20/03/2011
Evesham Vale RR
Category E1/2/3
90km
Conditions - Cool start but soon warmed up to around 10-12 degrees
8 months is a long time, its a long time to be away from any form of competition. yet this is the fact i was facing going in to my first race of the year and my first race since last august when i sustained a broken collar bone, a broken nose and other facial injuries when i was ht by an oncoming car whilst descending a mountain in the Pyrenees during a training camp. i didn't race cyclocross during the winter due to my injuries and the development of various other physiological circumstances that have plagued me over the off season resulting in the loss of a lot of weight and physical strength, however this is now being sorted and i am progressing along the road of recovery with my sights set firmly on the goal of getting back to my best.
So with all of this previous history in mind, i was skeptical about how i would fair at today's race, especially when you consider it was an E/1/2/3 and looked more like a premier calendar event with the whole Raleigh Professional Cycling team in attendance along with various other prestigious squads making appearances.
Even so, i was still very excited about the race and not particularly nervous or worried about the outcome. I am beginning to learn that pressure only makes things worse which is why i learnt to channel this self pressure in different ways and it makes a big difference.
I spent the previous day attending to my Trek Madone which has also experienced 8 months of not been ridden in anger just like me. Degreasing, hosing, washing, scrubbing, hosing, lubing and oiling, these are the things that relax me before a race, knowing that i have done everything to ensure my equipment wont let me down and i can only blame myself or other uncontrollable elements for any misfortune that i may experience.
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| The race bike - cleaned and ready for action complete with new cobbled classic look tubular wheels. |
Arriving at the HQ early in my own set of wheels for a change, i stood debating about what to wear, the air was cold and i didn't want to be shivering in the bunch so i opted for a few layer, a decision which i would regret later in the race! The race is located at the same venue every year; Inkburrow, which is on the way to Worcester and provides a good mix of terrain which overall is generally rolling with a few extended kicks.
It soon became apparent how tough the race would be when the competition began filling the car park: Team Raleigh, Motorpoint, Mammoth, Corley Cycles, Primal Europe, Wiggle and many more big name teams. like i say, more like a premier calendar than a Regional A!!
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| Gather for the pre race rider briefing |
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| the bike is ready to race |
with the rider briefing done and every one set, the bunch were on the roads at 9.30 sharp and as soon as the flag was dropped, signalling the official start, so began the two and half hour slog which i like to call "The Raleigh Rampage". Basically, as the term suggests, the Raleigh boys hit the front and never let up until they had there man, Liam Holohan, off the front with a few other Raleigh guys there with him. The remaining Members of there team then set about policing the front of the main bunch not letting anything get away.When you describe a race in that way it kind of sound so so but when you are actually racing it, the whole things feels very different. Here i was, fighting to maintain my position in the bunch with lifeless, un punchy legs. some sections left me gutter crawling as the bunch ploughed on through the cross winds, i found myself scrambling to get towards the front before the climbs to allow myself slipping room through the bunch, at which point i was also searching for the magic gear which you hope is there but you never find.
I may be making this sound like a horrible experience but i was actually relishing the challenge and the thrill of being in these situations. i also know that as the season progresses i will become accustom to the kind of repeated efforts and micro burst that you experience in bunch racing, something that can be quite a challenge to recreate in training. Basically you could say that i haven't gotten my race legs yet and i think its fair to say that this Little quote has some real meaning in the world of Competitive cycling, 8 moths away can have a drastic effect on a riders racing ability and its only when they begin racing again that they begin to regain that magic something that allows them to deal with the repeated accelertaions and respond to various attacks. i look forward to feeling this again later in the year.
So back to the race and at the half way point it was still the same, the break had about a minute and the bunch were still trying to shoot riders off the front whilst Raleigh were closing everything down. I was beginning to gain confidence as the race went on and was holding my position better in the bunch as time went on. at this point the sun was shining in clear sky and soon realised that i had far too much clothing on and was beginning to cook, this didn't help.
On the last lap a number of riders did manage to break free from the Raleigh death grip that had been dominating the bunch for the entire race. The leading riders approached the finish line a good minute clear of any chasing riders, 3 Raleigh riders broke away from this break in the last mile to claim a solid Raleigh 1, 2, 3 before also claiming 6th, 7th and 10th. i think its fair to say that Raleigh pretty much dominated today's ride but only as every one expected.
I sprinted in with the pack after 2.5 hrs of racing and was actually very pleased with my ride today. obviously not because of my outstanding result :) no, instead it was because i had fun which for me is something that i don't usually say after a race like today. it gives me a positive outlook for the rest of the season, it might not be my year for results but it will be a year which i remember for being fun and exciting and hopefully overcoming long term issues.
Results:
1st - Liam holohan (Raleigh)
2nd - awaiting official result
3rd - awaiting official result
Ride Data
Duration - 2.27.46
Distance - 62.5 miles
Speed - 25.5
Work - 1714 kj
Ave power - 193 watts
Norm power - 231 watts
TSS - 200.8
I.F - 0.903
Cadence - 87 rpm
Ave HR - 150 bpm
(Power calculated off FTP of 256 watts (18/03/2011)
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