Imperial Winter Series Race #3

Freezing conditions today with a dusting of snow across London. The Imperial Race Team did a sterling job of clearing the snow and ice from the track but three sections were still coned off. The flag dropped and for the first 20 laps it became clear no-one was going to put a concerted effort on the front or attempt a breakaway. We meanered round the track and after 30 minutes or so the 4ths were nearly on our tails. Boredom got the better of me so I went to the front and put in a dig to increase the speed. Jimbo and another rider took the opportunity to make a break leaving me to drag the rest of the peloton to bring them back. The 4ths overtook us on their second last lap - a lone rider coming through first, then mingling in with the thirds before making a solo break for the line with the rest of the 4ths completely oblivious to his attack.For the 3rds, yet another bunch sprint. On the final lap I got into a reasonable position but then found myself getting boxed on the last corner. On the charge to the line I got caught twice behind slower riders in front and had to check my speed. 20m or so from the line a rider from Rollapaluza made an impressive surge to take first and I made it over the line in a disappointing 6th place having used too much of my energy reaccelerating round slower riders. James's view that you should sprint to the line on the right hand side to avoid the congestion is clearly the way forward! No racing for me on the 26th but I'll be sprinting on the right come the next meeting.
Pictures from London Cycle Sport
Place No. club cat BC Points Series Points
1st w 31 Steven Jackson Rollapaluza CC 3 10 200
2nd w 42 William Platt Kingston Wheelers CC 3 8 150
3rd w 46 Andy Angwin London Phoenix 3 7 130
4th w 44 Nathan Smith London Phoenix 3 6 120
5th w 29 Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC 3 5 110
6th w 41 Alan Strang Dulwich Paragon 3 4 100
7th w 45 Rich Cooper Willesden CC 3 3 90
8th w 43 Phillip Burgess Norwood Paragon CC 3 2 80
9th w 73 Roland Chuter private member 3 1 70
10th w 74 Alex Pantelides Twickenham CC 3J 1 60
11th w 4 Robin Osborne London Dynamo CC 3 50
12th w 59 Ralph Carter London Dynamo 3 40
13th w 55 Andy Edwards Kingston Wheelers CC 3 30
14th w 50 Stuart Stow Twickenham CC 3 20
15th w 65 Ben Knowles London Phoenix 3 10
16th w 39 Dave Ryan Imperial Racing Team 3
17th w 60 Peter Dixon Willesden CC 3
18th w 26 Patrick Hawkins Dulwich Paragon 3
19th w 38 Stoyko Bussarov Imperial Racing Team 3
20th w 27 Steven Noble London Dynamo 3