SupernovaCycles RoadTeam first outing ! Ludgershall race report

Ludgershall 14/01/12 
Getting up at 6am on a Saturday was a challenge even with the relishing prospect of a grand solo victory later that day. To drive me out of bed I imagined my arms a loft in the air as I effortlessly crossed the finish line after a sublime solo breakaway. That didn’t happen.
This was my first race, my destination? Ludgershall, for the first event in the winter series which is run by the Army Cycling Union. Today I would test myself against other riders and see how my months and months of hard training had paid off (or not paid off).
I loaded up the car with my bike and double checked everything three times, I didn’t want to get there only to realise I had left my shoes back at home. With everything checked I set off to pick up James Wilson, Supernovacycles.co.uk’s team captain. Once we were all loaded we began to drive to Ludgershall. Driving through some very thick fog and -8C temps I wondered what I had got myself into but James kept me distracted with some race advice.
We arrived at Ludgershall and I set up my bike and went to register. ‘We only have 6 spaces left’ the steward shouted. Oh god...was my first venture in to racing going to end before it had began? There were a lot of riders and the organisers eventually decided to split the Cat 3’s and Cat 4’s into separate groups so that everyone could race. The Cat 3’s would have a half a lap handicap. There were well over 45 riders in total which is a fantastic turnout for a winter event.
I did a couple of test laps with James Wilding and the top of the track was covered with thick frost and some ice making it very dangerous to ride. The race start was delayed for about 30 minutes to let the sun peer over the trees onto the shaded part of the course and melt some of the frost away. After a few laps I realised my fingers were already feeling numb...not good, I hadn’t even started yet!
All the riders lined up for the start of the race and we received a safety briefing. First the Cat 3’s were set off on a rolling lap, then, 20 seconds later we were set off on our rolling lap. Once we were back the Cat 3’s were set off about 30/40 seconds ahead of the Cat 4 group. After what seemed an age, we were off! The pace started off slow but all that did was give me a false sense of security. The first corner was still icy and riders hit their brakes going into it...not good...no crashes, however, a few shouts of ‘steady’ and ‘hold your line’ were heard by nervous individuals in the back of the group.
After the first corner a couple of riders jumped and I attempted to stay with them, the pace became fast and furious with several big pace changes over a short period of time. My aim was to stay in the top 10, avoid any crashes and generally have a clearer run at things. The excitement of being in my first race took hold and I accelerated hard, harder than I had wanted. Two or three riders stuck on my tail and I quickly checked myself and slowed the pace after 30 seconds or so.
For the first 3-4 laps the pace changing was frantic as fresh, eager riders took charge and others clung on to them. We could see the Cat 3’s ahead and it felt like we were in a chasing group rather than the ones being chased. I started to realise there were some strong boys in this group.
During the 4th lap and coming up to the icy corner I suddenly noticed a rider trying to come through on my left. I thought to myself that there wasn’t enough space coming into the corner and sure enough he started to drop back. A soon as we entered the corner I heard a scrape and a bang accompanied by lots of swearing. I looked behind me and saw my left-sided friend had lost control
and slammed into the tarmac. He was on his side wiping other riders out left right and centre. He eventually took about 4 or 5 riders with him. Phew, I thought, I’ve avoided the first crash and accelerated to keep with the leading bunch.
About 2/3rds of the way through the race I had generally stayed in the top 4-5 riders most of the time and I felt strong. All of a sudden, someone jumped...I thought he wouldn’t stay away for long and the peloton must have assumed the same and let him go. However, he stayed out for a long period probably 2 laps or so and was closing on the Cat 3 peloton, if he reached that bunch he could easily coast to a win. A couple of guys obviously realised this as well and the pace quickened to sprint speed. I recognised the impending chase as it was unfolding so managed to catch someone’s wheel. Eventually after a lot of hard work the Cat 4 peloton actually caught the Cat 3 bunch! I don’t think that was supposed to happen!
Not wanting to be at the back of a big group of riders I was shouted at by another rider to ‘take us through’ I duly obliged, getting out of my saddle and powering up the right hand side of the bunch, unfortunately I ran out of tarmac and had to fall into the middle of the group. After a couple of more corners I was clear of the main bulk of the peloton and although I was getting very fatigued I was also feeling quite good. I was in a group of about 4/5 riders at the front and riding well but we never really broke free of the pelotons grasp.
All of a sudden I saw the 5 laps to go sign. Everyone got excited and the pace quickened again with a couple of ill timed breakaway attempts which amounted to nothing. 4...3...2.... then 1 lap to go...I felt strong but increasingly tired, I didn’t know how much I had in the tank. I was sitting about 4 riders back, there was a sense that everyone was waiting for someone to make the move...a rider jumped for a break away and I immediately got on his wheel. I looked behind me and there were 2 or 3 riders on my wheel. Jesus, I thought, I am in second place with ¾ of a lap to go!! Visions of my arms a loft might actually come true! Then I felt my legs...intense pain from the massive lactic build up...ouch! I was still holding on to second place and we were coming up to the S shaped section of the track which led into the last corner, all of a sudden the rider in front of me slowed and before I knew it I was pinned in by him and the bunch coming on my right...I fell back behind 10 or so riders by the time we entered the last corner, my race was over, victory impossible. However, because of the mixed 3rd /4th Cat bunch I actually had no idea about my position in the race so coming out of the corner I attempted to sprint...I had nothing left, my legs were done and riders past me left and right...I crossed the line in the bunch.
I had no idea where I came due to the 4th cat group technically lapping the 3rd cat group. I ended up 4th in the out of the 4th category riders, not bad for my first race but I can’t help but feel disappointed about my weak sprint as I feel this is one of the stronger parts of my cycling toolkit.
Regardless of my position I have learned a lot from race. I won’t be going so hard at the beginning next week so that when I get myself into the last ½ a lap I still have some juice left for a hard effort and to unleash my sprint which I know is a very good sprint for a 4th Cat rider. I also learned that I need to be quicker to react to riders flagging in front of me and move off their wheel in order to get a good chance of not getting pinned in by the bunch as well as not blindly following someone who jumps too early and is bound to run out of steam.
 
All in all I though I thoroughly enjoyed my first race and I can’t wait till next week where I will hopefully cross the line in 1st place. 
David Billings