This both my first road race for Crimson Performance and my first race since I won back in September 2019. I've been training well for the last 20 months and my form is good. The previous week I had won (setting a course record in the process) a hilly TT so I must be doing something right. Without a proper road race it's tough to quite know how well I'm going, yes my numbers have been good but one can only push so hard in training.
It was due to be my redemption race after I tragically punctured out of the winning break in the last lap in 2019. It's a strong mans course and we had a good squad of 6 strong men. Our plan was to make it as hard we could until a break went and ideally have 2 riders in it. The rest of us could patrol and bridge later if possible. Both Team Ribble and Team GB academy had full squads and an appearance from World Tour Harry Tanfield (plus brother Charlie) ensured it would be a tough first race back.
On the first lap as we approached the hairpin, Adam MacRae was on the front and I was about 5th wheel. He strung it out as I followed closely. He eased, an attack went and a small group got away. They were brought back quickly and I countered hard getting a nice gap. Five of us got away: Jimmy the Blade, a Ribble guy, Adam Mitchell and John Mackeller. We were drilling it pretty hard (I averaged 400w for 5 mins) and I thought this had the potential to have been a winning move as most teams were represented and especially if more bridged across.
Alas, after less than 10 minutes we got brought back and some more attacks flew. I managed to jump on a chase group, which again got brought back. This was still the first lap and I had been so active I needed to recover a bit if I wanted to last for 3 hours.
I was recovering towards the back and another break went with Isaac and Ed in. No-one was chasing and they got a good gap quickly. This was exactly to plan really, a small break with two of our guys in and more importantly neither Ribble nor the Tanfields were there. Once they got out of sight that was pretty much it, it's tough to chase on this course and the group appeared to work well together. I stayed hidden and recovered.
It was due to be my redemption race after I tragically punctured out of the winning break in the last lap in 2019. It's a strong mans course and we had a good squad of 6 strong men. Our plan was to make it as hard we could until a break went and ideally have 2 riders in it. The rest of us could patrol and bridge later if possible. Both Team Ribble and Team GB academy had full squads and an appearance from World Tour Harry Tanfield (plus brother Charlie) ensured it would be a tough first race back.
On the first lap as we approached the hairpin, Adam MacRae was on the front and I was about 5th wheel. He strung it out as I followed closely. He eased, an attack went and a small group got away. They were brought back quickly and I countered hard getting a nice gap. Five of us got away: Jimmy the Blade, a Ribble guy, Adam Mitchell and John Mackeller. We were drilling it pretty hard (I averaged 400w for 5 mins) and I thought this had the potential to have been a winning move as most teams were represented and especially if more bridged across.
Alas, after less than 10 minutes we got brought back and some more attacks flew. I managed to jump on a chase group, which again got brought back. This was still the first lap and I had been so active I needed to recover a bit if I wanted to last for 3 hours.
I was recovering towards the back and another break went with Isaac and Ed in. No-one was chasing and they got a good gap quickly. This was exactly to plan really, a small break with two of our guys in and more importantly neither Ribble nor the Tanfields were there. Once they got out of sight that was pretty much it, it's tough to chase on this course and the group appeared to work well together. I stayed hidden and recovered.
Me and Adam putting it in the gutter. Photo credit Pete Aylward
There were various bridging attempts, al of which got closed down by other teams. I got a bit confused at this point because another group got off the front, which I didn't see. I could see some guys up the road and thought it was the lead break as I could see a Crimson kit there. A PB performance guy chased them back as I sat in second wheel waiting to pounce. As soon as they were caught I did a strong, well timed counter attack and chipped off the front on my own. I was solo for a bit but couldn't make a lot of progress.
It was at this point as the trees opened up I could see further ahead what was actually the breakaway and I realised I was solo chasing my own team mates just wasting energy. It was over 60km in and I had been attacking/bridging from pretty much the gun and was suffering hard now so dropped back and sat in the peloton. Adam Mitchell who had just been up the road was in this group with me and I had a word with him to make sure we rested up, only followed and didn't attack just yet.
Shortly after this, a group of about 8 slipped off the front. Neither Adam nor I were in it, which was irritating, but we were both suffering. Fortunately, some more people attacked pretty soon after and both Adam and I slipped into this group. The 8 of us spent a lap chasing before we caught the other 8. This was ideal because Adam and I could both do little to no work and recover whilst everyone else was forced to chase.
We simply patrolled for the next few laps. Gradually our group got whittled down due to the attritional course, but I kept making sure I ate and drank. Just as F1 drivers nurse their tyres in a Grand Prix, I was nursing a cramp for the last 90 mins. I could feel my calves twitching simply due to lack of racing miles, but sitting in the group really helped out.
In the last two laps, our group got a bit more lively as people tried to attack aiming to bridge to the front. Adam and I followed and worked with several promising moves which unfortunately didn't last. Ben Granger managed to slip off from us and actually bridged to the front to come 2nd overall.
On the final lap, our group was down to about 10 riders and as we hit the steep section Harry Tanfield had caught us from behind. I followed his move and we got a small gap. I said "come on Harry lad, let's go" to which he replied "nah mate, I'm fucked".
I laughed and set off on my own. I had a good dig for a couple of minutes (I managed 395W for 2:30, pleasing for this late intoi first race back) but couldn't sustain the gap and got caught with 2km to go. As we approached the sprint, I was well positioned and ready to launch. Someone went on my right with 200m to go. I tried to follow and my legs immediately cramped and I simply couldn't do anything. I had done too much. I was surprised they just buckled like that because I had attacked 5 minutes earlier, I think I just accelerated too quickly and my legs said no.
I rolled in about 18th with Adam just in front of me, Ed in a well deserved 4th and Isaac 6th. Overall I was actually very pleased with my efforts, it was good to be back racing. My form is good, I just need some more racing miles and the results will come.
There were various bridging attempts, al of which got closed down by other teams. I got a bit confused at this point because another group got off the front, which I didn't see. I could see some guys up the road and thought it was the lead break as I could see a Crimson kit there. A PB performance guy chased them back as I sat in second wheel waiting to pounce. As soon as they were caught I did a strong, well timed counter attack and chipped off the front on my own. I was solo for a bit but couldn't make a lot of progress.
It was at this point as the trees opened up I could see further ahead what was actually the breakaway and I realised I was solo chasing my own team mates just wasting energy. It was over 60km in and I had been attacking/bridging from pretty much the gun and was suffering hard now so dropped back and sat in the peloton. Adam Mitchell who had just been up the road was in this group with me and I had a word with him to make sure we rested up, only followed and didn't attack just yet.
Shortly after this, a group of about 8 slipped off the front. Neither Adam nor I were in it, which was irritating, but we were both suffering. Fortunately, some more people attacked pretty soon after and both Adam and I slipped into this group. The 8 of us spent a lap chasing before we caught the other 8. This was ideal because Adam and I could both do little to no work and recover whilst everyone else was forced to chase.
We simply patrolled for the next few laps. Gradually our group got whittled down due to the attritional course, but I kept making sure I ate and drank. Just as F1 drivers nurse their tyres in a Grand Prix, I was nursing a cramp for the last 90 mins. I could feel my calves twitching simply due to lack of racing miles, but sitting in the group really helped out.
In the last two laps, our group got a bit more lively as people tried to attack aiming to bridge to the front. Adam and I followed and worked with several promising moves which unfortunately didn't last. Ben Granger managed to slip off from us and actually bridged to the front to come 2nd overall.
On the final lap, our group was down to about 10 riders and as we hit the steep section Harry Tanfield had caught us from behind. I followed his move and we got a small gap. I said "come on Harry lad, let's go" to which he replied "nah mate, I'm fucked".
I laughed and set off on my own. I had a good dig for a couple of minutes (I managed 395W for 2:30, pleasing for this late intoi first race back) but couldn't sustain the gap and got caught with 2km to go. As we approached the sprint, I was well positioned and ready to launch. Someone went on my right with 200m to go. I tried to follow and my legs immediately cramped and I simply couldn't do anything. I had done too much. I was surprised they just buckled like that because I had attacked 5 minutes earlier, I think I just accelerated too quickly and my legs said no.
I rolled in about 18th with Adam just in front of me, Ed in a well deserved 4th and Isaac 6th. Overall I was actually very pleased with my efforts, it was good to be back racing. My form is good, I just need some more racing miles and the results will come.
Ready to go!
