Well, since my last epic blog a lot has happened. Really there’s probably a good 4 blogs of writing here. I’m just lazy (riding my bike too much). So, since Smithfield, I’ve race at Ulverston, Dolphinholme and Cockerham in the CDNW league and the usual Tuesday night Crits at Salt Ayre. I’ve even done some timetrials!
Ulverston – Similar race to Smithfield really, although the break of 6 managed to stick. I tried to chase it down on the climb hoping for the bunch to sit on on the penultimate lap but I simply road away. I sat up then but should have kept on going. So for the bunch sprint I managed to get 7th, which I was amazed about considering that I sunddenly found myself at the back of the bunch having got squeezed out and boxed in so went to the back. Then realising that the finish was near thought it was time to go. 2/3 rds of the way up there was a cattle grid. I braked, squeezed in for this then smashed in my highest gear on the uphill finish. I was able to get so far as there was a wind coming from the right meaning everyone was trying to stay on the left and keep sheltered so I had a clear run to the finish.
Dolphinholme – This is my local race, I live literally 2 minutes away with the circuit being my hour’s training loop. This is a hard, technical hilly/draggy course. I was really up for this and again in the 3/4 race so I knew I could do well, hoping for the win. First time up the climb I rode tempo, a mistake as I should have sat in but I was hoping to make it hard for everyone. First lap 2 got away, second time up the climb people started to bridge across and as some were strong riders, this is when I realised I had to bridge. So along with 2 other riders, we bridged acorss on the decent of the climb and the headwind section (the photo). After this I simply sat in the break as the bunch wasn’t chasing. Then the penultimate time up the climb the winner attacked with another guy following. I chased this down with another junior and the final break of 4 rode to the finish. Last time up the climb and I couldn’t keep pace. I was struggling to work in the break and then my chain came off on the climb. It lost me some momentum and I just couldn’t get back on. I came 4th which was a good result on such a tough circuit losing 22seconds to the winner.
Cockerham – This has been my best result so far and I’m really chuffed with it. We decided that it was best to do the E/1/2 race as it would be much better training for the Junior Tour of Wales and with the Premier Calender Richmond GP taking place, along with the Tour of Ireland then the race would not be as strong as it could have been. Don’t get me wrong, it was still flat out! With cross winds, head winds and tail winds, with no hills this race should not suit me. But after the first lap with nearly all 3 from Herbalife nearly getting dropped in the first cross wind section we sorted ourselves out for the next lap. There were a few attacks of the front but nothing stuck due to the wind. Then a group of 15 or so created a break and this looked likely to stay. The peleton chased and when it got within spitting distance Jonny was able to bridge across. This meant for me all I had to do was to sit in and follow any moves that tried to bridge which I did until I got tired and decided to sit in a lap later. Eventually this break came back and so on the lasp lap I was expecting a bunch sprint. I was sitting near the front as much as I could and then an attack went. I followed the wheel and found myself in the break! I did what I could in the break but pretty much just sat in thinking that the bunch would bring us back as it was the last lap. It didn’t happen and I was amazed. A couple of the usual juniors managed to bridge across which was an effort in that wind. Then on the only hill I attacked hoping to get a gap. They were on my wheel immediately. Then I just tried to recover and prepare for the fast downhill sprint in the rain. A car on the turn before the sprint split the break and meant I lost a good 20m before the spint and managed to ride in for 7th which I was massively chuffed with. This meant that i got my second category licence which was a big aim for this year and takes the presssure off for the rest of the season.
My other races at Scale Hall involved 2 11th (one from a puncture on the last lap), and 2 timetrials preparing myself for the tour. With Cockerham being a massive boost of confidence I’m really looking forward to Wales and enjoying the rest of the season and the start of next year already!!!
(Happy Nic?) All photos again from http://www.ilm-photography.co.uk/home.htm with a BC report http://new.britishcycling.org.uk/road/article/roa20090816-road-CDNW-Dolphinholme-Road-Race-0
Me on the finish line of Dolpinholme.
Chasing the eventual winner on the main climb
Attacking and stringing the field out to get across to the main break. The first 3 guys in this are the ones who help to bridge across to the break with me.
Tags: Junior National Series
