Palace 19.05.09

[Sylv]

Yesterday it was touch and go whether I would be racing, feeling very sleepy in the afternoon, by 4pm I had decided not to, then changed my mind a couple times, and finally had a go at it, in the end I didn't regret it as I made it to the bunch sprint, but I have not yet had a round where I felt as good as the very first one, when I was able to spend decent time at the front and could have hoped to get in a break. Others racing were Chloe, Hal, Mark, Andrew, Kieran, Steve.

It started ok but soon the pace picked up. We had our friend Bob from Toachim racing, once you'd made allowances for his dodgy riding he was a good wheel to follow as seemingly tireless at the front or chasing. Someone this strong should be able to at least make it to the break though! Speaking of break, I didn't see Warrick until about halfway through the race, I assumed he was just watching everyone else getting tired uselessly at the front, before attacking and having a shorter workout in a break after Sunday's Hillingdon race. Which is pretty much what happened, it took quite a few digs of him though, I spent about a lap behind him in one of the early ones, and it put me well into the red. I was glad the bunch had followed as I really didn't fancy taking a turn.

Eventually he got away with a Dynamo I think. Later on Ian Paine put in a devastating attack (© Stu) on the climb which no-one could match. I had been at the front for a bit so didn't even think about trying. So that was it, there were a few more attacks from Dan Santoni, Dynamo and Corridori, but nothing stuck, with three laps to go I realised that by the time we were getting to the top of the hill my legs felt crap, which didn't bode well for the sprint, that's exactly what happened as I wasn't even able to have a proper go at it, everyone coming past me as we got to the top bit, nothing in the legs, I glanced back and there was now no-one behind me in the depleted bunch, so I was actually glad to be able to soft-pedal the final few tens of metres.

A pretty fast and hard race, 1h02 at close to 40km/h, the average power including zeros was only 257w, normalised power 319w. A fair few laps under 2" with one at 1"52!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/patronchou ... 546248985/

[Toks]

Excellent work Sylv. One of these tuesday's afternoons I'll actually be in London so I can make it to the race

[kieran]

Well, a quick report, me, steve, Mark and Andrew were in the 3/4 race. A smaller field than usual, no queues for signing on! 27 laps as usual. Anyway to me it seemed to be a fast race, again except for the hill sometimes where we slowed down, although about half way through Hugo put the pressure on and we were single file for about 3 laps, even up the hill. The bunch was much reduced near the end, but again I was at the tail end of it coming into the lower bend and had tinglings of cramp for a few laps. Anyway I started to sprint and passed a few riders but then just at the top of the hill my right leg gave up (cramping badly) and I had to sit down and coast in. Glad to have finished it, must work on positioning and sprint. Also need more race intensity training me thinks to stop the cramps. Steve did good again! Careful Steve or you'll get 2nd cat soon!

Thanks to Huw for the few shouts of encouragement. I will miss next weeks as up in Scotland doin' some walking. Have a good'un.

[Andrew G]

Yeah thanks Huw.

Last night started out okay, for 2 laps, then Mr. Rapha started playing up. Some bloke who's bought all the kit and the bike from last year (or the year before) and rides like he's just taken his stabilisers off.

Just starting the 3rd lap and in to the hairpin when he shouts "out the way" to no-one in particular and dives through for a late brake, cue locking up his rear wheel and a small snake skid in the middle of the bunch. That earned him some choice words from a few people.

Start of the 4th lap and round the hairpin, Mr. Rapha does a wild switch exiting which causes about 3 or 4 others to have to react. I got caught up in this and slid to the back of the field just as they were accelerating. I ended up chasing the bunch for half a lap (including dropping Mr. Rapha) to the hill and had to bury myself to get back, about 3/4s of the way up my legs said no and I couldn't hold them.

Carried on as per normal slogging my round for the training (getting slower and slower on the hill), although it was a bit annoying as I think I could have lasted a bit longer than normal with the bunch last night before the inevitable dropping.

Later on I noticed Mr. Rapha was back in the lead bunch yet he hadn't come past me so he must have soft tapped until he recovered and then jumped on them as they overtook him. Kieran said afterwards that he thinks he'd cut out the haipin on one lap too. I'm not going to be at Palace much this year but I hope for everyone's sake MR. R isn't there too often.

Mark seemed to be going well last night and well done to Steve on another great result.

[kieran]

Hi Andrew, no I definitely saw him do it, Eeven if he had a mechancial it was a bit near the end to allow him back in. He was also the guy I swore at in the first Palace race, obviuosly thinks he is one of their elite riders.

[Michelle]

Well done chaps, sounds like it was a tough race Sylv, especially after the mega ride you had on Sunday.

[Hal]

Well, this should really be in the reports / general sections rather than results (or lack of). I had a really crap start after unclipping both pedals to re pin sylv's numbers on when the race started and I was way back, no problems getting on with the group.

Things were not too bad for a number of laps (probably because Warwick was also hanging out in the back of the bunch watching). I was having a struggle to move up through the group every time I would make a up 5 or 10 places and then get passed, finding myself out back again. On one lap I did come round to the front and felt the wind for a bit which was nice but when an attach went on the climb I was again on the back. I started to really struggle with and found myself continually off the back not quite being able to get on for about 3 laps. Then with 12 to go the elastic broke on the climb and I was gone.

Hooked up with another dropped rider and rode hard till 3 laps to go before pulling over to keeping out of the way of the lapping E1/2 break / bunch and 3/4 finish.

A good ride but not so sure about my earlier confidence about getting points this year!

[Sylv]

Women

1 Charlotte Blackman Cyclefit.co.uk
2 Elise Laverick Pearsons Cycles
3 Byrnie Darbon VC Londres
4 Karen Price Dulwich Paragon
5 Melissa Wadhams
6 Tracy Corbett
7 Rachel Przybylski Charloteville
8 Chloe Thomas Addiscombe CC
9 Sarah Atkins Dulwich Paragon
10 Rebecca Charlton Team Mule Bar

E/1/2/3
1 Warrick Spence Cyclefit.co.uk
2 Daniel Santini Pearson Cycles
3 Ian Paine London Dynamo
4 Bryan Taylor VC Londres
5 Sam Humpheson London Dynamo
6 Matt Holmes Arctic Premier
7 Mike Ladbrook Norwood Paragon
8 Robert Jackson Team Toachim
9 Stuart Spies London Dynamo
10 David Jones Dulwich Paragon

3/4
1 Hugo Humphreys Lee Valley Youth CC
2 Mackie Bruce Lee Valley Youth CC
3 Robert Moore London Phoenix
4 Stuart Broomfield Addiscombe CC
5 David Arthur Team Mule Bar
6 Ramon Serna
7 Scott Bentley Dulwich Paragon
8 Christian Cormack London Dynamo
9 Keiran Brennan Addiscombe CC
10 Louis Ceuvas Addiscombe CC

[quote="kieran"] obviously thinks he is one of their elite riders.