LVRC Hog Hill 21st September 2008
Sun 21 Sep 2008
Clear skies, warm sunshine, no wind and racing limited to the lower circuit only (no hill) promised a fast race for the penultimate LVRC race of the season at Hog Hill. Simon Checkley and myself represented the North Road. A small field of only 25 set off in the 40-59 age group meaning there was likely to be no hiding place.
Now at this point I need to admit that for people like me who should pay more attention to the events evolving in front of them the race was confusing. However what did transpire was the following. Two riders got away early and stayed away for the entire race and picked up first and second place. After about 35 minutes a break of about eight, including Simon, got away from the chasing bunch and established a good gap of three quarters of a lap by the end of the race. A couple from this break fell back after a while and about three from the main bunch bridged up to these to make a second chasing group. The rest of the bunch stayed together (I think).
Simon, in the first chasing group, launched his sprint from about 300 metres out but was pipped for fourth place by the French Rapha Condor man who is normally there or thereabouts in these races. I finished safely in the main bunch. We should say at this point that Simon thought he was sprinting for the win and had got second as the very existence of the two man breakaway was not discovered by us until about 40 minutes afterwards whilst having tea and cake in the clubhouse.
The race was a typical LVRC event, some very fast laps of chasing interspersed with “recovery” laps. Overall pace was fairly high with an average of 38km/hr in the main bunch that was nearly lapped.
The race was marred by two riders going down on the penultimate lap. Both are OK, we think, apart from bruises and road rash. Overall a very enjoyable race in great conditions and an excellent fourth for Simon.
Last LVRC of the season at Hog Hill next Sunday 28th September
Now at this point I need to admit that for people like me who should pay more attention to the events evolving in front of them the race was confusing. However what did transpire was the following. Two riders got away early and stayed away for the entire race and picked up first and second place. After about 35 minutes a break of about eight, including Simon, got away from the chasing bunch and established a good gap of three quarters of a lap by the end of the race. A couple from this break fell back after a while and about three from the main bunch bridged up to these to make a second chasing group. The rest of the bunch stayed together (I think).
Simon, in the first chasing group, launched his sprint from about 300 metres out but was pipped for fourth place by the French Rapha Condor man who is normally there or thereabouts in these races. I finished safely in the main bunch. We should say at this point that Simon thought he was sprinting for the win and had got second as the very existence of the two man breakaway was not discovered by us until about 40 minutes afterwards whilst having tea and cake in the clubhouse.
The race was a typical LVRC event, some very fast laps of chasing interspersed with “recovery” laps. Overall pace was fairly high with an average of 38km/hr in the main bunch that was nearly lapped.
The race was marred by two riders going down on the penultimate lap. Both are OK, we think, apart from bruises and road rash. Overall a very enjoyable race in great conditions and an excellent fourth for Simon.
Last LVRC of the season at Hog Hill next Sunday 28th September