Surrey League 3rd cat Road race – Cutmill

[Ian Bray]

9.30am Sunday 13th March 2016

Spring is officially here, the weather conditions where perfect with clear skies and no wind. The Army cycling union hosted the event with one of the best rider HQ’s at the triangle centre in Liss.

Addiscombe had another great team with Paul, Marek, Matt, Tom, Rick & myself. There was a long neutral section to get to the race course and the alarm bells started ringing when my heart rate quickly raised. The thought of been dropped in the neutral section was a genuine threat.

When the flag dropped Paul was perfectly placed at the front of the race whilst the rest of the team was scattered towards the back. The headliner of the course was a 100m 25% climb that was more like a wall. It really sorted the light boys from the heavy men.

The road surface was poor with lots of large potholes scattered around the road. Unfortunately Paul suffered a pinch flat on the second lap after an uncalled pothole sliced through the bunch sending bottles flying. With no wheels in the neutral service car his race was over. For the next couple of laps futile attacks went off the front only to be reeled in on the Milland Hill climb. Each time the bunch passed the brutal climb riders were dropped. Merek & Matt finally pulled up with two laps to go and gave some great encouragement at the finish line which was a 100m sprint from the top of the hill.

Eventually after 6 laps five strong riders from various teams sensed the bunch weakening and made a break for it. Rick saw this unfold from the back and turned the afterburners on and zipped up to join a five man break away. Both Tom and I felt strong on the climb and bided our time as Rick worked hard in the breakaway, getting a 2 minute gap. Rich was finally dropped on the penultimate climb and worked himself back into the bunch.

On the last lap a solo attack went off the front and I sensed it as my ticket to the points. I jumped on the Worthing Excelsior riders wheel and held on for dear life until the final climb where I managed to pick off another breakaway rider to finish 5th.

http://www.grahamrobins.net/photos/Surr ... Army%20CU/

[Toks]

Nice work Ian

PS In general where ever I ride now, particularly in the last couple of years, potholes seem to be literally everywhere I just hope nobody gets too seriously injured/or killed from hitting one