Race report by Tom Sutton for We Love Mountians RT for the Velo Club Beverley Summer Road Race for 3+4 cats covering 50 miles on Sunday 29th July 2012.
Me, Simon Pickering and Steve Coates competed in the Velo Club Beverley Road Race on the tough Walkington circuit which was also used for the ‘We Love Mountains Road Race’. With a strong headwind up the long drag attacks were neutralised. A field of 60-70 riders started meaning the positioning was vital as splits were more than possible due to windy conditions.
The race was aggressive with a number of attacks that didn’t get very far up the road. Steve Coates was always near the front and followed a number of attacks to no avail whilst I sat generally 10th -20th in the pack and got in just the odd one or two breakaways. Simon Pickering road courageously for around half the race before the accelerations got too much.
Going into the final corner Steve was in the top 5 riders having chased a move down the hill while I was down in 25th-30th place despite battling to try to stay at the front. Two riders remained narrowly off the front with their chances of hanging on in the balance. Having moved up around the outside I was well placed but was disappointed to only get 6th having been sandwiched by the riders in front of me whilst trying to gain places in the last 100 metres. Only Darren Bendelow of Clifton CC hung on off of the front but only by a bike length. Having used his sprint chasing down the hill Steve was unable to get a placing but put in another strong showing.
Overall I’m pleased with my ride as I’ve been quite consistent over the last month and I feel that it’s only a matter of time until I get a win.
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