My First Blog Post -- Mountbatten -- Wed 15th August

This is my first blog post for Peter Hansford Cycles, and there’s only a month and a bit left of the season. Why? Well... In spite of the excellent support from friends and sponsor, I’ve had a rubbish season! Getting ill over winter, then panic training to get fast, then getting ill again, combined with horrid weather, too much time spent at my day job, and a gnarly saddle sore, has meant that my form hasn’t been what I’d hoped.

About a month ago I took some time off racing to build slowly in an attempt to salvage the last part of the season. I put in miles on the bike with a couple of different group rides; did some long tempo rides on my own; and plenty of roller riding in the garage (due to our lack of summer). As I gained form, I started treating races as interval sessions -- ignoring tactics and attacking as often and as hard as I could -- which seems to have kicked a little bit of speed into my legs.

Most of the team, Harry, Olly, Mike, Brook and I, were at yesterday’s race.  It was the first in ages where I tried to race tactically - I waited for others to initiate moves before choosing what I thought looked the best bets. I thought I’d failed miserably when I watched a group of three of the strongest riders (including our own Harry Bulstrode) go up the road, quickly forming a gap which didn’t look like it would be closed. However, I positioned myself in the front ten, waiting for the next attack. Shortly, a group of six of us escaped the bunch and started to bridge to the lead group. Two of the six had a teammate in the lead and another two were from the same team meaning we didn't work especially well together, and after about ten minutes the bunch started catching us. By this time the lead group were only about a third of a lap ahead, but members of my group were starting skip turns. I decided to go solo and attacked as hard as I could. I got to within ten metres of the lead group, and after some shouting from me, Harry sat up enabling me to join them. Within minutes, the lead group of which I was now a part took a lap.

The remainder of the race our Peter Hansford teammates covered attacks while I tried to save some energy for the finish. Harry and I decided to let a break of two stay up the road, deterring further attacking from the main bunch. We had missed, however, that one of the breakaway two was John Wager of Felt, who was part of the group that had taken a lap. Mike and Phil gave me an excellent leadout (Mike, despite his massive effort still achieved a top ten finish) and only a couple of people crossed the line in front of me. I was sure I’d won until I spotted John -- we’d caught him on the line but I think he’d managed to stay ahead of the rest of the break. I thought it was a lesson learned the hard way, but considering my season I was happy with second. I think Harry, who’d been left to fend for himself in the sprint, was third.

For any Stattos, details of the ride can be found here:
http://app.strava.com/activities/18678865

Results are in -- I’ve been given the win!
1. Andy Bryson - Peter Hansford Racing
2. John Wager - Felt Colbornes RT
3. Harry Bulstrode - Peter Hansford Racing
4. Rowan Horner - VC St Raphael / Waite Contracts / Hewitt Cycles
5. Justin Hoy - Felt Colbornes RT
6. Jay Eastwood - Primera Specialized
7. Lee Smith - Felt Colbornes RT
8. James Wilson - supernova cycles
9. James Jones - Beeline Cycles
10. Mike Scott - Peter Hansford Racing