The end is near

Ok so I'm a week into my last month out here in Brittany, France. With the short time I have left here I thought I'd take some time to write a blog to talk of the places I've visited,what's happened since I arrived and how it's been made possible.

Accommodation-
Of course the most important thing when you come to a foreign country to race is having somewhere to live. My living arrangements were sorted by my team and they were very nice too. The second day after I arrived in February I was taken to my new home, bikes out, bags out, "here is where you'll be staying young English man" said My Team President as we walked up the unfinished, perishingly cold garden path. My first impressions were, "well its certainly going to quiet", for a lad who lives in Northern Terraced street this was quite the opposite, the nearest house several hundred meters away, big garden, trees all around and a river a short walk down the road.

My view on a wet February Morning

 I was introduced to my Land lady, Marie Noel, a very nice French lady who thankfully spoke English, after a short tour and chat about finances and other boring stuff like washing machines Sebastien left me to it. It was strange at first living in somebody else's home, okay I've lived away for two previous years in Belgium but that was in a shared house with other cycling lads, not an individual, it's a completely different feeling. However it's not like I was here alone the two lads from the team were only living a short distance away across town and we have the Mills family an hours ride away in the village of Baud. But I'll speak of them later, trust me they deserve a whole paragraph.

Come June, the garden was landscaped a very peaceful place to have a BBQ

Places to visit-

Of course most of the places I've visited since coming to Brittany have been via pedal power but the odd time they have been in the car. For those of you not aware, Brittany is on the North Western part of France and most of the regions borders are the ocean, with this abundance of coastline your never far from a great beach, walled coastal towns or a mouth watering seafood restaurant. But it doesn't haver to be a long ride or drive away, sometimes a short wander into the town for a coffee or a relax by the river is enough for me.

People-

Now all of the above and all my other blog content "i.e" racing out here would not be possible for me if it wasn't for the support of The Dave Rayner Fund. Up until November 2012 I had no idea where or what I was going to be doing this year. As soon as I got that confirmation email from Keith Lambert I had funding I could start to think realistically where I might go. For those of you not aware of the Dave Rayner its a Non Profit Organisation which raises money each year for a number of riders both male and female to go abroad and race in the country of their choice to better themselves and succeed. Reasons for the Funds set up are rather sad as Dave was an extremely talented young rider from Yorkshire who went to Italy to ply his trade but sadly not only his pro career but his life was cut short with a violent ending in Bradford, where Dave was from and so today the fund supports riders with his ambition. There are several ways in which the fund raises money. All three of which I have been part of for several years.

The Etape du Dales is a cyclo sportive held in my back yard "The Yorkshire Dales" a gruelling 112 mile route taking in every climb worth riding in the National Park.  Why not give it a go.....  http://www.daveraynerfund.co.uk/etapedudales

I had a go in 2009, got a silver certificate you know.....

The Fred Whitton Challenge is another leg breaking sportive held in the Lake District "my back yard also on a big day!!" Which gives a considerable amount to the fund .... http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.org.uk/

And finally at the end of the year in November the Fund hosts it's own dinner and auction in Bradfords Hilton Hotel. The dinner always comprises of 2-3 special guests "cyclists" an auction of world Tour signed jerseys and other goodies from the years season.

So now I had the finances, where to go and how. Well through sheer fluke a friend by the name of Daniel Patten "also a funded rider" mentioned the name "Mr Tony Mills" and just by luck he's a friend of my Mums Husband. Doug and Tony raced together hundreds of years ago and hadn't been in contact with each other since the turn of the last century, Tony Lives out in France with his family, and I mean his family.... His wife Barbara, 3 sons Tony "Junior", Nick and Tim along with Tims Wife and 2 children, its a real Southern Commune, so of course when I arrived a translator was drafted in to help out with the chit chat.

Tony, thats young Tony sorted me out a team with in matter of days over the Christmas/ New Year period and I was good to go. Nick met me, George and Josh at Portsmouth and brought us over.

I would really like to thank the whole family for welcoming me in and for doing everything they have. Not so bad after all aren't them Southerners......


Other English out here include.......

This guys aero...

This guys sore.....

This guys half dressed

and this guys HOT!! I mean over heating

Aside from our own Little Britain Out here, I've met many lovely people and despite the language barrier, which I'm pleased to say has improvement no end since I came I've managed to chat and get on with so many people.

Talking to Seb, Pre Race, he's laughing so either my French was appalling or I'm a funny guy.

and Finally I've come across a few animals while out here, some more than others were grateful of my company......

He lives over the road, always happy to share my baguette he is....

Say No More.... That's misty my house mate.

only met him once, he got the hump and I never saw him again

He definitely didn't want to meet me and I doubt a second meet is likely  

as I write this blog she is by my side.

I hope you've enjoyed reading my blog about life Living in Brittany of the bike........

I tried, I failed, I'll try again

The weekend before last (24th August) I had three races in 4 days, all part of the TAM series. I had great moral for this series to finish the season off well, however as we lined up for the criterium on Saturday evening the 4 jerseys of the series, "Yellow, polkodot, Green and white" were all been ushered to the front for photos. Hmmmm so thats great I've already missed the first few rounds!! What a great start......

 Anyway couldn't let that bother me and the race was soon under way, 31 laps of a 3.1km circuit. The course was great, a mixture of small lanes running through windy corn fields, corners, road furniture and a big wide open road to the finish which was right in the centre with a few bars and boulongeries to keep the crowd happy between laps. 

I was very keen to do well as I felt great and wanted to prove I'm equally as strong as others. Despite it been quite a blustery evening the race didn't split as I expected and gaps only began to really open at the half way mark. I got in 3 or 4 moves which all gained good gaps but once attacks came from the bunch we were brought back. Eventually a move did go and to this day I still don't see where it did but hey ho!! So we were going for 9th, a great result in 1st cat race if I could managed it. With about 5 laps to go I got in 2nd move, no way were we going to bridge to the leaders but a top ten was a possibly. However Bic 2000 weren't represented and with a strong bunch of guys they pulled us back. A few countered and stayed away for 9th, 10th and 11th... So could I get the bunch gallop for 12th??... 

George did a great job from 2km out and road on the front all the way to closing few hundred meters, little did he know I was locking up with cramp behind and my 12th place would be a miracle, I tried desperatly to sprint but rider after rider flew past and I had to settle for bloody 25th Not a happy bunny I'll tell you. However at least it wasn't a half hearted job, both hamstrings, both quads and both calves seized after the line.... 

After a spin out Sunday, Monday was the next target part of the same series but this time a 15 lap race along the beautiful Finistere coast, On my warm up laps I remember saying to the lads, "jeez I've raced in worse places". The race was full of everyone who mattered and I really wanted to get in the break and get a solid performance.

The race face was on

 A good breakaway group was established on the first lap, I was in it, we got a great gap in no time and the guys featured really pushed on, I was hanging in the first few kms of the effort but still rolling through to do my turn. After a lap or two my legs were beginning to come round and just in time.... There were a few passengers on the breakaway train and the lads who counted in the series i.e the yellow jersey, green jersey didn't want them having a free ride and soon the attacks came, I kept with them all and showed them I wasn't going to be lazy. Unfortunately in doing this our speed dropped and with Armee De Terre smashing away on the front of the bunch we were caught!!! very disappointing.

 Not as disappointing as what happened next though..... After just shy of another lap another group chipped off, I was right on the wheel of the last guy and for some reason I hesitated and didn't jump with him!!!!!!! After this small groups kept chipping off and I was in none, I rolled round in the bunch for the remaining laps and came in 45th, a disappointing day to be honest.

The race face was obviously off by this point

 And Finally to Tuesday and the race of Scaer, also part of the same series. The circuit couldn't have been more different to yesterday. A short little steepish kick up followed by a long drag and then terrible roads for the rest of the circuit, as my bottle cage fold out later on. The race got under way very quickly with an attack in the first 10 meters this group stayed away for a good few laps before been joined by another group of riders, these riders jumped from the bunch on the long drag which was a sufferfest.

LOOK!! A gap!!!

 Now unlike the day before where I was behind a rider who attacked and I hesitated and didn't follow, today I couldn't even get out the bloody saddle to follow him never mind sustainer an attack.

Sorry lads, you'll have to do it, I'm capput

And so by about lap 5 of 16 my groups race was over, yes people tried to jump clear and form chase groups but they weren't getting anywhere and when I had a go the same thing happened, there was one where it looked like we may get away but half a lap later we were all back together again like one big happy family rolling round. If I'm honest I just wanted to complete the race and get it finished with.

I had a go in the sprint, "can you tell" I mean you never know, the 30+ guys infront might have stopped

 Now I finished in 36th in one piece, a very fatigued one piece but one piece nevertheless, the same wasn't to be said for my trusty 3 year old bottle cage. The rough roads of the day had taken their toll on the old fella's lower welds and unfortunately he's had to concede he's no longer the sturdy bottle carrier he once was, he's done a great duty for the likes of Elite, energize, maxim, SIS, Gatorade and finally its High5 thats finished him those 750ml bidons were just too much for him.......

As you can see the poor chap suffered a terrible ordeal, now he lays to rest in bottle cage heaven...... my wheelie bin.

Return de la Blog

Now I know I've said this on numerous occasions but I will try and update this job more often than I have been. Since my last post which shamefully was over 6 weeks ago, I've had quite a bit going on. A bit of family time with mother Hubard and Co.., meeting friends on holiday in the area and a spot of bike racing. 

In the first week of July I had a good few races, all of which went well and prior to my family arriving on the 9th I was told by the team to take a bit of time off and recharge the batteries. I raced once in the 2 weeks they were here in a scorching 37 degrees, the race was a first cat event and I was happy to come 16th place from a starting field of 60+, considering I'm a cold skinned Northerner I think I coped rather well.

Riding round like an headless chicken.....

  

The first race back after my break was extremely painful, a real mans course which showed me the back of the bunch however in the words of "Tim Mills" I gave it some Yorkshire spirit and made it to the finish line in some sort of style, "bedraggled" would be my description. The 30 kph ride home was great I loved every minute of it..... Trainings Gaining......

I was trying here..... And I think doing a great job with appearance. Looking Sharp 

That was Monday, the next race would be a Criterium in the local town of Lorient on Friday, a nice evening made for a good ride out to the race with the lads and the crowds were pretty big too. The circuit was so glamorous, along the docks and through red light district, and no I didn't spend any priemes down there. Of course it was fast from the start and didn't really ease up at all, I followed a few moves but none of my efforts came to anything and soon was back in the main bunch and that is where I stayed for the rest of the night. At the business end of the race fellow Anglais and ami Doug Dewey rode to a fantastic win out of the break away in a close ending Sprint for the line. 

Could av done with a Tandem

The following Sunday was a round of the Roi Morvan series, all of which have been on difficult grovelling circuits with no recovery, still I was getting my legs back and was capput by the end and just about dragged myself up the final hill to the end. However another good hard few kilometers in the bank. 

Now 4 days later was the first of a good block. Thursday I would race a 1st cat crit in Concarneau, Saturday would be a 2,3 RR in hilly Melrand, Sunday an Inline race with finishing loops and Finally another Crit Monday afternoon in the local village of Locmicquilic. 

Thursday- After some good feelings in the days prior I was keen for a good weekend of racing, maybe a little too keen...... I attacked in the first km thinking yeah I'll have a dig see who comes across, however no one did and soon I was on the bumper of the lead car only to realise the first lap was neutralised, ahh well worth a do. I had a good few goes in this race but just didn't have it when the winning move stuck, however I managed to get in the 2nd group and finish well in the sprint, of which we had 2 as they were sure how many laps we had to do... Team mate George Moore got 3rd, a great result and I was 26th from 70 ish starters. 

On some dudes wheel, he was pretty strong

Saturday- Todays race was in Melrand, a village I often go through out on the bike and a circuit I have raced on before in Melrandaise in February. Me and George road out to the race "30km" and arrived in plenty of time, pinned on our Dosards and had a coffee in the sign on cafe. We had a good chat with each other, the plan was I'd get up the road in the first move and George would get a tow across. Pleased to say it worked perfectly, I was gone in the first 2 kms and just after the first lap I saw another blue and white jersey coming to my aid, along with another, more the merrier. It was a good tactic which saw us have 3 riders out of 8 in the break, most of the work was left to us, but this was understandable and we just got on with it, with 4 laps to go me and our french friend went bang and were passed by all but a few of the remaining riders, now it was left to George to bring home the bacon..... and he did!!!! a lap and half solo from the bunch saw him finish 50 seconds infront of 2nd place. I came in a few minutes behind in 16th absolutely shot but over the moon, fair to say our 30 km ride home was pretty full of moral. 

Typical, no photographers but we got a mention in the Paper. Some more than others haha

Sunday- After 150km the day before I was well and truly opened up for Sundays race and was very active all day, a fast hilly inline section made for attacking racing but no moves stuck and we did most of the inline as a bunch, a nasty steep climb up to the finishing loops killed my hopes of a breakaway success but I almost manged to get across on the loops, literally metrs away but not close enough. The loop was 5km round, 1 side all up and 1 side all down, I tried very hard to get away and almost did numerous times but just couldn't get a little move to work, I came 4th in the fast up hill sprint and 25th overall, not good enough considering how well I felt. 

And Finally Monday- After 3 races in 4 days I thought I would feel pretty tired today, but just shows with good food and sleep recovery is an amazing thing. I felt a little heavy legged at the start but as the laps went by I became stronger and stronger. Unfortunately I was still in my heavy legged place when 2 groups snook of the front, I went after them with George but we just couldn't get there, there was a little hill and we were so close but I was dying.

Can't lie I did skip a few turns for a lap or two

However we did have a gap from the bunch and so with 1 other bloke we pressed on and gained a healthy lead. We were holding the 16 man breakaway at 30 seconds but just not closing in. A few laps later it was just 2 of we worked really well together and were joined by a further 2 who pulled their weight and we kept our race alive. Slowly but surely we began to catch dropped riders from the break "not enough of them though" but at the time I was wondering whether we could be on for a top 10 however we only caught 3 which left us fighting for 13th.

That beer looks nice and refreshing...

I was beaten in a good final sprint by one chap with left me with 14th. Not too bad, but again not where I wanted to be... To say 4 of us held the break at 20-30 seconds for 72km shows we were more than capable of getting podium places.

Yeah mate, you got me...

But you gotta be in it to win it!!!! next time....

Three in a week..... races not women.....

Ok, so at the end of my last blog I left a link to my next race which would be held in my "home town". The race was a 1st category race with a twist, 250-300 meters of off roadish gravel track was included in the course, not everyone appreciated it, but I just saw it as something of a change from your everyday road race. 70 riders took to the start and it was all go from the gun, The circuit literally had no recovery on it; you climbed up atleast a km to the finish where primes increased the pace, then a 90 degree right hander in to the gravel sector and a ball busting sprint down hill for a good while before you made your way back to the bottom of the climb, not before going up ANOTHER drag.

Maybe this will help......

After another week of not been able to do much I did struggle but held on for as long as good, However the way I felt it was inevitable I would be shelled on such a demanding course, pleased to say I wasn't the only one. But I persisted and finished the race, from the 70 starters about 23 people finished, I was 21st.

plugging away

Must have been creeping here..... or Cervelo are just fast bikes.

Now after this race I didn't have another for 10 days, quite a gap in this part of the world, felt like an age. To be honest it wasn't great timing after I'd had 2 weeks of not much and this race had got me going again. However nothing I could do about it so I got a good week of training in the legs and prepared for my next races. The first of which would be a 1st category Criterium 5 mile from home. The crit was 100 km 32 laps of a 3.1 km circuit. After 10 days of no racing I was itching to go, maybe a little bit too itchy!! I made a few mistakes early on which put me in the red when I didn't need to be, consequently I blew up and the race was over after 12 laps, to be honest I think such a gap in racing didn't help. Yes I was down but a few encouraging words from "Big Nick Mills" soon got me back on the straight and narrow. He's a man you don't disagree with.... A few Nothern/ Yorkshire digs and a smile was back on my mush. Im sure they're just jealous of my accent :-P !!! 

At least I looked focused

Anyway that was Wednesday, next up was another Criterium on Friday evening in the seaside town of Arzon. It was an 80km (50 mile) race, on a nice short 1.7 km circuit. It was pretty windy on the sea front but back in the shelter of the houses it was ok. It took 17 laps for a move to be established which I wasn't in, with a further 6 going in 2 groups of 3. However I managed split the bunch on the short steep hill to the finish and got it down to 20 riders to try and bridge to the leaders. However after 5 laps working well the gap been announced to us had gone up to 50 seconds, which I found quite disturbing as we weren't messing about. With 24 laps to a go a few riders from the group decided it was time to get rid of the leaches and so we distanced them into the head win and now there were 10.

Unfortunately this is the only photo I've found of Fridays race. Still not a bad view

 The next time gap announced was 55 seconds, I couldn't believe my ears!! The 10 of us worked well but the gap wasn't coming down, in the next 2 laps guys from my group tried to attack but I wasn't letting any more go and just followed. 3 were talking and in turn each put in a dig, I marshalled all there moves and with 4 to go I thought it was time for me to put them on the back foot. It only took me one big dig to get rid and I was away with 2 others. We worked well and came into the finish together 1 of the 2 just got the better of me on the finishing hill and left me in 8th place. Now I was happy enough with this result but still couldn't understand how the 2 had done 30 laps and gained a minute. And so to Sunday, where on the journey to the race I was enlightened as to how the 2 had gained such a healthy lead so quickly and more still managed to sustain it. Spectators had seen the 2 drafting behind the lead car a number of times, Not very sporting lads, believe me their cards are stamped and they're in my black book.

Sundays course was just shy of 90km inline and 8x3.7km finishing loops. I was very keen to do well today after Fridays race and kept myself in the action from the start. It was over rolling terrain with 3 categorised climbs which came at 30, 62 and 80 km. However unlike most of the inline races a break didn't go until literally the approach to the loops.

Bit of Cod Action!

I was very disappointed to miss this, as I had been right up there all race, I think I was just nervous of missing anything. Having said that it's not like I was far back, maybe 15-20 riders clipped off, on a stretch of the road you would not expect a gap to open. Josh was in the split and he said, he didn't even know how it went, just shows not always an attack that makes the day. Riders tried to get across but they weren't been allowed with all teams represented in the move.

Grovelling about somewhere

Into the loops they gained 35 seconds which with the way I was beginning to feel may aswell have been a minute. The heat was getting to me and only 2 bidons in 100km wasn't doing me much good.

Photo's never lie.....

The gap began to drop and it came within 15 seconds, 4 or 5 riders made the junction but I just didn't have it in me to get to the wheels. I came in 41st in the most painful sprint I've had for a while. Dehydration wasn't the word!!! However it was another hard 75 miles in the legs, covering the distance in 2:45 hrs. 

Next up is "possibly the toughest crit in Brittany" So I'm told, and its only 500 meters from my house, Cobbles, corners, hills.... Need I say more. That's Wednesday, so lets see what I can do.

A few weeks to Forget

Right been a bit laxed with this blogging job recently so I'm here to tell you what been happening in last few week. Ive raced 3 times since last update, First one was a 123 inline race with 8 quick finishing loops. I was very active in the opening kilometres trying desperately to get in a move. A few moves stuck for a few km's but were soon dragged back. Eventually a break did get a lead with quite a comical outcome. The break followed the race route and the peleton was directed down the wrong road for atleast 10km.

Attacks still came during this period the last of which I was represented in, just as I was using a short drag as a spring board the lead motorbike Commissare pulled in front and asked me to stop. As you can understand there were many frustrated riders in the bunch, however I decided to defuse the situation by suggesting a cafe stop........ There weren't many takers. However we were soon rounded up and told that the break had been stopped and we rode neutralised back to the intended course. The break was let go and then we resumed, you could just tell it was going to get ripped up after a lull in the racing.

Team Loudeac basically sat on the front all day controlling the race like a pro team. It was pretty good I saw 70kph at one point and wasn't even pedalling. Anyway to cut a long story short that break was caught coming onto the circuits and a further 5 more guys got away. I kept in the front of the bunch which was down to about 30 riders by this point and then made a spectacular job of cocking my sprint up, which left me boxed in and rolling over in 26th. Ok from more than 100 starters it doesn't sound so bad but there was a sniff of a good top 10 and I messed up but Hey Ho!!!.

Next up was a local race the following Sunday, the sun was out the wind was blowing "hard" the circuit was good, what could be better?!! Well I tell you, my legs that's what, I felt terrible I was grinding up the "hill" on the circuit like it was the Zoncalon. I was unable to follow attacks and this left me in the bunch crawling around while the break gained a healthy advantage. However after 15 laps of 19 I dug something out and rode away from the group and finished alone just behind the front group. Ok I didn't get a result "28th" but I just needed to take something from the race. "Personally".

And so to the week after, where the previous Sundays condition came to light. I couldn't even get out of bed and stayed in my pit for 2 days. Some kind of virus I'd picked up was doing his work and gave me about 18 hours sleep in 24. Ok I felt terrible but it kind of made me feel better about my feeling on Sunday, as there was no way I should have felt so shit.

Consequently I DNS'd a 1st cat Crit on Thursday night which was disappointing. However Friday I felt much better and decided to go along with the lads to another crit, only to snap my gear cable in the opening 4 laps!!! I groveled round for two laps but even the 39, 11 was too hard on the short sharp climb. So I did what any right minded bloke would do and found a bar and drowned my sorrows .....  if your going to have a bad week may aswell go the whole way....  

And very Finally onto Sundays Race in the very famous Plouay "in cycling circles anyway". A circuit of 5 kilometres which each lap too in the finishing climb of the Year 2000 World Champs. After a week in bed I wasn't expecting much from this race but surprisingly I managed to get in a 6 man break on the 2nd lap which was later joined by a further 10 riders. In to the final laps I couldn't hold the group and was dropped, I came away 20th but was quite pleased to say I'd had such a bad week.

All for Now Tonight I have a Criterium and Tomorrow a race in the town where I live......
http://www.directvelo.com/actualite/26994-le-chemin-leclerc-les-engages.html#.UbxEyYBBvIU

Ok so since my last update, which admittedly was quite a while ago I've done 4 races. 2 x 2/3 cat races, 1 1st cat race and 1 Elite National Race.

After the two previous races which I spoke of in my last update I had the 4th and final event of the Trophee Job Morvan. The race began in wet conditions "not my favourite" it was an inline race with a big loop and then as far as I can remember 8 laps of grippy up and down windy finishing circuit on single track lanes. My team mate Josh managed to get himself into the winning break and I was left to salvage something for myself in the latter stages of the race. The break contained 20 people, I knew that on this hard finishing loop this would dwindle and weaker riders would be dropped and be swept up. On the 1st loop I went on the climb and pushed myself hard to get a gap over the bunch. I managed to force a gap with maybe 10 others, we worked well for 6 laps but after a while people began to sit on and not do their share. This in turn allowed the bunch to come back to us, but I wasn't going to have riders taking vital points from me which would serve well for the overall team prize. So therefore before riders from the bunch could recover I went again this time with 2 laps to go. I had good legs but so did 5 others, next time around bell ringing i went again and got rid of 3, I rode hard to finish with one of the lads rolling me on the line. He took 20th which was the last points scoring place but we secured the team prize nonetheless and I was happy to have had the legs to keep myself ahead of the peleton.

And so on to Sunday. It was the Championships of Morbihan "a region of Brittany". The race was 100 km in line over very hilly terrain followed by 6 finishing loops taking it up to 140km. I began very attentive at the front and was very close to making the break of the day but just didn't have the legs to make this move. I stayed in the first 15-20 riders all day, something that in this category of race I had struggled with before. This kept me well positioned on all the key climbs of the day and therefore saved me a lot of energy. Unfortunately I couldn't keep this up on the finishing loops and found myself going backwards. I went pop with 8 km to go but managed to hang onto the coat tails. Afterwards I had quite a bit of food still in my pockets and kind of put this down to my "blowing up". 

Now almost a week later I had my first criterium of the year. I was the only rider from the team entered and was really looking forward to it. It was a 20:00 hour start, the sun was shining and after my morning spin I had good feelings for this race. The circuit was a 1.8km fast flowing circuit around the town centre of Chatres de Bretagne. There were well over 100 starters and I was very keen from the beginning. After a few go's myself and watching others I realised nothing was going to stay until the latter stages of the race. After it was 45 laps 81 km "50 miles for you oldies". People were going bang all through the race and more so in the last 20 laps. Moves were going in the last 10-15 laps but none were dangerous. Then with 5 to go a group of 10 chipped off, I watched and counted there gap, "10 seconds Hmmm bit too much for my liking" I hit the front and rode up to the group in just over a lap. I felt unreal next lap I attacked up the finishing hill splitting the group off again, now it was 10 of us; I was like jesus we are away, the gaps massive this is it!!!!. 2 laps to go sitting well, which was more than I could say for the others. Final corner 1 lap to go, BOOM!! guy in front of my came down allowing the remanding riders to jump and get an un closable gap. I kept my self upright rode strong to end but just ran out of road to get back. After all only had 1.8km. I held off the bunch for 12th but this was no consolation of what could have been. I "KNOW" it was my race for the taking but thats bike racing, especially in Crits. I was gutted.

And Finally my latest race. An Elite National in the beautiful village of Moncontour. The race was very prestigious and I could see why. The setting was amazing "shame about the weather" the route was 17 laps of an 8km circuit taking in a 2km climb every lap.

 I felt pretty good from the start and kept myself up the front. The speed was pretty high too, we averaged 26.8 mph for 3 hours solid never letting up. After the first 5 laps I was starting to feel it but I kept plugging away and managed to crawl my way back up to the front quarter of the bunch. The winning brake didn't get away until the last 2 laps on the climb but I was no where near getting in this. I was just happy to be up there in the bunch at the end after a hard day in the saddle. I came home 58th from over 170 starters. 

Tomorrow "Sunday 26th I have a 1st cat race will keep you posted..............