Another week another crit, and on a blustery but thankfully dry evening the PTWCC squadra of Charliefummi, James 'Tank' Lewis and Davey 'Disco' C lined up to tackle the next installment of Forza Cycles Llandow circuit races.
Following the recent reluctant promotion of Davey C to 2nd cat, the 3/4 race would only have one PTWCC representative in the form of Charles. Outflanked and outgunned by sea of green Jif jerserys he was going to have to use hi slegs and head to get a result in this race. Playing a sensible game and following any moves that looked dangerous, Charles kept a close eye on the Jif captains such as Ian Jeremiah, Darren Stone and Luke Dix, before the relentless JIf attacks finally split the bunch, taking the main protagnists with them, including our man Charlie boy with only a quarter of the race remaining.
Working well together te lead group quickly ditanced the peloton and it was clear that the race winner would come from this group. Tucked in there was Presidents Road Race winner Gareth Pugh, who had been quietly watching the moves all race and biding his time. Coming into the last corner Pugh opened up his sprint, and quickly built a lead that no-one could get past, he was followed by Stone, Dix and Graham Howell (Ogmore) with our very own Charles coming in 5th, an excellent result against such strong opposition! Congratulations to Charles!
In the E1234 handicap race that followed, James and I were assigned to the scratch group, with the 3/4s being given almost a lap headstart. Joining us would be National Team Pursuit Champion Jon Mould, and Pinarello pro Matt Rowe. From the off I knew it was going to be a tough night, as an energetic Mould hit the front and proceeded to line us out for a lap. Trying to help I did what turns I could manage and within a few laps we had caught the 3/4 group. From here on in it was to be every man for himself. Sure enough, Mould launched another stingin attack dragging Ian Bendall with him. Sensing this was a dangerous move I jumped across, with Ben Simmons (Wiggle) and John Fitzpatrick (Abergavenny) and Matt Rowe. We soon had a promising gap, but with strong Cwmcarn riders such as Richie Harris and Richie Raymond left in the bunch it was now a case of burying ourselves completely to turn that gap into a race winning move. For what seemed like an eternity we drove the break, with me absolutely swinging. However, our efforts were not in vain, as the gap grew larger as the bunch, with the help of James Lewis policing it, lost contact. Soon we had almost half a laps lead and there was no coming back from that.
We kept the pace high until 5 laps to go, when Rowe and Mould began to sense the finish line was near and the attacks started. What followed was a the hell of one rider going, only to be reeled back and then another jumpin goff. Everyone had a go until finally the elastic snapped and Mould and Rowe, clearly the two strongest, got away. Then it was Ben Simmons turn, and following that Bendall countered and quickly distanced the by now exhausted trio of Simons, Fitzpatrick and me. Coming down to the sprint I got past Fitzpatrick to take 5th, while up ahead Mould outsprinted Rowe for a deserved win.
Another good night for PTWCC, getting some good results in some good company. Chapeau!
Charles in the race winning move
Charles covered the constantly attacking Jif well.
In the E1234 race a PTWCC jersey was never far from the front. Here Tank gets ready to do his turn in the scratch group.
Davey C working to drive the break.
There was never a moments let up
As the laps tick down the attacks start...
The bunch, policed by a vigilant Tank, couldn't get close.
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The Force is strong in this one...
The Force is strong in this one...
« Last edit by Davey C on Sat Jun 13, 2009 12:25 pm. »
