Imperial Winter Series 2010 - Final Race

The final race of 2010's Imperial Winter Series at Hillingdon. I need to finish in the top 6 to win the 3rd Cat Series title. 4 of us from the club (Jai, Kieron, Mark C and me) had decided to work together and attempt to string out the final sprint to avoid bunching. The best case scenario would be a Paragon sprint train but we didn't expect to pull that off!

It was a chilly day with a fairly strong wind but a good number turned out on the start line. As the flag dropped the race began at a steady pace. 20 or so minutes in a couple of riders went off the front and were soon joined by Tim Benham (sitting 4th overall in the series). At this stage I probably should have relaxed in the middle of the peloton but instead moved near the front to make sure the break wasn't joined by more riders. This meant me chasing down a few attacks and using energy.

30 minutes in we passed the 4ths with Tim still ahead but now only with one other. It looked like we had them pegged so I settled into the bunch and sure enough they were reeled in over the next 2 laps.

A lap later, Tim B's team-mate attacked taking a Wheeler with him. As they rounded the corner to the home straight we were amazed as his bike seemed to slip underneath him. Fortunately he was unharmed and the peloton managed to avoid him and bike.

5 laps to go and with the peloton altogether Dulwich moved towards the front. With 3 to go we were in formation - 4 blue shirts leading the race with the peloton in a line behind us. With one lap to go that was still the case - an amazing effort from the lads. Mark C dropped out as Kieron kept a superb pace then Jai put in a monumental effort to lead out to the last corner. At this point 5 or so riders came round the outside and it was time for me to get out the saddle. Driving up the left hand side I managed to squeeze past two riders but 20 metres from the line there was no room to manouvre and I had to scramble for a few centimetres to nick 5th place.

So victory in the series was just sealed and my 5th place in the final race also took my BC points tally to 42 which means 2nd Cat has been attained. It's been a great winter of racing and thanks must go to Lucy and Doug at Imperial for the organisation. Next year I'll have to lift my game for the E123 series! *gulp*

Imperial Winter Series 2010 3rd Cat Race 12
Place Club Series points
1st w 73 Tristan Natoli AWCycles 3
2nd w 29 Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC 3 200
3rd w 86 James Dunsbier London Dynamo 3 150
4th w132 Matt O'Callaghan Exiles CC 3 130
5th w 41 Alan Strang Dulwich Paragon 3 120
6th w 40 Tim Benham DHCyclesport.co.uk 3 110
7th w 6 Mark Northover CC Giro 3 100
8th w 53 Alex Turner FVS Tri 3 90
9th w133 Ian Redding TimeRT-TerryWrightCycles 3 80
10th w123 Piers Curle Exciles 3 70
11th w 18 Andrew Harvey Kingston Wheelers 3 60
12th w 91 Ed Rose Progression Fitness 3 50
13th w105 Jeremy Hewitt Kingston Wheelers CC 3 40
14th w102 Phil Adams CC Ashwell 3 30
15th w111 Jacek Reder private member 3 20
16th w117 Chris Grange Hemel Hempstead 3 10
17th w 3 Jon Noton Inverse Racing/Bikefood 3
18th w112 Gordon Kenneway London Dynamo 3
19th w106 Christopher Wright Private Member 3
20th w 39 Dave Ryan Imperial Racing Team 3
21st w 38 Mark Chan Dulwich Paragon 3
22nd w 85 Simon North Hemel Hempstead CC/TORQ 3
23rd w 60 Peter Dixon Willesden CC 3
24th w 93 Jai Watson Dulwich Paragon CC 3
25th w 76 Peter Jones Hillingdon Cycling Club 3
26th w 4 Robin Osborne London Dynamo CC 3
27th w 35 Andy Lack Kingston Wheelers 3
28th w129 Rune Sanbeck Nilsson London Dynamo 3
29th w 63 Wayne Thomas Reading CC 3
30th w122 Richard Rose Progression Fitness 3
31st w 50 Kieron Redmond Dulwich Paragon CC 3
32nd w 98 Mark O'Brien Archer RC 3
33rd w124 Josh Vicino VC Meudon 3
34th w 2 Paul Redman Thames Velo 3
35th w115 Nigel Burns St Ives CC 3
36th w 62 Nick Franzini London Dynamo 3
37th w127 James Stratton London Dynamo CC 3
38th w 75 David Webborn London Dynamo CC 3
39th w 92 Matt Treadwell Twickenam CC 3
40th w114 Peter Bolke DHcyclesport/Colnago 3
41st w126 Rosara Joseph private member 3W

Imperial Winter Series 2010 3rd Cat Series Leaderboard
1st w 41 Alan Strang Dulwich Paragon 960 120 150 100 130 * 130 90 120 120
2nd w 42 William Platt Kingston Wheelers CC 930 110 200 150 130 40 * 100 200
3rd w 40 Tim Benham DHCyclesport.co.uk 830 200 200 200 * 120 110
4th w 31 Steven Jackson Rollapaluza CC 820 200 120 150 150 * 200
5th w 91 Ed Rose Progression Fitness 700 30 * 120 200 100 200 50
6th w 6 Mark Northover CC Giro 650 80 90 80 * 110 110 80 100
7th w 44 Nathan Smith London Phoenix 630 130 120 100 130 * 150
8th w 29 Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC 600 90 110 110 70 * 20 200
9th w 46 Andy Angwin London Phoenix 470 130 70 120 * 100 50
10th w111 Jacek Reder private member 430 * 130 130 150 20
11th w 53 Alex Turner FVS Tri 360 90 100 * 80 90
12th w 5 Tom Neale Spalding CC 310 100 120 90 *
13th w112 Gordon Kenneway London Dynamo 270 * 120 150
14th w 3 Jon Noton Inverse Racing/Bikefood 260 50 20 80 110 *
15th w102 Phil Adams CC Ashwell 240 * 80 130 30

Hillingdon Winter Series - Race 11

After missing a week's worth of racing; this Saturday was a long wait and racing this week was with a twist. The target was to finish as high as possible BUT not in the top 3 which would have meant promotion to Cat 2 and no way to earn any more points in the 3rd Cat Winter Series.

Before we started the Peloton got a warning about bad handling/inconsiderate cycling - one guy was singled out for repeated bad cycling (last week's race and the one before) - rumours have been circulaiting...(no-one in the pic below!)

After an uneventful start, noted only for it's complete uneventfulness, suddenly 20 minutes in there was real DRAMA! I got a puncture at the top of the back straight (the worst possible place). I drifted to the back running flat but by the second last corner I had to dismount, run up the home straight and see if any one had a spare rear wheel. Fortunately Doug (the organiser) had one (Thanks again!). I flipped the old one out and started putting the new one in and the 3rds rushed past - shit! Tightening the bolts and setting off Le Mans style I had to nail it for a lap and a half to get back on.

That was hard work and at one point I thought it might have been game over. I sat at the back for a couple of laps to regain my composure and then started to move up.

Closing up on the 4ths about three riders bridged the gap but no-one seemed too bothered. So I went to the front to pull the front runners up and we moved passed the 4ths without any issues. Not many people seem to think this is a time to be vigilant?

There was some fairly sketchy riding again - particularly on the home straight when the peloton kept bunching up - fortunately these were low speed encounters.

As the 5 lap warning came up I moved right near the front and managed to get on the right wheels. A Willesden CC rider kept the line drawn out on the second last lap with me tucked in behind. On the last lap I kept behind the first wheel and as the sprint started I tried to judge my finish to allow 3 riders to cross the line ahead. It was quite a tight finish and I almost nailed it to perfection but 2 riders just snuck ahead so 6th it was to be.

So, with one more race to go, I lie second but both Jimbo in first and Steven Jackson in third cannot earn any more points in the third series (having made 2nd Cat). A top 6 finish next week will bring me the Series title! Excited? Yes!
Photos: Gavin Morton

Imperial Winter Series - Race 11
Place Club Series points
1st w 91 Ed Rose Progression Fitness 3 200
2nd w111 Jacek Reder private member 3 150
3rd w138 Eric Degolier Energy Cycles 3
4th w102 Phil Adams CC Ashwell 3 130
5th w139 Jonathan Shubert Verulam CC 3
6th w 41 Alan Strang Dulwich Paragon 3 120
7th w 73 Roland Chuter private member 3 110
8th w132 Matt O'Callaghan Exiles CC 3 100
9th w 93 Jai Watson Dulwich Paragon CC 3 90
10th w114 Paul Derrick BadTri/Fred Baker Cycles 3
11th w126 Tristian Natoli awcycles 3
12th w 6 Mark Northover CC Giro 3 80
13th w120 Jon Pybus awcycles 3 70
14th w 39 Dave Ryan Imperial Racing Team 3 60
15th w133 Ian Redding TimeRT-TerryWrightCycles 3 50
16th w 38 Mark Chan Dulwich Paragon 3 40
17th w 84 Chris Long T.V.S. Sherborne 3 30
18th w129 Neil Macleod lonon dynamo 3
19th w 29 Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC 3 20
20th w128 Mike Jubb Verulam CC 3
21st w115 Adam Ellis Splading CC 3
22nd w 85 Simon North Hemel Hempstead CC/TORQ 3 10
23rd w122 Declan Higgins Twickenham CC 3J
24th w134 Rupert Beale Onelife-Fuga Racing Team 3J
25th w 43 Phillip Burgess Norwood Paragon CC 3
26th w 60 Peter Dixon Willesden CC 3
27th w124 Adam Tranter Mike Vaughan Cycles 3
28th w 74 Sam Connolley Maldon & District CC 3J
29th w 94 Gareth Welch Dulwich Paragon 3
30th w123 Piers Curle Exciles 3
31st w136 Mike Joseph Colavita USA 3
32nd w 76 Peter Jones Hillingdon Cycling Club 3
33rd w 35 Andy Lack Kingston Wheelers 3
34th w112 Gordon Kenneway London Dynamo 3
35th w 98 Mark O'Brien Archer RC 3
36th w 50 Stuart Stow Twickenham CC 3
37th w125 Gareth Dickenson Farnborough & Camberley CC 3
38th w 97 Andrew Stronge London Dynamo 3
39th w 82 Adam Buckland banjocycles.com/specialized/torq 3
40th w 75 David Webborn London Dynamo CC 3
41st w 62 Nick Franzini London Dynamo 3
42nd w106 Christopher Wright Private Member 3
43rd w119 Adam White Reading CC 3
44th w 77 Paul Stedman Reading CC 3
45th w130 Josh Vicino VC Meudon 3J
46th w135 Nigel Burns St Ives CC 3

Series Standing - Imperial Winter Series 3rd Cat Leader Board
PosTotal Rider Club Race Points 1-11
1st 930 William Platt KW CC 110 200 150 130 40 * 100 200
2nd 840 Alan Strang Dulwich Paragon 120 150 100 130 * 130 90 120
3rd 820 Steven Jackson Rollapaluza CC 200 120 150 150 * 200
4th 720 Tim Benham DHCYCLESPORT.CO.UK 200 200 200 * 120
5th 650 Ed Rose Progression Fitness 30 * 120 200 100 200
6th 630 Nathan Smith London Phoenix 130 120 100 130 * 150
7th 550 Mark Northover CC Giro 80 90 80 * 110 110 80
8th 470 Andy Angwin London Phoenix 130 70 120 * 100 50
9th 410 jacek reder private member * 130 130 150
10th 400 Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC 90 110 110 70 * 20

Footon - How can you not like them?

Pro Tour teams have in the last season or two suddenly become a lot more PR savvy. Look at Cervelo Test Team's excellent Bartape series of videos or the slick, media revolution at Team Sky. Both provide some interesting glimpses into what goes on backstage in the Pro Cycling - but you're aware that what goes out to the public is a polished version of reality. This is a concept someone at Footon Servetto forgot to take on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW_lDA7Eaoc&feature=player_embedded#

This is Footon's initiation ceremony for neoPro's. It involves racing round a carpark somewhere in Spain and drinking some high-strength firewater every lap. Perhaps the riders are drinking to forget they've signed to a team with the ugliest kit in the ProTour - who knows. What I do know is I like Footon more now than before.