Crest CC Road Race - Sun 4th March

Crest CC Road Race - Sun 4th March - Ugley, Herts

Report from Tony Bradford

It was with some trepidation that I lined up for the Crest CC road race this Sunday morning (4th March). Since November every Saturday training ride has been a trial and my speed training only started two weeks ago. The weather looked bad too with spots of rain promising an early arrival of the promised noon downpour.

The Crest's race is run over 8 and 1/2 laps of the Littlebury course; this includes the Littlebury Green Hill x 9. I have never ridden this race and not come home shivering and today was no exception but at least I wasn't the only one.

The first lap went OK and I began to warm to the prospect of the race. Dave Staff made a strong break which lasted for 3 laps but was eventually brought back. However, two of the riders he went after remained out in front mopping up the primes as they went. Once Dave was back in the bunch things really kicked off with two fast laps knocking 45 seconds off the lead. This was particularly tough after the Littlebury Green decent on the road to Wendens Ambo with a strong head wind making all attacks short lived.

Into the final lap; two in the lead had swelled to three with a chasing group of 8 a minute behind and the bunch, now somewhat diminished, a further 30 seconds back. At this point it had been raining heavily for an hour – I think this prompted a few to pull out early. As we descended towards the Wendens road for the last time I passed Ron Hewes (on the front) flat out and encouraged him to join me for a little bit of Headwind Time Trialling – he was keen and we were soon joined by a member of the Crest and Economic Energy. Once on to the Newport Road I glanced behind and there was no one there. Up the hill and put in enough of a dig to start with to drop two of the four; in the end I was pipped by the Economic Energy guy and had to settle for 13th. Race was won by Mark Christian, Glendene, 3hrs 13 min.

The Crest had lived up to my expectation. Tough, gritty, cold and *%$£$$&* wet – can't wait for next year's event.

Tony