By Mrs Inkson (Head of Year 6)

On Thursday 4th September, the Junior School Triathlon Club, together with Mr Castro (Head of Swimming) and me, had the exciting opportunity to watch the Tour of Britain as it passed right by our school fields in Cople. The girls were full of excitement as they gathered to experience a live professional sporting event so close to home. 

The build-up was just as memorable as the race itself. A stream of police motorbikes came through first, waving and sounding their sirens to the delight of the girls. Then came the main event, a few riders broke away at the front, followed by the lead car, and then the massive peloton surged past. What a sight! 

Armed with percussion instruments kindly lent by the Music Department, the girls made plenty of noise to cheer the riders on. Their enthusiasm and energy were infectious, and we’re sure they gave the cyclists a real boost as they sped by.

We were especially lucky that Cople was part of the loop section of the route, meaning the riders passed us twice. The second time, the peloton was much more compact, and the rush of wind as they flew past was incredible. 

This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to see professional athletes in action and to connect what they’ve been learning in early morning triathlon training to real-world racing. Who knows, perhaps it’s sparked the ambition of a future professional cyclist or triathlete!