On the 27th December 2010 I was off to Footscray Meadows in order to take part in Round 12 of the 'London League Cyclo-cross'. I arrived with lots of time to spare and right next to the sign on hut (as having my coach/ lift, being the London League Coordinator, gives some privileges), in an officials only car-park :P
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| The Start :D |
I had a fairly good warm-up, which included some spinning to get the legs warmed up and then some hard quick sprints to get the circulation going and 'warm-up'. I felt good after the warm-up and felt like I was going to have a good race. As I started taking off my pre-race leg warmers and changing my gloves etc. I was already being gridded, so I wobbled up to the start line with one leg warmer and only one glove on (not the best look).
Anyway, I was gridded first rider on the second row (overall gridded as 7th), so I had all the choice to pick which rider to go behind, so i picked a Mr.Harry Franklin as he being the fastest starter there, I thought he would aid me and clear some wind for me to get up to the front. I had a good start and tried to stick behind someone at least to clear the wind a bit and going into the first corner i was in a comfortable 4th or 5th.
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| Just after the Start :D |
After about a minute into the race the rider who was the win the race fell off and with me picking places in the technical section of the course I found myself in 2nd going into the second strait on the course! I was soon overtaken by Harry Again and I also commenced a race-long battle with Rory Townsend, I found myself with him most of the race, except when he made an attack later in the race and was followed by Ashley Dennis and Joe Fry. I was quick to react and put my head down (and the power down) and soon caught them back up in the technical part of the course (right after where they attacked). After I picked off the places I found myself making an attack myself and was once again with a Mr.Rory Townsend. Below are a few pictures of my race long battle with Rory Townsend, Ashley Dennis and Joe Fry.
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| Towards the Start of the Race |
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| Nice Face :D (both) |
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When we were in a group.
From left (Joe Fry, Ashley Dennis, Rory Townsend, Me) |
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| Seperated again :D |
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In a group again :D
From Left (My Back Wheel, Rory Townsend, Ashley Dennis, Joe Fry) |
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| Rory: "Sorry, was there someone there a minute ago" |
With about 5 minutes to the end of the race Rory made an attack on the starting strait and I set it upon my self for this lap to catch him, when i had nearly caught I found my self with two others (Rory and Josh Parkin), which were contend-able 2nd, 3rd and 4th places. As we went up the last hill in the course I was pleased that I had dropped both Joe Fry and Ashley Dennis and fought back on a few attacks by Rory, but then both Josh and Rory both attacked on the last hill and I (sadly) caught not follow. It turned out that Rory went onto take 2nd place after Harry Franklin, with Josh Parkin in 3rd and me just after in 4th.
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| Although i don't look happy, I was very pleased with my race :D |
Overall I was very pleased with my race, and as I am only a first year Under 16, I only need to be getting 4th. As I thought about it, everyone who beat me in that race, are moving up next year anyway, and with my now learnt experience of attacks and group riding in Cross, I hope this will help lead me to success next Cross Season. As noted by my coach and a few others, I was riding in groups in the race, but was not sharing the work out right, thus I was doing a lot of work on the front. I will take this advise with me to my next race of the National Cyclo-cross Championships on 08.01.10. Once again thanks to Richard Wood for taking me there etc., and thanks to Gemini London for organising a great race.
As I will not be posting another report until then I hope everyone has a Happy and Prosperous New Year! :D
Au-revoir!
Photos Courtesy of Cross-Crazy and Pauline English
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