#batam race

[bigmacsg]

Singapore Nationals 2018

In a bizarre but welcome twist, the SG Road Nationals 2018 were held in Batam on the excellent Nongsa circuit.

AW-Treknology3 fielded compact teams in Open (PA, Will, Guillaume, Reuben, Sofiane) and SuperMasters (Hish, Pete & myself). For Supermasters Hish was our protected man with Pete & myself focussed on helping him out.

Supermasters was run with the juniors and ladies race and this proved problematic. As soon as we entered the circuit, we sat up to let the juniors race themselves as the peloton was sketchy with them around. They took off but never really got any distance. We ended up catching them during the trio of 3 big hills. This ended up being a recurring event and really disrupted the rhythm of the race.

I took us up the high hill for laps 1,2,5 and 6 and was TOP 5 for most of the others. It was my first time on a hill with the Emonda and it climbed like a dream.

The race was steadfast and nothing allowed to get away. The constant attrition reduced the pack to about 20 by the end. Hish made his move on the hills of the last lap after Pete strung the pack out. Hish got a GAP but then slid out on the corner afterwards - thankfully bouncing back up.

I attacked and got a gap with 1km to go but I ran into 2 cars and out of steam! I got caught with 500m to go and rolled across the line in about 15th.

In Open, PA attacked from the gun and stayed away with 3 others. Sadly he was edged into 4th in the sprint.

It was a Long day - taking another 8 hours to get home but great riding! Time for a break and some tempo for a while.

[bigmacsg]

Batam Six Bridges 2017 | Cat 1

I over romanticised this ride. After missing 2016 due to a work event, I’d built it up in my mind as a really nice race with a gently rolling course. The reality today was a bitch.

The post ToF form continued its rapid fall off a cliff & id had a nagging sore back since coming home to SG. I took the start with limited expectations - with the role of simply supporting team leads Hish & Will and hoping that form might magically appear midway through the rollers.

It wasn’t to be and I was simply pack fodder for the day. We started with around 35 riders and it was pretty cagey from the off with a few probing attacks.

I had a brief shuffle off the front with Ben A & 1 other but it was going nowhere fast.

Pete Bennett managed the first serious effort of the day around 30km out where he managed 20km solo off the front. Will then launched what became the move of the day just as Pete was reeled in. Will did about 10km solo before a group including Snozza, Alex Donger, Bastian, Sofiane, jimmy & Tim Clarson and a couple of others made it across.

The rest of us sat on the front trying to discourage any proper chasing - esp from the Integrated Racing guys that had missed the break. Bizarrely a few teams started chasing down their own guys which upped the pace somewhat.

I’d forgotten that there were 3 big hills in the run up to the uturn. I was patting myself on the back for still being there after the 2nd but popped badly on the 3rd & was 100m off the peloton at the uturn. Fortunately the peloton had exploded at the same time and so I found a few people to chase/work with.

With 60km remaining, my race was over and I was dismayed to find that the headwind on the way out was somehow also a headwind on the way back. With nothing left to do, I ground it out solo to catch and pass 5-6 casualties until the Cat 2 group caught me at 100km. Cat 2 was a massive group and were setting a good tempo speed so I sat in there till the end - gradually picking up more remnants from Cat 1

The day was pretty grim - hot as hell, constantly undulating and with legs always dangling on the edge of cramping ( but never actually going over!) The only truly joyous moment being the firehose shower at the end!

Hish was our top placed rider coming in 6th. Both Will & Sof having blown in the break. Everyone had a tough day & Hish was unable to walk for 15 mins after the finish!

Racing is meant to be hard so deep down, I’ll admit it was a great day. Looking forward to next year!

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