Ah, nice long rolling descent, no problem getting back on if you need too.Arrive at HQ, where is everybody
small field, maybe 40 or so? Maybe they'll just all take it easy for the first 100km and sprint at the end?K, off we go, big hill after 3 miles, get near the front, don't want to be dropped on the first lap
Near the front you idiot, not ON the front! Swing off, swing off!! K, 5th wheel at the start of the hill, this could blow apart straight away. Sh!t, attacks already, go with them, out the saddle, good, still near the front, bo!!ox, there they go again. Dig deeper, keep with them, lungs burning, is that blood I taste? why are we still going up, where's the top? Didn't notice that false summit in the car, damn, only halfway, this is really hurting now, keep the wheel just keep the wheel. K, there's the top, ease up or you'll blow completely, others are coming past, nice, a few more, now get a wheel. Fine, not dropped, false flat, lined out, still hurting, sharp left, now the descent. Damn, small gap, close it close it!! K, back on. Breathe, recover, get that HR down.. This is still hard, no chance to freewheel, this is really strung out! Another sharp left, out the saddle, sprint, crosswind, hold the wheel, no respite, still strung out. Short climb to the finish, 6 laps to go. 4 have got away, it's easing up, thank f*ck for that! Gel, drink, shelter mid bunch. This is more like it. Damn, big climb is coming again, move up, top 10, that will do. Just take it steady, slip back if you need to, no surging. More attacks, stay seated, gaps are being closed, fine. Top of the climb, almost at the back, it hasn't split, job done. Another fast descent, still strung out, more manageable now. Break's been caught. Sharp left again, sprint, hold the wheel, still sprinting, still sprinting!!! crosswind, in the gutter, check speedo, 36mph? 36mph!! It's not even downhill, and there's a crosswind! Have I missed something, are we being motorpaced now?! Climb to the finish line, 5 to go, now it's easing again.
Drink, food, damn, more attacks, bloody sadists! strung out again, big hill, keep it steady again, no splits, false flat, more surges, onto the descent, top gear, spinning out trying to stay on, look back, where's the rest?! Not getting caught at the back, move up move up. Sharp left, sprint, still sprinting, crosswind, gutter, climb to the finish line, 4 to go.
Strung out, surges, big hill, a touch easier? Strung out, descent, sharp left, sprint, crosswing, gutter, eases up a bit. Drink, gel, more attacks, climb to the finish, 3 to go.
It's not easing up, still strung out. Drink, gel, still strung out, climbs coming, can't move up, near the back, maybe 30 riders left? More attacks, hold the wheel, hold the wheel HOLD THE WHEEL
F*ck, lost it. Keep pushing, summit, false flat, back on the wheel. Rider in front blows, get round him, can't close the gap, it's getting bigger, 5m, 10m, 30m! Descent, bury yourself, gap's closing, 25m, 15m, groups easing up, 5m, flattens out, 2m, they're going again! Just got that last wheel. Strung out again, sharp left, sprint, full gas, crosswind, gutter, losing the wheel, 1m, 2m, CLOSE IT!! Back on. This is beyond a joke, is this some 1st cat joke that 3rd cats don't get?! Small break off the front, they're being caught. Gruppo. Counter attacks, strung out again, climb to the finish line, 2 to go. Pace eases a touch, climb's coming, move up, break's going, 2nd wheel. Pace drops, finally!! No-one chasing the break, don't care, is the race over? Hit the climb, more attacks, nothing left, just get up it. Race is blown to bits now, small groups everywhere, over the top, false flat, 5 riders in front, dig in, get the wheel. Think this is the 4th group back, descent, through and off, missing turns, sharp left, no sprint this time, crosswind, 3 riders up ahead, slowly reel them in, now 8 of us. Can't see anyone else in front, climb to the finish, final lap.
The group's still drilling it, damn this is hard, people missing turns, shooting off the front, this is bo!!ox. HQ coming up, had enough, pull over, DNF.
Results
1 Daniel Felstead. Dulwich Paragon
2 Ivan Jordan. Kent Cycles RT
3 Gareth McCullough. Medway VC
4 Malcolm Davies. Kent Cycles RT
5 Holyoa Paul Alderson. South Western RC
6 David Seagar. San Fairy Ann CC
7 Luke Anderson. Wigmore CC
8 Kevin Knox. Dulwich Paragon.
9 Nat Spurling. Finsbury Park.
10 James King. In Gear Dev Squad
11 Shaun Duffield. Active Cycles
12 Andrew T McKie. Norwood Paragon
13 Warren Jesse. Felt Racing.
14 Andrew Wills. Toachim House RT
15 James Wilson. Sigma Sport RT
16 Phil Anthony. Toachim House RT
17 Mark Hill. ODLS.com RT
18 Tom Wilson. Team Mark Pickford
19 Alex Camier. Private Member.
20 Sean O.Reagan. Victoria CC
