Dunsfold Road Race 3rds 7 March

[Paul H]

This is the first Surrey League Road Race of the season. This was a Road Race and not the Circuit on the Airfield. Dunsfold is a great course for breaks with plenty of corners, narrow roads and potholes.

This was the first proper race for me since my failed knee surgery in 2011 and I wanted a result.

We had a big team entered for this race, but unfortunately for various reasons only five of us turned up on the day. The plan was for Marek, Jonathan and me to get in a break and Matt and Dave stay in the peloton for the sprint.

From the start, this race was tough, people were firing off the front straight away and there were plenty who were happy to work at the front of the peloton for some reason. There was a nasty headwind on parts of the course which didn’t make it any easier. Various groups got up the road and Jonathan, Marek and I joined quite a few of them. Marek went up the road on his own very early on and had over 30secs at one point but he was so far ahead that nobody could bridge over to him.

After about an hour, I got in a big break and it looked like it was going to stick but I looked around and the peloton was in single file with loads of gaps chasing us down. When they caught us, I could feel that everybody was tired (including myself) which is the perfect time to attack. I went up the road on my own and got joined by another rider. A short while after we got joined by some more riders including some strong riders Dave warned me about. We had a rider from all the big teams and knew this was it. The break was eventually whittled down to the four of us and by this point, my earlier efforts were taking their toll and I was feeling battered and I had to skip turns which I really hate doing. By the time we got to the last lap, we had over a minute lead so it was getting cagey. The Kingston Wheelers guy who was the strongest was still doing massive turns and was doing too much work which enabled Gareth Thomas to jump us and win followed by KW, Dynamo then me in 4th. It was the best I could do. The other 3 were stronger – no excuses.

Not a bad return to racing I suppose and at least I created the winning break.

Marek, Jonathan & Matt finished in the peloton but havnt got the finish order yet.

Averaged 170bpm today for over 2 hours, the TG is usually high 150s for me which is probably why I feel knackered.

[Dominic]

Good effort Paul!!

Sounds knackering, you'll have to have an easy day tomorrow

[Paul H]

Why don't you join us tomorrow Dominic

[Dominic]

Would if I could but had to cancel race I had entered as wife Is ill so I can take son to his away football match

[Marek]

Really great fun race, shame my earlier efforts didn't manage to get anyone across to join me for the break. The headwind was a nightmare on my own, lasted a couple of laps and then on the hill the peleton caught me.

Jonathan went on the first lap and also attacked a fair amount throughout the race but no one seemed to want to go up the road and make the break a bit bigger, it was too tough to go solo, needed at least 4 or so to make it stick in that wind.

Got over to the big break which Paul was in, but then the peleton caught us, which was a bugger as I had buried myself to get onto the back of the break, when Paul went again I hadn't recovered so couldn't go after him as I wanted to get into the break as well.

Great to see Paul back racing after his knee op, we are gonna have some fun this season with some really attacking riders. I think their was an ACC rider in every break yesterday.

Cheers

Marek....

[Steve Rigby]

Great effort guys!

[Gareth]

...Observations from a tourist!

Wanted to drop by to say cracking effort from you guys. It can be difficult to race as a team, but you guys did very well in attacking and countering. That sort of positivity will pay off as the season goes on. Attacking riders will know it's beneficial to them to be in a break with an Addiscombe rider, or to follow/bridge to your attacks. Bodes well as a statement of intent from Addiscombe as a club, and the canny racers will note it.

I volunteered the day you won Dunsfold, Paul, and have been involved in organising that race since, so this was my first chance to race it. Your name was definitely on my list of people who will commit to a break, so as I said previously, good reputations are being developed by you guys. Mat Hammon of Dulwich was the other guy. He came 3rd in the Richmond Park time trial in 2013. It's little surprise you 3 closed me down what felt quite quickly!

Like Marek, I too thought the big break would stick. Committed to that one but groups can actually be too big. It lacked cohesion, despite the attempts from a few of us to get organised, and soon enough, we were all lined out. Annoying as that break had the composition of KW, Dulwich, Paceline x2, Addiscombe x2, and London Dynamo x2 + some others.

All the best for the forthcoming season!
Gareth (Paceline-RT)