Going to be a strong team this year I'm sure, and I can't wait to get stuck into the racing - lots of preparation work to do over the winter and then roll on 2015!
Velosure Starley Primal Announces 2015 Men's Team Roster
The full Velosure Starley Primal 2015 mens team roster has been announced today in conjunction with the new website www.peoplesteam.cc....check it out!
Going to be a strong team this year I'm sure, and I can't wait to get stuck into the racing - lots of preparation work to do over the winter and then roll on 2015!
Going to be a strong team this year I'm sure, and I can't wait to get stuck into the racing - lots of preparation work to do over the winter and then roll on 2015!
25deg C in November
Just back from a fabulous few days riding in Spain with Starley Primal. Great to meet new spanish team mate Adria Moreno and ride some stunning countryside in balmy 25deg sunshine with the Controlpack Ciclismo team. Thanks for the awesome hospitality!
Y Viva ESPAÑA
Just getting packed up for a long weekend of (hopefully) warm and sunny riding - mini training camp/social in Spain with Starley Primal...woahooo - bring it on!
Arrived....and oh yeah, it's warm and sunny alright :)
Arrived....and oh yeah, it's warm and sunny alright :)
Next Season - Starley Primal Pro Cycling
As my first season of road racing has come to an end I'd like to thank my coaches Mark Dolan at EPiC Cycle Coaching, James Marshall at Excelsior and everyone at Mid Devon Cycling Club, especially Andrew Parker, for all the help, support and opportunities they have given me throughout 2014.
Moving forward, I'm super proud to be riding for the Starley Primal Pro Cycling team for the 2015 season!
Really looking forward to the opportunity of stepping it up and racing at the UK's top level.
Some hard winter training ahead and then bring on 2015....!
South West Cyclo-X Series, Round 4, West Buckland School
Having completed a hectic first season of road racing followed by a strict end-of-season break it was time to dust off the cross bike for Round 4 of the 2014 South West Cyclo Cross Series at West Buckland School....
Returning to cycling, after having a solid three weeks off the bike, I knew my form was going to have dropped off significantly so I approached the race with fun in mind and without setting any expectations of producing a decent result.
A couple of laps of the course provided an ad-hoc warmup and at 1:30pm a stacked field of 80 riders assembled on the start line.
The sunny weather and dry short grass meant the race was pacy from the off and pretty soon I was feeling the burn, hanging on to the leaders as we pushed on to quickly establish a gap. Soon enough the lead group of 4 of us (three from MDCC) were away and settled into a good rhythm.
A couple of laps from the end I began to lose touch with the lead group as my lack of form vs the pace began to take it's toll. I let the wheel go and cruised the remaining couple of laps to come home in 4th place overall and 1st in Senior.
Was pretty tired out at the end but not a bad result considering...
Returning to cycling, after having a solid three weeks off the bike, I knew my form was going to have dropped off significantly so I approached the race with fun in mind and without setting any expectations of producing a decent result.
A couple of laps of the course provided an ad-hoc warmup and at 1:30pm a stacked field of 80 riders assembled on the start line.
The sunny weather and dry short grass meant the race was pacy from the off and pretty soon I was feeling the burn, hanging on to the leaders as we pushed on to quickly establish a gap. Soon enough the lead group of 4 of us (three from MDCC) were away and settled into a good rhythm.
A couple of laps from the end I began to lose touch with the lead group as my lack of form vs the pace began to take it's toll. I let the wheel go and cruised the remaining couple of laps to come home in 4th place overall and 1st in Senior.
Was pretty tired out at the end but not a bad result considering...
Colin Lewis Cycles Grand Prix, Torbay Velopark
Saturday saw the Colin Lewis Cycles Grand Prix at the Torbay Velopark. This promised a busy programme of races throughout the day, starting with kids’ competitions and building up to a high-quality hour-long E/1/2 race in the evening.
The E/1/2 race started at a quick pace with various riders attacking right from the start. With a field of high caliber riders I decided to follow any moves that looked strong, keeping my options open.
Several attacks early on looked quite promising and at times began splitting up the field as some riders struggled to stay on in the windy conditions.
Just when it start to settle down, I heard George Pym (Starley Primal Pro Cycling) changing up the gears behind me...I sensed the attack and jumped straight on his wheel and before we knew it we had a fairly decent gap on the bunch.
We worked together to increase the gap as 3 other riders formed a chasing group that started to close us down for a while. We continued to press on regardless, digging deep, to maintain our advantage.
After some time the gap remained constant and with 5 laps to go the chasers realised that they weren't going to catch us so backed off in order to contest 3rd place.
George and I continued to lap at a fairly high pace until the final lap when we knew we would be fighting for the win.
Out of the final hairpin and things had slowed to a track style standoff with neither of us wanting to take it up too early. Halfway down the penultimate straight George really backed it off so I thought it was my best opportunity to attack so I opened up my sprint, catching him off guard and in the wrong gear, as I opened up a gap into the final bend.
Giving it my all I wasn't quite strong enough to hold him off, coming in a strong second.
Was a great evening's racing and I was pleased with the result - shows I've come a long way since starting as a cat 4 just 5 months ago!
The E/1/2 race started at a quick pace with various riders attacking right from the start. With a field of high caliber riders I decided to follow any moves that looked strong, keeping my options open.
Several attacks early on looked quite promising and at times began splitting up the field as some riders struggled to stay on in the windy conditions.
Just when it start to settle down, I heard George Pym (Starley Primal Pro Cycling) changing up the gears behind me...I sensed the attack and jumped straight on his wheel and before we knew it we had a fairly decent gap on the bunch.
We worked together to increase the gap as 3 other riders formed a chasing group that started to close us down for a while. We continued to press on regardless, digging deep, to maintain our advantage.
After some time the gap remained constant and with 5 laps to go the chasers realised that they weren't going to catch us so backed off in order to contest 3rd place.
George and I continued to lap at a fairly high pace until the final lap when we knew we would be fighting for the win.
Out of the final hairpin and things had slowed to a track style standoff with neither of us wanting to take it up too early. Halfway down the penultimate straight George really backed it off so I thought it was my best opportunity to attack so I opened up my sprint, catching him off guard and in the wrong gear, as I opened up a gap into the final bend.
Giving it my all I wasn't quite strong enough to hold him off, coming in a strong second.
Was a great evening's racing and I was pleased with the result - shows I've come a long way since starting as a cat 4 just 5 months ago!
Brentor Road Race
Yesterday saw one of the last remaining road races of the season - the Okehamption CC E/1/2/3 Brentor Road Race. Not really one of my favourite circuits if I'm honest, but never the less one I felt I could do well on.
There was a pretty strong field of riders which I was hoping would make for some good racing. However, the race was pretty uneventful at first with no major attacks until 2 riders got a gap around 2 laps in. This was soon brought back and then the real attacking began...
I followed all the main moves but nothing was sticking and although the race was pacy, with riders continually being shelled out the back, it was looking like it was going to be all together at the base of the final climb.
Around half way around the final lap a couple of riders clipped of the front of the bunch and everyone started looking around, wondering who was going to commit, but none of the stronger/well represented teams were prepared to chase this move down. Rounding the final corner it all kicked off with everyone going full gas up the final climb and splitting up the race into small groups.
I was in the front group of around 10 riders and we were closing rapidly on the 2 man break. It was obviously going to be a dash for the line so I positioned myself well in anticipation of the sprint. With just under 200m to go I came off the wheel of a BH Solidor and opened up my sprint, flashing past riders as I galloped to the line - 3rd in the bunch sprint taking 5th place overall, not quite catching the break.
There was a pretty strong field of riders which I was hoping would make for some good racing. However, the race was pretty uneventful at first with no major attacks until 2 riders got a gap around 2 laps in. This was soon brought back and then the real attacking began...
I followed all the main moves but nothing was sticking and although the race was pacy, with riders continually being shelled out the back, it was looking like it was going to be all together at the base of the final climb.
Around half way around the final lap a couple of riders clipped of the front of the bunch and everyone started looking around, wondering who was going to commit, but none of the stronger/well represented teams were prepared to chase this move down. Rounding the final corner it all kicked off with everyone going full gas up the final climb and splitting up the race into small groups.
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| photo: www.rutrainingtoday.co.uk |
I was in the front group of around 10 riders and we were closing rapidly on the 2 man break. It was obviously going to be a dash for the line so I positioned myself well in anticipation of the sprint. With just under 200m to go I came off the wheel of a BH Solidor and opened up my sprint, flashing past riders as I galloped to the line - 3rd in the bunch sprint taking 5th place overall, not quite catching the break.
VC Venta Summer Road Race
Another early start as we headed up the 303 to Stockbridge in Hampshire for a 9:30am start to the VC Venta Summer Road Race. I had raced here a few weeks ago and really liked the course - a fast, rolling circuit with a draggy hill finish which helps to split the race up making for some interesting racing.
I knew I could go well here but that I'd have my work cut out tactically, being a lone (marked) rider, against a few strong teams. Sure enough the team attacks came thick and fast from the start until a 4 man breakaway was quickly established.
Unfortunately I wasn't part of the break, having been caught out after chasing many attacks. I tried hard to split the race via counter attacks up the main climb but most riders were unwilling to share the work so it all came back together.
So, on the last lap, with the breakaway gone, I was racing for 5th place. I put in a big attack a third of the way up the final climb and blew the peloton apart with only one rider able to stick with me. We worked together to ensure the gap was not able to be closed down before I attacked again and pulled out a large time gap to comfortably take 5th place. Not quite the result I was looking for but that's racing!
I knew I could go well here but that I'd have my work cut out tactically, being a lone (marked) rider, against a few strong teams. Sure enough the team attacks came thick and fast from the start until a 4 man breakaway was quickly established.
Unfortunately I wasn't part of the break, having been caught out after chasing many attacks. I tried hard to split the race via counter attacks up the main climb but most riders were unwilling to share the work so it all came back together.
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| Approaching the finish |
Ras De Cymru 2014
The Ras De Cymru is the 5 day/6 stage road race which takes place each year in South East Wales. It's a hotly contested race open to 100 riders - 26 teams of 4 cat2/3/4 racers. The race hub and HQ is situated at the University of South Wales just north of Newport. This provides a great stage race atmosphere, with all the team accommodation, meals and after race socialising happening on the campus. I was really keen to have a crack at this one and there was talk early in the season of Mid Devon CC fielding a team. Unfortunately this didn't happen so me and three other South West racers (Calum Croft - Mud Sweat & Gears, Charlie Revell - Somerset RC and Scott Gurnett - Tanks Direct Cycling) decided to enter under the composite team of Wessex RT.
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| photo: www.huwfaircloughphotography.co.uk Wessex RT composite |
Stage 1 - 10k Pan-flat team time trial
Stage 2 - Rolling road race with a flat finish
A small break managed to clip of the front on the run into the finish, I led out Calum to contest the bunch sprint but unfortunately he got boxed in and we both finished in the main bunch with no real time loss on the GC.
Stage 3 - Hilly place to place road race with hill finish
Almost from the start the race began to split over the first hill but it all came back together again on the descent. However, on the next hill, the pace was pushed up a notch in an effort to establish a breakaway. With around seven of us forming the break we quickly began to work together to open up a gap. This lasted for about 30 mins before being ridden down once again by the stronger teams who were hunting for Sprint points. The remainder of the stage was a fast paced dual carriageway section followed by a bunch sprint for the line. Hampered by not quite knowing where the finish line was I once again I finished in the bunch on the same time. Back to HQ for some food and rest before attacking the TT in the late afternoon.
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| photo: www.huwfaircloughphotography.co.uk Stage 3 Bunch sprint |
Stage 4 - Individual time trial with a hill finish
A case of damage limitation for me as time trialling is not something I currently do so is definitely not my strongest discipline. Being both small and light the first half of the course didn't suit me at all as it was a gradual descent into a headwind. However, I pushed on and managed to make up some time on the final climb to come in around 40th place. So not great but didn't loose too much time in the GC.
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| photo: www.huwfaircloughphotography.co.uk Stage 4 Individual TT |
Stage 5 - Rolling road race with a hill finish
This stage was billed as a rolling/hilly stage with a hill finish and looked ok in the race manual. Sadly, in reality, it was pretty pan flat and the hill finish was way too short to split the field. A small break managed to slip away but the gap to the main bunch was not really significant with most of the main favourites for the GC, including the yellow jersey, still in the main group. As we approached the climb for the final time I began moving up through the field to finish in 15th. At this point in the race I was in 24th place in the GC so had a lot to do in the final stage.
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| photo: www.huwfaircloughphotography.co.uk Stage 5 Mid race |
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| photo: www.huwfaircloughphotography.co.uk Stage 5 Finish |
Stage 6 - Rolling road race with a mountain top finish
Having reccied the mountain top finish after stage 5 the previous day I knew I could do well here and hopefully claw back some positions in the GC. The grand finale, coming right at the end of the 75 mile stage, was the awesome 4 mile 7% climb up to the summit of Llangynidr Mountain.
Now this would surely blow the race apart and potentially create some interesting time gaps. I was just hoping that the race would all be together when arriving at the base of the climb.
Sure enough, the first 70 miles were as I'd hoped, fairly pacy but steady with some attacks but no breakaway so we all arrived at the foot of the climb together.....Then it all kicked off when a select group of nine of us went clear straight away. Steadily the nine became six as the unrelenting pace continued until three riders got a slight gap which I was unable to close but held all the way to the line to come home in 4th.
As predicted, a significant amount of time was made up during this stage and I ended up with 8th spot in the GC. Pretty happy with that as there were some strong teams racing hard for the win. All in all a fun week of racing and a great experience. Big thanks to my team mates Calum, Charlie and Scott and to Mark Dolan at Epic Coaching for getting me on some good form!
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| Stage 6 Mid race |
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| photo: www.falcoraceteam.co.uk Stage 6 Cresting the 6k climb |
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| photo: www.huwfaircloughphotography.co.uk Stage 6 Finish |
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| Top ten presentation |
Just one day to go.....Ras De Cymru
Can't believe it's almost here now....just sorting all my last minute prep for the five day/six stage race that is the Ras De Cymru - really looking forward to this one!
Sadly, there were not enough Mid Devon CC riders to make up a team so I'll be racing under the composite team banner of Wessex RT with team mates Calum Croft (Mud, Sweat n Gears), Scott Gurnett (Tanks Direct Cycling), and Charlie Revell (Somerset RC _ Bicycle Chain) - bring it on!
On paper at least, the stages look pretty challenging - so let's just hope they will be hard enough to make the racing interesting...
Sadly, there were not enough Mid Devon CC riders to make up a team so I'll be racing under the composite team banner of Wessex RT with team mates Calum Croft (Mud, Sweat n Gears), Scott Gurnett (Tanks Direct Cycling), and Charlie Revell (Somerset RC _ Bicycle Chain) - bring it on!
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| Ras De Cymru |
On paper at least, the stages look pretty challenging - so let's just hope they will be hard enough to make the racing interesting...
Sotonia Summer Road Race
Race report to follow...
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| Rollin' out through the neutralised zone to the start |
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| photo: www.grahamrobins.net Attacking over the top of the climb |
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| photo: www.grahamrobins.net 6th overall - 3rd in the bunch sprint |
Torbay Velopark - Thursday Series Race 3 and Exeter Wheelers Westpoint Criterium No.1
A couple of mid-week evening crit races so far this week...
First up on Wednesday evening was the Exeter Wheelers Westpoint Criterium No.1 E/1/2 race. I really enjoyed this one as although there was not many racing the quality was high and the racing was fast and fluid with plenty of attacking from the get go.
The race was continually changing pace with relentless waves of attack and counter attack which meant keeping vigilant.
The pacy race meant a few were shelled out the back and with several laps to go it all looked like it would come down to a bunch sprint with the remaining riders. With this in mind I attacked with 2 laps to go and got a reasonable gap to the group but sadly I was caught with just half a lap to go with nothing left in the tank to contest the sprint. I think I maybe managed to scrape into the top 10, so not a great result, but great racing none the less!
Thursday evening saw a return to the newly built Torbay Velopark for Race 3 of the Thursday evening series. This race was in complete contrast to the fluid racing of the previous evening at Westpoint as every single move got chased down by the bunch before it had a chance to develop.
Only a handful of riders where willing to go on the attack or spend any time off the front - most were happy to sit in for the hour and save everything in the hope of contesting the bunch sprint.
Nevertheless, I got in a few of the doomed breakaways with some of the other riders who were willing to work and put myself in a good position towards the conclusion and ended up contesting the sprint with a solid 3rd place.
Heading further afield for some road racing action at the Sotonia Summer Road Race near Winchester on Sunday - can't wait....bring it on!
First up on Wednesday evening was the Exeter Wheelers Westpoint Criterium No.1 E/1/2 race. I really enjoyed this one as although there was not many racing the quality was high and the racing was fast and fluid with plenty of attacking from the get go.
The race was continually changing pace with relentless waves of attack and counter attack which meant keeping vigilant.
The pacy race meant a few were shelled out the back and with several laps to go it all looked like it would come down to a bunch sprint with the remaining riders. With this in mind I attacked with 2 laps to go and got a reasonable gap to the group but sadly I was caught with just half a lap to go with nothing left in the tank to contest the sprint. I think I maybe managed to scrape into the top 10, so not a great result, but great racing none the less!
Thursday evening saw a return to the newly built Torbay Velopark for Race 3 of the Thursday evening series. This race was in complete contrast to the fluid racing of the previous evening at Westpoint as every single move got chased down by the bunch before it had a chance to develop.
Only a handful of riders where willing to go on the attack or spend any time off the front - most were happy to sit in for the hour and save everything in the hope of contesting the bunch sprint.
Nevertheless, I got in a few of the doomed breakaways with some of the other riders who were willing to work and put myself in a good position towards the conclusion and ended up contesting the sprint with a solid 3rd place.
Heading further afield for some road racing action at the Sotonia Summer Road Race near Winchester on Sunday - can't wait....bring it on!
Stockbridge Down Road Race
Full race report to follow.....
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| Rolling out in the neutralised zone |
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| photo: www.grahamrobins.net bridging to the breakaway |
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| photo: www.grahamrobins.net established breakaway of 15 |
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| photo: www.grahamrobins.net |
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| photo: www.grahamrobins.net |
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| photo: www.grahamrobins.net finish line sprint |
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