27th June - Milland Hill.... It's got 'Hill' in the title...I didn't go
. Seriously though, the hill is 25%, I wasn't feeling great, it was forecasting rain and it was a long way away. So I thought about it for at least three and a half seconds and decided it wasn't for me.4th July - Kitsmead Lane... I was a bit dissappointed this week. I ended up coming 7th, which I'm not dissappointed with at all, but just the way it happened, and the way my legs fell off.
Me and Keith off in the last but one group, with Matt H in the group ahead. The fast guys caught us promptly on lap 1, and we mopped up Matts group shortly after. Basically the whole race was full on, and at times very strung out. Keith tried a solo with a couple of laps to go, but with the speed of the peleton as it was, he duly came back in to the fold.
With half a lap to go Conall Yates blasted off the front, taking another with him... they were gone. Fair play to them both, a great move. Nobody wanted to chase, so the rest of us were now fighting for 3rd. Again, I'd got myself in to a great position in to the last corner and it was 'so far so good'. But as the sprint started, I didn't. Nothing was left in the locker. I couldn't even get out of the saddle and try to sprint, so I just had to grind it out and hope for the best as what seemed like a handfull of riders came flying past me. That hurt
11th July - Accomodation Rd... Oh boy, how hard was that
Accomodation Rd is literally around the corner from Kitsmead Lane, but is certainly a fair bit tougher as a circuit for me. With an uphill to the finish and another on the back straight, I find this circuit pretty hard when the pace is continually high (I got dropped last time
). And it certainly was this week.Again, some fast guys keeping the pace high meant everyone was on the rivet. I had to miss a couple of turns in my initial group of 4 (with Keith), so already I was struggling before the scratch group had even caught us. I wasn't feeling right again, my legs felt heavy and full of lactic so early on. It got worse as the pace picked up. I was hanging on for dear life up the hills on numerous occasions as the big boys tried stretching the thin elastic that was holding us all together. It didn't snap though and I somehow got through. But on the hill as the bell rang, the 5 up front attacked, including Keith, causing a gap to open up infront of Mike (paragon)..he was done. He offered back his hand to me and I grabbed it. He slung me forward giving me a chance to get across to the break. I hammered it over the top and down to the left hander as fast as I could go... I needed to get on now!
The marshall called "clear", then "carefull-car". I was already full gas into the corner, but luckily the car was a good way back and all was good. Out of the corner and out of the saddle, I was on...wow, how the hell did I do that
A selection of 6, with me at the back now breathing out of my back side, had 3/4 of a lap to go. 6th place would be great, I'd take that no question! But a minute later another 5 guys had joined the party. 11th, no way, I'm not letting that happen.
Around the hairpin at the bottom of the course and on to the main hill for the final time. I dangled off the back but got back on the descent. My legs were shot and my lungs were screaming but I was still there. And then... Keith went on a solo again. Only 600m to go and everyone else was looking at each other. I was willing him on, he was getting away
. He said to me later that he thought he had 1 match left to burn, so he went for it. Unfortunately, that match burnt down a bit too quickly and any spare power he had faded away. Unlucky Keith, brilliant effort, It will happen one day!!! We (not me in particular) caught Keith just before the hill to the finish. I took a line on the rough inside of the final corner which allowed me to keep a bit of momentum, but I still had to close a gap to the front guys. This took almost all I had but the final push was still to come. Conall Yates again took off for the sprint with someone else in tow. Elliot Porter was just in front of me but wasn't getting away. Seated, I gave every single tiny ounce of energy I had to get me alongside, then just ahead. I was heading for 3rd place, but another Pedal Heaven lad pipped me right on the line.So 4th and one of my best results... I'll definately take that!!
Steve
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