The lochs, upland lanes and hills of Perthshire make the Etape Caledonia what it is, so it is always a proud moment when local cyclists do well.
This year the two first finishers of the 85-mile circuit both grew up in Highland Perthshire.
A sofware developer dad from Aberfeldy swept in as fastest time and first over the line for the 85-mile route on May 15, 2022.
Ewan McDougall (42) has four children aged four, six, eight and 10, and after his winning day at Etape Caledonia, went with his family to Kenmore beach for a picnic celebration.
Ewan enjoyed a glass of champagne to mark his achievement, finishing his sportive in a time of three hours, 34 minutes and seven seconds. He was the fastest competitor on the full distance route and the first bike over the 85-mile finish line.
“I’m feeling great. I was very lucky. The weather was superb,” said the modest champ.
Quizzed by the PA on the best part of the course for him, Ewan replied: “I enjoyed the stretch heading for Trinafour.”
In his opinion the Etape is best when it follows the usual route order, he was not so keen on the reversal that took place last year. “The finish, with cyclists going through Logierait for the last bit is better I’d say.”
His main concern ahead of Sunday was what to wear. He was glad the course was dry, especially as weather since has been pretty patchy and mostly wet.
Ewan, who grew up in Dunkeld, is a member of Perth United Cycling.
He started doing the Etape by accident when he won tickets on the Wiggle site to compete in the Etape Caledonia 15 years ago.
Then he did 2012, the year of the tacks on the road.
He’s kept his cycling practice up and was rewarded by his top placing in 2022.
After the success of his third time entering the Etape, he has had a quiet week since Sunday, back at work in his Dunkeld Street office, home of software development company mrloop.com
The internet consultant and webpage builder was wanting to keep his powder dry for another cycle race this weekend just outside Glasgow.
Hazel Donaldson from Aberfeldy was the first female over the 85-mile course finish.
Hazel (27) was dressed in pink and at 5’3” joked that she was “not much use as wind shelter” for the group of tall men who were riding around her.
She rode back into Pitlochry, first lady to finish the long route, in a time of 4h 8m 39s.
She was always likely to be into bikes - her dad Peter is passionate and an expert at repairs. He’s currently collecting bikes to fix up give to the new arrivals from Ukraine being hosted in the town.
Peter (61) has spent a lot of time in the saddle himself recently as his daughter Hazel has been training for triathlons - the Celtman Triathlon is next for her in a month’s time - and she has been needing company on long cycle rides around the area to get the practice in.
Hazel went to Breadalbane Academy, then Edinburgh University and now works for Fife Council as a community walking coordinator.
As a teenager she started with road bikes at 16. “I wanted to do my local event, the Aberfeldy Sprint Triathlon. I’ve been hooked ever since!”
Hazel is hoping to do the Aberfeldy Middle Distance Triathlon challenge in August.
She has come on a long way in the last decade and is head coach at Perth Triathlon Club.
Hazel has entered Etape Caledonia before and she was placed 16th last year.
Her aim for 2022 was to improve on that and make it into the top ten women.
This time around riding with a friend, they calculated there didn’t seem to be any other females riding ahead of her and she “decided to really go for it.”
“I never expected to do so well, I’m really chuffed to be the first female finisher on the 85- mile route and clocked second fastest female,” she told the PA.
“I’m really grateful to my father for his encouragement and to my coach Linda McLean who I’ve been close to since I was at Edinburgh University.
“I know the Pitlochry area well. When I was a child, it must have been maybe the first Etape 15 years ago, I dressed up as a cheerleader to encourage along the cyclists passing a friend’s house on the route. I would never have believed it, that it would be me up there in 2022, feeling the strain with the lead group of cyclists.”
* The print edition of the Perthshire Advertiser 20/05/22 has a five-page souvenir feature on the Etape so make sure you get a copy to see all the results!
