Well done to Graham and Ann for the impeccable organisation – everything seemed to go very smoothly. It’s amazing to see how everyone does their bit – a real team effort – there must have been at least 30ish WVCC members involved, in various capacities. Steve Thomas’s role as motorbike outrider looks the most fun though!
WVCC were well represented in the race, too, with Dave McKay, Nick B, Craig and Kevan all competing. I managed to see most of the action from my vantage point driving the First Aid car at the rear of the race, and we could listen into race radio – where they announce which riders have got away and give time checks on breaks. A breakaway formed early on and gained about 30 seconds, a gap which fluctuated a bit for a few laps – then a second group formed and did really well, getting to within 15 or 20 seconds of the first group – creating in turn a big gap on the main bunch, so the gap between the second group and the bunch got to be unbridgeable. One rider, Graeme Norman (from New Brighton Cycling Club) managed to get across from group 2 to group 1 – which must have been a big effort – and then still had enough energy to ride off the front of group 1 on the last lap to win the race, without having to contest a sprint on Acton Cliff.
As for our blokes, Dave and Nick did brilliantly to stay in the main bunch – I’m not sure how they did on the final hill. In the meantime Craig and Kevan had done really well to hang on, but unfortunately – and cruelly – got spat out the back of the bunch just after the penultimate climb. Kevan said that he just lost concentration for a second, and what was a one metre gap quickly turned into something much larger, at which stage he just didn’t have the legs to do anything about it.
I gather from our riders that the pace was really tough – they all looked bushed at the end -quite a few riders got dropped throughout the race, and there had been constant efforts throughout. Kev had an average of 24 mph on his clock at the end, and I’d clocked them going at 42mph on the stretch down the bypass. I would have expected Acton Cliff to be the killer, but Kevan said that hadn’t been too bad – he said the worst stretch was the corner out of the Hazel Pear, when everyone put the hammer down.
Luckily the rain held off, and the riders, organisers, marshals and spectators were able to enjoy what was an excellent, safe and very competitive race.
A plea to anyone reading this, incidentally – I’m organising the autumn road race on October 11th, so please please can you keep the date free, to help with marshalling….or even better, to ride – we could do with a nice WVCC team of 8 or so riders, using some team tactics!
Eleanor.
Yes it was hard! Good report Eleanor and thanks to Graham and everyone else who made it such a smooth running event. Nice to see a full field after a couple of rather lean years. But that didn't make it any easier. I felt rubbish until about half way and then just felt average!
The winner did a great ride to bridge then attack again on his own on such a windy day. I think I was 23rd and Dave 30th, but full results will be on the BC website soon no doubt.
from being in the service car was interesting differnet point of view from being a stationary marshall, listening to CB kept us informed what was going on.
well done to all the weaver valley riders , it looked a long hard race.
andy poole
Hi there! I popped along having watched the TLI race on Wednesday evening to show my support from the Hanging Gate junction. A lot better than Wednesday with the shorter loop to see more of the action!
Really well organised, great to see races going on round here and nice to have such friendly company too. I would be only too happy to help in October!