CCC Trip to France 15 -17 August 2025
Riders from CCC joined u19 YA riders to race in three regions in France over three days.
First region was Gastines in Pays de La loire, In extremely hot conditions which peaked at 38 degrees, the day started with the access 3-4 race , 65k, and a field of 60 plus riders. John Derrien rode in this race started well. At about mid race there was a huge crash which unfortunately took a large number out of the race.
John narrowly missed the crash and caught the main group. At the bell and 7 k to go, 3 riders were away , with 6 riders chasing, then a group of 9 riders put in a counter attack. John got out of the peloton and caught the 9 riders and contested the sprint with them finishing 15th overall.
The Open 2/3 race started at 3pm and the hottest time of the day was approaching. This race was 105k over 100riders. The U19’s racing forCC Plancoet were Ollie Hamon, Harrison Davis and Herbie Bucholz. Riding the Caesarean Cycling Club was Dylan Evans.
All four rode strongly and confidently in the peloton for the first half of the race, there a breakaway group of 10 riders up the road, it included Alexandre Baron from Cc Plancoet.
At the 75k mark the heat took its toll and water was a big issue, first Harrison, then Dylan followed a lap later by Herbie were unable to continue, cramp and other heat issues associated with severe tempatures. But Ollie managed get cold water and had good legs on the day and finished strongly, getting 3rd place in the bunch sprint.
The winner came from the original break of about 10.
Ollie finished 29th overall, 8th in his Open 2 category, of which there were over 60 racing. He was also 6th U 19.
Tremendous effort from Ollie and all the boys in the heat .
Next region was Normandy was St Martin Des Landelles,
For Access 3-4 it was a short race of 44km with a 3km circuit of which approximately 1K was a steep climb, with a maximum graidiant of 12%.
John Derrien and Colin Vidler raced in the Access 3/4, 15 laps of a 3 k loop with over sixty riders on the start line. Colin started well but with the climb coming every 3 k, and peloton waiting for steepest part of the climb before attacjing, it was soon apparent it was not a course suited to Colin. The race saw plenty of attacks and counter attacks but the peloton brought it back together until the last third of the race a small group of five riders got away and contested the win .
John Derrien stayed with the peloton and finished a credible 23 rd overall and 9 th in his category. The race average speed was22.5 mph despite the 15 climbs.
In the Open 2/3 race just under a hundred riders were on the start line.
Jersey had three U19 riders, Ollie Hamon , Harrison Davies, and Herbie Bucholz. Dylan Evans and Jono Harris were representing the Caesarean Cycling Club and is in the U23 category .
All four young riders are in the Open 3 category.
The race started fast and furious and hard up the climb , which they had to do 26 times.
Jono found the course did not suit him, and pulled out to save his legs for the next day race.
By lap 9 Ollie called it a day, feeling the effects of his exceptional race the day before.
As with the previous race there were plenty of attacks and the length and steepness of the climb was splitting the field. The conditions were not as hot as the previous day but still required a lot of water bottles being handed out near the top of the climb.
A huge thank you to the team of helpers, particularly Herbie ‘s parents Toni and Ralph who did an awesome job keeping the boys hydrated. Dylan alone had 8 water bottles handed to him .
Herbie had a great race and was climbing brilliantly and got away from the main group and almost bridged to the group ahead of him. Eventually Herbie finished in a fine 40th place with Harrison just behind in 45th and Dylan in 47th.
In their Open 3 Category Herbie placed 16th, Harrison 20th and Dylan 21st
This completed an excellent weekend of racing on closed roads and great crowds for the four young riders with Ollie having his day on Friday with an excellent performance and Herbie , Harrison and Dylan coming back strongly on Saturday.
For Herbie and Dylan coming back from injuries this was just what was needed , a confidence boosting performance.
On Sunday it was the Brittany reiona of France with two riders from the Caesarean Cycling Club race at Dol De Bretagne. John Derrien in access 3/4, his third race in three days, and Jono Harris access 1/2.
John’s race was 64k he raced strongly staying near the front the entire race. It was frantic last lap with everyone left in the peloton trying get near the front in the tight rough lanes leading to the last corner and then 300 meters to the line. The race average was 24.5 mph ,John finished a credible 23 rd rounding off a good weekend for him.
Jono race was hard and the weather was extremely hot.
Jono stayed with the main bunch , riding strongly, in what was his second race in France, until 3 laps to and the heat finally put paid to Jono’ s chances of finishing in the peleton.
Thanks to all the riders and the back up team.
Alexandre Baron rode brilliantly on Friday at Gastines and was in the breakaway 85 of the 105k . Alexandre finally finished 15 th overall.
At St Martin des Landelles, Alexandre helped out U19 teammates from Plancoet. Herbie, Harrison and additionally CCC rider Dylan .