Rolvenden 1st /2nd /3rd's cats - 28th May

[Tim H (liquigas)]

First time racing with 1st Cats! results below - report to follow - ohhh the pain

12th meant 6 points so very happy

1/2/3

1 Tim Elverson VC Muedon
2 Julian Clark Appollo RT
3 Steve Gowar Sigma Sport RT
4 Kevin Tye Storck UK
5 Rob Kennison Medway Velo
6 Richard Kennison Medway Velo
7 Mark Powell Downland Cycles
8 Guy Andrews Rapha/Condor
9 Marco Coppola Gemini BC
10 Tristian Barnes PM
11 Sam Fensterheim De Laune CC
12 Tim Harris Addiscombe CC
13 Guy Powdrill London Dynamo/Cyclefit.co.uk
14 Ben Pochee Rapha/Condor
15 Malcolm Whitehead Kingsnorth INT

[Toks]

Another impressive result. Well done Dude!

[Marek]

Mate, that is amazing, I mean truly amazing, hats off to you on another brilliant result. Getting a result in a first cat race is mega difficult, finishing a first cat race is hard enough.

Good to see you beat the London Dynamo rider, I used to race against him in the 3rd cats and he is really good.

Fantastic ride, I am really pleased for you.

Cheers

Marek....

[Tim H (liquigas)]

Up at 6:15 am on a Sunday is punishment in itself without having to race with a bunch of lean and powerful looking 1st and 2nd Cats..

But off I went in the Car to Hastings and was very much looking forward to the race.. when I got their I saw what I thought was Warick Spence.. Luckily it wasn?t!!! but I spoke to Keith who was on their to marshall on the bike who advised it was a strong field!! We had a chat about what it would be like but I said that I was just going to use it as experience.. I actually expected to get dropped after about 3 or 4 laps to be honest..

There was a course change as someone decided to have a car boot sale.. In the Village Hall they had a vote on the course and said who would prefer the hillier course.. almost everyone barked ?Yes??. Oh dear oh dear.. my first every 1st cat race and they have made it hilly..

The race was neutralised for about 3 to 4 miles until we got to the new course and I have never seen so many pee stops on a bike ride in all my life.. once one stopped almost the whole field parked up? then another 500m and another lot were parking up on the side of the rode..

Anyway the race was eventually started and the pace picked? owch this is going to hurt!!! It was about 120K I think in all? 9 laps? and 1km up hill finish..

I literally sat in for the first half as the pace went from really fast to really really fast.. attacks were not as frantic as I have been use to in other races but then again I couldn?t really see what was going on up from as I was gritting my teeth to hold on at the back..

Towards the middle of the race a break went then another couple of riders went.. the group was about 13 I think but it ended up as 9 in the end.. the pace slowed a little at about lap 5 and 6 but then the chase was on to the leaders? with about 3 to go 2 Dynamo riders attacked.. I was feeling good so jumped to the right of the bunch and drilled it to get on the wheel of the 2 riders.. the gap was good and then a really strong rider from Rapha Condor came across .. he shouted at us all to get it going and we managed to get a good distance.. by this time there was 5 of us and we worked well to keep away..

With 1.5 laps to go I got pain in my chest and thought I was going to have to stop because I could hardly breathe? think it was heart burn from all the energy bars? if I took a deep breath it hurt but I dug in.. missed a couple of turns then got back in the through and off.. on the last lap one of the Dynamo riders got shelled out the back so there was 5 left? we could see the bunch but managed to keep them of? the final dig for the line was hard but I managed to get 3 in our group up the hill and 12th overall?

Very hard and a real eye opener.. but Very please as it was a National C event which meant 6 points .. that?s 42 overall now I think .. not sure if that is 2nd cat yet.. may need another 8..

thanks for the comments Marek and Toks...fingers crossed we can all get to 2nd cat this season

[Phil S]

Well done, Tim. I saw you there and that was a good ride, and definitely a smart move to go with the Dynamo guys. When Ben Pochee from Rapha joined you, you all did well to stay away.
I had a strong race but not a smart race - I wasn't near enough when the first break went (and having covered almost every move up to then, I was trying to recover a bit). Then when you went I honestly thought the move wouldn't bear any fruit - how wrong I was! Only me and two other guys did any work to try and bring you and the others back, the rest were just on for the ride.
I attacked one last time on the final climb and got a good gap, but then got chased down by two Meudon riders after about 2km solo. Decided to sit up for the last lap and a half as I'd had enough. A day of good legs but woolly thinking!
Anyway, with 42 points I believe you're a second cat - time to shave your legs, son!

[Toks]

[quote]time to shave your legs, son!