Back In The Game

This weekend I headed up North to Strathaven in Scotland to race the Drummond Trophy. After hearing how hard it was last year I knew I`d have to have my head and legs in the zone!

After an early start driving up we got half way there and the skies opened up as expected, heavy rain and strong winds would definitely make it interesting.
Just half a lap in and the decisive move was made, on the back end of the course on a narrow back lane with a very strong cross wind, a few riders on the front put it in the gutter, lining the rest of us out, a mile later and we hit the first climb, by this point five riders had already gone away so I had to attack and close the gap. Soon enough a group of nine had established a gap and worked well together for the rest of the race, including three Node4, two Raleigh, two Sportscover.

Leading The Break ahead of Ben Greenwood

With a lap and a half to go in the same place where the break was initially made Node4 attacked once again making the rest of us suffer, unfortunately I was a few places too far back in the line and one rider let a gap open up, I closed the gap but it was just as we approached the first climb when another attack came, this time from a Raleigh rider, after just closing a gap I was on the back foot and four of us were gaped.

Myself, Ben Greenwood (Hope) and teammate Tom Stewart had to chase for a lap and a half. We worked well together and slowly closed the gap but the leaders realised we were closing in on them and distanced us again. Coming up to the sprint for 5th place it was clear Richard Hepworth (Node4) would take it as he had 2 teammates up the road and had an easy last lap, so myself and Tom came across the line in 6th and 7th.

Sprint for 5th place

Very happy with how it went, felt good to be back in a break-away once again and the first break and top ten of the year.

Next week I will be riding the two-day Premier Calender Tour of The Reservoir, a big test and hoping to go well on the hills.

Sam

Legs Are Coming Good

Another week closer to my first Premier Calender of the year and I can feel my form is just around the corner.

Last week I got caught up in a crash in the last 200 metres of an hour long Criterium in Lancaster, Salt Ayre. Just a few scrapes and a bit less skin than when I arrived but I was soon back training ready for Sundays race, The Sheffrec Spring Road Race just outside Doncaster.

The sun was out and the temperature had easily reached 18 degrees, but with the race in such a flat area, the good weather also brought gale force winds, only being 5`8 and 63kg, its safe to say the wind got the better of me and I missed the crutial splits. 

New tires and PowerTap wheels

Through the finishing straight where the wind was the strongest I was with a group of about 9 others chasing the second group on the road, we worked well chasing the group and had the gap down to about 20 seconds, more then close-able, but a few riders sat up missing turns and we remained in no mans land.

Having not had the best race I comfortable won our groups sprint at the end, 22nd for me, not great but on the plus side I think my form is around the corner.

After the race each Sportscover rider picked up their brand new CycleOps PowerTap wheels also a pair of Challenge Criterium 320 tires. Really looking forward to getting it set up and using it to progress my training.

This weekend I am racing up in Scotland with teammate Tom Stewart at the Drummond Trophy. The same weekend as the Rutland Melton Cicle Classic which attracts the big powerhouse riders, whilst all the climbers head up to the Drummond Trophy,Tom is going well after his win in Northumberland so should be interesting.

Thanks

Sam

Maureen Bain Win For Tom

Another great weekend for Team Sportscover, Saturdays race saw five of us head up north to Stanfordham in Northumberland for the Maureen Bain Memorial road race. A race where last year I took 6th and my teammate, Tom Stewart came 1st, although a different course to lasts years edition, the new one included the infamous Ryals climb, a serious strength sapper and also used in the Beaumont Trophy, a Premier Calender event.

                              

                                        Slightly mucky after the race, myself, James King, Tom Stewart & Ben Ives

Early on in the race a very strong break went clear of the bunch and soon gained a couple of minutes advantage, which at its best went up to five minutes! Paris-Roubaix winner and legend Magnus Backstedt and his team MG Maxifuel drove the gap down to around a minute after losing two men from the break with punctures, so with team mates James King and Ben Ives in the break myself and Tom could take it easy in the bunch. On the last lap just before the final climb to the finish Tom attacked with a few others to close the gap to the break before attacking again to eventually take the win in the sprint. Although I missed the moves I had a strong finish riding clear of my group up the climb for the last 2k on my own.

Two years in a row now! Nice one Tom.

A few words from Tom after the race courtesy of Larry Hickmott from VeloUK;

“I haven’t raced since Severn Bridge and it feels really good to get off on the right foot. The break went on the first lap and I was gutted I missed it. I know though round here it’s difficult and they are long races and you can bring back five minutes on the last lap if you need to.”

“I had two teammates in the break so that was good for us and let me keep my powder dry and wait for a counter move. My climbing has got better over the winter for sure. I felt great on the Ryals. Matt (Cronshaw), Tommy (Bustard) and me got away on the second bump of the Ryals. We got away on the first bit but opened the gap on the second bit.”

“At the end, with three of you away and you’re all on the limit working together, it is everyman for himself and there was no messing about until the end. Fair play to Tommy because he did a big pull on the front at the end there.”

“Tom led it out and was nailed and I think happy to take third. I have been in a situation like that before, not a lot, a few times and have messed them up. I don’t have a lot of experience of them but I knew I had to be on his (Cronshaws) wheel because he is a good sprinter but I knew I he’d be tired so I didn’t give up and sure enough just nicked it. Couldn’t believe it.”

"Just nicked it"

Looking ahead, Tom says first and foremost he wants to finish his degree and when that is done he says “I’ll do what I can on the bike. I have had a good winter and in this team with a lot of strong young lads, I am sure we’ll be pushing above our weight this season.

Two weeks of solid training now for myself before my next race.

Sam