Cheltenham Race Course, 18/06/2010
Category 2/3/4, 50 mins +5 laps
At last, the 4 weeks I had most been looking forward to all year were finally here, the 4 race Leisure Lakes Circuit Series was up on us and I was gaging to get going. At least I was a few weeks ago but now my feeling was somewhat more modest, unfortunately I had had a terrible week, I felt lousy, fatuiged, grumpy, depressed and generally worn out. I think the epic that I did on Sunday was mainly to blame, as well as the cumulative effects of the previous Sunday epic ride aswell. I tried some intervals on the Friday but jys felt terrible and lacked anykind of power, I took this as a sign and abandoned the session. I tried again Wednesday and the same happened, once I can deal with but twice really got to me. I tried to forget it and decided to have the week as a recovery week which by the looks of things, I really needed.
The easy week seemed to do the trick and I got to Cheltenham race course feeling fresh and enthusiastic. The warm felt great and my legs were going round in circles for the first time in days. However, I may have been feeling good but mother nature was going to try and break my spirits by sending a nice big rain cloud over our way, although it did rain on us, it stopped before the race started and only made the ground slightly wet.
Come race time I lined up on the start ready for the neutralized lap, I made the effort to get up towards the front on this lap but as e crossed the line to start the actual race, I got stuck behind the ladies which are made to lead out this opening lap. I was already half way down the field and Tom Stockdale had already attacked and got a sizable gap. I had to make some big efforts just to get to the front of the race, this took about 4 laps and once I was there I stayed there. I was feeling good and was setting a fast pace, I had already shreaded the field by attacked every lap on the hill and now I was breaking clear. The were only about 10 of us at the front and I was still at the head of the field, a rider attacked on the hill to bridge the gap to Tom, this is what I needed to do soon but in hindsight I knew I was doing to much on the front.
At this point I slipped back a few places and lauched an attacked on the next lap, I got clear with 1 or 2 others. I was still on the front at this point and using to much energy, Jacob Tipper attacked off the front and I managed to go with him. We were coming up to the back of the break and about to catch them and then disaster struck, I lost my front wheel on a corner, I didn’t go down but I lost the wheels and now the gap back was big. I was in between the 2 groups but had another rider with me, we worked to close the gap and brought I back slightly before he blew to pieces and couldent hold the pace. This left me with a dilemma, do I ease up and slip back in to the bunch and work with them or do I go in to TT mode and make my own effort to catch the break. It was an easy decision, I went for it solo. The aim was to ride hard consistant laps to bring them back, problem was there was 3 strong rider to catch and with the head wind on the draggy back straight and me on my tod, this wasent happening. The gap was going out and I realised I wasent going to catch them, however, I was still pulling away from the bunch so I just kept my head down and kept on riding.
There was still 40 minutes to go and then 5 laps, I was pulling further away from the bunch and still rising the laps as fast as I was when I begun. This trend never changed and I was as strong with 5 laps to go as I was after 5 laps in to the race. I always loved the atmosphere on the climb during these races with the cheering from the crowd and the crazy cometator doing his thing. It was even better for me tonight as I was getting the biggest reception from the crowd and the commentator which was giving me the strength to keep on pushing. By race end, I had lapped a fair few riders twice and was only a few meters away from lapping the bunch. The race was won by Jacob Tipper with Tom Stockdale settling for 3rd, I cam home in 4th, happy but annoyed with what happened earlier in the race.
Anyhow, I was on the podium, got huge cheer whilst collecting my prize money and had a fantastic race. The only really annoying thing now is that I have to wait a week till the next one and let me tell you, I wont be making the same mistake twice. Watch this space.
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