As a sports journalist for 20 years, James Witts' Rolodex is one of the cycling industry's biggest, and he's utilised it to the full in his latest (and often amusing) book, Riding with the Rocketmen, securing interviews with pro cyclists, as well as bike fits, psychology sessions and wind-tunnel visits with cycling's leading minds on his journey to the Étape du Tour de France 2022 start line.
Driving the narrative of Rocketmen is Witts' aim of completing the Étape in style, with 167km of cycling in a French heatwave, the iconic ascents of the Col du Galibier, Croix de Fer and Alpe d'Huez and 4,700m of elevation gain standing in his way of success.
As a 90kg rider with a fondness for ale over riding in the heat, Witts hatches a cunning plan to cut down on the booze (mostly) and pasties (slightly) while upping the beetroot juice intake. This Everyman also mimics the riding calendar of a pro for a year, battling cyclocross, time-trials and the cobbles of Flanders in the spring, before joining an altitude training camp with Ineos Grenadiers ahead of his date with destiny at the Étape.
Our editor Matt sat down with the author to discover what Witts learnt about both cycling and himself, before he provides his key Étape lessons for amateur riders...
Congratulations on the book, although I'm still a little haunted by the pre- Étape 'evacuations' passage, if that's the right word. Have you eaten pizza since?
Yes, but reluctantly. And not with (unpitted!) olives on. It was horrendous and, if it wasn't for the book, I don't think I would've made it to the Étape's start line. It sounds dramatic but I felt so awful. It was a long weekend.
Apart from not losing your wheel at registration and paying £200 to hire one, what's your key advice for any Étape entrant?
Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Cycling Plus UK.
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Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Cycling Plus UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
GANARY A COALMINE
The James Brown tune 'It's a Man's Man's Man's World' comes on the radio, filling the coach, and does nothing for my pre-event nerves as I sit surrounded by serious-looking, wiry, tanned men in Lycra. It's 6.30am, pitch black outside and I'm feeling very out of my depth as a relative newcomer to the world of clipless pedals and hurting for fun. Last night's stress dream involved being very unprepared to get married and being handed my great-grandmother-in-law-to-be's hideous silver dress with lace trim to wear minutes before the ceremony was due to start. I'll let you psychoanalyse that one.
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