British Cycling’s top brass have today announced that they have plans in place to have an all British team entered into the Tour de France by 2010. Just as I thought my dreams of riding in the big time were gone, this little news article has seen them spring back to life like Floyd Landis in the 2006 Tour after he looked down and out. Dave Brailsford’s news is to me what that little shot of Testosterone (or a pint of beer) was to Floyd.

I guess within the article I can pin-point the very moment I felt I was back in with a chance:

“There’s a couple of candidates who we feel have the capability [to win the Tour de France].”
~Dave Brailsford (director of performance for British Cycling).

And so I have penned a letter to Dave Brailsford himself:

Jun 26 ‘08 

Dear Mr. Brailsford,

                                     I was shocked, surprised but mainly delighted by the news, that broke today, that you are planning to have a competitive British team, for British riders, racing in the Tour de France by 2010. This is a great idea, fully achievable and I want to be a part of it. It was the words that you believed there were candidates out there with the capability of winning the event that caught my eye. No doubt adverts will be in the jobfinder section of every paper the length of the country in the coming months looking for your future champ but I figured I would get in early so you can put me on file for the upcoming interview stage.

                                     There was me moping along in the final 15-miles of the Coastal Challenge last Saturday wondering what it was all about. ‘For charity’ they said? My ass! . . . Mr. Brailsford, I thank you for the revelation – I shall hit the road this weekend with a stricter training regime and a new found, unmatched enthusiasm. Beer is out, (No forget that part), but I will see you on the line, if not before, in wherever it starts in 2010.

                                     Remember Dave, your champ is out there. I’m waiting by the phone.

                                                                Kind Regards,

                                                                                   Richard Blayney

Category: Pro Road Racing, Stories » My Letter to Brailsford, Tour de France |

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