The Les Ingham Race is hosted by Norwood Paragon and takes in eight laps of the Bletchingly circuit, a good 136km. This race was the scene of a front mech mechanical for me last year having just made the winning break, so I was keen to put things right today. The weather was bright and sunny, and the course features some good climbs that suit me. On top of this I had tried to ease back this week to feel fresh for race day. What could go wrong?
The pre-race build up was a tale of two speeds, with the longest brief I’ve sat through, but then the shortest and fastest neutralised section that saw the lead car speed off while several riders were still in the HQ toilets. I don’t think they were amused.
Unlike last year’s race, things stayed together first time up the climb into Bletchingly, but on the second lap a bit of an effort by the stronger guys saw a few riders spat out from the back leaving a bunch of forty or so. There was a fair bit of attacking and chasing, but nothing of any great threat until a move with four, yes four London Dynamo riders including last weeks Archer winner, Cameron Austin slipped away. Steve Calland (Norwood Paragon) and Adam Cotterell (In-Gear) bridged across on the finish hill but still they never got more than a minute ahead, and at the halfway mark Alex Higham (Wyndy Milla) did a big bridging effort with Dan Felstead (Dulwich Paragon) and David Streule (another Dynamo!). I really wanted to be in that move, but was out of position and if I’m truthful starting to suffer a little.
Indeed, as the race reached its climax my legs got worse and worse exemplified in what seemed like a ridiculous effort to close a gap in the bunch. Luckily Gareth McCullough (Medway Velo) took pity and came around to tow me across- he is a classy rider. John-Heaton Armstrong (Fit-for) was, as always, trying to get the chase organised but did the lions share of work on his own. The effort succeeded in bringing the break to within sight at one point. My team mate James Beaumont took up the chase but it was not to be, and the riders up the road actually extended their lead on the final lap.
Suffering from cramps up the final climb towards the finish I failed to make a split that sprinted for the last few top-10 spots, and rolled in with Wally Gimber winner Rob Hurd somewhere in the top-20. The race was won by Steve Calland of the host club, proving that he is having a good year so far after victory at the Surrey League Easter three-day. London Dynamo got 2nd and 3rd, and deserved it for getting so many riders in the break!
I always maintain that you learn something from every race, and today’s first lesson was partly about preparation: that if you ease off the gas too much in training it doesn’t always mean you’ll be fresher on race day. Secondly, road racing is unpredictable, and some days things are not going to go your way; better to not dwell on it and move onto the next race. Lastly, form is a funny beast and can’t always be measured by power data!
Final thoughts on the race go to Ishmael Burdeau (Agiskoviner) who dropped his chain first time up the climb only to then be run over by the service car behind. His frame and rear wheel are trashed, but I think he got away with only a few scrapes. And I thought I had a bad day on the bike.
What’s next? This week should see three competitive outings, with a club 10mile TT on Wednesday, the Surrey League Handicap race on Thursday night, and the Gorrick MTB Enduro event on Sunday. That should keep the legs ticking over.
You can’t have been so far out of position to give such an accurate report of the race…
btw McCullough should not have been towing anyone anyway given I recall the break lapping him around mid-way (presume he punctured but you don’t get 10 mile laps out…). Nobody is going to mind if rejoins and sits at back on bunch for some training miles etc but helping chase the break that has worked its a_se off for ~110km is not cool.
Regarding accuracy- I got the names of riders up the road from Adam Cotterell’s write up on the Addiscombe forum. I knew the Dynamo brigade were up there but not who! As for McCullough- he was very open about being a lap down and did no work on the front of the bunch. He just helped me close a gap in the bunch when my legs refused to co-operate, this had no affect on the outcome of the race. You guys should be chuffed at getting so many in the break, it caught us in the bunch out for sure, well done!