Viceroys Ian Talbot and Debbie Stewart tackled the challenging 104k route of the Financial Times Cycling Sportive on Sunday, Debbie tells us her story: 

‘Having decided to enter the Financial Times Cycling Sportive on Sun 11th May I asked any fellow Viceroys if they fancied joining me…..only one person took me up and that was my partner in crime for the day  – Ian Talbot. The event had 3 distances to choose from and keen to get some miles under my belt i opted for the medium route of 104k. 

On Sunday morning I boarded the 0650 train from Walton-on-Thames ( Ian was already on it !) and after a couple of changes we arrived at Tulse Hill. The race started at Dulwich Park. I told Ian that I didn’t want to hold him back and that he wasn’t obliged to stay with me…..he was a true gent and in Viceroy style said, “We will start together and finish together. ” 

The roads were open and therefore we had to negotiate motor cars and traffic lights. I for some strange reason had not looked at the course in any great detail prior to the event which in hindsight it was probably just as well !! To say it was hilly was an understatement….the first 30 miles were never ending – it then sort of flattened out for about 10 miles and then we hit Box Hill. I never thought I would see the day that I thought Box Hill was relatively easy, compared to some of the previous hills tackled it paled into significance !! Ian was waiting at the top where he was doing a repair job as one of his cleats had fallen off his shoe. After a much needed bathroom stop –  a major feat in itself when wearing bibbed bottoms  (well for a woman anyway), we then decided ….wait for it….to have a coffee….Okay so perhaps we weren’t in the correct racing mode type of thought !! Anyway onwards and upwards…fortunately mainly downwards from this point we set off and didn’t stop again until we finished (well obviously for traffic lights /junctions etc ). The final part of the course was a lap of Herne Hill Velodrome. This was a great way to finish and a fabulous experience. 

The weather could have been worse. We got rained on twice and the wind at time was terrifying but all in all it was a great day….no records broken but a commendable distance achieved on a course not to be sniffed at.’

Great riding Debbie and Ian!