SE Region Women's Championships
I'm late with this update as life has somehow got in the way in the past week but last Saturday, 16th May, I raced in the South East Regional Women's Road Race Championships. The race was 42 miles over 7 laps of the flattish Ellen's Green circuit in Surrey, a course which was going to suit someone with sprinting talents. I did this race a year ago as a last minute decision to see how I fared. I got 19th place out of a field of 22 or 23 so this year I wanted to improve on that.
After a few laps of the circuit the previous weekend with my team mate, Adam, and practicing a few corners too (and also finding a decent pub for my mini fan club to watch the race), I felt I could at least hang in with the peloton as long as I got my positioning right. A small field of only 17 started the race which was a little disappointing for the organisers but it had quality riders with 1st cat Charlotte Blackman of London Dynamo supported by 2 other London Dynamo riders and also last years champion, Jo Munden of VC Meudon. I'd ridden with the Dynamo girls a few weeks earlier at Bedford as part of the Surrey League Women's Team so I knew there would be some tactics and some fast, fast riding.
I was still surprised though when the attacks started on the first lap and to be honest I wasn't expecting it to go that soon. I kept myself near the front but I was worn down by the constant sprinting out of corners. I have to say my cornering was definitely better today but I got myself in a poor position into one corner and by the time the field had sprinted out of it I was out the back. I tried to get back on but just didn't have the strength. When the race split on the 2nd lap there was a front group of 8 riders and they piled on the pressure and opened up an ever growing gap on the rest of us remaining riders. I quickly formed a chase group with three other girls and we worked a very drilled, efficient through and off for several laps. Our group was then joined by Rebecca Curley of London Dynamo who had punctured and worked very hard to catch our group. Rebecca soon did her share of the work as we pounded on, efficiently working through and off. We were told that we were about 40 seconds behind two girls who had been dropped by the main group so our new goal was to catch them.
Rebecca was strong and I stayed on her wheel, coming through when I could. We dropped two of the girls from our group and replaced them with the two girls we caught from the main group with a lap or so to go, at which point we lost the rhythm of the through and off. Rebecca told me she was going to attack on a particular corner of the final lap and that I should go with her if I could. I tried but failed. She was just too strong for me. So we were back to 4 again for the final lap. I have to admit it wasn't very organised. On the run in two girls passed me on the fast, straight, run up to the finish and I came in in 12th position. I had hoped for a top 10 finish but I don't think I could have ridden any harder and viewing the race as a whole I was pleased with how I had ridden.
We were pulled from the race to allow the main field behind us to have a clear run in to the finish line so I got to spectate the dramatic sprint finish. First year U23, Emma Patterson of Agiskoviner.com sprinted from the 8 rider lead group which had gone away on the 2nd lap. But on the line Michelle Le Brun of Addiscombe seemed to get blocked as she crossed the finish and had nowhere to go. The result was a finish line crash which engulfed her along with Charlie Blackman. The two of them fell heavily and their bikes flew in front of them causing a few spectators to run for cover, me included. Amazingly, after attendance from the paramedics they thankfully both walked away from the crash. It's the first crash I've witnessed in a women's race and it wasn't nice to see at all. With everyone on their feet we headed back to the HQ for the prize presentation.
The event was really well organised and it was a shame about the low entry numbers. Thanks to Chris and Neil who came to support me. I was really tired at the end of this race which marked the end of a big period of racing for me in the first half of May. I have 15 BC points which is more I got in the whole of last year so my plan to do more road racing this season is definately going in the right direction. This is the most I have raced so early in the season and I'm returing to training now for a few weeks. I need to increase my watts and work on that sprinting and cornering. My next major event is the Women's Team Series at Twickenham in June when I will be riding once again for Surrey League, although I'm also hoping to make my debut at Crystal Palace next month.
After a few laps of the circuit the previous weekend with my team mate, Adam, and practicing a few corners too (and also finding a decent pub for my mini fan club to watch the race), I felt I could at least hang in with the peloton as long as I got my positioning right. A small field of only 17 started the race which was a little disappointing for the organisers but it had quality riders with 1st cat Charlotte Blackman of London Dynamo supported by 2 other London Dynamo riders and also last years champion, Jo Munden of VC Meudon. I'd ridden with the Dynamo girls a few weeks earlier at Bedford as part of the Surrey League Women's Team so I knew there would be some tactics and some fast, fast riding.
I was still surprised though when the attacks started on the first lap and to be honest I wasn't expecting it to go that soon. I kept myself near the front but I was worn down by the constant sprinting out of corners. I have to say my cornering was definitely better today but I got myself in a poor position into one corner and by the time the field had sprinted out of it I was out the back. I tried to get back on but just didn't have the strength. When the race split on the 2nd lap there was a front group of 8 riders and they piled on the pressure and opened up an ever growing gap on the rest of us remaining riders. I quickly formed a chase group with three other girls and we worked a very drilled, efficient through and off for several laps. Our group was then joined by Rebecca Curley of London Dynamo who had punctured and worked very hard to catch our group. Rebecca soon did her share of the work as we pounded on, efficiently working through and off. We were told that we were about 40 seconds behind two girls who had been dropped by the main group so our new goal was to catch them.
Rebecca was strong and I stayed on her wheel, coming through when I could. We dropped two of the girls from our group and replaced them with the two girls we caught from the main group with a lap or so to go, at which point we lost the rhythm of the through and off. Rebecca told me she was going to attack on a particular corner of the final lap and that I should go with her if I could. I tried but failed. She was just too strong for me. So we were back to 4 again for the final lap. I have to admit it wasn't very organised. On the run in two girls passed me on the fast, straight, run up to the finish and I came in in 12th position. I had hoped for a top 10 finish but I don't think I could have ridden any harder and viewing the race as a whole I was pleased with how I had ridden.We were pulled from the race to allow the main field behind us to have a clear run in to the finish line so I got to spectate the dramatic sprint finish. First year U23, Emma Patterson of Agiskoviner.com sprinted from the 8 rider lead group which had gone away on the 2nd lap. But on the line Michelle Le Brun of Addiscombe seemed to get blocked as she crossed the finish and had nowhere to go. The result was a finish line crash which engulfed her along with Charlie Blackman. The two of them fell heavily and their bikes flew in front of them causing a few spectators to run for cover, me included. Amazingly, after attendance from the paramedics they thankfully both walked away from the crash. It's the first crash I've witnessed in a women's race and it wasn't nice to see at all. With everyone on their feet we headed back to the HQ for the prize presentation.
The event was really well organised and it was a shame about the low entry numbers. Thanks to Chris and Neil who came to support me. I was really tired at the end of this race which marked the end of a big period of racing for me in the first half of May. I have 15 BC points which is more I got in the whole of last year so my plan to do more road racing this season is definately going in the right direction. This is the most I have raced so early in the season and I'm returing to training now for a few weeks. I need to increase my watts and work on that sprinting and cornering. My next major event is the Women's Team Series at Twickenham in June when I will be riding once again for Surrey League, although I'm also hoping to make my debut at Crystal Palace next month.
posted by Lisa Scarlett at
22:00
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