I am beggining to develop quite a liking for this circuit as it is a great opportunity for me to develop my 'big' bunch sprinting skills.
The race was fairly normal, Paul T somehow gets away with going in the 'easier' 3rd cat group, while I narrowly avoided getting started with the scratch group again! Off we went, the scratch group caught my group of 2nds just before making the junction with the quicker 3rds. The pace continued to be hot as Paul T's 'slow' 3rd cats were still up the road as well as the 4ths. By about 2/3s of the way through the race we were all together and it was game on. The big boys were firing off the front at every opportunity but each time moves were keenly marked. I myself got in a move with the likes of Gary Dodd and Dan Santoni, unfortunately just as we were reeled in Ben Wilson and Mr Rollapaluza (Jos van... whats his name) steamed off the front and got an instant gap. There was a slight delay while the bunch picked the pace up, and we nearly had them back with about 2 to go. But as so often happens we just let them slip away a little more and that was that. I then happened to be on Gary Dodd's wheel again who looked like he was gearing up for a bridging attempt. As I went I was straight onto his wheel, unfortunately a brief moment later so was most of the bunch! So as he looked around I shook my head, knowing we where going no where. Bunch sprint for 3rd place it was to be then...
Which was actually very safe despite possibly a 50-60 rider mixed ability field. I was a little too close to the front too soon and ended up getting a bit swamped when the sprint started. So I was making places up all the time, crossing the line in about about 9/10th from the sprint, so just missing the top 10. Must say I only just beat Paul T to the line as well, a very good sprint by the master himself. Mind you he had been sitting in the whole race!
Not too disappointed, most of the guys who were ahead of me were known strong men, Santoni, Dodd, Brueton and the likes. And the amount of alcohol I consumed last night was never going to play in my favour. I would advise against Armagnac the night before a race, even if it was bottled the year before you were born!! I was close enough to them all to realise that there wasn't a rider there who I couldn't take in a sprint on my day
So all fun and games, thats 21 races for me now this season, 0 DNF's and 54 BC points. And its only May, oh yes, theres plenty more to come...
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