Unfortunately my legs still didn't feel great, just like saturday, and I was a bit concerned whether it was a good idea to race at all. The UK Etape had seriously taken its toll on my legs and they were taking ages to recover fully. Maybe if I hadn't gone with the training group saturday, and had gone with the next group, my legs may have recovered a bit more, who knows?
32 laps ahead of us as we set off, and it was straight into a high pace with 4 or 5 guys taking turns at the front. By lap 5 my legs felt like lead and were very painfull. As I reached the top of the hill on each lap I seriously considered pulling out of the race, but the abuse I would have got from the rest of you guys, made me do just one more lap. Then one more
It seemed abit quicker this week compared to last, with the pace seriously quick most of the time with lots of surges as someone new got to the front to do a turn. I prefered it when Sylv and Stu were at the front knocking out a steady fast pace.
With a look at the lap counter saying 17 laps to go, I was totally cooked and ready to stop. I really didn't feel good and was blowing out my ar$e. But then a break, the pace slowed up the hill and it gave me a chance to recover, regroup and collect my thoughts. The next time up the hill was the same with no one wanting to take up the pace, so I got 2 laps for my heart rate to drop a bit (from 90+% to 85%) and for the legs to calm down
This was only a temporary respite though, as straight after, mr Rapha Condor shot off the front and a chase ensued with one of the many Paragon there doing fine work to chase him down. This became the norm again, fast- faster- fast - faster, and it was only a matter of time before I was on the precipice again. By this time I was also getting really p!$$*d off with a couple of riders that kept cutting across my line in the corners, and one of them couldn't corner at all, making me brake and loose momentum if I was behind him. But every time I moved position to get away from him I ended up next to, or behind the other one
So I had made it to the last 6 laps, amazingly, and now I was thinking, well I'm still here, I don't know how, but I am. I kept saying to myself, I can win this, I've got a good finish, I can win this. Deep down I knew I wouldn't but I kept saying it. As long as I could keep fairly close to the main half a dozen guys, I was in with a chance of points.
2 laps to go and the whole field got strung out once more. Up the hill with thighs screaming I knew I only had to do it one more time. One more time and this hell would be over.
Last lap now and I switched over to finishing mode (I dont know what happens physiologically at this point but its amazing
). Down the hill and I made my way up to 7th. Then coming to the left turn at the bottom and, "b*ll*cks", I ended up behind 'mr can't turn'. So this left me 15metres behind the front 5. Ok don't panic, just do what you do every week on the club run and close the gap down gradually. Up the hill and the guys in front are all out of the saddle now and giving it large, but I'm catching them. The gap is now 10m, 5m, nearly at the top now and I'm on their wheels. But its taken too much out of me and I'm really blowing.
They started to sprint and, Oh no my legs are going - no please just a little bit more, no I don't believe it, nooooo
I had absolutely nothing left to sprint with, zero, nada, ziltch. I was totally gone. It was all I could do now to turn the pedals round. 4 guys came round me and I really wanted to sit up, but I then realised there was still a point to fight for. Which I did, somehow, all the way to the line.
There must have been a big gap behind me because no one else did come round me and I crossed the finish line 9th, which looking back at now wasn't bad considering. I then collapsed in a heap on the grass, trying not to be sick.
I can honestly say I gave absolutely everything out there for the cause.
Hope it isn't so bad next week
Steve
