Landkey Village

The excitement built gradually during the morning, with John and Janette having displayed bunting on the front of their shop and having placed bicycles high on the front of the building, all hinting at something special to come! The weather was calm with the suggestion of intermittent drizzle, but nothing to spoil the occasion, the forecast had assured us.

As the morning progressed, more bunting appeared in Blakeshill Road, tables became laden with drinks and Shelley's snack van took up position at the bottom of Acland Road. By 1pm, the street was lined with villagers eager to catch sight of the 196 cyclists taking part in stage 2 of the 2018 Tour of Britain cycle race.

At 1:20pm, police and event marshal motorcycles appeared dramatically with blue lights flashing and horns blaring, all adding to the tension. How far had the cyclists reached on their way from Cranbook? Word then went out that they had gone through South Molton and were now heading our way! More motorcycles appeared, each one as if to say that the cyclists were that bit closer. Then a car bearing the logo of a cycle team, and then another, all met with cheers from the waiting spectators.

Shortly after 1:30pm, John announced: "They are in Swimbridge!" Then more motorbikes, more team cars, some now with bikes on their roof. It was 1:40pm. Surely the moment had come!

Then, around the bend in the road near the Castle pub, a group of 5 riders, cycling very fast (this was a sprint stage, after all!) behind their team cars, approached almost before we realised they were upon us! Photos were taken and hearty cheers expressed, before they disappeared from view on their way into Barnstaple.

We had been told that the peloton 5 were about 6 minutes ahead of the main pack and, sure enough, a few minutes later the road was suddenly filled with a mass of enthusiastic cyclists, all determined to make it through our village and be on their way to the greater challenges of Bratton Fleming and Challacombe. They all received loud cheers from Landkey villagers to send them on their way and, almost as soon as they had arrived, the last cyclists were disappearing from view beyond the war memorial.

We learned afterwards that the 5 leading cyclists were Erick Rowsell (UK), Scott Davies (Wales), Alessandro Tonelli (Italy), Matthew Teggart (Ireland) and Cameron Meyer (Australia). Cameron Meyer went on to win the stage, it seems. Well done to all of them, but especially to Cameron Meyer. And thank you to Ovo Energy for providing such a memorable occasion for our village!

From Charles Waldron on 2nd June 2018:

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