Bec CC RR 2011

[Keith]

I nearly managed to persuade myself not to do this. I don't think that I've done a proper E/1/2/3 race before. 16 Elite riders pre-entered on a tough course (described by the organisers as having topography rolling throughout) and in places almost more potholes than smooth sections of road. If I could complete this race though, other races would hopefully feel comparatively easy (well that's the theory anyway). I prevaricated for so long that I only made it on to the reserve list.

8am this morning and it was tipping it down. That may have contributed to the number of DNS riders. 20 minutes prior to the start I got moved up from the reserves to the start list.

The first few laps were pretty full-on as breaks formed. Things settled down considerably after that. Sylv got himself in a break of 2 for a lap away from the remaining bunch, but was caught. DK appeared to have a frustrating race, as his efforts always seemed to be chased down. Not as frustrating as Mulberry though, who punctured in the neutralised zone just before the flag went down for the race start. Me? Well I languished near the back of the peloton for much of the race, only putting my nose in the wind when absolutely necessary, and managed to finish in the remaining bunch on Mutton Hill.

P.S. Thanks to those who cajoled me into doing this.

[Sylv]

At Elite level it's just a different kind of race for us - all you can do is mostly try and keep out of the wind and finish, well that's the aim at the start, and it can be just as enjoyable. I'm looking forward to the Hillingdon Grand Prix next week. That was just 123km though, I just can't imagine what 260km must be like.

I did get a bit bored though after the big winning break was established and I looked down to see that we'd done less than 40 miles, it felt like I'd been there all day and with the unusual 11am start I kind of lost sense of time. So I started moving up and doing a bit of chasing and such, and being a little more exposed than back in the main of the bunch when it single-lined. The potholes and quite tough course took their toll and the bunch was growing smaller as it went. Other than that I quite like the course, fast dark descents and short steep hills that make everyone work hard.

The Wilier team had come in force. I had a funny moment up one of the steep slopes when their rider in front of me threw his rear mech in the spokes effectively ending his race, and assuming I'd ridden into the back of him tried to push me off in the bushes 'a la Tony Gibb' (who was there too) as I went past him on the left. As I got back on the road I shouted at him that I hadn't touched him, and spoke to a couple guys who agreed. One of them even thought it was actually is team mate who rode into him. At least they won the race so that should pay for a Super 11 mech.

End of lap 3 of 5 I was getting really bored, as the bunch seemed to have given up on doing anything meaninful (4 min gap announced to the break), average speed going down from 39.3 to now under 38.5. I saw Taylor pushing it a bit as usual on climb followed by a few so moved up and pushed it a bit more. Only he got on my wheel, so we pushed on down the hills and were away. As we started through and offing he looked pretty knackered though (he had been quite active before), so I was doing most of the work. I didn't mind, it was exciting at every time I looked back I could never see the bunch, so i thought it was going to be another 35-40km of that. That lasted about 30min, but then at the bottom of the main long hill, just as we'd caught a WindyMilla guy dropped from a break who could have helped us a bit, all of a sudden we got swallowed up by the bunch, seemingly chasing some of Dave's attacks.

I was feeling ok so tried to stay near the front and maybe have another go, or at least follow an attack on the last lap. That's when Keith came through, up to then I had been wondering if he'd punctured like Marcus! Dave had a few digs, but to no avail. So kept something for the finish, which having not checked the course properly I just assumed being at the lap board after a series of small hills. So I was well positionned, and was in second wheel behind a guy and ready to come past. But then both of us realised we had to jam on the brakes and take a left turn, with another 150m or so of climbing. So we kind of died there, but I only lost like 5-6 places. Doesn't really matter as am probably down the top 30 or something. The Riddler continued to impress with a 4th place.

Happy to help Keith! Thanks to Paulos and one or two others on the course for the cheers. Right, off to wash my jersey now

Heart rate

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2483/5700177228_a937d4e454_o.jpg[/img]

[Paulos Fandangos]

Nice race reports guys, congrats Sylv and Keith on making it through a tough race and field, you both looked comfortable throughout.
I did think that when the break got up the road only a few miles in it would be hard to bring it back with some strong riders present and a 50s gap (after 2 laps?). There were alot of punctures today, speaking to a Cycle kingdom rider, who like Marcus suffered just after the neutral zone, he said the support had already served 6 riders before him! There were some large sections of road missing in places. Good ride guys.

Paul

[Sylv]

Forgot to say - the trophy was possibly the ugliest I've ever seen (and I've been to the Diner), so getting into the break and risk winning it was out of the question anyway.

I wouldn't wish it even to the Wilier rider who chucked me into the bushes, to step on his team mate's trophy accidentally whilst going to the toilet at night.

[Antloony]

Glad you did it Keith, from what you were saying on thurs you knew it was going to be hard so well done for doing it.

As for you Sylv, upsetting other riders then trying to hide in the bushes

[Toks]

Well done, Sylv and Keith.

[Rob W]

Cor I bet that was a tough race.Well done Keith and Slyv.