A double booked car meant a fraught search for a lift down south to Leicestershire and was solved by ex rutlander Trevor Main (thanks trev).
The journey down was uneventful as you'd expect at 7am on a Sunday morning,the weather was cloudy and cold but no rain. All good. We arrived in plenty of time which is unusual for me!
Trev had left his leg warmers at home in penistone, so I gave mine up in a selfless act. I wasn't going to wear them; I'm hard like that! Instead I opted for Belgian knee warmers.
The race got underway, and almost from the gun 3 or 4 got away. But I'm not worried, there's a long way to go and the favorites are in the bunch. Just follow the wheels.
Half a lap later there's a bit of action. Rider 25 off the front, 2 strong riders start chasing then 2 more fly off the front. Now there's 5 in the break at 20 seconds. Got to go now. Bridge to ten seconds. Nearly there. Flick the elbow, no one comes through, flick again, no one! Then someone's flying past, I'm out of the saddle, trying to get his wheel, I can't get it, and still no one helps out. That's it, they've gone.
But there's still a chance to get them back. It starts,through and off. Four of us at first, then 5 going through. Keep it going! We've got a chance just need a few more to help. Then it starts, a missed turn means there's only 4 of us working then we're down to 3. Then 2. Then me. A shout from the back "Roll through! come on!" from someone who never seems to "Roll through"......
Anyway, much of the same for the next couple of laps. Then an attack! Got to go with it, round him shelter him, show him I'm willing to work. Likewise, he comes through.Working well together.Will they chase? Yes,caught!
Bell! 1 lap to go. I distance them up the hill and keep going,legs feel fine. I look behind, I've got a good gap so I keep going into TT mode,find a rhythm,legs still good, breathing ok. Don't look back now! Have they let me go? not today.
My turn to sit in for a bit, can't be more than 3 miles left to ride. I'm feeling pretty confident.
The pace ramps up towards the foot of the climb, someone goes. I'm onto his wheel and straight past, push hard on the steepest bit, I look behind, they're not even close. The road levels out and I push again. Over the line for 4th "A"
We passed a few stragglers from the break so I was 9th poss 10th overall.
Rich Edwards who is a C was riding as an A?and finished in the break thus denying me 3rd and an extra £5 not bitter though:-)
Should have made the break.
Best of the rest.
