Our ‘Ben Ben’ (à la Ride Routes 10 – 16th July)

I am sure I was not the only one who became emotional as Ben O’Connor stormed to victory on stage nine of the Tour de France. 

As the 25-year-old Freo product broke away from Columbian Sergio Higuita up the Col des Saisies, an immense pride permeated through the WA cycling community. 

This was after he’d dropped climbing great Nairo Quintana and Canadian Michael Woods, not to mention the entire peloton and the maillot jaune. 

Sleep could wait – this kid was making history. 

When commentator Robbie McEwan read out SPR member Cathi Dixon’s poem about the young-gun, my pride was amplified – go ‘Ben Ben!’. 

I interviewed Ben for The West (or here) in 2019, and he told me: “When you are young you know if you are going to be good at something and with riding I knew”. 

Out of context, such a statement could be construed as arrogant, but Ben was far from it. 

He knew his strengths and he set his sights on becoming a GC contender in the Grand Tours. 

He has performed well in the past, riding into the top 10 of the Giro – but never until now has he garnered so much attention. 

The young rider’s face was splashed across mainstream media following his win – finally Australia was paying attention to this beautiful sport. 

Even our Premier congratulated him at his daily COVID presser – a refreshing reprieve from the dispiriting public address. 

Has cycling finally made it into the hearts and minds of mainstream Australians? 

Maybe drivers will even start treating us better on the roads.

Time will tell, but I certainly hope so. 

SPR Women’s Health Talk & Afternoon Tea – Female cyclists can often encounter health issues that require careful monitoring or maintenance.  Come join Dr Rachel McCormick and PhD Scholar Serene Lee to discuss these issues and how they can be managed to lessen the impact they can have on your cycling and health. 

The club will be putting on afternoon tea!

Now fully subscribed – thanks everyone for supporting the club – but for more information see the full post here.

SPR Tour de France Dinner – The SPR Committee is pleased to announce that we are this year again holding our Tour de France dinner. This year at Chez Pierre.

Sorry, sold out. And with the recent lockdown, this has been re-scheduled to . Thursday 5th August (after the Tour has finished but the best we could do!). Enjoy the night!

From the Ride Coordinator – So for my fellow couch peletonians – what a week it’s been at the TdF. Despite the lockdown easing, the weather gods have smiled on us couchies watching Le Tour as it’s been too wet to ride in the mornings (Those on Zwift are the exception). And what inspiration have we seen from our local lads – Turbo and Beno. There’s enough inspiration there to do 2 rides on a Saturday. (Oh wait some amongst us already do!). Anyway, now it’s our turn to get out there this weekend and we hope those weather gods look after us by clearing the rain early enough for our Saturday ride and closing the window late on Sunday. Cross your fingers it happens. Whatever cycling you can fit in this weekend, please make sure you look after yourselves and your fellow riders.

Saturday 10th July

Sunday 11th July

Monday 12th July

Tuesday 13th July

  • Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
  • Ride starts Frasers ave at 5:45am
    • Development group – interval training kings park

Wednesday 14th July

Thursday 15th July

Friday 16th July