There were 36 entered in my age cat (60-64) and 56 in the race which included all male riders 60 and above. I’m not sure how many started but it must have been between 45-50. It was a strong field with most of the known big hitters in attendance.
The race started with a 2 mile neutralised section climbing up past the finish line and to the top of the hill. We were then let loose.
I nearly had a disaster 5 miles in. We hit the short, sharp 16% hill and I slammed my gears the wrong way (only recently moved to Di2) meaning I had a really high gearing. My cadence dropped to the low 20s and I almost had to stop.
By the top the pack was gone and I felt like packing up and going home. However, I dug in and luckily the pack had slowed a bit so I got back on after a mile or two. Phew.
I slowly moved up the field and after about 21 miles we were approaching the 18% lump which formed part of a 4 mile mainly uphill section. I carried some downhill speed on as the pack slowed and I went off the front. I wasn’t trying to break away – I just wanted to give myself some slide time up the hills and also be at the front to join any breakaway which I thought was likely at this point.
This worked. The first selection was made and about 20 of us went away. There was also a crash behind on the hill which obviously I missed.
I had to go really deep to cling on to the group and looking at some of the apps I use, I went into negative territory in W’ (or however you term it) meaning theoretically I was nackered!.
We were now on the long drag back to the start point. Each incline was met by a sharp increase in tempo and eventually a group of 4 went away. This was the winning break and I wasn’t in it.
After a while a few of us tried to get the group chasing properly. I probably worked much too hard in this phase but it was either that or just give up on the chase. As we hit the hill just before the main road we caught Rob Pears (Tour of Cambridgeshire winner) who had been in the group of 4.
I was at or near the front of the group most of the second lap and then we hit the final 1.5 mile hill up to the finish. What was left of the pack started swarming and then unloaded as we approached the line. I gave what I had but came last of that group in 15th overall and 13th in my Age Cat.
When I look at the graphs – I hit my max HR at this time but without hitting the power output I’d expect to do this – probably the fatigue kicking in.
I was fairly pleased with my performance – I’d hit a Normalised Power of 260W for the best part of 3 hours and with a TSS of 251. I’d made the first selection (which was my target for the race) and scored my first points (3) as a BC Cat 3. A year ago I was a month away from having a total hip replacement and wondering if I’d ever be racing again so I am very grateful to the surgeon and the post-op physio!