This is the first of (what we hope are) a series of posts by Gazzetta's own British Cycling Commissaire, Richard. Hope you enjoy it and are inspired to volunteer on the British cycling scene.
I had tried racing
before…I didn’t like it. Made me vomit and I was last. That’s not my way. The nature of my job stops me from training
hard enough to race and thus be as competitive as I would like to be. Being the
super competitive person I am and used to being alpha male and all puffed up
chest, what else was there? I was
desperate to be involved in cycling the sport I love so much and have enjoyed
since leaving rugby. One day I was
renewing my British Cycling licence and I saw a piece about volunteering. I had
no idea that Commissaires were volunteers. And, more importantly, ANYONE could
do it. All my preconceptions were just
blown out of the water. You actually mean I can do this? NO
WAY! I don’t have to be a former racer? Unbelievable. I signed up there
and then.
I went to my training course and passed the tests. Showed I
had a good knowledge of racing. I was now allowed to be an Assistant
Commissaire. I could be a second
Commissaire on races alongside a qualified Commissaire. This was brilliant. I
was doing mostly cat 3,4 races, evening racing league stuff. I soon got through
my Minimum six races and assigned to position of Regional Road
Commissaire. My mentor was Julie
Rodman and what a star. A UCI Commissaire all to myself. I was like a sponge
absorbing knowledge and information. Almost every race I did in 2012 I learnt a
little bit more off Julie.
The day I received my
Commissaire clothing was the National Circuit Race Championships at the Otley
Town Centre Races. Are you kidding me? I’m a Line judge in my first official
role as Commissaire…at the NATIONALS. What a brilliant night. For years I’d
been going to Otley to watch these awesome races. Now, I’m on the opposite side
of the track in a grey tshirt with ‘British Cycling’ all over it. But wait it
gets better. I actually told elite riders off in my first race. “one foot of
the ground for the start please….You too Russ” snigger. That felt odd.
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| Otley Town Centre Races |
Ten days later my next race was the National Road Racing
Championships at Ampleforth, North Yorkshire.
No No, I wasn’t a Commissaire here. I was offered the chance to drive a
car at the Championships. It was thought that by driving a Commissaire I would
gain experience in how to work during a major race. Vehicle movement and
position, time keeping and dealing with Pro team Directeur Sportifs (that’s
something for a later blog). I wasn’t
sure what to expect when I turned up for the race. I knew I would be driving a
National Commissaire and that was it. I attended the pre-race briefing. Paid attention to police and NEG advice,
made note of route hazards and made my way to my car. I was stood chatting with
Julie and another driver when my Commissaire turned up only for him to inform
me that we would have Phil Ligget as a passenger. Suddenly I was a bag of
nerves. Turns out, he was really nice.
Also a qualified UCI Commissaire and loved his food.
Time was ticking on and the radios fired into
life. Radios = two of them. A Commissaire radio and radio tour. Cars were asked
to roll to the start of the women’s race.
I was lined up a few meters up the road from the world’s elite women
cyclists. Lizzie Armitstead, Emma Pooley, Nicole Cooke, Sarah Storey, Sharon
Laws, Nikki Harris all in my rear view mirror. I spent the next three hours
staring at the perfectly formed rears of
Lizzi, Nikki, Sharon and Emma |
| Start line of the Men's road race – Phil Ligget in the back |
After a short stop for food, drinks and a natural break, the radios once again burst into life. I was lined up at the start of the Men’s race. Holy Cow! And what a brilliant surprise, my daughter was there, beaming as she’d just met and cuddled Adam Blythe.
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| Lydia meets Adam Blythe |
All I can say is, It’s going to take some doing for me to
have a better day in cycling than that. Driving behind some of the world’s
greatest cyclist for 7 hours in a seat that money can’t buy was a dream come
true.
At the start of the 2013 season, I am looking forward to
learning a whole lot more and starting my drive toward National Commissaire. I
thoroughly enjoy being a Commissaire and would wholly recommend it to anyone
wanting to be involved in cycling.
