Why an abandoned honeymoon was a blessing in disguise for racing anorak

Brian Hughes doesn't really do holidays, although he does remember the last one he went on was to Madeira and it didn't go all that well. Not all that well if you happen to like holidays, that is, although quite passable if you don't.

Hughes and his new wife Lucy were due to spend a week on the idyllic, sub-tropical Portuguese island two summers ago, and Lucy at least was very much looking forward to the trip. Sadly, the Atlantic weather was not at its most conducive and the honeymooning couple were facing major vacation trauma even before they arrived.

"I'm forced to go on holiday once a year," grumbles the rider. "I get bored after a couple of days in the sun and I certainly had nothing to do with booking this trip, but anyway it turned out they couldn't land the plane because it was too windy and after a few failed attempts they had to land on another island down the way, wait for a bit, then make two more failed attempts before we were diverted to Tenerife for the night.