Contact us
-
Club
e.mail ballymoneycc@gmail.com


Ballymoney Cycling Club
Chairman
Charlie Dickson

Telephone 07543842324
E.mail ballymoneycc@gmail.com
charlesdickson392@btinternet.com
Ballymoney
CC Vice-Chairman
Wayne Stevens

E.mail ballymoneycc@gmail.com
Mobile 07557380775

Club Treasurer
Colin Thompson

Telephone 07813606707
E.mail
bcctreasurer@hotmail.co.uk
ballymoneycc@gmail.com

Race
Secretary
Telephone. E.mail ballymoneycc@gmail.com
Health and Leisure
Secretary
Chris Frew

Telephone 02827641950
Mobile 07710942712
E.mail info@removemydent.com
ballymoneycc@gmail.com
Woman and Youth
Development Officer
Joan Trengove

Mobile 07784867635
E.mail ballymoneycc@gmail.com

Child Protection and
Safeguarding Officer (Male and Female)
Johnny Graham
E.mail ballymoneycc@gmail.com
Female Officer ...TBA before the end of
2011

Executive Committee
Members
Garreth McBride
E.mail ballymoneycc@gmail.com
Mobile 07969673951
Trefor Owens

E.mail ballymoneycc@gmail.com
Mobile 07743145033

B.C.C Public
Relations & Media
Maurice McAllister

Telephone 07707088396 - 02870327326
E.mail ballymoneycc@gmail.com
maurice1958@btinternet.com



Tommy Simpson

An iconic cyclist of the 1960s, Tom Simpson had
a unique drive and ability. He was the first British cyclist to become a major cycling star winning the World
Championship in 1965. Tragically, Simpson died during the 1967 Tour de France whilst climbing Mont Ventoux. Even
more shocking was the revelation that Simpson had packets of amphetamines in his back pocket, and the use of drugs
had been a contributory factor to his untimely death.
Tom Simpson – Early Life
Tom Simpson was born in County Durham, the youngest child of a coal miner in 1937.
The family later moved to Nottingham where Tom became interested in cycling. He competed in time trials, road races
and on the track. It was on the track where he had his first taste of international success; he won a bronze medal
in the 1956 Olympics as part of Great Britain’s team pursuit squad.
In April 1959, he felt he needed to travel abroad to try and win a place in a
professional cycling team. (At the time the domestic British scene offered little for an aspiring professional
cyclist. He left for Brittany, where he raced in amateur races and also met his future wife Helen
Sherburn.
Life as a Pro Cyclist
After winning a couple of amateur races he was offered a contract with Rapha
Geminiani Team, who also had British cyclist Brian Robinson on the squad.
By 1960 he completed his first Tour de France, finishing a very creditable
29th.
In 1962, he became the first British cyclist to wear the maillot jaune of the Tour,
eventually finishing 6th overall.
By 1963, he was riding for a new team Peugeot BP (with distinctive black and white
jerseys). He won the Milan San Remo
classic in 1964.
1965 was probably his most successful year as he was crowned World Road Race champion
in San Sebastian, Spain and also won the autumn classic Giro Di
Lombardia. For his exploits, he became the first cyclist to win the BBC
sports personality of the year.
1966 was a disappointing year, due to a skiing injury. However, in 1967, he proved to
be in excellent form, winning the early season Paris Nice race and two stages in the Vuelta a Espagne. Going into
the 1967 Tour de France, Simpson felt he had a realistic chance of being on the podium
Death of Tom Simpson on Mont Ventoux
On Thursday, 13th July, the 13th Stage of the Tour the weather was very hot. In those
days, riders were actually limited to 4 bidons a day (the effects of dehydaration were clearly misunderstood). At
the foot of Mont Ventoux, Simpson attacked hoping to move up the general classification. Later he was overtaken by
Jan Jensen (the eventual stage winner) and 4 others. Near the summit, Simpson started to zig zag across the road,
looking very pale and exhausted and he eventually fell off. His team manager tried to stop Simpson (he was actually
worried Simpson might fall off on the descent) However, Simpson got back on his bike and cycled another 500 metres
before falling into the hands of his helpers (with his hands still on his handlebars). This time Simpson was
unconscious. The race Doctor tried to give Simpson mouth to mouth resuscitation to no avial; he was airlifted to
hospital. But, Simpson was declared dead on arrival.
“Put Me back on My Bike”
This famous phrase was attributed to Simpson by Sid Saltmarsh, who was a journalist
for Cycling and The Sun. Sid was not actually at the race and Simpson never said these words. According to his team
manager, his last words were ‘Go on, Go on’. However, although Simpson didn’t say these words they epitomised his
attitude of being willing to ride himself into the ground. It appears that one effect of the drugs he took was that
it was harder to be aware of his own limits.
The cause of death was given as heart attack brought on by heat, dehydration and
exacerbated by alcohol and use of amphetamines.
Aftermath
The cycling community was shocked by his death. The next stage of the Tour was a
procession, with the British riders allowed to cross the finishing line first (Barry Hoban happened to be
first)
At first the link between his death and drugs was not widely publicised. It took time
for revelations about amphetamines and other drugs to be released. A search of Simpson’s apartment the next day
found more drugs – Stenamina and Tonedrin.
Tom Simpson’s death did mark a turning point in the use of drugs in professional
cycling. After his tragedy, the UCI did start to implement more drug testing, although its efficacy was open to
question. Many riders such as Jacques Anquetil retained a resistance to dope testing. Even now, the culture of
doping in the professional cycling scene still perists.
Reputation Tom Simpson
Tom Simpson’s memory evokes a mixture of responses. In many ways he was Britain’s
most successful and prominent rider. He rode at a time when dope taking was rife and drug tests sparodic to say the
least. Tom Simpson embodied tremendous determination and drive to win. He showed the way to a generation of British
riders. But, his career has always been overshadowed by the knowledge of his extensive doping and his willingness
to push himself so far, he ended up paying the ultimate price. Yet, despite his tragic death, he is held in high
regard by the Cycling fraternity. A monument was erected to Tom Simpson near to where he collapsed on Mont Ventoux;
it receives thousands of visitors every year.
In 2001, Cycling Weekly voted Tom Simpson as the second greatest British cyclist of
the twentieth Century. Admitting that his drug use cost him first place (given instead to Chris
Boardman)
|