Race Reports from non ACC'ers

[Toks]

Cycling Weekly Sportive rider Mike Cotty in the "Cicle Classic"
http://www.mikecotty.co.uk/News.asp?NewsID=450

[Sylv]

[img]http://www.theroadcyclist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/me-and-fab2-300x294.jpg[/img]

[quote]The real excitement came from learning [url=http://www.theroadcyclist.com/?p=548]Fabian Cancellara[/url] was on the start sheet

[Bridget]

Reports on the ACC 25 on LWCR website:

http://www.londonwomenscycleracing.com/

[Toks]

South East Division Championship Road Race E1,2,3

Ian Paine from London Dynamo's report

A very tough day at the SE divs rr champs in baking heat and sun on Edenbridge circuit. Definitely one of the harder circuits in south east. While no Milland Hill or Cutmill climb, it has one short steep climb, and one longer climb with a long false flat after, plus numerous strength sapping little drags. Also has one nice essentially straight 80-85 km/h descent. Six laps just over 140km, saw me starting the race like a domestique with two bottles on bike and another in back pocket and still going to rely on good Samaritan hand-up.

Lap 1 relatively civilised, main task is dodging the potholes. Lap 2 its starting to get bit more lively and stretched out and Alex Higham is up road with Gareth Montgomerie (Sigma, and new Palace regular for 2010), and then joined by Higham’s teammate Henry Furniss. I jump away just before the descent and catch them on the descent (80kgs has some benefits). Over the main climb we are joined by group of about 10 riders including three more Sigma riders (Dodd, Betts and Lawn), a couple of Toachim House, Ian Field (international cyclo cross rider), Chris Macnamara (Corley) and ex-Dynamo Rich Mason. One rapid lap of reasonable cooperation and its clearly already game over for bunch. Status quo continues for next two laps, during which time an empty bottle thrown towards a spectator outside a pub with plea of ‘water’ is collected next lap full of ice cold water. Mucho thanks whoever it was.

Lap 4 one of the Toachims decides its show time and goes for it up the main climb (still around 55km left…). Doesn’t get too far but its start of the endgame, and flurry of attacks follows nothing sticks until Higham goes away early on the 5th lap. From response of others its clear there’s some fading legs and I commit over a small drag bridging to Higham. Gap to break steadily grows before CMac bridges up a few km later. Clear move is the one but I’m starting to suffer big time. At one point I am hanging on tongue out while Higham and CMac have calm chat about whether to wait for Andy Betts (Sigma) behind – decision is to allow him to get across (so the three other Sigmas behind will not chase) but make him have to work really hard to bridge. With four riders its slightly better for me but I’m in survival mode guzzling every powerbar and gel I can find. Early on final lap Higham stamps on pedals over a drag and instantly dumps me and Betts. Relieved when Betts and I agree to work together to ensure we hold off remnants of the break, and he’s not bothered with the 85/15 split of work. Final climb I can’t hold his wheel but finish is close enough for me to roll in 4th absolutely cream crackered. Higham won after relentlessly attacking Macnamara on final lap.

Pretty happy, probably one of my best rides in a long E12 race only getting beaten by couple of very good riders. Could not have ridden any harder, and tactically got it absolutely right (unlike Sigma’s tactics which were laughably pants – why be happy to have gone from 4 riders in ~13 rider break to 1 out of 4…..?).

IP.

[Toks]

Palace E12 07.07.2010

Ian Paine's PostIt was great stuff from Stu, Tom and Ian. Ian's lead-out and subsequent shouting at Stu was pretty special.

Ian Field was really very strong - guess you'd expect that from an international-standard cross rider.

Dynamos winning friends and influencing people again!

Surprised I managed to stay on circuit, the amount of times I had to look round while trying to do 40-45k up the hill
field on wheel, not spies
still field not spies
still field
still field...
spies where are you, hello?
my rear wheel...
...today
hmm, what am I going to have for dinner this evening...
...oh, ah, mr spies so nice to see you
(now remember I said I'd peel off LEFT, so that means you go RIGHT)


Nice one Stu.

IP.


Stuart Spies E12 Race Winner

I can honestly say that was ALL down to the boys!

Ian had basically laid out exactly what he was planning on email in light of Guildford tonight (which by the way if anyones thinking about watching, its brilliant) Having Tom and Ian manoeuvring themselves into the Dynamo mini train is a sight to behold, the realisation that this then means they are fully expecting you to do the same AND NOT fek it all up meant I was crunching the sprint gear pretty damn early!

Ian had time to roar encouragement and I swear be it little lowley little old Palace, having open track in front of you is suuuper cool, having Ian Fields suddenly charge up next to you is...well less cool, means you need to turn 'hyper drive' into 'infinity madness drive' and come very close to popping an eyeball and crushing the handlebar.

Massive thanks to Tom and Ian and my annoy Toachim House buddy Will!

Big Gay Trek...dear God I love that oversize wobbly red beast, can we please frame her in the clubhouse Tony is buying us? If anyone would like to hire Big Gay Trek she is available for a week while I try bash Will and Tom and Bridger at Transalp, just PM Guy

Ian thats all i had in my head 'Ian is gonna swing left Ian is gonna swing left SWEET LORD ITS NOW YAAAAAAAAAAR!!!!'

[Toks]

Taochim Grand Prix

15 riders moved away from the bunch on the 2nd lap and settled down to count down the miles. During this time, previous winner Chris MacNamara with Alex Higham made a couple of attempts to try and move away, but were soon reeled back by the bunch.

Martin Ford, Goldtec RT out sprinted the remains of a 13 rider breakaway to the top of White Hill.

Llewellyn Kinch, High 5 Swindon Cycles had to settle for 2nd while Marcus Bruton took 3rd.

1st Martin Ford Gold Tec
2nd Llewellyn Kinch, High 5 Swindon Cycles
3rd Marcus Bruton Norwood Paragon

Well done Marcus, what's the story behind that pink bar tape?
[img]http://i32.tinypic.com/2uj60bq.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i32.tinypic.com/34xrxu8.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i26.tinypic.com/208g213.jpg[/img]



Full Results to Follow.

[Mulberry]

Cheers Toks that was a hard race.

I was pleased to make the break having decided it was worth getting away early. I jumped with Furniss & Sykes once 3 were up the road and we quickly bridged and were joined by several more. We had to work hard to hold off the baying bunch - we did almost 46k in the first hour on a rolling circuit!! A few more joined us and the bunch was v close on the 2nd lap, but then we drilled it and pulled out a minute then 2 and finally about 3 in total.

After a 4 laps out of 6 we began to shell riders and I lost both a team-mate (unfortunate crash, clipping a wheel) and a 2nd claim Paragon so was on my own. Felt had 2 guys and GWR had 3 which was partly why the break was working well - plus Sykes is a monster! I felt reasonably good and tried to look after my legs and not follow Sykes. We were down from 15 to 12 in the end with the bunch unable to get close nor any chasers despite the best efforts of MacNamara, Doddy and Higham amongst others.

With 1.5 to go GWR started attacking, but we pointed out it was too early for that malarkey and got back into a rythm. On the final lap Sykes counter-attacked past the HQ and quickly pulled away. We all worked hard to chase and got close to him on Molash hill, finally catching him not far after the top. GWR made a few moves, but nothing hard enough. I hoped Sykes had tired himself out, but reckoned he was still a danger along with GWR, Furniss and one of the Felts.

Sadly I hadn't checked out the finishing hill which was off the circuit (schoolboy error) and so wasn't to sure about it other than knowing it went up for about 2k and levelled off just before the finish. Elverson (Felt) attacked before the hill and pulled out a gap, but the GWR guys helped bring him back as the 12 of us rode up the hill. There was some jockeying for position in the narrow lane and then a GWR attack which split us - despite not seeming very hard to me. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself in the front 5 as 7 were left behind. It was now down to Ford (Goltec), Kinch, Sykes, Kristensen (Meudon) and me with Windymilla, Felt and Luke Wallis out of the running. My legs felt OK, and then the yellow flag appeared - 200m and I just missed Ford's move. I jumped after them, but couldn't get on, however I stayed clear of Kristensen to take 3rd and Sykes (5th)crashed his gears - also not quite knowing the finish line. Ford got a great win especially to outwit GWR and the strength of Sykes. I was well chuffed with 3rd and to still have the legs after 129k in about 3hr 10.

Doddy came in about 3mins behind us ahead of the bunch in 13th place.

Re the pink tape - it matches my Pink Arione saddle. I won both of them in a club raffle and apparently it makes it easier to spot me in the bunch and it's different to the ubiquituous white tape. Almost everybody seems to comment on it though

[Toks]

Nice reports and beating some renowned heavy hitters too . Yeah I do like to hear about a nice breakaway. Hmm...not the best of winning celebrations but with his strength I'm sure he'll get lots of opportunities to practise them

[Toks]

Nice report and beating some renowned heavy hitters too . Yeah I do like to hear about a nice breakaway. Hmm...not the best of winning celebrations but with his strength I'm sure he'll get lots of opportunities to practise them

[Toks]

Nice report and beating some renowned heavy hitters too . Yeah I do like to hear about a nice breakaway. Hmm...not the best of winning celebrations but with his strength I'm sure he'll get lots of opportunities to practise them