First Podium of the Season

Following my three stages in two days at Bedford last weekend I had Tuesday and Wednesday off before entering an evening handicap at Nutfield on Thursday. Like a lot of evening handicaps I was the only female rider but I wanted to see how I would fare with the guys following my two days of hard racing with the ladies. I know half the course well but the other half was twisty and again, I was let down by my cornering. I finished a disappointing last and thought I might just as well stick with time trialling after spending £12 for the pleasure of riding round on my own for most of the race. I got a Surrey League point for finishing but it was little compensation on this occasion.

Saturday at Chertsey was a different story however. I was a little tired but I was eager to race with the women again and on a fairly straight forward and familiar circuit. The race was competitive in parts and I had to stay alert to any attacks. I had one dig off the front early on to test the water but the group came up behind me and there was little point in me hanging out in front. I rode a sensible race and kept in the front four or five riders. On the final lap, just before the hill I dug in and two of us got to the top first. After that dig we didn't look back. Four of us came out on to the finishing straight and I time trialled it to the finish line getting third place by half a bike length. Finally, from 5 races in 6 days I finally had a result and 7 BC points.

My next road race is the Women's Divisional Road Race Championships at Ellen's Green this Saturday. It will be a competitive field and a tough race if the standard I saw at Bedford is anything to go by. I have had a couple of rides around the course now so I have no excuse that I don't know what to expect. I'll be taking it fairly easy this week but keep the legs turning over.