Your man in the field reporting…
The squadra en linge turned up at the start of this years Wasp Road Race in Pontyclun with mixed spirits. Davey ‘Disco’ Crowley was feeling tired and James ‘Tank’ Lewis was not looking forward to a rolling course and up hill finish. Mumbling threats of attacking with 4km to go to try and get a gap before the last climb however Tank had a plan.
75 riders set off towards Cowbridge, with the course being used the Betty Pharoah course finishing up at the top of the Cowbridge by pass. After a ceremonial waving off by the major of Cowbridge we were away, and as soon as the flag dropped so did the hammer. Attacks came thick and fast, and the pace did not let up once. Going through Death Valley George Rose chipped off and stayed agonisingly close to the front of the bunch for the whole of the coast road. So close infact that I thought he had been swallowed up on a few occasions. He was soon joined by Adrian Bird (Team Echelon Spuik) and they set about TTing away from the field. The squadra were having a bad day in the bunch though. Davey C was trying to go with moves as was Tank, but my legs were dead and Tank was slipping back every time the road went up hill. (But putting in a strong showing on the flat!) 3 laps of fast fast racing followed, and the heavy roads started to take their toll. A big crash on lap 2 saw many riders go down and the bunch depleted, but the squadra got through unscathed. Ben Simmons (wiggle) and Anthony O’Boyle (Cwmcarn) slipped off on the coast road and opened up a gap, they tired bunch doing little to stop them.
Soon we were turning right at Llandow and dropping down into Cowbridge. Tank sidled up to me and said, “Right, like I said, I’m going.” With a good luck from me, he took off on the descent using all 95kgs of him to build up a good lead. In the bunch some glances were exchanged as those who know James’ climbing ability doubted his ability to stay away. Swooping up onto the bypass and seeing the gap he now had doubts began to creep in. The pace in the bunch ramped up and up but still he held on out there. By now we were tearing up the bypass hill, with bodies going out the back as the pace and incline took it’s toll … but still James held on. Switching left to finish up at the top of the bridge James crossed the line for 5th, one of the most heroic breakaways I have seen. I came in about 9th-10th ish, and lucky to get that with the legs I had today.
So not a bad ride from the squadra, active at the front, and James being the story of the day. The race was won by George Rose, who had stayed away all day, an epic ride.
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The Force is strong in this one...
