Castle Combe Easter Classic - Fri 21st March '08

South Chippenham, 4th cat 25 miles, 3rd cat 32 miles

Report by Ian Coles

I was down at Castle Coombe and bumped into Mike Bridge who was racing there with his sister. Mike was taking part in the 4ths and managed to hang in well over the 12 lap race. Unfortunately the bunch split on the first lap and Mike appeared to get caught out, but he ended up doing a fine effort to try catch up the bunch in very strong winds. He finished down on the leading bunch but seemed happy with his effort in his first race of the season.

I was then in the 3rd Cat race over 17 laps with a massive bunch of over a 100 riders. The pace was quick from the start and the open nature of the motor racing circuit left no place to hide. I managed a couple of efforts to get to (and nearly) off the front but the wind was really strong and made it difficult to get away and the peleton was really strung out at the bottom part of the circuit in the crosswinds. I managed to hang on in the bunch and shelter (wheel suck!), a small break went up the road but this was caught with a lap to go where a mass bunch sprint took place with me finishing in the field. Very tough out there and definitely the hardest race this year.