After a brief hiatus for me from weekend racing, I was back in the groove of things at the Velo Club Beverley Road Race on Sunday 22nd June.

We had a strong HTRC presence at the event too, as joining me from our racing team was Danny Posnett, Andy Carroll, George Leighton and Will Thomas – who wasn’t sure if he was going to enter after a slight dip in form the previous week but made the right choice to turn up on the morning.

Perfect weather

You could also tell that it’s now officially summer, as the weather was superb with temperatures of around 22/23 degrees – perfect for racing!

As for the course, that was 7 laps on a circuit around South Dalton, which covered half of the Etton Road Race circuit used in the East Yorkshire Road Race League. However instead of taking a left in South Dalton, as is the case in the Road Race League, the course for today’s event went straight on, through Holme on the Wolds and returned via a steep hill, which crested where the start/finish line is. The roads around the area were narrow so getting to the front would be key.

By the time we’d started though, we were a bit too far at the back. I managed to get up to the front soon enough by the time we passed through South Dalton for the first time. I was hoping to join up with Will, who was at the head of the bunch, but ended up bypassing him and following Richard Binks of PH Mas, who was trying to bridge to an attack up ahead. This attack was soon nullified though and the bunch was all together by the time we completed the first lap.

Andy’s back

Unfortunately by this point we’d lost two riders, as both Andy and George had been dropped. For George it was a case of a flash of illness which caused him to drop out and I’m sure he’ll be fine for the next event. As for Andy, well this was his first open road race in over a year I believe, so he was understandably a little bit rusty. From what I’d seen during the majority of the first lap though was that he was fairly comfortable, which proved to me that he’ll be fine if he keeps at it and ups the training. It would be good to see him enter a few more races throughout the rest of the year too as I’m certain he’ll improve as a result.

So that left the three of us, which for a moment I thought was just the two of us. Danny had done a lot of work on the front of the bunch on the earlier laps, and was advised by Will to ease back and take some shelter. However from what I gathered, he was right at the back so I didn’t see him for the best part of 3 laps and wondered if he’d pulled out with a puncture or something. It was perhaps the right tactic though, as there was a stream of attacks that kept getting nullified by others, so it wasn’t as if he was missing any key moves. I think we’d decided to save our legs for the last lap anyway, I know I had with it being a summit finish. I’d felt good all day and was keeping close to the front. I felt certain that if I carried on like this I’d be well in the points.

Chase or not

By around lap 4 though, a group of around 3 riders had managed to get away and were starting to work well together. Unfortunately no one was willing to commit to the chase in our group, which only aided the breaks chance of success. Miles Flather (Wilsons Wheels) pointed out as much when he spoke to me. I mentioned about the possibility of attacking with him to bridge the gap, as if we got a gap then I guessed no one would willing to chase. At this point we were starting to head downhill, so I thought better of attacking as it wasn’t the best place to do so in my eyes. Miles, however, did the opposite and tried an attack, but in doing so he managed to wake everybody up as they were all trying to latch onto his wheel and chase him down. All the while, with these shenanigans going on behind, the group of 3 were carrying and extending their lead.

Onto the 5th lap and our teamwork was starting to blossom. Will was starting to suffer on the climbs but I thought if he could instigate a chase on the flatter sections with some other riders, we may pull the group back. He duly did, despite his aching legs and the lead started to shrink. Unfortunately we hit the hill again, which put pay to Will’s hard work, as others took the reins at the front. It then soon became a bit of a mess again with half hearted attacks every now and then and more riders looking at each other to take up the chase. All the while the group of 3 was still working well and still staying out ahead.

Close to being caught

Coming up to start the final lap, I knew I needed to be at or near the front. Will and Danny both did a great job of coming up to me and dragging me up to the front. It was pleasing to see more than anything but it had also done the job of placing me around 10th position.

Up the climb for the penultimate time and the legs were still feeling good. I latched on to one rider who pressed on so much that he’d manage to drag me away from the bunch. I didn’t realise until Danny said we were away having also joined us. Another rider latched on and, although I was saving my legs for the finish, felt obliged to go with this move with it being so close to the finish. Danny rode on like a man possessed. Just following him was an effort but it seemed to be doing the trick. Unfortunately, with the group being so small, the technique wasn’t perhaps correct. With hindsight, we needed to have one rider on the front for 20 seconds and then switch, so everybody could get some sort of rest. By the time I’d realised this though the pack had caught us and it was once again status quo. However, I had seen that the bunch of 3 were now perilously close to being caught as a result of our attack.

Stay at the front

The key now for the final lap was to stay at the front. Will and Danny did a great job in getting me up there once again, and by the time we hit South Dalton I was in around 10th position, which was perfect so I thought. Unfortunately everybody else wanted to get to the front too and I soon started to get boxed in with nowhere to go. Suddenly it was panic stations as I was in around 30th place and in no position to contest the sprint for the finish. The road also narrowed as we headed through Holme on the Wolds and there was no where to get through. I needed someone to string it out and use what power I had left to use the gap to move up, but the pace was just a bit too slow and everybody was massed together like a bunch of chickens in a farm. Danny had done very well to keep up front and even managed to attack with another rider. He pressed on for a while but was caught just before the final corner.

In my haste to get to the front, I came into the last corner far too quick and nearly ran off the road. I sprinted out of the bend and onto the climb with my legs now starting to burn. I caught up to Will who quite rightly said it wasn’t possible to get through. I wasn’t willing to give up though, and eventually I started to pass people. Some of the riders just came to a stand still, which almost caused a few accidents due to the difference in speed. This halted my progress even more, but I carried on, passing rider after rider, including Danny who’s legs seemed to have deserted him after his earlier attack. Unfortunately for me, the finish came just too early and I’d only managed to get around 20th place, which after all our hard work and good riding, was a bit like a kick in the nuts. The main issue was clearly my positioning. I’d thought 10th place around South Dalton was good enough but it clearly wasn’t. Had that been rectified I’m certain I’d have been in and around the points.

Fantastic teamwork

The winner was one of the break of 3, who I’m still not sure of as the result haven’t being publicised. However that was the least of my concerns after finishing. Despite the poor result though, the overall team work was fantastic at times, which was very pleasing to see. It’s easy to forget that we’re in our first season of racing with one another and experiences like this will only help us in the future.

However that won’t be next week, as I’m flying solo at Clifton’s Road Race around Sheriff Hutton, with Will and Danny taking part in the Nigel Moore Memorial at Bradford.

Fine race

A word too for the organisers of the race, VC Beverley and Wilsons Wheels, who should be thanked and praised for putting on such a fine race. In particular, the marshal at the crossroads at the bottom of the hill in Kiplingcoates valley who had to manage 4 lanes of traffic throughout. Top job.

 

Mark Walker
HTRC Road Race Secretary