BABY OIL BRUISES INSIDE THE TOUR SERIES & HOTEK GHOSTS

Intrepid rider with Awol O'Shea and journalist Charlotte Broughton recounts her experience of racing the UK's biggest criterium series

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Each spring the Tour Series promises its very own British brand of carnage-filled town center crit racing. For me the anticipation includes wondering: will the motorway service station have veggie options? Which city will my sweaty kit get lost in? How many times will I have to repress the urge to loudly swear at fellow riders? In just three of seven rounds, I found out the answer to all those.

GUISBOROUGH

The first round at Guisborough started off as usual: being picked up at the local services on the M1. When I arrived not too many people said too much to me, which is pretty common if you seem to have fallen off the face of the earth results-wise, regardless of the cause (long Covid in my case). I love how fickle things can be, I find it amusing, but you remember who has been there for you through the tough times. It was lovely to see some of my teammates as I’ve not had the chance to race with them much this season.

Pre race, I got ready in my usual way: drank a Red Bull, listened to Megan Thee Stallion to mentally prepare, and slapped on some baby oil – because why not? I did some laps of the course and even unintentionally dive-bombed Harry Tanfield who was testing out the course in leisure wear: apologies for that Harry, I think I was too in the zone to remember my manners.