So I'm back from Australia after an amazing 8+months of living the dream and soaking up the rays!
April is my first big month back to racing and the UK race scene.
To kick things off I raced the Good Friday International Track meeting at London velodrome. It's my third year of taking part and normally a fast furious day of racing with many international riders coming including some big six day hitters. the first race was qualification for the elite races and final. I tried my luck getting away and getting through the safe way but nothing was sticking. In the end it came to a big bunch sprint and I had to position well, luckily I qualified safely and came home 6th.
Next up was elite points race, once again trying to get away and strobing the field out. I won a sprint going solo and coming 3rd in another so placed me around 7th overall. A very quick race avg 33mph.
Elimination was next and this is normally my weakest event and after not being on the track for 10months my tactics were a bit rusty! I stayed to the front and trying to position well but still only ended up around 15th.
Last but not least the main event of the day! The Golden Wheel Scratch race! Not only the respect that goes with winning it a big prize of £1000 goes with it!
It was a 60 lap race and was extremely motivated on getting my first win of the night! From the fun me and team mate Buanna launched a massive attack trying to gain a lap early on. We quickly got to half a lap and joined by one more rider! It was looking promising but the peloton were waking up and realising the risk and the six day riders soon got to the front chasing us down. We were close to lapping the field but not close enough.
We were slowly absorbed by the field which was depleted after a manic start. I soon got back in and saw who to follow and think of new ways to win. i was in 1 more solid move around 20 laps to go that also nearly stuck but once again the strong boys chased us down. With a sprint finish guaranteed position was important and I stuck to some strong sprinters wheels. I tried to go around them but couldn't get round in the last lap. In the end I finished up 9th. Another solid year and next year I will be back trying to win it!
Saturday: Hackey Race London Park
Today was a decent field at London velodrome park in a 1,2,3 race. 1hour with strong winds and tough furious racing. Like normal many attacks went early and I was always monitoring them making sure they weren't too dangerous.
Around 40mins in people were getting tired and starting to miss turns and sand bagging. I thought it would be a perfect time to launch an attack In to the tough headwind finish straight. Right I was and soon 2 of us were away and the field had no answer, we quickly had 30seconds in hand and taking equal turns and working well. Around 10mins in we were joined by one more rider and the break was a winning move, we had over a minute so coming to the finish started to play the games ( well I did ;)) I knew my sprint wasn't strong and going to beat these guys who often win bunch sprints. I went half a lap long and had a gap but was caught. Around 500m to go I went again but coming to the finish caught again and that was over for me. I tried my hardest to get back to them but didn't have the kick. I finished 3rd so a nice podium to the 2nd race home!
22nd April- south east road race laughton
Today was my first road race back and I was keen to get started on the 70mile race. It was a pacey first half of the race and nothing big was sticking. Coming to the back straight and a fast section I decided to launch a fast move which caught people out and I was soon away. Later 2 more joined and we worked well until the end. We didn't realise but one rider was still up ahead and took the win so we were sprinting for minor placings. I launched my sprint and lunged for 2nd but missed it by a wheel. So 3rd was good and another nice podium.
Sunday 23rd Watford velo spring road race:
legs were feeling good after yesterday's ride and once again a move was in my mind. It was a very attacking race and a bit hectic to say the least. With around 2 laps to go and 25 miles I countered on a previous move and went on a sharp corner straight in to an up hill. This caught people out and I was away. Later down the road I was joined by 6 more and this was perfect for a chaingang. We held the peleton of to the finish and with 1km to go I went long on the climb but didn't have the legs to hold it. I was swarmed In the final 200m and came home 6th. Disappointing but good to try.
April was a tough month back and staring a new job has added to it, but it's all going on the right track and I'm happy with the progress so far!
Massive thanks goes to @pedalpotential for there ongoing support!
April is my first big month back to racing and the UK race scene.
To kick things off I raced the Good Friday International Track meeting at London velodrome. It's my third year of taking part and normally a fast furious day of racing with many international riders coming including some big six day hitters. the first race was qualification for the elite races and final. I tried my luck getting away and getting through the safe way but nothing was sticking. In the end it came to a big bunch sprint and I had to position well, luckily I qualified safely and came home 6th.
Next up was elite points race, once again trying to get away and strobing the field out. I won a sprint going solo and coming 3rd in another so placed me around 7th overall. A very quick race avg 33mph.
Elimination was next and this is normally my weakest event and after not being on the track for 10months my tactics were a bit rusty! I stayed to the front and trying to position well but still only ended up around 15th.
Last but not least the main event of the day! The Golden Wheel Scratch race! Not only the respect that goes with winning it a big prize of £1000 goes with it!
It was a 60 lap race and was extremely motivated on getting my first win of the night! From the fun me and team mate Buanna launched a massive attack trying to gain a lap early on. We quickly got to half a lap and joined by one more rider! It was looking promising but the peloton were waking up and realising the risk and the six day riders soon got to the front chasing us down. We were close to lapping the field but not close enough.
We were slowly absorbed by the field which was depleted after a manic start. I soon got back in and saw who to follow and think of new ways to win. i was in 1 more solid move around 20 laps to go that also nearly stuck but once again the strong boys chased us down. With a sprint finish guaranteed position was important and I stuck to some strong sprinters wheels. I tried to go around them but couldn't get round in the last lap. In the end I finished up 9th. Another solid year and next year I will be back trying to win it!
Saturday: Hackey Race London Park
Today was a decent field at London velodrome park in a 1,2,3 race. 1hour with strong winds and tough furious racing. Like normal many attacks went early and I was always monitoring them making sure they weren't too dangerous.
Around 40mins in people were getting tired and starting to miss turns and sand bagging. I thought it would be a perfect time to launch an attack In to the tough headwind finish straight. Right I was and soon 2 of us were away and the field had no answer, we quickly had 30seconds in hand and taking equal turns and working well. Around 10mins in we were joined by one more rider and the break was a winning move, we had over a minute so coming to the finish started to play the games ( well I did ;)) I knew my sprint wasn't strong and going to beat these guys who often win bunch sprints. I went half a lap long and had a gap but was caught. Around 500m to go I went again but coming to the finish caught again and that was over for me. I tried my hardest to get back to them but didn't have the kick. I finished 3rd so a nice podium to the 2nd race home!
22nd April- south east road race laughton
Today was my first road race back and I was keen to get started on the 70mile race. It was a pacey first half of the race and nothing big was sticking. Coming to the back straight and a fast section I decided to launch a fast move which caught people out and I was soon away. Later 2 more joined and we worked well until the end. We didn't realise but one rider was still up ahead and took the win so we were sprinting for minor placings. I launched my sprint and lunged for 2nd but missed it by a wheel. So 3rd was good and another nice podium.
Sunday 23rd Watford velo spring road race:
legs were feeling good after yesterday's ride and once again a move was in my mind. It was a very attacking race and a bit hectic to say the least. With around 2 laps to go and 25 miles I countered on a previous move and went on a sharp corner straight in to an up hill. This caught people out and I was away. Later down the road I was joined by 6 more and this was perfect for a chaingang. We held the peleton of to the finish and with 1km to go I went long on the climb but didn't have the legs to hold it. I was swarmed In the final 200m and came home 6th. Disappointing but good to try.
April was a tough month back and staring a new job has added to it, but it's all going on the right track and I'm happy with the progress so far!
Massive thanks goes to @pedalpotential for there ongoing support!