Representing GCCC: – L to R Justin Di Tommaso, Iain Holmes, Matt Wellings,Peter Haberson,Jim Harley,Bruce Diesel
After the completion of the Outdoor Traders Race Team Winter Crit series, and the successful promotion of Bruce Diesel and Pete Habershon to Cat 3, the Betty Pharaoh Legstretchers category 3/4 event in South Wales was the first real opportunity for the GCCC race team to race together We arrived with a plan, hatched during last weekend’s recce of the route. A quick briefing to bring Jim and Matt up to speed and we headed to the start .Taking a look around, I noticed there were plenty of juniors lined up. This would introduce an element of unpredictability into the race, and also an aggressive start as the youngsters were all eager to get going.
The start was hard as, even though it was on an uphill with a headwind, the action started immediately. One of the issues discussed in the team brief was the need to be close to the front, and ride as a team. It was great to see all the GCCC guys present in the action. Heading down the tailwind section of the course, the pace was really fast. As the bunch turned left in to a narrow road that is exposed to a strong crosswind, I had identified this as a key section of the course for breaks to go away. A small break of two riders went up the road. I jumped across to the break, with the GCCC team quickly taking up the front of the peloton and slowing the pace down. Unfortunately, as I bridged across, both riders sat up and stopped working. A few other teams had a similar plan and a number of attacks happened in quick succession. One promising attack had me shouting at Pete to go, but he thought I was saying “no” – it must be the South African accent! Everything came back together for the descent in to Cowbridge, perfect timing for Justin to introduce his one version of Italian unpredictability, and attack on the fast descent, hit the sharp left hand turn at speed, and attack the climb into a strong headwind. That shook up the bunch for sure!
The pace continued to be really high, and conditions were tough. Apparently the bunch was breaking up. One of the reasons why it is so important to be close to the front, so energy does not have to be expended going around dead wheels. The GCCC boys were still very much in the mix, with Pete and Jim positioning really well. I was starting to suffer a little, so I tried to stay as close as possible to the front and conserve energy, gambling on the youngsters running out of steam as the race went on.
On the second lap, a telling break went and quickly got at least 20sec on the bunch, but was held there. The break contained one of the favourites which I would have like to go with, but I missed this opportunity through some bad positioning on my behalf. The race had now broken up so much that it was really just Pete, myself and Jim left for GCCC. With plenty other teams well represented, we didn’t have to take responsibility for bringing back the break.
The last lap saw the status quo pretty much maintained with the break always visible up the road. At this point, riders start thinking about the finale, which was a tailwind climb up to the finish. It would be every man for themselves. At this point, Pete Haberson was looking the strongest of the GCCC riders, and riding really well, going in to the final finish climb on third wheel. But the race exploded and neither Pete not myself were able to match the pace of the leaders, finishing with the front group in splinters. A good hard race, which will do a lot for team spirit and the appetite for more racing.
Bruce Diesel
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