SL Easter 3-day - 1/2/3

[Paul H]

Well done Sylv - keep it going.

[Toks]

Wow! there's some sereious heavy weights looking up at you Sylv. May you have good legs tomorrow . Brilliant just Brilliant

[Tony]

Hey, well done Sylv. I knew you'd do well....but you're doing better than expected. Hope the final stage goes well tomorrow. I think I was 9th on GC in 2004, albeit not for ACC. Make sure you stay ahead of that....

[thePinkDreamMachine]

Our only probem is Sylv is working without a team which makes improvements on his 43 second deficit difficult. So Im advising forgeting the win on GC, concentrating on the highest stage finish possible and the GC position will take care of itself - open to suggestions though? Huw (not Chloe)

[Toks]

[quote="Tony"] I think I was 9th on GC in 2004, albeit not for ACC.

[Tony]

OK - so my result is even easier to beat......it's amazing how, over the passage of time, one's mind jumbles the facts slightly and amends results to make them slightly better. Perhaps I was 9th on the final stage? I'm sure 9th featured somewhere....

Anyway, tomorrow looks like it will be a great race. Given that neither Paragon nor Dynamo have well-placed 2nd riders, their riders can only be riding for Calland and Hoult respectively (assuming they are riding as teams, which I'm sure they will be). The old trick of a well-placed 2nd rider in a team riding off with a break whilst everyone marks the favourite or yellow-jersey holder, is not going to happen. This makes your life somewhat easier. I'd suggest a conservative approach and stick very close to Calland and Hoult. The onus is on them and their teams to make the race tomorrow. Hopefully, they will bring back any breaks completely which will protect your 5th place too.

I wouldn't try and cover every attack that could jeopardise your 5th place - especially not in the early parts of the race. The bare bones of a plan for me, would be to stay very close to Calland and Hoult and keep a beady eye on one to two others who could threaten you from behind - e.g. Rob Enslin is a monster when on form and a good friend of many in the Paragon. Maybe they have a gentleman's agreement and they would be happy for him to win GC too? I think those three are well worth marking / watching. But make sure the Paragon and Dynamo do lots of work!

Without teammates to help out, I don't think you can be too aggressive as you'll be too vulnerable when any couter-attacks come. I think a wily defence of 5th place (with the odd dig if someone in 1st - 4th looks vulnerable), would be a fantastict result. Realistically, I think you have more to lose than gain tomorrow...but will be happy to be proven wrong again. And I suspect you've already got a far clearer plan than my ramblings in any case!

[Sylv]

Cheers all, good analysis Chloe, yes i think i have the tactics sorted in my head. The first test will be how the legs feel today though ..

Yes will watch y.j and Steve (trouble is he looks just like Dave from behind to me ). Yep Rob is super strong and keeps attacking in a huge gear, he won the 5-day afew years ago. He didn't mention any NP alliance on his twitter though

Just need to remember what the Alfold finish is like now .. is it the one with the drag then the downhill to the finish (ACC race 2 or 3 years ago?).

[Toks]

[quote="Sylv"]Yes will watch y.j and Steve (trouble is he looks just like Dave from behind to me ).

[Sylv]

No I meant from a distance. Otherwise it's easier to just pick a Colnago from a Specz'd.

Hey I got the white socks out for the occasion

[Andy E]

Absolutely awesome riding Sylv, that's a seriously strong field you're up against. Richard Hoult's a good friend of mine and i know how strong he is as he's left me a gibbering wreck on many rides in the past. Hope today's stage goes well, top 5 on GC is simply stunning. Chapeau indeed

[Keith]

Sylv preparing for today's mission.....

[img]http://i39.tinypic.com/rrqkjl.jpg[/img] [img]http://i40.tinypic.com/1z4a9s3.jpg[/img]

[Snoop Doug]

Corrrr, this is really exciting stuff. Great reports all good fule for the LR fire. Can't wait to hear how you went today Sylv, you're on fire mate

[Andrew G]

White socks = tick VG
Black shorts = tick VG
Shades = tick VG

Now if we can just talk about the equipment on that bike of yours .

[Keith]

Pictures from Michelle:

Sylv looking comfortable on the hill:

[img]http://i42.tinypic.com/2rpd55w.jpg[/img]

Today's stage winner (Sam Allen):

[img]http://i41.tinypic.com/258pl68.jpg[/img]

Another relieved man:

[img]http://i42.tinypic.com/2hztoci.jpg[/img]

[Jim B]

What was the final result then?
Sounds like you've got great form.
Nice one.