Beyond Spring Crit - Hillingdon - 22/03/14
Fri 11 Apr 2014
Paul and I rode the Beyond Spring crit at Hillingdon on Sat 22nd March.
The temperature had dropped but the threatening rain held off.
A very big field of around 90 riders started which meant we were both keen to stay near the front and keep out of trouble. This wasn't helped as we were right at the back at the start line. We quickly both made it to the front in a couple of laps and straight away tried to turn it into a break. We were both working very hard along with another 4-5 riders. We were all on the limit for around and 10 mins but the bunch was keen not to let us go. It was all back together after around 15 mins.
This was the main pattern of the race with small groups trying to get away but getting brought back after a couple of laps. There was a lone breakaway for a few laps but there was confusion to whether someone was away or not. This lead to Paul sprinting and winning the prime sprint (unaware if anyone was away). Due to the lack of clarification at the side lines the commissaires awarded Paul and the break away rider a prime.
With around 20 mins to go I followed an attack down the finish straight and the two of us tried to bridge across to the lone rider. Within a couple of laps we'd taken the advantage from 30 seconds to 15. We were joined by a third rider after 3 laps and a 4th a lap later. It took a another lap or so before the other riders could help in the chase. We finally caught the leader with about 10 mins to go and just as another 2 riders got across and a great solo effort by Paul to bridge on his own. We were riding hard with the pack also in full flight about 15-20 seconds behind us.
Into the last lap Paul got caught in two minds whether to go for a long attack or a long sprint and kind of combine the two. I got boxed by a switch in the sprint and had to leave my acceleration later than I wanted. I managed to finish 5th and Paul in 7th. Another good result for NRCC.
A very big field of around 90 riders started which meant we were both keen to stay near the front and keep out of trouble. This wasn't helped as we were right at the back at the start line. We quickly both made it to the front in a couple of laps and straight away tried to turn it into a break. We were both working very hard along with another 4-5 riders. We were all on the limit for around and 10 mins but the bunch was keen not to let us go. It was all back together after around 15 mins.
This was the main pattern of the race with small groups trying to get away but getting brought back after a couple of laps. There was a lone breakaway for a few laps but there was confusion to whether someone was away or not. This lead to Paul sprinting and winning the prime sprint (unaware if anyone was away). Due to the lack of clarification at the side lines the commissaires awarded Paul and the break away rider a prime.
With around 20 mins to go I followed an attack down the finish straight and the two of us tried to bridge across to the lone rider. Within a couple of laps we'd taken the advantage from 30 seconds to 15. We were joined by a third rider after 3 laps and a 4th a lap later. It took a another lap or so before the other riders could help in the chase. We finally caught the leader with about 10 mins to go and just as another 2 riders got across and a great solo effort by Paul to bridge on his own. We were riding hard with the pack also in full flight about 15-20 seconds behind us.
Into the last lap Paul got caught in two minds whether to go for a long attack or a long sprint and kind of combine the two. I got boxed by a switch in the sprint and had to leave my acceleration later than I wanted. I managed to finish 5th and Paul in 7th. Another good result for NRCC.