Oh Doctor.....
What an event! Great turn out from ACC, and some excellent times from da crew. I was robbed - I missed the lanterne rouge by a whole place!!
Anyhoo - how was it fer me. I was very nervous before the start, silly really as I'd had three goes yesterday but trust me, the atmosphere was completely different today. I'd hoped to go sub 4 minutes.
So - had a quick nerve steadying natter with Dan at the start. Called up and of course I had to be held up for the off (too steep to diy this one). That felt weird as I've done all this years events with me acting as pusher .
So - off I go into the eerie silence. The first bit doesn't feel too bad honest and I was in small ring @ front, 4th biggest @ back. After about 200 yds I got out of the saddle, starting to struggle a bit. Encouragment from a few folk who'd come down the hill to get a better view.
300 yards, into 3rd biggest cog, not feeling good at all, seriously, didn't like it one teeny tiny bit. Getting a bit louder
450 yards, head spinning, legs hurting, into 2nd biggest cog wishing it would end. Aware that the noise is building up
500 yards, very briefly into granny gear, all over the shop, heart's knocking out the rhythm from Complete Control on speed. It's very loud, I feel very terrible, can't make out anybody/anything.
600 yards, just buried myself, not going to fail now, legs are burning, noise is overwhelming, can't get any air, where's the f***ing finish!!
700 yards - it's all over, I JUST skimmed the pot hole before the finish, I honestly didn't see it until it was about 2cm away. I was cooked, gasping for air, what a mess. Adam gave me a drink and I had to have a kneel down, big time wobblies going on. Mrs Snoop commented on the nice shade of grey I'd gone.
I made 3.24.85 which stunned me, way better than I expected. Massive thanks to everyone for the huge cheerage, that really drove me on through the hardest ride I've ever done. The hill climb was great and it was vile all at the same time.
Snoop