Harry's round-up of the racing from last week as follows:
The 18th and last edition of the Wednesday night World Champs at Mountbatten this week saw Phill, Oli and myself facing off against the Felt, VC St Raphael and Pedal Heaven squads. All eyes were on Phill after his victory last week, and the early moves were well covered as usual. When the break did go, Phill made the selection again, and the group of 5 soon took a lap. Confident in Phill's sprint, Oli and I could concentrate on controlling things then ratcheting up the pace in the final laps. Oli steered the peleton through the penultimate lap, accelerating relentlessly to maintain the lead, then I came through to hold the inside line until the final corner. As I peeled off right Phill was already firing towards the finish. Felt
and Pedal Heaven had to settle for the minor placings as Phill secured another commanding victory.
Sunday was a different matter. The final South BC road race of the season kicked off with Met Office warnings of gales, floods and an outside chance of locusts. This was a hilly 65 miles, and on a day like this, a true hard man's race. The strong Peter Hansford Cycles contingent were on the back foot on the opening lap. Brook suffered an early puncture, and the searing pace meant this was the end of his race. The climbing pace set by Phil Peters (Peter Hansford 2013 squad) among others was putting Andy and I, flatland riders by choice, well into the red zone. Through the second lap the squad consolidated within a chase group of some 20 riders behind a lead break of 3. Phill was soon bridging across to the lead group, while Oli Andy and I controlled the group behind (occasionally from some way behind on the climbs, with some hasty chasing over the crest...). The early pace and apocalyptic conditions had created a gritty attritional race. Phill had enough in reserve for the relentless attacks which would eventually carry him over the line with the leaders, taking an exceptional 3rd position in 'the hardest race I have ever ridden', behind nationally respected Elite road men Colin Parry and Tom Stockdale. The Peter Hansford squad behind demonstrated real strength in depth. In the last race on this course, the South Div RR Champs, I was the first Hansford rider with a 14th place. This time I finished 14th again, but was the last Hansford finisher, with Andy (10th) and Oli (12th) turning in storming performances. A great end to the season all round.
Sunday was a different matter. The final South BC road race of the season kicked off with Met Office warnings of gales, floods and an outside chance of locusts. This was a hilly 65 miles, and on a day like this, a true hard man's race. The strong Peter Hansford Cycles contingent were on the back foot on the opening lap. Brook suffered an early puncture, and the searing pace meant this was the end of his race. The climbing pace set by Phil Peters (Peter Hansford 2013 squad) among others was putting Andy and I, flatland riders by choice, well into the red zone. Through the second lap the squad consolidated within a chase group of some 20 riders behind a lead break of 3. Phill was soon bridging across to the lead group, while Oli Andy and I controlled the group behind (occasionally from some way behind on the climbs, with some hasty chasing over the crest...). The early pace and apocalyptic conditions had created a gritty attritional race. Phill had enough in reserve for the relentless attacks which would eventually carry him over the line with the leaders, taking an exceptional 3rd position in 'the hardest race I have ever ridden', behind nationally respected Elite road men Colin Parry and Tom Stockdale. The Peter Hansford squad behind demonstrated real strength in depth. In the last race on this course, the South Div RR Champs, I was the first Hansford rider with a 14th place. This time I finished 14th again, but was the last Hansford finisher, with Andy (10th) and Oli (12th) turning in storming performances. A great end to the season all round.
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