by Marek » Sun May 04, 2008 8:28 pm
Well, I was really up for this race. 3 DNF's in the last 3 races meant that I really wanted to do well, also felt that my form has been coming on nicely so actually was aiming for the win today. As we drove to the course, I told Michelle and Keith that this one was not too hilly just a long drag. I was wrong, I got the courses mixed up and it was actually quite a hilly circuit with one long draggy hill and one quite steep and longish hill on the course. The kind of course that just wears you down more and more on each lap.
Before the race I had gone to the trouble of finding out who the strong riders were and marked their cards. I have never really done that before, but as I was serious about this one wanted to get the best preparation. On the first lap one of my marked men from Medway Velo attacked, I joined him and we did a bit of through and off. We were going quite hard, but on the finishing hill he said that we were being caught and he slowed up. Hmm, I kept going but was soon eaten up.
Keith and I were up the front and trying to get into breaks, but then a break of about 5 or 6 riders got up the road and soon had a good gap. I was not happy and so made a break for it. I was getting close to them, but then we hit a hill and I slowed and got eaten up. I then found I was pulling the peleton a bit, I don't like doing this, so pulled up and let the others come through, that is when things started to slow down. The breakaway was getting away. A few rally crys from some riders to get a through and off going were not having much success.
Then at one point another 4 guys went up the road, I decided to try to bridge to them again. No problem it was quite flat and I managed to get onto the back of them. But then I hit another hill and just could not go up so fast as was red lining from the chase. Ah well, got eaten up again. Keith went past me and gave me a 'come on move it cry' which helped to rally me along.
Thankfully we reeled the 4 guys back in and then with about 5 laps out of the 9 to go I just sat at the back of the peleton in my favourite lazy arse position. Had a fairly uneventful couple of laps and then tried to get away again after climbing the finishing hill. Was away with a few others, but again we got reeled back in. Was now feeling it on the hills and decided that it was time to save myself for the finish. Hid for most of the rest of the race, but Keith was up at the front giving it some. Saw him on the front on a number of occasions winding up the pace. At one point the peleton split after one of the hills and although Keith was up in the other half, I could not let it go as I really felt like I was going to do well today, so I went to the front and hammered it to get back on, tried not to bring everyone else, but managed to take most along on my back wheel.
What I had not realised is that we had bought back most of the original break, there were now only two guys left up the road who had 1.5 mins on us. But now with a lap to go no one was bothered about them, it was going to be a sprint finish. I had a couple of riders that I thought I would mark, so made my way up to about 8th man. As we got towards the final corner I had been pushed back a bit, and Keith was on my inside and nearly came down on the final corner with a few people taking it too fast and suddenly breaking/changing lines.
Then onto the final hill which is about 1km at a slightly steeper than box hill gradient but with a road surface that would make Paris - Roubaix proud. As we bounced up here I saw a couple of guys attack much too early. I just kept pedalling at a fast pace and managed to overtake most of the riders in front of me, I could not get out of the saddle as my thighs felt like they were about to spasm into cramp, just kept hammering. Then I could just see 3 others in front, I put some welly in and managed to just pip a Norwood Paragon rider, so I got 3rd in the sprint which turned out to be 5h place. Keith came in a well deserved 7th place, so all in all very pleasing.
I had gone into this one thinking I was going to win, so a little disappointed didn't get into the early break and take the win, but felt happy as had been pretty active in the first half and managed to have enough left to storm the finishing hill. After the race had to cycle back to the HQ, this was about another 6 miles or so, it felt like an age as I was roasted. Back at the HQ we got awarded prizes down to tenth place, Keith got a bottle of plonk and I got a tenner, best bit was it was awarded by a very cute blonde.
Considering this was Keith's first race back after being away he is looking really good and it won't be long till he is getting some very good places. Michelle it is early days after your trip away and half a lap this time will be one lap next time etc etc.
Cheers
Marek.....
. Keep plugging away Michelle lumpy Road Races can be quite tough for 3rd cat men let alone women. 
