SOGGY
This was one wet race with non stop showers for the first half of the 65 mile road race that loops up and over Acton Lane 13 times, just to make sure you that the climb is etched in your legs and mind for a lifetime.
The Weaver Valley organisation was excellent and for what where busy roads the race was run off without incident. Unusually for this event the race was to end in a bunch sprint, but some very promising breaks almost stayed away but ultimately were reeled back in. Derek made it into several breaks, not bad going for a man just back from the RAS. He does make it look effortless....something I'm sure it isn't.
Stephen Maxwell (2nd claim member) also had an active ride and got into a break himself. Cormac was active as well but kept missing the moves. I never had the pace to get to the front and break, it was hard enough hanging in as the strong men kept driving us up and over the climb, with the 'post climb' stretch at times unbearable as the pace was upped to drop the weaker riders. Sean Hughes came a cropper on the 2nd lap as himself and Paul Bethell broke away, Bethell came down at the top of the climb and Sean rode over him and fell. Luckily Sean was back up and on in seconds but with gear problems stopping him get into his 14/15. Plenty of spinning for Sean!
So as we passed for the last lap everybody was back together apart from 2 riders who broke away just near the end, for them this endeavour was almost successful, but the bunch just caught them on the line and a 1st place became a 2nd.
Strong final digs from Steve and Derek secured them a top 10, with Steve finishing an excellent 3rd and Derek 5th or 6th (I forget but will confirm). Sean, Cormac and myself finished somewhere between 20-30 we think....it's hard to tell.
So all in all a good days racing.
Next year beckons already
No comments:
Post a Comment