My last race in Belgium was a roaring success in a fast flat race, 75 miles at over 27mph and the last 30 miles spent in a break of 12 at the head of the race driving the group. I tried to attack the group but due to the sheer pace of the race there was no getting away and it came down to a sprint, I started well but cramped badly and ended up 8th. My best result of the season and I was over the moon to have finally made a break stick in a kermesse!
I headed back to the UK much fitter, much leaner and with much more race experience and wisdom which I was hoping to put to good use in my last few races of the season. My first race back in the UK was a Regional A race in Stratford Upon Avon, the GP Bicicielo Pinarello. It was quite a short race at 56 miles, and an early crash put paid to the hopes of over a dozen riders. I got in a move on lap 2 that was away for 10 miles but couldn't stick. With 15 miles to go, 6 riders attacked the bunch and built a lead of 1 minute, I knew I needed to react to this, and with 7 miles to go I followed an attack on the drag through the village of Inkberrow, nobody else came with us and I was suddenly away with one rider for company. We had to push incredibly hard with a minute gap to bridge up to, and time was running out! with 1 mile to go we still had about 10 seconds to get across, after a couple of hard pushes we finally got across with no more than 500 metres to the finish line, my breakaway companion was on the front and put in a huge dig to go straight past the guys in front. I then came round him and lunged for the line beating him by about a wheel length. Arms aloft, job done, win number 2!
Winning the GP Bicicielo Pinarello in Worcestershire.
Next up was a midweek national b crit in Portsmouth, not a big race but with a few decent riders turning up it was looking to be a tough race. That it was. Spent 30 minutes in a break of 6 trying to take a lap on the bunch, we were lapping at well over 30mph, which showed in the eventual race average of 31mph! We eventually took the lap with 5 minutes to go and Felt-Colbornes took up the lead out for their sprinter Justin, who duly took the win, I managed to cling on behind for second place and clinched my 1st category licence, my main aim for the season! Fastest race I have ever done and one of the most fun, a complete smashfest!
I now only had one big race left, the National A road race in Essex, the Jef Schils Memorial. There were a lot of big name riders from big teams on the startsheet, and it was looking like it would be a veyr hard race. At 93 miles it would also be the longest race I've ever done, which I was relishing as I often come good at the back end of a race. A group went away early on, 3 riders building a couple of minutes on the peloton and staying out for a long time. The race was fast and exposed so it was important to pay attention. I stayed largely out of trouble for the first couple of hours, made my way to the front for a while but the race was too fast for anything to happen. Eventually with 20 miles to go I initiated an attack by attacking on an exposed crosswind section, we ended up in a group of 12, with another 10 riders ahead of us, we worked very smoothly together until about 5 miles to go, when we had a clear advantage over the bunch and it all started kicking off, however nothing stuck and our group was together until with 1 mile to go I put in a massive dig on the drag before the finish straight, I gapped my companions and drove for the line, however with less than 100m to go 4 of the group sprinted past me and I ended up in 15th place. Another great result that made me very happy, and put confidence in me that I am ready to step up next year and compete in Premier Calendar races.
And that was that, a couple more small races but I wasn't training much and got no results to speak of. My season ended on September the 23rd and I was relieved to be able to rest. It had been a long hard season and I was ready to take some time off and kick back for a while. It was a very successful season for me, I achieved most of my goals for the season, took two victories on the road, and gained my 1st cat licence. I would like to thank all the guys at Dream Cycling for their help in 2012, without whom it would have been a very different story.
What will 2013 hold for me? Who knows, but I have some big aims both in the UK and in Europe, some serious training and lifestyle changes planned, and a new team to ride for. I can't wait, but for now the excitement goes on hold as I start to build the foundations for 2013... Base miles and lots of them. Long rides, wrapped up warm, getting fit again.
Until then,
Ciao!
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