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General Category => Road Races => Topic started by: NeilRhys on March 25, 2016, 05:34:27 PM

Title: Castle Combe Easter Classic
Post by: NeilRhys on March 25, 2016, 05:34:27 PM

Hi all,
"Enjoyed" a very twitchy race at Castle Combe today with lots of 'hold the line' calls etc :-) I race there a lot 10-12 years ago and not much has changed!!

It was a beautiful sunny day, ideal conditions really.  The race average speed was 26mph and with a stiff headwind on the home straight it was impossible for one person to get away and so it proved...I did give it a try after about 10-12 minutes, but to no avail!
There was a Prime around half way which I managed to take and then got on with the job of recovering and staying in the top 10-15 riders to stay out of trouble.

Unfortunately, I got the end of the race wrong and was in poor position for the sprint, which was really disappointing as I definitely had the form to win it!!  I was on the right of the bunch (for those who know the finish) with about 300-400m to go expecting some strong riders to sprint past, but they never came and the sprint opened up on the far left and I couldn't get in it...I had to sprint on my own on the right of the track, but there was too much ground to make up and ended up 5th.

A little frustrated, but happy with my form for the coming season...not to brag...but a weighty prize fund of £55 was handed to me at the end...I'm pretty sure that justifies an upgrade to Di2?? Not sure my wife will agree  :-\
Next race is at Maindy on the 13th I think? hopefully an improvement in tactics this time :)

hope to see some of you at future races,

Neil

Title: Re: Castle Combe Easter Classic
Post by: Teresa on March 25, 2016, 06:09:56 PM

Sounds like you had a lot of fun.  And to come away with cash must be a bonus  8)

Title: Re: Castle Combe Easter Classic
Post by: NeilRhys on March 25, 2016, 06:24:54 PM

Thanks...I did enjoy it...a little surprised at the money...might hang on to my day job for a little longer though :-/

Title: Re: Castle Combe Easter Classic
Post by: Andy H on March 26, 2016, 12:29:23 AM

Great write up and well done on the result!

Title: Re: Castle Combe Easter Classic
Post by: Paul Nicholas on March 26, 2016, 10:43:15 AM

Nice result, let me know when you're at Maindy next and I'll and I'll try to pop along too.

Title: Re: Castle Combe Easter Classic
Post by: xrayspecs on March 26, 2016, 11:45:16 AM

Well done Neil thats a great result; getting round in one piece is an achievement.

Title: Re: Castle Combe Easter Classic
Post by: RichardB on March 26, 2016, 01:07:05 PM

Yes well done, great effort. Will have to come and watch you racing at Maindy on the 13th and sounds like you'll have Paul for company.

Title: Re: Castle Combe Easter Classic
Post by: NeilRhys on March 26, 2016, 01:46:51 PM

Thanks guys...there was a couple of crashes I think, but I just stayed up in the top 10-15 to try and stay out of it.  Difficulty is its a massive bunch of 100 riders with a wide variety of skills/experience levels, so always a bit of a lottery.

Paul...I'm already entered into the Rowe/King race at Maindy on the 13th, be good to race with you :-) hopefully be my last 4th cat race before moving up a bit! We can talk nearer to the time and meet up for a warm up etc :-)

N

Title: Re: Castle Combe Easter Classic
Post by: Paul Nicholas on March 27, 2016, 11:38:24 PM

I'll enter this which one are you in 4th cat only or the 2/3/4 cat race?

Title: Re: Castle Combe Easter Classic
Post by: NeilRhys on March 28, 2016, 07:22:21 AM

Cool...4ths only for this one.

N