Guildford has never seen anything quite like it. Cycling mania hit Guildford yesterday when the Tour of Britain had its final stage finish at the top of our High Street. The Tour rolled past the CBC office on its first trip though Guildford before taking a gruelling route through the Surrey Hills and back to a tough finish on the iconic cobbles of the High Street.
The “Manx Missile” Mark Cavendish rode a superb race, and was ably positioned by his Sky team colleagues for a sprint finish up the cobbles in Guildford. He broke away with 300 yards to go and the pictures above were taken 50 yards away from the finish line to give him his third stage victory of the Tour. I was pleased with the shots as I had to hold my camera above my head to get above the crowd!
The third picture show the overall winner of the Tour Jon Tiernen-Locke, the new star of British cycling, finishing in the midst of the peleton in the Golden Jersey. In his post race interview Cav said that he was desperate to win in Guildford, after the disappointment of the Olympic Road race and as this was his last race in the coveted world champion’s Rainbow Jersey. He goes to Maastricht in Holland next weekend to defend his World Championship road race title, with the cream of British cycling in his team, including Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Jon Tiernen-Locke.
The crowds packing Guildford for the race eclipsed the thousands who came out to see the Olympic Torch.
I must say we’re glad we moved our office onto the High Street nine months ago. Good timing!
Chaz
