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

Racing and Sportive news

Road and Circuit Racing
Surrey League
Joe Harris rode two Surrey League road races at the weekend. In the first an early puncture left him walking back to race HQ but the second found him in the thick of the action: "The Festival RC event at Alsfold was a 70 mile road race for 2nd and 3rd cat racers. I got into the race early on by getting into breaks, chasing breaks down and generally being very active near the front of the bunch. With 15 miles to go a group of about ten riders were up the road and pulling away. Some of us in the bunch worked hard to close the gap and we were able to bridge across to the front group. So there were 20 of us and one rider away, he had led for most of the race. On the last climb before the finish a few riders attacked and three riders got off the front of the breakaway. I chased hard and bridged across to them taking a few riders with me which left us as a group of 8 coming in to the sprint. When we went past the 1 kilometre to go board I was second wheel and was feeling good. I looked up the road and saw some people in the distance. I mistook this for the finish line and sprinted off hard but as I got nearer I realised the real finish was 200m further on. The rest of the breakaway passed me and I had to settle for ninth place. I'm pleased with the way I rode during the race but disappointed that I messed up the last kilometre by mistaking the 200m to go sign for the finish."

Wayne Thomas rode in the 60 mile 3rd cat event at Alsfold: "This was my first road race of the year. 55 riders were out to play, all well wrapped up against the cold. The pace was very quick with small groups constantly breaking off the front and being reeled in several miles later. After the first few miles I found myself stuck towards the back of the peloton, the small roads making it difficult to move up. Lots of traffic and a couple of horses also disrupted the flow of the peloton. I made it to the last lap still in contact but then endured a cramp attack with 8 miles to go and had to back off, finishing in 39th place with a small group of 6 riders. Still I was pleased to have completed my longest race over the past four seasons."

Upavon Circuit
Steve Bale rode at Upavon circuit: "This was my first circuit race of the season and I was pretty confident until the first real attacks started. 20 minutes in and Darren Parker forged awa. The chasing riders were able to reel him in and it became apparent that it would take a big effort to escape. At half an hour I'd warmed into it and moved towards the front to see if I could help those leading the race break free. Various riders managed to break but none were able to make it stick. With two laps to go I tried again to snap the elastic but everyone was mobilising for a big sprint finish and there was no way I was going to get free. I stayed up the front to keep out of trouble though I was too toasted to maintain my speed to the line and finished well down the field in the sprint. I need to work on that closing 200m to get the results."

Wayne Thomas was also at Upavon circuit: "Whilst still cold, it was dry and less windy, tempting 54 riders to turn out for the 3/4 cat race. The race got off to a rapid start and attacks were occurring on a regular basis. Bale was very active on or near the front of the peleton, and on two occasions managed a half break with Parker for company. Ultimately, one rider managed to breakaway over the last two laps and just held off a hard charging peloton which had been led by Bale for much of the last lap. On the final 600m drag to the finish Thomas made up very good ground from the rear of the peleton to finish 16th. Bale was 31st and Parker 15th."

Surrey Rumble Sportive
Graham Ide rode the Surrey Rumble Sportive, 71 miles through the Surrey and Sussex countryside. "A cold start meant that the overnight frost and ice had not cleared all of the roads making one or two areas a little dangerous but I managed to avoid coming down. Some others were not so lucky I understand. But a decent start of climbing Leith Hill gave me a little boost so I set myself a decent pace. The undulating route made for an interesting day however the headwind for most of it was challenging. A little acceleration up Puttenham Common and I was feeling good for the final stretch. I finished with an official time of 5 hrs 10 mins."

Sunday Clubrun
Fast group destination is Millets Farm Café at Frilford, the Medium group goes to Q Gardens Tea Room at Harwell. All groups leave Market Place at 9am on Sundays.

Roderick MacFadyen
Reading Cycling Club