Hi CR'ers,
Below is a delightful but fictional account of rising star of British cycling Tom Simpson, who died tragically in the mid sixties on Mt. Vent. where a memorial to him is still well maintained.
Author is cycling all around good guy and frequent magazine contributor Tom Shaddox, a grand story teller who got me convinced his reports of overseas events are factual fiction even though he has never visited the country in question.
I hope you enjoy,
Gilbert Anderson Raleigh, NC USA
In a message dated 7/13/02 10:29:23 PM, ljshaddo@gte.net writes:
<< Cycling world stunned: Simpson in Yellow! - Officials rule ride was legal -
Simpson and "Concorde" toast of Tour!
Tu de Lou, France, July 13th, 1969 - The first solo time trial of the Tour
de France, the "race of truth", always sorts the contenders from the
pretenders, but seldom in the 66 year history of the Tour has any single
race so completely changed the face of the event and cycling.
Starting the day in 27th place 1:15 back from the lead, Britain Tom Simpson
rode the 37 mile time trial 1:57 faster than any other competitor today.
Returning to the yellow for the first time since 1963, this also marks
Simpson's first major victory since his collapse in the tour exactly two
years ago.
A late spring addition to the British Aerocraft/Rolls Royce/Raleigh team,
Simpson was supposed to bring a veteran's wisdom to the squad and act as a
mentor to the young stars. He spent some 8 months off the bike after his
withdrawal from the `67 Tour due to a near deadly combination of heat stroke
and stomach virus. His abreviated '68 season was lackluster at best.
Spending the fall of last year training alone in Scotland, he showed he had
returned to competetive form this year with several strong finishes in the
early spring classics. Still, his performance today was unexpected. The
British Aerocraft/Raleigh team director said "We were rather expecting
Barry Hoban to be our team's top contender."
Simpson, like the rest of his team, had until this stage ridden a standard
Raleigh racing bike. However, for today's time trial, he came to the start
house on a special, 531 Moulton MkIII "Speed Twelve". In a post ride
interview, he said British Aerocraft had encouraged the team to showcase the
best of British technology. "I rode a Moulton Speed 6 most of last fall up
in Scotland", he said. "Over the winter I had two of these bikes special
built by Moultons at Bradford on Avon. I had them painted team colours last
month, and lettered "Raleigh Concorde" on the frame. Lauterwasser showed
them to the British Aerocraft men, and they practically insisted I use one
at some point during the Tour."
Jeers and whistles sent Simpson off on his ride, but the fans grew quiet and
then began to cheer as he set the fastest time through each check point. As
he gained the yellow jersey on the road and then his lead continued to
build, the officials committee dug through the rule book, but could find no
reason to disqualify his little bike. By the time he completed the looping
course back into Tu de Lou, fans were chanting his name and cries of
"Concorde! Concorde!" filled the air. His yellow jersey was never seriously
endangered by any of the remaining 26 men.
With Simpson in yellow, what are the teams tactics? "We have two easy days
left before the mountains. We'll mark our main competitors, but we won't
waste energy chasing down anybody out on a long solo breakaway", said the
team director. Will we see more of "Concorde"? Simpson just smiled and
winked. Company officials from Raleigh had a terse "no comment". Dr. Alex
Moulton is reported to be cycle touring in the lake district of Switerland
and could not be reached.
Tom Shaddox
Moulton List page - <A HREF=" http://www.topica.com/
Side note, Jack Lauterwasser (Lauterwasser above is a 1930 Olympian) from Britain who worked for Raleigh Ltd., Sturmey Archer and was consulting and or building wheels for Moulton till a short while ago. He is now 92 years old and finally retired. As a note Alex Moulton at 82 has just returned from a bike tour in Switzerland. I wonder what brand and model of bike he used?
Regards,
Gilbert Anderson
The North Road Bicycle Company
your bicycle outfitter
519 W. North St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
USA
ph toll free in USA :800/321-5511
Local ph: 919/828-8999
E-Mail: cyclestore@aol.com