It has been a very frustrating weeks racing; three races where I would have hoped to have done well and taken a win but didn't go to plan. Certainly not a problem with quality of training, recovery or hunger for racing just a bit of luck would have made a lot of difference. Just need to be patient.
Sandhurst-Benenden E/1/2; 18th
One of those days. Feeling strong but rather frustrating, a day of very negative racing and I ended up spending my energy going for the win on the last lap, at one point I had a lead of about 45 seconds on the chasing group with another rider but he just sat on. I rolled in at the back of the front group when I knew the win was out of reach when I feel most were still very excited about 2nd place. Having looked at winning this race for a while and having a bad day, I left thinking what if I had done things differently and perhaps been more or less aggressive in my racing...perhaps!
Portsmouth E/1/2; 7th
Lapped the field 2 1/2 times but at the same time I didn't quite have the tactics right. Although I initiated a lot of breaks, I could have been move savvy with my racing. Some very strong riders out too. All part of the learning process but a shame not to come away with more.
Barcombe 2/3; 10th
Two riders attacked straight after the neutralised zone and stayed away for the entire race; something that is very, very rare in cycling. After hearing the time gaps after the first lap, I looked to attack which was not in my original game plan but I felt was necessary to get the win. After riding for a lap with Todd Leckie who rode unbelievably fast, Todd decided to drop to the bunch while I continued, gambling for the win. I got caught with about 2 miles to go after getting spotted by a group at the bottom of a long climb and then being brought back. I ended up finishing at the back of this group after riding with a average HR of 168 for the 2hrs 45 min race and being out alone for well over 40 miles.
Sunday 26 June 2011
Thursday 16 June 2011
Recent racing
Goodwood 7/6/11 E/1/2: 2nd
With Smithfield nocturne the big focus of the week, I was very keen to take it easy while getting a my racing head on. Spent the race trying to do as little as possible and make other people do the hard work: not easy in massive winds. Got in a break of 5, all going well, apart from my positioning in the wind at times as I was regularly and constructively reminded (still plenty to learn), but the main problem is every time I tried to use my drinks bottle, the lid kept coming off so I ended up drinking very little. Neave and Calland went of the front leaving me with the Macnamara brothers who both at the same time turned round at me and gave me the same "chase that down will you Will, thanks" look. They generously let me jump away and I caught the other two. Finished 2nd after legs cramped up in sprint and rolled through to pick up 2nd. Frustrating but will take the podium place.
Portsmouth 8/6/11 E/1/2: 3rd
Showed my blond side last night. Second time down at Portsmouth and although legs were feeling good, missed out on the win. Put 2 laps into the field but then let 2 guys open up the sprint with a lap to go, just like last time and I let them take the win. On such a small course with a bend with a narrow radius in the final corner, a lot of speed is required to come round the over the top and win from 2nd or 3rd wheel. I again suffered a bit from dehydration and linked to that me being a bit soft. Waved goodbye to a win.
Smithfield 11/6/11 2/3: DNF
How not to race. Was shivering on the startline after waiting 20mins for some corporate relays to finish. Guess the old blokes racing round individually was funding our event. Lack of organisation at the start meant that the warm up lap went at full speed with no leading car. Scrum for the start but then was feeling rough after trying to get going again after the cold. Hit the bike of someone who had crashed and end up all over the road. Part of road racing. A lot of road rash but no other injuries. Not keen to race in this event next year. Thanks to Pete, James and Liam at In gear for putting my bike back together!
Training going well since and all patched up. Big big thanks to Mum, Dad, Emily and Andrew for their amazing support recently. My family are incredible.
Barcombe this weekend, almost picked up 1st cat and then keen to look at higher profile races and to get onto bigger teams.
With Smithfield nocturne the big focus of the week, I was very keen to take it easy while getting a my racing head on. Spent the race trying to do as little as possible and make other people do the hard work: not easy in massive winds. Got in a break of 5, all going well, apart from my positioning in the wind at times as I was regularly and constructively reminded (still plenty to learn), but the main problem is every time I tried to use my drinks bottle, the lid kept coming off so I ended up drinking very little. Neave and Calland went of the front leaving me with the Macnamara brothers who both at the same time turned round at me and gave me the same "chase that down will you Will, thanks" look. They generously let me jump away and I caught the other two. Finished 2nd after legs cramped up in sprint and rolled through to pick up 2nd. Frustrating but will take the podium place.
Portsmouth 8/6/11 E/1/2: 3rd
Showed my blond side last night. Second time down at Portsmouth and although legs were feeling good, missed out on the win. Put 2 laps into the field but then let 2 guys open up the sprint with a lap to go, just like last time and I let them take the win. On such a small course with a bend with a narrow radius in the final corner, a lot of speed is required to come round the over the top and win from 2nd or 3rd wheel. I again suffered a bit from dehydration and linked to that me being a bit soft. Waved goodbye to a win.
Smithfield 11/6/11 2/3: DNF
How not to race. Was shivering on the startline after waiting 20mins for some corporate relays to finish. Guess the old blokes racing round individually was funding our event. Lack of organisation at the start meant that the warm up lap went at full speed with no leading car. Scrum for the start but then was feeling rough after trying to get going again after the cold. Hit the bike of someone who had crashed and end up all over the road. Part of road racing. A lot of road rash but no other injuries. Not keen to race in this event next year. Thanks to Pete, James and Liam at In gear for putting my bike back together!
Training going well since and all patched up. Big big thanks to Mum, Dad, Emily and Andrew for their amazing support recently. My family are incredible.
Barcombe this weekend, almost picked up 1st cat and then keen to look at higher profile races and to get onto bigger teams.
Wednesday 1 June 2011
Jersey and Portsmouth
25/5/11 Portsmouth, E/1/2: 3rd
Still getting to know some of the riders down at Portsmouth but was keen to let other people do most of the work this time rather than people letting me ride off on my own, get half a lap and then be gradually pulled back. Let other people make the moves then jumped into a move which quickly gained a lap on the bunch. Once a lap up, I had a bit more freedom to be aggressive and kept trying to jump away. Eventually got in another move which again gained half a lap. Was 4th wheel on last lap, front two jumped away and I hesitated expecting the guy in front to go with them as it wasn't that big an acceleration but he did absolutely nothing, I then kicked but it was too late and taking too high a line in the final sprint meant I almost caught the front two but came in 3rd. Would have won with another 10metres but obviously that means nothing! Legs feeling strong, getting used to podium results now!
29/5/11 Rubis Jersey Town Crit, Invitational: -
Back down to ground: poor handling, poor starting position, legs not feeling great after coming off a rest week but should have done better. Really want to move into doing more Crit racing over the next few years, need to sharpen up. Enough said.
30/5/11 Jersey Watersplash Road Race, E/1/2: 10th
After a drubbing last night, I had a lot to prove, especially as was racing for the Surrey League team who were supporting my travel and accomodation for the weekend. The racing started off being fairly aggressive but with the mix of teams, not much was getting away. A break of 8 did get away but it was the least likely break of the lot so I didn't bother jumping across. The break went on to get a substantial lead due to Team UK Youth and Motorpoint marshalling the bunch. I was keen to get away and so when a team Guernsey rider jumped on his own and rode off into the distance, I sneaked past Malcolm Elliott in the gutter and managed to bridge across. We rode as a pair for about 40km and managed to stay away. It was particularly refreshing to see that when the bunch came across the line, Magnus Backstedt, Tour de France stage and Paris-Roubaix winner, looked exhausted after apparently putting in some massive turns in the last few laps to try and catch us!
10th seems like not a great reward for beating Malcolm Elliott, Ben Luckwell, Magnus etc etc, but I was pleased with my ride on a hilly course.
Thanks very much for the support from Surrey League, Tim Bishop from South Downs Bikes and my Team Manager!
Next up is prep races for Smithfield Nocturne on Sat 11th June
Still getting to know some of the riders down at Portsmouth but was keen to let other people do most of the work this time rather than people letting me ride off on my own, get half a lap and then be gradually pulled back. Let other people make the moves then jumped into a move which quickly gained a lap on the bunch. Once a lap up, I had a bit more freedom to be aggressive and kept trying to jump away. Eventually got in another move which again gained half a lap. Was 4th wheel on last lap, front two jumped away and I hesitated expecting the guy in front to go with them as it wasn't that big an acceleration but he did absolutely nothing, I then kicked but it was too late and taking too high a line in the final sprint meant I almost caught the front two but came in 3rd. Would have won with another 10metres but obviously that means nothing! Legs feeling strong, getting used to podium results now!
29/5/11 Rubis Jersey Town Crit, Invitational: -
Back down to ground: poor handling, poor starting position, legs not feeling great after coming off a rest week but should have done better. Really want to move into doing more Crit racing over the next few years, need to sharpen up. Enough said.
30/5/11 Jersey Watersplash Road Race, E/1/2: 10th
After a drubbing last night, I had a lot to prove, especially as was racing for the Surrey League team who were supporting my travel and accomodation for the weekend. The racing started off being fairly aggressive but with the mix of teams, not much was getting away. A break of 8 did get away but it was the least likely break of the lot so I didn't bother jumping across. The break went on to get a substantial lead due to Team UK Youth and Motorpoint marshalling the bunch. I was keen to get away and so when a team Guernsey rider jumped on his own and rode off into the distance, I sneaked past Malcolm Elliott in the gutter and managed to bridge across. We rode as a pair for about 40km and managed to stay away. It was particularly refreshing to see that when the bunch came across the line, Magnus Backstedt, Tour de France stage and Paris-Roubaix winner, looked exhausted after apparently putting in some massive turns in the last few laps to try and catch us!
10th seems like not a great reward for beating Malcolm Elliott, Ben Luckwell, Magnus etc etc, but I was pleased with my ride on a hilly course.
Thanks very much for the support from Surrey League, Tim Bishop from South Downs Bikes and my Team Manager!
Next up is prep races for Smithfield Nocturne on Sat 11th June
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