PTW

Right. Just to let you know that the PTWCC are taking on Columbia High Road, Garmin Slipstream, Cervelo and a host of others this Sunday.

That's right, I'm racing the Nationals in Abergavenny and attempting to hold Millar and Wiggins on the Tumble, while keeping an eye on Cavendish for the sprint.

Good luck Dave. I will be up there to give all the Welsh lads a shout. If you need any help with bottles/feed etc let me know.

Give em hell Dave........all the best for sunday I'm sure it' will be a great experience to mix it with Cav and Co

It'll be a ride in the park (well at least Brecon National Park)

Get me Cav's autograph Davey before you get dropped

Who was the last PTW rider to ride the nationals??

Cheers guys! Will try to hang on long enough to get the jersey on TV!

Alf in answer to your question : Me! 2004.

All the best for tomorrow Davy,dazzle them with the shorts on the Tumble!also all the best to our other "Port Talbot wheeler" Rees Lloyd.

OK, so before Davey who was the last PTW rider to ride the British National Championship Road Race?

To give you an update:

Amazing atmosphere in Abergavennny today as cycling took over the town. To line up against some real superstars was a great feeling, even if you knew you were just counting down the kms until you get dropped... Managed to get myself right on the front of the bunch for the start so you never know, may get my ugly mg on TV! That is, until the Rapha 'thugs' () rolled up late and took over the front (over the start line I might add, did anyone alert the commissaire?!)

From the second the flag dropped the pace was absolutely mental, and a real knife fight to hold your position in the bunch. I have not experienced anything like that in a long time. Fortunatley the old frenchie skills came in handy and I managed to stay in the top half of the field, even slipping off with a few 'names' once or twice just to say I did. To give you an example of the type of speed we were doing, sombody clocked the average speed of the first hour at 28.5mph on the tumpy roads of Monmouth. Now that is shifting.

Sitting comfortably (!!!) in the bunch I managed to dodge a few nasty looking crashes until about 25 -30miles in when a sudden narrowing in the raod meant a load of guys jammed their brakes on and a pile up ensued. Although I didn't come off I came to a dead stop and by the time I was disentangled the bucnh was racing away in the distance. This could not have happened at a worse time as a mile or two later we hit a nasty long and steep hill called Rockfield. With the bunch motoring away at 30mph there was no way I was about to do 35mph up a hill to catch them so I knew my day was over. Frustrating and disappointing way to end a race but could have been worse. I proceed to finish as much of the race as I was able, and thankfully Charliefummi found me swaying on the Tumble and gave me a load of encouragement and drafting to get me round the last part of the race. We then set up camp to watch the pros duke it out, including one Rhys Lloyd, on an absolute scorcher of a ride.

All in all a good day out, and anyone who was anyone in cycling was there today. Glad I rode, and even got a little interview with Hugh Porter when he spied the jersey, remarking that the Port Talbot are a great club!

Big 'chapeau' to Rhys who must have finsihed about 30th (ish) and is really stepping up to the plate.

oh PS some guy called Kristain House won.

Nice one Dave and great ride Rhys.
A good day's entertainment up on Tumble.Glad I was only watching.

A valiant effort Davey! and another cracking write up. Sounds as if your really enjoying the racing. We heard there were a few who took a fall, glad to hear you weren't one of um. Any idea when it'll be on the box?.

Yep - 4th July - British Eurosport!

Nice one Davey and well done to young Rhys.