East London Velo Thurs Evening 2 LVRC 21st May 2009

A cornucopia of North Road riders massed at the start of the full Hog Hill circuit, run as a clockwise race, that involved the long slog type of climb up the Hoggenberg.  

Both John McDowall and Richard Somerset tried early speculative digs off the front after some cagey early laps.  Steve James found the pace a little too hot to handle and dropped out early, while Steve Blackwell remains on an upwards curve by surviving longer than his previous outing before being dropped.  

Dave Kiely had to work hard to bridge gaps when the racing pace increased and eventually payed for these efforts at the foot of the Hoggenberg.  A break of 4/5 got away, although they did not catch a small leading group of C/D catogory vets who stayed away to claim the first four places.  

Richard packed with four laps remaining after some spirited riding, while John (just) remained in contact with the third chasing group to cross the line just outside the offical placings.