Cycling Picture Gallery

  
 

The Prutour 1999

  
 

In 1999 Carlisle again played host to a major cycling event, this time as the start of the penultimate stage of this final Pru sponsored tour.

Here are a slightly scary looking Eros Poli and Chris Boardman prior to the start.

The stage to Edinburgh went to Rob Hayles in a hard won battle with the pro's including a sprint against Stuart O'Grady!

The overall victor was Marc Wauters of the Rabobank team

 

 
         
 

The Porthole Grand Prix

 
 

For 20 years this was the name for Kent Valley RC's time trial over a 25.5 mile sporting course around Lake Windermere. The name came from The Porthole Eating House in Bowness-on-Windermere owned by the event's sponsor, Gianni Berton. In 2000 it became the Booths Supermarkets Grand Prix.

Chris Boardman rode the event several times including the 1995 event featured here. His presence boosted interest in the event considerably ensuring local TV coverage and a good number of spectators on a rather chilly March day.

The poor man couldn't even do his warm up without some idiot with a camera snapping away!

  
   
         
  and try focusing your thoughts with this crowd around you and a TV camera up your nose!  
  As things turned out, Chris did not finish and it was this man - Gethin Butler - who was fastest on the day. (Several other days as well - he won the event seven times in eight years!)

The man in the red scarf is Gianni Berton.

  
   

 

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