Good fun race today on the open road. Got over to Alfold and met up with Andy. We were both feeling reasonably good after yesterdays hour session at the ACC road race. Paul Tunnell was commisairing today, so we had an even better chance of winning.
The 4th cats went off first and Mr Tunnell gave them 5 minutes. It seemed like an age before we were let off. The through and off never really got going proper, it was more like a few strong guys just doing the main turns at the front. I reckon there were about 6 of us out of a group of over 30 that were doing all the work.
I was feeling really strong today and at times I was creating gaps when I didn't even mean to. At one point I went away with a few guys, then we were reeled back in, as we came back I said to Andy he should have a go, he went for it. Unfortunately nobody went with him and soon he was back in the pack, well may as well have another go, so I attacked again. Unfortunately I could not make anything stick.
With about a lap and a half to go of the 3.5 lap race we caught the 4ths. I now took the opportunity to have a bit of a rest. A few attacks went, but nothing looked liked it was going to stick. A strong rider from London Dynamo got a good gap, I tried to get over to him, but was being well marked by the peleton. I ended up just dragging them all around for a bit to reel in the Dynamo rider. Felt a bit guilty about it, but did not want it to be a sprint for 2nd.
Everything stayed together, I tried a final ditch attempt to get away before the sprint started, but again just got marked and could not get away even at 50kmph. As the sprint started I got a bit swamped, the sprint started very early, so I thought I would make up some more places, they did slow and I was making good ground, but it was too crowded and the people slowing stopped me from gaining ground. Basically I was really badly positioned.
A few guys came up to me after the race and said they reckoned I was the strongest rider and was unlucky not to get away. Think the form is coming back, just in time for winter.
Cheers
Marek....