Hunt Journal

ON THE DROPS WITH STIJN DE BOCK

For this week's insight into the Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes training camp & 2019 preparations, we stole some time from one of Tim's new signings, and one of two new Belgian riders bolstering the ranks this season. Whilst Stijn De Bock is pretty handy on a bike, he's actually more famous for being Stijn De Bock. As an Elite (without contract) Belgian National Road Race champion, and a palmares that has seen him put many a World Tour rider away in sprints, we're keen to see what this man will bring to the team for the year ahead...

ON THE DROPS WITH STEVE BATE MBE

This week, we've been catching up with a rider who needs no introduction (mostly because we've already featured loads of his ridiculously epic riding). Steve Bate was a prolific climber, with sights on a solo attempt at the ridiculously tough El Capitamn in Yosemite, until he was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa in late 2011. After losing his driving license and ability to independently do the thing he loved, he turned to cycling.

For a hobby taken up as a second choice, Steve happens to be quite handy on a bike. This guy covers ground like carpet, it's absolutely unreal. He recently rode 501km across Scotland in 22hrs and 20mins. Not bad for a guy who's rapidly losing what remaining vision he does have left. He's an inspirational rider and all-round decent bloke, who won't take no for an answer.

GOSSE WINS NATIONAL TROPHY IN SHREWSBURY

We must admit, we were all too aware of our inexperience as 'UCI staff' when working in the pits for Gosse van der Meer yesterday. For a start, it was just Ollie there, as Stan & Dan were both out battling the course and the other riders. You'd think just having a dedicated pit crew, even if just one person, was a pretty special thing (it's certainly something we don't see at the London X League), however Ollie was surrounded by teams with up to 4 pit crew per rider! Paired with the fact that we couldn't get our pressure washer to start, and Ollie was sliding around the washing area in some Adidas Spezials asking to borrow other teams' water... we well and truly took on the role of 'plucky underdog' at the sixth and final round of the National Trophy in Shrewsbury this weekend.

ON THE DROPS WITH ALEX PATON

What a season this man has had! Following winning his debut race for the team at the 2018 PERFS down in Portsmouth, Rosie had his fair share of troubles and shunts through the mid-season. Everything came up trumps when he finished the year off with a memorable Sprints Jersey win at the Tour of Britain.

We caught up with the Aldershot-based rider to find out how he keeps ticking over during the off-season, what his targets are for 2019, and his views on Christmas binging...

ON THE DROPS INTERVIEW WITH TYDEMEN NEWMAN

There are two things you need to know before you meet Tydeman. First, he's probably faster than you. Second, you'll be stretched to find someone who gets so stoked on riding. The combination of these two factors makes for a dangerous mix. So we decided at the very last minute to see what makes Tydeman tick as we wrap up the Hill Climb season.

PROJECT24: EDINBURGH TO THE NORTH SEA

Stephen Bates is more than just a bike rider. He is an adventurer, World Champion, Olympian and being a vision impaired rider and inspiration to what is possible. Coming off his win at the recent World Championships in Vancouver, Canada on the Velodrome, Stephen decided to take on a more endurance-focused challenge. Here is his story riding from Edinburgh to the North Sea.

STAGE RACE RECAP: RICH'S GILES REES MEMORIAL STAGE RACE

Rich is an incredibly fast rider. He's partial to the occasional hill climb and loves to get out and about on his beloved Argon 18. Recently, he did the Giles Rees Memorial Stage Race. Consisting of four stages over three days he said it was just like the Tour de France... but in Kent... and a lot shorter... and not as quick

RED JERSEY SUCCESS AT THE TOUR OF BRITAIN

Alex Paton displayed his pure grit & determination to come away from the Tour of Britain with the red sprinter's jersey. After a thrilling finale on the final day in London, the 28-year-old won the final intermediate sprint of the eight-day race ahead of Matt Holmes, who fought him all week.

The fight for the jersey ended with a long 1km sprint with Paton going deep into his reserves to respond with a perfectly timed response to Holmes' long attack, which would have seen him take the jersey had Alex not taken any points. We might be biased, but we like to think Paton's forward-thinking approach to wheels & tyres (big fan of tubeless, and races on 60-65psi!) contributed to his ability to tie up the jersey.

GOSSE IS NUTS! CATCHING UP WITH THE CRAZY DUTCHMAN

When you read "last year I got hypothermia during that race... but it was fun" you know there must be a few screws missing. But for Gosse Van Der Meer it is this craziness which makes him great! A lot has happen over the past year for the Dutch native after he announced he was going out alone with support from Bombtrack bikes and Hunt Wheels. As he puts it, he is "finding (his) own way in professional cyclocross". This means bulk 30hour weeks, motor pacing, solo training camps, hypothermia, racing in 38 degree heat and broken knee caps - we are in total awe of how hungry Gosse wants it!

BRITISH REIGNING HILL CLIMB CHAMP: ON THE DROPS INTERVIEW WITH DAN EVANS

There are few riders better to pilot prototype Hill Climb Specific wheels under than Dan Evans. As the reigning UK Hill Climb Champ, when it comes to getting from point A to B with a massive incline, then this is the guy many will point to as being the fastest. As a rider who revels as the sight of double-digit incline percentages and relentless gradients, Dan Evans is simply put... bloody rapid!

MID-SEASON RECAP: THE HIGHS AND LOWS FOR CANYON EISBERG

THE TOUR IS ON and that means its peak road season. While the UCI continental, Hunt supported team are not toeing the line with the World Tour level outfits, the boys in blue have had a spectacular first half of the season - and even managed to mix it up with the big hitters recently at the British TT Champs. Coming straight from Canyon Eisberg, here is their mid-season recap.

RIDER'S PURGATORY: A LOOK INTO WILL JOHNSON'S JOURNEY INTO VIRTUAL CYCLING

When I last wrote a piece for this blog, 9 months ago, I’d just managed to climb Ventoux in a respectable time, claim a dubious cardiac efficiency victory over Laurens Ten Dam, and had started to dip my toe deeper into the uber geeky world of cycling power figures. From the hundreds of messages that I haven’t received, I know you’re all wondering how I could possibly top that, well here’s how.