For the first time since that insane Ryedale GP in 2019 the Premier Calendar road races were back. We were treated to eleven hilly nine mile laps on the outskirts of Lancaster. With one long and steady climb, one short, sharp one and one in between we were in for over 3000m of climbing in just under 100 miles. The circuit was different to the 2019 edition and I had ridden out to do a reconnaitre the weekend before but like an ogroid I did the course in reverse...
The day before I was telling my girlfriend about prems and laughing how it was going to be actual suffering for 4 hours. I'd not had the best couple of weeks before the race, crashing out of the winning break in Barnsley road race and then crashing heavily in Ilkley Grand Prix the week after. But I was healed up, back training normally now and hoping for a good result even with the minimal races in my legs this season.
As with any prem, the first lap was full gas. Everyone is fresh and keen to be at the front and those trying to get in the break and attacking hard. I just stayed safe, sheltered and kept forward where I could. I found it difficult to move up generally but particularly at the important section right before the descent into the steep climb. This meant that whilst I can climb relatively well, I was forced into making up places every lap rather than using the climb to chill out.
The second lap was more of the same, just not quite as fast. I wasn't feeling like I was on one of those mega days but kept relaxed and tried to keep sheltered where I could. One thing going for me was that I was also red hot with eating and drinking today and that really helped me out. We had Ali and Adam's Dad in the feed zone handing out bottles. Some point around this time, my teammate Joey Walker attacked solo and stayed away on his own for a couple of laps. He was never out of sight and Ribble/Canyon spent 2 laps chasing him back.
On the 90 degree corner before the descent Jake Scott chopped me up and gained some places. He's a crafty handler and did it quite well to be fair. The very next lap however he clearly got it wrong as he ended up crashing at the exact same point. He said in the interview after that his team were planning on attacking the climb that lap so when he crashed they called off the move. This was quite helpful for me because I was too far back that lap.
The laps ticked off one by one, but it was quite a strange race to be honest. Some laps the climbs would be nails and others they would be chilled. As I got around the corner at the base of the steep climb, I could see ahead at the other riders. I knew that if they were single file I was in for a tough chase but it was spread over the road, the pace was chilled and I could climb at ease.
Climbing wasn't my problem to be honest. I felt great and was making up places each lap, the problem was that I was doing extended efforts every lap. At some point, Joey had been caught and I saw another teammate Toby Barnes attack solo. He was flying and pulled out a substantial gap. He had a lap solo before being caught by Jake Scott and a Clancy Briggs rider. This left Team Ribble to chase and the pace should have become more consistent for me. Still it was weird and on and off full gas rather than a consistent chase.
At one point it was lined out over the top of the steep climb and I could see my teammate Ed Beecher flagging and holding his leg with cramp. I yelled "jump on" as I passed him and he managed to hang on to the main group. Irritatingly as the pace was so on and off it enabled many dropped riders to catch back up each time, but if you are getting dropped, it's not the best sign for later.
With 2.5 laps to go, once again I was out of position on the steep climb and it got railed. I could feel the accumulated fatigue and as I crested I was just off the back of the lead group. I wasn't alone, we had a small group of about 5 and I helped them to chase back. This was until I blew again. John Archibald flew past me like a train, I jumped on him but got spat whilst he managed to catch back up. I even yelled to Andy Nichols "yup that's me gone" but it was strange, I kept getting waves of strength and I'd end up recovering and could still chase. So I did.
Regardless I was in a small group of 4, with Andy and Daniel McDermott and even though the front group was just 100m ahead of us, we couldn't close the gap. As we went through the feed zone Ali yelled "theres still places up for grabs". I actually dropped the group on the middle climb trying to bridge desperately but it was no hope. I descended solo, they were still so close it was tantalising. Then on the flat after the descent Andy, Daniel and one other caught me back up. I sat on before pulling a turn but as soon as I hit the front, hilariously I cramped, grabbed my thigh and went to the back. Then once again, my legs recovered, the pace of the main group dropped and I chased through the cars and got back to the lead group.
We were all actually so pleased. We had a really nice moment of self congratulations and laughed that we'd get dropped again soon. For me this was actually true. I had chased too hard and when the pace heated up again on the long drag my legs said no. I pulled off with Daniel and the somehow dropped him so we were both solo.
Matt passed me in the team car shouting encouragement as I politely shouted back how tired I was. I began the descent to the steep climb and yet again I recovered. I railed it down there and by the bottom of the climb they were in sight. I overtook some cars, caught Matt up in our car. He gave me a fresh bottle (and a little tow) and I continued my pursuit. Tragically, I lost too much time was solo now with just over a lap to go.
I never lost my head though and just carried on chasing. I was actually in a world of hurt at this point. My face says it all and as I had a forshadowed with my girlfriend, I was in pure suffer mode now. Interestingly I did my second highest power for a lap so I did have some form but not that anaerobic kick required to stick with it.
As I crested the middle climb I could see 3 riders behind me. I didn't want them to catch and drop me whilst ascending so I pressed on and sat up after the descent. It was actually my mate Archie Cross and Will Perret who had crashed with me in Barnsley a couple of week prior, as well as a Ribble rider. We worked well as a team and as we appoached the steep climb for the final time it was clear we were not going to get caught by the 20 chasers behind.
I had actually recovered quite a bit with the foursome and as we approached the line I fancied myself to win the sprint. I did a pretty good effort to be honest. I surpised myself with my kick but couldn't pass the Ribble rider with the tight corners. He jumped me when I should have gone first. Still I placed 45th overall and with merely 65 finishers out of 140 starters I can be pleased with that. I have Ryedale GP next week and if I can rest up I'll be pinging for thathat.
Big well done to Isaac for coming 4th having broken his elbow a few weeks ago and training purely on the turbo. Not only that Leon won the bunch kick for 9th and Adam placed 13th ranking us the 2nd best team on the day. It was impressive! It was also great to see one of our sponsors Porsche Centre Kendal come and bring a hub and selection of cars to support us!
The day before I was telling my girlfriend about prems and laughing how it was going to be actual suffering for 4 hours. I'd not had the best couple of weeks before the race, crashing out of the winning break in Barnsley road race and then crashing heavily in Ilkley Grand Prix the week after. But I was healed up, back training normally now and hoping for a good result even with the minimal races in my legs this season.
As with any prem, the first lap was full gas. Everyone is fresh and keen to be at the front and those trying to get in the break and attacking hard. I just stayed safe, sheltered and kept forward where I could. I found it difficult to move up generally but particularly at the important section right before the descent into the steep climb. This meant that whilst I can climb relatively well, I was forced into making up places every lap rather than using the climb to chill out.
The second lap was more of the same, just not quite as fast. I wasn't feeling like I was on one of those mega days but kept relaxed and tried to keep sheltered where I could. One thing going for me was that I was also red hot with eating and drinking today and that really helped me out. We had Ali and Adam's Dad in the feed zone handing out bottles. Some point around this time, my teammate Joey Walker attacked solo and stayed away on his own for a couple of laps. He was never out of sight and Ribble/Canyon spent 2 laps chasing him back.
On the 90 degree corner before the descent Jake Scott chopped me up and gained some places. He's a crafty handler and did it quite well to be fair. The very next lap however he clearly got it wrong as he ended up crashing at the exact same point. He said in the interview after that his team were planning on attacking the climb that lap so when he crashed they called off the move. This was quite helpful for me because I was too far back that lap.
The laps ticked off one by one, but it was quite a strange race to be honest. Some laps the climbs would be nails and others they would be chilled. As I got around the corner at the base of the steep climb, I could see ahead at the other riders. I knew that if they were single file I was in for a tough chase but it was spread over the road, the pace was chilled and I could climb at ease.
Climbing wasn't my problem to be honest. I felt great and was making up places each lap, the problem was that I was doing extended efforts every lap. At some point, Joey had been caught and I saw another teammate Toby Barnes attack solo. He was flying and pulled out a substantial gap. He had a lap solo before being caught by Jake Scott and a Clancy Briggs rider. This left Team Ribble to chase and the pace should have become more consistent for me. Still it was weird and on and off full gas rather than a consistent chase.
At one point it was lined out over the top of the steep climb and I could see my teammate Ed Beecher flagging and holding his leg with cramp. I yelled "jump on" as I passed him and he managed to hang on to the main group. Irritatingly as the pace was so on and off it enabled many dropped riders to catch back up each time, but if you are getting dropped, it's not the best sign for later.
With 2.5 laps to go, once again I was out of position on the steep climb and it got railed. I could feel the accumulated fatigue and as I crested I was just off the back of the lead group. I wasn't alone, we had a small group of about 5 and I helped them to chase back. This was until I blew again. John Archibald flew past me like a train, I jumped on him but got spat whilst he managed to catch back up. I even yelled to Andy Nichols "yup that's me gone" but it was strange, I kept getting waves of strength and I'd end up recovering and could still chase. So I did.
Regardless I was in a small group of 4, with Andy and Daniel McDermott and even though the front group was just 100m ahead of us, we couldn't close the gap. As we went through the feed zone Ali yelled "theres still places up for grabs". I actually dropped the group on the middle climb trying to bridge desperately but it was no hope. I descended solo, they were still so close it was tantalising. Then on the flat after the descent Andy, Daniel and one other caught me back up. I sat on before pulling a turn but as soon as I hit the front, hilariously I cramped, grabbed my thigh and went to the back. Then once again, my legs recovered, the pace of the main group dropped and I chased through the cars and got back to the lead group.
We were all actually so pleased. We had a really nice moment of self congratulations and laughed that we'd get dropped again soon. For me this was actually true. I had chased too hard and when the pace heated up again on the long drag my legs said no. I pulled off with Daniel and the somehow dropped him so we were both solo.
Matt passed me in the team car shouting encouragement as I politely shouted back how tired I was. I began the descent to the steep climb and yet again I recovered. I railed it down there and by the bottom of the climb they were in sight. I overtook some cars, caught Matt up in our car. He gave me a fresh bottle (and a little tow) and I continued my pursuit. Tragically, I lost too much time was solo now with just over a lap to go.
I never lost my head though and just carried on chasing. I was actually in a world of hurt at this point. My face says it all and as I had a forshadowed with my girlfriend, I was in pure suffer mode now. Interestingly I did my second highest power for a lap so I did have some form but not that anaerobic kick required to stick with it.
As I crested the middle climb I could see 3 riders behind me. I didn't want them to catch and drop me whilst ascending so I pressed on and sat up after the descent. It was actually my mate Archie Cross and Will Perret who had crashed with me in Barnsley a couple of week prior, as well as a Ribble rider. We worked well as a team and as we appoached the steep climb for the final time it was clear we were not going to get caught by the 20 chasers behind.
I had actually recovered quite a bit with the foursome and as we approached the line I fancied myself to win the sprint. I did a pretty good effort to be honest. I surpised myself with my kick but couldn't pass the Ribble rider with the tight corners. He jumped me when I should have gone first. Still I placed 45th overall and with merely 65 finishers out of 140 starters I can be pleased with that. I have Ryedale GP next week and if I can rest up I'll be pinging for thathat.
Big well done to Isaac for coming 4th having broken his elbow a few weeks ago and training purely on the turbo. Not only that Leon won the bunch kick for 9th and Adam placed 13th ranking us the 2nd best team on the day. It was impressive! It was also great to see one of our sponsors Porsche Centre Kendal come and bring a hub and selection of cars to support us!
