So i picked stu up on time almost, and then spent the next half hour wishing my car had air-con.
Arrived at hillingdon to see Simon H loitering about, fantastic. His first race of the year i believe, fresh from two weeks of booze and women in Miami. Not really what a training camp is for ay! But hey.
So after getting stu and i's bikes untangled out the back of my car, it was a squeeze! We decided to hit the track and get some warm up laps in... I hadn't ridden in two days, so wasn't sure how id feel, but i was ok. I was however inquisitive as to why there is now sod all parking at hillingdon!? Simon said there building some five-aside thingy, which us proper athletes will have use of for races... Cool. Don't know where we'll all park when its done though, i had to park on the road outside!
We then sat on the side of the track discussing all things cycling while the little youths fought it out. A superb solo ride to victory by a glendene rider certainly stood out. During this time, Keiran showed up. Brilliant, a four man team here, as well as a four/five man team at chertsey for the 3rds... Maybe we'll catch Dynamo after all!?
By this stage i was getting really excited, i was so up for this race it was unbelievable! My nemesis from Dunsfold last week was also present, so i was super motivated to beat him fair and square this week!
At the start i could barely control myself, i just wanted to race! Of we rolled, the pace was certainly brisk... For the first 15 minutes i concerned myself with almost every move at the front. But after a while i decided i wasn't so strong as last week. Probably due to having two complete rest days on thursday and friday. So i eased back and let it be.
Then Simon put in a dig, he and another guy got a good gap. Brilliant i thought, lets let these other b******s do some work! I was being closely watched by Hugo, my nemesis from last week, and his Team Economic-Energy mates. They didn't want to work, which seemed to be there tactic all day. So i casually pointed out that they didn't have a man up the road so perhaps they ought to start working. I got a mumbled 'they're not going anywhere' back. Then some other guys camr through and closed it down, but it was clear Hugo and his Eco boys were watching me.
Try as many did the race was destined for the bunch sprint... But that didn't stop a few awesomely assured moves by stu going away. This was perfect for simon and myself as it meant we could sit in and let the others chase. Of course the Eco boys were conspicous by there abscence! I've got to say stu put in an enormous amount of effort into getting off the front, which was superb for the team.
Come the penultimate lap, stu was back in the gruppetto, but there was a lone rider of the front. With nobody wanting to chase, both simon and myself were up front. I told him not to kill himself chasing, there were after all a couple of Eco boys behind us just hoping for us to die. (though not literally i hope!) I looked over my shoulder and there was Hugo bloody Robins just grinning.
Then Keiran came to the rescue, he put a valiant dig in up the finish straight with one to go which allowed me and simon to sit in and get towed to the line. After what must have seemed like an age to Keiran a couple of guys came through, i was perfectly placed, 4/5th wheel. Apparently, as we were roaring down the back straight, there were four or five riders fighting for my wheel. It seemed Hugo had been spreading the word that i was the rider to beat... Stu said they were all over my wheel, they must like the Zipps!
Through the last corner i still had two guys leading me out, So i started sprinting from the last bend. Brilliant i thought, i thought i was going to win... One guy left leading me out, i tried to make my move to pass him with about 100m to go... I got round him but just didnt have the power to carry on, a couple of guys came past me as i really slowed in the last 50m. But i came over the line in a solid 5th place. A decent result i think, and i beat Hugo into 6th/7th. So all was good!
So another 5 points on the board, up to 17 now, only 23 to go before the step up to 2nd... Bring it on.
Oh forget any rivalry between ACC and Mosquito (Although they were very aggressive throughout the race), and forget Dynamo even...
The real rivalry now is ACC v 'Team' Economic Energy
So a decent race for all, Stu just missed the top ten in 11th place, not bad for his first race as a 3rd cat! Simon rolled up in about 20th, and SUPER domestique Keiran finished comfortably just behind that. Not bad given he's been fighting illness all week. I have to say a massive thanks to the three of them as the way they raced today helped me perfectly. Be it Stu or Simons attacking, or Keirans super pace making on the final lap. I would have struggled to be so well placed in the final corner.
So THANKS!
...
I pity Andrew who has to collate results for the road race secretary ...
