COALVILLE WHEELERS “TOUR OF BREEDON” (NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS)

The D cat race – Report by Toks Adesanya

Well…flip me! – that was one heck of a race!The old ticker was 10 beats above normal resting levels this morning – suggesting some serious internal repairs at work today.

Thank God I’m working remotely or perhaps that should read “working sofa-ly” . Anyways…what am I talking about!? On Sunday 7th of August I raced with D Cat’s (55-59yrs) in the brilliantly tough Coalville Wheelers – Tour Of Breedon. This was a BMCR event which also doubled up as the National Championships. It was stacked with ex winners, ex champs and few ex pros so you could say the big dogs had came out to play

After a rather impressive race briefing Alan Vallance – AKA – the Dave Brailsford of BMCR racing promotors – sent our 40 man bunch on its way. Racing conditions were pretty much picture perfect – sunny with a light breeze

Once the lead car sped away we cruised effortlessly along a flat fast road…and after 3k filed across a roundabout and then began a rapid descent. From memory I think Cambell Noon was the first rider to get a little breathing room on the rest of us before we slowed at the first junction.

Up on the pedals and a chance to put in the first of days many neuromuscular efforts. Catch your breath up a mini rise or two and then dip down towards Breedon Village. For the next 200 metres your main job was not to become a cropper on the sleeping bobbies whilst also taking advantage of the gaps between double speed bumps.

As we exited the village Paul Hone (Addiscombe CC), Geoff Giddings (Ohten Aveas) and one or two others began to spice things up. Who doesn’t like a little bit of shadow boxing on lap one of a road race?.

Another left hander took us under a bridge and the bunch began to thin out. Then finally we switched on the Remptone Road for two more rather significant elevations – chief amongst them was the the star of the whole event – 8% Vinegar hill.

As we all know positioning helps loads when a climb approaches and a few guys rolled out a head to ensure bunch membership was maintained at the top of the climb. My first venture up the climb was pretty good – legs were fairly happy. I’d had forgotten about that bloody 300 metre drag to the finish. Not a place you wanna be unless you’re out front or sat on wheels

The race was held over six laps totalling 55 miles. There were break ups and separations, on most of the elevated areas of grippy road just outside of the village.

Indeed over the course of the next three laps Cambell Noon, Karl Smith, Richard More, Bott Cycles, Twelves, Mike Jones (Velofit) the Addiscombe (duo) and to be fair one or two others – all had brief stints off the front alone and in small groups .

On the 3rd lap a group featuring Mike Twelves seemed to have well and truly secured a nice little spot for themselves up the road at a Villa called “out-of-sight-out-of-mind.. But.. it was not to be.. a brutal chase across the fast road beyond finish line soon had us all back together again and almost in with a chance of catching the C cats

On the penultimate lap no amount of Gels could disguise the facts both my lactate tolerance and threshold power were both on an irreversable decline. Nevertheless, I decided to have another dig on one of Breedons baby elevations.

Great, this set things up nicely for group of guys to catch and roll right past me. Completely gassed and I watched them ride away and hoped I could still hang on when the bunch came by.

At that point Julian Bray (Dulwich Paragon) who was on my left made a bid to get across to the group. Oh Fcuk – here i go again! A rather feeble attempt to hold his back wheel. He was gone!

Shit!!! I decided to chance it solo and hoped the groups large numbers would curtail the progress and they wouldn’t organise themselves.

Nose almost on the stem and deep in the hurt locker I burnt my final match and somehow got across.

It was official the race had been apilt into two groups

Another tough hike up vinegar hill almost had me squeezed out of the groups arse but not quite.

With the bell lap still ringing in our ears the pace ramped up as we put in a 50kmph chase

I wasn’t quite sure why we were riding so hard until three guys out front suddenly came into focus. Two minutes of the cagiest through and off you ever saw ensued. The threesome including John from Hitchin were now on our wheels

Job done the group pace eased and tired old legs continue to roll on. As we approached the turn that takes you under the bridge for the last time Gavin Francis (London Dynamo) slipped away. With most of us deeply fatigued it was the perfect time to disappear

We all played the “you chase him, no you chase him game” for a bit and the gap grew. With a kilometre to go we continue to toil away. My legs fell off on the final slog up vinegar hill.

Based on how I ride and my limited sprinting ability I was very happy to finish 13th.

That without doubt was the toughest race of the year me! .

What a great D cat podium – 2nd and 3rd stood two ex pro’s Karl Smith and the smiley Mike Twelves

On the top step a guy who does the bulk of his training riding laps around the cycling mecca that is Richmond Park. Chapeau Gavin Francis

Hands down this has to have been one of the BMCR events of the year. How Alan Vallance sprinkled his magic dust on the event for the 2nd year is amazing. Well done to Coalville Whelers, marshals, motor bike out riders, the folk cheering on the riders, and lastly the racers themselves.

It was quite simply a brilliant day