Palace 24/07-pics hot off the press, great results to follow

[Sylv]

Sorry to have drawn the attention to such trivial matter Kieran

Now get a podium next time and I can assure you comments will focus on your result instead.

Waiting for Hal's account, but I can say he had a clear margin once at the top of the hill, and even allowed himself to freewheel the last few meters to the line.

[Tamar]

Hal! Brilliant result. Really delighted for you.

Well done to Kieran and Andrew too. Sorry you got pipped at the post Kieran. Better legs next time.

[Sylv]

[quote="Tamar"]Better legs next time.

[Hal]

A nice sunny evening for a race at Palace, I ha persuaded my wife and brother to come along and watch, so had an audience to please.

Things started ok made my way up to the front 5 or so, a few attacks going out but all brought back in. Kieran, Andrew and I along with 4 or 5 others were doing the majority of work on the front, keeping things moving. Not many people wanting to put in much work.

About 10 laps to go the Ralpha Condor guy made a break after the climb and as I was about 4 riders back I was hoping someone would chase him down, a couple of short efforts but noting substantial, back up the climb I though I could loose the group and try go cross the gap. However about halfway across I realised that I was getting knackered and dragging everyone else along too so decided to let him go a settle into a more sustainable pace.

Just after the claxon for 5 laps to go I almost fell off on the hairpin as I was running into the back of Andrew and tried shaving some speed off with the rear brake, the wheel skidded and I got high sided and had to re-route via the grass joining back in about 20 places back.

Headed up the front again to join Andrew and Kieran. Sitting in a comfortable 5th position till the bottom of the hill on the last lap. Then in the saddle make a massive effort to push off the front of the group to get as much ground between me and them between there and the top of the hill. Then tuck in and hammer it to the finish line. So cool to come across the line in front of the group all sprinting it out behind. My lungs were on fire but otherwise all was good. Good effort guys.

(1 more point to go)

[kieran]

damn, I'll have to wear my pearl izumi's next time, but they're the other extreme, Armstrong-like down to my knees. Anyway it was a nice clear, dry and still day, the field was a bit bigger than last week but not of the massuve size of the first few races. The race quickly settled down, with it strung out over the most of the course but bunching on the hill. No crashes but a few near shaves by some riders. This time I was determined to be nearer the front on the final lap but I was still about 9 places down at the start of the hill, I saw Hal shoot off at the front and then tried to do the same but with more ground to cover, I passed everyone to my surprise, but coming to the line my legs were going and suddenly a rider appeared on each side of me and got about half a wheel length in front of me. If only I'd known I was getting caught I might have found some final reserves deep deep down but still happy with 5th, my sprint must slowly be improving. I have an inkling of how those in the tour break-aways must feel getting caught near the finish line!

Polish Andrew rode really well and it was good to have 3 ACCers always up front. Well done to Stu for putting on a white number and finishing his first e/1/2 race! I expect to see you in a break with Warrick next time.

[Stu Merckx Man]

sorry i have not posted earlier, but my internet is not working (im at a friends house now).

well done kieren, andrew and hal. excellent results.

it sounds like you lot will be the next dominant addiscombe presents at the 3,4s in palace!

so this was my first race as a 2nd cat and i didnt want to try anything fancy.

from the start i just stayed right at the back. the pace was pretty high at first, 25.5 mph, but i was holding on ok.

after a while people started riding off the front and allowinf gaps to open that couldnt be bridged etc etc. as i was right at the back i couldnt do anything about these. so after a while there were just 7 of us left, sharing the work and limiting our losses.

we were all 2nd cats i think. we managed to get a good work rate going and kept the average speed up at about 24.2mph for the remainder of the race.

looking forward to next tuesday, where i think i will try and stick a bit further forward in the hope of staying in the main group.

cheers
stu

[Toks]

[quote="Stu Merckx Man"]sorry i have not posted earlier, but my internet is not working (im at a friends house now).

well done kieren, andrew and hal. excellent results.

it sounds like you lot will be the next dominant addiscombe presents at the 3,4s in palace!

so this was my first race as a 2nd cat and i didnt want to try anything fancy.

from the start i just stayed right at the back. the pace was pretty high at first, 25.5 mph, but i was holding on ok.

after a while people started riding off the front and allowinf gaps to open that couldnt be bridged etc etc. as i was right at the back i couldnt do anything about these. so after a while there were just 7 of us left, sharing the work and limiting our losses.

we were all 2nd cats i think. we managed to get a good work rate going and kept the average speed up at about 24.2mph for the remainder of the race.

looking forward to next tuesday, where i think i will try and stick a bit further forward in the hope of staying in the main group.

cheers
stu