There were looks of disbelief when the word started going round that we would take the course clockwise, just like the youths who were on their way as we were signing on. That was because of the barriers put in place for the car race on bank holiday weekend, which would have been at the exit of the top hairpin, where it's not uncommon to run wide into the grass. This week the E12 race had 35+ riders, and Steve and Adam managed to get a spot. I was #9 having gotten there at 6.10. We got one practise lap plus three neutralised laps to get used to the course in reverse.
It was, if that is possible, even more technical than the usual way. Long fast downhill which is usually the uphill, then into a bend with a wide entry allowing for a number of different lines, and if you weren’t in the lead you had better pick the same one as the wheel in front of you or else you’d completely lose the draft. Most times my rear wheel would kick sideways going round that one. Then second bend, pretty tight, and straight onto the climb which required an out of the saddle kick pretty much every time. The hill didn’t seem all that bad, at least it was a bit shorter that way. Then left hander still going uphill, before the hairpin which was much slower and tighter going that way, with a bad surface at the exit, and also required focus to kick straight after it when someone put a dig. The flat-ish straight seemed longer, but at least there was a bit of a tailwind.
I felt tired riding to Palace so decided to stick to the plan of doing nothing till at least 20-25min in, which is what Ian Paine usually does, then he puts a big dig and usually manages to initiate a break. So I followed his moves, but pretty much straight away he came to the front putting big efforts, maybe it was his cool new stealth Canyon. So I changed plans, in case a break went early this week. Felix English did his usual constant attacking, it took him a few efforts but he managed to get away solo again, very impressive. Later on Jake Martin did the same to join him, before falling back a little but still claim 2nd.
With these two still clear, the pace was still high with constant digs mostly by Paine, the De Ver duo of Germain Burton and Taylor Johnstone, myself and a little later James Waite, and James Millard from Corley who despite his huge size, was a beast up the hill! Also the Big Foot guys were there, and Anjan from DP. This had the effect of whittling down the field a fair bit, and both Adam and Steve pulled out (may have been a mechanical for Steve as I didn’t get to speak to him afterwards), there were probably 20 or less left. We were going to do 25 laps and now might have been the time to fall back a bit and rest before what looked like a sprint finish, but I didn’t really care and was enjoying it, despite the fact that my legs were hurting! I followed an attack by Hugo Humphreys and after taking my turn had to let him jump away on his own, but he was brought back. Did the same behind Sam Humpheson, but the bunch didn’t let us go very far.
I felt that the finish would suit me, as long as I was towards the front at the top of the hill, with two corners to go. Which is where I found myself with one lap to go, but I was at the front which didn’t really suit me that well! I was just about to ease off to the side and let a few people pass, but changed my mind and decided to try and take the next hairpin as fast as possible in a suicide attack. Somehow it worked with the bunch not reacting until well after the hairpin, so when I saw that I pushed on as hard as I could for what was going to be a very long last lap (178bpm). Next time I glanced back I could see Arjan coming back to me and a few more behind him. I pedalled all the way down the hill and went round the two bottom bends with knees out. On the climb these few were about to catch me, and at the top Millard passed me. I took his wheel and kept it all the way to the sprint, but couldn’t come past, and then Germain shot by to take 3rd, whilst Arjan was passing me too on the other side – nothing I could do about it – 6th - gutted! But pleased at the same time.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/86310121
Photo Pauline English (don’t adjust your monitor, I fancied a change of colour this week
)[img]http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/229585_10150300504888765_612373764_9639792_4193126_n.jpg[/img]
E/1/2s
1 5 Felix English Science in Sport E
2 1 Jake Martin Le Col Pendragon 1 U23
3 35 Germain Burton De Ver YA
4 6 James Millard Corley Cervelo 1
5 26 Anjan Planting Dulwich Paragon 2
6 9 Sylvain Garde Addiscombe CC Mule Bar 2
7 17 Hugo Humphreys Mosquito Bikes 2J
8 25 Mattheo Miles In-Gear 2
9 30 Sam Humpheson Look Mum No Hands 2
10 28 Harry Littlerhor London Dynamo 2
11 10 Steve Salmon BigFoot CC 2
12 22 James Waite PM 2
