Eastern Cross League – Stow Scramble, Trinity Park, Ipswich, Saturday 24th Jan 2015

Steve James was the first representative for North Road to line up at the start of the final set of league races for the season at Trinity Park. Racing in the Vets 50+ he joined at the back of the grid just in time for the off after a delayed journey to the race.  A slow first lap picking  through the back of the race left Steve adrift of his usual competition. Combined with some issues clipping in and out of his pedals Steve began to realise it was not going to be his day and settled for an easier completion of the season. This explained the relaxed and chatty style that his team members noted as they encouraged him from the side lines. Steve completed his race in an unusual lap down 20th of the 38 starters.  

 

Matt Cress followed Steve James in starting at the back of the grid for the Senior race, after appearing at the start without his helmet and having to do a quick run to and from the pits to collect it.  A reduced field with a good proportion of strong riders meant competition was going to be tough on a fast course. With a smaller field however Matt was able through the first half lap to chase and catch up with the main pack. Matt was riding strongly, putting in digs in each corner to work his way through the field passing the usual competition and soon found himself in a battle with two other riders who normally finish above him. Matt worked hard for the next two laps, putting in efforts on the exit of every corner trying to create a gap to the chasers, but unable to create a gap as they managed to close Matt down on the road section. The hard efforts took their toll and after 20 minutes well above threshold the two riders passed Matt on 4th lap and a mistake on a technical section resulted in losing 20 seconds. Matt dialled back the effort to pace himself to the finish with the rest of the race uneventful, holding off the inevitable lapping to around 34 minutes on a fast course, an improvement on earlier in the season to finish 21st out of 29 starters.

Bryan Holland lined up on the 2^nd row of the gird for the Vets 40-49 race having managed to avoid the teams preference this week for last minute calamities. An initial slow start was improved on through the length of the straight and some good cornering over the next section had Bryan up to 7^th. Through the first lap Bryan was racing another rider just ahead who was slower through the turns but quicker accelerating on the straights. This resulted in close on racing as both tried to take advantage when they could and get a gap. Bryan managed to get in front just before the long tarmac straight, which in hindsight was not ideal as the he towed his competitor through the start/finish line.  Through the second lap the race continued with Bryan getting an initial gap, but by the end of the lap he was behind again, but this time taking the tow through the line. On lap 3 the pace was beginning to tell and he was starting to slip inch by inch further behind.  A small mistake on the a short sharp climb and Bryan had to resort to reaching for the course post to prevent a fall. The gap grew a little more and then the inevitably the elastic snapped and Bryan dropped off the pace. The race was then a solo time trial to the end trying. Bryan finished in 6^th place from 57starters.