SPANC Racing Annual Winter Training Camp 2025

Once again the annual SPANC racing Winter training camp returned to Lanzarote for some much needed sun and to kick start training for 2025. The camp was moved from its usual base in Puerto Calero to Costa Teguise to be closer to the cycling highlights that the island has to offer. That decision was an extremely good one as strong winds affected cycling from day 1 and it's likely we would have turned around before we got to the top of Calero hill.

Due to the very late planning by our camp organiser attendee numbers were down 50% from last year to just 1 person, but that gives us plenty of scope to make improvements in future years. 2026 will be bigger than ever (or at least it shouldn't be any lower than 2025).

Routes for 5 days cycling were meticulously unplanned and we achieved a 100% success rate in managing to ignore the prevailing conditions. If it's any consolation it was nice to occasionally wave to the many cyclists who had planned their routes correctly and who were going in the 'right' direction. I say occasionally as there weren't many times when the wind had dropped enough to take your hands off the bars.

As usual the kit list was a range of 's'Hertogenbosch liberation shirts, including the new 2025 version expertly designed by the SPANC 'Chief of Kit' and seamstress JvO. It added a bit of excitement walking in to the German-run bike shop wearing these kits, although that probably explains why I had the rattly bike.

The bike of choice this year was the Cube Attain, a rattly little bastard that was as inept at dealing with the crosswinds as its rider. Somehow the bike cost more to hire for the week than a car, so next time we're getting a cargo bike to kill two birds with one stone. Thankfully there were no mechanicals or crashes and all rider(s) returned their bikes in one rattly piece.

Despite the low attendee numbers the annual club trip awards ceremony took place on the last evening to recognise the great achievements during the week. The main awards were:

Most Improved Rider - This was initially awarded to Martyn Pennell but we were asked to review the decision following an anonymous posting of a Strava segment from day 5. Martyn recorded his slowest ever 'DOWNHILL TO FAMARA - From the roundabout' (14:33 against a best of 9:53). Martyn claimed he was stopping to take photos but we’re sure he was just scared of the wind (and didn’t have JvO to look after him). As there were no other nominations we agreed to amend the title of the award to ‘Most Least Improved Rider’, which we think is a better description of the weeks’ achievements (unless that’s too many double negatives).

Best T-Shirt Suntan - Whilst it was warm it wasn't super-hot so even this award was only just won by Martyn Pennell.

Worst Hangover - Martyn Pennell - It was all-inclusive

Slowest Climber - Martyn Pennell

Worst Route Planner - Martyn Pennell

100% Attendance at a SPANC Training Camp - Martyn Pennell