Hi,It’s been a hectic few weeks since I last posted, there’s been highs, lows and punctures (hence the title). Firstly ill start with the Bole Hill RR a few weeks back. A slimmed down field meant me and the boys in black set out with high expectations, my personal goal being the win or podium minimum!! Lap one, a small group breaks off on the main climb followed by some more riders, a few names who I knew so I decided it was time to go. Stu went across with the legendary Mark Lovatt and I soon followed, hitting the bunch with two tones of pow over the top of a climb and into a fast descent. After a few near death experiences down there (sorry mum) I got across to the chasing group and we set about closing the gap. A lap later we’d made it to the main break only to find out there were still two guys up the road. So it was back to chasing down and as we had three guys in the move, me, Stu and young Johnny it was up to us!! After a lap of attacking our group split in two with myself and Johnny making the front split in chase of the lone leader who had dropped his companion. However instead of co-operating and chasing it down some guys in the group had other ideas and instead decided to attack me and Johnny until finally on the final lap my legs gave up as it started to rain. The result, 5th for me and 6th for Johnny. Not too bad, but not what we’d hoped for.
A turn in fortunes the next week though as Stu took out a crit win on Tuesday night after I’d worked the break and whittled it down, Stu took of with another rider and romped to the sprint win as Andy cam home fro 4th with me 5th taking a valuable point from Jack Pullar (Kinesis uk) for the overall series. Friday was another crit win for the man with the little feet taking out the 2nd cat crit at the Beaumont weekend. All this set me up for the longest race so far this year, Beaumont Trophy RR, a flat 106mile romp with three short but devilishly steep climbs known as Ryals, claimed 30% mid point. The pace was blistering to start with attacks willy nilly. My game plan wa sot get in some of these moves, however that went awol as I punctured first lap and ended up riding the rim at 35mph!!! Believe me it’s no fun!!!! After a hard chase back on, I eventually made my way back to the front of the 140 man field but it was too late the move of the day had gone and in it were favorites Bradley Wiggins (Garmin) and Russ Downing (Candi TV). After cottoning on to a large chase group that went no-where I was left to fight out the minor places, making the front split of the remaining peloton to finish 33rd in the sprint behind Rob Hayles. Not bad considering a puncture and I’d been in that break!!! A confidence booster, I know I can finish top 20-15 I just need that confidence!!!
And to round out the blog good news on Tuesday as I took another crit win in text book fashion starting the break before ripping it to pieces late on. And to boot Jack missed the move so I put a big jump in points on the overall. I now sit top in the league comfortably but boy am I watching my back. Roll on the weekend!!!!
Picture is me winning on tuesday, see th
Ash
