Saturday at "The Muzz" was the first of the years races and having indulged in way to much food and beverage over the Christmas new year break was not entirely confident of a speedy race. Although, with the Tour Down Under on I figured there would not be a huge field so it would be a good opportunity to practise some race craft! With Terence (you stay classy San Diego) Bonner and newcomer Dr Ben (crit virgin until this week!) in the field, D3 was well represented in a field of approx 35 or so riders.
So we rolled off at a rather pedestrian pace (B Grade passed us after a lap!) and barely raised a sweat for about three or four laps until a few people decided to dart off the front. I tried to stay in touch with all the attempts and so did the riders from NRG Cycles (about 5 in total in the race) so between us no-one ever got more than 100m up the road without being pulled back in.
The field was getting strung out as the attempts of the front kept coming and the pace stayed up around 38 - 40kph or more until the prime lap. As usual in C Grade the group bunched up in readiness for a bunch sprint with the NRG team getting a small train going. I was I about 10th wheel on the outside on the last corner (not an ideal position) however a gap opened up on the outside to I made an effort to take it only to be cut off with 130m to go by a rider pulling out of the sprint contest….. Not to worry.
The field re-grouped for a lap and then it was on again with the pace still pretty high. Terence and Dr Ben came to the front and made sure the pace was maintained while I sat in a took in a bit of H2O and oxygen. A few more unsuccessful efforts of the front were made coming into the last three laps when the race was neutralised for a lap as we were catching B Grade who were in their final three laps - a smart and SAFE move by the officials.
As the field entered the last three laps, a little refreshed after the neutral lap, the speed was on immediately with the NRG team and stronger riders at the front keeping the speed above 40kph. I was making sure I kept my nose out of the wind and picked a wheel to follow - a bloke on a brand new Ridley Noah who had not been on the front all day but was obviously pretty quick (well at least he looked the part!). Coming onto the last lap we were maintaining about 45kph I was sitting in about 7th - 8th wheel.
Come the last corner I was in a good position on the inside of the track following the wheel I had identified. On the corner I had a rider on my back wheel on the inside and another guy on my front wheel on the outside however we successfully negotiated the turn and after settling myself off the corner in about 5th wheel I peeled off to the inside and cranked it up as hard and as fast as I could. I managed to pull in the leader with about 60 meters to go and took the win. Terence (you stay classy San Diego) Bonner managed a 4th place as well so D3 was very well represented in the first race this year.
Huge thanks and well done to the Anchorman (Terence) and Dr Ben for a great effort! Any commentry you guys have from the race?
1 comment:
i went early and got caught!
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