I've not had the best luck with the Cold Dark North series this year. I had to DNS Caperwray with covid, crashed hard first lap at Aughton and have been ill with a cold all week prior to the Oakenclough race today. I still wanted to race and was feeling slighter better than the day before so had to give it a go.
The race wasn't particularly long at 115km but each (of 7) lap had a long, steady 15 minute climb with a steep finish and mildly technical descent. I actually won on this course a few years ago so it must suit me. Being shorter than other races we could afford to be aggressive from the gun.
As we crested the climb for the first time there was a small group of 5 with a minimal lead. I attacked right at the top of the descent, I was hoping to catch the group napping but they easily followed me. I soft pedalled down over a small bridge before then attacking hard on a small climb. This established a gap and a few of us got away, weirdly we got blocked on the descent by the race convoy and the move was neutralised.
We were all together at the base at lap 2 and somebody directly in front of me attacked during a lull. As they were immediately in front of me it would have been rude not to follow! We went hard for a bit and when I checked back there was no one following us. This was actually great, I knew that if I rode the climb as hard as I could, the entire peloton wouldn't be able to follow at that pace and only a group of the strongest riders would be able to bridge.
Low and behold, 2km from the top Matt "King of Snake Pass" Warhurst caught us. I kept the pace high all the way to the top and took the KOM points before hitting the descent. We got told we had a 44 second gap which was pretty good for a 12 minute effort, but I had to average 370W to create that. On the climb halfway down the descent that I'd attacked at on the previous lap, my teammate George Peden and Logan from Wheelbase caught us. Further down the descent we were joined by Ben Granger from Zappi and Luke from Tactic racing. That was that, we had 7 strong riders and worked well together, with Logan especially riding hard.
We worked well as a unit, I was pulling hard turns and not feeling too shabby. After 4 laps we were told the gap was 2 minutes 30 seconds. The job was done, now it was a case of getting to the finish. We ticked off another lap and I gave George the nod for him to attack when he felt ready. Neither of us have a particularly quick finish so we have to go for a long range attack. It was at a steep part halfway up the climb, just after I had pulled a turn when George attacked. We had just over one lap to go now so it was quite a good move.
The race wasn't particularly long at 115km but each (of 7) lap had a long, steady 15 minute climb with a steep finish and mildly technical descent. I actually won on this course a few years ago so it must suit me. Being shorter than other races we could afford to be aggressive from the gun.
As we crested the climb for the first time there was a small group of 5 with a minimal lead. I attacked right at the top of the descent, I was hoping to catch the group napping but they easily followed me. I soft pedalled down over a small bridge before then attacking hard on a small climb. This established a gap and a few of us got away, weirdly we got blocked on the descent by the race convoy and the move was neutralised.
We were all together at the base at lap 2 and somebody directly in front of me attacked during a lull. As they were immediately in front of me it would have been rude not to follow! We went hard for a bit and when I checked back there was no one following us. This was actually great, I knew that if I rode the climb as hard as I could, the entire peloton wouldn't be able to follow at that pace and only a group of the strongest riders would be able to bridge.
Low and behold, 2km from the top Matt "King of Snake Pass" Warhurst caught us. I kept the pace high all the way to the top and took the KOM points before hitting the descent. We got told we had a 44 second gap which was pretty good for a 12 minute effort, but I had to average 370W to create that. On the climb halfway down the descent that I'd attacked at on the previous lap, my teammate George Peden and Logan from Wheelbase caught us. Further down the descent we were joined by Ben Granger from Zappi and Luke from Tactic racing. That was that, we had 7 strong riders and worked well together, with Logan especially riding hard.
We worked well as a unit, I was pulling hard turns and not feeling too shabby. After 4 laps we were told the gap was 2 minutes 30 seconds. The job was done, now it was a case of getting to the finish. We ticked off another lap and I gave George the nod for him to attack when he felt ready. Neither of us have a particularly quick finish so we have to go for a long range attack. It was at a steep part halfway up the climb, just after I had pulled a turn when George attacked. We had just over one lap to go now so it was quite a good move.
For him, not for me. What I hadn't realised was that I was actually pretty goosed. I thought I was feeling good but when George attacked my lights went out completely and I couldn't close down the gap to the rest of the break! I was praying they would ease up so I could get back but Ben saw me clawing my way back and counter attacked distancing me for good. :(
From there I absolutely capitulated. I don't even know what happened but my lights went totally out. By the crest of the climb with one lap to go, I'd already lost 50 seconds! Louise shouted to me "It's a time trial now!" and I got told the gap was huge to the chase group behind.
Even in my sorry state, I got my head down and pressed on. Boy it hurt, I could barely press the pedals but just tried to keep myself together and not get caught.
I actually only averaged 10W less than the previous lap, but of course I had no rest and had to do it all myself with no draft.
I hit the climb for the final time and no one was in sight. I just had to pace myself but I was goosed. I was just praying for the top. I could barely do 250W for this final climb, when I did 370W on the first lap! I was in agony! I kept ticking off markers to the top but with just 1.6km to go I could see a motorbike indicating there was a chase group just behind...
I was giving absolutely everything but I had nothing to give. I was a shell and when we hit the final extremely steep section they caught me. Literally with 150m to go a group of 8 caught and passed me. I was pretty upset actually, it felt cruel. I just wasn't good enough. I think being ill this week was the cause and I didn't account for this when attacking and working so hard with the breakaway. I should have parked it more and worked less.
I've not had a feeling like that where my legs have completely fallen so flat so quickly before. Normally there are some tell tale signs but it was so abrupt today! I'm blaming the illness and we can see how I go at Lancaster Grand Prix next week. I still came 15th but should have done better really.
From there I absolutely capitulated. I don't even know what happened but my lights went totally out. By the crest of the climb with one lap to go, I'd already lost 50 seconds! Louise shouted to me "It's a time trial now!" and I got told the gap was huge to the chase group behind.
Even in my sorry state, I got my head down and pressed on. Boy it hurt, I could barely press the pedals but just tried to keep myself together and not get caught.
I actually only averaged 10W less than the previous lap, but of course I had no rest and had to do it all myself with no draft.
I hit the climb for the final time and no one was in sight. I just had to pace myself but I was goosed. I was just praying for the top. I could barely do 250W for this final climb, when I did 370W on the first lap! I was in agony! I kept ticking off markers to the top but with just 1.6km to go I could see a motorbike indicating there was a chase group just behind...
I was giving absolutely everything but I had nothing to give. I was a shell and when we hit the final extremely steep section they caught me. Literally with 150m to go a group of 8 caught and passed me. I was pretty upset actually, it felt cruel. I just wasn't good enough. I think being ill this week was the cause and I didn't account for this when attacking and working so hard with the breakaway. I should have parked it more and worked less.
I've not had a feeling like that where my legs have completely fallen so flat so quickly before. Normally there are some tell tale signs but it was so abrupt today! I'm blaming the illness and we can see how I go at Lancaster Grand Prix next week. I still came 15th but should have done better really.
