Latest Results - December 2008
Imperial Winter Series, 2009
A few word from Harry Bulstrode on the two most recent races: "The New Years day race was the first one with the new classification- the races are National B now so there's 30 points for first!
Sadly that wasn't on the cards, but it was a good race if a bit twitchy. Tony Gibb was there and I think everyone was watching him expecting the key break, but it never came. I'd done a lot of work early in the Boxing Day race and paid for it, so I took things a bit more gently to begin with, letting Andy Fowkes show off the Thames Velo colours on the front more than his share of the time! I managed to mark the dangerous breaks, and though a group of 4 got away for the final laps I was pretty confident the bunch would close them down- this we did on the final lap, and I pulled out 7th from the bunch sprint.
Today's race (January 3rd - ed) was held in great conditions, still and sunny, and there was a good TV turnout with myself, Ian Lowe and Gary Bullock. Gary was active from the go, trying for a break on lap 1, but I wimped out... he was back for more in a later break, and in fact there was lots of good action through the first half of the race. I got away a couple of times, and around lap 20 was trading the lead with a few others at a good pace, then was surprised when I turned round to find that the rest of the bunch was strung out behind me when I thought we were away! Off the back of that failed breakaway, another break went almost immediately with all the usual suspects so that I knew I couldn't afford not to get on the back. 7 of us were away, and it was a bit messy, I think because Toby Meadows (Corridori) kept heading hard off the front rather than rotating the lead and dropping back- very strong guy but I think the regular breaks in the rhythm made us slower overall... anyhow it worked well enough that we held the bunch at a distance where we would see them rounding the hairpin/climbing the small rise just as we passed the pitlane on the main straight. In the sprint I got 4th, for a handy 17 points (Nat B status is great news!).
Imperial Winter Series, Round 3 - Hillingdon - Dec. 21st
Another fine day at Hillingdon after a very wet round 2 saw Harry Bulstrode racing in the E/1/2/3 event. A break of 8 formed later in the race and our Harry was there (of course!). Here is a brief account from the man:
"It felt like a tough race this week, with a break made up of 3 Norwood Paragon riders going in the first lap which I managed to get onto. A few more joined in and we worked hard together as a group of 8 or so building 40 or 50 seconds lead. Two of the E/1 riders in the group then jumped away together (Jerone (Sigma) & Moores (Norwood) - ed) and I couldn't get across to them - the rest of the group didn't seem to have much appetite for it either, so it came down to a battle for 3rd place. I tried to get away in the last lap, and dropped all but Marcus from Norwood Paragon. I started my sprint at the bottom of the hill, and it was probably a bit early- he went past with about 50 metres to go so I settled for 4th overall, 2nd in the 2 cats once again."
Martin Porter enjoyed his race in the 4th cats, which was better behaved and less hectic.
Imperial Winter Series, Round 1 - Hillingdon - Dec. 6th
This from Harry: "Both Andy and I were feeling good and involved in most of the early action. I was joined off the front by a couple of others for a 5 lap break which never really got a decent margin.
About halfway through (didn't have a watch!), I got away with a couple of orange badged E/1's, a guy from Norwood Paragon with sprinters legs (Rudie Marais - ed.) and a handful of others. We worked together well and I was pretty comfortable with 5 laps to go. Looking back I should maybe have tried to jump the group at this stage, but the margin to the pack was only 20 seconds or so, and we all continued to rotate the lead until the final lap.
(Picture courtesy John Mullineuax)
In the sprint finish I started a little off the front and didn't manage to hang onto anyone for a leadout, so was pretty happy with 4th overall (2nd in the 2/3's).
I'm pleased with it for a first race of the new season; I won't be there next Saturday as I'm on call but hopefully I'll see many of you the weekend after!
Martin Porter represented the Velo in the 4th cats race, which was rather oversubscribed with 75 riders. Given the general riding standards at this level there were no surprises when the crashes started. Wisely our Martin steered clear of the mayhem ... here is his report:
"At 1230 we weren't ready to start and I was encouraged to do a couple more warm up laps. By the time I got round to the start again I was at the back of a huge pack. Off we went and as we crawled round it took me half a dozen laps to pick my way past towards the front, seeing lots of very dodgy riding on the way. I thought the safest thing was to try to beak clear. I spent one and a half laps off the front wasting my energy but nobody in that huge field bothered to come with me. They were all saving themselves for the final sprint.
The dodgy riding continued. First crash happened right in front of me when someone tried for a too narrow a gap on the outside. I stayed upright while bikes flew into the air landing in front of me. The second crash happened well behind me so I don't know the details. The third crash happened just behind to my left and caused a split in the field. There were probably around 25 of us. I couldn't or didn't bother with the final sprint. I was at the back of this bunch expecting more casualties and one rider just ahead ended up on the grass but upright."
Picture courtesy Anthony Snyman, who also submitted the following to the press:
"Thames Velo rider Martin Porter produced a fine ride at the Imperial Winter Series season opener held at Hillingdon on Saturday. Porter showed intent in the early stages of the race, easing ahead and keeping the chasing peleton at bay for several minutes. Realising he could not inspire anyone to join him in this probable race defining move, he drifted back to the clutches of the main field.
This did not dampen his enthusiasm as he put in a spirited ride throughout the race, taking the lead on several occasions. With one mile to the chequered flag, the pace upped and the peleton was stretched to stay intact. Much to his frustration, Porter was caught up in a brace of riders who were disinterested in the charge for line honours and he was consigned to the main field who were all accredited the same time as the victor."