Blackburn CC - METEC 18th Mar 2004
45min + 3 lap Criterium
Well folks, this should be a nice, brief race
report. Why? I wasn't "in" most of the race!
This was yet another variation of the METEC
circuits, with the course being run 'backwards'
from the norm and extended to incorporate the
'hill' near the clubrooms.
As expected, Ross Hamilton lept off from the
start line as soon as the whistle was blown.
Predictable, but unfortunately for us, it was
again effective.
I chased. I hurt. I cursed my job for not
leaving me any time to warm up pre-race...
Two riders, Rick Reynolds (BBN) and Craig
Van Der Valk (HCC), managed to stick with
him but everyone else was left behind.
Michael and I dropped the others as we tried
desperately to catch the leading trio.
We yo-yo'ed behind them for much of the race
fighting against the wind and the small rises
in the track but never getting closer than
10 seconds. WIth 10 minutes to go Michael had
to fight on his own as I ran out of steam.
I surge and caught him again a lap later but
then fell away again with 5 minutes left.
I was in serious trouble, struggling up the
smallest 'bumps' on the circuit. To make matters
worse, I decided to go for the little ring and
spin for the rest of the race - just trying to
avoid being lapped by the leading trio.
Bad idea. I dropped my chain and was lapped
as I refitted it.
With 3 laps to go I surged again and used the
last of my energy in a feeble attempt to chase
the lead bunch with no success.
Time for a new training regime... holiday? 🙂
Too far away to see the sprint, the final
placings were:
1 Craig Van Der Valk (Hawthorn CC)
2 Ross Hamilton (Blackburn CC)
3 Richard Reynolds (Blackburn CC)
hippy