After last weeks windy weekend at Thruxton it was refreshing to get out on a reasonably nice day, in fact I got away with wearing shorts, first time this year.
This was a 3/4 race of 95km, quite a lumpy course I have 1120m ascent on my HRM at the finish.
The race started off at a reasonably comfortable pace after a lap Darren and Luke went away for an early break, let them get a bit ahead and then I jumped up to them as well. We stayed away for a bit but none of us were feeling particularly strong to be able to stay away from the chasing peleton.
I went back into the pack. A little later Steve C (Pacific RT) attacked and Luke and a couple of others went with him. The break lasted for about half a lap, and then they were reeled in. Steve C went out the back after this jump, he had cycled down to Barcombe and been on the club run the day before, not the best way to rest before a race.
As the race went on a small break developed with Lewis Atkins going out with another couple of riders. Atkins apparently was flying up the hills and he blew the other riders in his break and went on to win.
The ACC riders, Daren, Luke and myself spent a lot of time trying to chase down the break, with not much help from anyone else. I had another go to get away into the race, but again could not keep it up.
Closer to the end of the race I had decided that this was not going to be my day, so I decided to use the race as training and sat on the front for the last lap and a half chasing down anyone who tried to break off. Excellent training and I really enjoyed my day.
The race finished on a hill and unfortunately I was shot by the time I reached it for the finish. Luke and Daren managed to get a 5 and 6 between them, I think I was close to last of the finishers. Still enjoyed it though, will have to target a particular race to do well in at some point and stop doing all this work on the front.
What did the rest of you think of the race?
Cheers
Marek....