Early end of season blog
I was expecting to write an end of season blog after the VCUK-PHMAS event in August (entries are still open) which is a 2 stage race, TT then a road race. I even put myself through a 20min power test so that I would have idea about how hard I could go in the TT. However I went to Gisburn for an mtb skills day, took a corner badly and ended up in the ditch. Only a minor crash but my thumb felt a bit funny, so after some track standing practise I decided to call it a day and head off to Minor Injuries. Unfortunately I've shattered the thumb and hand joint (Bennetts fracture). It's still 10weeks until the first of the Cyclocross National Trophy Series, so fingers crossed it's all healed up by then.
Once again I've really enjoyed racing this season and have had great support from Neil Hendry, Nicky Hartle, Velo Champion and Winspace bikes/Jedi Cycle Sport for supplying my race bike which flies along. I haven't done quite as well in the lower category road races as I was hoping due to my over-tendency to ride near the front and put in the the odd attack. However I was really pleased to finish with the main bunch at the Tour De Yorkshire and come 5th on the infamous hilly Pennypot Lane circuit. I much prefer the hillier or rolling courses to the flat courses as I'm definitely not a sprinter.
One of my aims for the season was to race at the Matrix Tour Series which I achieved at both Motherwell and Peterborough. The atmosphere at these races is amazing but they are fast and furious. The pace is high from the gun so you have to be ready to completely bury yourself and hope it lets up before you do. I haven't managed to hang onto the main bunch yet, but hoping with more experience it could happen.
I had my first win at Malton Crit, which races around the old market square. I went hard from the start attacking out of the first corner and lapped most of the field. Malton is a very friendly Crit and makes a good introduction to town centre Crit racing as it usually clashes with a National Road Race meaning the field isn't the usual wide mix of very good cat 2 down to novice cat 4. It also had a very nice gin cocktail stall for after the race!
With Crit season in full swing I once again raced at Ilkley which is a great race to support as they have equal prize money and billing for the men and women, great organisation and a big crowd. The course is brutal, lapping up a steep hill which just as you think you've got to the top keeps on dragging. An early attack by Henrietta Colbourne stuck and I was in a chasing group which started off with around 10 of us but was soon whittled down to 4 as the hill took its toll. My lack of a sprint left me in 5th at the finish but I was pleased with my ride.
The other really good race of the season was Otley Town Centre Crit which is also in the National Road a Race series. Otley is just down the road so I knew I would have a lot of support around the course, everyone was great shouting my name and kindly reminding me to stay on the wheels. It was one of the hottest nights of the year which made warming up a struggle with sweat appearing as soon as you moved, but then it was to the start line and off. After a bad start not getting clipped in then my chain dropping onto the small ring I found myself at the back and had to chase hard to get back with the main group. I hung on in there as the laps counted down making sure I moved up when I could. Finally it was the last lap and I'd achieved another season goal of staying with the main bunch at Otley.
I am now looking forward to the CX season as I would really like some more podium finishes in the Vet Women's Trophy Series. A new bike to match my existing one has been bought and is being built up so I'll have a nice pair of Ridleys.
With the broken thumb there will be a change of plan to turbo training until the bones have healed fully, and some marshaling when I can instead of racing.
Alison.