Robin Parker writes…
Not a Good Friday!
I started this race with hopes of a good performance. I like racing the full circuit at Redbridge. The hill makes it tough during the race and the uphill finish suits my sprint perfectly. This over-exuberance lead me once again to attack right from the gun. I did about a lap and half on my own before the lined out bunch reeled me in. Then a few guys drifted away. Then a few more. And before I knew it there were 8 guys just dangling off the front. No problem I thought, they are not making any ground, the bunch will soon pull them back.
It was then that I looked around in horror to discover that there were only about 10 of us left in the bunch! The early pace; early season and tough climb had obviously done for everyone else. With the strongest guys up the road, that was it. Game over. We chased, but inexorably the break inched way lap by lap.
I won the sprint from my group to take 9th place. But I was disgusted with myself for not making the move that mattered. I shouldn’t have made that dumb move from the gun (again). I should have been more aware about what had happened to the bunch and realised that the horsepower was heading up the road. In short, I should have been there to contest the sprint for 1st place. Grrr. I need to race smarter!
