The Tour of Wessex, a 3-day sportive, takes place this weekend and both Richard Hallett and David Arthur from RCUK are tackling the unique challenge. Here’s how David got on in the second stage.

Tour of Wessex – Day 2

180 km (110miles), 2,264m (7,469ft). Map of the route.

Day two dawned bright and hot, with noticeably tired legs. Despite best efforts to conserve energy on day one, day two was going to be about taking it easy. And so it started that way. But, just 10miles into the route, Richard was involved in an accident that would have him hitting the tarmac hard, a result of some dangerous riding at the front of the small group we were passengers in. Cue much blood, scuffed bar tape and one smashed SRAM RED shifter.

It was a devastating start to the ride and something that shouldn’t have happened. With Richard left with no option but to return to the event HQ, I was left with the challenge of completing the route on my own.

Compared to yesterday, there was a lot less riders on the roads, and clearly many had opted to both start earlier and ride in some particularly larger bunches. I decided the best course of action was to get my head down and motor on, and duly did, completing the 110miles in 6hrs. A time I can be pleased with, but a dodgy section at about 60miles and having to battle the head wind and climbs myself surely cost time.

Today’s route was another cracker, and both days so far would make splendid single day sportives, let alone as part of a three-day event. Today was tough, with the same amount of climbing as yesterday but decidedly different in nature. There seemed to be more roads of undulating nature, with some seriously draggy sections that pummelled the legs and moral.

Day three, which in paper is the hardest, is looming large. And I don’t mind admitting I’m slightly apprehensive about how the legs will feel.