After the interesting events of round 4 (Race-lead-self pit-lead-crash-win-concussion-ambulance-car breakdown)... I decided, wisely, to NOT race in round 5 and give myself a decent run at recovery from the concussion. This was the right thing to do.. riding ill, or riding hurt isn't a good thing. Especially as you get older and recovery is tougher.
Of course, the upshot of this was that I didn't score any points for round 5..And looking at the points table going into the final round, I was sitting in 3rd place overall but unlikely to move up, even with a win. 3rd place overall, for me, is rather cool...
P was unable to join me, which after round 4, was a bit of a worry.. If I managed to headbutt the planet again. I'd be in serious risk of not being able to get home... solution... DON'T CRASH ... this seemed like a plan.
After work, I drove over to Newbury in glorious sun, parked up, and made an effort to thank all of the organising team personally for the support and help after my last race crash. The course for this week contained the same "up the left, down the right" hill but there was more use made of the woods at the top of the hill and after the down hill the course switched back and forth all over the flat section making it the longest lap yet. I rode a couple of recce laps and said hi to friends, the downhill was good for me, basically the same as the previous round I'd ridden, so I had confidence in the possible lines and knew just how low to duck to get close to the trees we slalomed through. The "flat" section wasn't too bad but did feature a very short off camber chicane, just like the one that claimed me (and others) in round 4, then a long off camber section (we used this in round 1 going the other way)...
Trying to keep up with hydration, I got through most of my water in the car and got ready for the start. I lined up next to Mandy Scott (Cotswold Veldrijden), who has been my closest rival in terms of consistency and points. From the start, I pushed (and got overtaken by most of the senior men) but ended up behind Mandy on the first climb. Get into a rhythm and settle down. I got past Mandy at the top and gapped her on the down hill...but on the long flat sections of the course, she closed up the gap again.. This would be the pattern for the whole race. Mandy overtook on the hill on the 3rd lap saying "don't worry, you'll pass me again, I'm knackered" ... um... yeah... she pulled away a little..
At the top of the hill, there were some very tight 180s and I caught up and passed Mandy just before the woods...and on to the descent, I went as fast as I could (back wheel slid away a little as I turned back across the off camber section that crosses the hill before the fast part of the downhill, caught it... just) and built a gap... I pushed really hard and tried to increase the gap. As we came onto the last lap, I had a steady gap on Mandy.. onto the hill and it dropped a bit... onto the downhill and I stretched it further... I thought I'd broken the elastic this time... onto the flat section... head down.. keep going..
Coming towards the last sets of corners, I looked back and Mandy was catching me fast... there were two corners to go to the finish straight... as we went into the first, a 180 switchback left, Mandy got onto my wheel... the next corner went slightly left before a switching back right... as I went into the corner I let the bike go left to stop her coming past there and then aimed at the apex. I knew this would push me wider on the exit of the last corner giving Mandy the possibility of coming up the inside.. out of the corner, change gear, out of the saddle.... SPRINT...
This was the first time since my first CX race that I have been this close to a rival right at the end of a race..the first time, the organisers hadn't rung the bell, so I didn't realise it WAS the finish and missed the chance to sprint hard....THIS TIME...I knew it was the end... last race, best chance to get points... and sprinting for 3rd in the race...
Where was I ???
Oh yes........ SPRINT.......
In my best "trying to channel Cav from what I've seen on telly" I got as low as possible and just emptied myself...
It was very, very close... the most fun finish in any race I've done..(this doesn't officially include round 4 as I can't remember finishing... ) to be pushed to really HAVE to race...
Very often in the women's races, my placing has been settled well before the end of the race... This was so much better...
I thanked Mandy for the race, she really must have flown over the last section to close the gap..
We all waited around as the organisers tallied up positions and points for the series prizegiving..I thought that I'd done enough to get 3rd overall.. And when it came to the women's trophies... Mark started..."and in 3rd place...Mandy Scott".... oh...damn...maybe not then... 2nd went to Ruby Miller, and then "in 1st place".. Me....um....really? I couldn't see how this worked ...but I went up and got my trophy and prize (£60 of vouchers at Banjo)
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| A surprise... |
The drive home was lovely, a beautiful sunset and a happy panda.....
When I got home, I got online to thank the organisers again and to confirm the positions... they went away and the following morning confirmed that I was right, somehow, in the push to get the results out, a mistake had been made and Mandy should indeed have been 1st overall and I should have been 3rd, as I expected...
It's taken a little while to organise getting trophies back and forth but... I now have my "legit" 3rd place overall trophy and I'm rather proud of it... it's the first thing I've won since starting CX racing. In the series, I took my first Ladies race win (albeit in a very small field and not against the faster riders) ..
I've learned more about race craft and pacing...and, most importantly, I had a heck of a lot of fun racing Major P in the summer series...
Now it's time for me, Major P and the newly completed Major B to get ready for the CX season proper.. although I will miss the opening round due to Bridesmaid duties in Wales that week.
THANK YOU to everyone at Banjo Cycles for organising the race series, for the race sponsors and all of the riders who made the Summer CX Series such fun. I'll be back next year....
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| My rightful trophy.. Happy with that. |
Next for me is Griff's Cycle Lab Opening Event on Saturday 30th August ..... our "Grand Depart" ... Please join us if you can... you can check out the new super light Trek Emonda SLR, Lazer Helmets entire range, BlendaVenda, and the chance to win a £600 bike...
See you there
Panda
