With some roadworks on the Hade Edge course, I was back for a smashfest on the Upper Denby course. The race was just shy of 90 miles and with the top 80 riders selected from 190 entries, it was stacked and not that far off being a prem level to be honest. It was also absolutely scorching, over 25 degrees and with no acclimatisation it was almost too hot for me. Thankfully Adam's Dad and Ed's Mum were in support to hand out bottles which would be a lifesaver.
The race consisted of 10.5 laps of an undulating course. Described at 1/3 climbing, 1/3 flat and 1/3 descent, it's a strong mans course. The climb is never that hard but still lasts 8 minutes and drags on much longer past the finish line. The descent is in two parts, the first on a wide A road had a strong tailwind before turning down the narrow more technical section to the base of the climb.
Because it was so damn hot our prerace team briefing consisted of agreeing to take it chilled for the first hour and build into it. With the conditions, course and length, we imagined it would be a case of last man standing. On the neutralised roll out I took a cheeky short cut at a junction and got right behind the neutral car as the race began. I actually thought the race started at the bottom of the climb and wanted a chilled descent but at the top of the descent, when the flag announcing the start of the race waved I was in prime position.
Now when I say I really didn't want to get into a break from the gun; I really mean it. However... As soon as the flag waved, Jake Scott attacked. I genuinely think I would have let literally any other rider go except him. He's a prem winner and so strong I just couldn't let him go. So I chased him down on my own. We had a slender lead by the top of the descent and thankfully 5 more managed to jump across to us. My teammate Joey was one of the five, as was another Canyon rider as well as Cam Jeffers, a Team OnForm rider and a Dolan rider.
We absolutely railed the descent and then hammered the climb. Don't get me wrong, we were all pretty fresh as we'd been going for about 5 minutes but the Canyon boys were so strong. We went really deep on the climb and it was just me, Joey and the Canyon lads pulling turns. The team OnForm rider literally said "It's up to you guys" and refused to pull through. Ultimately this didn't matter at all because as we passed the top of the climb, only the four of us were left.
It was full on racing from us, with no discussion we worked as a team time trial and just sent it. We got told we had a gap of 30 seconds after the first lap. Both Crimson and Canyon had 8 riders in the race so the remaining 6 could chase any counter attacks down. It was in the balance but I had a feeling this was the break just with the quality of rider there (excluding me). We hit the climb a second time and pressed on once again. It wasn't quite as an infernal pace as lap 1 but I still did 370W for the 8 minute ascent. This time they said the gap was 40 seconds, so we had only gained 10 in a lap. Had it been over a minute I think our break would have stuck but it was still in the balance.
On the main road descent part of the course they pulled out the neutral car and when we checked behind the peloton was in sight and fully lined out chasing us back. Weirdly, it was Team Canyon who were doing the chasing. I actually can't fathom why, they had 2 riders out of a 4 man break and probably their strongest rider there (Jake Scott).
For this 45 minute break, I had averaged 370NP and 330W before the descent. The first time up the climb I did 392W for 7.5mins and 368W the second time. I looked at Jake Scott's file and he did 441W for the first climb and averaged 390W for the first 20 minutes. No wonder we dropped the field on the first lap.
Regardless, we got brought back right at the base of the descent and I immediately saw a flash of Crimson as Toby counter attacked. I could follow the chasers and I was suddenly in a break of about 15. I had no idea what was going on behind and assumed there was a counter attack that bridged. The next thing I knew was that everyone was all together in one peloton and my efforts were in vain.
The next time on the open descent, a small group of about 12 got away, I was recovering in the bunch but thankfully Ed and Toby were in it. They hung out there for a bit, slowly putting time into us but their lead was tenuous. In the same lap at the base of the open descent two riders attacked and no one immediately followed. Then a group of maybe 8 got off the front as someone foolishly let the wheel go. Crimson had no one represented so I jumped across and once again no one followed me. I bridged to the group solo but they were unorganised so I attacked them immediately.
This sparked some life into them and we formed a cohesive chase. My teammate Adam had also slipped into my group and with the rest we railed the descent and caught the front group before the climb. Crimson now had 4 riders out of 25ish as did Canyon, and as every other team was represented I was pretty confident this would stick but it was almost too big to cooperate fully.
So when I saw three riders attack on the steepest section of the climb I jumped on and yet again made it into a break away. This time I "merely" averaged 355W for the 8 minute climb but it was enough to shred our break down to the strongest 14 riders. Crimson really have a strong squad because all four of us made it. It was a hard effort and as we did the little kicker before the open descent it was apparent the whole break was on it's knees. It had been a tough 80 minutes of racing so far and the heat was getting to us.
This was the decisive break and we just pulled out time on everyone behind. There was the odd flyer but everything got chased before the long haul to the end.
I was just settling into a rhythm and plan of action for the second half of the race when suddenly some guy undertook me and swung into me. I have no idea what he was thinking, I was on the inside and there was clearly no room to my inside yet he tried to force his way through. I had literally no time to react as he crashed his handlebars against mine and took me out. I fell relatively softly and got up quickly and checked the bike over. It was all good, and I was about to set off when I spotted a large, bleeding gash on my wrist which required medical attention. Everyone else got up carried on whilst I was left bloodied and dazed because some whopper chopped me up.
It was so frustrating, I had done a great race so far and my legs were strong and to get taken out by no wrongdoing is pure frustration. I spent 10 mins or so in the ambulance getting patched up so it would have been pointless to continue. My race was over.
I cruised to the feed zone to watch the race unfold. Thanks to Adam's Dad we had 20l of water to distribute so every lap, Maciek, Adam's Dad, Ed's Mum, Toby's brother and I gave as many bottles out as we could.
As it turned out, that break I was in stuck to the end and I probably would have come top 10 as there were only 12 left by the finish. Adam managed to get away with 2 laps to go in what looked to be the winning move but his group of three were narrowly caught by the rest of the break in the last 50m. Fortunately it was only Toby who made the junction but he rolled in 2nd behind the winner from Adam's break.
In all Toby was 2nd, Adam 4th, Ed 8th and Joey won the bunch kick. We did an outstanding job today and really played to our strengths, personally it was disappointing to prematurely finish but I showed my form is good and next week is going to be mine.
As a final tidbit, for the 3rd race in a row the lap record went. Everyone is flying and the standard is so high right now. Partly due to the bigger teams being unable to race abroad and limited races this year meaning places are limited to the top riders. As well as everyone training hard consistently for 18 months. I for one am very much enjoying this hard, aggressive racing and it's great to be part of a team desperate to win and race for each other.
The race consisted of 10.5 laps of an undulating course. Described at 1/3 climbing, 1/3 flat and 1/3 descent, it's a strong mans course. The climb is never that hard but still lasts 8 minutes and drags on much longer past the finish line. The descent is in two parts, the first on a wide A road had a strong tailwind before turning down the narrow more technical section to the base of the climb.
Because it was so damn hot our prerace team briefing consisted of agreeing to take it chilled for the first hour and build into it. With the conditions, course and length, we imagined it would be a case of last man standing. On the neutralised roll out I took a cheeky short cut at a junction and got right behind the neutral car as the race began. I actually thought the race started at the bottom of the climb and wanted a chilled descent but at the top of the descent, when the flag announcing the start of the race waved I was in prime position.
Now when I say I really didn't want to get into a break from the gun; I really mean it. However... As soon as the flag waved, Jake Scott attacked. I genuinely think I would have let literally any other rider go except him. He's a prem winner and so strong I just couldn't let him go. So I chased him down on my own. We had a slender lead by the top of the descent and thankfully 5 more managed to jump across to us. My teammate Joey was one of the five, as was another Canyon rider as well as Cam Jeffers, a Team OnForm rider and a Dolan rider.
We absolutely railed the descent and then hammered the climb. Don't get me wrong, we were all pretty fresh as we'd been going for about 5 minutes but the Canyon boys were so strong. We went really deep on the climb and it was just me, Joey and the Canyon lads pulling turns. The team OnForm rider literally said "It's up to you guys" and refused to pull through. Ultimately this didn't matter at all because as we passed the top of the climb, only the four of us were left.
It was full on racing from us, with no discussion we worked as a team time trial and just sent it. We got told we had a gap of 30 seconds after the first lap. Both Crimson and Canyon had 8 riders in the race so the remaining 6 could chase any counter attacks down. It was in the balance but I had a feeling this was the break just with the quality of rider there (excluding me). We hit the climb a second time and pressed on once again. It wasn't quite as an infernal pace as lap 1 but I still did 370W for the 8 minute ascent. This time they said the gap was 40 seconds, so we had only gained 10 in a lap. Had it been over a minute I think our break would have stuck but it was still in the balance.
On the main road descent part of the course they pulled out the neutral car and when we checked behind the peloton was in sight and fully lined out chasing us back. Weirdly, it was Team Canyon who were doing the chasing. I actually can't fathom why, they had 2 riders out of a 4 man break and probably their strongest rider there (Jake Scott).
For this 45 minute break, I had averaged 370NP and 330W before the descent. The first time up the climb I did 392W for 7.5mins and 368W the second time. I looked at Jake Scott's file and he did 441W for the first climb and averaged 390W for the first 20 minutes. No wonder we dropped the field on the first lap.
Regardless, we got brought back right at the base of the descent and I immediately saw a flash of Crimson as Toby counter attacked. I could follow the chasers and I was suddenly in a break of about 15. I had no idea what was going on behind and assumed there was a counter attack that bridged. The next thing I knew was that everyone was all together in one peloton and my efforts were in vain.
The next time on the open descent, a small group of about 12 got away, I was recovering in the bunch but thankfully Ed and Toby were in it. They hung out there for a bit, slowly putting time into us but their lead was tenuous. In the same lap at the base of the open descent two riders attacked and no one immediately followed. Then a group of maybe 8 got off the front as someone foolishly let the wheel go. Crimson had no one represented so I jumped across and once again no one followed me. I bridged to the group solo but they were unorganised so I attacked them immediately.
This sparked some life into them and we formed a cohesive chase. My teammate Adam had also slipped into my group and with the rest we railed the descent and caught the front group before the climb. Crimson now had 4 riders out of 25ish as did Canyon, and as every other team was represented I was pretty confident this would stick but it was almost too big to cooperate fully.
So when I saw three riders attack on the steepest section of the climb I jumped on and yet again made it into a break away. This time I "merely" averaged 355W for the 8 minute climb but it was enough to shred our break down to the strongest 14 riders. Crimson really have a strong squad because all four of us made it. It was a hard effort and as we did the little kicker before the open descent it was apparent the whole break was on it's knees. It had been a tough 80 minutes of racing so far and the heat was getting to us.
This was the decisive break and we just pulled out time on everyone behind. There was the odd flyer but everything got chased before the long haul to the end.
I was just settling into a rhythm and plan of action for the second half of the race when suddenly some guy undertook me and swung into me. I have no idea what he was thinking, I was on the inside and there was clearly no room to my inside yet he tried to force his way through. I had literally no time to react as he crashed his handlebars against mine and took me out. I fell relatively softly and got up quickly and checked the bike over. It was all good, and I was about to set off when I spotted a large, bleeding gash on my wrist which required medical attention. Everyone else got up carried on whilst I was left bloodied and dazed because some whopper chopped me up.
It was so frustrating, I had done a great race so far and my legs were strong and to get taken out by no wrongdoing is pure frustration. I spent 10 mins or so in the ambulance getting patched up so it would have been pointless to continue. My race was over.
I cruised to the feed zone to watch the race unfold. Thanks to Adam's Dad we had 20l of water to distribute so every lap, Maciek, Adam's Dad, Ed's Mum, Toby's brother and I gave as many bottles out as we could.
As it turned out, that break I was in stuck to the end and I probably would have come top 10 as there were only 12 left by the finish. Adam managed to get away with 2 laps to go in what looked to be the winning move but his group of three were narrowly caught by the rest of the break in the last 50m. Fortunately it was only Toby who made the junction but he rolled in 2nd behind the winner from Adam's break.
In all Toby was 2nd, Adam 4th, Ed 8th and Joey won the bunch kick. We did an outstanding job today and really played to our strengths, personally it was disappointing to prematurely finish but I showed my form is good and next week is going to be mine.
As a final tidbit, for the 3rd race in a row the lap record went. Everyone is flying and the standard is so high right now. Partly due to the bigger teams being unable to race abroad and limited races this year meaning places are limited to the top riders. As well as everyone training hard consistently for 18 months. I for one am very much enjoying this hard, aggressive racing and it's great to be part of a team desperate to win and race for each other.
