handicap race 24/5/07- addiscombe on top (well...almost)

[Stu Merckx Man]

hitched a lift with with adam and got to the sign in at about 7.10, just as they were about to stop new entries.

had to sprint over to the start line as the comissar said they would start without me.

anyway ii got there on time and the race got underway. it started off fairly smooth. most people doing a share at the front. gradually people stopped coming round, and soon it was left to me george paul and a couple of others to pull the front. because of this lack of cooperation we soon got caught by the 2nd cats. trouble was that when we were caught i was doing a long pull on the front and i nearly got dropped!

well i managed to hang on and for the remainder of the race i stayed in the pack, within the top 15 or so, but well sheltered.

all too quickley the last lap came round. the pace didnt change much but more people were trying to get to the front, and attacks were going all the time. george and paul h gave a couple of good digs but to no avail. my tactic for the last lap was to follow paul T. so i did and sure enough i found myself in the top 7 with about a mile to go. then the pace REALLY shifted up a gear. i stayed on the outside so as not to get boxed in. with about half a mile to go i was in the top 4 but the man in front was already sprinting so it was a big effort to hold the wheel in front, and every little rise i nearly dropped off as i had no feeling left in my legs!!....

after what seemed like an eternity we came round a right hand bend and up ahead was the finish line!! george and paul t came passed me...200m to go and it was a full on sprint. i was in the top 6 and i was nearly able to come round george. unfortunately a chap from evans who was on the right but ahead of george decided to give up 50m from the line as i was about to make my move. he drifted back and i was pinned in. for the last 40 m or so i was in the saddle (although still giving it some welly) it was a bit frustrating, but by no means dissapointing!...so i bagged 5th or 6th, though more likely 6th, but im pretty pleased as it was against a lot of 2nd cats too! george would have got 4th....but thats nothing...the real good news is mr tunnel bagged 2nd, he was 2 bike lengths clear of the rest of us battleing it out with a 2nd cat. it was a REAL close one!!

so not a bad night for addiscombe 2nd, 4th and 5th/6th (probably more 6th).

cheers
stu

[-Adam-]

I can confirm that stu was 6th, wasn't racing tonight. Saving myself for the Tour of Sussex so i just spectated.

Ended up helping out the organisers judge the finish by filming with my camera. Not fantastically clear, but i tried! Was quite tight for 5th-10th places and the footage is too blurred to make out numbers but Paul T definately 2nd, George definately 4th and Stu definately 6th. So not a bad night all in all!

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Mr T is back - 2nd place Even after riding to work, and then out to the race and finishing after 80 miles Thanks George for a lift home (only because I forgot my lights )

Head to head with Paul Allen of Pearsons, a well known track sprinter (2nd cat), and he only got the better of my by a wheel Bring on the Zipps/Boras

Unfortunately, my lead out man (Adam) was DNS and George didn't quite have the kick at the finish, but with his 4th, he is now a 2nd cat

Closer than on Tuesday at Dunsfold when Paul Allen won the sprint from our breakaway group and I was 4th.

Fantastic to see George and Paul pulling at the front, and then being up there at the finish, and Stu in at the gallop but getting boxed in.

[Snoop Doug]

fantastic result and a great report tee boot! Well done all - spcially Guru Paul

Snoop

[George]

That was my first handicap race and what a pleasant evening, the weather was beautiful and the presence of a windless ride was confirmed by the hot air balloons above the start.

The new slim-line Stu just got to the line before the start, I think he had put a cork in it for the race.

We were set off in 3 different groups, 4th and Ladies, 3rds and 12 last.

Great to see 4 agreeables and also, Chris, Lisa and Dave K only beaten in number by the local Sussex Nomads who seemed to be a bunch of old men

Paul T told us to try and keep the group together until we were joined by the 1,2 cats that way the racing was smoother and nobody's legs get ripped off

We tried in our group to organise a through and off but no one wanted to join the yellow perils at the front so after just 2 laps of a 5 we were joined by the higher cat group which included Paul H.

The pace was slightly faster but not too bad, I was taking a quite a few turns at the front, I think we dropped a few people but there were still 20 odd who all stayed together until the finish.

Paul H and I tried to get away on a couple of occasions but without any cooperation from any other riders we regrouped. I kept finding that I was cornering so well I would end up pulling ahead of the pack at the turns, must be due to the Crawley Crit on Sunday.

Last lap and the pace upped towards the finish we descended an avenue of trees that was quite dark, alot of people were trying to get up near the fron on the outside, I just managed to easily slip up the inside into a good position.

It opened out into a clearing with abou 500m to go the sprint started then slowed right down for some reason and then we all sped up again.

Stu was just ahead of me going well and Paul T was powering off the front in true commando style I came by Stu as he got boxed then made sure I was well up the for the Finish.

I was happy to get 4th plus the promotion to 2nd cat, I knew I had to get top 6 to qualify.

Good to see Stuart getting back to strength after hill illness and the amazing Paul T only beaten by a specialist handicap rider.

[Tamar Collis]

Fab, fab, fab. You guys are all marvellous. Can't believe how many 2nd cats we have now. ACC race scene hasn't been this exciting for AGES!

Keep the reports coming! They make it worth coming into work to log on.

[Sylv]

Awesome - well done all !

I'm looking forward to the first cyclocross race with George and Paul

[kieran]

well done guys brilliant results!

[George]

Hey Sylv I'm well looking forward to some Cyclocross

The Agreeables have got to stage an all out attack on the Cyclocross Championship as well.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

[quote]Hey Sylv I'm well looking forward to some Cyclocross

[Andrew G]

Excellent stuff. The ledg is back
3 now gone 4th to 2nd cat in 6months! Fantastic.
Great riding Stu as you must still be feeling a bit weak.

[Toks]

Great result Paul! You've got so many miles in the bank I'm sure you've got the endurance to ride the tour de france now! Well done Stu and the Smiling Assasin. There's no shock on the 2nd cat promotion my house was never in danger Chapeau Dude![quote="George the smiling Assasin"]I kept finding that I was cornering so well I would end up pulling ahead of the pack at the turns, must be due to the Crawley Crit on Sunday.

[richv]

Excellent results everyone, especially Paul T. If you start using some of those 'carbs' in your water Paul you may even win one

[Steve B]

Awesome again guys, result after result the Addiscombe figure highly.