Crystal Palace Crits 5th May

[Jonathan]

First Crystal Palace crit of the season myself and Ryan on the start line, the race was to go round the circuit anti clockwise so a short sharp down and the draggy climb. Pace started very high, Ryan managed to get into the top 5 round the first corner I settled into the first 20-30. Pace kept high round for the first few laps moved up a bit in the pack on the climb. Couldn't really keep up with the cornering and slowly used up more and more energy chasing back on each climb, eventually at the top of a climb after 24 minutes of racing my legs gave up. Ryan had dropped off a couple of laps previously. My average HR up to that point was around 185 so was on the limit.

Not quite the stella showing that Matt and Dave K and got us used to but the only way is up and I managed to stay on the circuit so thats better than last year.

[Phil H]

Nice work. Good to see more ACC up racing there. I would race myself but ... you know ...

Tom really enjoyed his race. A very fast VCL lad fractured the bunch from the beginning then Tom got into a group of 3 that brought itself back up to another duo and that became "the bunch". He rode around on the back of them until the last lap when he busted a gut to get 2nd out of the "peleton". Not sure if he was 3rd or 4th. Too much going on in the kids' races.

[Matt.H]

Great effort Jon and Ryan - stick with it and I'm sure you'll be finishing in the points soon enough!

[Andrew G]

That climb doesn't look like much, or feel like it when you spin round warming up, but it's hell with the constant repetitions at race pace.