Postby lock_ » Mon May 06, 2013 11:15 am
4/5/2013 Northern Combine, Italo-Australian Cycling Club Trophy Race, B Grade, 90km
Didn't want to just do nothing the whole race so went off the front early. Caught the two guys who had already got away, and sat on to get the HR down a little. By the time I'd finished pulling my first turn the peloton was already making ground. Break was closed down after a km or two. Drifted slowly back through the bunch trying to find somewhere to hide from the wind.
Crosswind was brutal, and then the hammer went down. 50km/h on the flat, strung out single file, everyone riding straight down the center line. Wasn't so much a matter of if but when I'd drop off, luckily things eased up. The second (of three) laps was pretty cruisy after that, in fact one group of dropped riders managed to get back on. Took this opportunity to eat a gel, not that it was going to help. HR was well under control, unfortunately the legs were well done by the third lap. Was secretly hoping the last few kms of the race, with a few little bumps (was a pretty flat circuit), would break things up a bit. This didn't happen, found myself at the back of 40 riders well spread across the road with only a few kms to go and no way through. Finished the race rather comfortably sitting on the back of the bunch.
Free BBQ after the race, this made me very happy.
Thought I saw Jules on corner marshal duty? But weren't you down to race...
Northern Combine goes back to the old crit circuit we raced all summer this Sat. Only difference this time around is that it'll be with a much stronger field.