Post bug ride out to dolceaqua

Late Lunch Ride

Not nice - chemin de la tella.

Nice

Dolceaqua cruise for goods

a last second place came up.. Harvey was entered too- on a course that looked like a proper tough race circuit- so 9 hour round drive to race 100k it was. Mentally and physically i wasn'y really up for this- fatigued and certainly lacking any punch after Sardinia still, but i reckoned if i could last for 80k i might start feeling better (or less worse than others as is the reality). Plan was to "ride" for Harvey- that is to bridge gaps- or indeed position myself up the road so that he could sit in during any bridge moves. Regional A race- but as with any real tough course, that brings out some v good riders you don't normally get- 2 particular favourites were Dylan Kerfoot Robinson of Team Wiggins, who has been riding UCI level events start of season, and Dan Evans who is phenomenal on climbs and all round powerhouse.. This worked against them both- marked religiously- not that the process of them giving it some beans wasn't useful to shell out riders consistently. All stuff i could piggy back on, as long as i stayed in the pocket of competence. Good hard agressive racing - especially in the crosswinds, which unfortunately is where Harvey was caught out on lap one- put of position on junior gearing- no chance. I couldnt; have done anything either tbh, the pace was practically spinning out an 11 at times, so for me to drop back wouldn;t have done anything to help close gaps which once established with weaker riders caught our , were growing at an ever increasing rate. . Pity - as the climbs he found a piece of cake. After the full on crosswinds it backed right down to coffee ride pace for a short while- not long enough. 5km ish into lap 2 got into  a decent break of 5 rider. i thought we we're doing pretty well.. but this was a good level, with favourites not it in- brought back on the main climb, having been away for 25kish. lots of suffering after the catch, then moreso in the crosswinds in a reduced bunch of maybe 20-30. A lull, then the attacks started again with maybe 15k to go. My legs we're going a bit- the attacks i was sluggish to respond on- so the final 2km climb which had some pitches over 10% was not going to get me a result even from a tiring group. With maybe 7km or so out, whilst it was being controlled at the front, i rode up and past in TT mode, and said half jokingly to the guys at the front "i'm gonna need a gap for the climb". I looked back briefly to see them nonchalantly controlling the pack, then squeezed it on as hard as my legs would go- which wasn't much, perhaps FTP at very best. Still speed was up, had a favourable wind, I was doing 45-50k/h, i knew a pack not really riding might only be doing 40. Sure enough by the base of the climb i had a solid gap of around 45s.  Everyone but me thought i had it sealed. I did hang on, maybe by 15-20s. Fun, animated, tough race for me at least. Chuffed to get a result, which takes gets me a 2nd cat license back and a chance to really get my arse kicked.

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Paul elcock

Wales Kom Round 1

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Post bug ride out to dolceaqua

Late Lunch Ride

Not nice - chemin de la tella.

Nice

Dolceaqua cruise for goods

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