Modbury RR three -James Smith

Bike racing is a confidence game… Look at the way these results pan out.  Clearly you have Marcin Bialoblocki who is leagues better than anyone else in the local area and in fact is ranked as the number one rider in the country.  He does not need confidence; he is able to ride with pure strength.  However there are a number of riders who dwell in the steps below Marcin whose performance has no small amount to do with their current confidence.

My confidence was quite high last night, I had a plan and felt it would be given the chance as long as none of the favourites chased me.  Why? Because then they would instantly chase each other etc.

So as the race rolled out of the town of Modbury on a damp summers evening, I sat right on the back of the lead car waiting for the red flag to be pulled in.  As we started climbing out of Modbury the car pulled away and I attacked.  I looked behind and at first the group chased and I sat up.  I decided to give it another go and this time the bunch just sat and looked at each other. The plan was working so far….

After about half a lap I looked behind and the bunch was no longer in sight no all I could see was Phil Borett Tor 2000 and MDCC’s Andy Hitchens coming across to me.  When they finally did we began to work pretty well together.  Each time up the main climb we knew we had to have a gap otherwise we would go straight out of the back of the bunch as it came past.

2 laps later our two minute gap was almost gone and the bunch was upon us.  I was pretty disappointed but now thought that I had an advantage.  Whereas the bunch would have been attacking each other, I had been riding at tempo for an hour.

As I looked at the bunch to say I was surprised was an understatement.  Everyone was still there, I was expecting a few riders to come across and then go to the finish with these riders.  However the whole group was still sat there and looking at them they all looked pretty fresh.  As Marcin said at the end “no wind, no wind”. 

So although there were a few different attacks and a strange tow from a TOR 2000 rider most of us knew it would be decided on the hill and the finish.  The attack on the hill came pretty quickly and the group dissolved in to about 15 riders chasing for the finish.  I managed to scrape 8th pretty pleased considering how active I had been.

Marcin wins followed by James W and Gary Chambers…..

What have I learnt?  Well whether you attack or not there is no point handing the race to the favourites at least make them work for it.  The large majority of riders last night felt it was necessary to sit on wheels and hang on.  COME ON GUYS!!  At least have a go…..