Since my last blog I've finished my Uni exams and found time for a couple more bike races. As I'm just 'playing' at some road races I'm yet to purchase a full cycling race license meaning I cannot accrue points so the standard of competition remains the same. As a result, it's easier for me to place highly in races..... (I'm not complaining).
First up was the Nick Clark and Ginger Smallwood Road Race on the 3rd June. The route was mostly flat with a kicker up to the finish line and we were to take in 9 laps of this 4.2 mile circuit. As I'm doing these races purely for fun I decided from the start I would be as aggressive as possible. I consequently found myself off the front for the first 15 minutes before being reeled back in by a fresh peloton. Attacks were being made all the time and I followed almost all of them but nothing stuck until ~50minutes in when a solo rider made and maintained a gap of 15 seconds to the bunch. 3 riders, myself included, attempted to bridge the gap to the rider out front but we were determined not too bring the bunch with us. We were quickly caught and then myself and another rider countered were able to bring the gap quickly. With the peloton still giving chase the 3 of us worked well together averaging ~28 mph and we managed to establish a decent gap. We took this gap right to finish where I found myself on the front with 400m to go. The road surface on the finishing kicker was extremely poor, hence leading out the sprint may have been advantageous as I'm able to choose the best line. Despite this, I was pipped to line in the final few metres but still very happy to take second in a well respected race. Later I found out there was a very bad crash in the bunch which our breakaway likely benefited from, sadly it comes with the territory of racing but I hope the riders involved heal quickly. 2nd place won me £60 making the day even better until I got back to my car.....As I went to leave I couldn't find my car key. To cut a long story short, 3 hours later my car was on a recovery trailer with me in the passenger seat still clueless as to where my key could have gone. A mistake I dearly hope not to make again.
The next race was a small, 1 hour long, midweek Criterium at the Milton Keynes bowl. I was Joined by Sam Hucks, HWCC. Our race plan, which we carefully and meticulously crafted on the drive over to the bowl went something like this: attack as hard as we can from the gun and hope to finish ahead of the others. It started extremely well, I initiated the attack, sprinting over the slight rise on the circuit with sam following on my wheel. A third rider bridged across quickly and I stayed on the front to try to force a gap to open to the bunch. Within 15 minutes with had a 20 second gap. Sam was struggling on the night and dropped off the pace but was replaced by another rider who had managed to bridge on his own. The 3 of us then worked together and very quickly gained a large lead on the bunch. by 35 mins we had lapped the bunch and so we sat in the wheels to cruise round till the sprint which would be confusing as 3 of us were a lap ahead. Sam attacked the bunch on the bell lap looking to try and salvage 4th place, I followed hoping to secure the win. Sam opened us up a 3 second gap but I then found myself on the front with 600m to go. Not wanting to wait for the bunch and have to accelerate again, I decided to go for a long sprint. I just about held everyone off and was able to get my hands in the air for my first win. Happy days.
I'm now going to Australia to visit my sister who is on a work placement so racing over the next 3 weeks will be limited. Nevertheless I hope to make up for it once I'm back!
First up was the Nick Clark and Ginger Smallwood Road Race on the 3rd June. The route was mostly flat with a kicker up to the finish line and we were to take in 9 laps of this 4.2 mile circuit. As I'm doing these races purely for fun I decided from the start I would be as aggressive as possible. I consequently found myself off the front for the first 15 minutes before being reeled back in by a fresh peloton. Attacks were being made all the time and I followed almost all of them but nothing stuck until ~50minutes in when a solo rider made and maintained a gap of 15 seconds to the bunch. 3 riders, myself included, attempted to bridge the gap to the rider out front but we were determined not too bring the bunch with us. We were quickly caught and then myself and another rider countered were able to bring the gap quickly. With the peloton still giving chase the 3 of us worked well together averaging ~28 mph and we managed to establish a decent gap. We took this gap right to finish where I found myself on the front with 400m to go. The road surface on the finishing kicker was extremely poor, hence leading out the sprint may have been advantageous as I'm able to choose the best line. Despite this, I was pipped to line in the final few metres but still very happy to take second in a well respected race. Later I found out there was a very bad crash in the bunch which our breakaway likely benefited from, sadly it comes with the territory of racing but I hope the riders involved heal quickly. 2nd place won me £60 making the day even better until I got back to my car.....As I went to leave I couldn't find my car key. To cut a long story short, 3 hours later my car was on a recovery trailer with me in the passenger seat still clueless as to where my key could have gone. A mistake I dearly hope not to make again.
The next race was a small, 1 hour long, midweek Criterium at the Milton Keynes bowl. I was Joined by Sam Hucks, HWCC. Our race plan, which we carefully and meticulously crafted on the drive over to the bowl went something like this: attack as hard as we can from the gun and hope to finish ahead of the others. It started extremely well, I initiated the attack, sprinting over the slight rise on the circuit with sam following on my wheel. A third rider bridged across quickly and I stayed on the front to try to force a gap to open to the bunch. Within 15 minutes with had a 20 second gap. Sam was struggling on the night and dropped off the pace but was replaced by another rider who had managed to bridge on his own. The 3 of us then worked together and very quickly gained a large lead on the bunch. by 35 mins we had lapped the bunch and so we sat in the wheels to cruise round till the sprint which would be confusing as 3 of us were a lap ahead. Sam attacked the bunch on the bell lap looking to try and salvage 4th place, I followed hoping to secure the win. Sam opened us up a 3 second gap but I then found myself on the front with 600m to go. Not wanting to wait for the bunch and have to accelerate again, I decided to go for a long sprint. I just about held everyone off and was able to get my hands in the air for my first win. Happy days.
I'm now going to Australia to visit my sister who is on a work placement so racing over the next 3 weeks will be limited. Nevertheless I hope to make up for it once I'm back!
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