So this weekend I had 2 races and to be honest they were
both pretty unspectacular.
Sundays race
was a 19 lap triangular course, with every kind of wind except the welcomed
taily.
It was the 2nd
of a 4 race series and with George sitting 2nd overall it was the
plan to get him a good result and by helping him out a nice result should come
of it for myself too. However this didn’t quite come off as our other team mates
got in the break with the overall leader and instead of sitting in the move and
hoping we could come across they worked driving the break further out of reach.
I tried desperately to get across and 1 of the attempts looked hopeful. I
managed to get clear on the finishing hill but unfortunately only 1 other was
able to come with me and over the top into the head wind we made little headway
and soon were back in the clutches of the Peleton. Had 5 or 6 come we may have
had a better chance of making the gap to the front group. As the race went on
the bunch kept splitting and I found myself in the back of these splits, I
managed to hop across to the next group and there I stayed. With one last
attempt with a lap to go, to get up to the 2nd group I had a go on
the finishing hill but after about a km I was caught and to be honest I was
cooked. I came over the line first of our group but this was like drinking the
dregs from a warm beer glass. 35th was my official result, nowt to
get merry about.
.....And so
on to Monday, which was to be a dizzying 35 laps of a 3.5 kilometer lap. We
arrived at the race in pouring rain and set about getting changed in the back
or a car. However there were 3 of us, George decided to take the boot and Josh
and I in the car, “I think we still have our dignity”..... Thankfully the rain
stopped and on the start line there was even a bit of sunshine, the lap began
down a longish open windy section and then curled down to the coastline along a
road with a surface complimented with tree roots uprooting the tarmac and back
onto a wide section leading up a slight hill to the finish. Normally right up
my street but to be honest I wasn't enjoying myself, a combination of slippery
bends and dodgy “moving up strategies” made me quite nervous and each lap I
eased of through the bends and without much effort road up to the wheel. But for some
odd reason despite looking and feeling comfortable riders around me didn’t seem
sure and insisted on taking my space. For some reason, whether it was the
weather or just one of them days I wasn’t interested and just sat at the back
and road round. Little groups were chipping off but nothing was sticking and
when it did George was up there, my head wasn’t there and I just stayed where I
was. This move stayed out of site until about 12 laps to go. I rode up to the
front and had a dig, Josh did his best to slow the bunch and It was looking
like I might make it across, unfortunately represented teams; team mates had
other ideas and had me back in there grasp in just over a lap.
After this it
began to rain heavy and I was getting fed up and cold and seeing 8 laps to go
didn’t fill me with joy. The race was over
and I was sick of getting the trademark wheel spray from the chap in
front so that’s where I went, I sat on the front for the last 7 laps and road
at a good tempo to keep warm and avoid the cold water and mud. Obviously after
dragging the back markers round for 25 km they HAD to sprint past me at the end for some kind of mental
stimulation. All I wanted was a hat and a warm drink, one of which I
received.... yes my own hat. Oh and a towel to clean up with.... shared between
3 of us.....
That’s all
for now... It may sound a shitty weekend
but I have 2 more races in the legs and some more speed... Alls left to do now is clean this up....
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