Tour of Britain

Today's the day ....................... to struggle

Stage Two of the Tour of Britain  cycle race took place today - starting in Carlisle and finishing in Kendal.

It's a distance of some 162 kms and as it passes through the hilly terrain of Lake District, it would present the cyclists with a number of challenges - not least the likelihood that it would be a wet day.  It was sunny at the start of race as you can see in Paula's blip.  By the time they had hauled themselves up through the Whinlatter Pass and Chestnut Hill out of Keswick, it was beginning to look decidedly damp.

There is a first category climb out of Ambleside - very aptly called The Struggle - and that very much lived up to its name.  It's quite hard to walk up that road, never mind cycle it.  But somehow they did - and from then on it was more or less downhill to Kendal.  They go at such speed along the wet roads, it's quite hard to watch at times.

We took up position on the outskirts of Kendal and watched them whizz by.  These two - Steve Cummings and Julien Vermote in the blue - were a good minute ahead of the rest - and Vermote was the eventual winner by a short head.  They looked absolutely wet through and exhausted - and I'm sure they were very glad to have made it to Kendal after such a gruelling day.

They'll all sleep well tonight .........................!