Reading Cycling Club press report, week ending Sunday 7 February 2010

Circuit Racing News

Reading CC's veteran road racer Wayne Thomas once more managed to
compete in two separate races on two different circuits on Saturday.
Round five of the Upavon Winter Series saw thirty eight 3/4 cat riders
lined up (including Thomas) plus another 26 riders in the E/1/2/3 race
(including Reading's Gavin Spiers). The format is two separate races run
in parallel, with the E/1/2/3 race set off 30 seconds ahead of the 3/4
cats. Usually the power of the E/1/2/3 pulls them clear, but not on this
occasion. It was very evident that the 3/4 cats "smelt blood" and the
E/1/2/3 group did not like the cold conditions. Thus on lap 1 and inside
1.5 miles the E/1/2/3 group was caught and passed by the 3/4 cat group.
On the 600m uphill drag to the finish, the E/1/2/3's re-asserted
themselves. On lap 4, the 3/4 group caught the E/1/2/3 again, whereupon
the 3rd/4th cats were instructed by the race officials to slow down, and
the E/1/2/3 to speed up to create a 30 second gap! Having done so, on
lap 7 the 3/4 group once more caught the E/1/2/3 group for the third
time - this is unheard of! On this occasion the E/1/2/3 group finally
asserted their authority and began to put some distance between the two
groups. The pace had clearly had its effect as with 2 laps to go the 3/4
peleton was now down to just 13 riders, with 3 riders ahead who had
escaped during the melee of the third meeting of the groups. With 7
places still available for BC licence points, Thomas was hopeful of
another good finish - but could not quite make it, and ending up 12th.
Spiers did not finish in the E/1/2/3 race.
For Thomas it was once more on to the Hillingdon circuit for the 3rd cat
race at 1300. Thomas was joined by fellow evergreen Paul Stedman and
young Adam White. A field of 50+ riders were lined up at the start - a
few more than in recent events. No manic start, but some solid high
paced riding - resulting in the 4th cat race being caught and passed
within 25 minutes. After his efforts at Upavon in the morning Thomas
was happy to just get race pace miles in and sat untroubled at the back
of the field - usually in the company of Adam White. Stedman had a few
flurries at or near the front but faded towards the back of the field in
the last few laps. All three Reading riders finished. Next Saturday is
the final race of the Hillingdon Winter Series.

Joe Harris came 5th in the E/1/2/3/4 handicap race at Hog Hill circuit:
"It was the biggest entry so far this season with over forty riders on
the line although it dropped to about twenty by the last lap with riders
getting dropped or punctured as the race went on. It wasn't a
particularly lively race and no-one got away. The race came down to a
bunch sprint and I came 5th. I was surprised how far out riders started
sprinting and got caught out, which delayed my sprint as riders went
around me, but I passed a lot of riders in front of the line who went
too early. I'm pleased with how I rode tactically and physically I felt
good.

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

Roderick MacFadyen
Reading Cycling Club