The Motorpoint Tour of Britain team have spent the last couple of days at a boot camp in the North Pennine’s.
The quintet, minus Pete Williams who is recovering from his accident on Saturday night in Blackpool, have been working on their conditioning by riding in excess of 100 miles a day riding through the heather-clad Pennine’s up into the Scottish Borders.
Their base camp has been the Youth Hostel in Alton – reportedly the highest market town in Britain at over 1,000 feet. And although relatively spartan, the Cumbrian hostel (http://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/northumberland-north-pennines/hostels/alston/index.aspx), and it’s cycling mad staff has proved a real hit with the team.
“We’re really enjoying it,” says Jonny McEvoy, who is relishing the prospect of racing in the Tour of Britain for the first time as a professional. Even the constant rain hasn’t dampened their enthusiasm. “Everyone at the hostel has been brilliant. They can’t do enough for you. It’s just what you need after you’ve been in the saddle for over five hours.”
