Ryedale Grand Prix

[-Adam-]

My second outing in the Premier Calendar this weekend just gone, a little more succesful than my Lincoln debut.

The whole affair felt a lot more relaxed than the Lincoln, this was probably due to the fact that many of the riders were hungover from their Smithfield efforts the previous evening. All the while me and my team were lounging around in our rather luxurious hotel(compared to the standard travel lodge!).

Down to the HQ in the morning and we had a processional start. 10km up the road to a stately home, called Duncombe Park. A fantastically lavish house set at the foot of the North Yorkshire Moores. There there was a bit of a roll call while the Downings et al had their limelight etc. After which we rolled back out the grounds and onto the road, for about another 2km neutralised before the flag was dropped. So I had a quick chat with Ian Wilkinson, top bloke, then follwed him to the front just after the flag was dropped. The next thing I know he's slotted into line, and I'm still going about 3/4km/h faster than the bunch... low and behold a few riders launch it off the front, inlcuding former national champ Kevin Dawson... what was I to do...

I followed of course! The thinking being I didn't get anywhere near the front in the Lincoln so I'm gonna make the most of this while it lasts!! For about 5km I was in the first break of the day, which later turned out to become the main break of the day after a bit of a reshuffle, Dawson hung on til the end to take third, only getting caught by Russ Downing and Wilkinson with 3ks to go. It was bloody fast I can assure you, I basically managed one turn (in front of the TV motor bike!!) before I decided it was perhaps not wise to be riding consistently at 190bpm when there where still 170km to go.

Back to the bunch, and while the pace was hot, by the time I recovered from my earlier stupidity I felt good. I had maybe the best legs of the season so far yesterday, and I was confident of not only finishing the thing, but turning in a reasonable result.

But, life is never like you expect it, is it? The next thing you know, two team mates (not mine I hasten to add) touch wheels just ahead of you, and go down. You have no where to go, you try to sort of bunny hop the guys bike (i.e ride over it), but no, your going down. Not just you, about 10 guys all there in a heap. I get up, the adrenaline is racing. My chain is off, my mech looks like the hanger is snapped. But no, its ok, so why won't the effing chain go back on? Neutral service arrives... sorted. Off I go, the red mist descends, I fly round the next corner, grab a bottle from the feed, and put my head down. It was almost like I thought I'd close down about 2 mins on some of the best riders in the country... ha, maybe not. A few ks later, I caught up with another faller, we both looked at each other and knew we may as well just ride tempo back to the feed and climb off. That we did. I was gutted, the crash happened with only 50km on the clock, but even so, I had no reason to think I wasn't gonna get my first finish in a Prem, but I would be deprived for a while yet.

Today, after the initial disappointment, I can accept that yesterday was actually a good day. It was encouraging to know that I have the legs to mix it (a little) in a Prem, and that will only get easier the more experience I gain in them. And if I make it onto the TV highlights, well then it'll have all been worthwhile!! Have a bit of an easier weekend coming up, just a shorter local race in Oxfordshire. Then an Elite 2-day down in Somerset, the Kalas Cup. After that it's the National Champs in Abergavenny, followed by The Rochdale Grand Prix Elite Crit, Blackpool Crit, and then the Tour of Blackpool. So it's just as well I'm starting to have good legs, ay.

[Michelle]

Hey nice one! Well not really, I don't mean the crash, I mean the ability to keep up.

I'm watching the Dauphine Libere this afternoon on the tellybox and there's some British Premier Racing on at 4.30...maybe you will be in it Adam!

[Andrew G]

Just got round to reading this, well done Adam but bad luck. You seem to have had a couple of unfortunatelies lately fingers crossed you get a bit of luck soon.

[-Adam-]

Handed in my dissertation today, just been for a spin... legs felt gooooooood. Now the real racing can begin!

[Keith]

[quote="-Adam-"]Handed in my dissertation today

[-Adam-]

ha, im not getting overexcited til i get the results... but yeah, something like that!

[Keith]

Good luck in Oxford.

[-Adam-]

Cheers, some good riders, but I'll be up there...

[Toks]

Hey Adam, I think i just saw you riding across to the first breakaway of the day lead by Kevin Dawson. (Eurosport 16.34)