Brompton World Championship 2016

Photos by paulclarke.com

By Paul Clarke Photography

July 31^st, 2016

setting the scene

Fastest-folder challenge (I did it in 11-something seconds, the winner in about 7); gin mixing, costumes and lashings of ginger beer.

fun with the family

In this case, my friend Rob’s lovely family for the most part. I don’t know what the tailor’s dummy was for, either. Nor the display of pants.

the warm-up race

Some people would say the main race of the day. (Not Brompton people.) The 2016 RideLondon Classique was won by Kirsten Wild, who seems pretty happy crossing the line.

selfie

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The show-offs

Bromptons are about much more than eccentricity. But it can creep in a little bit. Also features a really lovely back.

and they're off

That’s 2-in-a-row BWC winner Mark Emsley there on the starting line. Just a hunch, maybe? The traditional Le Mans sprint start, fast unfolding, and David Millar et al thundering past.

in full flow

Look out for the Army trio: blissfully ignorant of the leaders (and motorbike) tearing up on the outside. That was close.

the fast ones

Culminating in Mark Emsley crossing the line first, for the third year in a row. Points given for the snarls in the pack, and the I’m-so-fit-I-can-wave David Millar, steaming through. At this point he set off on a thunderous charge that put him out in front, briefly, but it wasn’t to be sustained.

crossing the line

Shout out to the military chaps who kept it together the whole way, finishing in style. And 466, oblivious to the near-calamity after a flourishing swerve towards 196 on the final approach. Now that would have been a picture. (I didn’t think that, honestly.)