The Tour of Pendle was one of my targets for this season, a circuit suited well to my characteristics and within an hours drive, a rare treat in the Premier Calendar Series. I’ve been racing the series throughout the season after starting up north in March and so far have been unlucky or lacked the form to make a mark on the races, this all changed at Pendle. I was determined to make a show today and after my ride in Eire, I knew I had the legs. So through the first 20 miles, including the first long climb up Blacko, I kept myself up front and following moves. Then on the 20 mile mark the race split and a group went up the road including three guys from Rapha, including our national RR champion, three guys from Halfords, two Candi TV riders and a few other strong men. I quickly realized this was a good move and if I didn’t go quick it would disappear without me, so up a draggy section through some traffic lights I put in a big dig and powered across to the break, leaving the bunch floundering in the turbulence. Over the next 30 miles, taking in another climb of blacko we pulled out a max of about 2mins. Unfortunately for us the peloton led by Sports Beans and Candi TV started to reel us in and as we hit the last ascent of blacko it was as good as over as our lead group spit with me being popped out the group after doing way too much work when I had no reason to do any work, durrrr, ill know better next time. The rest were caught a few miles later in the long headwind section. No sooner had it come together than the favorite for the day, Russ Downing, went clear taking Chris Newton and Rob Partridge with him, game over. The finishing circuit resulted in Russ romping away to win solo and me imploding up the last climb and going so far out the back of the bunch a police man decided to announce I had no road coverage with 1k to go, I sat up and rolled home safe in the knowledge I had helped shape the race, and got my face about!!
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Good Fighters
Do Battle on a Cannondale
