Met Jon at the HQ, after I'd eventually found it having been led astray by googlemaps, which was handy as once kitted up we rode to the start together so he could lead me there so I didn't get lost again. I'd looked at a Garmin profile of the course so knew it was a very shallow inverted V and Jon said the worst drag was just after the turn.
I rode down to the start getting there just as my minute man was being pushed off, not a deliberate tactic to arrive last minute but down to thinking it was at the base of the slip road and it turned out to be at the end of a layby a bit further down the road so had a bit of a "where is everyone?" moment before hoofing on to find them.
My legs felt great from the off and everything just felt hunky-dory
. No surprises with the course and it was pretty rapid on the way out with a slight tail wind, I was scooting down the road at a nice lick with the legs feeling good, the breathing nice and even, and the speed lovely and quick.Up the slight rise to the elevated roundabout for the turn and back where I'd just come from. Going up the drag Jon had mentioned I was still shifting but then it went on a bit longer or slightly steeper and my speed dropped a bit. Legs still good and rolling the gear around nicely and then once back to the flat the speed was soon up again.
I could see a carrot up ahead and was reeling them in, just before I caught them (my 4 minute man) my 2 minute man and seeded rider came past me. He was shifting, I was doing 29mph at the time, but I kept him just slowly pulling away from me and in sight for the remaining couple of miles to the finish. The final half mile was tough as I was near as dammit spent, so judged it almost to perfection just about able to hold my speed for the last bit before...
...approaching the start of the finish layby I could see the chequered flag at the end of it, I happened to catch a glimpse of my computer, "ooh wow, now maybe..." I snicked it up a gear and sprinted full tilt the last 100m for the line. I saw my computer and was delighted, but hoped the official time came in one second quicker. It didn't but still delighted.
I rode about on the side road for 10 minutes warming down and waited for Jon to finish (also had a good ride) and them back to HQ.
A good course, lovely weather for TTing, and a very happy Little Green Man.
Andrew Green 22:00 PB again
Jon Hemming 22:02
Sorry mate I think that's the second time this season I've beaten you by 2 seconds, it's not personal.
I didn't stay until the final rider who I expected to win but he'd have had a fight on his hands from the chap who caught me as he did 19:36. Worth a mention is the lad who started a minute in front of me, he is a junior and clocked 20:36. A fantastic ride and a very talented young man.
seems to be bringing out the best in both of you - keep it going 