Well Done Adam!!!
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- Toks
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Re: Well Done Adam!!!
by Marek » Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:14 pm
http://www.trisportnews.com/articles/el ... cblog.html
Its all on here. Well done Adam, great feeling to get your first win hey. Bet you are having a bottle of champers or something this evening.
cheers
Marek....
Its all on here. Well done Adam, great feeling to get your first win hey. Bet you are having a bottle of champers or something this evening.
cheers
Marek....
- Marek
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Re: Well Done Adam!!!
by -Adam- » Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:22 pm
Thanks guys,
Yes yes alright Toks, anyway the blog is literally hot off the press Marek!
Here you go, I've copied it across for the lazy amongst you!
It's long, but then thats what they pay me for
And yes Marek, I'm having the champers before my Sunday roast tomorow... Gotta be proffesional and train again tomorow ay 
[quote]Victory!
Well, what can I say, except... c'mon!!!
This morning, I once again made the long and winding journey to the west, to sleepy Upavon Army Airfield. I tell you, this morning was bitterly cold. I'm sure I nearly got frost bite just scraping the inch of ice off my car! Anyhow, off I went, bit late out of bed this morning, was up for the race but there's just something in me that makes me really not want to get out of bed in the morning sometimes. Well, I say sometimes... But still, I arrived at the airfield just after 8.10am. Signed on, race number 12, fairly inconspicuous I thought.
Got changed in my car again, which isn't the easiest of things to do in a small city car, but still, better than standing half naked in -1.5 degrees huh! Off for the warm up, didn't feel particularly good at first, as it was seriously cold. Within 5 minutes my finger tips were already numb. That's life I guess, It is only February after all. Not that you'd think it after all the days we've had of 15 degrees and sunshine recently, most unseasonal. One thing that immediately struck me is that the gliding club were obviously in a hurry to get flying today, they already had one of their cable machines out, parked right on the track. Nice one guys. So little cones were placed around it. Which I knew would be dodgy. Luckily only once did I nearly get pushed into them.
After a few warm-up laps my body started to wake up a little. Which I was expecting really as I've had a good week this week training wise, two strong interval sessions and a nice easy ride yesterday had left me in much much better condition than last week. Anyway, I digress...
The race itself kicked off in the usual manner, the initial early flurry of attacks. Although this week I was very restrained, well, for the first three laps at least. It was much much windier today than the previous two weeks, so if a break was going to succeed, they would have to be super strong. So after three laps I thought I'd test the water and see who was feeling good. I attacked fairly hard just as wee got to the start/finish line to start lap four. As it just levels out there after a longish climb up to the finish, that was today in a raging headwind. Okay, maybe not raging, but you get the idea! I looked back after about 10 or so seconds and no one had come with me, but, I had a decent gap. So I thought I'd get working and see what would happen. I went fairly hard for a lap (two miles) and still no one would come with me. So I began to ease up, smiling for the photographers. Hopefully they'll be some decent photos for the British Cycling website, I'm so vain, bless me!
After another lap or so the bunch had slowly worked its way back up to me, more I suspect because of my slowing, rather than their speeding up. Still, it was gruppo compatto with 30 minutes raced. There were more attacks, and I covered some. There were two strong teams today, DH Cyclesport and the Army Cycling Union, and I was riding solo for Trisportnews today. So each time one of them went, I would wait for the other to chase, then sit on their wheel while they towed me along. Crafty, but then in this game you 'gotta be! After a while it became reasonable clear, to me at least, that nothing was going to succeed. So I drifted to the back of the peloton and had nice little chat with one of the other riders that I have become friendly with at these races. It's not all eye balls out this racing lark you know! I even had time to sit up and gulp down an energy gel in relative calm for once.
So when the three laps to go board appeared, I started to make my way forward. I kept telling myself, 'You can do this'. So I got close, but not too close to the front of the bunch. Close enough to see what was going on anyway. However, before I continue I must make special reference to another cycling friend of mine, a Mr Ian Lowe of Thames Velo. He is a real hard man, a big powerful South African. He has a certain no nonsense attacking style that earns him much respect in the racing 'fraternity'. He had attacked a few times already during the race, but when 3 to go was called, he was away again, solo. Like me he had speculatively attacked a few laps before hand but no one went with him. I was tempted, but just didn't quite have the confidence. Anyhow, he had about a 20 second lead on the group, which was always going to be tight. I had already mentioned in the afore mentioned chat that I would be more than happy to come second to this man today. As it was he was brought back with about 1.5 laps to go. But his never say die attitude meant that almost immediately he attacked again. Now this was great for me because it forced guys to work on the front, while I was quite happy to let him go. Time and time again he went, until eventually he dragged the whole bunch down the back straight on the final lap until he eventually capitulated. His work was done, and it was a mighty fine job!
So coming into the final kilometre of racing it seemed to be working out for me. I was on the left side of the bunch, which was the right side to be on, out of the wind! The only negative was a few more people than I would have liked slipped in front of me before the final straight. But it soon opened up again. Then with about 400m to go people decided to open up the sprint early, which suited me fine. I waited and waited and waited. Then with probably about 250m to go I made my move. In much to big a gear I stood on the pedals as hard as I could, and immediately created a gap behind me. Which is just what you want that way the guy behind has to work that little bit harder as the draught he's getting is less. I was going 100% all out, I glanced under my arm and I had a good lead. Only about 100m to go... Which seemed to last a life time, it felt like a slow motion clip from a film. The line just couldn't come fast enough! I gave it one last look under my arm with about 20m to go and this was it, I was going to win! I crossed the line and let out an almighty roar. I thrust one arm in the air and 'punched' the crisp blue sky as hard as I could! Unfortunately I just didn't have enough left to make a proper pro's celebration and sit up with both hands in the air, but there you go, guess you can't have it all.
On reflection I couldn't be more pleased with the way the race went, I felt much better than last week, and to win really is something special. It's my first ever race win and after all the hours of hard training I have put in since my operation last August, somehow today just makes it all mean that little bit more! Although I'm not going to lose sight of the fact that this is really only a small race, and there really are much bigger fish to fry. But it's only Februrary so hopefully this is the first victory of many.
Yes yes alright Toks, anyway the blog is literally hot off the press Marek!
Here you go, I've copied it across for the lazy amongst you!
It's long, but then thats what they pay me for
And yes Marek, I'm having the champers before my Sunday roast tomorow... Gotta be proffesional and train again tomorow ay [quote]Victory!
Well, what can I say, except... c'mon!!!
This morning, I once again made the long and winding journey to the west, to sleepy Upavon Army Airfield. I tell you, this morning was bitterly cold. I'm sure I nearly got frost bite just scraping the inch of ice off my car! Anyhow, off I went, bit late out of bed this morning, was up for the race but there's just something in me that makes me really not want to get out of bed in the morning sometimes. Well, I say sometimes... But still, I arrived at the airfield just after 8.10am. Signed on, race number 12, fairly inconspicuous I thought.
Got changed in my car again, which isn't the easiest of things to do in a small city car, but still, better than standing half naked in -1.5 degrees huh! Off for the warm up, didn't feel particularly good at first, as it was seriously cold. Within 5 minutes my finger tips were already numb. That's life I guess, It is only February after all. Not that you'd think it after all the days we've had of 15 degrees and sunshine recently, most unseasonal. One thing that immediately struck me is that the gliding club were obviously in a hurry to get flying today, they already had one of their cable machines out, parked right on the track. Nice one guys. So little cones were placed around it. Which I knew would be dodgy. Luckily only once did I nearly get pushed into them.
After a few warm-up laps my body started to wake up a little. Which I was expecting really as I've had a good week this week training wise, two strong interval sessions and a nice easy ride yesterday had left me in much much better condition than last week. Anyway, I digress...
The race itself kicked off in the usual manner, the initial early flurry of attacks. Although this week I was very restrained, well, for the first three laps at least. It was much much windier today than the previous two weeks, so if a break was going to succeed, they would have to be super strong. So after three laps I thought I'd test the water and see who was feeling good. I attacked fairly hard just as wee got to the start/finish line to start lap four. As it just levels out there after a longish climb up to the finish, that was today in a raging headwind. Okay, maybe not raging, but you get the idea! I looked back after about 10 or so seconds and no one had come with me, but, I had a decent gap. So I thought I'd get working and see what would happen. I went fairly hard for a lap (two miles) and still no one would come with me. So I began to ease up, smiling for the photographers. Hopefully they'll be some decent photos for the British Cycling website, I'm so vain, bless me!
After another lap or so the bunch had slowly worked its way back up to me, more I suspect because of my slowing, rather than their speeding up. Still, it was gruppo compatto with 30 minutes raced. There were more attacks, and I covered some. There were two strong teams today, DH Cyclesport and the Army Cycling Union, and I was riding solo for Trisportnews today. So each time one of them went, I would wait for the other to chase, then sit on their wheel while they towed me along. Crafty, but then in this game you 'gotta be! After a while it became reasonable clear, to me at least, that nothing was going to succeed. So I drifted to the back of the peloton and had nice little chat with one of the other riders that I have become friendly with at these races. It's not all eye balls out this racing lark you know! I even had time to sit up and gulp down an energy gel in relative calm for once.
So when the three laps to go board appeared, I started to make my way forward. I kept telling myself, 'You can do this'. So I got close, but not too close to the front of the bunch. Close enough to see what was going on anyway. However, before I continue I must make special reference to another cycling friend of mine, a Mr Ian Lowe of Thames Velo. He is a real hard man, a big powerful South African. He has a certain no nonsense attacking style that earns him much respect in the racing 'fraternity'. He had attacked a few times already during the race, but when 3 to go was called, he was away again, solo. Like me he had speculatively attacked a few laps before hand but no one went with him. I was tempted, but just didn't quite have the confidence. Anyhow, he had about a 20 second lead on the group, which was always going to be tight. I had already mentioned in the afore mentioned chat that I would be more than happy to come second to this man today. As it was he was brought back with about 1.5 laps to go. But his never say die attitude meant that almost immediately he attacked again. Now this was great for me because it forced guys to work on the front, while I was quite happy to let him go. Time and time again he went, until eventually he dragged the whole bunch down the back straight on the final lap until he eventually capitulated. His work was done, and it was a mighty fine job!
So coming into the final kilometre of racing it seemed to be working out for me. I was on the left side of the bunch, which was the right side to be on, out of the wind! The only negative was a few more people than I would have liked slipped in front of me before the final straight. But it soon opened up again. Then with about 400m to go people decided to open up the sprint early, which suited me fine. I waited and waited and waited. Then with probably about 250m to go I made my move. In much to big a gear I stood on the pedals as hard as I could, and immediately created a gap behind me. Which is just what you want that way the guy behind has to work that little bit harder as the draught he's getting is less. I was going 100% all out, I glanced under my arm and I had a good lead. Only about 100m to go... Which seemed to last a life time, it felt like a slow motion clip from a film. The line just couldn't come fast enough! I gave it one last look under my arm with about 20m to go and this was it, I was going to win! I crossed the line and let out an almighty roar. I thrust one arm in the air and 'punched' the crisp blue sky as hard as I could! Unfortunately I just didn't have enough left to make a proper pro's celebration and sit up with both hands in the air, but there you go, guess you can't have it all.
On reflection I couldn't be more pleased with the way the race went, I felt much better than last week, and to win really is something special. It's my first ever race win and after all the hours of hard training I have put in since my operation last August, somehow today just makes it all mean that little bit more! Although I'm not going to lose sight of the fact that this is really only a small race, and there really are much bigger fish to fry. But it's only Februrary so hopefully this is the first victory of many.
-
-Adam- - lives on this board 24/7!!!
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-Adam- - lives on this board 24/7!!!
- Posts: 3515
- Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:38 pm
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Re: Well Done Adam!!!
by Andrew G » Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:37 pm
Well done, great result and useful points early in the year. I know you were gutted last year when you crashed so couldn't get to second cat, fingers crossed this season.
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Re: Well Done Adam!!!
by -Adam- » Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:44 pm
Cheers Andrew, you're spot on there... 2nd cat by Easter perhaps!?
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Re: Well Done Adam!!!
by Toks » Sat Feb 16, 2008 11:27 pm
Yeah fantastic work Adam...who knows winning might become a habit now Your mate told me that you won when we were all at the cafe on Box Hill earlier today... Back in 2006 I did a lot of races with Ian but he sounds much stronger now 
. I bet your grinning like a cat now, chapeau 
Your mate told me that you won when we were all at the cafe on Box Hill earlier today... Back in 2006 I did a lot of races with Ian but he sounds much stronger now . I bet your grinning like a cat now, chapeau - Toks
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Re: Well Done Adam!!!
by George » Sat Feb 16, 2008 11:29 pm
[quote]I crossed the line and let out an almighty roar. I thrust one arm in the air and 'punched' the crisp blue sky as hard as I could!
Sounds just like a Lance Armstrong victory punch.Well done Adam welcome to the Club
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Re: Well Done Adam!!!
by Sylv » Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:54 am
Well done Adam!
You've got the tactics right that's for sure
I bet no one could've roared louder than you
You've got the tactics right that's for sure
I bet no one could've roared louder than you
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Re: Well Done Adam!!!
by Colin.Steadman » Sun Feb 17, 2008 11:10 am
[quote]Oh, and who said I couldn't sprint
errrr....I think it was Tom Boonen when he heard what you said about being able to beat him.
Seriously though, well done mate.
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