Was intending to do the 3/4 race, but fortunately they split the race into a 3rds and a 4ths due to numbers, and still being a 4th (just) I decided that I would take the easier option.
The Ladies mile is a reasonably hilly course, nothing extremely steep but just a number of long drags with a few steepish parts.
After the first couple of laps I was feeling ok, and sat near to the front, on about the third lap a group of three got away, so on a steep section I sprinted from the peleton to join them. We worked together for a bit, but after about a lap the peleton caught us up. So I sat a bit further down the peleton to await further opportunities.
On about the fifth lap we caught up with about 8 or so third cat riders who had been dropped. The fourths at the front got mixed into the thirds and seemed to slow to their pace. I felt this was not a good idea so went off the front to pull out the fourths which seemed to work.
Stayed near the front of the peleton for the remaining three laps and then coming up to the hill finish I got behind a couple of London Dynamo riders who were starting to pick up the pace, I then went past one of them and as the leader started to sprint I sat on his wheel to the last moment and then released my fury and overtook him to take what I thought was a win. Imagine my dismay to find that a London Dynamo had got away on the fourth lap and had won the race by about two minutes. Bit of a bummer, but overall pretty pleased with a second and the fact that I have now at least won a sprint finish, if not a race.
After the race there was a bit of bad news with the fact that Daren came down in the third cat race, will put up a separate post to let you know how he is.
Cheers
Marek....