"Rise and shine," said Maddy gleefully, pulling the duvet off Drew. "I have to go back to work and you need to rejoin your cycle team for training. This time off was only on the understanding you kept yourself fit and came back in good shape."

"Okay, okay, I'm getting up," grumbled Drew, before grabbing Maddy and giving her a goodbye kiss.

The Virgin team was based in Sheffield, so Drew didn't have to far to cycle. Being the star of the team gave him quite a lot of influence, but it came with a lot of responsibilities. Drew was always one of the first there and was always willing to help the other cyclists.

"Can you all gather round," said Eric, the team manager. "I have a few announcements before we start today's training ride. First of all, I'd like to congratulate Drew on getting a place in the Olympics."

There were murmurs of congratulations from Drew's team and a lot of comments about him being a sure thing for the gold medal.

"Hey, don't count on me getting gold," warned Drew. "I only manage to win races due to the excellent team I ride with. Unfortunately you won't be with me."

That brought a chorus of 'you'll win' and 'liar'.

"One other item before we set off," said Eric, trying to regain control of the meeting. "We have a guest for the day. He's a fifteen year old lad who asked if he could join us for his work experience."

"Who is he?" asked Simon, one of Drew's team-mates.

"Let's see if any of you recognise him," teased Eric as he opened the door to the team minibus.

A shy, young looking lad exited and stood next to Eric. He was about 1.8 metres tall, lean and with good muscular thighs. He nervously looked round at the faces of the team, waiting for someone to say something.

"Jason Turvey," said Drew holding out his petit arm. "Welcome to the team."

"You know who I am?" asked the shocked teenager, as he looked in awe at Drew.

"Yes, you're the regional champion for the under 16's who was very unfortunate to get trapped behind the accident on the M1 near Leicester, so missed the nationals."

"Drew is a real riding geek," laughed Simon. "He knows all about the upcoming riders in the UK. He often recites the times and status of current riders. Heck I think he knows my averages better than me."

"Okay, enough lolling around. Jason will be riding one of the team's spare bikes. The first ride can be to warm you all up. A 75km with a sprint over the last 10."

They all set off at quite a pace. Jason was keeping up quite well. Drew remembered back to his youth when his mum rode for the Apollinaris team and he managed to train with them. He quickly slowed down so that he was next to Jason.

"Some of the exercises we do will get quite exhausting," he explained to the young lad. "If you get tired just flag down the minibus and sit it out till you recover."

Seeing Drew momentarily distracted, Simon decided to break away on his own. It didn't last long as the team acted as a team and over the next two kilometres he was gradually reigned in. The team was protective of Jason and they kept him shielded from taking the lead in the chase. They all knew it would be exhausting for him as it was so kept him in their slipstream.

After three breakaways and chase downs, Drew noticed that Jason was starting to flag. "I think it's time for you to recuperate," Drew suggested.

"I'll be okay."

"No you won't be," Drew said firmly. "I'm all for stretching yourself, but I'm not going to be responsible for you getting injured. Look, if you get your legs back now, you should be okay to join us for the final sprints."

"Okay," said Jason.

Drew pressed some buttons on his mobile that was mounted on his handlebars and a few moments later the minibus collected Jason. Drew had slipped behind the others so peddled furiously to catch up. He was coming up a hill and he knew he had more power than the others so he over took them. As he reached the apex of the hill he continued to push and watched as his bike computer registered increasing high speeds.

" Let's see how long it takes them to react to this ," thought Drew.

"Was that Drew?" one of the team asked as they went up the steepest hill.

"I think so," Simon puffed. "Though I don't think I've the energy to start a chase till we get to the top of the hill."

"Nor me," was the weary response.

Drew looked at his computer and saw how far ahead he was. It showed not just his speed, but also the speed of his team-mates. Ah the joys of modern technology. He tucked himself in and continued to apply the pressure. He knew that once the team was on the gentle downward slope they would be relentless in their chase, like a pack of hounds after the fox, in the days that hunting was legal.

Drew gave them a good run for their money, but he knew that even with his skill, a breakaway that early on was doomed to fail. If there were two of them then it might succeed, if they got enough of a head start. He remembered back to The Tour, where two riders broke away about 10km into one of the stages and they were never caught.

"Glad you could join me," laughed Drew as they eventually caught him.

"I think we were just shocked when you powered past us up that hill."

"It's a good job this bike doesn't have a licence plate," admitted Drew. "I'm sure I saw a speed camera go off."

"The one about 5km's back? I'm sure that isn't an accident black spot, but is just in a good position to earn the police a bit of money."

About 13km from the end, Jason was dropped off just ahead of us and the team quickly caught him cycling along. He accelerated slightly and slipped into the slipstream.

"You feeling better?" Drew asked.

"Much," smiled Jason. "I'm very impressed on how you ride and practice together."

"Thanks. We're a good team."

"I noticed you tuck slightly differently from the rest, does it give you a better advantage?"

"Not really. I just means that I don't jar my breasts with my knees."

"Oh, I forgot about that," admitted Jason. "Sorry."

"Sorry for what? I am who I am. I can't help it, but I've never let it stop me racing."

"I was invited to Manchester last week," said Jason. "Brian Graves is trying to get me into the youth team. However, he didn't seem very complementary about you."

"Brian Graves is a tosspot," said Simon coming along side. "He has done nothing good to help the sport and has don't nothing at all to help Drew. He was the one that decided that Drew shouldn't compete in China four years ago."

"Isn't that when you lost your parents?" asked Jason being a typically insensitive fifteen year old boy.

"Yes," said Drew sadly. "Would you mind if we changed the subject?"

"Oops, sorry," said Jason as he realised what he'd said.

"A 1km sprint from the next lamppost," shouted Eric from the minibus.

They were all out of their saddles and darting as quickly as they could. It became obvious to Jason that Drew was more a tactical rider than sheer brawn. Yes he kept up with the others during the sprints but he didn't outshine them.

As they calmed down for a little bit Eric suddenly shouted a 2.5km sprint. This time the tactics were slightly different as it was a long distance to keep up such a sustained speed. Jason held his own during this rally which surprised most people, apart from Drew.

"Jason likes his sprint finishes," he explained. "You should have seen him the other week in Newcastle."

"You what?!" exclaimed Jason, almost falling of his bike. "You saw me race?"

"Well yes, it was a nice training ride, though Maddy nearly killed me, as she was exhausted towards the end."

"You rode to Newcastle?"

"Well with all this congestion charging, and charging for the distance you use your car, it isn't worth using it. I mean; have you seen the cost of fuel. Nearly six quid for a litre of diesel. It's extortion."

"Don't worry," said Gavin, one of the other riders. "We think he's mad too."

"Sprint to the coffee shop," Drew suddenly shouted and hared off, the others quickly responding.

"Who won?" asked Jason as he rode up with Simon.

"Who do you recon?" asked Gavin. "It was unfair for him to call it at four kilometres."

"What is this place?"

"It's a little coffee shop that's run by the homeless. All money taken goes to providing shelter and such."

"That's a noble cause," admitted Jason.

"Yes, but Drew sometimes has a bit of trouble, as they have such a high turnover of staff."

"I don't understand."

"You'll see."

They all went in and commandeered a few tables and Jason went with Drew to help bring the coffee's across.

"What can I get you, miss?"

"Six coffee's and a tea," Drew replied.

Jason tried his best not to smile and carried a few coffees across as they were made.

"Why didn't you correct him?"

"What's the point? He was just being polite and I know I don't look very masculine. However, my birth certificate says male and that's all I care about."

During the afternoon they did another ride and ended back where they started. Jason, by this time was exhausted. "So, what do you think of the next stage?" Drew asked him. "Do you think this is what you want to do?"

"I think so," he replied. "I'm still young and I've a lot to learn. Some of the tricks you showed me during the ride will certainly help me as I develop."

"Then I'm glad you came. Is your Dad collecting you?"

"Yes he is, but he hasn't arrived yet. What about you?"

"Oh, I cycle home. In fact here is my riding companion now."

Maddy came up to Drew and give him a kiss. "Oh, aren't you Jason Turvey?" she asked.

"Yes," he said blushing.

"You did well the other week when I saw you in Newcastle."

"So Drew was saying earlier. Ah, my Dad is here. It's been great meeting with you and I hope you both do well in the Olympics."

"Come on," said Maddy, as Drew watched Jason disappear into the distance.

"He's one to watch," Drew commented. "He is doing remarkably well."

"I know, but we have to get home. You have to ring your sister."

(to be continued)

Karen Page 15.02.06 © 2006
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