Eastern CX League, WGC - Sat 10th Oct 2014

WGC provided the location for the next round of the ever popular Eastern Cyclocross league.   Set at Stanborough Lakes, it can be a very tough and demanding course although with the going good-to-soft, and the race run the opposite way than usual the conditions actually promoted a faster more flowing style of racing.

In the Vets 40-49 race Bryan Holland and John McDowall lined up on rows two and three of the grid respectively.   John got just about his best ever flying CX start, with an instantaneous clip-in allowing valuable progress early on.  Bryan was not on a good day and although he started solidly he faded through the race.   John was involved in a series of mano-on-mano battles with other riders that kept the race pace high.  A final victorious sprint to the line over a rival capped a strong ride for John on a course that suited him

John came home in 16th, Bryan in 28th at +4.06 and +5.58 on the winner -   Shaun Aldous of the Iceni Velo who completed five laps in 35.59.  71 riders started.

Four North Roaders lined up for the hour long Seniors race.  Regular Cx’ers  Adam Stone, Matt Crees and Paul McGrath where joined by Maldon road-race winner Jobe Usher on a bike kindly loaned by Dave Kiely,

A fluffed start by Paul who had also missed his grid call-up meant battling though the field right from the off.  Jobe got a good start from the back of the field and found himself well up the filed early on.    A superb ride by the eventual winner, Matt Holmes of Artic RT, put just about everyone in the shade as he stormed round the course completing eight laps in 57.01 (I’ll get my coat)  Paul was first North Roader home in a very respectable 14th, Jobe impressed in 20th, with Adam also riding consistently up front only losing time with a rear mech course tape tangling episode costing him time for an eventual finish of 28th.  Matt battled round, although heavily affected by full blown 'man flu',  for a sterling 38th.  54 riders competed.