Reading Cycling Club press report, week ending Sunday 31st January 2010

Circuit Racing News

Joe Harris can't be kept away from the winter league at Hog Hill
circuit: "It was an interesting race because for the first time this
year the course was run in reverse. This makes the climb longer but less
steep and further from the finish. I felt good from the start and wanted
to make sure I was always in contention for a good finishing position so
I didn't let a break disappear unless I was in it. There were some
strong riders in the field and nearly every lap someone tried to break
off the front going up the hill. I got in a couple of breaks but they
were soon caught. With two laps to go a rider broke clear coming into
the descent. I looked around and everyone looked happy to let him go so
I sprinted off to chase him down, half a lap later we were all bunched
up in one group again. With exactly a lap to go the same rider again
tried to get clear. This time I was too late to react because everyone
sped up and chased after him pushing me backwards through the group.
With half a lap to go I was at the back of the group so I used the hill
to move up the field to put me in a good position for the sprint. Once
over the top I shifted up a few gears and started accelerating into the
sprint. I kicked hard and took an inside line for the last turn. Just as
I was about to pass the leading rider he swung over and pushed me right
into the edge so I had to ease up and go around his other side less than
100 metres from the line. Then I gave it everything and pushed as hard
as I could but the finishing line came up to quickly, I gave everything
I had into a bike throw on the line but the decision went to another
rider leaving me with fifth place. I was pleased with the result but
more importantly I was pleased to have raced well, not missing a move
and staying in a good position. After the league race I went and signed
on for the national B race that started straight afterwards. I was
surprised how good I still felt although the racing had tired my legs
and I didn't have much of a sprint in me. I rolled across the line in
11th. All in all a good days racing!"

Veteran racer Wayne Thomas is also hunting out winter events to ride. He
reports on his latest adventures at Hillingdon circuit: "Some 125 riders
lined up for the three races, with 50 each in the 3rd and 4th cat races.
I was joined by several other team mates - Paul Stedman and Adam White -
and virgin racer Stuart Hale in the 4th cat race. Stuart experienced a
rude awakening to the difference between club riding and race pace. The
4th cats shot off at a good pace - and clearly sustained it as the 3rd
cats never even got close to closing the gap to them. With getting used
to the several bends and riding in such a large group at speed, Stuart
was blown out after less than 10 minutes. However, despite being
subsequently lapped several times, and though not listed, Stuart
persevered to the end. It also meant that he missed the last lap
crashes.
In the meantime, the cold weather pretty much kept the 3rd cats
together, at a strong pace - but not the manic first few laps of the
past few races.
Stedman, myself and White rode solidly, with White - in his first race
of this season, and the first since last summer - showing great ambition
in contesting the half way prime prize sprint.
With little attrition a large group was heading towards a big bunch
sprint finish. However, anticipating another two laps, before the five
laps to go board, the peleton suddenly found that the race was shortened
by four laps as we found the three lap to go board being displayed. It
was very apparent that this threw the peleton in to a state of unease,
and with 4th cat riders having just finished their race and still
circulating, we were at two laps to go when a degree of panic and
skittishness set in. Not surprisingly, the last two laps were getting a
little scary, with Stedman and Thomas sharing the view "that it was
going to happen" - and it did. On the final corner on the last lap, 40
riders converged at high speed - some 12+ riders came down and a
Pontypool rider on the far right went off the circuit and over a metal
barrier - fortunately landing in mud. None of the Reading riders were
involved, though all three were held up. I lead home in 23rd place,
Stedman close behind in 27th place, and White in 35th. With 150+
registered 3rd cats, I was quite pleased to find that I have picked up
enough points to be in 23rd place overall in the winter series."

Sunday Clubrun
All groups leave Reading Market Place at 9am on Sundays.

Roderick MacFadyen
Reading Cycling Club