Epsom Spring Classic LVRC - Sun 19th April 09
Tue 21 Apr 2009
Epsom Spring Classic LVRC RR - Sunday 19th April 2009
Report from Ian Turner
Two North Road riders (Phil Moon and myself) reported for duty in Leigh, Surrey for Round 2 of the LVRC Mstina Jersey Series, the Epsom Spring Classic. A healthy field of 130 vets made for a colourful start venue and race HQ, stretching the organisers to their limits.
The weather was good; sunny intervals with a cool breeze from the NE.
Race 1 (A and B) got underway at 10am, seven laps of an 8 mile loop through twisty Surrey lanes complete with gravelled juntions, pot holes, runners, a horse and cart, a Harley Davidson motorcycle rally and a stinging 10% hill each lap. After a jumpy first lap the race director halted the race, due to Race 2 (ie the more senior C/D riders) catching up with Race 1. Race 1 was re-started and heated up. After 3 laps a break developed which settled the first 5 places, Colin McDermott, Festival RC won the race. The bunch chased and allowed no further breaks to develop, despite a number of attempts. On the final lap, with 1½ miles to the finish I was making my towards the front when I heard the unpleasant sound of metal scrapping tarmac. A rider had touched wheels resulting in the end of the race for fellow club mate Phil, who having ridden strongly throughout, was unable to avoid the accident and hit the deck. Phil is OK but has two bent wheels.
As the bunch hit the final left turn I somehow ended up at the front, not a great place to be and entirely my own fault! I sprinted as hard as I could up the final 200m incline into a headwind to finish 14th overall and 8th in category A, which earned me 5 points. A result I hope to improve upon next week in the Finsbury Park RR at Blackmore.