I sat in and tried to save as much energy as possible, but innevitably my calves started to cramp slightly mid race. I had a headache too and this was annoying me.
Attacks went and came back, but then one went and stayed away. All 4 riders in it were strong and the bunch didn't really ever make a concerted effort to reel them back so we never saw them again
. The pace was ok most of the time, a few digs made everybody work for a while and then it would ease up with nobody willing to do any work. I'm not used to this - Palace is mental the whole race and the handicaps are not far behind - but it was ok and getting a bit of a rest occasionally was nice.8 times round an 8 and a bit mile circuit was the distance, and it felt like forever. With 2.5 laps to go 2 more guys broke off the bunch - no reaction. 2 laps to go 3 more guys broke off the bunch - no reaction. 1.5 laps to go I'm now at the front of the bunch trying to get some urgency in to everyone. "Thru and off anyone" - nothing. "Peel off and come thru" - nothing. It was like 35 or so racers were out for a Sunday recovery ride
.Anyway, eventually, up Henfold hill (17%) for the penultimate lap, it kicked off. 3 guys went for it and I went too, but my thighs didn't like it much, they twinged unnervingly, hmmm, not good. We were away though and started to work well together, really pushing on. One of the guys however only did one turn then sat at the back, his team mate was up the road in the trio ahead. We could see them now and started to close in on them. It was hard work but we caught them with just under a lap to go. The next goal was the pair of riders further ahead. We weren't sure how far but we pushed on. "There they are", bingo
. It wasn't long before they were swallowed up and we had a fairly decent sized group of 9. Some were keen to work, others not so but everyone knew we had to keep pushing on.2 miles to go now, things were getting nervy. The bottom of the 17%er was lurking, was anybody going to try and break away? Tired legs made the speed up the hill seem seriously slow. I tried to push just to keep with the others but my thighs cramped up, badly. I couldn't pedal at all. I shouted out in frustration, I didn't know what to do. All that hard work was for nothing. I found my smallest gear and literally crawled up the hill at a snails pace, just managing to move my legs around. The rest were now riding away from me
. I got to the top and started to pick up a bit of speed. The cramping eased off and I could now push on. The next half a mile was downhill and I could still see the guys ahead. With a bit of luck no one would be pushing the pace along too high and I could get back in. Thankfully, with a bit of hard work I managed it with enough time to recover for the sprint. But this was uphill, not sure my legs could take it. I got myself into a fairly decent position for the sprint and luckily my legs had enough power in them to get 4th in the group, 8th overall. Extremely happy with that Steve
