Over Easter weekend I raced in Northumberland at the Maureen Bain Memorial Road Race and Peter Chisman Memorial Road Race. This was only the third and forth race of the season and the competition was really strong. Riders from MG Maxifuel, Madison Genesis, Herbalife, IG Sigma, Node 4, took to the start line.
The Maureen Bain race was 4 laps of a rolling circuit with each lap an ascent of the Ryals. I was in the very first move of the day straight from the neutral zone. At first it comprised of only a few riders but soon enough I found myself in the break with 7 pros which by the end of the first lap had swelled to 11. Dean Downing, Matt Cronshaw, James Moss, Magnus Backstedt, Steve Lampier, Tom Bustard, and Ben Ives (team mate) just to reel off a few names. I was surprised at how much the gap increased to the bunch. The gap grew from 40 seconds to 4 minutes 50 seconds by the end of the second lap. The pace set by the break seemed fairly steady and at first I got told I was going through to hard. The first time up the Ryals I got a bit too excited and set the pace. We got to the top and I immediately got told to not go as hard over the climb. I was feeling really good and was a bit naive at the pace set. I had a photo finish with Cronshaw last year but that race was an hour long crit. This was completely different a 3 hour long road race.
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| Leading the break the first time up the Ryals |
The race was completely different to a junior race where everybody is smashing each other on the climbs, instead it was really smooth and it felt as though the pros were looking after each other. With just less than 2 laps to go the gap start coming down and that was when it started getting tough. The riders in the break started attacking each other and I was having to dig really deep to stay with the pros. With a lap to go I had used all of my energy and lost contact with the break along with Ben and Harry Tanfield of Herbalife.
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| Ascending the Ryals for the 3rd time |
I got a lot out of the race in terms of assessing my form, experience of riding in an early move, and most of all the advice from the pros and what it will be like racing against them next year as an U23. Overall I was really pleased with my ride and Tom Stewart (u23 team mate) managed to top off a great day by winning. He did an excellent ride to bridge to the break and then go on to win. I managed to cling on for 20th, and Ben was 18th.
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| Tom Stewart taking the win in a 3-up sprint |
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| L-R Sam Boast, James King, Tom Stewart, Ben Ives |
The Peter Chisman race on the Sunday didn't go as well, it was only a last minute decision to race. This race wasn't as hilly but the roads were heavy. No result for the team today but quality preparation for future racing.
This was also the first racing on the new Avanti Corsa team bike. I am really impressed with the bike, it looks great, rides smooth, and feels really fast. Especially when riding the Ritchey wheeels with Challenge tubs. Big thanks to Paligap for supporting the team and Names On Frames for the stickers which look really cool.
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| Thanks to Names on Frames for the stickers |
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| Avanti Corsa DR |
Next weekend I'm racing in the Junior Tour of the Mendips with the team, I'm really looking forward to it. We will be missing Ollie Wood though, as he is representing GB at the Junior Paris-Roubaix, (good luck Ollie).
Thanks for reading, until next time.
James
