As the course description promised the race had very fast intervals, usually followed by “legs up” periods. The average speed I think was above 41km/h but peaked on most laps at 60km/h on the gentle descending final straight. There were two kind of serious breakaways which showed potential but I was in the chasing packs on both occasions. In fact the course and the wind direction was all thumbs down for any breakaway, as it repeatedly confirmed that with a fully charging pack any escapee was brought back easily. I had a dig myself during the third lap and realised quickly enough that it was hopeless. The race was quite active though every now and then someone else trying their luck. But at the end the inevitable was to happen, a bunch sprint on that horrifying final straight. The tension was already full on with the final lap to go and only grew more nerveous, accounted for by permanent shouting, swearing and riders swerving around others from all sides. It was the worst scenario anyone could have hoped for. Oncoming traffic at the 1000m mark, peloton in full charge towards that final 500m “climb” to the finish. I had made sure to stay amongst the top 10 on the final 3000m which was not so easy at all. At 1000m I was boxed in around position 15, when the action started. Some riders took their legs up and where handed through the middle. At 500m to go I was in about 6th position when a guy started the final sprint on the opposite side and nobody followed him. “Shall I go or wait?” Still nobody going and the guy got several bike length, maybe even 30m. At 300m I had enough of the wait, I was in 4th and had a clear run, put the afterburner on and started “my“ sprint up that hill. At 100m to go I flew past the guy in front and turning my head realised that I was clear by a safe margin to my followers and crossed the line with both arms stretched into the blue sky.
The organisers did a great job with marshalling all the potentially dangerous corners. It was a nice move to have a prize ceremony after, cash prizes for the top 6 and champagne for the 3 podium riders.
