Surrey League 2/3 cat – May 3 day stage race 2016

[Ian Bray]

Three Addiscombe riders Paul, Rich & myself reluctantly signed ourselves up for a three day flogging over the first May bank holiday weekend.

Stage 1 Dunsfold : Kingston Wheelers
I rolled up to the HQ with mixed emotions, scared and apprehensive. Ever since signing up to the race two months ago my target was not to get dropped as this was my first time competing at cat 2 level. The sight of teams warming up on rollers with team kit and colour co-ordinated bikes was enough to add to the feeling that I was going to get dropped, not to mention the size of some of the riders chiselled quads. The strategy for today was to survive and see what the level was. I spent most of the time at the back and learned a lot about conserving energy. Paul was very active in the first 50miles and spent a lot of time on the front. Then Rich was trying his luck off the front. On the second to last lap a strong group got a gap but never got out of sight and were reeled in at the end apart from two favourites who contested the win.

Within the last 1km we dipped down a hill and turned right onto the final climb with a 100m sprint at the top. Unfortunately two riders went down causing a split in the bunch. I knew the course well after competing on it in a cat 3 race in March and saved enough energy to get up the hill and sprint. This allowed me to get 12th place which was a massive surprise and I left wondering what could have happened if I had placed myself slightly higher up the bunch in the last 1km. We averaged 25mph over 70miles on day one…

Stage 2 Bletchingley : ACC
After a successful race yesterday I was looking forward to racing on my home circuit for the first time. I have trained on the circuit for the last two years along with a few club 10’s, but never raced it at full pace. It concerned me that everyone I spoke to about it said it was very tough. Having said that I wanted to make sure I was active for the sake of the ACC riders who gave up their bank holiday Sunday to organise and marshal the event. My target was to get the KOM Jersey so I had to be aware of any breaks and be ready to join them.

A break never materialised only two spirited solo efforts from different teams claimed the two KOM’s which allowed me to claim second place on both climbs, securing the KOM jersey for the final day. These efforts put me deep in the red and the last lap was a massive struggle. I finally blew on the last climb up to the finish line but was happy with meeting my days target. I now know how brutal the Bletchingly circuit is and at the end around 10 riders handed in their numbers including our very own Rich, who was ‘Racing to train’ watch out TG. We covered 67.4miles with an average speed of 24mph on day two…

Stage 3 Lingfield : Dulwich Paragon
The weather was considerably cooler and over cast for the final day. The legs where feeling tight from yesterday’s brutal race. But those negative feelings soon disappeared when I was handed the KOM jersey to wear after gaining enough points yesterday to take the overall. This immediately gave me confidence that I could compete at this level.

The raced started quickly as there were points available at 29 miles, unfortunately I missed a break with the three riders who were competing for the KOM jersey. I still managed to gap the bunch on the first KOM to come 4th but now my competitors were ahead of me and I had to focus on the next one at 49miles.

Rob Sharland and his Paceline team took control over the race like they had for the other two days and reeled in the breakaway. As we came up to the final lap disaster struck and Rob broke a spoke. The whole Paceline squad stopped and sacrificed their own race in order to help their GC leader which was testament to their team spirt. At this point the bunch was confused about whether or not to slow down to allow them to re-join. Various riders attacked off the front and once the group swelled to 20 riders the rest of the bunch had to close the gap and the pace rapidly increased completely destroying Paceline’s chance of getting back on, unfortunately there was no respect for the Surrey League leaders jersey. Should there be?

My mind quickly turned to the next KOM points and I knew I had to score maximum points, I chased down as many attacks as I could but one rider managed to get away who wasn’t in contention. This left myself and Mark Roberson from Army CC duelling for 2nd & 3rd. My breathing was typically loud which indicated to Mark that I was struggling so he got out of his saddle and went for it. I remained seated and kept pace all the way to the line, it was a photo finish and he just won it on his lunge forward as he was standing and I was seated. As soon as we crossed the line I threw up which indicated I had tried my hardest. At this point I knew I had lost the Jersey as I had put everything into the last two KOMs and would not be able to contest the final points on the finish line.

The final slog to the end was very erratic and dangerous with a lot of riders feeling tired and making poor decisions. After passing two horses which bolted I pulled up, knowing I didn’t have the legs for the last 300m climb to the finish line. I was gutted to lose the KOM jersey by 4 points but content with been able to compete with the region’s best cat 2 riders, or was I simply riding on courage? 62.7miles averaging 23.5mph on the final day.

Conclusion:
I was blown away by the support, ACC members gave on Sunday and it showed what a great and diverse club we have with many different types of riders giving up their Sunday to help organise the event. Even seeing some friendly faces on the finish line at Lingfield was a welcomed sight. Finally I cannot help think what Paul could have done if we had a full team riding so hopefully next year the ACC will be contesting for GC with a fully committed squad like Paceline.

April 30 - May 2, 2016 - Surrey League May 3 Day - General Classification after Stage 3

Time Time Time
Pos Name Surname Club/Team Overall Bonus Penalty
1 stanley kennett PMR@ToachimHouse 07:59:33 @ 0:00:00 0:00:50
2 Richard Jennings Army Cycling Race Team 07:59:38 @ 0:00:05 0:00:40
3 Jack Freeman VC Meudon 07:59:54 @ 0:00:21 0:00:20
4 Dylan Thomas VC Meudon 08:00:19 @ 0:00:46 0:00:20
5 Peter Allan WyndyMilla 08:00:23 @ 0:00:50
6 David Murrell London Phoenix 08:00:23 @ 0:00:50
7 Richard Cartland Southdowns Bikes 08:00:23 @ 0:00:50
8 Mark Robertson Army Cycling Race Team 08:00:23 @ 0:00:50 0:00:10 0:00:10
9 Richard Whitehorn Dulwich Paragon CC 08:00:23 @ 0:00:50
10 michael coyle Brighton Mitre 08:00:37 @ 0:01:04
11 Craig Joy Adalta CC 08:00:39 @ 0:01:06
12 Alexander Donaldson London Dynamo 08:00:39 @ 0:01:06 0:00:16
13 vojtech blazejovsky PMR@ToachimHouse 08:00:39 @ 0:01:06
14 Rod Archibald Adalta CC 08:00:39 @ 0:01:06
15 Tom Bowering Ride 24/7 RT 08:00:41 @ 0:01:08
16 Jed Williamson Team ASL360 08:00:46 @ 0:01:13
17 Philip Glowinski VC de Londres 08:00:47 @ 0:01:14 0:00:10
18 Ian Vagg 4T+ Velo Club 08:01:08 @ 0:01:35
19 Leon Stoneman Army Cycling Race Team 08:01:12 @ 0:01:39
20 Mike Lancaster VC Meudon 08:01:16 @ 0:01:43 0:00:11
21 Paul Hone Addiscombe CC 08:01:17 @ 0:01:44
22 Dominic Spear VC Meudon 08:01:39 @ 0:02:06 0:00:05
23 Freddie Philips Maison Du Velo 08:01:40 @ 0:02:07
24 James Bonham Maison Du Velo 08:01:44 @ 0:02:11
25 Rob Sharland Paceline RT 08:02:14 @ 0:02:41 0:00:30
26 Ian Bray Addiscombe CC 08:02:19 @ 0:02:46 0:00:05
27 Paul Barnard Southdowns Bikes 08:02:55 @ 0:03:22
28 Pat Wright Paceline RT 08:03:19 @ 0:03:46
29 Benoit Ramsay Paceline RT 08:03:19 @ 0:03:46
30 RICHARD PEEL Paceline RT 08:03:33 @ 0:04:00
31 Ryan Smith H.R. Owen Maserati RT 08:03:47 @ 0:04:14
32 Danny Baker H.R. Owen Maserati RT 08:03:48 @ 0:04:15
33 Phillip Belshaw Dulwich Paragon CC 08:04:23 @ 0:04:50 0:04:00
34 simon johnson London Phoenix 08:04:38 @ 0:05:05
35 Simon Jodrell H.R. Owen Maserati RT 08:04:39 @ 0:05:06
36 Matthew Butt Team ASL360 08:06:38 @ 0:07:05
37 Thomas Whatley Paceline RT 08:07:25 @ 0:07:52
38 Stephen Cavey Southdowns Bikes 08:08:32 @ 0:08:59
39 Dominic Clegg Paceline RT 08:10:03 @ 0:10:30
40 David Prickett H.R. Owen Maserati RT 08:10:37 @ 0:11:04
41 Iain Carr Army Cycling Race Team 08:13:05 @ 0:13:32 0:00:05
42 Ray Wilson London Dynamo 08:15:21 @ 0:15:48 0:00:05
43 Charlie Constant PMR@ToachimHouse 08:16:15 @ 0:16:42
44 peter clifton Twickenham CC 08:18:12 @ 0:18:39
45 Edmund Bishop VC Meudon 08:18:58 @ 0:19:25
46 simon potter WyndyMilla 08:19:23 @ 0:19:50
47 Ollie Williams VC Meudon 08:19:32 @ 0:19:59
48 Michael Weekes London Dynamo 08:35:19 @ 0:35:46

April 30 - May 2, 2016 - Surrey League May 3 Day - Points Classification after Stage 3

Pos Name Surname Club/Team Total
1 Mark Robertson Army Cycling Race Team 32
2 stanley kennett PMR@ToachimHouse 28
3 Richard Jennings Army Cycling Race Team 25
4 Rob Sharland Paceline RT 17
4 Jack Freeman VC Meudon 17
6 Phillip Belshaw Dulwich Paragon CC 14
7 Philip Glowinski VC de Londres 12
7 Dylan Thomas VC Meudon 12
9 Declan Egan Cadence Cycling Performance 10
10 David Murrell London Phoenix 9
10 Pat Wright Paceline RT 9

April 30 - May 2, 2016 - Surrey League May 3 Day - KOM Classification after Stage 3

Pos Name Surname Club/Team Total
1 Mark Robertson Army Cycling Race Team 33
2 Ian Bray Addiscombe CC 29
3 Pat Wright Paceline RT 24
4 Tom Bowering Ride 24/7 RT 17
5 Ian Vagg 4T+ Velo Club 12
6 Richard Jennings Army Cycling Race Team 11
7 Phillip Belshaw Dulwich Paragon CC 10
7 stanley kennett PMR@ToachimHouse 10
9 Dylan Thomas VC Meudon 8
10 Richard Cartland Southdowns Bikes 6
10 Dominic Spear VC Meudon 6

[Andrew G]

Fantastic report, and brilliant racing. Congratulations on your jersey win on stage 2, and on bike chundering shows commitment to the cause .