on 7th November 2022
It was not to be for in-form Kenilworth’s Cyclo-Cross star, Darren Atkins, who was representing Team Jewson–M.I.Racing–Polypipe–McCann at the European Championships in Belgium.
Atkins went down ill following his latest Covid injection days before he was due to leave for Belgium. He was very sick, weak, vomiting and unable to eat anything for 2 days and only on Wednesday, the day he and team mate Phil Roach were due to leave for the race, did he eat and feel a bit better. After the long drive to Namur in the Ardennes part of Belgium, he had little time to check out what turned out to be a very tough and muddy course before the race on the Friday, nevertheless Atkins performed brilliantly considering his preparation and finished a very creditable 7th, totally shattered! Darren’s team mate and former World Masters Champion, Phil Roach, didn’t have the best of luck either crashing heavily 1/2 way through the race and finishing down in 25th place.
It was a different story for Pete Smith, back racing for the Team, after a 2 year break from any form of competition due to work commitments and injuries. Pete finished 2nd in the 4 Day Tour of Mallorca for Veteran Riders, and then the following day won the European Masters Road Race Championships – What a great return to his favourite sport of Road Racing!
Photo of Pete Smith on Podium at European Masters Championships above.