Surrey League RR - Kirdford 3rd Cat

[Jonathan]

First RR for me for a while after a month of focusing on TTs, wasn't to bothered with a good result just wanted to focus on helping a team mate do well. This was a 5 lap race around the Kirdford Circuit so about 55 miles. Myself, Ian, Steve, Tom, Matt and Rich all lines up on the start line, along with a full 9 man team.

Last time we had been on this circuit the Hone had managed to get 2nd, so today was a chance for one of us to go one better.

Race started sedately, the circuit is quite flat so it is fairly easy to sit in and get dragged along at 25+ mph without too much difficulty. A moment of missed concentration allowed a Paceline rider up the road and the rest of his team started blocking and soft pedalling, after realising that no others were going to give chase I went to the front to help bring him back.

After not getting much help from the other riders I eventually went solo to try and bring the guy back, was out on my own for about 5 or so miles until Paceline brought me back, but the gap to the lone rider had dropped down from 60 to 40 seconds. Once I was back in the bunch I kept on working trying to bring the race back together.

Matt and Tom started attacking off the front but could never get much separation as there was always a willing selection of riders willing to chase them down, the increase in pace put me in a bit of trouble and I dropped to the back of the group, almost getting dropped completely after overcooking a corner.

With one lap to go the solo Paceline rider had been brought back so the race was wide open, I worked my way back to the front for some reason and saw a Kingston Wheeler attack, I quickly jumped on his wheel and them went past him. I was just about to sit up when a Crawley wheeler rider bridged up to me and we went for it.

Having done a lot of work earlier in the race it took everything I had to keep in the 2-up TT to the line, I eventually got distanced 100m before the line but held onto second.

Ian came across for 3rd and Steve won the bunch sprint for 4th.

A good race and we showed that hard training and aggressive racing pays off.

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

Great write-up, Jonathan! Well done all of you! Go Team ACC!! Allez! Allez!! Allez!!!

[Dominic]

Well done Jonathon especially after a good time in the Elite 10 the day before as well, chapeau!!

[Toks]

great work Jonathan and Team ACC