Here we are, with the opening of the Road Racing Season 2015, traditionally with Dunsfold for starters. Would I be able to compete, be part of the race or struggle to hang on? Previous weeks with Kentish Killer and Hillingdon were not really representative of what's required of you in a proper road race.
The race turned out to be a bore, slow, some break away attempts, chasing, slowing down, next breakaway etc. At mid race it was my turn and I bridged over to a break, burned a match or two as I really had to pile in the power to get to those three riders ahead of me or die in-between. I was then joined by a clubmate who also brought a bit more firepower across, only that the aleged firepower decided not to fire. In other words the work was left to David, me and a rider from another club to make this break stick. We whittled the group down to 5 riders before we got caught back some 10km later. This effort had shown its effect, I was chuffed, pissed off and decided to sit in the bunch for the rest of the race. Exactly when we got caught by the peloton, a counter attack happened, with nobody to respond. No, I wasn't able to follow that. Nobody else did. I got so pissed off that I was contemplating abandoning the race with 2 laps to go. I didn't after all, but really had no nerve to sprint for minor places with 4 riders up the road in the breakaway, in particular as these bunch sprints often lead to hairy situations and crashes. But as always, getting into the final kilometer I changed my mind, decided to get involved, hammered from the rear of the peloton right through to the front, entered the final uphill sprint straight in 5th or 6th position and by mid of the hill was in the lead, just to be pipped on the line by one rider, for 6th place overall. Disappointed by the race I decided to ride back home and did another 90km through the beautiful sunny Surrey Hills.