but Leanne Farrow and Emily Hallworth came 9th overall in 1.20..

There were also categories for veterens, 1st and 2nd cats, juniors, hand cycles and tandems, and of course the elites, so something for everyone.

Everyone was so friendly and welcoming and I'd highly recommend it as an experience for next year.

Just found all the results here http://www.duonormand.com/pdf/categories.pdf (even more categories than I'd remembered)